MummyandMe

By: Emma Chichester Clark

Duvshan(literally, "Honey-cake". In the English story he is called "Hum") loves to do all kinds of things with his Mummy. Together they play ball, work in the garden, color pictures together and cook.

But what will Duvshan do when Mummy is busy and can’t entertain him?

The parent suggestions deal with parent-child relationships and discuss ways in which even young children can honor their parents. As is written in the Ten Commandments, “Honor thy father and thy mother.”(Exodus, ch. 20, verse11).

Age Group: PRESCHOOL

Book-Related Family Activities

Language:

general

Family Activities

Mummy and Me

Honoring Parents

In the Ten Commandments it is said: “Honor thy father and thy mother” (Exodus, ch. 20, verse 11). This commandment can be understood and carried out in different ways according to one’s age. Very young children can learn that being considerate is a way of honoring their parents.

At the beginning of the book Duvshan plays with Mummy and helps her. But Mummy asks him to honor her in an additional way: He has to busy himself for a while, until she is free to be with him again. At first this is hard for him, but by the end of the story we find a very busy little bear who has prepared a lovely surprise for Mummy.

Mummy and Duvshan find the right balance between being separate and doing things together. Duvshan learns to leave Mummy alone to finish the tasks she needs to do and finds an activity of his own. He honors Mummy, and also presents her with a special treat, one that he prepared for her all by himself!

Book-Related Video

Copies Distributed:

60,000

Publishing:

כנרת

Year of Distribution:

1772 2011-2012

שְׁמִירָה

Family Activities

Duvshan and Mummy do all kinds of things together. You can go over the illustrations in the book with your children and with their help, tell the story in your own words. Invite your children to “read aloud” the story from the point of view of little Duvshan, and you can tell the same story from the perspective of Mummy Bear. At the end, you may ask your children to choose one joint activity that is described in the book, and do it (or a similar activity) together.

Honoring one’s parents: The story presents a wonderful opportunity to share your own experience with your parents, by recalling ways in which you honor or honored your parents. Be sure to let your children know how they honor you too!

Duvshan helps Mummy with gardening work and in the kitchen. Your children can also honor you and help out around the house. They can help set the table, match socks from the laundry, or help dust the furniture. For very young children this is a wonderful opportunity to feel needed and learn that they are capable of helping out with household chores.

Like Duvshan, many children like to prepare little “surprises” for their parents and show their independence. They can get dressed by themselves, wash themselves, pick up and organize their toys. And just like Duvshan’s Mummy, you too can marvel at your children’s desire to help you – and in return prepare a small surprise for them!

A “patience clock”: We all know how difficult it can be for young children to be patient. Setting an alarm clock or an hourglass can help your child know when the “being patient” time has ended. If you plan what you’ll do together when the time is over, it might help the time pass even quicker.

Many young children have a hard time thinking up ways of being on their own. For such instances you might want to prepare an “I Can Do It All By Myself” album together with your children, including a collection of drawings that describe ideas for independent activities. Each page can contain a different activity. Your child can color the pictures and you can add short sentences such as “I can draw”, “I can cut”, “I can water plants”, etc. Looking through the album will help the children choose an activity to carry out on their own while they’re waiting for you, and afterwards, just like Mummy Bear, you can say: “Oh, my little one, you are so talented!”

Mummy and Me