Helen Lumgair on the Healing Power of Storytelling

Helen Lumgair is a Montessori teacher, Feuerstein Instrumental Enrichment Mediator and Education Consultant. She has worked with families and in settings for over twenty years.

Helen created the framework and initial lesson plans of the empathy-focused Think Equal curriculum which was recognised with a 2020 WISE award for innovation and the addressing of global educational challenges, she and has lectured globally on its implementation.

She authored a chapter on using the process of narrative to develop empathy in early childhood in the book, ‘Developing Empathy in the Early Years: A Guide for Practitioners’ and then wrote the book ‘Using Stories to Support Learning and Development in Early Childhood.’ She is passionate about developing holistic educational strategies to meet the needs of every learner, and about stories.

In this interview, we discuss the chapter in her book on Stories and Healing. We explore how stories can be used as part of the healing process, even with babies and very young children, and in all types of settings.

Helen explains her comment ‘Our stories are not formed and told in isolation’ and why we need to understand this when working with children and their families. Throughout the interview, Helen gives examples of the ways that story can facilitate healing, build resilience and give comfort to adults and children.