Draw with your kid...

Should we send a 3 years old children to an art class? For me, the answer is no. My daughter joined the art class on her age of 7.

There is a lot that goes into drawing ability. Self-confidence is one of them. Believing that you can draw as well as enjoying the act of drawing are MORE important than technical drawing skills. So, for the young children is more important to help them hold on to their self-confidence (in art specifically, but also in general) and enjoyment of art.

Below are some ideas I would like to share, some learnt while teaching my daughter, some learnt from reading (books, articles or blogs);

 1. Don’t ever denigrate yourself or your own drawing abilities.

Draw with your kid. If you sit down and draw and doodle beside her (and I think you should at least once in a while!), don’t say, “I can’t draw.” Doodle squares, circles, spirals, hash marks, letters, and whatever else you think of across the page. Enjoy the process. Keep your pencil moving. Whatever. But don’t utter the words, “I can’t draw” in front of your child. Children learn by example.

2. Be conscious of how you talk to your child about the art she makes.

My default is to ask children to tell me about the story of their artwork. If your child is a young three, she might not be assigning meaning to her art yet, but as she gets closer to four, she will likely be more and more elaborate with the stories that go along with her art.

3. Make art fun and exploratory.

Keep your child’s art activities as process oriented as possible at this age. Try not to expect particular outcomes but rather encourage her to explore the art materials, ideas, and techniques in her own way. Introduce new materials and techniques, but also stand back and let her explore art on her own in her own way.

4. Keep your art activities appropriate for her age and developmental stage.
I don’t think that teaching a child “how to draw” is appropriate at age three. You can guide her through the occasional observational drawing exercise if you like, preferably in a way that is as much about observing as it is about drawing. But the most important thing at this age is to encourage open-ended exploration of art materials, self-confidence, and enjoyment in art and learning.

If you really want to try an art class with your young child, I would suggest looking for one that is focused on age appropriate which is an art program for toddlers and preschoolers.

However, an art class for young children may be a good idea for other reasons.

1. It might provide you with ideas and instructions for more art activities to do with your daughter at home.

2. It might expose your child to more materials and activities than she has at home.

3. You and your child might enjoy the social aspect of the art class.

4. The art class might provide messy art experiences that you might not feel comfortable providing at home.

Drawn in kindergarten

In drawing class

In drawing class

In drawing class

In drawing class

Drawn in school holiday

Flying pants (drawn in school holiday)

Drawn in school holiday

Drawn in school holiday

Penang interactive museum and batu ferringhi beach...

09 June 2014

During this mid-year school holiday, we plan to take a one day tour around Penang island. After breakfast, our first destination is Penang interactive museum.  This "made in Penang" Interactive Museum is the first 3D art or trick art museum in Penang, Malaysia, which launched on the 1st of November 2013. It is the latest attraction in Penang with the aims to promote the history of Penang.

This museum is in the sprawling Behn-Meyer Building in Weld Quay near the ferry terminal. When you first walk-in you can see a mural 33m long and 10m high along the alleyway of the building. The mural depicts Weld Quay in the early 19th century when it was a bustling port used by the English and the Germans.

On the ground floor is an exhibition of clay and plaster figurines that showcase the culture and history of Penang. There is also a 10m long model Weld Quay in the early 1900s. It offers 34 giant 3D art pieces in the second floor that are not only creative but also tell stories about Penang lifestyle, culture and history.

For kids, they are really having fun on 3D art pieces in the second floor.

For More Information,
Made in Penang Interactive Museum Facebook
Address: No. 3 Pengkalan Weld, 10300 George Town, Penang, Malaysia.
Opening Hours : Daily 9 am – 6 pm.
Admission Fee : Adults RM 15 (with Mykad), Children RM 10 (with Mykad), Adults RM 30 (without Mykad).
Tel : 04 2626 119

After that, we went to Gurney Plaza to take a break, having lunch and shopping. Then the next destination was Batu ferringhi Beach... Relax and having fun there....

A day in Kidland

23 May 2014

  One week before we go to kidland, my daughter get so excited. Although this is the first visit, but we already know what we actually can do inside the kidland.

Entrance of Kidland

After breakfast, we reached 1st Avenue shopping mall around 10am. We used the link bridge to go into Pragin Mall. Kidland located at 4th and 5th floor of Prangin Mall.

Map of Kidland

The time we walked inside the kidland, hmm... quite "empty". I mean most of the less popular jobs being empty and without

any staff standby there. Another reason maybe we went on weekday, less customer,less staff. But the point is we paid the "full amount".

 Most popular ones are the Fireman, Police, Band and Doctor.

Besides different stations for role play, there is also a big indoor playground for the kids and a 5D theater. The mini 5D theater is fun, my daughter play twice in there.

The radio station and bomb disposal is under maintenance? For 30,000sq.ft, there are only 2 toilets each for male and female.

I don't think we will come again until some improvement have been made.

The most important thing is "at least" my daughter enjoy her visit here and get to know some new friends.