Once you have read about what happens to people when they have MS, why not try an activity with our very own MS Readathon mascot, Bosko. It helps us imagine how MS feels for some people.

Bosko invented this activity all by himself. Of course, he won’t tell you it was his idea – he’s much too shy and modest.

Click play to hear him tell you all about the activity.

Read along with Bosko

Bosko: Hi kids! It’s Bosko here.

If there’s one thing I love doing almost as much as eating and reading, it’s trying new activities. Ohhh yeah baby, fun, fun fun!

So just imagine how excited I was when my friends at MS Readathon asked me to show you an amazing activity today. I started break dancing across the library on my head until the librarian came out and told me to keep it down.

Librarian: Shhhhh

Bosko: Anyway, let me tell you about the activity. It’s to help us imagine what some people feel when they have MS.

Wow, talk about a cool idea!

Librarian: Shhhhh

Bosko: Whoops. (pause) Whoever invented this activity must be one smart cookie don’t you think?

Mmm, did someone just say cookie? Just what I feel like. But first, let’s all try this fantastic activity together.

Before we start, it’s time to do some hunting around. Here are some things you need to begin our activity:

• 1 pair of thick gardening gloves. You might need to ask mum or dad to find these.
• 1 newspaper. Try to find one that the dog hasn’t slobbered all over ok?
• 1 shoe with laces. That means no gumboots, even if it is raining outside.

Press pause while you get the things and I’ll wait for you. Maybe I’ll look for those cookies while you’re gone.

Press Play to hear Bosko again

Ok, so now you have everything, let’s get started!

First of all, put the gardening gloves on your hands.

Now we have them on, let’s pick up our newspaper and try to turn the pages.

Hmm, how are you going? Can you turn one page at a time?

I don’t know about you, but I’m finding this harder than it usually is without gloves!

Ok, let’s put down the newspaper and try to get our shoe on.

Phew, that wasn’t too hard. Alright now it says to try and do up our shoelaces. Do up my shoelaces?

Ha! That’s going to be soooo easy.

Ohhh, I wish I had brought my gumboots instead!

Adult voice: Poor Bosko. So how did you go kids? Did it take you longer than usual too?

So Bosko, what did we learn from doing this activity?

Bosko: We learnt that someone around here whose name begins with B sure knows how to think up super fantastic activities for kids!

Adult voice: Yes Bosko, they do, but it tells us something even more important than that doesn’t it?

Bosko: Oh yeah! It tells us that sometimes the easy things we do every day can become more difficult for people with MS.

When they get a pins and needles feeling in their fingers it becomes much harder to pick things up. An easy activity like tying up our shoes or turning the pages of a newspaper or a book can sometimes be very difficult. Now I understand why.

Adult voice: Good work Bosko. Before you go, was there anything else you wanted to tell the kids?

Bosko: Sure! Now you’ve had a go kids, why not get your family to try the newspaper test, or challenge a friend to see if they can tie up their laces faster than you!

Wow, this activity has made me hungry. I’m off to track down those cookies and read one of my favourite books – Harry Potter and the Biscuit of Azkaban. Bye for now.”

Adult voice: Umm, I think Bosko means Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Sorry kids, everything sounds like food to Bosko when he’s hungry.

Remember, if you ever write to Bosko, please say that you really enjoyed the activity and that whoever thought it up must be one smart cookie. Now you might want to learn about who gets MS

Now you might want to learn about who gets MS