Once upon a time (good lead-in to a story, don’t you think?)  Too bad I didn’t think of it. But a quick Google search reveals that the phrase has been around since 1380. Equally impressive, it has been translated into 85 different languages. Guess that means it stands the test of time.

Anyway, I once asked a man to start telling his story by simply thinking back to “Once upon a time.” Here is what he said, and I quote verbatim, “My mother put me in a basket and set it under a big bay window. I remember the sun shining in on my face. Nobody will believe this, but I’ll swear on a stack of Bibles that I was only six months old.”

You might not remember back to when you were six months old. But you do remember your childhood.  

Use the following prompts to help you tell your childhood stories:

What is your first memory—or at least an early memory?

Think back to “Once upon a time.” Tell that story.

Tell a story about toys you played with.

Tell a story about games you played.

Tell a story about a frightening experience.

Tell a story about a happy experience.

Tell a story about a sad experience.

Tell a story about a time you were naughty and got caught.

Tell a story about a time you were naughty and didn’t get caught.

Tell a story about a favorite hideaway—a place you went to be alone.

Tell a story about your favorite food—your least favorite food.

Tell a story about your chores.

Tell a story about your allowance.

Tell a story about your best friend.

Tell a story about your neighborhood friends.

Tell a story about a scary storm—hurricane, tornado, blizzard, thunderstorm.

Tell a story about your favorite books, songs, nursery rhymes.

What did you want to be when you grew up? What happened?