Storytime by Seema Didi
In the weeks leading up to Shikshantar’s 24th birthday, Seema Didi crafted inspiring storytelling experiences for the children of Pre Primary and Primary around the themes of individuality, compassion and peaceful coexistence.
The Primary children gathered excitedly in Vajeh Bevajeh to listen to the story of ‘The Lion Who Wanted to Love’. With dances and songs improvised by the facilitators, Didi dramatically narrated the story which celebrated the value of maintaining one’s own individuality while fostering bonds of empathy with everyone. When asked about what positive values they saw in the lion cub, the children shared that they identified with little Leo’s kindness and how he didn’t want to hurt his friends.
On another day, the little ones gathered in the hub for a story session with Seema Didi. Their eyes lit up with wonder as Didis walked in carrying large colourful stick puppets of characters from the story ‘The Rainbow Fish’. It was a familiar story for the children who loved hearing it again and again, fascinated by the fish’s scales, wise octopus and the whiskered catfish. Completely glued to the narration, the children paid close attention as Didi shared with them how celebrating each other’s strengths builds positive relationships and uplifts everyone.
With Shikshantar’s birthday fast approaching, the children had many questions about the history of the school. Building around old pictures of spaces that the children connect with the most, Seema Didi took them through the journey of Shikshantar. As the story unfolded, the children watched with amusement as Didis reconstructed the slide through creative movements to match Seema Didi’s narration. They cheered when they saw the school’s first bus and peppered the facilitators with questions when they saw the pictures of Marsh and Mellow’s puppies for the first time.
Already immersed in their experience for the theme ‘छूमन्तर शिक्षांतर’ where they searched for the magic in their everyday lives, a student asked Seema Didi where she finds magic in her life. Didi replied that she finds magic in all of the children who are a constant source of learning for all of us as we grow together.