A fantastic way to show your child the virtue of reading is by developing their love for a good story. Not only does an interest in storytelling encourage curiosity for what’s between the pages of a book but nurturing that interest will also give kids some creative problem solving ideas as well.
Creativity is a skill. Use it often and it will grow, multiply and become stronger until creative approaches to challenges become almost instinctual. Ignored, this skill withers and becomes wrought with second guesses, dead end walls and the feeling of not knowing where to begin.
To me, beginning is the hardest part. Once I get rolling a story often takes on a life of it’s own. So in helping your kids to come up with a story where do you begin? You begin with DreamStarters.
The DreamStarter Book: 
Here is what Jennifer has to say about her book:
In truth, DreamStarters began out of desperation and an inability to pull a creative thought from my brain at the end of a busy day. The day had come when my kids (three boys, ages seven to fifteen) had mastered reading, and they no longer needed me to read them chapters from their favorite books. Instead, they asked me to tell them a story. At bedtime I would begin the story, then (struggling to come up with something compelling and worthy of serious Harry Potter fans) I would ask my kids to tell me what happened next. What began as a solution to my creative drought turned into a favorite family tradition.
Soon DreamStarters made its way to the dinner table, as we found it was a great way to keep our kids engaged at the table a few precious minutes more. Even my teenager stayed to present his own plot twists!
Here’s one of the DreamStarters from the book. This one is called “Ice Wind”
Justin and Nicole were hiking toward the top of their favorite mountain when the wind
began to blow. At first, the wind was light and warm, but it soon became fierce and bitter
cold. Even though it was summer, the wind turned everything around them to ice.
“There’s a cave,” Justin yelled to Nicole over the high-pitched scream of the wind.
They leaned into each other as they walked, bracing their weight against the powerful
gusts. The cave’s entrance was covered with icy vines that refused to move. Justin pulled out
his Swiss Army Knife and cut through the vines. From deep within the cave came a blast of
warm air. Justin pushed Nicole into the cave and followed next. It was very dark, and the
warm air smelled damp and…
Is this not a great idea? Engage with your kids. Spend time on something together. Encourage siblings to work towards a conclusion. Show them that daydreaming and being creative is something to indulge in. How could they not enjoy this activity and how could it not develop an interest in story and the written word?
Want a copy of the book? I have one to giveaway! And yes, it’s signed 
To be eligible to win, visit the DreamStarters Website and read through this reader submitted DreamStarter. Come back here and tell us in comments what you see happening next. Make sure to leave your email address so we can contact you if you’re the winner.
Bloggers, get an extra entry by posting about DreamStarters on your blog. Leave a separate comment with your url for it to be counted.
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and immediately feels a cold chill run through his body. He has the eery feeling that he is not alone, but he doesn’t see anyone else. Through the window of the spooky house he sees the glow of a warm fireplace and begins to walk towards the house.
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and the gate slammed shut. He tried to open it but the gate would not open so he crept very slowly to the haunted house hearing footsteps behind him. He started to turn to see what it was
when…
I love this idea. The book sounds terrific. It’s so important to encourage our children’s creativity. (Don’t enter me in the contest, though, because Grace isn’t nearly big enough for the book.)
One of my fondest memories is both reading to and telling stories to my son when he was little. It was at least as much fun for me as for him.
and as he looks at the creepy haunted (how does he know its haunted?) house he realizes its his own, with peeling paint and shutters hanging off the side, a rusted card in the yard. The landscape is familiar too, but since its a wastland – land devastated…by what…a great storm…neglect?…it was hard to tell at first sight…he sees his bicycle, tires deflated, rusted lying in the long grass…he begins to move towards the house..is it really haunted…will it be haunted by his own family? Will he be the ghost?
I’m confused about the wasteland part
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…hears his mom calling him for supper. Her summons is coming from one of the houses in front of him, instead of behind where he would have expected it. He slowly approaches the house unsure what is happening. Then his younger sister comes running out of the front door. Wait a minute, why does she look so much older than him? Alex decided this was just too weird, he likes the way his life is. So he turned around and ran back through the gate as fast as he could and buried the key in his backyard.
Okay, you convinced me. This would be great for our writing program. My kids are in 2nd & 3rd grade and we homeschool. I would love to win this! Thanks for the contest.
He slowly walks toward this house that looks haunted…a nagging feeling of the familiar in the house. Something about the shape and the big oak tree near his – his? This was his house, but old and dilapidated falling in ruins. A car pulls up and two people get out talking about this great piece of real estate. He tries to tell them its not for sale…but they don’t seem to hear him…then he realizes…the house doesn’t just look haunted – it is haunted by him! The old gate just allowed him a glimpse into what his house really looks like now! How long had he’d been seeing it as new with fresh paint, how long had he’d been blind to this? He walks through the gate again and now sees an empty lot with a big oak tree that looks a lot like…so this was before his house was even built? What was going on?
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Alex walks through the gate and steps further. he feels as if someone is following. being frightened he turns back to run away but the gate and everything at the back of him disappears. having no option left he walks to the house. and opens the door. thousands of bats come out. one of it carries it to a golden palace filled with lots of treasures. he takes some jewels and fills his pockets. “Wake up”, he hears a call and sees his mother but…………………………………………………………………………….the jewels were still in his pocket
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& he wondered who lived here before? Could anyone one still live in the spooky place still? No, who would live in an old creep dirty old house?
Still, he thought~maybe children had lived here before. Maybe there were strange old toys or treasures left behind.
As he entered the house he heard a strange cry comming from up stairs.
He took a deep breath & then coughed from the dust.
"Ok, stop being a wussy!", he told him self, as he place a shaky foot upon the bottom of the stairs.
Suddenly he hears the voice of a girl singing “It’s 1692. “Daddy’s gone, mama’s in the basement and Jack’s dead” He walks toward the yellow hair girls kneeling on the ground. She points to the toward the housr…
Alex has a hot flash course through his body. His face and especially his ears are burning red when he sees his reflection in the window of the haunted house. The human forms he sees are ghostly white but oddly familiar. He turns abruptly and runs out of this gated scene to face this mystery another day but the key has been lost. When he returns home he reviews this as an adventure lost. He swears to be more brave the next time.
I see misery nothing but misery
Alex is immediately stopped by a young girl who asks him for a biscuit.
…before closing it, thinks to place a few small sticks in the way, just so he won’t be locked away from his world forever. He slowly takes his surroundings in, and decides to check out the rest of the neighborhood before he approaches the scariest-looking piece of property.
sees a lush field of flowers spreading out before him. Suddenly a dragon appears, lunging angrily and baring its ferocious fangs. Alex quickly backs out of the gate and closes it shut.
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and immediately feels a cold chill run through his body.
he was greeted by an old man with a long flowing white beard who said “I have been waiting a long time for you my chosen one”.
Suddenly finds that he begins to shrink. He shrinks and shrinks some more until he is about the size of a mouse. Although terrified, he realizes that this will help him explore the house with more ease. He begins to walk towards the house….
when rounding the corner, he ran smack into this promotional comment:
This sweepstakes has been featured on Sweepstakes Advantage, http://www.sweepsadvantage.com. The Web’s Largest Directory of Free Online Sweepstakes. Good Luck to Everyone!
“At last I’ve found the magic advertisement,” he shouted gleefully. “This can only mean…
as Alex walks through the gate, he feels drawn towards the spooky house. It seems so familiar, from a dream perhaps. Though filled with apprehension, Alex walks up the steps of the old, yet oddly welcoming house and slowly turns the doorknob.
Walking ,he feels the warmth of the sun. Inviting ,he walks closer to see the house is not scary as he first thought.As he gets closer to the house he sees animals,and then he sees her . It is a glimmer of his future,but does he want to know . What he wants to do is…
and the gate slammed shut.
to ther right is a hairy little troll with black eyes and curled fingers with long nails. alex runs into the haunted house to escape the troll
I think he will be met by another boy that lives in the neighborhood and has found the same portal.
immediately sees it, a beautiful rainbow beyond the houses. He knows he needs to reach the rainbow. He starts out running and tires quickly and stops to sit down. Above him in the tree, is a blue bird, who actually starts to speak. He says, “Your journey will be long, but keep the path and you will be successful in your journey. And he continues on…
It’s a long story.
Great idea!! Very fun.