On the May Day public holiday, ECD project Manager Riette Els decided to go to hospital and spend some time with a bright little girl, Mpoentle Hlengiwe Mohase , who suffers from muscular dystrophy. She is in the care of Riette’s daughter who is a doctor, and who is trying to make sure Mpoentle gets at least a few more years of life. Riette is concerned as well, with quality of life for Mpoentle. But life is not much fun in a hospital, so they logged into Sunshine Online, and went to the  Funways section. This is the section on the Sunshine Online website for children who are not yet reading, who are in the age group 3 years to 6 years. They then spent fun time with Funways. It gave Mpoentle  something worthwhile to do, apart from sitting in her bed, and made the day shorter and much more enjoyable than the average day spent in hospital. Funways is an interactive programme which is easy to use, which a parent and child can play together. There are games, activities, colour matching practice, counting, grouping, and a bookshelf. There is also a values section which deals with concepts like kindness, sharing, and bullying. Funways has been carefully designed to be fun as well as educational, with read along poems, sing along songs, and books which the computer will read to you. You can make cards, and write letters as well. Mpoentle is a clever and brave girl-with very little control over her muscles-if she falls forward in her bed, she has to shout for help to get put upright again, which she does with great good humor, and no drama. Even with her limited use of hands and fingers she easily managed to participate and interact with the Funways activities. She really enjoyed them. Then when she was disconnected from all the drips and monitors she has, she yelled to be taken outside to see the sun. Her mommy is going to enroll for the 30 day free trial. This was Riette’s first time using Funways with a child, and it will not be the last! To logon to Sunshine Online, go to www.sunshineonline.co.za, and sign up for the free 30 day trial