“Expert talk on writing” to the little kids of grades 1,2 and 3. After a couple of rigorous weeks talking about Depression, Anxiety and suicide prevention in University, Institutes and online forums, this was a new invite. “Well, this is going to be a different genre altogether. Let me try this too” my mind smiled.
“Good afternoon ma’am” I greeted the co-ordinator who made me comfortable. With a casual talk about dealing with children, we waited for the little ones. Like a swarm of bees, there they buzzed while entering. Smiling faces moved energetically making quite some noise. In no time the auditorium was filled with 560 students. The buzzing sound didn’t calm down still – “will you be able to engage this energetic group” I asked myself with a smile.
“Children, bubbles on the mouth” – the kids innocently gobbled some bubbles and there was still some noise. “How do we hear noise when all of you are having bubbles on your mouths?” as the teacher questioned “walls are making the sounds ma’am” some cute out of the box thinkers voices came out. I couldn’t control my laughter but also appreciated the presence of mind.
“Good afternoon, little writers” I started and there was a loud roar dragging “Goooodddddd Afterrrrrrrnooooooooooon maaaaaaaaaaaaaaam” – I didn’t have to ask for a repeat like how I had to do in colleges or even corporates. The energy level was simply awesome. I started with a display of my first certificate for writing in my fourth standard and also my book published recently. I spoke about my first writing themed trees and the imagination. It remains fresh in my mind and I went back to my fourth standard by now. There were curiosity overloaded with questions and suggestions of usefulness of trees from the tiny tots.
I asked them to close their eyes for a while and started with a situation to make them imagine. “A thick, dense forest – you’re hungry and tired – you walk and walk and walk – there you see a lovely castle! Eager to reach it, you run around faster – there you are. You touch it – a spongy soft castle made of cake. You enter to see cakes and cakes all around of all colours – blue, pink and yellow. Touch the walls. Do you feel spongy?” They answered with a loud “Yesssssssss. So soft!”
“The fans and lights are made of Cadbury gems of all colours” – “wow!! So colourful” said some voices. “I love gems” others – “so sweet and tasty” some more cute voices. “You taste the spongy cake walls” – “They are tasty” someone spoke aloud. “There you see a giant teddy bear shaking hands” – “he is spongy too.. he’s my friend” the tiny tots were deep into the story by now.
“Ice creams of all flavours are hanging” – “Ma’am, I see it like the one I ate yesterday” it was a naughty boy. Some even twisted and swirled their tongues with their eyes still closed. “Can you give me some cakes” it was the teddy. “Ohhhhhh” voices again. “He’s your friend right? Can you not give some to him?” before I even finished “Ma’am, sharing is caring ma’am. I will give Ma’am” “me too ma’am” “me too ma’am” – many joined the club.
We went further and I could see that the kids were really involved and into the situation now. They started making different sounds and expressions suiting the situation in the story as I narrated.
As I continued, I spoke about identifying three words concept in every imagination and bringing it to life by adding three expressions in three statements. To my surprise, they started writing down and few even came in front without hesitation to show me what they have written. I could see proud faces with gentle smile and passion.
“Imagination is the strength of a writer” – I told them to change the bed time story from mama to story from kids to mama and papa every night. They started coming up with stories immediately. It took me a while to pacify their energies.
As I ended my session, they loudly said “thank you” and clapped. As they dispersed, some came out of the line and asked for my autograph. I was moved. They wrote down my name and the book title too – how thoughtful of such little kids from grades 1,2 and 3!
A little boy walked up to me and said “ma’am, I have a pocket notebook like what you asked to keep. I write my own story” – another little girl came up to me to show the story that she had written based on the imaginary situation I narrated. “Ma’am, the cake castle was so nice. I feel like I tasted it” teeth all around! A boy with cute dimple asked “Ma’am, can I give a HiFive” and started and from then I gave over 200 HiFives – each one was stronger on its own! What an energy! My hands needed more strength!
The buzzing bees were moving towards their trees. I had to part with half my mind given to them.
As I boarded the auto, thousands of thoughts ran across my mind. “Did I notice that the tone of my voice changed while I spoke to them? How expressive I became without even realising! Each narration was with number of adjectives and sounds. Isn’t this what I’ve been missing? The lovely emotions and the child within me!”
Within us there reside tiny tots who just run around trees, touch the water, feel the air and ready to get dirty in the mud. Every once a while, we need to bring them out to make ourselves fresh. Although corporates heavily talk about “out of the box thinking and innovation”, we will never be successful unless we bring the inner child in ourselves out.
What did the tiny tots teach me today? Even while the whole world is rushing, don’t lose your energy and passion. While few amongst five hundred got a chance to show their books, the others still didn’t lose their energy but raised hands and books. While the first change maker started his HiFive, there was noise and laughter but then it became the culture. While they closed their eyes, they did really travel into deep imagination and came up with new ideas!
“An expert talk from a writer to our tiny tots” turned out to be an “expert lesson from the little creative champs to this grown up adult” – thank you dear children!
A few hours worth of strong lessons for life. Thank you CMR National Public School!