The Story behind the tasks
There is a story that starts each set of 20 tasks. Read it out loud to your child or let the child listen to the audio version. Then, go through the tasks one by one whenever you have the time. Enjoy the connection the child notices between the story and the tasks. Go back to the story every now and then with your child to discuss the social emotional aspects in the story.
Adding the important play element:
Both the versions above are great ways to use this Fun Learning program, but we want to let you in on one of the most important secrets of it: PLAY. Supporting and fostering free play is one of the biggest gifts you can give your child.
Think of the task you do with your child as an inspiration and invitation to play. The way to do that is to leave time for play after each activity, and to allow the materials to be used in a way the child chooses, to encourage to child to create something with the information they gathered in the task. Your role is to support by giving positive signals about whatever the child is doing or saying and being supportive also of ideas that go far from the idea of the task you did.
The child’s mind has been activated and they make connections maybe from some spark they got from your communication. Listen to what they say, observe what they do and give them a safe way to move to free play created by them. Let your child lead the play, you can play with them or support by giving them access to the space or material they need.
If free play is the objective, then what is the role of the tasks, you might ask. The set of tasks spread before you an abundant buffet of different age-appropriate subjects, domains, materials, knowledge, and skills in an easily accessible format. They form a canvas for the child to keep working on. They inspire and mark a starting point for child-centered activity. You will eventually learn to see what kinds of activities and topics really interest your child. You can spot in which skills your child might need more support.
Enjoy the time you spend on the tasks together with your child.
Enjoy the fun stories and let them lead you to amazing discussions with your child.
Praise yourself for being an active advocate for happy childhood and play.
Example story
6.1. Earth and Moon
Tuka has spread her arms and she is spinning like a top. Suddenly she stops abruptly, but she can’t manage to walk straight. She staggers around, zigzagging until she bumps into Maco, who is lying on a picnic blanket reading his new space book.
“Did you know, Tuka, that while the Earth rotates on its own axiss, the Moon doesn’t. It actually orbits the Earth!”
“No, I didn’t know that,” Tuka replies. She asks Maco to tell her more about the Earth and the Moon.
“Do you know how long it takes the Moon to go once around Earth?” Maco asks. Tuka has no idea. She is very surprised to hear that it takes a whole month.
“Now I’ll show you how we can play Moon and Earth,” Maco suggests. He asks Tuka to be the Earth. She has to keep rotating around herself. Maco will play the Moon, and so he starts to walk around Tuka.
“You are Earth and I am Moon. Do you understand? The Earth rotates on its own axis and the Moon revolves around the Earth,” Maco explains. Tuka loves this new game. She wants to learn more about the Earth, the Moon and space in general. Maco’s space book tells them about the seven planets called Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Tuka thinks the names sound funny. Maco and Tuka study the book together. They get excited about the planets and decide to start a craft project, using paper to create things you find in space. They have quite a project planned!
Maco receives a message from Waaba and he invites Soca over. Soon all four Kip Crew members are studying the space book together. Tuka will never understand how Waaba can send messages to her friend without talking or writing a text message — she just thinks of her friends and they suddenly realise that she is wanting to connect. Really weird! On the other hand, Tuka is much physically faster than any of her friends. Maybe we all have some talent that makes us special in our own way, she decides.
“How did you get here so fast?” Tuka asks. “You were here in a second.”
“Don’t exaggerate, Tuka!” Maco replies. “Do you know how short one second is? It’s about as short as a wink of the eye.”Now Tuka definitely wants to know if it takes a second to wink her eye. Tuka understands that she has a lot to learn about both space and the passage of time. Tuka picks up her phone and immediately looks to see how long it takes them to wink. You too can use a phone or a clock to check the time. Then find out how long it takes to list the names of all the planets! If you don’t know how to check the time yourself, ask an adult to help you.