An African Dilemma tale is a unique style of participative storytelling. It is a story that has no end other than that provided by the participants. And even then, the story continues……
Why are dilemma tales important for children in the digital age? Children are bombarded with conflicting stories every day. They ingest cartoons, news, reality shows, commercials, movies, series and computer games. They hear adults talking. At school, they hear stories about various subjects while sitting in classes as a mostly silent, passive audience. Vast amounts of data reach them each day and they have no way of processing it all.
The dilemma tale provides skills that help children to explore, filter, process and play with possible scenarios and outcomes.
It helps them see the difference between temporal and enduring stories.
It helps them see the meaning of their own story as it fits into stories of the world around them.
It helps them take charge of their own life story by the choices they make.
It helps them engage complex topics such as conflict, suffering, sustainability, change, the environment and outcomes of behaviours in engaging, fun ways.
It helps build both creative and critical thinking skills through experience and engagement.
It builds the confidence to engage wide ranging topics
It promotes teamwork skills
It builds confidence in telling stories
It promotes listening and paying focused attention
It banishes boredom
It empowers the creative spirit and allows participants to see their own experience of life as a creative act, a dilemma tale in which they have the power to choose to create what happens next.
In creating the dilemma tale children are encouraged to dream up the characters and use readily available multimedia compoents such as clay, leaves, finger paints, mud, sticks, coloured paper, stones and whatever else is available in the environment to bring their characters from imagination into the world. Then they create the stories and scenarios that animate them. A skilled facilitator could keep this scenario going for many months and use it as an aid / memory palace to assist learning and retention of the other traditional school subjects.
Are you an educator working with children between 6-13 years old?
We help you to facilitate children into powerful storytelling, creating archetypal characters (heroes, allies and antagonists) and, using metaphors, give characters personality and history, a look and mood, a style and voice. Characters are then presented with challenges and dilemmas which must be resolved within the framework of story. It´s a fun way to learn and work together with children. They can experiment with various scenarios and explore possible story trajectories and endings. If this, then that… this is the beginning of strategic planning.
Life as dilemma tale: what we do or say or choose next could change everything
If you’re an educator we can provide ideas, resources and workshops to help you work with children using the African Dilemma Tale format. It’s easy, fun and very memorable. Rather than being passive listeners, children are transformed into active, participative creators.
Some typical dilemma tales
Mom enters bedroom. She’s horrified to see a massive mess of pillows, books, finger paints and seeds spread all over the floor. “Who made this mess?” she shouts. Suddenly she sees two little birds perched on the curtain rail. They look embarrassed. One is called Peter and one is called Thembi. What happens next?
The big muscle-bound Tyrannosaurs Rex comes back home to the ice cave late at night. He has been fighting all day with other dinosaurs and he’s in a baaad mood. Within a short time the huge Daddy and Mommy Tyrannosaurus Rex are busy fighting and roaring. The baby Tyrannosaurus Rex tries to keep them apart but isn’t noticed. They carry on fighting and roaring even louder in the ice cave. The baby Tyrannosaur knows that when the fighting stops, there will be silence and the ice cave will grow colder. What does the baby Tyrannosaurs Rex do next?
Fostering Creativity & Confidence with Dilemma Tales
Here are some key benefits of incorporating dilemma tales into educational settings to foster creativity and confidence in children, based on the sources provided:
Boosting Creative Thinking: Dilemma tales can help children build creative thinking skills through active engagement and experiential learning. Unlike traditional stories with predictable plots and straightforward solutions, dilemma tales present open-ended scenarios that challenge children to imagine possibilities, consider diverse perspectives, and think outside the box. By participating in these imaginative exercises, children can strengthen their ability to generate original ideas and develop flexible, adaptable approaches to problem-solving.
Encouraging Creative Expression: The process of creating dilemma tales can further enhance creativity by empowering children to bring their ideas to life through various mediums. As described in the sources, children can invent characters and scenarios, then use readily available materials like clay, paint, or natural elements to visually represent their narratives. This hands-on, multimodal approach can help children externalize their inner thoughts and feelings, fostering self-expression and building confidence in their creative abilities.
Building Confidence Through Participation: African dilemma tales often conclude without a definitive resolution, instead prompting listeners to continue the narrative and grapple with potential outcomes. This open-ended approach can be particularly beneficial in educational settings, as it creates a safe and encouraging space for children to share their ideas, voice their opinions, and actively participate in the storytelling process. By contributing to the unfolding narrative, children can gain confidence in their ability to express themselves, engage in group discussions, and navigate complex situations.
Developing Confidence in Ambiguity: Children today encounter a constant stream of information from various sources, much of which may be contradictory or inconclusive. Dilemma tales, by presenting situations with no easy answers, can help children develop a stronger sense of comfort with ambiguity and uncertainty. Instead of seeking definitive solutions or relying on external authorities, children can practice navigating complex scenarios, considering diverse perspectives, and forming their own judgments based on the available information. This process of grappling with uncertainty can be instrumental in fostering confidence, self-reliance, and independent thinking.
By incorporating dilemma tales into educational settings, educators can provide children with valuable opportunities to flex their creative muscles, build confidence in their abilities, and develop essential critical thinking skills that extend far beyond the classroom.
“Those who do not have power over the story that dominates their lives, the power to retell it, rethink it, deconstruct it, joke about it, and change it as times change, truly are powerless, because they cannot think new thoughts” Salman Rushdie
