Abstract
Narratives in diverse forms are strong forces in children’s lives. Children learn concepts and phrases closely connected to stories, consider moral dilemmas, and tell stories of their daily lives and significant events; they dance, play, dramatize, and develop fantasy worlds through stories while processing information and developing new skills. They learn, grow, and think through stories with other children, adults, and individually. Stories can exert positive and powerful influences in all contexts of children’s lives. This chapter explores what counts as story and the forms that narratives may take. We assert that stories are powerful and protective agents for children. At their best and fullest, stories create meaningful sites for supporting the whole child.
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Kerry-Moran, K.J., Aerila, JA. (2019). Introduction: The Strength of Stories. In: Kerry-Moran, K.J., Aerila, JA. (eds) Story in Children’s Lives: Contributions of the Narrative Mode to Early Childhood Development, Literacy, and Learning. Educating the Young Child, vol 16. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-19266-2_1
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