News / Halaman York / 2015 / February 2015

We are delighted to see all the children participating during the recent Chinese New Year festival. We are also pleased that most of you were able to attend and give your support to the children during the celebration. We believe you had a wonderful time with your children during the festival and a great time with the other families too. Before the Chinese New Year festival, the children were involved in the festival preparation. They lent a helping hand by cleaning and wiping the chairs. They also decorated the classroom.

Nania’s festivals usually comprise of songs, poems, stories, snack and sometimes a handmade gift. So, a few weeks prior to the festival, the children practised reciting poems and singing songs during ring time. For Chinese New Year festival children made ‘ribbon kuih’. The ‘big children’ helped Aunty Anny to cut ‘ribbon kuih’ into the shapes required while the younger children helped to twist them before they were fried. Thus all these activities created the festive mood and it was meaningful for them as they prepared for the actual festival day.

Even after the Chinese New Year break, the children were in the festive mood. During outside play they imitated the lion dance using a mat. Children also shared their experiences with friends and told us about their activities at home with their families.

We are happy to report that all the children, including the newcomers, have settled down quite well. Most of the time we observe the children are playing happily in the different corners of the classroom. Those in the kitchen corner were busy cooking. Others prefer the doll corner. Budding engineers build tall towers with blocks. Entrepreneurs open shops selling vegetables and fruits to busy shoppers with handbags.

It is lovely to watch the class dynamics but it is not always the same. Sometimes during free play, the children get into arguments. At Nania, we ask them the reason first no matter what they did wrong, instead of scolding the child straight away. We are sure they have reasons for their actions. As we question the child, he or she become calm and we can have a fruitful conversation. When they understand what they did wrong, they willingly apologise to their friends. Although the action is wrong we have to accept his or her reasons first. With this acceptance, the child will learn and remember the experience positively deep in his or her soul.