Please help liberate our children from fear and conformity

Sir Ken Robinson once told a story during one of his TED talks,

“I heard a great story recently, I love telling it, of a little girl who was in a drawing lesson, she was 6 and she was at the back, drawing, and the teacher said this little girl hardly paid attention, and in this drawing lesson she did. The teacher was fascinated and she went over to her and she said, “What are you drawing?” and the girl said, “I’m drawing a picture of God.” And the teacher said, “But nobody knows what God looks like.” And the girl said, “They will in a minute.”

We need to cultivate in our children the confidence this girl had in her imagination.

Since the day I first heard him speak at the IDSA conference in San Francisco hosted by Late Bill Moggridge, I have been following Sir Ken Robinson’s ideas on creativity and imagination. I have learned from his ideas that we need to help liberate our children from the clutches of fear and conformity and encourage them to explore their inner and outer worlds for innovative insights, ideas and actions.

“There is child in all of us that refuses to grow up, a child that is in awe of what can be, the polar opposite of the cynic in all of us who despairs over what is. Stories of magic, fantastic monsters, impossible courage and spectacular heroism appeal to this child, instilling it with hope and faith in humanity and in the cosmic order.”
― Shatrujeet Nath, Author

In this journey our children need a friend who can encourage them to engage in self reflection and to express ideas without fear or inhibition. I therefore created the character of Beebo who will be their imaginary friend during this journey.

I need your help in taking Beebo to every child you know. I also need your help in helping every adult you work with to appreciate the value of holding on to our inner Beebo.

Here is how you can help me in this mission:

1. Please watch this space for the announcement of the virtual book release, sign up for it and invite your friends and their children to it.
2. Write a review of the book, blog about it and talk to other parents and teachers about Beebo.
3. Please arrange an event, online or in person, where I can introduce Beebo to the children, parents and teachers.
4. Arrange “Finding Your Beebo” events in your workplace or in your community, where I would be glad to explain how finding your Beebo will help your imagination and creativity.
5. If you are connected with a K-12 school, please encourage the teachers to use the book as an aid for conversations with children.
6. If you are a parent or a grandparent please us this book to have a conversation about life with your child.
7. If you are a singer, dancer or a theater person, please translate the poems and visuals in this book as a source of your creativity.

I am glad to do my best in in helping you take Beebo to the world.