Our young detectives stepped into the world of the police, in a day built around a mission.
With the help of investigation sheets, the children solved mysterious cases and practised their logic and their eye for detail. The enquiry format has an effect a list of questions does not: nobody asks "why do I have to do this?", because the answer is obvious — so you can find out who did it.
They found out what equipment a police officer uses, where officers of the law can be found and what their role in society is. They also learned about safety rules and about why respecting the law matters.
The most valuable part of a day like this is the demystification. For many children, a person in uniform is first of all an intimidating figure, sometimes even a threat adults use to obtain quiet. Once they understand what a police officer actually does and in what situations they can ask for help, children gain something practical: they know who to turn to if they get lost.
Through play and learning, children become curious and responsible citizens — and rules stop being prohibitions handed down from above and become things with a reason that can be explained.