So Children Grow Up Kind: Magical Tales and Board Games from Udmurtia at the RUSSIA EXPO Department Store

Every parent wants their child to grow up kind, strong-willed, and hardworking, developing proper moral values from an early age. The unique project "SUPPORT for the SOUL" and its children's tales, games, and audiobooks can help with this. These can be purchased at the RUSSIA EXPO department store.

Over 10 years ago, in Udmurtia, Irina Kharina opened a private kindergarten with just 10 spots. Over time, it grew into an entire network of kindergartens called "Happiness." In 2023, this entrepreneurial project laid the foundation for a social project. Thus, "SUPPORT for the SOUL" was born. This project offers original programs for educators and parents aimed at preserving and strengthening traditional spiritual and moral values.

Specifically for this program, Lada Mirolyubova wrote original fairy tales called "The Adventures of Sasha and Dasha" and developed a board game journey based on these tales. Every word and illustration was reviewed by leading specialists from the Udmurtia Institute for Education Development. All the tales were tested for comprehension by children and successfully piloted in kindergartens across the republic.

"The creation of children's works and games that celebrate eternal values was driven by a strong desire to do everything possible to ensure our children grow up kind and friendly, with strong will and diligence — in a word, well-educated. Such values remain unchanged for millennia and have no boundaries in space and time!" says project author Irina Kharina.

In each tale, inseparable friends, preschoolers Sasha and Dasha, uncover new secrets. Whenever one of the children starts a quarrel, feels offended, stops listening to the other, or becomes lazy, a magical bracelet instantly transports them to a fairy-tale world. They can return to their loved ones only by discovering the secrets of the story they find themselves in.

Importantly, throughout their adventures, the children are aided by their cleverness and best character traits, such as honesty, generosity, kindness, and diligence. Thus, without boring moralizing, young readers naturally develop these wonderful qualities. The titles of the tales speak for themselves: "Knowledge," "Family," "Respect," "Love," "Friendship," "Kindness," "Willpower," "Beauty," "Honesty," and "Loyalty."

"In each of our fairy tales and board games lives a soul! Mothers say that the books make them feel warmer, and little ones don't want to part with them! According to educators, thanks to the interesting books and engaging tasks, children simply listen to and discuss the stories, play our games, and naturally learn what is 'good' and what is 'bad.' I believe that from early childhood, such knowledge becomes a support, a kind of correct filter for the future uncontrollable flow of information in their adult lives," notes Irina.

Fairy tales and board games can be purchased at the RUSSIA EXPO department store.