“Mikroben-Mimi” – A Game Case for Daycare Centres

From 2024 to 2026, LIBRA Film (represented by Dr Johanna Ickert) was part of a Science x Media Tandem with Dr Evjenia Toubekis of Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. Within the funding programme of Stiftung Charité, which brings together scientists and media professionals for innovative science communication, the tandem project “Von wegen unsichtbar!” was created, dedicated to playful infection prevention for children in daycare. The aim is to teach children age-appropriate knowledge about microbes, transmission routes and infection prevention, and to raise their awareness of hygiene and safe wound care in a playful way.

Together, we developed Mikroben-Mimi for this purpose – a research and discovery kit for children of kindergarten and preschool age. Across six chapters, children discover the fascinating world of microbes: they learn where microbes occur, why many of them are beneficial, how disease-causing microbes spread, and how we can protect ourselves from infections. Stories, games, experiments and creative hands-on tasks combine scientific knowledge with discovery-based, inquiry-led learning.

Mikroben-Mimi was developed together with daycare centres and educational professionals and successfully trialled in five daycare centres. The research and discovery kit includes an illustrated book, play and research materials, experiments, researcher notebooks, microbe cards, extensive accompanying material for professionals, and the large board game “Mimis Mikrobenjagd”, which playfully rounds off the journey of discovery.

LIBRA Film was responsible, together with Dr Evjenia Toubekis, for the concept and development of the format – from the narrative and visual design to the development of the games, experiments and materials. This created creative learning worlds for children and professionals alike. Playing History supported the project in an advisory capacity on playful didactics.