Why should parents read 'Totto-chan: The Little Girl at the window?'

Childhood experiences leave a profound effect on how we experience the adult world. The school environment is the first place a child steps out of their comfort zone. School moulds a child's personality and innate ability and inspires the young mind to venture into the possibilities of the future. Every child is born with potential; each child is different. Some of them are more free-spirited than others. Some are very imaginative. As a primary caregiver, you must be careful in identifying and nurturing your child's unique capabilities. Sometimes, schools in our country fail to bring out a child's latent capabilities. It's a shame that the world will have more dead-spirited adults in the process. Reading Totto-chan will help you understand how important this matter is. 

Totto-chan, the Little Girl at the Window, is a childhood memoir by Japanese television personality and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Tetsuko Kuroyanagi. The book is a testament to the unique and unconventional education Kuroyanagi received during World War II at Tomoe Gakuen, a Tokyo elementary school founded by educator Sosaku Kobayashi. 

Teaching is a crucial aspect of the book's narrative, making it a compelling read. The book also had an animated adaptation last year. 

Totto-chan, a six-year-old girl, was expelled from her previous school for unruly behaviour. Instead of being embarrassed and ashamed, her mother prioritized her freedom, as any parent should, protected her innocence, and admitted her to Tomoe. 

Freedom in learning new lessons 

The students could pick whichever lessons they wanted to learn that day instead of following a rigid schedule. They were also emphatic to their disabled classmate, indicating the school doesn't treat special children like unusual beings. 

Every day, the students were taken for a walk to be shown the beauty of nature. They even made their vegetable garden with their little hands; in return, they became respectful and compassionate towards the hard-working. The misbehaviour of children was not frowned upon. Instead, we were encouraged to change for the better. 

Another critical aspect of that school was- 'eurythmics', a musical, physical movement incorporated into the curriculum. It's because young minds learn well with music. It's not monotonous and keeps them energetic to study. Our schools in Bangladesh can add such fun activities which will be educational in a more profound sense. 

Absorbing only theoretical knowledge is so focused in our country that we must remember the importance of good morals and a great personality. Hopefully the newly introduced curriculum for school will be of great help. 

Uncovering the good nature 

In the epilogue, Tetsuko describes the school's headmaster, Kobayashi, as someone who believes all children are born with an innate good nature that can be easily damaged by their environment and the wrong adult influences. He aims to uncover their 'good nature' and develop it so the children will grow into individuals. 

Mr. Kobayashi preserved the students' sense of wonder, creativity and enthusiasm. He repeatedly focused on students' positive attributes so they could believe in themselves. One example was that Totto-chan constantly heard, 'You're a good girl, you know that, right?' from him. This impacted Tetsuko's self-esteem tremendously. 

What's the power of proper support and encouragement in childhood? Tetsuko Kuronayagi, the grown-up Totto-chan, made one of her first appearances on American television just after the publication of this book. And if you do look up that interview, you'll notice her childlike mischief. 

A unique quality most of her kindergarten teachers loathed made her successful as a TV personality. This is a testament to the transformative power of a supportive and encouraging environment. 

Can you imagine how disastrous her childhood would've been if her parents believed those previous teachers? 

Not all of us get the privilege of blooming in our actual element. But we can create a better environment for our younger generations; the book confirms that more. 

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