Spin a story to raise your child in Mumbai

Every Saturday, the parents of Universal School students gather around to listen to their child’s teacher talk about princesses trapped in castles and flying dragons.

Traditionally considered a parent’s forte, storytelling is now being taught to parents at this school in Malad to underline the importance of storytelling in stimulating children’s imagination and create an emotional bond. Parents are being trained to imbibe values like bravery, patriotism and sacrifice in children through these stories.

The school started these classes after it was discovered that few parents find time to tell bedtime stories to their children. “Many parents have also forgotten how to tell a good story. They think it is childish to tell children fairy tales,” said Zarin Virji, principal of Universal School.

But Virji believes stories are an important way to aid a child’s development. “Children learn a lot through stories. The most difficult concepts can be grasped easily if told in an interesting, narrative form. Unfortunately, many parents tend to forget that. But we ask parents to recollect how they felt when their parents or grandparents told them a story,” she added.

Apart from ‘Story Saturdays’, the school also holds slumber parties for children annually, where teachers put students to bed after telling them a bedtime story. It also helps children learn tasks like brushing their teeth and cleaning up. “It gives students a chance to be away from home and do things on their own,” said Virji.