Stories come alive, kids left spellbound at city toy shop

“A day spent creating my own fairytale” was how Angela D’Souza, 5, describes her experience at the story-telling workshop, organised as part of Hindustan Times’ No TV Day campaign on Saturday.

“A day spent creating my own fairytale” was how Angela D’Souza, 5, describes her experience at the story-telling workshop, organised as part of Hindustan Times’ No TV Day campaign on Saturday.

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D’souza cut off from her usual fare of cartoons on television and poured over the script of her own cartoon story at the workshop.

“I enjoyed creating a story around characters we were given. It was even better than watching cat and mouse cartoons on TV,” said D’Souza, who participated in the workshops at Hamley’s toy store at Phoenix Mills, Lower Parel.

The story-telling workshop, conducted by The Story Place, saw children build stories around ten characters. ‘Television tells the whole story, killing childrens’ imagination and creativity,’’ said Kanchan Shine, founder, The Story Place.

Avni Dedhia was among many mothers who brought their children for the story-telling workshop and magic show. “My daughter dragged me to this event. She is an avid follower of No TV Day,’’ said Dedhia, whose five-year-old daughter Vama hid the remote in the refrigerator so that no one would watch TV on Saturday.

More than 35 children attended each session of the story-telling workshop and the magic show, organised by Hamley’s staff.

“The workshops were worth travelling the distance for. It was good for both of us to stay away from the television. I spent the whole day with my daughter and enjoyed every minute of it,’’ said Roshni, a Mulund resident.