Parenting with a Story
Real-Life Lessons in Character for Parents and Children to Share
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- £6.99
Publisher Description
“Play nice!” “Be kind!” “Don’t do that!” Every day, it seems half our conversations with young people is made up of commands dealing with character and niceties--all issues that need to be addressed and not ignored. But how is it working? Do you find yourself back at square one the next day, with a child acting as though they had no idea they shouldn’t be lying? In Parenting with a Story, author Paul Smith, one of the world’s leading experts in organizational storytelling, shows that when stories are used to illustrate to children how choices and consequences play out in the real world, with real people, the impact will be far more profound than the relentless commands that are forgotten or ignored as soon as the parent turns away. This collection of 101 narratives from people around the world and from all walks of life includes lessons that illuminate the power of character, integrity, curiosity, creativity, grit, kindness, patience, gratitude, and other essential characteristics every parent should be trying to instill in their children. Sometimes heart-wrenching, sometimes funny, always compelling, these stories impart wisdom and help steer choices about: • Resisting peer pressure• Remaining open-minded• Being humble• Making courageous decisions• Standing by their word• Bouncing back from failure• Showing compassion• Picking friends wisely• And moreThroughout all of history, stories have been used to help shape who we are and who we aspire to come. But effective storytelling doesn’t have to be reserved for teachers, writers, and preachers. As a parent, learn how to share stories, discuss them with your child, and watch your child grow into the adult every parent would be proud of.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Smith extends the didactic model for corporate motivation that he introduced in Lead with a Story into the realm of parenting, giving doting fathers a collection of over 100 true-life stories to help them give advice to their kids. In general, the anecdotes illustrate such traditional moral values as courage, self-discipline, kindness, and humility. In general, the perspective is middle-class, middle-aged, and, perhaps, unrelatable for today's children and teens. Current key topics like social media and sexuality, with which older parents may need the most help, are skipped. A few celebrity stories appear, such as one about Larry Bird choosing an agent, but for the most part, these everyday success stories and life lessons blend together blandly when presented in such rapid sequence. The author recommends that parents retell favorite selections in their own words; he even provides a chart at the conclusion to help match the right tales to the right situations. Smith creates a model for parents seeking to steer their kids toward good choices by traditional examples, but for those practicing more modern parenting styles, there's less of value here.
