They Cut off their Tales: Tiny Tales of Blizty Boy

Another guest post from the pen of my mummy.


It was a close run thing - should we or shouldn't we - but we ended up back at Tiny Tales today - the Scottish Storytelling Centre's session for under 2s.  It is the sort of thing that gets wry looks from those who don't follow the same "Alpha Baby Programme" as us (tongue firmly in cheek here, of course).  We like to get out.  We want to do stuff together.  Yes, of course, you can tell a 7 month old baby a story.  (If you don't talk to them now, they certainly won't listen to you later, etcetera, etcetera).  


So last month we did Tiny Tales  with Baby Kate and her Mummy.  And it was OK - really it was.  You didn't feel you'd wasted your £6 or 40 minutes of your life.  The storyteller taught me some songs I didn't know.  She held it together for the allotted time with a legion of crawling, drooling babies.  She was fine.  But I have to be honest and say it didn't really light my fire.  So we dithered about today, but we went anyway.  And boy was that a good call - cos, would you believe it, the storyteller today - well, she was good, really good!

The she in question is Maria Cairnie.  I googled her when I got home, and apparently she is a storytelling children's writer with a passion for telling stories to younger audiences.  She certainly is.  Brightly dressed for her Valentine's Day love heart theme, she oozed charisma. She didn't forget the tunes or the words, rather her performance seemed to flow effortlessly.  I found myself quite enjoying it.  She looked like she was having a great time herself, as she bopped her way through her stories of Blizty Boy - her dog, who naturally happens to be the love of her life.  Animated, that's the word?  Some professional dance training perhaps?  

Sometimes during less slick children's "performances", in order to pass the time I run a silent book, inwardly gambling whether the slot will finsih, before it finishes the performer - but she seemed to have no trouble holding the bustle of babies' attention, or the terrible twos - and when she finally signposted to us that she was starting her final segment, I was cheerfully surprised the session had passed so happily.  Mummy-veterans will know this is no mean feat.  Madeleine was captivated, except for the time when she howled.  I was delighted - she was obviously pushed a little bit beyond her comfort zone - if she could speak, she would no doubt have said: "That strange lady is kind of freaking me out Mummy - even though I think I sort of love her too".  And I could have replied: "Yes, darling - that's ART - amazing isn't it?"

The downside is she's from the "other side". Maria Cairnie that is, not Madeleine.  Glasgow-based, I'm afraid - though have-Blitzy-dog will travel.  I think she would be a real plus for a party or event - what was very pleasing was her ability to play to such a wide age range.  I'm fairly convinced that older children, way over 2, would have found this enthralling, and would enjoy getting up to do the dancing- something which Maria was clearly adept at encouraging.    Would be nice to see her at the Parents Like Us festival perhaps - some lovely story telling would fit well there.

Anyway, before I close, do allow me to climb on my soapbox.  Over the last 5 years, I have to say, we have been out and about a fair bit, and over that period I have been subjected to some really horrendous storytelling.  5 years ago, libraries were knee deep in community arts money, where events would be run by workers specifically recruited for their ability to engage young children.  Cuts.  Cuts. Cuts.  They cut off their tales.  Sorry Terrible Pun.  Couldn't resist.  Yet that's the reality -  they've sacked all the community workers and left our storytelling heritage in the hands of the librarians.  Terrible, terrible move.  People who began life wanting to sort books aren't always the most engaging perfomers for rooms full of tiny tots.   How blissful to meet someone more suited.

Tiny Tales takes place on the first Tuesday morning of every month at the Scottish Storytelling Centre and costs £6 per child.  You can find Blitzy Dog on facebook