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Forgetful Dida
Forgetful Dida
Average Rating: 3.0
Country: India
Ages: 5-8
Author: Himanjali Sankar
Publisher: Story Weaver
Illustrator: Aditi Anand

About The Story

In this gentle, emotional story, a young narrator notices that Dida, their grandmother, is changing. She forgets where her sandals are. She forgets how to read. Sometimes, she even forgets her own family. Through the eyes of a child, we see the quiet confusion and deep love that comes with watching a grandparent experience memory loss. But the story reassures young readers: even when Dida forgets us, we will never forget her. “Forgetful Dida” opens the door to conversations about aging, dementia, and how love remains even when memories fade.

Themes

Social & Emotional Learning
Health & Wellbeing
Family &Friends

Sub Themes

Grandparents
Caring
Aged
Dementia

Parent-Teacher Guide

Learning Outcome

  • Learn how memory loss can affect older loved ones.
  • Understand that forgetting does not mean a loss of love.
  • Develop empathy and patience toward elderly family members.
  • Be encouraged to express feelings about aging or illness.

Lesson Plan

  • This story helps young children process the idea of aging and memory loss with compassion.
  • It promotes family support, emotional expression, and unconditional love.

Activities

  • Memory Collage: Children make a collage of favorite memories with family members.
  • Dida’s Diary: Invite children to write or draw a page “from Dida’s diary”—what might she still remember or feel inside?
  • Story Circle: Encourage children to share stories of their grandparents.
  • Role Play: Practice comforting or helping someone who is confused or forgetful.

Story Discussion Guide

Before reading

  • What do you love most about your grandparents?
  • Have you ever forgotten something important?
  • What do you think it feels like to forget names or places?

During reading

  • What are some things Dida is forgetting?
  • How do the narrator and the mother feel?
  • What does the narrator do when Dida forgets something?

After reading

  • Why do you think Dida is forgetting things?
  • How would you help someone like Dida?
  • What can we do to show love, even when words or memories disappear?

Applicable Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

includes mental and neurological health, including dementia.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

addresses inclusion, care, and empathy for the elderly or those with cognitive conditions.

Curriculum Alignment

  • Horizontal Alignment: 3-5 years: Who Stole Bhaiyya’s Smile? – A child recognizes emotional changes and learns to respond with care. A Very Important Tree – When her brother wants to cut down a tree, his sister is very upset. She does not want the tree and the birds who had made a home in it to be harmed in anyway. Lebo and Gogo’s Tea Party -Lebo’s Grandmother had a fall and broke her leg. Lebo wants to cheer her up. What can she do to make her Gogo feel happy? 8-10 years: Bili and Soli – Bili is very protective of his younger sister. At the Pasola fair he constantly is afraid whether she will get sunburnt, get lost, or worse, get trampled by a horse. 5-8 years: Get Well Soon – Dre’s Grandmother is suffering from Depression. Little Dre tries his best to cheer her up.
  • My Brother Charlie - Charlie, an autistic boy gets all the love, care, support and understanding by his loving sister.
  • Vertical Alignment Horizontal Alignment: 3-5 years: Who Stole Bhaiyya’s Smile? – A child recognizes emotional changes and learns to respond with care.
  • A Very Important Tree – When her brother wants to cut down a tree, his sister is very upset. She does not want the tree and the birds who had made a home in it to be harmed in anyway.
  • Lebo and Gogo’s Tea Party -Lebo’s Grandmother had a fall and broke her leg. Lebo wants to cheer her up. What can she do to make her Gogo feel happy?
  • 8-10 years: Bili and Soli – Bili is very protective of his younger sister.
  • At the Pasola fair he constantly is afraid whether she will get sunburnt, get lost, or worse, get trampled by a horse
  • Knots on a Counting Rope – A tender story of the bond between a grandfather and grandson, Boy Strength of Blue Horses, who is blind and loves hearing from his grandfather how he got his name.
  • 10-12 years A Friend for All – Nabila cares deeply for the welfare of her classmates and sets up SAFE to help them feel safe and supported.

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