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“Nani teri morani ko mor le gaye Baki jo bacha tha kale chor le gaye”

This is a timeless rhyme that has entertained generations of Indian children and continues to do so even now.

What is so special about this song? It tells a story in the form of a song. Stories that are made fun and engaging for kids because help them to learn by:

● stimulating their imagination
● fostering the right values
● improving language skills & 
● helping them easily absorb important life lessons

The Ramayana, an ancient Indian epic, offers a rich tapestry of moral lessons and life skills. These hold true as much today as they did thousands of years ago and help millions of people lead a meaningful and fulfilling life. By starting this journey early, we can inculcate the right values in children and give them the right tools to navigate difficulties while growing up and helping them succeed.

To engage children so that they absorb the story, we need to adapt the storytelling to make it fun and relevant to children. So we have come up with these innovative ways to capture your child’s young mind and make it a treasured part of their childhood:

pc – Arti craft & art777

1. Sculpting the Saga with Play Dough Creations
Creating through Play-dough gives your child another language to express their thoughts and ideas. Make the figure of Rama with play dough before you start reading the story of Ramayana. After you have read each page, you can also make some more props and re-enact what has just happened on the page. You can also use this time to also talk about any words or concepts that your child may not understand.

2. Weaving the Tale into Catchy Rhymes

You can create a rhyme out of parts of the Ramayana. By reciting these rhymes your child will benefit in the form of an enhanced vocabulary, language assimilation, and better spelling skills. You can create rhymes like:

Where is Sita?

Where is Sita?

Sitting under a tree

Sitting under a tree

(to the tune of I hear thunder, I hear thunder)

3. Ready, Set, Puppet Show!

Storytelling and puppetry are almost magical for children. There is a tangible focus of attention when a puppet appears. Puppets allow imaginative and logical thought to exist simultaneously and this has enormous benefits for children’s creative development.

We have used these themes to create “Ramleela – Re-Live the Story” our children’s theatrical based on the Ramayana. It has completed 11 years and 250 + spectacular shows for 12,000 + talented participants. We are also the proud winners of the prestigious ABP News award for Maharashtra ki Maha Ramleela for their stunning puppetry, action, and sound design.

Make the Ramayana a fun and memorable experience for your little ones, and they will carry its wisdom and values with them for a lifetime.

Storytelling is probably one of the most ancient of human arts. You will find ancient stories in every language, in all corners of the world, told and retold countless times. They are used to inform, entertain, and even caution people of all ages. But the best use of storytelling is to shape young minds.

To do this, we need to weave the tales with a purpose and need to make them relevant to the children of today. We need to impart essential values, skills, and virtues to children through stories in such a way that they retain their essence throughout their lives. In our experience, the words of the stories are just one part – children need to experience the story through their other senses as well. So, objects like puppets, pictures, and props are a great way to enhance the storytelling experience.

Our “I am Bhaarat” story uncovers the legacy of King Bhaarat after whom our country is named. It is a captivating tale of adventure, courage, and wisdom that starts from his parents – King Dushyant and Shakuntala – and takes us through all the challenges that he had to face as he grew up. But beyond that, through our puppets, rhymes, games, and crafts we create a treasure trove of life lessons for your little ones. Some such lessons are:

1. Recognising Diverse Families

Bhaarat was raised not in the palace of King Dushyant but in the forest by Queen Shakuntala. When he grew up he met his father King Dushyant who taught him all he needed to become a King. This shows children that while some families may live together, while others may live apart, their love for each other is always present.

2. Connecting with Nature

Queen Shakuntala transformed the jungle into a playground for young Bhaarat. She also helped him to connect with nature’s creatures and helped him to become a true child of the wild. Children understand the importance of nature, and how humans, plants, and animals depend on each other.

3. Learning Values

King Dushyant taught his son Bhaarat leadership skills, dharma, and the importance of the right values. These characters become role models and heroes to your child and they can then connect their values to everyday experiences on the playground and classroom

We believe that children learn through a multi-dimensional approach. By connecting stories to the real world, we embed them with greater meaning and impart long-lasting lessons. Start storytelling today and watch your child grow into a confident, compassionate, and wise individual!

As parents, we often look for role models who can inspire our children to become good human beings. They are surrounded by Western superheroes like Iron Man and Superman from a young age. But while these characters are exciting due to their superpowers, we also need someone who is more human, someone whose values match our sensibilities, and someone who embodies all the qualities of a great leader.

We know that the Ramayana is an epic text, written by the sage Valmiki, and passed down from one generation to the next, for thousands of years. While we want to do the same for our children, this is a tough task in today’s world. We need to build a narrative that they will understand and relate to. So it makes a lot of sense to look at Rama as a Hero of the story Ramleela. 

We start the story of Ramleela with the Crown Prince Rama. He was the rightful heir to the throne of Ayodhya, but his step-mother Kaikeyi plotted against him to make her son the King. Rama’s father, King Dasharatha, to keep his promise had to send Rama into exile for 14 years. His wife Sita, and his half-brother Lakshmana accepted the decree and went to live in the forest. 

It was during this challenging period that his character truly shone. Despite not being the King, Rama’s actions and decisions demonstrated his true abilities, his character and his leadership qualities. Through the many stories, your children will learn that you don’t need superhuman strengths to win – just a true heart and a sharp mind! Some of these are:

• • Friends help each other (Teamwork):  

Rama did not do everything himself but with the help of many others. Vasishtha taught Rama the skills of Dhanurveda (weapon skills), Sita provided unwavering loyalty and moral strength during the exile, while Lakshmana acted as Rama’s protector.  Jatayu helped Rama by providing vital information about the abduction of Sita & the monkeys led by Hanuman helped Rama to build a bridge to Lanka and rescue Sita. 

Throughout the Ramayana, Rama explicitly thanks those who assist him and bestows them with rewards and honors. He also praises their bravery and sacrifices in front of the gods, ensuring that their deeds are remembered and celebrated. Rama remained humble and empathetic towards everyone. This teaches children to be a Hero you need to work together with your friends and help them when they need.

• • Perfect Human Being 

Despite all the problems that he faced, Rama didn’t get too upset or angry. He stayed calm and peaceful, like a strong tree that doesn’t shake in the wind. He was always truthful, he did not resort to any wrong means to win, and he always followed the right path even if it was difficult. 

This will help teach your child that when they face tough situations, they need to behave like a Hero. They need to always do the right thing and tell the truth so that they can also become great like Rama. 

At Grooming Babies we believe that Rama’s story can inspire your child to become a compassionate, empathetic, and empowered leader. Through “Ramleela – Relieve the Epic”, we bring the story of Rama to life through theatre adapted specifically for young children  Join us for to watch your child learn valuable lessons from Rama’s journey.

What comes to your mind when you think of the Festival of Lights?  As Indians, we all think of Diwali. But did you know that the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, the Chinese Spring Lantern Festival, and Festes de la Llum in Catalonia are also known as the Festival of Lights?

Despite our differences, cultures from around the world share many commonalities. By introducing your child to their own culture, you’re laying the foundation for them to appreciate and connect with the world’s diverse cultures. 

For example through Diwali and Holi, they can learn about the victory of good over evil and the folk stories from Panchatantra have a large number of life lessons embedded in them. You can expand their artistic horizons by helping them create Warli or Madhubani designs. For those that are musically inclined, teaching them Indian classical musical instruments like harmonium and tabla or dance forms like Kathak or Manipuri will go a long way. 

When they share their knowledge with classmates or colleagues from different cultures, it opens a dialogue about diverse traditions, fostering mutual respect. So, there is a great value in teaching your children about more about Indian culture and traditions. Some of these benefits are

• • Self-esteem and confidence

Learning and participating in different cultural arts fosters a positive self-image in children. They enjoy the creativity and feel the thrill of being a part of an age old tradition. This in turn gives them the confidence to take on any challenges that may come. 

• • Sense of belonging

Children need to feel connected to their family and community. This connection helps shape their identity, influencing their values, beliefs, and worldview. Traditions give them the feeling of being grounded to something bigger than themselves, fostering a sense of unity and oneness.

• • Appreciation for Diversity 

The variety of cultures and traditions in India is unmatched anywhere else in the world. By exploring different cultural practices, children learn the benefits of each and assimilate them into their lives. This leads to a natural respect of diversity and creates a sense of inclusiveness with others irrespective of their origins. 

By nurturing your child’s understanding of their Indian heritage, you are equipping them with a valuable tool for navigating the complexities of our interconnected world. Remember, teaching ethnic pride is not about instilling nationalism or exclusivity. It’s about fostering a sense of identity, connection, and respect for both your own culture and the diverse tapestry of the world.

The Ramayana is one of the bedrocks on which India’s culture stands tall. It has stood the test of time for thousands of years, inspiring generations through its tale of honesty, love, courage, and wisdom. Though the context for each new generation changes, the core messages still resonate deeply in modern life. 

The Ramayana contains life lessons for each one of us and scholars over the ages have interpreted different meanings from it. This naturally leads to some questions like:

What is the right age for the young to start this journey of knowing about our heritage?

How should we introduce it to pre-schoolers in a way that will keep them interested? 

What messages and values should we impart that are relevant for today’s children?

The Ramleela – the enacted story of Rama’s journey from a Prince to a King – brings to life the greatness of Rama, his wife Sita, his brother Laxmana, and Hanuman the leader of the Vanar Sena. It encapsulates the challenges faced by them during 14 years of exile in the forest, their struggle with the Evil Ravana and their eventual victory.  

By making the Ramleela relevant to today’s world, we endeavour to help you share the greatness of Ramayana with your child and watch them discover a rich heritage of stories, values and role models that will shape their young minds. Some of the life lessons that pre-schoolers can learn from it are 

1. Strangers Are Not Friends (Stranger Danger)

Ravana disguised himself as an ascetic to trick Sita to leave her hut so that he could abduct her. This is a powerful message to children that talking to strangers are not friends. You can take this example to make them understand that if someone unknown offers chocolates or claims to know their parents, it can be dangerous.

2. Say Yes with when you mean it (Honouring promises)

King Dashrath promised to remove Rama as the king of Ayodhya & had to then send him to 14 years of exile in the forest even though he did not want to. This is a great way to teach children to be honest and authentic and only make promises they can keep. You can show how breaking promises makes you untrustworthy, so instead they can use words like “I’ll try” instead of promising if they are not sure.

3. Ask Me, I Decide (Consent)

Sita actively chose to go to the forest with Rama when he was exiled; making her decision to join him in the forest a deliberate choice of consent rather than a passive act. This will help you in talking about consent to children and encourage open communication, helping children express their feelings, needs, and desires effectively.

Storytelling through drama is a powerful tool for teaching children new concepts, as it makes complex ideas relatable and memorable. The characters in Ramayana, like Rama, Sita, and Hanuman, are relatable and inspiring, making it easy for children to understand and emulate their qualities.

A quick quiz for you – to which sentence do you personally relate to better?

“It was a warm, sunny afternoon and Peter Rabbit was eager to go exploring.”

OR

“The warm breezes of approaching summer had sent everyone, including the gardener, into the house.”

If your answer is the second sentence, then guess what, you are a true blue Indian. How many Indian children do you know are eager to go out to explore in the hot sunny afternoon? Haven’t we been told since childhood to stay indoors during the hot afternoons?

Why is there so much of a mismatch between what our children read in the books and what is happening around them? According to a 2020 survey, 70% of children’s books in India are imported from the West. One of the reasons for this may be that we as parents have grown up reading books written by European or American authors and are not aware of good Indian authors who write for children.

Indian children need Indian stories to relate to their surroundings, culture, and identity. The second quote given above is from The Banyan Tree by Ruskin Bond. It reflects the Indian environment and evokes familiar settings like rural villages, banyan trees, and the quiet life of small-town India.

So let us look at some Indian characters that will give our children the right cultural cues

1. Relatable Characters
Does your child imagine how great it would be to eat and sleep all day long? Junior Kumbhakarna by Arundhati Venkatesh is just what the doctor ordered. It is a perfect go-to bedtime story for your child to get some sweet dreams.

2. Traditional Values
The “Vikram and Betal” stories of King Vikramaditya's clever solutions to Betal the ghost’s puzzles showcase quick thinking and an emphasis on knowledge to solve problems. These stories often emphasize important moral values like honesty, wisdom, compassion, and justice for children.

3. Cultural Diversity
Timmi in Tangles is a girl who is fun, bold and often misunderstood. Just the person whom your child can relate to when she’s accused of eating all the ladoos in the house

4. Indian Beauty
Does anyone in India have rosy cheeks & blue eyes? Western standards of beauty can make your child feel confused or alienated. Reading the book Brown like Dosas, Samosas, and Sticky Chikki (by Rebecca Manari) can will help your child building positive self-esteem by showing them that thoughts and actions define you and not your skin color.

As we strive to nurture the minds of India’s future generations, it’s imperative that we provide them with stories that resonate with their surroundings, culture, and identity. Indian stories, written by Indian authors, are must-reads for children, to help them connect with their heritage and develop a deeper understanding of the world around them.