For Father’s Day, I wrote a letter to that young father I used to be who first took on the responsibilities of parenthood some 14 years ago, and gave advice to him on what he did well and where he had room for improvement. Read the full letter on The Parent Network, or download here.    Read More »

Nal’ibali (isiHhosa for “Here’s the Story”) is an initiative sponsored by the Project for the Study of Alternative Education, a non-governmental organization based in Cape Town, South Africa, that promotes the use of storytelling and reading to inspire children to want to read and write. At the initiative sponsor’s kind invitation, I submitted for their publication the attached article on the importance of family storytelling in celebration of Father’s Day 2012. Download Celebrating a Storytelling Tradition in Your Family this Father’s Day.

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As proud as any parent is who has a son or daughter serving their country, I now understand that this pride is accompanied by endless hours of waiting and worry. Waiting to hear that they’re safe, and worrying that they’re not.    Read More »

Even my faith in storytelling sometimes falters when I contemplate competing against video games—the ultimate Pied Piper. How do I tear the kids away from flashing lights and explosions and get them to sit with a book or tell a story? For the answer, please click on the attached link to my article in the May 30, 2012 edition of Huffington Post Parents.    Read More »

I used to wonder why my sons asked for the same story night after night. I came to the conclusion that kids simply enjoy the comfort of repetition. Think of it as an emotional security blanket.    Read More »

I want more dads to become “Story Dads.” The time I’ve spent telling stories with my sons is one of the greatest treasures of my life. When dads tell me they don’t know how to tell stories, what they’re often saying is, they don’t know how to talk with their kids. To read my entire post, visit the Huffington Post Parents.    Read More »

We’re pleased to announce that the Washington, D.C. area’s most famous bookstore, Politics and Prose, is now carrying our book, “Dad, Tell Me A Story,” How to Revive the Tradition of Storytelling with Your Children. Drop by the store (5015 Connecticut Avenue, NW, 202-364-1919) any time to purchase a book, or join us at the Sheridan School Book Fair on Saturday, May 5, at 4:00 p.m., where we’ll be happy to sign a personalized copy for you, your family, or as a special gift for mom or dad on Mother’s or Father’s Day.    Read More »

A big thank you to the parents, faculty, and staff of the National Child Research Center, a prestigious independent pre-school in Washington, D.C., for inviting me to present a family storytelling workshop to the NCRC parent body on Tuesday evening, April 24. We explored together how parents can create stories with their children, and discussed the benefits of storytelling for kids, parents, and families. Even NCRC’s Head of School, Liz Barclay, got into the act by creating an entertaining, in-the-moment, made-up story for the audience. We’ll be posting soon videos from the evening, so stay tuned.    Read More »