Festival of Sharing and Giving

Chinese New Year Celebration at Wonderful Years
By Mimi Say

How do we teach children about giving and sharing? Do we tell tem repeatedly, drum into their ears daily or just demonstrate to them? Children learn best through observation.When you thought they are not watching, suddenly  out of they blue they show you something you least expected. Where do they learn it from, you wondered, bewildered?

What do we share during this Chinese New Year party? We share our LOVE, our CARE,  our HAPPINESS, our CULTURE, our FRIENDSHIP and OURSELVES! What do we give? We give them IDEAS, LAUGHTER, CASH, and FOOD

Xin Nian Kuai Le (Happy Chinese New Year)

We started the party with a Chinese New Year number that is easy for children to learn. Malay and Indian children join in the fun wishing everybody Happy Chinese New Year.

Children watched closely as teachers toss the Yee Sang.

Yusheng

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Yusheng, yee sang or yuu sahng (Chinese: 鱼生; pinyin: yúshēng) It usually consists of strips of raw fish (most commonly salmon), mixed with shredded vegetables and a variety of sauces and condiments.. Yusheng literally means "raw fish" but since "fish (鱼)" is commonly conflated with its homophone "abundance (余)", Yúshēng (鱼生) is interpreted as a homophone for Yúshēng (余升) meaning an increase in abundance. Therefore, yusheng is considered a symbol of abundance, prosperity and vigor.

Vegetarian Yee Sang

Teachers and Mrs Say getting ready to toss the Yu Sang

All in Action!

Finished product (Vegetable salad minus the raw salmon so that my vegetarian teachers can savour it)

Then it's time to tuck in goodies and children's favourite food prepared by our cook, Ms Nurul.

After filling children's stomach it's time for games. All children are encouraged to get involved so that no one will feel left out. One of the objectives is to cultivate healthy cross-cultural relationship among various races in Malaysia. To promote team-work and to encourage children to be more open so that they can socialise better. We inculcate different chinese cultures thru the games. By  participating in these games, children learn patience, team building, independence, motivation, 

To end the party with a high note, every child received a hong bao (red packet with cash).

I hope children remember this wonderful day and practise the healthy culture at Wonderful Years : No prejudice or discrimination and to bond with other races. To give and share with others or with those less fortunate. To make others happy and happiness is to be shared.