Those Sunday School Teachers were on the right track, whether they knew it or not! There are so many educational benefits to using flannel board stories, or, as we used to call them, flannelgraphs. Some of these benefits are only now becoming recognized for their importance as we learn more about how critical it is to have a multisensory approach to learning. Felt board stories are so valuable in teaching children of all learning styles and multiple intelligences.
The use of Story Time Felts by students of all ages encourages a wide range of sensory experiences:
Visual - sight, spatial perception, color recognition
Tactile - touch, texture
Fine Motor Skills - hand/eye coordination, manipulation
Auditory - hearing, listening
Linguistic- speaking, listening
Intellectual - cause and effect, problem solving, patterning, sequencing, math skills
Spiritual - values, love, religious study, worship
Creative - imagination, make believe, music, drama
Life Skills - health, hygiene, manners, relationships, dressing appropriately
And the reason to use Story Time Felts specifically? All Story Time Felts products:
are washable
are durable
won't tear, crack, or break
provide hours and hours of "hands on" experience
encourage creativity
have realistic looking figures rather than cartoonish ones
develop science skills
develop math and number skills
develop alphabet skills
encourage listening, retelling, and creativity
are inexpensive
are long lasting
have high educational value
allow you to relax while your children enjoy working with the figures, knowing they can't damage them
