It all started when a little girl took a biscuit from another child-creative intelligence

It all started when a little girl took a biscuit from another child’s snack box, when the teacher gently prompted her to ask permission before taking from someone, the girl said,’goldilocks did not ask permission’. This got us thinking, where life’s values are concerned, is Goldilocks an apt story for young growing minds? On one hand we teach them about please, thank you and sorry and on the other hand, this story teaches them the contrary!

To change all that, the level three (age 5) children of Podar Jumbo Kids, discussed a new version of Goldilocks- GOLDILOCKS AND THE 3 MAGIC WORDS, in this story they change the end where some kids teach Goldilocks to go back to the bears home and help her learn to say thank you, sorry and please. The kids have even drawn their own version of the new story. This little new version is an attempt by children, for the children and of the children.

This started the ball rolling and we initiated discussion starters with all our senior kindergartners, we retold them all the traditional fairy tales and rhymes and then we asked them if they would like to change anything  and the reason why they would like to change them and what a fantastic discussion starter it was, here are some excerpts – (T signifies teacher and K signifies kids)

About Hansel and Gretel-

K- I don’t think there is anyting like witches, I think it was an old grandmother who liked to

     give sweets to little kids, my dadi(grandmother) does that.

T- But then why did she call them inside the house?

K- Maybe so that they can sit and eat the sweets.

K- Or maybe she wanted them to wash their hands after eating.

T- Hmm that’s a good idea, so the old lady wanted Hansel and Gretel to wash their hands?

K- Yes and maybe rinse their mouth too so that germs don’t attack.

K- And maybe Hansel and Gretel were scared because she asked them to brush their teeth and they did not like to brush their teeth

T- That sounds interesting, so the old lady called them in to brush their teeth…

K- No to teach them how to brush their teeth and keep them healthy….

For the 3 little pigs-

·         K- Why is the wolf always bad? Are wolves bad?

·         T- Well, I have not met one so I really don’t know if they are bad.

·         K- Yes they are because they eat other animals.

·         T- But lions and tigers eat them too then why don’t these stories have lions and tigers? Why only a wolf?

·         K- And some wolves must be good too, right?

·         T- o.k so lets assume that this wolf was a good wolf, then why was he chasing the pigs?

·         K- Maybe to teach them to make better homes

·         T- Better?

·         K- Yes stronger……

The Jumbo Kids Senior Kindergarten classrooms (age 5) have been busy drawing, coloring, writing and creating new versions of old fairy tales and songs commonly sung in schools. These kids want to change their world and make it more relevant to ‘their’ childhood. These kids want to innovate, create and change the way teachers and parents entertain and teach them.

And that is what we have done in this unique project AVISHKAR- change and creativity, we identified certain rhymes and songs commonly sung in preschools, which have a negative message or have an incorrect message for growing children. We discussed these with our senior kindergarten children and helped them come up with new versions that were more positive. The kids then drew pictures of the old and new versions and we have compiled them into a book that can be used by all preschools and parents.

Books made by children, for children and for the healthy language, moral and socio-emotional development of children. Here is a little information of the  new versions-

1.   ‘Piggy On The Railway’ became ‘Piggy On The Railway Revisited’ - where the engine driver was more considerate and said I will take more care, instead of saying, I don’t care.

2.   ‘3 Blind Mice’ became ‘3 White Mice’ - in which the mice are not blind, but are white and the farmer’s wife did not cut their tails with a carving knife.

3.   ‘Humpty Dumpty’ became ‘Humpty Dumpty Did Not Fall’ – the rhyme now teaches the kids to be more careful and so does not fall down and is in one piece today.

4.   ‘A Hunting We Will Go’ became ‘On A Picnic We Will Go’ - so there is no fox to catch and put in a box, but pictures to click and animals to enjoy.

5.   ‘Ding Dong Bell’ became ‘The New Ding Dong Bell’- and pussy is not thrown in the well.

6.   ‘Ringa Ringa Roses’ became ‘The Healthy Ringa Ringa Roses’ - a death song sung during the plague in London is now changed with more healthy words.

7.   ‘Hansel And Gretel’ became ‘Hansel And Gretel Meet The Kind Old Lady’ -  who taught them about dental hygiene,

8.   ‘Goldilocks And The 3 Bears’ became ‘Goldilocks Learns The 3 Magic Words’- where Goldilocks does not run away from the bears, but learns how to say sorry, thank you and please- the 3 magic words.

9.    ‘3 Little Pigs’ became ‘The 3 Little Pigs Love The Earth’ -and instead of the wolf trying to eat them, the pigs learn a lesson in environment from the wolf.

10.                ‘3 Billy Goats’ became ‘The 3 Billy Goat’s New Friend The Troll’ – and the pigs actually find out what made the Troll angry and they helped him keep the river clean.

11.               The Elves And Shoe Maker - had no changes but we added about healthy shoe habits for the kids.

These path breaking books have been created by them, to celebrate the world of kindergarteners, a world that is buzzing with brain growth, neural connections and 5D (5 senses) stimulation. Read these books to see their world with new eyes, eyes that will not only see their chubby cheeks but also their cherubic happy involved thinking skills.

Pick up a copy of these books and join us in helping kids listen to  and read healthy stories and songs. Come, support the true  ‘generation next’ redefine-  AVISHKAR - Creativity and Change for a happy Childhood.

Write to us on talktous@podar.org or @swatipopat