News / Nunn Road / 2007 / September 2007 (E71)

Dear parents,

Back at Nania after the holiday, we changed the display corner to put across a farm atmosphere to indicate to the children that Harvest Festival is coming. More vegetables and fruits will gradually be added to the display to enhance the atmosphere as the festival approaches. We are now practicing poems and songs for the festival. This festival theme is taken up to celebrate our connection to nature. It helps us to cultivate appreciation in the children for the food they eat. They learn to be grateful to the sun, the rain, the wind, and farmers for food. The festival songs, poems and puppet story are chosen with that in mind. I look forward to meet all of you during the festival on 5th October 2007. Please refer to the information attached for more details.

I would like to also share a wonderful parenting example I came across at a visit to an organic farm during the school holiday, The organic farm at Lojing Highlands, Kelantan, is operated by a young married couple with two children, a 3+ years old girl and a 8 months old baby boy. I befriended the lady recently and took the opportunity during the class break to do an overnight visit with them.

I was first impressed by the hard work both were doing to operate the farm. At the same time, they were able to nourish their children with attention and joy. The 3+ years old girl is allowed to roam freely in the farm and only receive help when she asks for it, for example to walk up a slope. The mother is quiet most of the time with her. And when she talks to the girl, there were always words of encouragement or endearment, e.g. “Fei Fei, you are so kind to your new friend.” or “Fei Fei, mummy loves you very much.” Children nourished by parents’ confidence and unconditional love grow up to be confident and secure.

At the house, whilst the parents were busy cooking or showing us pictures and viewing some videos, the little boy cried. The mother however was not annoyed. She calmly turned off the gas cooker in the middle of cooking and turned to hug and comfort the baby in her arms. Her priority was not to get dinner ready for her guests but comforting and trying to find out what is bothering the baby.

Sometimes, children also can only communicate their needs through crying. It is important when handling a crying child that we are aware children are not always throwing tantrums or being naughty. It is important firstly to find out what is bothering them before insisting that they stop crying. Having addressed their need, we can then take the opportunity to teach them how to better communicate their need than crying the next time.

Children unconsciously imitate adults’ inner mood and beliefs besides our physical behavior. If a mother worries about her child, the baby will pick up the mood and become insecure and unhappy. At the farm, my friend convey a very relax mood to her children. She was not stressed when the baby boy developed a fever that evening. She kept sending positive thoughts to the baby saying,” It’s OK you are having fever. Soon your little teeth will come out. You are growing up, my darling.” Have you ever thought that through sickness, children grow stronger. Through falling, children learn how to pick themselves up. And through trial and errors, they come closer to solutions and answers.

It was a refreshing trip for me. I was not only refreshed by the cool weather in Lojing Highland, but also by the loving parenting example of the couple affirming what we endeavor in our work here at Nania.

Teacher Thian

Harvest Festival Programme

Date: 5th October 2007
Venue: Taska Nania

Schedule:
09:00 - 09:30 bread making (for snack) & free play
09:30 - 09:45 setting up tables for snack & toilet break
09:45 - 10:15 presentation
10:15 - 10:25 toilet break
10:25 - 10:40 snack
10:50 - 11:05 puppet show
11:10 goodbye song & gift (origami flower)
11:15 going home

Please note:

The children will make bread for the festival’s snack in the morning
We have made parking arrangements for the festival with the Che Hoon Khor Moral Uplifting Society across the road from Taska Nania. Please park your car there.
On Friday morning, parents who come after their children please come before 9.35am, by the main gate (the side gate will be closed). The main gate will then be closed during the festival and only opened after the celebration.
Children should place their shoes on the shoe racks and parents, please place your shoes around the mats.
As we are expecting a large number of children and mothers from both classes, we would appreciate it if everyone could keep their voices down.
It is not necessary to bring school bags or extra clothes unless the child really needs them.
Preparation for the puppet show will start during snack time.
It is sometimes difficult for young children to join in the festival’s presentation because of the crowd. We encourage mothers to sing together with their younger children to support their participation.
The festival will finish at about 11.15am. Each child will be given an origami flower after the puppet show. After that, mothers can take their children home. The main gate will be opened after the festival celebration. Please be careful of in-coming vehicles.
Fretful babies can be brought to the kitchen or office area where the staff can help to care for them, while mothers attend the festival.

We look forward to sharing a wonderful celebration with you

Coming events

Harvest Festival (5th October 2007)
This year, we will celebrate Harvest Festival on 5th October 2007 (Friday). Parents are invited to join us from 9am on that day. Children will go home early with their mothers after the festival at about 11.15am. The programme details and songs are attached with this newsletter.

Hari Raya Celebration (11th October, Thursday)
Children are singing the Hari Raya song in the class now. Children will see the display corner decorated by the theme of Hari Raya. On that day, children will have Ketupat (a Malay Traditional Food) for lunch.

Holidays
15th and 16th October 2007 (Monday and Tuesday) Hari Raya holidays