How to Teach Trust Through Storytelling: Lessons from Mama Turtle Learns How to Carry the World

Trust isn’t something you can force—it’s something you build. And when it comes to children, building trust requires more than just words; it requires experience, example, and stories. Stories are how children begin to understand big concepts like love, faith, responsibility, and yes—trust. They give kids the emotional language to name their feelings and the narrative space to imagine different ways of responding to life.

One of the most beautiful examples of this is Mama Turtle Learns How to Carry the World by Lisa Tazza Friesen. The book gently guides children through the emotional landscape of trust—trust in oneself, trust in others, and trust in something bigger than us all.

In this blog, we’ll explore how to teach trust through storytelling and look at how Mama Turtle serves as a masterclass in doing just that.

Why Trust Matters in Childhood Development

Trust is the foundation of every healthy relationship and emotional interaction. Children who learn to trust:

• Develop a secure sense of self.
• Are more resilient in the face of challenges.
• Build stronger friendships and family bonds.
• Learn to navigate uncertainty with confidence.

But trust isn’t just about believing others won’t hurt you. It’s about feeling secure enough to step out of your comfort zone—whether that means trying something new, being honest about a mistake, or simply asking for help.

And that’s where storytelling plays its most powerful role.

Storytelling as a Vehicle for Trust

When you tell a story, especially one that features emotional struggle and resolution, you do more than entertain—you give your child a map. That map says:

• “Here’s what it feels like to be afraid.”
• “Here’s what it means to let go.”
• “Here’s how to trust—even when it’s hard.”

The characters become mirrors and mentors. The plot becomes a safe way to explore tough emotions. And the ending brings hope.

This emotional journey helps children internalize the idea that they can trust others, that it’s okay to release control, and that even in uncertain times, they are not alone.

A Story of Sacred Trust: Mama Turtle Learns How to Carry the World

In Lisa Tazza Friesen’s heartfelt book, Mama Turtle Learns How to Carry the World, the concept of trust is at the very center of the narrative. The story begins with Creator God entrusting Mama Turtle with the enormous task of carrying the world on her back—a metaphor for the weight and responsibility of motherhood, leadership, and care.

Mama Turtle’s initial reaction is very human: “I’m too small. I can’t do this.” And that is the first lesson about trust—recognizing our limitations. Creator God responds not with reassurance of her strength but with an invitation: “You must trust Me.”

This divine exchange models a spiritual trust—one rooted in relationship, not capability. For children, this shows that trust is not about being strong enough to handle everything. It’s about knowing you’re not alone in the task.

The Role of Challenges in Building Trust

As the story unfolds, Mama Turtle’s journey is marked by challenge and growth:

• Laying her eggs on the beach and releasing her children into the unknown ocean.
• Carrying the weight of barnacles, fish, and algae clinging to her shell.
• Facing exhaustion, fear, and the need to surrender.

Each of these moments reflects a child’s lived experiences in symbolic form: letting go of someone you love, feeling burdened by responsibilities, or being afraid to fail.

When Mama Turtle finally hears Creator God tell her to let go, she learns that trust doesn’t mean holding on tighter. Sometimes it means releasing, resting, and recovering.

For kids, this reinforces the idea that trusting doesn’t make you weak. It makes you wise.

Spiritual Language Without Preaching

One of the reasons Mama Turtle Learns How to Carry the World is so effective is that it delivers deep spiritual wisdom in a gentle, non-dogmatic way. The narrative pulls from Native American oral traditions and biblical references, blending them into a warm, relatable story.

Creator God’s character isn’t heavy-handed—He’s nurturing. It creates a safe space for spiritual exploration, where faith and trust are presented not as mandates, but as guiding lights.

This is especially helpful for families who want to instill spiritual values without overwhelming their children. The book becomes not just a story, but a shared experience—something to talk about after the last page is turned.

How to Use Mama Turtle to Teach Trust at Home

Here are a few ways you can use this book as a trust-teaching tool during storytime:

1. Read Slowly and Talk Often

Pause after key moments in the story. Ask your child:

• “What do you think Mama Turtle felt right now?”
• “Have you ever felt like something was too big for you?”
  This creates emotional vocabulary and lets children know it’s safe to share.

2. Create Your Own ‘Trust Moments’

After the story, invite your child to draw or write about a time they trusted someone—or struggled to. Connect it back to the story: “Just like Mama Turtle had to trust Creator God…”

3. Use Symbolism to Spark Conversations

The barnacles, ocean, eggs, and coral reef all represent different challenges. Ask your child:

• “What are some barnacles in your life?”
• “What helps you feel lighter again?”

Let the metaphors do the teaching.

4. Revisit the Book During Transitions

Any time your child is going through a life change—starting school, moving, saying goodbye to a loved one—bring this book back out. Stories become anchors during seasons of instability.

Building a Culture of Trust Through Repetition

Teaching trust isn’t a one-and-done deal. It’s an ongoing conversation, and stories like Mama Turtle give you a way to keep that conversation alive. Each time you read the book, your child will be at a slightly different stage of development. And each time, the story will meet them where they are.

This repetition builds a culture of trust—where your child knows it’s okay to question, okay to cry, okay to ask for help. And most importantly, okay to believe that they are not alone.

Why Mama Turtle Stands Out in the World of Christian Children’s Books

While many Christian children’s books focus on rules, behavior, or overt teaching, Mama Turtle gently leads through story and symbolism. It doesn’t tell children what to do—it invites them to feel, reflect, and discover. That makes it powerful.

Lisa Tazza Friesen doesn’t shy away from the hard parts of life. She shows that spiritual growth often happens through struggle, and that trust is most meaningful when it’s tested.

By weaving together nature, motherhood, and the divine, she’s created a story that lives far beyond the page.

The World Your Child Will Carry

Teaching trust to children is one of the most important gifts you can give. Not just trust in others, but trust in themselves, in life, and in something greater. Through storytelling, you don’t just explain what trust is—you show them.

Books like Mama Turtle Learns How to Carry the World offer that opportunity. With poetic language, soft illustrations, and a message that echoes long after bedtime, it helps children see that trust isn’t about being strong enough. It’s about being willing to let go, grow, and believe that the path ahead is good—even when they can’t see it.

So next time you gather your child close and open a book, remember: you’re not just telling a story. You’re shaping a soul.