Kids learn best when they are having fun. I have found that my toddler is most excited to learn Gujarati when I associate the letters with fun activities or stories. That’s why each week we feature a Gujarati letter of the week, where we share activities and stories that are based on that letter. This week’s letter is સ.
Creating Corner:
First up is સ for સસલું (sasalu, rabbit).
I hope you are okay getting your hands dirty, because this craft involves some finger painting!
Make a rabbit out of your hand with this fun activity. Check out this awesome blog for some step-by-step instructions:
https://www.craftymorning.com/bunny-rabbit-handprint-craft-kids-easter-idea/
Next up is સ for સિંહ (sinha, lion).
Let's bring a lion to life two different ways:
The first lion-based craft involves making a lion out of a toilet paper!
Check out this blog for some step-by-step instructions on how to do this:
The second lion- based craft requires some paint and a fork!
Check out the instructions for this at this blog: https://www.craftymorning.com/lion-craft-kids-using-fork/
**Don't forget to have your kid label each craft in Gujarati to help them practice their writing skills!
Activity time:
First up, its time for snakes and ladders (સાપ સિદી).
Go onto the main page of VedInk and download the snakes and ladders board so that you can play this game with your kid. This will be a great way to learn numbers!
Now, it's time to learn about senses (ઇન્દ્રિયો , indriyo). There are a few sense-based actions that start with the letter સ. Let's start with સુગંધ (sugandh, smell)!
Blindfold your kid.
Place different items under their nose and have them guess the item based on smell alone. Below is a list of items we used:
Lemon
Cinnamon
Bananas
Orange
Strawberry
Flower
Tulsi
Now its time for સાંભરવાનું (saambharvaanu, listening).
Blindfold your kid.
Make different animal sounds and have your kid guess the animal based on its sound alone. If you don't want to make the animal sounds yourself, you can go onto this link where you will find many different animal sounds at the touch of a fingertip: https://www.google.com/search?q=animal+sounds
While the Gujarati word for "touch" does not start with સ, you can still use your sense of touch to learn more about સ with this next activity. It's time to make a sensory bag!
We have done variations of this activity before, but it is a creative way to help your kid practice writing letters.
Check out this blog for detailed instructions on how to make a sensory bag:
https://www.learning4kids.net/2015/06/30/how-to-make-squishy-sensory-bags/
Once you make the bag, have your kid write various Gujarati letters, including સ, using their fingers!
Now, let's focus on one of my favorite senses-- sight!
Again, the Gujarati word for "sight" does not start with સ, but that doesn't mean we can't use our eyes to learn a little more about સ! It's time for Charades! In Charades, you have to act out a word and have your partner guess it. You can only use your sense of sight during this game and are NOT allowed to speak! Here are a few words you and your kid can act out that all start with સ.
સિપાઈ (sipai, constable)
સેનિક (senik, soldier)
સસલું (sasalu, rabbit)
સાપ (saap, snake)
સિંહ (sinha, lion)
સૂરજ (sooraj, sun)
સુવાનુ (suvaanu, sleep)
સાંભરવાનું (sambharvaanu, listen)
સૂંઘવાનું (sungvaanu, smell)
સાયકલ (cycle, bicycle)
સફરજન (safarjan, apple)
સંતરું (santaru, orange)
સંગીત (sangit, music)
સાવરણી (savarni, broom)
સીડી (sidi, ladder)
Last, but not least, you can really get in the spirit of સ by having your kid wear the color સફેદ (safed, white) for the entire day!
***If your kid is a little older, you can also briefly discuss the Vedic concept of
ઇન્દ્રિયો (indriyo, senses) with them. In Vedic culture, there are said to be 11 senses. These senses are listed below:
5 Gnana indriya (sense organs)
Chakshu indriya (eye)
Shrotra indriya (ear)
Ghraana indriya (nose)
Rasanaa indriyaa (tongue)
Twak or Sparshana indriya (skin)
5 karma indriya (motor organs)
Vaak indriya (speech organs)
Paani indriya (hands)
Paada indriya (feet)
Paayu indriya (anus,rectum)
Upastha indriya (sex organ)
1 ubhaya indriya (mind) મન
You can check out this blog for an easy explanation of what each of these senses mean:
https://www.easyayurveda.com/2017/05/05/jnana-karma-indriya/
Storytime:
My kid LOVES stories. I have found that relating Gujarati letters to specific stories helps her associate the letter with more words and helps her practice saying the letter out loud. For the letter સ share the story of સસલું અને કાચબો (sasalu ane kaachbo/ the rabbit and the tortoise) or સસલું અને ઉંદર (sasalu ane undar/ the rabbit and the mouse). You can read these stories (and more) under the “Gujarati stories” tab on our website.
Character/Quality Corner: While learning letters is super important, learning character is even more important. So why not do both simultaneously? Associating letters with characters and qualities helps pique my kid’s interest in great historical figures while also allowing her to practice saying the letter out loud.
Characters:
સીતા (Sita)
સાંદિપની ઋષિ (Sandipani Rushi)
Qualities:
સરળ (saral, straightforward)
સૌમ્ય (saubhya, gentle)
Symbol:
સ્વસ્તિક (Swastik)
Sing-A-Long: The best way to learn a letter is to sing it! Here are a few Hindi songs that start with સ!
ધોળું ધોળું સસલું (dhodu dhodu sasalu/ white white rabbit): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SD1Vi4XE4Y
સાયકલ મારી સરરર જઈ (cycle maari sararara jai/ my bicycle goes sararara): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kemp5fxtzw
સાથે રમીએ, સાથે જમીએ (saathe ramiye, saathe jamiye). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDSexeTmMXg
Word Salad: The best way to learn another language is to hear as many words as possible. For the letter સ, make sure you check out all the words under the "Charades" activity above.