The Thumbledoo Shows
-big messages for little kids
Little Thumbledoo shows are specifically for years P,1,2,3.
These are character building shows that have a lighter touch than the T.H.U.M.B shows. Lots of magical fun and mirth along with strong messages.
Each Thumbledoo show focuses on one of four areas relevant to a young student’s schooling:
- Bullying
- Reading
- Resilience
- Teamwork
The children delight at joining Thumbledoo in his unique way of discovering what’s good and bad, right and wrong in many of the daily situations they face.
They can’t wait to get to the parts of the show where they resolve dilemmas put to them. It’s a terrific sight as, like little Roman Emperors deciding the fate of a gladiator, they use the traditional ‘thumbs up, thumbs down’ non verbal gesture and speak the words:
‘Good or Bad, Yes or No, Which Way Will My Thumb Go’ Thumbledoo guides them to their answer. This is a tool they can apply inside and outside of school.
Each of the four shows teaches students that they have got the power to make the right choices and lets them know that they can feel good about doing the right thing at school.
1. Anti Bullying
Little Thumbledoo tells them it’s best to treat others the way you would like to be treated.
Children are taught strategies to overcome bullying – strategies which can be used whether an individual child is a bully, a victim or a witness to bullying.
They understand the answers to these:
- What is bullying?
- What is text bullying?
- Who gets bullied?
- Why do people bully?
- How does it feel?
- Should the bully get away with it?
- What can be done?
- What if your friend is being bullied?
This show gives the clear message that bullying is wrong.
2. The Magic of Reading
Thumbledoo tells kids never to give up on yourself and your ability to learn new things. He tells the story of a young boy who dreamt of being a magician and found the path to his dreams lay in books, reading and the library. It’s not all plain sailing and he has to draw on strength of character to complete the journey which ends in a hilarious scene your school will recount for ages.
- 'Fires up' students about reading for fun and knowledge
- Motivates your students to become lifelong readers
- Reinforces your school's reading objectives
- Promotes Doing Your Best
This show promotes Male Reading Role Models: Often boys see many women reading but only a handful of men. It is important for boys to see men and other boys get exciting about reading
3. Resilience
The ability to take hard knocks, to weather the storm and to continue to value oneself no matter what happens - these are critical qualities for coping with schooling.
Through age appropriate stories and truly wonderful magical effects the students identify with the positive self esteem and self confidence messages of
- I can do it
- I’ll give it my best shot
- I tried really hard.
They will also be aware of the negative effects of sayings like
- I’m rubbish at sport
- I’m so nervous
- They'll all laugh at me if I miss
Thumbledoo gives them the tools for controlling anger, listening to others and expressing thoughts and feelings.
The key message here is resilient learners persist where others give up.
4. Teamwork
Why are there so many hands holding up the trophy? …oh, they worked together to win it.
Little Thumbledoo takes the children on a laughter filled romp on and off the sports field to highlight the values Understanding, Tolerance and Inclusion and a good measure of Responsibility thrown in.
They find out that working together is a good idea because things get done and you make friends. Team mates don’t agree on everything but they do listen to each other.
Thumbledoo takes the children on a magical fishing expedition where the catch of the day surprises everyone.
The combined messages in all four Thumbledoo shows take in the 9 Values for Australian Schooling.
|
