Episode 3: Passing the Torch

This episode of Zubaani by Peerbagh talks about the tools and resources parents can use to encourage storytelling and creative imagination in kids. We spoke to educator and children's book author, Natasha Padhiar who shared how children imitate their family members and how family storytelling can develop a love of stories and reading. We also discussed the role of diverse stories for South-Asian diaspora families including stories from a host culture along with stories from their heritage culture to learn from.

Natasha questioned the tokenism that may be centered in diverse storytelling initiatives and encouraged everyone to focus on everyday experiences that are equally important for children. Toward the end, we talked about the meaningful intentions to avoid performative aspects of passing on our culture to future generations.

The name Zubaani was selected by Peerbagh's late founder, Vatsala Kakroo. The episode art was made by Upasna Kakroo. Krista Rodrigues⁠ supported the episode research. The background soundtrack features Slim Finger Pickings by artist Heston Mimms (2021), sourced from Imuno. 
The Zubaani podcast artwork (separate from the episodes) has artwork from Anushka Singh, a grade six student from Mount Abu Public School, Delhi.

This program is supported by the Elevate grant from the City of Austin’s Economic Development Department and Texas Humanities. 

About: Peerbagh is an award-winning 501c3 nonprofit organization incorporated in Austin, Texas. The nonprofit produces storytelling events and workshops and produces an illustrated South-Asia-inspired children’s quarterly magazine Bento. 

Website: ⁠peerbagh.com/bookstore⁠

Instagram: ⁠instagram.com/peerbagh.stories

Guest

Natasha Padhiar, Educator and Children’s Book Author

https://www.instagram.com/brightandbluestudio/

Research and other writing:

How Telling Stories Helps Kids Learn, Samantha Gratton, 2021 https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/how-telling-stories-helps-kids-learn 

Sparking Imagination And Creativity In Pre-Schoolers by Danh Chantachak https://www.shichidaathome.com/blog/sparking-imagination-and-in-pre-schoolers/ 

YaeBin K. and H. Petermeier 2016, Family Storytelling and the Benefits for Children, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension https://extension.unr.edu/publication.aspx?PubID=2448