Anganwadi worker makes learning fun for pre-schoolers

Berhampur: An anganwadi worker in Ganjam district is making learning fun for pre-schoolers by singing songs and dancing along with the kids.
“Not only do I dance and sing, but I also teach the kids different poses to attract them towards learning,” said K Sujata (37), an anganwadi worker in Chikalakhandi under Chhatrapur block.
On Children’s Day on Monday, she sang an old Odia song along with the kids and danced and also distributed chocolates and sweets during lunch. “Chuna chuna tara phula amere (we are little stars) is a popular Odia song I had learned during childhood. I sang it and danced with my kids on Children’s Day. I want children to come to anganwadi centres for pre-schooling rather than go to private nursery schools,” Sujata said.
“Out of 25 kids enrolled at my anganwadi centre, more than 20 come daily,” she added.
“In several places, kids are reluctant to go to anganwadi centres because they find it difficult to learn. But in this centre, the children are eager to learn by singing and dancing,” said a parent.
Sujata said she has created videos on all the songs in ‘Arunima’ — the test book prescribed by the government for pre-school students — on social media platforms like YouTube. Even though she has been teaching through this method since she joined as an anganwadi worker in 2009, parents and others came to know about it after she posted the videos on social media.