Most people like hearing stories. Especially children enjoy hearing them. Reading stories from a book is a favorite for lots of people. Another favorite is hearing stories from the family.

Your children like to know more about you and other members of the family. They want to hear what your favorite food was when you were their age. They want to hear about how your first day of school went. They want to even know about your parents and stories they told you about their lives.

This sharing time isn’t a time to spend a huge amount of time telling these experiences; this is a time to share a story and to listen to a story from your child.

Sharing stories is a special way to pass on information, even about their grandparents’ lives. Just telling your child about what it was like growing up with your mom and dad and siblings will be of interest to your child.

With school just beginning for a new year, now is a good time to talk about what that was like for you. Tell your children what the beginning of kindergarten was like — but don’t forget to tell them what it was like when you were going into fifth grade or ninth grade or your last year of high school.

All these are stories you can tell over many years. Don’t only talk about beginning school; the other school years are also worthwhile to share at some point.

Fantastic firsts

Your first crush on someone else is certainly a story worth sharing. Remember to include details about how you picked out your special clothes to wear or how you got together. Talk about the first formal dance you went to, particularly since most dances aren’t that way today. What do you remember about any school dance or any first date you had? Your children also want to know how you met the person you married and/or who share raising them with you.

Don’t neglect the story about the first pet you had. You can wait for a similar experience your child might have or you can just tell this special story whenever it is a good time to share a story. How did you come up with your new pet’s names? Where did the pet sleep? Did this pet sleep with your child like your pet did when you were little? Ask for details after you supply some of the details in your life.

Do you remember the first crummy grade you got in school. Something like that can really make you feel bad. The time to tell this story is obviously when your child receives a poor grade. See how your child reacts. Was it like you reacted? Can you laugh together about this experience? If you never had this experience, instead share the moment in school when you were most proud of your accomplishment.

As you share your experiences it will help your child talk about his or her current experiences. Just sharing these times together is important. Part of the value is simply the time you spend together.

This kind of sharing is one of the most important learning opportunities you each have about the other.

Cynthia Martin is the founder of the First Teacher program and former executive director of Parenting Matters Foundation, which published newsletters for parents, caregivers and grandparents.