Archive for the ‘Learn and Fun Corner’ Category

Another of Darren’s weekly art edition *smile*.

[You might have read our earlier post on 12 July about Darren's latest hobby to create art editions of his family members.]

Subject: Family

Topic : The Race. How Papa Shows That He Is Strong and Fast

Illustrations and Narration: With courtesy by Darren

——

 His story starts…..race with horses

 [In his drawing, mommy has become a horse! Luckily, he has not forgotten to draw my hair on my head. I like it though because in his photos, we always look so HAPPY.]

Darren: “One day, Darren and Mumy is chasing Papa’s car with a horse.”

Mommy:”Why did Papa drive off without waiting for us? Why do we chase him with horses when I can use my car?”

Darren:”Because Papa wants to go first and see how fast we are. I think a horse is faster than a car! Haha!”

Mommy:”Really?”

Darren:”Naughty Papa. Want to show that he is strong and fast. Actually, we are faster!”

Mommy:”?”

His story continues…..race with bus

Darren:”Papa chasing a bus. Papa drives so fast until his car engine spoils. Now, he has no car and he has to run after a bus. He is strong. He can catch up with a bus!”

His story ends…..race with gogo

 Darren:”It is Games Day. Papa wants to challenge gogo a race. Papa is showing that he is strong.”

[his gogo means brother Brendan]

Mommy:”So, Papa wins since he is strong?”

Darren:”No. You guess wrong. Gogo wins!”

Mommy:”Huh?”

Darren:”Because Papa is so strong and stamps his feet so loud until the ”judge”scold him and he lose.”

Mommy:”HUH?”

Darren and Mommy:”Hahahaha…hahaha…!”

——

He is imaginative and creative, isn’t he? Illustrating a story with a “twist” in the ending. Piecing all the stories together when the pictures are actually drawn on different occasions.

It is nice to know that our little boy holds so much respect for his dad for being strong and fast (in his own words). Except that the ending is  a pleasant surprise that made his Papa laugh too.

And our little boy really enjoys the narration while mommy enjoys typing it - as Darren lets his imaginations do the work and laughs out loud.

Over the weekends, he made us laugh with his latest art theme of “Sunny and Rainy Day”. It is not how well he draws but how he portrays his Papa and Mama from his little artpiece.

This is what he drew.

What's Papa doing on a sunny day?

Our boy narrates for the sunny day version:

“It is a hot sunny day.

Papa is watering plants.

Darren and Brendan are lazing on the beds.

Mommy is in the house doing something.”

[Haha, our boy must have seen too much of his Papa watering the plants in our little garden.]

What’s most interesting is the next picture. The rainy day version.

What's Mommy doing on a rainy day?

Mommy: “So that must be mommy? Haha..you have finally given mommy a new hairstyle!”

Darren:”Yah.Heehee…”

Mommy:”Oh! I am flying two kites! So challenging! That must be the strong wind blowing!”

Darren:”No. That is not kite. You are holding two umbrellas.”

Mommy:”You mean those are mini umbrellas? Oh! I see. So those dropping down is the rain. “

Darren:”Yah..heehee..haha…”

Mommy:”Why am I holding two umbrellas outside the house?”

Darren:”You are sheltering the flowers so that they don’t get wet and drenched. You are protecting the flowers, mommy. I  know you like flowers and you don’t want them to die”

Mommy:”Then mummy must be drenched while protecting the flowers since the umbrellas are so small.”

Darren:”No mommy. I take care of you. So that is why you have two umbrellas. Heehee…haha….

Mommy:”Then what are all of you doing at home?”

Darren:”It is at night already. So we are all sleeping and Papa is using computer.”

Mommy:”So mommy is standing outside protecting the flowers under heavy rain while it is late at night?”

Darren:”Yah. Haha..Haha. So, mommy, you like what I draw for you?”

Mommy:???

Hmm..I was speechless. Then we broke into laughter together.

I really love these drawings. Our children are indeed observant.

In real life, I do not go to the extent of sheltering plants under the rain but I do love planting. However, as I am really busy now, Papa Ed has been playing the role of our home gardener for a while.  For this, I must thank Papa Ed for setting up the landscaping in our little garden and Darren for helping me to choose new plants and also water them at times.

These drawings show how we are, who we are from the eyes of our children.  At other times, they reflect how our children feel for us.

I am happy that Darren has this initiative and creative idea to present these surprises to us each week. It helps us to bond in a way and laugh out loud too. Most importantly, he is fair cos both Papa and Mama get a picture each.

Really, I am already looking forward to what Darren is going to draw for us in the coming week *Smile*.

Thank You Darren. We like these very much *Big Hug*.

In Toy Story 3, we saw how children grow up and either donate, discard, store or neglect the toys that they used to spend so much GOOD OLD TIMES with.

I was touched by the story. To me, it is about sentiments and memories.

When I was young…..

I didn’t have the chance to play with that many toys. I recalled how I would share the limited toys with  my neighbours and cousins.

I remember fondly how we used to be highly innovative during our play times, simply making good use of resources around us like sand, leaves, seeds, rubber bands and cloth. 

Amongst others, we played with five stones (made with cloth and beans), skipping ropes made of rubber bands, and marbles. 

Most fun of all - we climbed trees, went on hunt for fruits, played hide and seek in the estate (where compound was large and not constrained by boundary) and fished along the drain (longkang).

Hmm…I am all smiles as I recall.  It was tremendous fun then, even though we had little toys.  Needless to say, I didn’t have the chance to keep any piece of those old toys as keepsake for today.

All the fun we had is in my memory…the fun of playing as a group, sharing and exploring.

Today……

With commercialisation, the varieties of toys have increased.  Toys are bought and played with.

However, how many toys would the children hold dear to as they get fascinated soon by other toys?

With technology, it becomes a common sight for children to carry handphones (which has easy access to games) and electronic game sets.

Besides the luxury of playing with a wide selection of toys, childern can still choose to be resourceful when it comes to play time.

Despite the number of toys that they have owned, they sometimes invent interesting play ideas with existing items at home.

I can seriously relate to this as Darren is creative in keeping himself out of boredom with items he is allowed access to.

His play items are extensive - from laundry basket, bags, kitchen paper roll, chopsticks, empty bottles, clothes hanger - to even my hair clips!

He makes me remember our childhood moments - like I say before playing with leaves, tree branches, many others and even my mom’s handbag *haha*.

Take a Peep…..

At these pictures to catch Darren in action having fun play times with items like laundry basket, balls, sticks, bags and books. 

It can be really messy at times but as long as he does not play with the forbidden items and keeps the items after play, I am alright *grin*.

My exercise hula hoop, bag, books, balls - in for a fun “ball” time

No wonder our laundry basket is missing! As for the books, they apparently have become dividers *lol*.

Chairs are now "goal posts"?

Here, out little boy at PLAY:)

It is good to encourage creative play times for our children (advice: with close supervision by parents for younger children).  Allow them to explore, imagine and share through playing - just like how we used to enjoy ourselves during our younger days. 

These are memories of FUN that will follow us for a life time and not for the moment only.