Tiddlywinks – The Big (Red/Blue/Yellow/Green/Orange/Purple) Book
£11.99 (Approx)
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Overview
What does it say on the tin?
‘How can we meet the needs of the under-fives in our group and build relationships with their carers too?’
These high quality, Bible-based resources are specifically designed to help you encourage children in their earliest years to grow in faith. Clearly linked with Early Learning Goals, they will equip you to provide a firm, fun foundation for life.
25 multi-purpose outlines provide ideas for play, prayer, craft, stories and rhymes from which you can pick and choose to meet the particular needs of your group. There’s also plenty of practical advice on setting up and running a pre-school group, as well as ideas in every session to help you include adult carers. The children will love the illustrated activity pages.
What do you get and how?
Each Tiddlywinks Big Book contains 25 Bible based activity sessions. Leaders may choose to purchase the children’s books to accompany the sessions too. All available from the Scripture Union website.
Who is it for?
Leaders looking to run sessions with children under 5 years old with little or lots of Bible knowledge. Church groups or midweek groups.
Cost?
£11.99 leader’s guide, £3.50 for each child’s ‘My Little (Red/Blue/Yellow/Green/Orange/Purple) Book: First Steps in Bible Reading’ to accompany.
N.B. Although some of the criteria for this resource score relatively low, this should NOT deter leaders from using Tiddlywinks. The approach to the Bible is age appropriate throughout, and this means not being too complex in content, delivery and application
Review
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What is the overall quality of material presentation?
Fantastic. Relevant, fun, colourful glossy paperback leader guide with easy-to-follow layout inside.
How clear are its aims and outcomes?
Not explicitly stated, but inferred by session titles.
How accessible are the leader's notes?
Very. Simple, playful and clearly written. Allow leaders to know what is happening and how long it will take from helpful symbols and headings. Layout is pleasing to look at, and allows leaders to choose what they want to include/omit from their time with children.
Who could lead it?
Children's workers. Novice children's workers can help facilitate, especially if there is a large group of young people needing guidance. Instructions are extensive and easy to follow so allow any adult to lead and understand what the sessions are about. Helpful ‘Do's and don'ts' list of how to work with children at the beginning of the leader's book.
How helpful are the participants' resources?
‘My Little (Red/Blue/Yellow/Green/Orange/Purple) Book: First Steps in Bible Reading' Facilitate sessions well with both activities and playful layout. They give children something to take home and remember the sessions by, while reinforcing the stories mentioned, and the lessons we can learn from them. Other extra resources are listed extensively at the beginning of each book.
How good is any digital material?
Vast and very good. Listed at the beginning of the leader's books as digital material tends to be external, and mainly in the form of recent worship songs for kids.
How much prep will I have to do?
Minimal. Leaders will need to look through the session and choose what they want to omit/include for activities. This then allows them to prepare accordingly, and gather relevant materials. Some resources are photocopiable in the book, but there is a need for staple craft/ games materials, such as glue sticks and colourful pens. If the group is large, prep will need to be more extensive in order to equip leaders effectively and inform children's parents too. Especially if done in a Sunday school setting/ special events scenario. Otherwise, choosing activities and becoming familiar with the material is quick and easy to do.
Is there website support? Links?
Support resources and links are all available through www.scriptureunion.org.uk.
Is it dated?
No, extremely relevant and fun. Will continue to be so for under 5s.
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How well does it encourage interaction with the group?
Very well. Cooperative play makes up the bulk of each session and so teaches children to play together and learn through interaction.
How well does it cater for a variety of both learning and delivery styles?
Very well. Resource is very vocal about the fact that under 5s learn best through experience and play. This ranges from crafts, games and activities. Very interactive, and delivery style keeps children focussed for Bible session, as they can have an active contribution, and the leader is encouraged to facilitate learning by intonation of voice, facial expressions and body language.
How adaptable is it to my situation?
Resource has handy icons indicating how long each section will ideally take to complete. Running time approx. 30-60 minutes, depending on what is omitted/included at the leader's discretion. Usable with small or large groups of children, leader quantity dependent, and can be used in a range of settings. This includes, midweek groups, Sunday school, special occasions/events and play/nursery groups. Very flexible to suit the needs of the leader, and user friendly to allow effective session running. Sessions appropriate for participants who are newcomers, or who know Jesus well already.
How well does it encourage people to work together in applying the material?
Not a huge focus, as children under the age of 5 years tend to have a limited attention span. Resource mostly focuses on stories in the Bible for children to learn and see God's character in.
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How much of the material is Bible-based?
A small amount directly. 10-15minutes approximately per session is spent in ‘Story Time' where children learn about a story in the Bible.
How well is the biblical material presented and used?
Presented during ‘Story time' of the sessions. Children are welcome to join in in different ways depending on the session. For example, by having a role to play, or by singing, shouting or rhyme. The story is used for the rest of the session, the activities and songs are related to the passage mentioned.
How well does it apply biblical material to everyday life?
Cooperative play as the main part of each session does this as it mimics what the children would spend their time doing at home. Play relates directly to their lives as this is how children learn at such an age and so this resource acknowledges and uses play.
Is there a particular theological perspective?
No, open to all denominations. Prayer, relationships and the Holy Spirit are looked upon positively.
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How well does it inspire people towards whole-life discipleship?
Children learn what it means to follow Jesus and how much he loves them in the purple and green Tiddlywinks big books. Growing in faith covered throughout these books is age appropriate to under 5 year olds.
How well does it encourage and enable people to grow in their faith?
Gently through introduction to Jesus, Christianity and how much God loves them. Also educates children on what Jesus has given us as humans.
How well does it stretch faith and vision of God and his purposes?
Gently through an introduction to Jesus, Christianity and how much God loves them. Children learn about friends of Jesus and how God blessed them and guided them.
How well does it connect with real life issues?
Again this is not covered in depth, as children are encouraged to understand why Jesus came and what he meant for humanity through story telling and games.
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How well does it encourage personal evangelism?
Not a focus. Slight mention in a few sessions.
How well does it encourage local or network-based community involvement?
Readily available in the ‘Adults too' section of each book which focuses on ways to get parents of children involved, by suggesting outreach events and talking to adults. Less of a focus with children during the actual session running time.
How well does it connect with global issues?
Not in huge depth, age appropriate for 5 years and under.
How well does it encourage global mission?
Not in huge depth, indirectly via stories about Jesus' friends who spent their lives teaching about the good news of Christianity.