We may not realize it but we tell stories every day, possibly fifty or more. It’s encoded in our language, in the way we think and interact with people. “How was your day?” “What are you doing?” “Where are you from?” are all questions that beg the story. These everyday ‘stories’ we share with our family, friends and colleagues may not be the stuff great literature is made of but they all contain the basic elements required to make up a story including a character, a crisis, a breakthrough and a change. Or you could say a story is when: a person tackles a problem and learns a lesson; the other stuff is just dressing.

Accidental stories are those everyday stories created in the moment to help children tackle their problems and reflect on their emotions.

Here are a list of why stories are important and the value they can bring to families:

• diffuse a heated situation/tackle an immediate problem
  
• improve overall long-term behaviour of a child
  
• bridge communication between a parent and child
  
• define parents values better
  
• uncover unique voices in both parent and child
  
• enhance the nine developing character traits
  
• create a common language shared among the family
  
• slow down the moment for both parent and child
  
• create a life-long storyteller in your child
• unlock some of the inner workings of your child’s mind