It is no secret that reading is an essential activity in children's lives. Reading children's stories will help them foster their imagination while learning, especially about values.
Reading is an incredible way to educate by getting children to reflect on the attitudes of the characters in children's stories. The sooner we instill this habit in our little ones, the faster they will make it their favorite activity. That's why at Logos Nursery we encourage reading stories from the infant stage.
The importance of working on values in children
Education in values is essential for children in their first years of life. In the infant stage, the little ones begin to relate little by little with their environment, therefore, it is convenient that they learn the norms, customs and ethical values necessary to improve their integration in society and begin to form their own ethical and critical thinking.
At Logos Nursery we emphasize the learning of coexistence, respect, tolerance and honesty in each of our students.
8 children's stories to educate
Children's stories are ideal to foster children's imagination, as well as to convey messages through their stories and illustrations. That is why at Logos Nursery, a nursery school located in Las Rozas de Madrid, we use reading corners and our library for educational purposes for the little ones.
In this article, as we did when we listed stories for children in English, we would like to recommend some of our favorite choices to transmit values to our students.
To educate in respect
Pumpkin soup (4 to 7 years old)
Generally, animals are perfect to exemplify good coexistence and respect to children. On this occasion, this tale tells the story of a duck, a squirrel and a cat. Three friends who, every day, share a cup of pumpkin soup.
Every day is the same, until one day the duck decides to change the routine, causing a big problem among the three friends. Here the little ones will learn to highlight the importance of resolving conflicts and respecting the tasks of others.
To educate in tolerance
I love you almost always (+ 7 years)
Sometimes, other people's qualities may be different from our own and we need to learn to respect them. This is the story of Lolo, a tough, practical and heavy-spirited ball bug, and Rita, a very bright firefly as delicate as a rose petal.
Through the story, the characters will learn to identify their differences and how to solve them. For the little ones, learning to accept others as they are is vital to strengthen their interpersonal relationships in the future.
Lorenzo's dipper (5-8 years old)
A funny and totally educational story about Lorenzo and his special routine. Every day, Lorenzo carries his red dipper with him, which, at first, does nothing but annoy him.
Little by little, and with the help of some people, Lorenzo begins to see life, just like his dipper, in a totally different and much more positive way. This story invites children to respect differences and learn to deal with life's difficulties .
To educate in solidarity
Lost and Found (6-8 years old)
It is about a little boy who finds a lost penguin in the entrance of his house. Seeing him so lonely and depressed, the boy decides to help him find his home at the South Pole.
When they reach their destination, the boy realizes that the little penguin was not really lost, but that he was very lonely. A story that encourages children's capacity for forgiveness and solidarity.
The school tree (5-6 years old)
A perfect story to highlight the importance of respect and solidarity with our surroundings, including the environment. The story is about Pedro, a boy who begins a special relationship with the only tree in his school.
At the beginning of the story, the tree was rickety, neglected and nobody paid the slightest attention to it. But little by little, thanks to the care and affection of the little boy, the tree begins to grow and become stronger.
To educate in responsibility
The Milkmaid (3 to 5 years old)
Responsibility is a necessary value to learn in the childhood stage, and that marks a really relevant part in adulthood.
Day by day, a little girl helps her mother to milk the cows, but one morning her mother is not feeling well and instructs the little girl to sell all the milk collected at the market.
Once entrusted with the mission, the little girl sets out on a journey to the market. On the way, the girl devises a plan to keep her mother's earnings, and without realizing it, she stumbles and loses everything.
To educate in self-esteem
The three pale princesses (4-7 years old)
In a kingdom far away, a king had the obligation to decide which of his three daughters would be the next to succeed the monarch. Finding himself in such a predicament, he decided to consult with the people.
However, the entire village considered the three princesses too pale to rule the kingdom, so the three pale princesses start doing everything they can to gain power. This book highlights how relevant it is to love yourself as you are.
A serious case of stripes (9-12 years)
A story a little long and with a lot of text, but with a really powerful message: to accept ourselves as we are. It is about Camila Flan, a little girl who likes beans but refuses to eat them because no other child likes them.
Although it seems to be a feeding issue, the truth is that their eagerness to be liked and try to be like others increases throughout history. The desire to fit in and be part of the group begins in infancy. Knowing how to cope with this situation is vital for children's social development.
