Once upon a time there was an idea for a national week to highlight the art of storytelling for all ages and this week (30th Jan to 6th Feb) is the 10th National Storytelling Week.

Last year, National Storytelling Week reached 16,000 people of various ages with storytelling events and performances in schools, arts centres, libraries, theatres, museums, pubs, book shops, storytelling clubs, retirement homes and even prisons.

Storytelling is an ancient art form that, through tales, myths, legends and fables, has told us about our history, different people and places, what is basically right and wrong and so much more. It’s passed from one generation to the next and continues to empower us, inspire us and feed our imaginations.
Storytelling is a completely different approach to story time - one that doesn’t actually involve books. There are many good, sound educational reasons for putting your books down occasionally and delivering a story straight from the heart. Here are just a few:

• It gives children the opportunity to both tell and hear stories, developing their speaking and listening skills. 
• It fuels their imaginations and allows children to develop their own mental images of the story.
• It helps to develop memory.
• It influences children’s written work as well as their choice of books.
• It’s fun and exciting – children love it!

So look out for some of the exciting activities and events in the area or why not give it a go yourself!