The Lion's Roar: Making Story Time Happen Any Time

By Rebecca Sheir

As a 20-something living in New York City, somehow or other I would constantly stumble upon a person I came to refer to as “The Zabar’s Lady.”

Through many an odd twist of fate, I would spy The Zabar’s Lady everywhere: on the crosstown bus, in the crowded subway, in the longline for standing-room-only seats at a Broadway show. And every time, without fail, clutched in this slight, dark-haired woman’s hands was a crinkled, well-worn plastic bag from the specialty grocery store, Zabar’s.

We never spoke. I never saw what was in the bag. But that didn’t stop me from creating an intricately elaborate story about who The Zabar’s Lady was. I imagined where she came from, how she spent her days, and, yes, what she toted around in that mysterious, wrinkled bag.

Whether we’re three or 93, we’re all suckers for a good story. Not just hearing one or reading one… but telling one. And believe it or not, you needn’t be a regular on The Moth Story Hour to bring more storytelling into your family’s everyday life.

Telling stories will bring you closer, stretch your imaginations, and the best part? No props or technology required. Take the following storytelling activities for a spin with family, friends, or anyone you have fun with, and you’ll see what I mean.

Just as I did with The Zabar’s Lady, next time you’re out with family or friends, pick a person you see — the grandfatherly fellow squeezing cantaloupes in the produce section, the freckled, red-headed lifeguard blowing the whistle at the pool — and imagine what that individual’s story might be.

Ask yourselves as many questions as you can about this person. Here are some to get your started:

Don’t be afraid to let your imaginations run wild as you brainstorm. But one pro tip: wait until you’re out of earshot first.

You've probably told a story yourself before, but have you tried creating a story as a group? Improv groups use this kind of storytelling to keep their creative muscles limber and nimble. They go around in a circle, making up a story together, but each person can only say one sentence at a time.

To tell your own circle story, gather the family and choose a setting for your tale. Then decide the order of storytellers. The first person’s job is to begin the tale  – with just one sentence. When the next person takes over, they pick up from the last word and continue the narrative — again, with just one sentence!

Each of you should get several turns to add to the story. As you build your tale, think of ways to bring in drama or tension; encourage your kids to go for wacky surprises and unusual twists. As for when the story ends, well… let’s just say this activity is ideal for when you have a limited amount of time on your hands. As soon as the bus arrives/cashier rings you up/microwave dings, the story is done!

Helpful hint: use the voice-memo app on a smartphone to record your Circle Story, then listen back when you’re done. It’s bound to be a fun — and funny — family memento.

Make-believe stories aren’t the only ones worth telling. We all have our own true stories: from the moment we blink our eyes open in the morning to the minute we  drift off to sleep at night.

Some time in the evening, have your kids think back on their day. Consider your own day, and get the ball rolling by sharing a particular moment. It could be the highest point, the lowest one, the most memorable, the funniest … then ask your kids to do the same.

Help them turn that moment into a story with a beginning, middle, and end by eliciting information through open-ended questions: “What happened after that?” “And then what did she say?” “What did you make of that?” “What did you learn?”

Another option: play this game first thing in the morning, reflecting on the day before. Either way, you’ll come to find that stories needn’t all be fantastical and fictional. Oftentimes there’s plenty to marvel at and be inspired by in the simple every day.

Once you’ve given the above games a try, we’d love to hear about your experience – and if you have special storytelling games you already play with your crew, we’d love to learn more. Send an email to circleround@wbur.org and tell us all about your Happily Ever After!