It is a sunny spring morning and the Goese Children's Council, with Child Mayor Ilse Flipse and two aldermen, is already standing ready at the entrance of Theater de Mythe. As the children from groups 1 and 2 of various primary schools enter hand in hand, they give everyone a high five. One shy and cautious, the other with a confident, firm tap. One thing is clear: all the children are looking forward to the Spring Festival. But, it still needs to be opened…
“Miss Aimée! Miss Aimeeheee!” rings out from the stage. It is the beginning of a cheerful play. Hand puppet Maartje de Mol is looking for Miss Aimée, as she was supposed to open the Spring Festival. All the children and supervisors are already seated, and the children's council is also on stage. Where is she? “Miss Aimée!” Maartje calls out one more time as she continues searching. Thanks to the lively opening, the children are immediately on the edge of their seats and listen attentively.
The stage doesn't remain empty for long. Enthusiastic and a bit hyper, Kaatje the Chicken emerges. Kaatje is very cheerful this morning, because today Kaatje is going to her aunt in Geleen! The children cheer and shout enthusiastically as Kaatje leaves the stage again.
And then there is Miss Aimée; she has finally been found. Thank goodness, because it is time for music! Miss Aimée picks up her ukulele, and the members of the Children's College each receive an instrument as well. Together, they start the song about Kaatje the Chicken visiting her aunt in Geleen. And soon, everyone is singing along. There is dancing, feathers are shaken loose, and the hall fills with cheerful clucking. Even Kaatje joins in for a moment, before she really has to catch her bus.
With this cheerful start, the Spring Festival is officially open! The children then set off in groups to the various workshops, such as dance, theater, and arts and crafts. In this way, they get to work with language through play.
Kibeo assists annually with the organization of the Spring Festival at Goes. In addition, Kibeo sponsors a workshop every year. This year it was a creative workshop by Sanne Brink. She works as a workshop specialist for the After-School Care at Kibeo.
During Sanne's workshop, the children dive into their own underwater world. With watercolors, brushes, and a healthy dose of imagination, a colorful sea full of fish and plants emerges. The fish scales consist of letters that together form a word, such as 'fish'. With the help of a small magnet and a paperclip, they can even fish the fish out of their self-made underwater world. That is special!
The Spring Festival has now become an annual event. Every year, Kibeo, the Bleekveldpartners, and the Municipality of Goes join forces to make it a language-rich celebration together.
You see this reflected everywhere. From workshops such as dance, fretwork, and arts and crafts to bubble blowing and street theatre by Madame Fleur. In all activities, children are challenged to discover and experience language through play. They listen, talk, and participate actively. In this way, children associate language with a day full of fun. And that is precisely what ensures they remember the language better.
This year, too, we look back on a successful edition of the Spring Festival!
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