Scared Tumi

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PARENT-TEACHER GUIDE

Scared Tumi

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Country: South Africa

Ages: 3-5 years

Author: Nicola Anne Smith

Publisher: Book Dash

Illustrator: Nontobeko Kunene

Story Source: Book Dash

About The Story

Tumi is scared of many things—monsters under the bed, creepy eyes in the bathtub, even being swallowed by a whale at the beach! But with the calm support of her mother, sister Kamo, and teacher Jill, she learns that talking about her fears helps them fade away. Each adult responds with gentle humor and imagination, helping Tumi feel heard, comforted, and safe.

Themes

Social & Emotional Learning

Family & Friends

Health & Wellbeing

Sub Themes

Parent-Teacher Guide

Learning Outcome

Children will come away with the understanding that fears are a part of life, and that support from family, friends, or teachers can help them cope. The story fosters a compassionate mindset and emotional literacy from an early age—critical building blocks for lifelong well-being and empathy.
They will :- Understand that fear is a common emotion. Everyone feels scared sometime or the other and even adults do, too!
Learn how to voice their feelings and seek support.
Gain courage and reassurance through imaginative and grounded solutions.
Develop empathy for others who may feel scared.

Lesson Plan

This story can be used to help young children build emotional vocabulary and recognize that it’s okay to feel scared.
Use storytelling, role-play, and drawings to help them express and cope with fears.

Activities

1. Draw Your Fear: Children can draw something they are scared of and share how someone might help them.
2. Role-Play Reassurance: Pair students to act out comforting one another like Tumi’s sister or teacher.
3. Make a ‘Comfort Box’: Create a class comfort box filled with calming items or notes children can turn to when anxious.
4. Story Retelling: Have children retell the story using puppets or soft toys, reinforcing the idea of supportive responses to fear.

Story Discussion Guide

Before reading

Have you ever felt scared of something?
What helps you feel better when you're frightened?

During reading

What is Tumi scared of here?
How do her mother, sister, and teacher respond?

After reading

Do you think Tumi still feels scared at the end? Why or why not?
What could you do if a friend is feeling scared?

Applicable Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 3 — Good Health and Well-being

The story promotes emotional health in young children by normalizing fear and offering supportive ways to manage it.

SDG 4 – Quality Education

Through the teacher character, the story reinforces the role of schools and caregivers in helping children express and manage emotions constructively.

Curriculum Alignment

Horizontal Alignment – Inclusion & Disability (Ages 3–5 & 5–8)
Dance Khuzvayo, Dance --- Khuzvayo suddenly gets worried that he will forget his dance steps and make a fool of himself and hence is reluctant to participate in the annual Igabo dance.
Sindi and the Moon --- Sindi is anticipating her first day of school with apprehension. What if? She imagines the worst.
Vertical Value Ladder – Inclusion & Empathy
Ages 3–5 I Like Your Way — Appreciation of different abilities — Children learn to admire unique ways. Solution: Celebrate diverse ways of doing things.
Ages 5–8 - Angmo’s Yak --- Ango’s yak goes missing and she is afraid that it must have come to some harm. How does she overcome her fear?
Why is Nita Upside Down? — Self-acceptance/Inclusion — Nita feels different. Solution: Learns to value her unique way of seeing.
- A Song in Her Heart — Expression & Confidence — A child with a difference learns to dance to music she cannot hear.
Solution: Gains self-confidence and joy through music.
- Muthu & Kappu --- Muthu’s father is superstitious. So when the kids bring home a black kitten he is scared that it might bring him bad luck.
Ages 8–10 - Abdul’s Story --- Abdul loves to write stories, but every time his words are all jumbled. His friends make fun of him and he is worried that he may never be able to be a writer. His dyslexic makes it very challenging. Will he be able to or won’t he?
- Rent Party Jazz --- Sonny’s mother has lost her job, which means they cannot pay their rent and hence will have to vacate their home. He is so afraid at the prospect that he offers to quit school to bring in some money.

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