From Monday 10 November, The Sinterklaasjournaal will be on television (NPO Zapp) every school day at 6pm.

The episode will also appear online at https://sinterklaasjournaal.ntr.nl/

For many children, it is important to already watch the episode at home even though they will watch it at school the day after.

We would like to tell you why.

Language development and comprehension:

• Repetition helps children, especially language-impaired and multilingual children, to better understand and remember words, expressions and story structures. By watching the Sinterklaas news both at home and at school, they are exposed to the same language several times, strengthening their comprehension and vocabulary.

• Understanding of context and culture is also essential. The Sinterklaas story contains unique words, cultural elements and jokes that are not always obvious to children who preach a different language at home. Watching it at home gives them the chance to ask questions of their parents or carers, helping them to learn more about Dutch culture and language.

Leading edge classroom experience:

• By previewing the story at home, children come to school better prepared . This helps them to participate more actively in the conversations and activities around the Sinterklaas news in class. Language-impaired children may find it difficult to understand everything straight away. Seeing the news at home gives them a head start. This makes it easier for them to talk and participate at school.

• It also boosts self-confidence: if they already know the episode, they may feel more confident to talk to in class or answer questions.

Support for multilingual children:

• For multilingual children, it can be valuable if parents explain certain words or concepts to them in their mother tongue so that they understand the context better. If they watch the Sinterklaasjournaal at home, parents can use the episode as a tool to explain or translate new words in Dutch.

• In addition, joint viewing and discussion can form a bridge between home and school, helping multilingual children (and their parents/carers) feel more connected to Dutch culture and holidays.

Extra family moments and stimulation:

• Watching and discussing the Sinterklaas news together creates a nice family moment. Parents can give additional explanations, answer questions or laugh together at the storylines. These kinds of activities contribute to children's language and social-emotional development.

• Moreover, this allows parents to make a positive contribution to their child' s school experience. Following the Sinterklaasjournaal together can be a fun way to engage with their child in the Dutch language and culture.