How to tell stories of fear of children

A story of fear or love? Scared, scared, the children tell me in chorus. And, from the age of seven they are fascinated by stories of adventure, mystery and fear. Even though scare stories scare them, children want you to tell them scary tales to know they can survive the nightmare. When Axiel, nine

When Axiel, nine years old, asked me with a panic face if the black rider, story Jimmy Nowlan, could come to visit him, what I was looking for was a reassuring response, so I invented myself on the fly so that That happened had to meet two conditions: one, be in Ireland, and another, walk alone at night through a forest. Axiel's face relaxed, and I continued with the story.

Keys to tell scary stories to children under 6 years old

Children under six years old like and fear the fear of the unknown (night, strange noises ...), and also the tales of witches and monsters that do not be terrifying For example, young children have fun with my story "Mr. Ramón and Mrs. Ramona,"two grandparents who are afraid of noises that they hear at night. With this story the little ones understand that fear should not paralyze them and that a person without fear is more open to learning, relating, sharing, discovering and loving. - Choose stories of witches, monsters and themes that scare them like noises at night. Tell him about traditional tales such as Hensel and Gretel, who escape from the witch. Pon - Put voices to the witch and the monsters of the story, but without dramatizing too much so as not to scare them.- Humor overcomes fear, so he unloads his fears by incorporating jokes into the story.

- Be aware of the questions and fears that the child has when listening to the story. Solve your doubts and adjust the story as you see their reactions. They have to be in tension, but not scared.

- Narrate the moments of most fear of the story with a slow tone, slowly, and without altering your voice.

Keys to tell tales of fear of children from 7 to 11 years old

- At this age they are very impressionable, so you tell the story of fear that narrates you have to wrap the terror between laughter. Incorpo - It incorporates unexpected and unusual touches in the story of fear, as the lame servant has a hanging mucus. You will make him laugh, that he will free himself of tensions and relax, which will help him to face the fear. Jue - Play with the voice to set the story: Imitate the squeaks of an old door, the horse's hooves, put on a witch's voice, and speak in a low tone every time you put the voice of some malefic character. Haz - Take three seconds pauses to increase the mystery.

- Set the room down by lowering the intensity of the light or lighting a candle.

- As with younger children, humor always overcomes fear, so it vent their dread from time to time by incorporating jokes into the narrative. Utiliza - Use elements that can set the story, such as a pumpkin, a small trunk full of books, a map of the world, or a letter with burned edges simulating the old letters.

Beatriz Montero

Writer and storyteller

Blog beatrizmontero.com