Good stories can teach us a lot about life. They introduce us to the emotions that need our attention. They cultivate our minds and help us have a positive outlook on life. Hence, we must tell such stories to children to enhance their thoughts and perspectives.
Children learn fast. The last thing they should know about life is hate and violence. The first thing they should encounter in their journey should be love.
Children indeed learn by example. They imitate and practice what they see. However, children are also influenced by the stories they hear and see. Motivational stories can do wonders in any life. They can leave us with life lessons that help us become better human beings.
Several books store magical worlds inside that can transform the lives of children. But not all children of modern times have the patience to listen to a whole book. Also, not all guardians have the time to read entire books to the children in their homes. That is where short films and commercials solve the problem by sharing impactful messages.
Education imparts moral lessons. However, when creativity focuses on enhancing societies, it alters the lives of both children and adults.
Let us go through nine such short films, YouTube videos and commercials that do not take much of our time and still leave us with the timelessness of good deeds and better life lessons.
I selected these particular works of art as they moved me deeply and reminded me of instances from my life. Please note that none of the links and commercial products is sponsored. These are just good videos that I found worth sharing.
Let us learn about the messages each of these videos share and ponder further on them: –
The bond between brothers
This is a beautiful video where two brothers save money to buy a cell phone to contact their mother. It shows how an elder brother dotes on his younger brother and takes care of him like a parent. Their love and bonding will touch any heart.
The most beautiful part is that when they finally save enough money to buy a cell phone, the elder brother buys something else.
We often see such friendship and love between siblings, cousins and friends. This video is a fresh reminder of the value of such bonding.
Bullying faced by children in school
I must confess that I was in a dilemma about whether to share this video as a recommendation for children or not. That is because it has a lot of cuss words and language use, which we don’t want the kids to learn. But it is such an impressive and engaging short film that I could not stop myself.
It shows how a new kid called Joseph faces bullying and defends himself in his new school. Joseph has been through hard times in his life. He can see that life in the new school will not be easy either. He thinks we would not find friends because of his colour or background.
However, sometimes we don’t have to find similarities to be friends with one another. Sometimes, all we need is something that makes us laugh and builds a connection.
It is something I experienced quite recently in one of our office presentations. We remain so caught up with work at the office that most of us don’t know much about each other. We hardly share a hello or have a casual conversation.
This changes when we attend group events together. Someone cracks a joke, and everyone laughs at it together. A sudden connection of thoughts and emotions takes place. Our heavy hearts get lifted for a moment. We become aware that we share a bond, although we hardly share words.
The joy of giving and sharing
There is no joy like the joy of giving. It is depicted so well in this video where the innocence and generosity of a little girl called Nidhi win the heart.
It also shows how parents should encourage their kids to have compassion and act on it. The way Nidhi helps a poor little girl and feeds her with her own hands moves the heart.
Children indeed do not see any barriers when they want to reach out and help someone. Then why do adults hesitate so much?
The struggle of the street children
There is more than one thing we learn from this short film.
We see how much street children in India have to struggle to survive. They have to work hard at an age when they should be studying. There is no security for them, and people frequently exploit them.
Imagine a boy of the same age from your family circles and compare the two lives. Yes, it is that sad for these children. I feel guilty that I purchased only one cotton candy from a child hawker once who wanted me to buy more.
I find myself wondering, what exactly will help them? Will buying more of their products solve the issue? Should I be buying them food or giving them some money?
I have tried it all in many situations in my life. Buying them food and sitting and having lunch with them does bring a lot of joy and meaning to life.
But what happens next? I never see them again. I do a good deed, but I find no solution. I constantly try to think of ways to do more and connect with people who do more.
Yet we find children on the streets daily. It is heartbreaking that these children have to suffer so much while many privileged children plan vacations with their families.
The other reality the video shows is the way we become patriotic on a selected day. No one buys the national flag from the boy once Republic Day is over. We have tied ourselves to a particular feeling that we need to feel only on a selected day.
Why don’t most of us show love for the country on random days as well? Why do we wait for Independence and Republic Day for all the posts and status updates? For children, this should be learning too.
Life is simple if we make it simple
The video is aptly titled. It is short, simple and effective.
It shows how a little boy chooses to use his intelligence to solve a problem, not just for himself but for others too.
We indeed tend to complain too much about things we have to face in life. But if we bother to look around and act a little, we can always find a solution.
Life is as simple and complicated as we make it.
Sharing is caring
This might be a commercial advertisement, but it shares a heart-warming story.
The maids and helpers employed in our houses or offices go through the same feelings we do during festival seasons.
We keep thinking of the needs of our family members. We should think of their needs too. It is something I learned growing up, as my father and grandparents have always been generous and kind to the less privileged.
The most important thing to remember is not to gift used items every time. Yes, that is charity too. But when there is a festival or an occasion, buy something new for your housemaids and their children. Show that you care. It makes a difference.
You become the change you want to see in the world.
Touch of care
When I saw this advertisement a few years ago, I was in tears. It’s a brilliant video that every child should see.
When it comes to the feelings and rights of people from the LGBTQIA+ community, our country is still narrow-minded in its thinking. Amazingly, the children are growing up with a better outlook. However, there is still bias around.
It is a beautiful attempt at sending an important message across the country. And a brilliant performance by Gauri Sawant, who is raising an orphaned girl as her own.
Let colours bring us together
It is one of my favourite advertisements ever. This advertisement did suffer some backlash from people opposed to a syncretic Hindu-Muslim culture in India. However, the amount of praise it gathered proved that the mindset of most Indians matches the message the advertisement aimed to promote.
It has a beautiful depiction of how a Hindu girl protects her Muslim friend from the colours of Holi and helps him reach for his Friday prayers at the mosque.
She leaves him with a message that he will have to play Holi with her after his prayer. To this, he nods and approves.
It is such a powerful video where the true essence of India gets promoted. Such videos greatly influence children. It helps them understand how to respect each other’s culture and to come together to celebrate festivals without any judgements.
May we have more such advertisements despite fears of criticism!
Education is the solution
Charity is the short-term management of a big problem. The solution to poverty can be schooling. The underprivileged sections of society can rise on the social mobility ladder if they get the same opportunities as the rest of us.
Whenever I come across poor women of my age working as daily wage labourers or as a maid, I never feel superior to them due to my position in life. There cannot be any comparison when the opportunities have not been the same. Some of these women could have done much better if they had the same education and privileges as I did.
Earlier, there was less awareness about the necessity of education among the villagers of India.
Parents of needy children are as willing as their children to choose education.
In this video, we see two sisters looking through the window into a house. The sisters watch how the family struggles for a network so that their daughter can attend her online school.
Later, the elder sister finds her younger sister upset that they don’t have any schools in their village.
At last, the village gets a school, and the sisters can now have the education they always wanted.
Many children across the country yearn to attend school. Education is still a dream for many. Many of us can volunteer to teach offline and online. Teaching is one of the most fulfilling things I have ever done.
We need more teachers. We need more schools. Because there are many like Munni and Vidya waiting for a school with hopes in their hearts.
CONCLUSION
The list here is not exhaustive. We can find several online and offline content that spread positivity and encourage people to be better.
Children have receptive minds. They get influenced easily. We must expose them to positive aspects of life and help them have constructive thinking. It is more crucial in present times where violence, discrimination and hatred spread faster than love.
Children need education, but they also need guidance to steer them towards a path that promotes peace and harmony.
Stories have the power to work in miraculous ways to motivate and inspire children. Our future is in the hands of the children growing up today. Let us hope they all grow up and become the Neo-protagonists of tomorrow.
What are some positive lessons which you learned during your childhood?
Video Source: Youtube