A gentler start
The younger level may suit if your child:
- Loves pictures and stories read aloud
- Likes lots of grown‑up help
- Is still finding their feet with reading
- Likes shorter missions
Age levels
An adventure that grows with your child.
Four levels by age. Each one is a separate edition with its own 30 missions, written for that stage rather than reworded. The biggest differences are how much reading there is and how much a grown-up joins in. Ages are a guide, so pick the level that feels right for your child.
The four levels
Ages 3-4Little Explorers
- Reading
- No reading needed
- Grown-up role
- Parent-led throughout
- Mission time
- About 5 to 10 min per missionA few up to 12
- Activities
- Picture matching
- Movement
- Simple choices
- Pretend play
- Storytelling
- School stage
- Nursery or preschool
Ages 5-6Growing Minds
- Reading
- Optional read-aloud narration
- Grown-up role
- Guided play, growing independence
- Mission time
- About 10 to 15 min per missionA few up to 20
- Activities
- Short missions
- Drawing
- Simple puzzles
- Role-play
- Real-world challenges
- School stage
- Around the first years of school
Ages 7-8Brave Thinkers
- Reading
- Short reading and writing
- Grown-up role
- Parent nearby, child leads
- Mission time
- About 10 to 20 min per missionA few up to 25
- Activities
- Multi-step games
- Mysteries
- Problem-solving
- Short writing
- Real-world challenges
- School stage
- Around the 2nd and 3rd years of school
Ages 9-10Future Leaders
- Reading
- Independent reading
- Grown-up role
- Self-directed, parent checks in
- Mission time
- About 15 to 25 min per missionA few up to 30
- Activities
- Planning
- Reflection
- Social scenarios
- Goal setting
- Independent online play
- School stage
- Around the 4th and 5th years of school
Pip the elephant, drawn for each age and standing on the same line, so you can see him grow up. School stages are approximate and vary by country.
The Confidence Quest
Peek inside the same mission at two ages
Mission 1 of The Confidence Quest is written separately for each age. Pick any two ages to see how the reading, the grown-up’s part and the activity change.
Mission 1
Ages 3-4 · Little Explorers
Hello, Explorer
- Reading
- Story read aloud to themNo reading needed
- Grown-up
- Parent-led throughout
- Mission length
- About 5 to 10 min
- Activity steps
- 4 stepsStarts with a choice of 3
- Activity style
- DrawingMakes: Coloured explorer cape on the page
Mission 1
Ages 7-8 · Brave Thinkers
Hello, Explorer
- Reading
- Reads the story themselvesShort reading and writing
- Grown-up
- Parent nearby, child leads
- Mission length
- About 12 to 20 min
- Activity steps
- 6 stepsStarts with a choice of 4
- Activity style
- DrawingMakes: Explorers' Guild card
Ages 3-4 · The story
Toot, toot! A little boat bumps the jetty. Bump!
Nova runs to meet you. Her red cape flaps. Flap, flap!
She holds up a big towel. "Every explorer needs a cape," she says.
Nova: “I picked red for my cape. All by myself!”
Ages 3-4 · The activity
First, a choice: 3 options
- Red, like Nova
- Yellow, like the sun
- Blue, like the sea
On the printed page: Point to a colour, then colour the cape.
By the end they have: Coloured explorer cape on the page.
You will need: Crayons in red, yellow and blue (or any three colours) · A bath towel or small blanket
Ages 3-4 · What your child does
- Your child points to one of the three cape colours on the page.
- Together, colour the big cape on the page in that colour. Big scribbles are perfect.
- The grown-up holds a towel round your child's shoulders like a cape.
- Together, swish the cape and say: I picked it!
Smaller step if needed: Just point to a colour today; the colouring can wait.
The grown-up’s part: Hold the colours out and wait. Count to five in your head before helping. Any colour is fine, even one that isn't on the page.
Ages 3-4 · Real-life practice
Wear your towel cape at teatime and say to everyone: I picked this colour!
What it practises: Practise making a small choice about yourself: picking the colour of your own explorer cape from three.
Ages 7-8 · The story
Nova is waiting on the last post of the jetty, swinging her legs. Next to her, someone has drawn a small star in chalk. She says she didn't do it.
She hands you a stiff card with a gold edge. Across the top it says Star Island Explorers' Guild. Underneath are three empty boxes: Explorer name. Symbol. One thing I'm good at.
"Grandad gave me mine a week ago," says Nova. She shows you. Her name and symbol are done. The third box is still blank.
Nova: “I keep asking people what I'm good at. Grandad said that's cheating. You have to decide it yourself.”
Ages 7-8 · The activity
First, a choice: 4 options
- The explorer name first
- The symbol first
- The hard box first: one thing I'm good at
- None yet: I'm designing the cape emblem first
On the printed page: Tick the box you start with, then fill in your card.
By the end they have: Explorers' Guild card.
You will need: The explorer card on the page (or any card or stiff paper) · Pencils or pens · A towel or blanket for a cape (optional)
Ages 7-8 · What your child does
- Pick which box you'll start with.
- Choose an explorer name: your real name, a nickname, or a brand-new one. Write it on the card.
- Design a symbol that means something to you. Draw it in the middle box.
- Fill in the third box with one thing you're good at. Write it or draw it. Small things count: knots, drawing horses, making people laugh.
- Design a cape emblem using your symbol and colour it.
- Sign the back of the card. Then swap cards with Nova (or a grown-up) and read each other's.
Smaller step if needed: Fill in the name and symbol today, and leave the third box for later in the week.
The grown-up’s part: Stay out of the choosing. If asked what they're good at, turn it back: What would your friends say? Then accept whatever they write, however small.
Ages 7-8 · Real-life practice
At the next family meal, announce your explorer name and ask everyone to call you by it until bedtime.
What it practises: Practise making your own choices about how you present yourself: an explorer name, a symbol and one thing you are good at.
Word for word from Mission 1 of The Confidence Quest for ages 3-4 and 7-8. The ages 3-4 and 7-8 editions are not yet approved, so wording may change. The missions’ own illustrations are still to come.
Choosing between two levels?
Ages are a guide, not a rule. Compare two levels above, then go with what feels right for your child.
A little more stretch
The older level may suit if your child:
- Reads confidently on their own
- Enjoys longer puzzles and missions
- Likes to try things by themselves
- Is curious for a bit more challenge
Either choice is a good one. Each age level is its own Edition, so you can add another level later at the standard price, or pick three strengths at the new level with Choose Any 3.