A viva voce: genealogie della narrazione educativa

Abstract

The paper aims to demonstrate the importance of reading aloud in early childhood development. It explores a range of aspects—cognitive, linguistic, emotional, social, symbolic-cultural, and, most notably, relational. Foundational pedagogical literature, together with recent neuroscientific findings, underscores the need to support the early formation of an ontologically relational Self through narrative-oriented methodological choices. A central focus of this reflection is the narrative voice, whether it belongs to a parent, an early childhood educator, or another significant adult. In all cases, the reader's voice becomes a medium of relational and emotional closeness, offering containment and reassurance. It serves as a vehicle for psycho-symbolic meaning-making that supports developmental growth and identity formation in young children.