<![CDATA[Kids need spontaneous play]]>Overheard over radio 93.8 today - Parents today put too much emphasis on enrichment courses and educational CDs, ignoring children’s need for spontaneous play. Apparently, the unstructured activity that happens when you allow your kids to roll around on the ground, scream and chase one another is just as important, if not more, to their growth.


I do remember how our parents left us alone as early as 4 years old to run about the longkangs, play marbles, catch spiders, chase dogs (but mostly get chased by them instead), fly kites, etc… and I remember those activities much more than when I had to learn my ABCs. Well, apparently we turn out fine even without the right-brain training by Shichida or golfing lessons. Of course, we can argue that our vocab in English or Chinese is inferior compared to the average modern kid of the same age, but were we really that bad without all that additional coaching? We might be pai-gia then, but heck, we were a lot more street-smart and know how to look after overselves.

Are we building greater elitism, snobbery, or worse - a class of kids that know no hardship and believes they can change the world simply by studying hard and doing well in exams?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/topic/49/kids-need-spontaneous-playRSS for NodeTue, 23 Jun 2026 09:41:15 GMTTue, 20 Nov 2007 00:51:15 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Kids need spontaneous play on Sat, 06 May 2017 05:36:43 GMT]]>Tv, phones and tablets are making us antisocial and less creative these days.


When my son was younger, I used to peel a pear, remove the core for him. When he was given a whole pear, he refused to eat it because he did not know where to start. I got fed up and decided to stop ‘serving’ him.

I remember when I was younger, I had to cut my own fruits, fix the things that were not working. I think that is the way to go for the next generation – DIY.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1772083https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1772083Sat, 06 May 2017 05:36:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Kids need spontaneous play on Wed, 25 Jan 2017 09:13:17 GMT]]>Chiefkiasu,


At least the roach didn’t fly into your mouth. 😮

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1750215https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1750215Wed, 25 Jan 2017 09:13:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Kids need spontaneous play on Fri, 13 Jan 2017 06:22:09 GMT]]>Children like to create, and they like to play (read:mess!).


Adults like to define, and they hate mess.

Such disparity is commonplace in many families with young children.
A battle faced daily; the home as the battle ground.
Mums armed with their ultimate sword of words that yields lines of nags and the children retaliating with their powerful thrusts of air out of their tiny little lungs and throat, eroding the serenity of the home with deafening shrills that can drive any individual out of sanity.

The struggle is real. The war is clear.

What are the possible peacekeeping strategies that can be put in place? Is there room to compromise?

Of course there is! But to get us that coveted key to the door of peace, we need to put in some effort to understand the war itself.

Why the battle?

Power Struggle.

Adults believing that they are the ruler of the home wants exclusive control over ALL matters in the house including dictating their children’s daily routine to the millisecond of the day.

Children on the other hand are natural born explorers with non conforming traits, looking to make a new discovery with that same millisecond; adding on to their pre-existing forever growing set of schemas; ignorant to the concept of time as they are busy making connections about the world around them with these newly found discoveries.

The above discussed daily battles are easily avoided if adults recognised the need of letting the children be their natural selves. Allowing them to explore the world at their own discretion with minimal adult intervention and supplemented with just enough supervision and effective facilitation. If this process is followed through, we have achieved a win-win situation where the frustration of all parties involved can be eliminated.

As adults we often discount the fact that children are capable decision makers too. Pitched at their level of competency, children should always be given the opportunity to make choices. These choices should include the choice of designing their own play time.
For some reason though, as adults, we often forget the importance of play. More specifically, we forget the importance of unstructured play. Instead of celebrating the way it encourages creativity and innovation, we often look at play as an unnecessary part of childhood where one idles and waste the precious commodity; time.
In our bid to help our children optimised their day with meaningful activities we often
pre-determined children’s play session, putting boundaries on time, toys, space, methods or sequence of play. We put a structure to the session and set an end goal for the children, leaving them with no room to explore further. We are the play master and the children the players.
While the above pre-arranged activity is considered as play still, it is not as beneficial as unstructured play. Unstructured play unlike structured play has no specific end goal or learning objective in mind. Unstructured play does not have a beginning, middle or end and is not rules orientated, it is reliant on a child’s imagination to self-direct their play time. It can be in any setting and involves anything that allows for infinite play options. It feels like opening the door to “Wonderland”.

It is through unstructured play, at any age, that children can really develop their skills. These include communication and social skills such as conflict resolution when faced with opposing views and arguments, learning to share, learning to respect others’ opinions, and interacting with other children and their environment.
Through play, children can develop their emotional, physical and cognitive skills as well as building their self-confidence and esteem. The self-motivated aspect of unstructured play gives children the freedom to expand their own interests and discover what they enjoy and what they don’t.

When there is no limitation to play, creativity, imagination and self-expression can take over, stretching the mind much more so than a game on an Ipad or a cartoon on the television.
Play often involves a lot of movement which can help children preserve information – the more senses involved in the activities, the more likely they are to retain and learn from it, as well as giving them all the benefits of physical exercise.

Most importantly, through unstructured play, children master new abilities and learn new information concerning the world. It is the way in which they express how they're feeling and the way in which they share themselves with the world around them. The entire world becomes a never-ending supply of awe.

In today’s competitive world, there isn’t a lot of time for kids to just be kids. As the adults in their lives, we should be advocating on how best to ensure that unstructured play is protected and of how to seek the balance in our children’s lives to create the optimal developmental milieu.

Stop the War. End the Struggle.

Form alliance. Advocate Play.

Towards a world of happier and brighter children!

Sri Rahayu
Early Childhood Practitioner
Programme Creator @ Daffodils Lab

https://s24.postimg.org/itxa1m1th/o_GET_KIDS_TO_CLEAN_UP_facebook_Medium.jpg\">

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1747024https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1747024Fri, 13 Jan 2017 06:22:09 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Kids need spontaneous play on Fri, 13 Jan 2017 06:20:04 GMT]]>Children like to create, and they like to play (read:mess!).


Adults like to define, and they hate mess.

Such disparity is commonplace in many families with young children.
A battle faced daily; the home as the battle ground.
Mums armed with their ultimate sword of words that yields lines of nags and the children retaliating with their powerful thrusts of air out of their tiny little lungs and throat, eroding the serenity of the home with deafening shrills that can drive any individual out of sanity.

The struggle is real. The war is clear.

What are the possible peacekeeping strategies that can be put in place? Is there room to compromise?

Of course there is! But to get us that coveted key to the door of peace, we need to put in some effort to understand the war itself.

Why the battle?

Power Struggle.

Adults believing that they are the ruler of the home wants exclusive control over ALL matters in the house including dictating their children’s daily routine to the millisecond of the day.

Children on the other hand are natural born explorers with non conforming traits, looking to make a new discovery with that same millisecond; adding on to their pre-existing forever growing set of schemas; ignorant to the concept of time as they are busy making connections about the world around them with these newly found discoveries.

The above discussed daily battles are easily avoided if adults recognised the need of letting the children be their natural selves. Allowing them to explore the world at their own discretion with minimal adult intervention and supplemented with just enough supervision and effective facilitation. If this process is followed through, we have achieved a win-win situation where the frustration of all parties involved can be eliminated.

As adults we often discount the fact that children are capable decision makers too. Pitched at their level of competency, children should always be given the opportunity to make choices. These choices should include the choice of designing their own play time.
For some reason though, as adults, we often forget the importance of play. More specifically, we forget the importance of unstructured play. Instead of celebrating the way it encourages creativity and innovation, we often look at play as an unnecessary part of childhood where one idles and waste the precious commodity; time.
In our bid to help our children optimised their day with meaningful activities we often
pre-determined children’s play session, putting boundaries on time, toys, space, methods or sequence of play. We put a structure to the session and set an end goal for the children, leaving them with no room to explore further. We are the play master and the children the players.
While the above pre-arranged activity is considered as play still, it is not as beneficial as unstructured play. Unstructured play unlike structured play has no specific end goal or learning objective in mind. Unstructured play does not have a beginning, middle or end and is not rules orientated, it is reliant on a child’s imagination to self-direct their play time. It can be in any setting and involves anything that allows for infinite play options. It feels like opening the door to “Wonderland”.

It is through unstructured play, at any age, that children can really develop their skills. These include communication and social skills such as conflict resolution when faced with opposing views and arguments, learning to share, learning to respect others’ opinions, and interacting with other children and their environment.
Through play, children can develop their emotional, physical and cognitive skills as well as building their self-confidence and esteem. The self-motivated aspect of unstructured play gives children the freedom to expand their own interests and discover what they enjoy and what they don’t.

When there is no limitation to play, creativity, imagination and self-expression can take over, stretching the mind much more so than a game on an Ipad or a cartoon on the television.
Play often involves a lot of movement which can help children preserve information – the more senses involved in the activities, the more likely they are to retain and learn from it, as well as giving them all the benefits of physical exercise.

Most importantly, through unstructured play, children master new abilities and learn new information concerning the world. It is the way in which they express how they're feeling and the way in which they share themselves with the world around them. The entire world becomes a never-ending supply of awe.

In today’s competitive world, there isn’t a lot of time for kids to just be kids. As the adults in their lives, we should be advocating on how best to ensure that unstructured play is protected and of how to seek the balance in our children’s lives to create the optimal developmental milieu.

Stop the War. End the Struggle.

Form alliance. Advocate Play.

Towards a world of happier and brighter children!

https://s24.postimg.org/itxa1m1th/o_GET_KIDS_TO_CLEAN_UP_facebook_Medium.jpg\">

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1747023https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1747023Fri, 13 Jan 2017 06:20:04 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Kids need spontaneous play on Fri, 13 Jan 2017 06:19:38 GMT]]>Hardly the most reliable source of info … lots of unverified "claims".

Looks like one of those sites that stir and stir to create outrage to boost viewership.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1747022https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1747022Fri, 13 Jan 2017 06:19:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Kids need spontaneous play on Fri, 13 Jan 2017 05:20:22 GMT]]>I seriously doubt that most P2 kids would let something like not having to do HCL get in the way of spontaneous play, if given half a chance by their parents. :razz:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1747014https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1747014Fri, 13 Jan 2017 05:20:22 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Kids need spontaneous play on Thu, 12 Jan 2017 06:44:43 GMT]]>The article and headline are not very clear. In the article, it says the school’s stance is that the student must be in the top 25% of the cohort. I take that to mean overall top 25% across 4 subjects, not just for Chinese. In which case, i will interprete the school’s intention as giving the child time to work on weaker subjects.


In any case, it is a small thing in my books. Nothing to stop anyone from playing if they want to, and nothing to stop anyone from getting the HCL textbooks from Popular and flipping through them yourself if you really want to.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1746718https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1746718Thu, 12 Jan 2017 06:44:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Kids need spontaneous play on Thu, 12 Jan 2017 06:32:33 GMT]]>

slmkhoo:
beacon:

How to have the mood to play if faced with the situation as reported by the story below?


\"Is Overall Mark of 97 Not Good Enough for Higher Chinese at St Hilda's Primary School?\"

http://theindependent.sg/is-overall-mark-of-97-not-good-enough-for-higher-chinese-at-st-hildas-primary-school/

This is the 2nd such posting I've seen in the last couple of minutes, so I guess you are particularly annoyed, perhaps with the school?

I thought I was reading some contract doc 😓

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1746715https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1746715Thu, 12 Jan 2017 06:32:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Kids need spontaneous play on Thu, 12 Jan 2017 05:04:02 GMT]]>

beacon:
How to have the mood to play if faced with the situation as reported by the story below?


\"Is Overall Mark of 97 Not Good Enough for Higher Chinese at St Hilda's Primary School?\"

http://theindependent.sg/is-overall-mark-of-97-not-good-enough-for-higher-chinese-at-st-hildas-primary-school/
This is the 2nd such posting I've seen in the last couple of minutes, so I guess you are particularly annoyed, perhaps with the school?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1746684https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1746684Thu, 12 Jan 2017 05:04:02 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Kids need spontaneous play on Thu, 12 Jan 2017 04:59:59 GMT]]>How to have the mood to play if faced with the situation as reported by the story below?


\"Is Overall Mark of 97 Not Good Enough for Higher Chinese at St Hilda's Primary School?\"

http://theindependent.sg/is-overall-mark-of-97-not-good-enough-for-higher-chinese-at-st-hildas-primary-school/

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1746682https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1746682Thu, 12 Jan 2017 04:59:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Kids need spontaneous play on Wed, 27 Aug 2008 05:23:31 GMT]]>

tamarind:
I saw another boy, who is at least 5 years old, sitting on a pram and...

.
erm...i think i am one of those parent whom others may misunderstood, cos my ds2 who is less than 2yrs actually look more than 3 yrs old by his size (my neighbour actually thought my boys' age gap is 2 yrs when it is actually 4!), and to 'unleash' him from the stroller/pram makes moving around very difficult as the boy likes to make his own decision as to where to explore and is as fast as a torpedo...leaving a trail of destruction... :oops: (think we nearly got shooed out from the library a couple of weeks back if not for the very nice librarian).

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/6512https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/6512Wed, 27 Aug 2008 05:23:31 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Kids need spontaneous play on Wed, 27 Aug 2008 03:51:18 GMT]]>

ChiefKiasu:
Overheard over radio 93.8 today - Parents today put too much emphasis on enrichment courses and educational CDs, ignoring children's need for spontaneous play. Apparently, the unstructured activity that happens when you allow your kids to roll around on the ground, scream and chase one another is just as important, if not more, to their growth.


I do remember how our parents left us alone as early as 4 years old to run about the longkangs, play marbles, catch spiders, chase dogs (but mostly get chased by them instead), fly kites, etc... and I remember those activities much more than when I had to learn my ABCs. Well, apparently we turn out fine even without the right-brain training by Shichida or golfing lessons. Of course, we can argue that our vocab in English or Chinese is inferior compared to the average modern kid of the same age, but were we really that bad without all that additional coaching? We might be pai-gia then, but heck, we were a lot more street-smart and know how to look after overselves.

Are we building greater elitism, snobbery, or worse - a class of kids that know no hardship and believes they can change the world simply by studying hard and doing well in exams?


My kids to roll around on the ground, scream and chase one another everyday when they are at home. In fact, they have unstructured and spontaneous play most of the time. They are now 5 years old and 4 years old, I let them study for not more than 20 minutes a day, after they return from their PCF kindergarten/nursery. They are both doing well in reading/writing and math.

2 weeks ago, I brought them to climb Bukit Timah Hill. I am happy that they walk all the way up and down without asking to be carried. I saw another boy, who is at least 5 years old, sitting on a pram and was pushed all the way up by his mommy to the summit !

I thought to myself, why do parents pamper their kids so much nowadays ? I think many Singaporean kids will not know hardship when they grow up.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/6506https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/6506Wed, 27 Aug 2008 03:51:18 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Kids need spontaneous play on Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:30:30 GMT]]>Jedamum, your son is so cute! Doesn’t our kids make our heart lighter? Some parents will be crossed if they see their kids make a mess of the basin or waste the toothpaste. I’m glad you see the otherside of it.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/6483https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/6483Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:30:30 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Kids need spontaneous play on Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:25:09 GMT]]>Hi


I used to grow up in the army quarter for the 1st 10 yrs of my life. I'm free to roam around the estate without my parents feeling worried because the area was filled with colleague & friends. But majority of the time I like the time out at home doing whatever that I like until my parents were worried that I talk to myself while playing (imaginary friends).

So the way my kids are brought up usually is a reflection of what I had & what I wish I had. They are allowed to run around but in the park. I will be watching in the distance & if they happen to make friends it is fine with me. I live in HDB area where I used to grow up & I dont feel safe letting my kids roam around on their own. Same feeling as Jedamum as I feel some kids play too rough, say the words that they should not say, boasting & alienating.


Just like Jedamum I'm worried about bullying & negative behaviour found in some kids.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/6482https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/6482Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:25:09 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Kids need spontaneous play on Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:35:01 GMT]]>

EN:

Does spontaneous free play means parents allow the kids free time to do what they want?
A 'spontaneous free play' happened yesterday....in his attempt to dissipate my anger, my 'creative' boy attempted to surprise me by writing the word 'love you' using.......a tube of toothpaste!!!
I was indeed surprised. :lol:
He had also decided that the overflow 'hole' in the basin needs patching up using........toothpaste!!!!!
faintz.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/6474https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/6474Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:35:01 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Kids need spontaneous play on Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:30:40 GMT]]>

ChiefKiasu:
It is important for us to encourage our children play with as many different kids as they can, so that they learn to get used to working with people, regardless whether they like or dislike them.

But for interactions with other kids, what protective parents like me fear about are threats of bullying or exclusion from group plays (ok ok...my boy and my nephew excluded a boy from their playground group play and i feel very bad). And also, some kids may start rattling off about their parents names (surnames included), occupation, addresses etc etc....and I had told my boy that he must not reveal so much to such acquaintances...his name included cos I know some kids may turn nasty and go into name calling.
I am so overprotective.... :oops:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/6472https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/6472Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:30:40 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Kids need spontaneous play on Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:51:13 GMT]]>EN, your children are really creative! That looks like old Mater from Cars (the tow-truck).


But I think an important element which we often overlook about structured play is interaction with other kids. It is important for us to encourage our children play with as many different kids as they can, so that they learn to get used to working with people, regardless whether they like or dislike them.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/6464https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/6464Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:51:13 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Kids need spontaneous play on Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:59:51 GMT]]>Hi


Does spontaneous free play means parents allow the kids free time to do what they want? If yes, then my kids have loads of it. I set aside the afternoon every weekends after lunch allowing them to do anything. When I take a peek, they will either be engaged in a make believe play, drawings, lego playing, craft work or blowing bubbles. After teatime, we will then head out to parks. Sometime we play ball, frisbee, walk around, play catching etc.

So not only my kids are able to enjoy their weekends, it also means that I can rest & de-stress too.

I tried allowing them to play at the void deck, but my children are not able to mix well with other kids. They are afraid of rough playing so, they will usually play with each other or by themselves.

Here is my son's creation during the free play. It is a truck made from the grocery box.
http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=Pqk4oE9
http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aVjALe9

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/6459https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/6459Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:59:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Kids need spontaneous play on Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:51:37 GMT]]>

heutistmeintag:
...The most unpleasant experience happened when I was enjoying the fresh morning air. A grasshopper (1\" size) flew into my mouth and I immedaitely puked on the spot (and in fact several more times later in the day). Even till today, I can still remember vividly the nauseating feeling of the wings on my tongue and thorny legs sticking to my lips. *puke*. My sadistic children always rofl when I related to them this story.

Let's compare notes. My phobia of cockroaches came about when one crawled over my face one night as I slept on the floor while I was still a kid. I spent the whole night trying to wash my face in vain to get rid of the smell (I'm turning green even as I type). Roaches really stink!

Anyway, if your kids can rofl hearing this story... wonder what the grasshopper's kids do when they hear it from their bungling daddy who flew into the wrong, um, cave.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/6454https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/6454Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:51:37 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Kids need spontaneous play on Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:07:42 GMT]]>

breguet:

Hi Huetismeintag, Have you been to the Kranji farms? check out www. kranjicountryside.com. We had a blast the last time we went, from Hay's Dairy (feeding young goats) to longkang fishing (although that wasn't a real longkang). Even lunch at Bollywood veggies was fantastic - lots of space for the kids to run around. Nyee Phoe Gardens was supposed to be building some resort farmstay, but I don't see it on the website now. But they do have something for kids at http://www.gardenasiakids.com/. Not sure if this is what you're looking for. Actually, we can't wait to do it again!
Thanks brequet, we've been to that area twice actually and would be delighted if they provide some form of overnight farmstay perhaps minus the creature comfort. The closest we've been to is to camp in my friend's garden, Pasir Ris Park and Australia farmstay. Sadly, I think the problem lies with me and my wife. We HATE mosuitoes. :roll: :lol:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/6452https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/6452Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:07:42 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Kids need spontaneous play on Tue, 26 Aug 2008 04:15:43 GMT]]>

heutistmeintag:
Now, does anyone know of a local farm that allow overnight stay? Erm, pls suggest local for budgetary reason. I would like my kids to have the experience of running wild in a farm. 😛


One of my more memorable childhood experiences was farmstay with my relatives. Catch spiders, pluck mangoes and papayas, feed the pigs, chasing the chicken and duck. Of course, we chased the chicken for a reason - to eat them for dinner. My daughter used to think that chicken wings come from supermart and factory. She didnt realize that the wings come from chicken. lol

The most unpleasant experience happened when I was enjoying the fresh morning air. A grasshopper (1\" size) flew into my mouth and I immedaitely puked on the spot (and in fact several more times later in the day). Even till today, I can still remember vividly the nauseating feeling of the wings on my tongue and thorny legs sticking to my lips. *puke*. My sadistic children always rofl when I related to them this story.
Hi Huetismeintag, Have you been to the Kranji farms? check out www. kranjicountryside.com. We had a blast the last time we went, from Hay's Dairy (feeding young goats) to longkang fishing (although that wasn't a real longkang). Even lunch at Bollywood veggies was fantastic - lots of space for the kids to run around. Nyee Phoe Gardens was supposed to be building some resort farmstay, but I don't see it on the website now. But they do have something for kids at http://www.gardenasiakids.com/. Not sure if this is what you're looking for. Actually, we can't wait to do it again!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/6442https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/6442Tue, 26 Aug 2008 04:15:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Kids need spontaneous play on Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:51:50 GMT]]>My kids can have an hour of fun just playing with a regular round balloons. They also love playing with water and plants, as if they are cooking.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/6426https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/6426Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:51:50 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Kids need spontaneous play on Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:49:16 GMT]]>Now, does anyone know of a local farm that allow overnight stay? Erm, pls suggest local for budgetary reason. I would like my kids to have the experience of running wild in a farm. 😛


One of my more memorable childhood experiences was farmstay with my relatives. Catch spiders, pluck mangoes and papayas, feed the pigs, chasing the chicken and duck. Of course, we chased the chicken for a reason - to eat them for dinner. My daughter used to think that chicken wings come from supermart and factory. She didnt realize that the wings come from chicken. lol

The most unpleasant experience happened when I was enjoying the fresh morning air. A grasshopper (1\" size) flew into my mouth and I immedaitely puked on the spot (and in fact several more times later in the day). Even till today, I can still remember vividly the nauseating feeling of the wings on my tongue and thorny legs sticking to my lips. *puke*. My sadistic children always rofl when I related to them this story.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/6424https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/6424Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:49:16 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Kids need spontaneous play on Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:35:49 GMT]]>

phantom:
Simple toys actually give lots of room for imagination to the kid.

I let my ds2 play with ketchup packets.....actually he helped himself from the lower tier of the fridge. Then one day he found out that if he bite really hard on it, he can taste tomatoes. :lol:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/6415https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/6415Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:35:49 GMT