Telling stories is second nature to Sean Buvala. He knows that isn't the case for many fathers, though.
Buvala has shaped his life around storytelling. He found a niche for telling stories in the corporate world. While he helps businessmen communicate better, the questions he gets after his seminars are often on a more personal level.
"Fathers ask me how they can tell stories to their children. They are often afraid they will do something wrong," the Avondale resident said. "What they are saying is, 'I wish I could talk to my kids.'"
A recent study showed 45 percent of fathers never participate in their children's bedtime rituals or tell them stories, Buvala said.
That was inspiration enough for Buvala to put his words of storytelling wisdom into a handbook he titled Daddyteller.
"It was an immediate response, after 25 years of storytelling," he said with a laugh. "My heart is in this book."
With four children of his own, ranging in age from 11 to 19, Buvala has seen what story time can do for children and for the parent/child relationship.
"That time looking each other in the eye is really important," he said. "It really is a way for dads to slow the clock down. Take time to tell a story, botch it, laugh, it's all OK."
Many parents think they aren't good enough speakers or readers or creative enough to tell stories with their youngsters, and that is why Buvala wrote, Daddyteller, a sort of how-to book, complete with stories to share.
"It's written to get to the point. It's for the average dad to not think he has to have a degree in literature," he said.
Storyteller Tim Ereneta of Berkley, Calif., met Buvala many years ago through the Web site Storyteller.net.
"I have two sons of my own, ages 5 and 8. When I tell other parents that I'm a storyteller, many of them confess that they don't tell stories to their children, because they don't know how," Ereneta said. "The beauty of Daddyteller is that Sean has broken it down into easy, do-able steps that parents (even busy ones) can succeed at."
Both storytellers agree the craft benefits children in many ways and is an easy way to teach children lessons.
"I know from experience, kids may or may not listen to lectures, or long-winded explanations about proper behavior, but they will listen to, and remember, stories," Ereneta said.
Teaching children the skill of being creative and construct stories and guess what might happen next is a lesson in literacy skills and builds confidence, as well, Buvala said.
"There are definitely literacy-building skills in sequencing and making up stories," Buvala said.
Daddyteller can benefit mothers, teachers and others interested in connecting to children through stories, as well. Buvala focused primarily on the paternal role as he has seen more fathers struggle with storytelling, he said.
"Dads seem really afraid of doing something wrong," he said.
Buvala is more comfortable working with adult or teen audiences for his favorite stories, often with a darker twist, rather than preschoolers. For his own children, he usually stuck with humor to get to their hearts, he said.
"Most of the time, my children still choose to come to events and hear me tell stories," he said.
Buvala hopes that with the help of Daddyteller, which is available on Amazon.com, more fathers will realize there's nothing more important than talking with their children, he said.
"I hope the 45 percent of dads in this country who have never told their kids a story find the courage to do that," he said. "You will not break them; you will not ruin the story. The best thing I can do is teach parents to tell stories to their children. It's a win for everyone."
Beth Kristin Ott can be reached by e-mail at bott@westvalleyview.com.
