Pretend Play Camping

16th July 2013

In bid to increase Sean's pretend play skills and on his request that we 'go camping', I had promised him the night before that I would 'build him a tent' after I came home if I didn't have to work late. As it happened, I was able to come home early and he eagerly sought me out the minute I reached home to 'play camping'.

I assured him that I would after I had my bath and dinner, and he 'yay'ed happily away. Lauren went along with all the excitement and ra-ra the brother was showing although she didn't quite understand what was going on.

After a quick shower and meal, I gathered both of them and together, we began embarking on our quest for the night. We managed to build a rudimentary tent using Sean's blanket and 2 chairs, and he helped by placing pillows in strategic corners for his own unexplainable reason to close up the gaps.

It really was just a very simple structure, inadequate in every way to be called a 'tent'. But to the kids, they were full of excitement and were having so much fun in the process!

Lauren hadn't quite yet grasped what camping was, so I gave her a very brief introduction on the spot, helped by Kor kor who chipped into the 'knowledge sharing session' that 'Doc Mcstuffins also got camping'. She still didn't quite understand, but  played along anyway.

We pretended to see stars in the sky and then, because we couldn't have a campfire, we talked about imagining one.Sean added on that we could 'cook marshmallows' over the campfire and 'tell ghost stories'. By then, the excitement and his attention were almost waning off, so to cap off the 'camping experience', I told them an imaginery story that I had made up on the spur about a lonely star up in the sky who was looking for friends. I didn't think he was paying much attention as he looked preoccupied playing with his cars. Lauren on the other hand, sat listening enraptured.

After I finished telling the story, they helped to keep the blanket, pillows and chairs and then off he went to watch his nightly cartoon routine of Tom & Jerry, little sister in tow. I didn't think too much of this imaginery experience because when I tucked him to sleep at night, he seemed to have all but forgotten about it. Even when hub came home from work later, he only mentioned about the 'camping trip' in a one-liner.

The next morning however, the minute Sean woke up, he started telling us about how he was 'in a rocket just now' and that he 'saw many stars'. We understood that it was his way of telling us about his dream. Although I am not sure if my random story telling somehow caused him to dream about being in the sky and with the stars, or if there was even a link between these incidents, I feel humbled knowing that what I say or do might affect how he dreams or even think. For me, it goes to show that my actions, thoughts and speech would subsequently some way or another, affect them.

Lauren is already a pro in imitating the way I put my finger to my mouth when I'm deciding between choices, and Sean follows closely to my tone and pitch when reading a storybook out loud.

They say kids are like pieces of white paper and it is up to the parents on how and what we want the paper painted. We all know that it is the truth, but because there is no absolute right way on parenting, sometimes we need incidents like these to drive home the point that what we do really does affect our kids.

It is a humbling experience for me to know that I am tasked with the heavy responsibility of filling up good and important stuffs onto these 'pieces of papers'. The road to imparting them the skills, knowledge and values will not be an easy one. We have to constantly watch how we carry ourselves, act and speak with others. As a reminder to this noble responsibility, I will take effort to remember the effect we can have on them and the little lessons we are constantly learning from them during our life's journey.

Sean may have some learning difficulties but he has really come a long way from where he was. It is a big milestone for us in being able to prepare him for Pri 1 next year, and although I don't know how well he will cope or what his learning journey will encompass, I am proud of my boy for all his accomplishments so far. I expect that our road ahead in his quest for education be fraught with many difficulties and frustrations. And I know I have so much more that I need to improve on. My temper and patience are top on the list. I hope that in those trying times, I can re-read these little journals that I have written and remember the experiences learnt along the way.

In our current cookie-cutter society, grades do account for a large part of our education system. Hub and I are mentally prepared that Sean may most likely not excel in school (and be part of that nerdy geeky group that we wouldn't mind him being), and we are worried about his future. As much as I hope, I do not know when or if he will eventually catch up with his peers. We cannot control how his brain works. What we can do however, is to try and equip him with skills and values that would shape him into someone useful and with good morales. We also need to remind ourselves that although grades are important, it is not everything, keeping our eyes on more important aspects like happiness and health of the kids and the loved ones around us.

It is that time of the year again, when kiasuism rears its head in parents of all 6 year olds. I know I cannot be part of that group of parents that jostle for a spot in the 'well-known' schools. Bearing in mind Sean's learning abilities and capabilities, we have set our sights on a school near our home instead as it will be convenient to send/pick him up from school.

As he begins his first step in his 10 or so years of institutionalized learning, my wish for him will be that he will enjoy himself in the learning journey and in the process, discover what he does best, and ultimately excel in them.