In this engaging conversation, Rituparna Ghosh and Shalini Bansal explore the transformative power of storytelling in early childhood education. They discuss the importance of creating a safe and inviting space for children, the role of parents in fostering a love for stories, and the impact of structured storytelling programs. Shalini shares her journey of establishing 'The Magic Tree', a storytelling and early learning centre in Noida. She emphasizes the need for passion and patience in storytelling. The discussion also touches on the future of storytelling and the growing community of storytellers, highlighting the essential role stories play in children's emotional and cognitive development. Takeaways Storytelling is essential for children's emotional development. Creating a safe space enhances learning experiences. Parents' involvement is crucial in early childhood education. Structured storytelling programs can significantly impact learning. Storytelling helps children explore and understand their emotions. Passion and patience are vital for effective storytelling. The future of storytelling is bright with growing community involvement. Books serve as a gateway for children to explore the world. Storytelling fosters creativity and critical thinking in children. Every child deserves one-on-one time with their parents. About Shalini Bansal Having gained exposure and experience in the US and India, she brings her deep passion and innovative style to make learning an enjoyable experience for children. As a consultant, Shalini has worked with leading schools to develop programs and curriculum for early childhood learning. Shalini is also the founder of “The Magic Tree”, a unique parent-child center and reading space in Noida, which offers various early childhood development programs and emphasizes the importance of reading through storytelling. As a storyteller, Shalini is one of the founding members of the Delhi Storytellers’ Tribe and has performed at various eminent schools and literature festivals like the Gurgaon Literature Festival, Kukdookoo Literature Festival, Bookaroo Literature Festival, Kanpur Literature Festival to name a few. Shalini has also been working with eminent publishers to promote reading programs. As a trainer and coach, Shalini has conducted training programs for teachers on the importance of storytelling in a classroom environment. Connect with Shalini Bansal | Instagram | LinkedIn Connect with Rituparna | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.yourstorybag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Write to us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@yourstorybag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ Season 1 of ⁠⁠The Storied Way Perspective