I Spy, You Spy is a new CBeebies show that brings the much loved game to life.
Join lovable puppet Elsee as she invites little ones to pause, look closely, and delight in the world around them through the fun of I Spy.
Join speech and language therapist Asma Khanum and watch as Elsee encourages children to keep trying even when they get answers wrong.
Speaker 1: When we talk about building confidence, it's important to show children that it's okay to make a mistake.
Having another go is part of the learning.
Let's take a look at this next clip and watch how Elsie is building Annabelle's confidence by making mistakes herself.
Speaker 2: I spy on my little eye, so from the beginning of 'E'.
Speaker 3: Is it eggs?
Speaker 2: No.
Speaker 3: Elephant?
Speaker 2: No.
Speaker 3: Is it Elsee?
Speaker 2: No.
Speaker 3: Can I have a clue please?
Speaker 2: It's moving.
Speaker 3: Escalator?
Speaker 2: Yes.
Speaker 3: We got it!
Speaker 1: Getting an answer wrong, asking for clues, and trying again.
These are great ways to build resilience.
Let's look at this next clip, where George carries on going and grows in confidence.
Speaker 3: I spy with my little eye something beginning with W.
Speaker 4: Water fountain.
Speaker 3: That's a great W word but it's not a water fountain.
Speaker 3: It's higher up in the sky.
Speaker 4: Roof.
Speaker 3: Roof begins with R.
This begins with W.
Speaker 4:Windows.
Speaker 3: That's right! W windows.
Speaker 1: Games like iSpy, they're not just about building language.
They can help create opportunities for children to feel safe to make mistakes.
This helps build their resilience and helps them grow in confidence.
Next time you're out and about, why don't you play a game of I Spy?
But remember, don't just focus on the answer, celebrate the effort too.
How I Spy develops resilience in children
I Spy encourages children to identify both familiar and unfamiliar objects, providing opportunities to explore new words and sounds.
Through guessing and refining their answers, children learn to listen attentively, concentrate on details, and persist even when they make mistakes.
Even when they use the wrong words the process of experimenting, repeating, and adjusting language is an essential part of learning and should be celebrated.
By valuing persistence over perfection, parents and carers are teaching children to feel proud of their efforts and progress.
How I Spy can build confidence
Children develop confidence just as much through play as they do through formal lessons.
Games such as I Spy helps to build resilience, problem-solving skills, and the courage young children need to keep trying.
By turning simple games into safe spaces for trial and error, we can nurture children’s curiosity, self-assurance, and create a lasting love of learning.
I Spy in particular encourages children to experiment with new words more freely and to communicate confidently.
Other resources to build children's confidence
Here are some further resources on the CBeebies Parenting website to help with children's confidence.
