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.