When children first learn to read, they put tremendous effort into following the sequence of letters and flow of words. When they listen to adults — who are close to them — read to them, they can free themselves of the effort, and indulge in imagining the story or discovering new things about the book. It is, of course, recommended that children be encouraged to read on their own, but, at the same time, you should also keep reading together.
Have you ever tried building or planning something that didn’t quite come out the way you intended? How do we feel when things don’t come out quite the way we planned? What can help us in such cases? You can share with your children your own experiences when things didn’t quite go as planned, and what heled you cope.
Listen to this episode called A Great Idea, which is part of a podcast called Yarden and Didi in Pajamas in partnership with Kan Podcasts, Keren Grinspoon Israel and the Israeli Ministry of Education.
What happens when we plan first and then build? Or when we build without planning? You can try it both ways using items you have collected, Lego pieces, or anything else you have at home, and see how you feel and what the result is each time.
You can play an imagination drawing game. Take turns describing to the rest of your family as follows: In my imagination I see something that does… It has a… and it’s the color of… – while the rest of your family follows your description and draws it on paper. What does each drawing look like? How fascinating!
בזמן הקריאה פעוטות יכולים להשתתף ולהרגיש שהם גדולים ועצמאים. הם יכולים לבחור ספר ולהביא אותו, להחזיק ולהפוך דפים, להצביע ולומר מילים שהם מכירים. עידוד הפעוט להשתתף בקריאה יחזק את הרגשת המסוגלות ויעצים את החיבור לעולם הספר.
תוכלו לשוחח על דברים שהפעוטות לומדים לעשות בעצמם ולשאול: מה אתם עושים בעצמכם בבית? ובמה אתם צריכים עזרה? יש דברים שהייתם רוצים ללמוד לעשות לבד? איך אפשר להתאמן על משהו חדש שרוצים ללמוד לעשות?
באיורים מופיעים פרטים רבים. תוכלו לחפש בכל קריאה פרט חדש, ממש כמו טים טם שמוצאת בכל יום נקודה חדשה. איפה טים טם? היכן הנקודות השחורות? באילו עוד צורות אתם מבחינים? אילו חיות נראות בכל עמוד? אילו פריטים יש בבית של טים טם?
טים טם לומדת להבחין בנקודות בסביבתה ולמצוא אתן. תוכלו לחפש יחד נקודות וחפצים עגולים בסביבה שלכם. היכן מסתתרות נקודות? אולי על החולצה? אולי בגוף? אילו חפצים עגולים יש לנו בבית? אולי אפילו תבחינו באחת מחברותיה החיפושיות של טים טם.
Toddlers enjoy reading books together, and when they focus on the story, they use their learning, concentration and imagination abilities. To “get into” the story and allow them to concentrate, you should disconnect from the world for a few minutes, sit somewhere calm, with no background noises, screens or mobile phones, and fly together on the story’s wings.
This short book is full of experiences from toddlers’ day-to-day lives: They want to take part, sometimes they experience rejection, they strive to be independent and are busy finding solutions. You can discuss such moments in the story with your toddlers and link them to their world: What did the girl cat want? How did she feel when the boy cat didn’t want her to join him? What did she decide to do? Do you also enjoy going out for a walk? And what do you like doing all by yourself?
You can suggest packing a small bag and going for a walk with your toddler, just like the girl cat, in your home or neighborhood. Together, you can think of all the things you need to take with you on your walk – a bottle of water? A hat? How about a toy?
When you look at the illustrations together, you could focus your attention on different things each time – Where is the boy cat? And where is the girl cat? What are they doing? Which items can you identify in the picture?
Who says that stories must be read at bedtime? Maybe you prefer reading them in the afternoon? Or lying together on the rug, or having a stuffed toy join you while reading? Every toddler has his or her own personality and needs, and grownups, of course, have their own preferences too. You can look for the best reading time and method for you and your toddler, and create your own special story hour.
While you read, you can shoo the fly away together with your toddler, just like the child in this story: You can clap, jump with your entire body, or move only your hand, or sneeze ever so loudly, and then look right and left for the fly that flew away.
Would you like to sing with the fly that got lost? Scan the code and listen to the song the “Fly That Got Lost”. You can dance, fly, and make buzzing sounds together.
Your finger can become a fly too: Make buzzing sounds and wiggle your finger in the air as if it were a fly. You can see your toddler following the “flying” finger. You can place your finger on another area of your toddler’s body each time: his or her nose, cheek, arm or ear. You can say: “Buzz on the forehead” out loud, while going over the names of their body parts and laughing together. Once your toddler has become familiar with this game, you could invite him or her to make a finger a fly too.
Many books for toddlers have a recurring phrase that helps them follow the storyline and play a part in the reading. To emphasize the recurring phrase while reading this book, you can use a special voice, add a hand gesture, or change your reading pace. When the familiar phrase comes up, your toddlers will be delighted to join you.
Ora Ayal [1946-2011] was a children’s writer and illustrator. She illustrated over 70 books, among them Miriam Roth’s well-known books, as well as writing some herself, such as A Girl Alone and One Dark Night.
Visits are a significant part of a toddler’s world. We visit family and friends, and sometimes, they visit us. You can discuss and ask: Who did we visit? What did we do during our visit? Who shall we invite over to our house?
At the corner of each page there is an illustration that hints at the encounter we will see on the following page. Before you turn the page, you may want to look at the illustrated clue and guess who will be waiting for you on the following page. You can even play with real-life objects: Cover an item almost entirely, and ask your toddler what is hiding under the cover – a teddy-bear? Hat? Or purse?
The final page of the book is a story in itself, containing many illustrated details. You may enjoy looking for the many details in the illustrations that you have come across throughout the book: a dog, girl, hat or flower. You can even try to identify and name the items at Grandma’s house: Where is the kettle? What is hanging on the wall?
Reading books is a wonderful way to get to know a child’s world. When reading, you may want to pause every once in a while, and allow your child to respond to the events depicted in the book: How do the characters feel? How do we, as readers, feel? Has something similar ever happened to you?
Have you ever helped to make a salad? Have you ever fallen and hurt yourself? You may enjoy recollecting together, parents and children, moments when you felt big, and managed to do something all on your own, and other incidents when all you wanted was to be hugged and comforted. This may be a good opportunity to get to know your child’s experiences, while sharing special moments with them from your own childhood.
While reading, you may enjoy looking at the illustrations and searching for interesting details: What is Matan doing? How many animals can you spot? Who is large and who is small? Where can you see a cat? And which of the illustrations is your personal favorite?
Pick up two objects and compare them – which of them is small and which is big? Now, replace one of the objects with another, and check again: Is the teaspoon big or small when compared to a bottle cap? And what happens when it is next to a broom? You can use yourselves as one of the objects and check whether you are big or small. And what happens when you stand next to other family members?
Reading books from a young age contributes greatly to toddlers’ development. Starting to read slowly and gradually is recommended. At first, toddlers may be allowed to connect to the book in their own way: Touch it, open and close it, look at the illustrations, and become curious. Later, you can read: Read a little each day, patiently and calmly. Some toddlers will prefer to be read a single page, get familiar with it until – hey – books have become their friends!
We can make interesting discoveries if we only pay a little attention. You may enjoy discussing what you see as you walk or take a drive: “Here is a red car!” “I see clouds. What do you see?” You can also share experiences with your toddler: “On my way to work today, I saw a lady walking her dog. What did you see on your way or back from daycare?”
Like the boy in the book, all toddlers enjoy rituals that generate a fixed routine, calm them down, and help them start their day feeling good and happy. You can also have your own morning ritual. For example, you can encourage your toddler to say good-bye a beloved stuffed toy: “Teddy, Teddy, I’m going to Kindergarten, goodbye!”, while you parents reply on behalf of the bear: “Goodbye! See you later! Have a safe journey!”
Many animals appear in the book. You can look at them together, and state their names, make the relevant sounds, and mimic their movements: Crow like a rooster, hop like a bunny, or gallop and neigh like a horse. You can also look at the illustrations on the final page, cover one of the animals each time, make the relevant sound or mimic its movements, and have your toddler guess which animal it is.
How do we turn books into friends? Reading from a young age contributes greatly to toddlers’ development. We suggest starting slowly, gradually, and age-appropriately: Some toddlers will want to touch the book, open and close it, or even “taste” it. You can then read a little, patiently and enjoyably. You can start by reading one page, and, as you get used to it, add more pages, until, hey – books have become friends!
While reading, you can emphasize the words good morning using a special voice and welcoming gesture. Invite toddlers to join in, follow the story, and take an active part in the reading. You can create your own good morning greetings: “Good morning kitchen chair!” “Good morning tree on our street!”, “Good morning, Bobby the dog!”
For toddlers, everything can be a teachable moment. Time spent together going to or from daycare provides an opportunity to observe what attracts toddlers’ attention: Is it ants walking in a row? A large truck? Or perhaps a flock of birds?
Flip through the pages of the book together and ask your children to tell you the story in their own words, using the illustrations as guides.You may also choose dolls or stuffed animals to represent Aliza and her friends, and enact the story together.
Everyone feels lazy at times. You can discuss this together: when do we find it hard to do things? Maybe it’s when we first get out of bed in the morning, or when we have to do chores we don’t like?
Sometimes young children are actually mature enough to perform certain tasks by themselves, but they don’t do sobecause they’reaccustomed to getting help. You and your children could brainstorm about which tasks you tend to do for them—and then choose one task that they can now do all by themselves. Be sure to give them positive feedback when they show you how independent they can be!
Who are Aliza the duck’s friends? Who are your children’s friends? And who are your friends? Think of the things that Aliza and her friends enjoy doing together, and then share how you spend time with your friends, and have your children tell you what they like to do with their own friends.
You could bake a cake together and invite friends over for a tea party, just as Aliza the duck and her friends do at the end of the story.
If you know the fable: “The Grasshopper and the Ant,” you could tell it to your children.
We hope you enjoy reading and discussing together this book!
האם הילדים מכירים קומיקס? סיפור קומיקס, או “עלילון”, הוא בעצם סיפור כפול: הרפתקאותיו של אורי כדורי כפי שמתוארות במילים, ועלילת הציורים. לא צריך לדעת לקרוא כדי לפענח טורי קומיקס! ילדי הגן יוכלו “לקרוא” את הציורים ולספר את הסיפור במילים שלהם.
Uri Kadori
שְׁמִירָה
להסב את תשומת לב הילדים לכלב הגדול שלמלווה את אורי ברוב הרפתקאותיו
כדאי להסב את תשומת לב הילדים לכלב הגדול שלמלווה את אורי ברוב הרפתקאותיו. הכלב לא מוזכר בסיפורים, והוא פרי דמיונה של המאיירת רותו מודן. אפשר לשוחח עם הילדים, מה עושה הכלב בסיפורים?
אחד הדברים המצחיקים ב”אורי כדורי” הוא השימוש הבלתי-שגרתי בחפצים מוכּרים. אפשר לשחק משחק: כל אחד בוחר חפץ בחדר ועושה בו שימוש מצחיק ובלתי-שגרתי. על השני לנחש לְמה הפך החפץ המוכּר.
Uri Kadori
שְׁמִירָה
לשאול את הילדים מה הם ממציאים ולבקש שיתבוננו בתמונות ויגלו מה החליט אורי לעשות.
אורי כדורי ממציא פתרונות מגוחכים לבעיות שונות (כיצד להתייבש לאחר הגשם, מה לעשות בקליפת בננה כשאין בסביבה פח, איך להתאים את גובהו של כסא לשולחן…). אפשר לקרוא את סיפורונים יחד ולעצור לפני הפתרון, לשאול את הילדים מה הם ממציאים ולבקש שיתבוננו בתמונות ויגלו מה החליט אורי לעשות.
האם עלילותיו של אורי כדורי הצחיקו את הילדים? איזה סיפור אהבו במיוחד? אפשר לשוחח בקבוצות קטנות, לבחון את הפרטים הקטנים שבאיורים ולאפשר לילדים להביע את העדפותיהם.
האם ילדי הגן מכירים יצירות נוספות שכתבה לאה גולדברג (למשל, “איה פלוטו?”, “דירה להשכיר”, “הילד הרע” ועוד)? אפשר להכיר לילדים את דמות היוצרת ולערוך תצוגה בגן. כדאי לבקש מהילדים לחפש בבית ספרים ושירים פרי עטה ולצרף אותם לתצוגה.
אחד הדברים המצחיקים ב”אורי כדורי” הוא השימוש הבלתי-שגרתי בחפצים מוכּרים – למשל, כאשר אורי כדורי תולה את עצמו על חבל הכביסה, או מושיט חכה כדי לדוג דג זהב מתוך אקווריום. אפשר לשחק משחק: כל אחד בוחר חפץ בחדר ועושה בו שימוש מצחיק ובלתי-שגרתי. על השני לנחש לְמה הפך החפץ המוכּר.
Uri Kadori
שְׁמִירָה
לקרוא שוב את הקומיקס ולשאול את ילדיכם, מה הבעיה ומה הפתרון בכל סיפור?
כל אחת מעלילותיו של אורי כדורי עוסקת בפתרון מגוחך לבעיה שעומדת בפני הגיבור. אפשר לקרוא שוב את הקומיקס ולשאול את ילדיכם, מה הבעיה ומה הפתרון בכל סיפור? יחד תוכלו להמציא עוד פתרונות מצחיקים לבעיות.
You can flip through the book together with your children, looking at OraAyal’s heartwarming illustrations and pointing out each of the occasions on which the blanket helped Maya. You might ask your children what they think made the blanket change its size as the story went along.
Like Maya, many children have a “lovey” (rag, blanket, pacifier, stuffed animal, or doll) that they take with them everywhere. Talk with your children about the strong attachment Maya feels for her “Blankie,” and share your own experiences: When you were young, did you have a favorite object to which you were particularly attached? Do your children have one? Perhaps you, too, want to embark on a “journey” with the item and do some growing with its support.
Maya really wants to be four years old already. You could ask your children if there are things “big kids” do that “little kids” don’t. Together you could make an illustrated listof your children’s achievements and capabilities: things they know how to do today andcouldn’t do a year ago, and what they would like to be able to do when they are older.
You might discuss special occasions throughout the year: holidays, the first or last day of school, important events in the life of your family. How do you mark all these occasions? Do you recite the Shehehiyanublessing, and if so – when?
How does your family celebrate birthdays? Maya’s story underlines the point that maturity is measured not only by how old you are, but also by your actions. After reading the story, you might add a new custom to your family birthday celebrations—one that will give your children a chance to display their new-found maturity. You could suggest that they choose a toy, an item of clothing, or a doll or stuffed animal that they no longer need “because they’re big,” and give it away to a younger child.
You could also hold a birthday party for one of your children’s dolls or stuffed animals – plan the party, make decorations, sing songs… everything you do for a birthday!
Young children’s perception of time is not yet fully developed, and many children, like Maya, ask, “When will…?” Working together, you could design a weekly calendar showing all the days of the week, and then mark each passing day with a small picture or sticker.
Together with your children, take the time to look closely at Na’ama Benziman’s beautiful illustrations. You may want to stop at the page where Emilia approaches the three steps leading to the preschool, and note the changes in her facial expression.
After reading the story, you can make up your own fantastic story and draw it.
Emilia really wanted to enter the classroom on her own, “without any problems and without making a scene”. You and your child can look at the first illustration in the book, that depicts Emilia saying good-bye to her mother, and compare the entrance to her classroom with your child’s schoolyard. What helps your child say good-bye and go into the classroom in the morning? Do you have a special ceremony or technique that eases the separation? After reading the story about Emilia, you may want to invent a new way to say good-bye in the morning, a way that will help your child feel grown-up and brave.
Like Emilia, each one of us feels sometimes big and other times small. You can read the story together again and take note of the points in the plot when Emilia feels big and when she feels small. You might ask your child when they feel big and small, and emphasize the advantages of each condition.
Emilia’s friend Dana enters the story at precisely the moment when Emilia is feeling lonely. You can use this as an opportunity to talk about friendship. You might ask: What do we like to do together with our friends, when do we prefer to be alone and what is more enjoyable to do together with others?
Dana is very happy to see Emilia, and they play together. You too can play together and even make your own tea party like the girls in the story. What will you serve at your tea party, who will be big and who will be small? You can invite other family members, dolls or stuffed animals to join your party.
You can recount all the things your child knows how to do alone, and some tasks he or she needs help with. You might want to share an experience of your own, and tell your children about a time when you overcame an obstacle on your own – and when you were helped out by family or friends.
Emilia’s journey into the classroom is depicted like a dream. You might want to talk to your child about dreams. Do you remember your dreams? You can try to draw a picture of one of the dreams you or your child dreamt.
You may want to take this opportunity to share one of your own childhood experiences with your child. Did you attend preschool? If so, do you remember being sad saying good-bye in the morning? With whom did you play, and what did you like to do with your friends? You might want to compare your preschool with your child’s current classroom.
EMILIA
שְׁמִירָה
רעיונות שהציעה נעמה בנזימן לפעילויות עם הילדים סביב האיורים שבספר
You may want to read the story several times, enjoying together the rhyming games and opposites, and accompanying Miriam on her quest for the sea. After several readings, your child will probably be able to complete the sentences, and “read” the story themselves.
If you do not have a beach close by, you could spend some time at the pool, fill a tub in the back yard, or even have a bath. Take simple seaside playthings along with you, such as a funnel, sieve, and various sized plastic bottles. Have fun!
hot–cold, big–small, old–new etc. You may enjoy playing an opposites game together. One of you could ask the other: “Is it ______ (hot, big, old…)?” and the other could reply: “No, it’s ________ (cold, small, new..)!”
Miriam and the Sea
שְׁמִירָה
You may enjoy playing the "warm-cold" game together
One of you thinks of an object in the room, and leads the other toward it using clues of “warmer” (the object is close by) or “colder’ (the object is far away).
Miriam and the Sea
שְׁמִירָה
Following the story, you may like to have a conversation with your child about seasons,
Following the story, you may like to have a conversation with your child about seasons, and discuss how our activities change in winter when it is raining outside, and in summer, when it’s hot out.
Miriam and the Sea
שְׁמִירָה
Mirik Snir wrote dozens of wonderful books for young children
Read this rhyming story out loud on multiple occasions. Over time, your children will remember the words, begin completing the sentences themselves, and become active partners in reading the story.
Yossi Abulafia has put some entertaining details in the illustrations that aren’t mentioned in the story. Try to find the dog and the cat on each page. Did you find them? What are they doing? What sort of expression do they have on their faces? You could try imitating the facial expressions and movements of both the dog and the cat. What else did you find in the illustrations? Do your children know the names of the different objects?
Nira Harel tells us which games Noam likes: playing ball, hugging his teddy bear, and playing ‘pretend’ games. You and your children can play ‘pretend’ together. Each one takes a turn pretending to be Noam—saying “That one!” while pointing to something in the room. The family member pretending to be Noam’s Dad then tries to guess which object is meant. At the end of the game everybody hugs and laughs, just like in the story.
That One!
שְׁמִירָה
There is nothing like a sense of humor to defuse tension in moments of frustration
There is nothing like a sense of humor to defuse tension in moments of frustration. Next time you are struggling to understand what your children are saying, try remembering “That One!” Recall the father’s sense of humor and the funny illustrations. Then maybe when your children ask for “that one,” a loving hug will help you, too?
The Most Magnificent Thing 
Tidying Up the Room 
Ayelet Takes a Walk 
An Egg for Shabbat 
Tim Tam and the Spots 
And the Cat 
The Fly That Got Lost 
One Bright Morning 
BIG OR SMALL 
A Young Boy Went to Kindergarten 
Good Morning! 
Aliza the Duck and Friends 
Uri Kadori 
Journey to Age Four 
EMILIA 
Miriam and the Sea 
That One! 
קְרִיאָה
שִׂיחָה
שֵׁמַע
מִשְׂחָק
יְצִירָה
הַשְׁרָאָה
שִׁלּוּב הַסֵּפֶר
חֲגִיגָה
הַעֲשָׁרָה
הַמְחָשָׁה
כְּלָלִי
סִרְטוֹנִים
חֵקֶר
לָצֵאת הַחוּצָה
