When Milla arrives at kindergarten today, it isn't really light yet. It's just after seven o'clock and, as always, she is the first child to arrive at kindergarten. Her mom works as a nurse and has to start early. Milla yawns as she goes to Saskia in the group. 'Good morning, you little sleepyhead!' the teacher greets her. Milla's mom laughs, 'Yes, it got a bit late for us yesterday.' 'But it's still not really light today, so you can still be a little tired,' Saskia replies. Milla gives her mom one more kiss and waves goodbye.
'Come on, Milla, the two of us will get everything ready for our craft project. We're making lanterns as window pictures.' 'Oh yes!' calls Milla and immediately feels a bit more awake. Milla is allowed to carry a box of colorful candles to the craft table. Saskia places a stack of white paper next to it. 'How is that supposed to work? Candles and paper won't make a lantern, will they?' asks Milla. 'Later we'll light a candle and then you may carefully drip the warm wax onto the paper,' explains Saskia. 'You can do it one color after another. And when the wax has dried and you hold the paper up to the window, you'll see how beautifully it glows.' Milla is very excited.
The other children arrive one after another. Milla tells them what Saskia wants to craft with them today and everyone is excited. Only Mali looks downcast and tired. 'What's wrong?' Milla asks her. 'I dreamed of a scary monster,' says Mali. 'It hides under my bed and crawls out at night when it's dark. I'm sure of that. My mom had to go to the parent-teacher meeting at school yesterday, Dad is on a business trip and Grandma couldn't come because she has such a cough. So my older sister put me to bed. Lena is already nine, she can do that. But of course she didn't see the dream monster.' 'Did your mom come back quickly then?' asks Milla. 'Yes, she did, but the dream monster was still there,' Mali replies.
'When my dad moved out, I also kept having bad dreams,' Milla says. 'But then he gave me a nightlight: an owl that glows softly. And since then I know that he still loves me very much, even if he doesn't live with us anymore.' 'Really? A nightlight owl? That's nice!' says Mali. 'You know what? Until you have a nightlight, we could make you a magic lantern,' suggests Milla. 'The window picture that Saskia makes with us won't actually glow at night, but maybe it will still help. Shall we start together?' asks Milla. Mali nods and after the breakfast break they get started.
Milla and Mali are really allowed to begin. It's very easy, as Saskia said, and when the wax drops have dried the girls only have to cut a frame for the window picture. Saskia helps them a little with that. Then it's Lilli's and Imke's turn. When Matze, Felicitas, Elise and the other older children are finished too, they hang up the window pictures together. Immediately they glow in all colors.
Nina painted lantern pictures on dark construction paper with the younger children. Here too the colors shimmer beautifully. Now the two caregivers put the chairs together for the circle time and the children sit down. 'In autumn the days get shorter and shorter,' Nina explains. 'That's because the Earth is tilted relative to the sun. The area the sun lights in summer is larger than the area it reaches in winter. That's why it's colder in winter than in summer. But today we want to talk about light and about everything that brings brightness. Who has an idea what you can do on shorter days with longer darkness in the morning and evening?' she asks the children. 'You can turn on the light, that's obvious,' says Matze. 'I think candles are so nice,' says Imke. 'We have one on the table and it lights up during meals.' 'True. Candles provide a nice light!' says Nina. 'Where are candles lit everywhere?'
'At birthdays!' exclaims Felicitas. She remembers clearly because she celebrated her fourth birthday a few weeks ago. 'There are candles in church and in the cemetery,' says Mali. 'When we visit my grandpa's grave, we always light a candle.' 'Yes, that is a very old tradition. That way you remember the deceased. Think about which holiday will be celebrated in a few weeks.' 'Christmas! Before that there's the Advent wreath with candles and then the Christmas tree!' says Lilli. 'And sometimes candles also burn in the lanterns during the lantern procession. Or a light shines on the pole! And I even have a magic lantern,' says Milla and tells the children about her special nightlight. 'That's a nice idea,' says Nina. 'You see that light has an important meaning for us: a nightlight provides security in the dark. We remember the deceased with candles and feel comforted. The lights on the Christmas tree, whether real candles or electric ones, create a particularly festive atmosphere. And during the lantern procession we carry the lights through the streets. For that we'll practice our songs again in the next few days,' the caregiver explains.
When Mali is picked up by her mom, she tugs at Saskia's sweater and asks, 'May I take my window picture home as a magic lantern?' 'Do you need a magic lantern?' asks Saskia. Mali nods. 'Yes, for today already. And then I wish for a magic-lantern nightlight like the one Milla has.' Mali is happy when Saskia gives her the window picture. 'You can bring it back for our window when you have a magic-lantern nightlight. Keep it at home until next week when our lantern procession takes place, okay?' Mali nods and hugs Milla tightly goodbye. 'Tonight you'll surely dream something nice!' Milla whispers into Mali's ear and is glad she could help her friend.
Anyone who feels like it can act out the story with the Little Friends dolls.
