When Aastha was just two and a half years old, we introduced her to a simple game called “Chakli Ude Phurr”, “The Sparrow Flies”. To our surprise, she knew exactly which birds could fly, sparrow, parrot, crow, pigeon, and which animals couldn’t, buffalo, cow, tiger, lion.
We were stunned.
Here we were, thinking we’d just begun teaching her, and there she was, already miles ahead of us. That day, we realized something important: we had underestimated our child’s potential.
This, we later discovered, is a common experience among parents. Every child, no matter how young, holds within them a universe of untapped power, a vast sky of intelligence, curiosity, and ability. As parents, our job is not to limit them, but to give them space and encouragement to grow.
Sometimes we unknowingly block this growth by saying things like, “You can’t do this, let me do it for you.” But when we step back, and give them a chance, even if they stumble, they learn. And in learning, they gain confidence, something far more precious than simply getting the task done.
Once, Aastha was crying over hot khichdi served in her plate. Instead of simply feeding her ourselves, we turned it into a moment of learning. We showed her how spreading the khichdi out helped it cool faster, how the fan played a role. She was fascinated. Not only did she calm down, but she learned something real, something scientific.
Learning doesn’t just happen in classrooms. It’s happening everywhere, in our kitchens, dining tables, streets, gardens, and daily conversations.
One day, while walking down the street, we showed her the traffic signals, the zebra crossing, the red post box, the different vehicles, the trees. When she saw a bus later and said, “That’s the Bus Sister! She drinks diesel,” we laughed, but also marvelled. She had remembered the story we once told her about Rail Sister and Bus Sister, one who loved coal and the other diesel.
Stories became her world. Sometimes we’d tell her stories with animals and nature, and slowly, she began telling us her own stories. In her tales, the lion never attacked the cat, he helped her. Dogs and cats were friends. Even meat-eating animals turned vegetarian, celebrated birthdays, sang songs, and danced together.
As she grew, we gave her story prompts, three or four characters, and she would weave beautiful stories around them. Her imagination, her kindness, and her values showed clearly through them.
We never stopped her from playing in the mud, splashing in puddles, or collecting stones and leaves. We didn’t worry if she got dirty. Because with every squish of soil between her fingers, she grew closer to the earth, the real world, and herself.
Even as a baby, Aastha would stare deeply at books. She didn’t need to read the words, she followed the shapes, the colors, the emotions. And yes, sometimes she tore the pages, crumpled the corners. But that too was part of her learning, her way of exploring.
And so we learned, too.
We learned that children are not just learners, they are explorers, creators, thinkers, and dreamers. All they need is the freedom to try, to ask, to fail, to imagine, to dream… and to fly.
Let us be the wind beneath their boundless wings.
Disclaimer:
This article reflects the author’s personal insights and reflections. It is shared with the intention of encouraging thoughtful parenting and generational harmony. The project and foundation are acknowledged as part of the original source for transparency and integrity.
