KNI Swimming Through the Sea Guide Book

S wimmin w immin g TThr hr ou gh ough t hhee SSea ea GUI DE G U IDE BO B OO K

W e lcom lcomee T o Y our K iidd s N ig ht In I n!

A note from Megan Pruitt, Founder of Kids Night In… First, I wanted to start by thanking you for your Kids Night In order. We are amazed at our growth as a new company and have enjoyed all of the pictures and social media posts that have been shared using the hashtag #kidsnightinbox. It warms our teams’ hearts that you have allowed us the privilege of being welcomed into your home to make incredible memories.

This month’s box will focus on genuine awareness and compassion for those who are differently-abled. Social challenges are increasingly complex. How are we preparing our children for this world of change?

In this new environment, the skills of empathy and kindness matter more than ever. Empathy and kindness help us build authentic relationships, understand problems through the perspectives of others, and create meaningful solutions. The faster we master empathy and kindness, the faster we can shape a world where prob lems no longer outrun solutions.

Our goal this month is to provide fun, active and engaging ways to promote understanding, empathy and kindness into our little one’s daily practices. While some of these concepts might not resonate the same between little ones and older children, we are excited to be the means to begin these conversations with your children.

Till Next Month!

Megan Pruitt

A ure Add v e nt nture C h eeckpoints ckpo ints

* Read Y o u r I nc l u d ed B o o k * C r eat e D i f f e r e nt C ol o r e d F i sh * B r ai l l e Ch a l l e ng e * Dr aw i ng Ch a l l e ng e * Ob s t a c l e Co u r se Challe nge * S n ac k t i m e * Re fl ec t i o n * T i l l N e x t M o nt h !

Re R e ad You r IInc n c lluded u ded BBoooo k

You Be You Snuggle up with your little one and enjoy reading

You Be You

or have your little one read to you!

When little Adri sets out to explore the ocean, he has no idea how colorful the world is. He quickly discovers that there are all kinds of fish in the deep blue sea—big and tiny, smooth and spiny, colorful and plain, different and the same.

In this companion book to the best-selling Only One You, Kranz uses her famous rockfish to convey the message of beauty in difference in a vibrant and engaging way that will get kids hooked.

SSome om e f diffe

ish look l ook r en t.t .

Cr e a te D if ferent Co l ored Fi s h For your first activity it’s time to make some different colored fish—just like the ones in your

You Be You

Grab your included model magic, markers and get creative!

book!

S t e p On e :

Divide your model magic into four different equal sections.

S t e p T w o:

Cho ose four of your favorite different colored markers.

S t e p T h r ee:

Add a few dots of color to each section. Work the color through the model magic with your hands until each piece is fully coated in the color you c hose for that piece.

S t e p F o ur:

Form each of the colored sections into fish shapes.

D if feren t ifferent Co C o lloored red Fis h

Take a moment to look at your different colored fish.

Just like your You Be You book talks about fish being all different colors, so are your fish.

Take out the blindfold from your box and cover your little one’s eyes. Have them feel each fish and smell each fish.

Ask them, “Even though the fish are different colors, are the fish different?”

The answer should be that despite the fish’s color, they are all still the same!

Next have your little one mix all the fish together to make a giant ball and decorate one larger fish. Did this change the fish? Nope! It is still the same model magic but just a different color and size.

Share your fish with us on social media for a chance to get your next Kids Night In box for free using the hashtag #kidsnightinbox.

S oome me fish S wim w im by t h e moon mo o n..

Did you know that just like there are differently-abled fish in the sea, some people are not able to see?

People who are not able to see are blind. Many blind people use braille to read. Next we are going to learn about the man wh o created braille!

L ea rn Louis

About Br ail le Louis Braille was born in 1809 in France. When he was just 3 years old, he had an accident. He was playing in his father’s shop with sharp tools, and hurt one of his eyes.

His eye became infected, and that infection spread to the other eye.

This left young L ouis completely blind. When he was 16, Louis went to a school for the blind . At this school, students read books by running their fingers over raised letters. This was very difficult to do, an d Louis tried to make a better way to print words so that blind people could read with their fingers.

He soon had the idea to use raised dots. He created an alphabet made out of dots, which was much easier to read with fingers. This alphabet became known as “Braille,” named after Louis. By 1824, Braille was being used all over the world! Louis continued to teach and write for the rest of his life.

B raille r a ille C h alle nnge ge f or he o r tthe Lit L it tle t le On O ne s

Next, grab your included Braille card, blindfold your little one and have them feel the bumps.

While they might not be able to distinguish the diffe rent letters, it will be an interesting experience to have them feel the texture.

Ex pl o re B rail le r aille f o r the O l d er C h ildren We have written a secret message on the Braille card included in your box. Using the Braille Alphabet Guide, decode the secret message and learn to feel the letters just as blind people do!

Remember how we talked about Braille being an alphabet made of dots?

Looking at the Braille Alphabet Guide, try to write the following:

Name:

Favorite Food:

Write the word Braille:

S o me sw m s w iim

f ish left.

Have you ever been out and about and seen a person in a wheelchair?

Sometimes different parts of our body don’t work like they should. Some people are born with certain parts of their body not working correctly.

S o me s w im

f ish r ight.

Some times people can injure a part of their body like their leg or arms, and they might need to use a cast for a few weeks. Other physical impairments are permanent like being paralyzed where the person needs to use a wheelchair.

Lea rn arn About Abo u t Jo ni J oni Ea recks o n E areckso Ta da T ada Next we will talk about an amazing woman who had a serious accident and lost her ability to use her arms and legs.

Joni Eareckson Tada was born in 1950 to a family that loved the outdoors. When Joni was 17, she had a serious accident. She went to meet her older sister Kathy at the lake, and when she got there she dove into the water.

She didn’t realize that she was diving into water that was too shallow, and this hurt her neck.

The accident left her paralyzed (unable to move) from her shoulders down. At first, Joni had a very hard time accepting her new life in a wheelchair. As time went on, though, Joni learned new ways of doing things she loved.

She began painting and drawing by holding paint brushes and pencils in her mouth.

She wrote 17 books to encourage people and hosts her own radio show. Joni travels to this day all over the world, teaching people about disabilities, and helping people in need. Her life has been an encouragement to many people!

Look how Joni uses h e r mo u t h to paint!

Isn ’t J oni an am az ing artist! ?

Dr aawing win g Next you will draw just like Joni!

Using your box as a platform/easel, grab your markers and try to draw a fish like the ones in your book by holding the marker in your mouth, just like Joni!

1

Dra w t h e eye BIG!

A dd pupil and line f o r lips .

4

A d d l i ne s f o r g i l l s.

2

3

Add t op and bot t om l ip!

5

6

D e co rate us ing the E LEMEN TS OF AR T!

C h alle nge

SSome ome Some S ome

f ish fish

s w im s w im

up. d own.

Dif nt D i fffee r eent P h ysical ysica l A b ilit ie s ilitie O b stacle st a cle CCou ou r se

Just like the fish in the book you read earlier and the unique and special people you learned about, we all have different physical abilities.

It’s important to be kind even when those around you might be differently-abled. Next we will learn about a very special lady named Wilma, and you will complete an obstacle course with different challenges to which you will adapt.

Think about the people you have learned about and what it must be like for them to complete the obstacle course.

L eearn arn W ilm a Wilm

A b ou t R ud olph Wilma Rudolph was born in 1940 in Tennessee. She was the 2 0th child out of 22 children in her family. When Wilma was a little girl, she got a disease called polio, which made it hard for her to use her left leg. She had to wear a brace. Wilma went to physical therapy, worked very hard, and regained use of her leg.

Wilma played on the basketball team, and after high school was recruited to run on the track team for Tennessee State University. Her coach, Ed Temple, helped her to train for the Olympics. In 1960, Wilma went to the Olympics and became the first American woman to win three Olympic gold medals in the same year. Her life became an inspiration for many people!

D iff i ff e r ent Ph P h ysica l A bilitie b ilitie s O bst b st a cle CCou ou r se

L ittle One s Set up an obstacle course for your little one to complete.

Just in case your child stumbles, we recommend you set up the obstacle course on a soft surface such as outside in the grass or on a soft rug or blanket in an open space in your home. Please be sure to practice extreme caution when completing the obstacle course. Parents must supervise at all times!

Ro und O ne : Allow your little one to have full use of their legs to complete the obstacle course.

Ro und T w o: Using your blind fold from the previous activity, tie the blindfold around your little ones legs. Have them complete the same obstacle course not having full use of their legs.

In the spirit of being a team player, we highly encourage the adult to try out the course as well.

Snap some pictures and share with us using the hashtag #kidsnightinbox.

D iff i ff e r ent Ph P h ysica l A bilitie b ilitie s O bst b st a cle CCou ou r se

Older One s Have your child help you create an obstacle course. Just in case your child stumbles, we recommend you set up the obstacle course on a soft surface such as outside in the grass or on a soft rug or blanket in an open space in your home. Please be sure to practice extreme caution when completing the obstacle course. Parents must supervise at all times!

Ro und O ne : Allow your child to have full use of their legs to complete the obstacle course.

Ro und T w o: Using your blind fold from the previous activity, tie the blindfold around your child’s legs. Have them complete the same obstacle course not having full use of their legs.

Ro und T hre e : Using your blind fold from the previous activity, cover your child’s eyes and have them complete the same obstacle course not having their sense of sight. Provide voice commands to help your child successfully complete the obstacle course.

In the spirit of being a team player, we highly encourage the adult to try out the course as well.

Snap some pictures and share with us using the hashtag #kidsnightinbox.

Sna ck T ime !

We bet you worked up quite the appetite from your obstacle course challenge. Now it’s time to make some JELL-O Creations beach cups!

While you are enjoying your delicious snack, settle in for a moment of reflection.

Re fle ctio n

Little One s Questions to ask…

• How do you think it can feel to have a disability?

• What are s ome ways that you can be a friend to people with disabilities?

Older One s Questions to ask…

Lo ui s Brai l l e • What did Louis see as a problem for the students at his school?

• How did Louis’ alphabet change the world?

• What book would you like to know how to read in Braille?

J o ni E are c kson Tad a • What special way did Joni learn how to paint and draw?

• How did Joni’s life change after her ac cident?

• What does Joni teach people about?

W ilma Rudol ph • What did Wilma have to wear as a child to help her walk?

• What sport did Wilma play when she was in high school?

• What did Wilma win at the Olympics?

G ene r a l Re fl ection • How do you think it can feel to have a disability?

• What are some ways that you can be a friend to people with disabilities?

• Do you know children at your school who have a disability? How can you help them?

Till Next M ont h !

We really hope you e n j oyed y o u r K i d s Night In. Don ’ t f o r g e t t o snap a pi c t u r e o f y o u r ni ght and s har e usi ng o u r h a s htag! # ki d s n i g h t i nb o x

@K I D SN I G H T I N BO X # K I D SN I G H T I N BO X K I DSN I G H T I N B O X . C O M