Parents should stay calm. They can quickly stop the story if it's inappropriate for the child's age and then divert the child's attention to something else, like a favorite toy or a fun activity.
One parent's story could be about how their child got pneumonia suddenly. For example, their kid might have caught a cold first, and then it developed into pneumonia. They noticed the kid had a high fever, cough, and was very weak. It was a scary time as they had to rush to the hospital and see the child go through various tests like X - rays and blood tests.
One appropriate story could be about a child and parent going on a nature hike together. They discover different animals and plants, and the parent takes the time to teach the kid about the importance of nature conservation. It's a great bonding experience and educational too.
No. Scar stories might be too scary or disturbing for some kids. Young children especially might have nightmares or become overly worried. Also, some scar stories could involve personal and private aspects that parents may not want to expose to their kids at a young age.
There was a boy who, during a family gathering at a fancy restaurant, loudly announced that his dad still slept with a teddy bear. The dad turned bright red as everyone at the table started laughing. It was really embarrassing for him.
Some kids get really angry. They might act out in school or at home. For example, a kid might start getting bad grades or being disrespectful to their parents because they feel betrayed. They don't understand why their parents would do such a thing when they are supposed to be the ones who teach right from wrong. And they also feel like their family is falling apart and they can't do anything about it.
One consequence could be that it undermines the child's trust in the parents. If kids find out that their parents are faking stories, they might feel deceived and it could lead to a breakdown in the relationship. For example, if a parent makes up a heroic story about the child's past that never happened, and the child later discovers it was all false, they may question the parent's honesty in other areas as well.
Illustrate the story as they tell it. Draw simple pictures on a piece of paper to show the main characters or scenes. This visual element can greatly enhance kids' interest in the story. For instance, if it's a story about a journey in the forest, draw the trees, the path and the little animals along the way.