ABSTRACT
The child needs us to hear the story they have to tell, and we must be able to
listen to it. The story may be told in many different ways, and through
different materials, but the ‘story relationship’ that we have with a child will
mean that we listen with utmost respect. For example, it is not helpful if we
leap in and finish sentences, or pre-empt an ending. Even if we think we
know what a story is about, we need to listen in a neutral way, otherwise we
already have its ‘meaning’ worked out in our heads, and will lose what the
child is really trying to tell us. Because we are always searching for meaning,
and ways to understand the people with whom we work, it is easy to lose our
total attention to what we are being told.We are not only are listening to the
content of the story, but also noting the way it is told, the tone of voice, the
gestures, and the body posture. For example, our reactions are very different
if a story is told in a flat voice with no light or shade, and no indication of
feelings. We might then consider the ideas later in this Chapter for
developing the voice.
