Revisit the fairy tale

Was Jack from Jack and the Beanstalk really a hero worthy of applause for stealing from a giant and bringing death upon him What if Goldilocks wanted to chop off her infamous golden locks and rock a bob instead And was Little Red Riding Hood an independent witty young lady who would take on the Big Bad Wolf without any help from the hunter Many parents would have grown up with the same fractured fairy tales but are now keen that their children revisit them with a twistOne of them is Rohini Vij a professional storyteller who started Fairytale Theatre She runs content creation and edtech company Nutspace which specialises in developing curriculum and content that uses storytelling to equip children with 21stcentury skills and valuesIn every session Rohini Vij uses props icebreakers songs and dance to engage little ones in storytelling Vij enacts Jack and the Beanstalk and Little Red Riding HoodUsing this theatre platform she has created prerecorded performances where she acts out iconic fairy tales With striking backdrops that recreate the woods and scenic countrysides that these stories are set in she also uses various tools like icebreakers music song and dance to engage children between the age group of two and eight yearsThe idea isnt merely to glue your child to the seat for 55 minutes but help them have an immersive experience where they participate in acting out the storyshe sharesShe also emphasises how these performances mdash from Jack and the Beanstalk Little Red Riding Hood and Hansel and Gretel to Snow White and the Seven Dwarves and Goldilocks and The Three Bears mdash have empowered charactersOur rewritten versions break ageold stereotypes They tell little girls that their favourite characters arent damsels in distress They are smart quick on the feet and courageous Similarly they tell little boys that it is okay to reach out for help when you are struggling shares VijExplaining why these sessions are prerecorded she says that it gives parents the freedom to pause and rewatch the videos considering the short attention span of kids in the age bracketNo episode jumps into the story right away Instead it begins with activities for a buildup Our episodes are focused on helping children build confidence and overcome their inhibitions and contribute to early language development We begin with breathing and calming exercises and follow it with a few theatre exercises that focus on facial expressions and body language An original track about creativity sets the mood next And children are encouraged to dance to it she says After the warmup the narrator uses the power of visualisation to help them step into the story and enjoyAnother interesting aspect is asking parents to gather a list of props before any session commences so kids are in their element when they enact the story with the onscreen performer Whether it is a golden painted egg or a badminton racquet as a pretend guitar these props are easily accessible at homeVij feels that as the pandemic continues to make learning highly dependent upon parents they can use this time to read to their kids They can also engage in role play and visualisation to focus on their childrens social and emotional development Yes the pandemic has been tough on adults but it has been far more difficult for kids Stories are a good way to tackle anxiety and help them shesigns offOn October 13 allday longLog on to bookmyshowcomCost Rs 99 onwards Keep scrolling to read more newsCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news crime news current affairs and a complete guide from food to things to do and events across Mumbai Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates MidDay is now on Telegram Click here to join our channel middayinfomedialtd and stay updated with the latest news