WE love stories. A good and well-written story creates a theatre of the mind!
This is why the Creative Minds Story Tellers travel to daycare centres and primary schools to get little ones captivated through reading and storytelling.
The two storytellers, Phiwokuhle “Phiwo” Mazibuko (30) and Lancelot Tshabalala (39), encourage school-going children to fall in love with the written word.
Lancelot says books have many benefits.
“Children should read not only to build their vocabulary but also to strengthen their reading and writing skills.
“Stories are also a powerful tool to teach children. They help children focus for longer periods through listening or watching,” he said.
He urged parents to read to their children as well as let children read back to them.
The two narrators from Senaoane in Soweto also told their own stories.
So far, they have been to creches and schools in the Vaal, Ekurhuleni and Soweto. The aim is to cover the whole of Gauteng.
Phiwo said: “Children also learn visually through looking at pictures and drawings to understand the gist of the story. This is a mental exercise which helps them link images to the words.
“The more you read to children, the more knowledge they will absorb.”
The storytellers read to toddlers at creches to prepare them for school.
They also run campaigns, including educating children about their rights and the rights of animals.
Explained Phiwo: “We also touch on sensitive topics such as child abuse .”
To find out more about Lancelot and Phiwokuhle’s storytelling schedule, email [email protected]