UK storyteller to share an invaluable parenting skill

by Shabana Adam | 22 July 2012

Leo Sofer

“Children need stories like food. Telling your own stories to your children is a way of nourishing their hearts and minds.”

Leo Sofer will give an Intuitive Storytelling Workshop for Parents at Hawkwood College October 26 – 28, 2012.

Leo started storytelling 23 years ago, and since has given thousands of performances for children and adults. For the last six years he has produced two free storytelling podcasts each month which continue to delight thousands of listeners worldwide. Yet the most important of these stories are the ones told each evening to his two young children at bedtime.

Instead of reading from a book or telling memorised folktales, Leo creates stories which literally spring from his intuition. Drawing on his creativity as well as responding to his children’s moods and needs, Leo spontaneously weaves his tales.

As an intuitive storyteller, Leo sees vivid scenes in his mind’s eye, and follows his “inner voice” to create each unique story. Regardless of the day’s challenges, story time can provide the children with feelings of being deeply understood, nourished and cared for – all while having a lot of fun.

“I find telling stories to my children to be a really satisfying way of sharing my inner world with them,” Leo said. “Children need stories like food. Telling your own stories to your children is a way of nourishing their hearts and minds.”

Any parent can relate to times of overwhelm whilst trying to juggle work, ever-changing schedules, sports and activities, homework, meals and more. Not to mention wanting to give more undivided attention to each child. What if most evenings could end in an enjoyable, creative environment that brings the family closer together?

Leo considers his gift a learnable skill, and is delighted to be teaching the first Intuitive Storytelling Workshop for Parents at Hawkwood College this Autumn. Parents need not have any experience in storytelling, or even consider themselves ‘creative’ or ‘intuitive’.

"Leo is a gifted storyteller, a patient and kind teacher and a creator of touching tales and wonderful stories" said Ina Eskildsen, a Danish Psychotherapist and previous participant at one of Leo’s Intuitive Storytelling Workshops.

Leo’s performances and workshops across Europe are listed on his website www.LeoSofer.com where you can also listen to free podcasts and peruse hundreds of stories available for purchase.