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Children as Storytellers in India

Page 1: Overview of Early Childhood Education in India

Special Status of Children

  • Children hold a unique position in Indian society, particularly within the family and community.

  • Traditional educational methods emphasize storytelling, dance, and play (Kakar 2008).

Historical Background

  • Early 20th century: Innovators like Tarabai Modak and Anutai Wagh established the anganwadi (courtyard preschool) to educate young children, focusing on those from tribal communities (Swaminathan 1994).

  • Mahatma Gandhi advocated for education in the mother tongue (Kumar 1994).

  • Maria Montessori introduced her educational practices in India in 1939 (Standing 1998).

Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)

  • The largest provider of early childhood education in India is the government-run ICDS scheme.

  • The program aims for comprehensive development of children under age 6.

Page 2: Galli Galli Sim Sim (GGSS)

Introduction to GGSS

  • GGSS: The Indian adaptation of Sesame Street, combining television and educational outreach to prepare children for school and life.

  • Developed 14 educational kits with materials in eight languages for over 6,500 preschool centers.

The Story Pond

  • A five-by-five-foot game designed to promote storytelling by hopping from illustrated stones featuring various objects.

  • Supports multi-domain development: physical, social-emotional, and cognitive.

  • Encourages creativity, vocabulary building, and social interaction by allowing children to create stories based on the images.

Effectiveness and Popularity of the Story Pond

  • Successfully engages children’s love for learning and aids in developing critical skills such as sequencing and reasoning.

  • Appeals to various developmental needs while being easy to use across regions regardless of language.

  • Research shows children using the Story Pond improved in narrative skills compared to those who did not use it (PrismWorld 2009).

Lessons Learned from Using the Story Pond

  • Extends beyond vocabulary to enhance social and emotional growth through shared storytelling and experiences.

  • Praised by educators for its accessibility and appeal to children.