JJ and Frijolito: Fun Activity Ideas

Inspired by JJ's premonitory dreams, encourage your child to start a 'Dream Pet Journal.' They can draw their ideal pet, real or imaginary, write stories about its adventures, or describe what it might dream about. This activity fosters creativity, empathy, and a deeper connection to animals, real or imagined.

Materials Needed:

• Notebook or blank journal

• Pencils, crayons, or markers

Frijolito loves salmon! This activity involves preparing a simple, child-friendly salmon dish or snack together. As you cook, discuss where salmon comes from, its journey to your plate, and the importance of healthy food. It's a fun way to connect over food and explore food origins.

Materials Needed:

• A simple, child-friendly salmon recipe (e.g., baked salmon with lemon)

• Cooking ingredients (salmon fillets, lemon, herbs, olive oil)

• Kitchen utensils, baking sheet

Have your child choose a favorite stuffed animal. Together, invent a backstory for the stuffed animal about how it came to find its 'forever home' with your family. Where did it come from? What adventures did it have? What 'charming people' helped it along the way? This creative storytelling activity encourages empathy and imaginative thinking about belonging and love.

Materials Needed:

• A child's favorite stuffed animal

• Paper

• Crayons, markers, or colored pencils

Inspired by the 'goodwill of charming people' in 'JJ and Frijolito', create a map of your neighborhood or town. Mark places where you find connections and kindness – a friendly neighbor's house, a local library, a park where friends meet, a community center. Discuss how these places and people create a strong, connected community.

Materials Needed:

• Large sheet of paper or poster board

• Markers or colored pencils

• Stickers (optional)

Grab a world map or globe and help your child trace Frijolito's potential journey from San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, to New Jersey, USA. Discuss the distance, the different countries or bodies of water he might cross, and how a pet might travel such a distance in real life (e.g., plane, adoption agencies). This activity combines geography with imaginative storytelling.

Materials Needed:

• World map or globe

• String or yarn

• Pushpins (optional)

• Markers

• Access to internet for basic research (optional)