27/01/2013

note to self 1.0

- research more stories for children which suits their context better. Do not tell the story of Little Red Riding Hood. Ever. Again.

- find stories you believe in.

- explore more stories written by authors you like. Because that's how you bumped into Mahasweta Devi's Ek-kori's Dream and this

- don't rely on spontaneity every time.

- children usually don't play games when it comes to affection or admiration. If they like you, they will happily let you know. So do your job and stop asking them to keep quiet.

 - throw Enid Blyton in the dust bin along with moral stories. Work hard on finding/developing alternatives.

- stop reading stories with an imagined child-reader in mind. Do you like it? Would you want to share it?That is what matters. Let them decide for themselves. Even if they are six years old.

- engage with their sarcasm, if you receive it. Don't shut them out, don't make it an ego issue.

- if they want to play antakshari, go ahead and join them. Since when did storytelling become Compulsory Attendance?

- don't be afraid to say, "I don't know." To the kids, to yourself.

- don't be afraid of a noisy class. A silent class isn't always an indication of interest.

- ask lots of questions to them, but be careful when they ask you for answers.

- strictly avoid being self-righteous when discussing women's rights. Strictly avoid being patronising when they say something preposterous (eg. female infanticide doesn't exist any more). The difference between being patronising and being surprised is not a thin one.

- never forget what you were like when you were a kid. (ref: previous point)

- learn to let go of nostalgia when it becomes suffocating.

- put your heart on your sleeve, but don't shield the kids if you are disappointed by them.

- don't shield the kids, period.

- if you haven't prepared properly, let them know. Face their disappointment, don't hurry them off to an activity.

- be kind.

4 comments:

  1. This is beautiful, you are beautiful, I am in awe and so proud and thrilled to know someone like you.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hello. If you are reading this, I need your help.

    I work at BLPS - check out www.blps.in for the entire story. I am looking to get in touch with writers, publishers, educators, film/documentary producers who would be ready to allow us to use their material - and also supply it to us in large quantities - for our BLPS Notebooks.

    To cut a long story short, we are in the process of compiling a large list of themes and texts that we would like children from class 1 to 8 in Indian schools to explore. We are looking for stories, novels, documentaries, short films, films, plays, poetry, essays, non-fiction work - any kind of 'text' - which is easily available and inexpensive - created by artists of quality and sensitivity.

    Would you know of anybody I could approach? Do you know writers/artists/producers who could help me? Do you know stories that you think should be read more? Please let me know, at catchvini@gmail.com, as soon as you read this.

    Love and thanks,

    Vini

    ReplyDelete
  3. Peach: I still can't believe I have someone like you in my life.

    Anonymous: many thanks. You keep me going too, in the most unexpected moments.

    ReplyDelete

goodness.

 My first response to reading this blog again was, seriously, a post on parenting - that was what I last posted about? I can't help but ...