Meet the Little Stars
Shiner, Sparky and Blaze are three approachable little characters who experience the same kind of emotions and ask the same kind of questions as three to six year old children. One of them is on the front of every Little Stars Bedtime card and serves to introduce the theme on that card. Each of the three "Meet the Little Stars" cards shown below include simple facts about that character on the back of the card. For example, we learn that Sparky loves watermelon and the colour red, and is sometimes afraid when not with Mom and Dad. Blaze, on the other hand, likes dancing to music, has a hard time being nice to a little brother sometimes, and loves strawberry ice cream. Shiner sometimes forgets to use a quiet voice inside but loves dill pickles and going camping with Grandma. Once your child has been introduced to the Little Stars through the three introductory cards, it's time to choose one of the theme cards to hide under your child's pillow.
What's on the cards?
Each card features one of the Little Stars on the front involved in some activity or experiencing some emotion that a young child will be familiar with. In the card shown below, Blaze has just succeeded in writing his name, and the theme of the card is "I can do hard things". You may ask your child what the character on the front of the card is doing. After your child has looked at the front of the card and you have read the 'I statement' to your child, flip the card over and ask your child the questions on the back of the card. The questions may be used in the order written, skipped, mixed around, or just used as a 'stepping off' point for a discussion that you or your child initiate. The question is followed by an affirmative statement, in this case "So you can do hard things, too!", and a bedtime poem that may be used, if desired, to end the bedtime ritual.
