Over the River
Episode # 148. Stream
In a long, flat, rectangular box, the children give the Storypeople a stream. Mrs. Lady and Mr. Man find themselves on opposite sides of the stream. How can they get across without getting wet? The children give them a plank, but it is too narrow for both Mr. Man and Mrs. Lady to use it at the same time. So they add another plank and their makeshift bridge does the job.

Directions
In some very old jump rope games, the ropes symbolize a river that must by crossed, much like the stream in the episode. Lay the jump ropes in parallel lines, fairly close to one another. Ask your child if she can jump over the ropes without touching the ropes or putting a foot down in between the ropes. Every time the jump is successful, move the ropes slightly farther apart. Keep repeating the pattern until your child misses (i.e., steps on a rope or between the ropes).

Encourage your child to experiment with different kinds of jumping techniques. For example, she might hop like a frog, or take a running start. As the distance between the ropes becomes challenging, use a tape measure to measure the distance. Record the longest distance that your child jumps successfully. Then, next time you play, see if she can beat that mark.

This game can work well with groups of children, including siblings of varying ages.

Talk About It
While viewing the Stream episode, you might start a conversation by asking your child: “If you were in Storyworld, how would you get across the stream?”

As you talk about the things on screen, you can help expand your child’s vocabulary by alternating the words you use with their synonyms. In the Stream episode you might describe the water as a stream, brook, or creek, and you could call the bridge material a board or a plank.