hansel and gretel and the lovely old lady - Podar Jumbo Kids Plus

Vision by - Dr. Pavan PodarThis book is dedicated to the innocence in littlechildren. This book is dedicated to all parents andteachers to understand that every song, every story,every interaction with children can have a lasting effecton their life values, so we need to be careful and reworkcertain traditional forms that we are using in ourkindergartens, afterall it takes a village to raise a child.Two little siblings are ill treated by their stepmother and then left in theforest by their parents. In the forest tired and hungry they reach a lovelychocolate house and an old lady invites them in. but the old lady was awitch who wants to eat them and then the two kids play smart and escapefrom there.A very interesting story, lots of adventure and especially attractive is thechocolate house for kids. But are all stepmothers bad? Do parents reallyleave their kids in the forest? Are all old ladies just witches in disguise?The story definitely has a dark side that needs to be changed for littlechildren.To change all that, the Level 3 (age 5) children of PodarJumbo Kids Plus, as part of a project titled ‘AVISHKAR -Change and Creativity in Childhood’, discussed a newversion of Hansel and Gretel and have drawn their ownstory book. This little new version is an attempt 'by' thechildren, 'for' the children and 'of' the children as part ofAVISHKAR.Enjoy this lovely reader story book, written by the kids, illustrated by thekids to make this world a better place for you, me and the entire humanrace…………. Swati Popat Vats-Director.Hansel And GretelE A R L Y C H I L D H O O DCURRICULUM AND CONTENT DEVELOPM ENTEmail: talktous@podar.orgAnd The LovelyOld Lady!

Podar Jumbo Kids PlusShift B. Level 3. Div APodar Jumbo Kids PlusShift B. Level 3. Div CMelanie MathiasPedagogistDevangi LodayaSupervisorAnwita PriyadarshiniMain TeacherLima MerlyinAsst TeacherBharti PawarDidiMelanie MathiasPedagogisDevangi LodayaSupervisorHina ShroffMain TeacherNaseem KhanAsst TeacherUsha BorkarDidiDhvani TandelAyush DicholkarArjun KhemaniAnuj DesaiAnniruddha MaydeoAnish MantriAditya RahateAanya KumarZoya JumaniZaid JakaSubiksha ShalleshAriyan ShettyAkshan MohaneyAkshainee Negi Akash Gaikwad Aayoush Iyer Aaniya JainHiya CheddaSoham SatpathyShreyas JadhavSaket ValiyaRishitaij BawiskarPrithviraj KhannaAmaan TanwarerZayaan KhanZaki NavrozVedant KapoorVedant KambliTanisha AgrawalManasa GopisettyNiyati SinghMahfrin NadirshahLaiba KhanKrish MundhwaKia AsherMadhav BhoraShardul Narvekar Sarrah Rangwala Sarah Ahmed Prapti ChhedaPranavi MahnoriKamran FaroquiKalyani SonawaneJinisha JainJegeeta BeraJash SavaniIra KasodekarAshwat SurekaHrishikesh AdvaniHarsh JainDweep BamaniaArunabh VohraAditya VenkatramanAryan JangamPranav GoyalNikita GolaNidhi JainNeet DedhiaMannat HussainEishaan NandiBaneekaur BindraMadhusmita TalukdarLavya KapoorKhushi Shah

Why did we want to changethe story of Hansel and Gretel?We started a discussion on Hansel and Gretel and askedsome questions to the kids, “What if the old lady was not awitch? why did she call the kids to her house?” And after alot of giggly fun ideas, we liked the idea, maybe shewanted them to brush their teeth! Yes, what if the littlechildren were just two naughty children who did not listento their parents advice and wandered and got lost in theforest next to their home. And then tired and hungry theycame to a chocolate house and started eating chocolate,when a kind old lady came out and took them inside toteach them about dental hygiene as all the sweets cancause harm to their teeth!Voila, we have all the fun elements of the old Hansel andGretel without the 'dark and depressing' elements. Isn't ita great idea?So read the new version- HANSEL AND GRETEL ANDTHE LOVELY OLD LADY! And yes, don't miss the sectionat the end on dental hygiene.Old versionHanselAndGretelNotice the ‘Documentation’ in the drawings.You will notice that all the children’sdrawings have comments written by theteacher. This is called ‘documentation’; apractice adopted by us from Reggio schoolswhere a teacher asks the child about thedrawings and then writes down all pointsthat were mentioned by the child.

A poor woodcutter and his wife had two children namedHansel and Gretel. They lived in a small cottage, with alovely garden that leads to the deep forest.Their mother died when they were young. Hansel andGretel were very sad. Soon their father got married again,but their stepmother was very cruel.

Next morning, on the pretext of collecting wood, their stepmother took Hansel and Gretel to the woods. This time they tookbreadcrumbs with them, which they dropped on the way so thatthey could find their way back home. Alas! The birds ate all thecrumbs and they couldn't find the path that led back home.One day, she took the children deep into the forest and leftthem there. But they were clever, so they dropped somestones on their way, as they knew their step mother wasgoing to leave them in the forest, which she did. But, thestones helped them track the route and get back home.

Now, a wicked witch lived there.When she saw Hansel and Gretel,she wanted to eat them.

She grabbed the children and locked them in a cage.The witch decided to make a soup out of Hanseland eat him first.

She began boiling a huge pot of water for the soup.Just then, Gretel crept out of her cage.She gave the wicked witch a mighty push frombehind and the witch fell into the boiling water.

Hansel and Gretel found treasure lyingaround the cottage. They carried it homewith them. Their stepmother had died andtheir father welcomed them back withtears of joy. They never went hungry again!

Why did we want to changethe story of Hansel and Gretel?Level 3Rework‘Change and Creativity’to CreateHansel And GretelAnd The LovelyOld Lady!Notice the ‘Documentation’ in the drawings.You will notice that all the children’sdrawings have comments written by theteacher. This is called ‘documentation’; apractice adopted by us from Reggio schoolswhere a teacher asks the child about thedrawings and then writes down all pointsthat were mentioned by the child.

One summer morning, Hansel and Gretel decided towander in the nearby forest to seek adventure. As theywandered they met birds and animals who told themabout a chocolate house deep in the forest.They walked and walked with birds and animals guidingthem the path to the chocolate house.“There it is”, screamed Gretel with joy.“Wow!” exclaimed Hansel. “The entire house made ofchocolate. I wish we were living here.”

Slam! They pushed open the door, to find no one in there.“Look Hansel, everything in here is made of chocolate.The door, the lamp, the table and even the clock” criedGretel with joy.Seeing so many chocolates around, they couldn'tresist themselves and ate and ate till they were full.

“Whose entered my house and left the dooropen?” asked the Witch as she entered thehouse.“Oops! We were not aware that someonelives in here” said the siblings.“Hmm… It's ok, but next time be careful. It's okto eat chocolates, but not so much at one go.

She also removed her toothbrush and toothpaste andshowed Hansel and Gretel how to press pea a sizetoothpaste onto their toothbrush.All of them together took a pea size toothpaste onto theirtoothbrushes and began brushing their teeth.The Witch said, “We brush our teeth for 2 good minutes toget rid of the germs.”“Ohh!” said Hansel and Gretel. “We didn't realize.”“No problem” said the Witch, handing over atoothbrush and toothpaste to Hansel and Gretel.“Come with me to the sink” said the Witch.

As they were brushing they sangthe brushy brushy song,(Sung to the tune of "The Hokey Pokey")You put your toothpaste on.Watch it squeeze right out.Pull our toothpaste on,And squish it all about.Chorus:You do the Brushy, Brushy,And you move it all around.That's what it's all about.Brushy, BrushyYou put your toothbrush in,Don't take your toothbrush out.You put your toothbrush in.And you scrub it all about.Chorus:You do the Brushy, Brushy,And you move it all around.That's what it's all about.Brushy, BrushyNow put some water in.Don't let the water out.Now put some water in,And swish it all about.Chorus;You do the Brushy, Brushy,And you move it all around.That's what it's all about.Rinse out!

“Before you go home, I have a little present for thetwo of you” said the Witch in a surprising tone.“Present!” exclaimed Hansel and Gretel in excitement.They were so happy to see glittering gift wrappers andopened them as soon as they got it.After they finished brushing,Hansel and Gretel realizedit was time for them to go home.

Guess what was in. The Witch had gifted them atoothbrush and toothpaste.Aww..Thank you so much for this wonderful gift.We promise to brush our teeth twice a day without fail.And for two good minutes” promisedHansel and Gretel.They gave a big hug to the Witch and thankedher for everything she taught them.

Hansel and Gretel went home and that night fordinner they shared their adventurous experienceabout the Witch with their parents and also showedthe gift they received from her.From that night onwards, Hansel and Gretel alwaysbrushed their teeth twice a day and never broke thepromise.

All about dental hygiene-(adapted from 'What to expect in the toddler years'- BY Heidi Murkoff)How to select a good toothbrush-A good toothbrush for kids is one with a small head, soft with rounded bristles.Tooth TimetableThere is a wide range of age when it comes to the tooth timetable, which is tootheruptions in your child. The diagram given below is an indication.Choose a brush that's decorated with favorite characters or you can buy stickers and decorate thebrush, or do it together with your child. This makes the toothbrush 'belong' to your child.If there is a toothbrush available with a music or lights option, good for children who are fussy. Themusic should last for exact 2 minutes which is the recommended time that tooth brushing should last.You can even make your own brushing song and sing while your child brushes. This makes thebrushing interesting but remember to sing it till the brushing is over!Music, songs, lights, stickers are all okay, but what is more important is the brushing technique morethan the brush.Brushing technique-First of all remember YOU are the designated 'brusher' till your child learns. So yes, get ready to bethere during brushing time!Also remember that children become independent tooth brushers only between the age of 5 to 10!So enjoy your designation till then.The healthy brushing technique-Working one tooth at a time, use a gentle back and forth motion across the chewing andinner surfaces(finish one side first before going on to the other so you don't lose track).Switch to a circular motion along the sides and the outer gum lines(with the brush at a 45-degree angle).Lightly brush the gums where teeth haven't yet erupted, or wipe them with a gauze pad,baby finger brush, or washcloth, and also do a gentle once-over on the tongue(where a lotof bacteria can hang out).Start teaching your little one how to rinse after brushing (most toddlers master the rinseand spit around age 2).As always , it's easiest to teach through example: show him or her how you lean over thesink and say ''ptoey.''Rinsing is important not only because it removes the toothpaste before it's swallowed, butit also eliminates bits of loosened food that would otherwise resettle on the teeth.Remind your child that keeping those teeth clean helps them stay strong and healthy, sothey won't get ''boo-boos.''Also point out that strong teeth will let him or her eat yummy food.And yes, brushing twice a day is most healthy.Handling the hole in the mouth!-Tentatively from 4 years onwards the milk teeth will start falling off in yourchild to be replaced with permanent set of teeth. But remember this-1.Just because milk teeth will ultimately fall off does not mean that kids andparents can ignore the hygiene of the milk teeth.2. The permanent teeth will be as 'healthy' as the milk teeth.3. Inform and guide your child about the 'tooth falling' process.4.5.Also prepare them to be ready to face comments both from adults andchildren about the new 'hole in the mouth'.Common questions your child can be asked by friends and well meaningadults are- who took your tooth? Did the mouse eat your tooth? Now whatwill happen how will you eat etc.6. Think again about the 'tooth fairy' option for your child. The other point ofview of the tooth fairy and giving money to your child for the fallen tooth inthe name of the tooth fairy is that we are teaching kids to 'sell their bodyparts'! Hmm…. Think about it!