Crafts & entertainment with Sara & Sivan

Create a Story Together

The month of Azar is a great time to explore books and stories about topics like autumn, Yalda, or the start of winter. You can visit bookstores or libraries with children, browse through different books, and make it an exciting research project that spans a month or two.

Writing a Story Together

Collaboratively writing a story can be a magical experience for children. Start by discussing the basics of storytelling:

🌿 What can the story be about?

Seasonal themes like autumn leaves, Yalda traditions, or winter adventures.
🌿 Who are the characters?
Animals, people, imaginary creatures, or even objects that come to life.
🌿 What do the characters do in the story?
Discuss their roles, challenges, and actions.
🌿 How should the story start?
Decide on an opening, like a unique setting or an interesting event.
🌿 Who begins the story?
Let one child or adult start, and others build on it.
🌿 What events or adventures can we create?
Explore exciting, funny, or meaningful moments for the characters.
🌿 How should the story end?
Brainstorm a satisfying conclusion that ties the events together.

Let the children guide the story’s direction while you write it down or encourage them to do so themselves if they can.

Illustrating and Publishing Your Story

Once the story is complete:

Read it together multiple times.
Encourage children to draw illustrations for the story.
Type the story for them, or let them type it themselves.
Combine the text and illustrations into a booklet by printing and binding the pages or creating a digital version.

This project transforms the story into a cherished keepsake and reinforces creativity and collaboration.

Storytelling with Toys

Children’s toys can become wonderful tools for storytelling.

Select suitable toys together and create a story centered around them.
Act out the story with the toys, giving each character a voice and personality.

Storytelling through toys adds a playful dimension, engaging children’s imagination and making the experience even more enjoyable.

Yalda & Story telling

Creating Family Memories Through Storytelling

Yalda Night offers a wonderful opportunity to pass on cultural values to the younger generation through storytelling and sharing family tales. These stories can include:

Ancient legends rewritten and reimagined for today’s children.
Grandparents’ tales.
Childhood memories of parents.

Storytelling to Strengthen Persian Language Skills

You can dedicate the entire month of Azar (November-December) to storytelling. This activity not only enhances children’s language skills but also fosters a closer bond between you and them. Yalda Night is a perfect occasion for children to learn their mother tongue by listening to Persian stories. Simple language and rich mental imagery in stories can help children become familiar with Persian vocabulary and idioms.

Storytelling creates sweet and lasting memories for children. These memories can strengthen the bonds between family and friends and nurture a sense of belonging to Iranian culture in children.

Encouraging Dialogue

Storytelling is a great way to spark conversations between children and adults. After hearing stories, you can encourage children to:

Ask questions.
Share their opinions.
Create their own stories.

This interaction helps develop their imagination and communication skills.

Games and Fun with Stories

Storytelling can be combined with small games or simple performances. For example:

Children can play the roles of the story’s characters.
They can draw pictures based on the story.

These activities make children more eager to listen to stories and help them remember them better.

Exploring Books Together

Look for books and stories about topics like autumn, Yalda, or the beginning of winter together. Visit bookstores or libraries, browse through different books, and make it a one- or two-month research project for the children.

Developing Narrative Skills

It’s crucial for children, after the age of 4, to be able to narrate a complete story or event, allowing others to understand the beginning, middle, and end. This ability significantly influences their success in comprehension, reading, writing, communication, and forming friendships.

By integrating storytelling into Yalda traditions, you not only preserve cultural values but also equip children with essential skills for their future.

Audiostories

Engaging Children Through Sound

Sometimes, play audiostories for your children or read books aloud and record your voice. You can also ask grandparents or other relatives to read stories in their voices and send the recordings to you so you can listen to them together with your children.

Storytelling through audio is a wonderful way to connect across generations and create lasting memories. People of all ages enjoy listening to stories, making this activity a delightful experience for the whole family.

Yalda Night Games

The long Yalda Night is a perfect opportunity for group games. One of the traditional games played on this night is Gorabazi (also known as Jorab Bazi or Jorabin), which is similar to “Gol ya Puch”. This game is particularly popular among Kurdish communities.

How to Play

What you need:

One small object (e.g., a marble or bead).
Several woolen winter socks.

Steps:

Divide the players into two teams and have them sit facing each other.
The player who starts the game arranges the socks with their openings facing them.
They take the marble (or chosen object) and, using skillful hand movements, hide it inside one of the socks. To do this, they slide their fingers into the socks, pretending to place the marble in different ones, while actually hiding it in just one sock.
Once the marble is hidden, the opposing team must consult with each other and guess which sock contains the marble.
If they guess correctly, they earn a point.

This simple yet exciting game requires skill, observation, and teamwork, making it a delightful addition to Yalda celebrations. It’s a wonderful way to bring people together and enjoy the warmth of the longest night of the year.