Malay Storytelling Competition "Sang Kancil yang Bijak" by Heng Yi Jun

Chinese Storytelling Competition

Poem Recitation "Ladybug! Ladybug" by Muthu Murthi (5 Yrs)

Poem Recitation "Meet My Dog" by Savitta Ram

Parents' Day Performances

By Mimi Say

The three-year-olds braced the crowd of more than 100 and put up a brave performance

A light and happy performance

A serious front from these 'poker faced' 5-year-olds

A stellar performance from the 6-year-olds

MOTHER'S DAY & FATHER'S DAY PERFORMANCES

By Mimi Say

Children feel most comfortable if they are able perform something. This can boost their self esteem and be motivated to learn more.

Last year there was a child who refused to cooperate to practise dancing. She told her mum that she doesn't want to learn dancing. Her mum hesitated to pay for the performance costume. I informed her mum that each child will be given the opportunity to perform on stage. This in future will enhance their confidence in themselves. Even if she did not perform, she will have the opportunity to experience that going up on stage is not a big deal neither is it a scary experience. Reluctantly she paid for the costume after being informed of the advantages.

Finally the dreaded day arrived. The girl went up on stage. She froze on stage; refused to dance and was led by her partner.  (*I earlier reminded her mum not to reprimand her if she did not dance on stage. Being there is already an achievement!) But the moment she came down from stage, she was praised for being able to go up and stayed there until the end of the dance. We praised her for not breaking down too. (*I won't do this to a three-year-old unless accompanied by children's mums)

Surprisingly after this experience she cooperated with us during the year-end concert. She did not give us any trouble at all. We always encouraged her during the practises. And, during the most recent performance, she danced better than anybody else. This is the power of POSITIVE reinforcement.

We always try to find ways for children to boost their self esteem.
We do not stress on best performances but we do give a lot of encouragement for children to perform even though it's not the best but it's their very best!

Do enjoy some of these special and magical MOMENTS!

Elina having fun dancing

Kirtana doing Bole Chudiya

Dancing to the beat of a Monggolian number

Sha La La

Damia is so into Poker Face

Cross cultural performance - Malay dandut song, with an Indian costume performed by a Chinese girl.

Cross nation dance - Macarena

Fun time dancing

A confident beauty on stage

FUN PARENTS' DAY CELEBRATION

By Mimi Say

One of the objectives of this celebration is for parents to spend quality time with their children. Hence we have lined up a few activities where parents participated with their children. The physical and emotional support from both parties enhance their relationship.

To give and not expect return, that is what lies at the heart of love.
Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), Irish writer & poet

The best thing to give to your... child, a good example; to a father, deference; to your mother, conduct that will make her proud of you.
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), 

The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence.
Denis Waitley (b. 1933)

Gratitude is one of the least articulate of the emotions, especially when it is deep.
Felix Frankfurter (1882-1965)

Love is, above all, the gift of oneself.
Jean Anouilh (1910-1987)

You have to love your children unselfishly. That is hard. But it is the only way.
Barbara Bush (b. 1925)

To be loved and trusted by those who know us best is life's greatest compliment.
Attributed to Jack Anthony

You are the bows from which your children, as living arrows, are sent forth.
Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931)

Gratitude is one of the least articulate of the emotions, especially when it is deep.
Felix Frankfurter (1882-1965)

To give and not expect return, that is what lies at the heart of love.
Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)

There are three degrees of filial piety. The highest is being a credit to our parents, the second is not disgracing them; the lowest is being able simply to support them.
Confucius (551-479 BC)

You have to love your children unselfishly. That is hard. But it is the only way.
Barbara Bush (b. 1925)

To understand your parents' love you must raise children yourself.
Chinese proverb

The greatest gift is a portion of yourself.
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882),

Gratitude for Parents - Wonderful Years Way

By Mimi Say

May and June ring a bell to children and parents. They are two months that are heavily commercialised: Mother's Day and Father's Day. Are they the only two days in a whole year that children thank their parents? Or the only ways to thank their parents are those planned by business entities namely through flower bouquets or banquets? Every family has their own way to cherish their members and we hope this does not happen on certain designated days but throughout the years.

Young children often take their parents for granted. Their hunger for physical and emotional needs has to be constantly fed. Parents' sacrifice for their children is enormous. Hence we need to instil in young children appreciation for their parents and to be thankful for what are provided for them. One of our activities is to celebrate parents' day. It is a day where children are given the opportunity to thank their parents and to have a fun day out with parents.

Make-up

Making sure the child is properly attired

Welcoming speech by children

Here we go - a dance dedicated to parents

Family photo

I LOVE YOU!

Thank You Quotes for Parents

By Thank You Diva

http://www.thankyoudiva.com/thank-you-quotes-for-parents.html

Live so that when your children think of fairness and integrity, they think of you.

H. Jackson Brown Jr., American author of Life's Little Instruction Book

You are the bows from which your children, as living arrows, are sent forth.
Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931), Lebanese-American writer, poet & artist

To give and not expect return, that is what lies at the heart of love.
Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), Irish writer & poet

The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence.
Denis Waitley (b. 1933), American author & motivational speaker

All kids need is a little help, a little hope and somebody who believes in them.
Earvin "Magic" Johnson (b. 1959), American basketball player

The best way to make children good is to make them happy.
Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), Irish writer & poet

The best thing to give to your... child, a good example; to a father, deference; to your mother, conduct that will make her proud of you.
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), American statesman, politician, author, scientist and inventor, and one of the founding fathers of the United States

Next to God, thy parents.
William Penn (1644-1718), English founder of the US Province of Pennsylvania

There are three degrees of filial piety. The highest is being a credit to our parents, the second is not disgracing them; the lowest is being able simply to support them.
Confucius (551-479 BC), Chinese philosopher, politician & teacher

To understand your parents' love you must raise children yourself.
Chinese proverb

Gratitude is one of the least articulate of the emotions, especially when it is deep.
Felix Frankfurter (1882-1965), American Supreme Court Justice

I would thank you from the bottom of my heart, but for you my heart has no bottom.
Author unknown

Love is, above all, the gift of oneself.
Jean Anouilh (1910-1987), French playwright

You have to love your children unselfishly. That is hard. But it is the only way.
Barbara Bush (b. 1925), First Lady of the United States from 1989 to 1993

The most important thing that parents can teach their children is how to get along without them.
Frank A. Clark (1911-1990), American journalist & author

To be loved and trusted by those who know us best is life's greatest compliment.
Attributed to Jack Anthony

The greatest gift is a portion of yourself.
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), American essayist, lecturer and poet

The apple never falls far from the tree.
Traditional proverb

Human beings are the only creatures on earth that allow their children to come back home.
Bill Cosby (b. 1937), American actor, comedian & educator

Don't be discouraged if your children reject your advice. Years later they will offer it to their own offspring.
Author unknown

Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.
James Baldwin (1924-1987), American novelist & playwright

Times are bad. Children no longer obey their parents, and everyone is writing a book.
Cicero (106-43 BC), Roman philosopher, statesman & orator

Having one child makes you a parent; having two you are a referee.
David Frost (b. 1939), British journalist & media personality

The young wish to give their elders the full benefits of their inexperience.
Author unknown

Raising a kid is part joy and part guerrilla warfare.
Ed Asner (b. 1929), American actor

The art of being a parent consists of sleeping when the baby isn't looking.
American proverb

No matter how far we come, our parents are always in us.
Brad Meltzer (b. 1970), American author. From: The Inner Circle