The Joy of Children’s Day!

I don’t recall ever in my childhood being so excited for Children’s Day. I didn’t really care much for Children’s Day except that it was a free day. But this, being on the other end, as a teacher, I was super excited for it!

My only mission was to make my kids feel special. To give them a different day for them to remember, to know it was their day! I had been wondering what to do for months but naturally, me being me, I spent all of yesterday frantic and hyper because I had no idea how to make my kids have a good time.

But then, with a lot of help to keep my cool and plan it out, I managed to pull something together.

So today, Children’s Day, 14th November, my kids came to school knowing it was just another day of school. Didi had been going on and on about how we HAVE to be on task every minute because half the year was over and so much was to be done.

I started the day with my usual Reading class. So today they we would read, The Lion King! I was introducing the characters and just barely started the story when I couldn’t contain my excitement so I told them we would watch the movie after their break. Yay! So we read the story and left out the end bit so they could enjoy it in the movie.

And then again, I couldn’t contain my excitement so I started the movie before break itself. We moved aside all the desks, put newspaper on the floor, switched off the lights, put on the speaker and there we had our own little cozy movie watching space! Yay!

So the kids watched the first half of the movie before break and thanks to that introduction of characters and the story before, they were following, comprehending and loving the movie!

Just the fact that they were in school, in class, on a Monday, and their classroom was  turned into this fun space, that itself made such a difference. They were SO happy!

At 11am, just a few seconds after their break over bell rang, I had my audience back! Ready to go! So then we finished the movie. But naturally, I had to tie in some of their learnings and we had a lovely discussion about what was the best part of the movie. And guess what the boys loved the most? “Ending fighting!”  The ending of the movie, the fight with Scar and Simba!

I got more comments like, “Middle sad, upset”. I have taught the kids, “Beginning, Middle, Ending of a story” so they could comprehend! They all felt sad at the part when Scar killed Mufasa. “Didi, main hota toh Scar ko ghoosa maar deta!” “Who did you not like?” “SCAAAR”. “Who do you think was the main character of the movie?” (I had taught them main character last week) “SIMBA!” And of course, my little heart felt proud!

Even for me, watching Lion King, a movie I LOVE, listening to baby JTT’s voice as Simba, and god, I just love the movie. And watching it with my class was so much better! Yay!

Ok so then, when our discussion was done, the kids wanted to go play outside. Sure. So they did. Race. I don’t know why but ALL the kids just love racing. An outlet for their energy, I guess. And they were just having the best time of their life! Yay!

About 5 minutes before school was getting over, I got them back into the class. Sat them down quietly, “5…4…3…2…1!” Parents and older siblings were waiting outside to take them back.

“Did you have a good day?” Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssss!

“Did you have a lot of fun? Are you happy?” Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssss!

“I have two more surprises for you!” Class erupts in a “Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!”.

“First, tomorrow is a HOLIDAY!” Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!

The best day ever, isn’t it? When you have so much fun in school and the next day is a HOLIDAY!!

And then, just as the bell was about to ring, I take out two boxes. I tell them I have Children’s Day gifts for them. So the kids start crying out, “Didi mujhe bhi dena iss baar please” “Didi, mereko de do please”.

Then I announce that is for the whole class. And I cannot tell you the reaction I got from the kids. The gift was a simple box which had 4 sketch pens inside them and a little board game! They just screamed and jumped and maaaaaannnn, were they happy! I have never ever seen them THIS thrilled about anything. Just for those little boxes of gifts! They went WILD! They just could NOT believe that all this was for them, that the whole day was just for them to have a brilliant time, that they were having such a great time. All the kids were just… I don’t even know the words to describe it!

Some came and hugged me with a Thank You! The boys with their broad smiles said Thank You! The parents outside were all tuned in for the show inside! There was just so much joy and happiness that 10 hours later, I still can’t stop smiling!

Aaah! Happiness! Kids! I love kids! Did you know I LOVE kids? I love them. I love my brats!

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