Kid's Play - The Child in You

.A friend of me sent me this video from Evian. I am not related in anyway to their marketing, but this ad reminds and inspires us to live the child in us. Enjoy!

Kid's Play - A Little Girl's Breaking News...

This post is borrowed from my friend Karen Tan's Facebook posting. It is reproduced here with her permission (with very minor corrections to typo errors and formality):


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This is my daughter's most original way of breaking the news that she didn't do too well in her Chinese language test. She breaks into a song at bedtime. Completely improvised. 

"O Mama, your eyes are as round as the ... zeroes that I get on my Chinese paper... 

O Mama, your eyeballs are as crossed as the "x"es that my teacher marked on my test paper ....

O Mama, your lips are as red as the red ink that fills the pages of my test paper ....

O Mama, your cheeks are as fat as the scary Chinese test paper that I didn't like sitting for ....

O Mama, your ears are as wrong as the words that I wrote wrongly when I should have written something else .... 

O Mama, your legs as as long as the cane that my teachers threatens us with ....

O Mama, your hair is as black as my teacher's face when she returned me my test paper ...

and in her soprano finale ... 

O MAMAaaaaaa.......!! I love you SOOOOOoo!!!!"
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Wouldn't anyone forgive this little angel easily?!! :)

Kid's Play - Enterprise

There is this trusting little girl who never locked her school locker. Nothing had been lost, until one day when she left some sweets in it. The sweets disappeared, but some money was left there, presumably, by the taker.

Curious, she again left sweets in the locker, and then again found some money left there the next day, apparently in exchange for the sweets. 

Amazed, she repeated the process, but this time , leaving more sweets there, and voila, she found more money left in her locker.

She then thought this could become a business and bought more sweets to leave them in her locker, and true enough,  money flowed in and a business quickly flourished. Her locker soon became the popular de-facto candy store.

Then came a new student from a financially poor family who needed money. Realising that, she transferred her business to the new student and even bought the new stock.

And so, a social enterprise and micro-economy is born.

For more posts on Kid's Play, click here.

Kid's Play - Acting

It takes longer to act with kids, as their cooperation depends on their moods, and if you happened to hit on their lows, then your production will be stuck there for a while.

I was acting with a kid two days ago, in a scene which the kid character was supposed to have just gotten a severe scolding from me and that he was to sulk and to look miserable. However, he didn't play to instruction, and was instead, cheerful and restless. There were two ways for us to proceed: One, which was to scold him and make him really miserable (on and off-reel); or the second option, which is to persuade him.

We went for the second option, as we didn't want to run into the risk of putting him off acting permanently.

So the persuasion went:

Director: Imagine your teacher gave you a big scolding and you are now so sad.

Boy: But she didn't.

Director: Imagine if your most favourite toy is broken and you can no longer play with it! Forever!!!

Boy: But it is not!

Director: Ok, let's play a game. If you do what we tell you to do later, you will get a chocolate cake.

Boy: Ok.

Then we went for the shoot, but it still didn't quite work. He was still moving around and not looking sad at all.

So, the persuasion continued:

Director: Who else wants to play the game? But only the best person can get the chocolate cake as there is only one chocolate cake!

Everyone in the set quickly raised their hands. The boy then went into the set and performed!!! He saw competition! :)

For other articles on Kid's Play, click here.

If you like to visit my actor's blog, click here.

Kid's Play

Kids grow up and leave their Garden of Eden. Childhood fades away as the attraction to the opposite sex becomes more enticing as it is to the instinct to procreate. Now, the innocent clarity blurs, the photographic memory falters and visions are filtered by layers of conditioning.

Bring back the child in us - the divinity that  lies within. Nothing has ever been lost, they have just been forgotten.

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For more of Kid's Play, click here.

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A Child's Prayer

Prayer for Dad

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Dear God,

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Please send clothes for all those poor ladies on Dad's computer.

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Amen

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[Sent to me by a friend. Author unknown, but thanks for such refreshing humour.]

Kids Play - Nice Teacher

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Zee is a gutsy little 8 year old talking to her teacher...

Zee: I like Miss Tan, she is gentle, sweet and nice to me. I like her. You (referring to her teacher), you are mean, and I don't like you!!!

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Teacher (paused, and gently replied): Yes, but sometimes the mean ones are the ones that love you most...

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Kid's Play 18 - The Entrepreneur

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This is kid's play in another perspective.

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Bring out the kid in you.

Find a need in society and fill it.

Do it better. Enterprises serve society in creative ways more efficient that many government programmes.

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For more of Kid's Play, click here

For more of Social Enterprises, click here

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If you are reading this from facebook, click here

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Social Enterprise 3 - Simplicity

Problem: Lack of clean water for a remote village without electricity or affordable energy source. River water is some distance away and has to be laboriously carried manually in buckets.

My immediate idea to a solution is to install pumps and pipes to bring water from the river, through a water treatment unit, to the villagers for consumption. I think most engineers would think of doing just that. However, it is a solution the village cannot afford. They do not even have the resources to buy diesel to operate the pump.

I am therefore very impressed with what an organisation called PlayPump International does. See the video below...

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What's more the solution is fun, self-sustainable and serves the villagers' needs.

Kids Play 17 - Belief

Vic (12 years old) believes that he will be super rich. He believes that it is already happening and the path ahead of him is already laid. He shows enthusiasm for everything and therefore always get what he wants. As to why he thinks like this, it surely beats me. He is just a natural optimist. He told me he is going to make money and love people.

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The other day, he told me he is going to be rich selling oxygen to space going vessels, as fuel. He will make CO2-O2 converter machines, and they will have to buy from him because rockets need oxygen, as fuel. Though I know rockets run on hydrogen rather than oxygen and also that he will have to face the tedium of commercialising such technologies, among many other problems, I encouraged him with his dream.

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I know that with a strong belief, he will overcome all associated problems and also will sort out the technicalities and find out that he needs hydrogen instead, or may be he will discover a technology that uses oxygen. We don't know what may come in the house that the children of today will live in, in their future. We can't even see this house in our dreams now. So what we can do is only to encourage them to do their best and believe in what they want to do.

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Actually, if you look into it, it is not very far off from the way religious people place their absolute trust in God, in whatever they do. Replace the word 'God' with 'Self' and the concept is identical.

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This is very different from how I was brought up. For some reason, Chinese parents love to discourage their children and make them feel small. Subconsciously, they are transfering their fears to their children. May be to them, it is also a way of protecting their children - that just in case they do not make it, it won't be so hard on the kids, since they have been 'forewarned'. So, unless such parents have very strong minded kids, they would succeed in cowing the children's dreams into oblivion.

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That's probably one reason why I had such a bad temper. I had many ideas and things that I love to do as a kid, but was always discouraged. Even after I had my driver's licence, I was consistently spoken into fear about the dangers of driving. And eventually, they succeeded, and I almost got into a serious accident, which becomes a self-fulfiling prophecy that proved that driving a motor vehicle was dangerous.

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We must always be careful with what we burn into the minds of people, especially young minds. Once burned in, they will be conditioned to be fearful instead of feeling the omnipresent and mighty glory to succeed, which is our true nature. So nowadays, I choose my words carefully when I speak. I would always ask, "Does this encourage Love or Fear?"

Kid's Play 16 - Boarding School

Attended a talk by the principal of a boarding school recently, that welcomes its students for the new semester In it, he says that the school is not one that promotes elitism and would accept students from all backgrounds that are willing to learn. It is true as it has a means-tested fee structure, such that both the rich and poor can afford to attend the school.

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In true Catholic fashion, he said that the school is not a place that teaches students to earn a lot of money in the future, but rather to be educated and responsible human-beings. I differ with him a little on the part about money, in that, children should be taught about abundance and financial prudence early in their life, so that they can have a life comfortable enough to focus on spiritualism. Also, emphasising that the school is not a place to learn about making money, gives a negative impression about money to those young minds. They might grow up thinking that money is evil. I believe that we can be well-moneyed and spiritual. We don't have to be poor in order to be spiritual.

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Further, he enumerated two directions which the school takes, akin to the two recent Olympic Gold Medals Belgium has won in High Jump and 4x100m relay. That is, though the students may come from varying educational backgrounds, the school endeavours to bring the standards as high as possible, just like in High Jump. Then, as each student is stretched to their highest standard possible, there shall be no prima donna, but team players who will excel together, just like in 4x100m relays.

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The compounds and the buildings can do with some refurbishment, but then I think they would not have enough funds as they do not want to charge high fees such that only the rich can study there. They take students from all races and religions, like Muslims, Christians, Buddhists,...etc. As I departed, I could see families leave in big Mercedes and Porsche, but also Toyotas and other ordinary cars. There are also some who walked down the slopes from the school and departed by train. I think the school has set its priorities to love all and serve all. My blessings to them.

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Kids Play 15 - Colours

It's difficult to teach Hadri about colours when he was two and a half.
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Me (pointing to a leaf): Hadri, this colour is green. Now what is the colour?
Hadri: Colour.
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Me: No, I mean, what is the colour? The colour... is it 'green', 'blue' or 'red'?
Hadri: Colour.
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Haiz. I was a little concerned. It is one thing getting confused with colours, but yet another not understanding even the concept of colours!!! Alarms!!!
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As we strolled down the path in the woods, I saw some bramberries and decided to use them to illustrate to Hadri.
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Me (pointing to the black bramberries and very slowly...): Now this bramberry is BLACK.
Hadri (suddenly interested): Yes, black ones can be eaten, red ones can't be!
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I was stunned and speechless! So he knew it all along!!! It all comes down to 'motivation' isn't it?
Sometimes I wonder what goes on in their little heads.
It would be wonderful if we know exactly what goes on.
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Bramberries.

Kids Play 14 - Golden Spirituality

The family was watching a documentary on Venice that explained the art of Italian mosaic and its adding of real gold to symbolise the spirituality of Jesus, Mother Mary and the various saints.

Vic (12 years old) immediately commented that it should be more useful if they melt the gold and convert it to cash. Dad then asked Vic what he would he do with the cash, which Vic was a little shy about his love for money and merely grinned. Mum mocked him by suggesting that he spend the money to buy spiritual books. Dad thinks that Vic would end up spending it on spiritual gurus! People who eventually got all the cash would still seek for their spirituality. :)
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Kids Play 13 - Heaven Knows

Zee (6 years old) asked her father what a funeral is, as they passed by one...
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Zee: What is a funeral?
Daddy: It is a ceremony for someone when they die.
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Zee: Where do people go when they die?
Daddy: They go to heaven.
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Zee: So is grandpa in heaven?
Daddy: Yes.
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Zee: Where is heaven?
Daddy: Oh... it's far away.
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At this point, Chris, a friend of her dad was also with them. She wanted to say to Zee that heaven is in her, but thought she'll let it pass. Then to her surprise...
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Zee: No, heaven is everywhere....
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As Zee went up the bus, she touched the bus and said...
Zee: Heaven is here, (then she touched the seats) and here, and here... (as she touched everything around her).
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Then, she started to say "hello" in the open.
When Chris asked her why she is saying "hello" to seemingly no one, ...
Zee: I am saying hello to grandpa. Grandpa is in heaven and heaven is everywhere. We cannot see grandpa, but he can see us.
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Kids Play 12 - Everyone's a Winner

Bernie, 4 years old, was playing the board game with his dad. Each player starts from 'start' with 4 'seeds' and then successively move forward to 'home' in the middle of the board, by the count at the throw of the dice.

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As it went, Bernie finished the game first with all his seeds 'home'.

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Bernie's daddy congratulated him and went on to pack up the game, since it was finished. However, Bernie insisted that his dad continue to throw the dice and move his 'seeds' so that they too will all get home and daddy too will be a winner.

A child, in their innocence, just wants to play and wants everyone to win.
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Somewhere, as we grow up, Fear somehow sets in that resulted in many of us adults wanting to win without regards that others have to lose.

Read also In Memory of my school Principal Ong Kim Siong - he too, wanted a system where every child is a winner.

kids play 11 - Politics

Vic's (12yo) conversation with mum after his exams.

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Mum: How are your exams?

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Vic: Very simple. I don't know why they bother setting such questions. I think the Ministry doesn't know what they are doing... Anyway, it's all politics (to pass many). If you are clever you won't end up being a politician. It is when you can't do anything that you go there to hide. That's what you call political refugees!! :)

Kids Play 10 - Satan

A religious teacher told a group of children, 3 to 4 years old, that they should not leave any gap in between them when they pray, so that Satan will not come in between. Afraid, the kids packed themselves close to each other.

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When we asked one of the kids if he believed if Satan will come in between, he said he didn't think so, but after what the teacher had said, he admitted that he is afraid when he prays alone at home, as now Satan can be everywhere around him.

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"But then, if Satan wants to pray with us in the mosque or at home, then isn't it great too?" he added lovingly.

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Kids Play 9 - The Broken Shed

Hadrien was upset because the garden shed was broken into in the night and his little bicycle was stolen. What was surprising was that nothing else was stolen. There were bigger bikes, power tools, ...etc, which were more valuable but they were left untouched.

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"The thief must have wanted the bicycle for his child so much but couldn't afford to buy one for him," Hadrien's mother explained.

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After that Hadrien didn't feel that bad. He thought that perhaps the bicycle must have meant more for the thief and his child, and in that moment of madness had fallen into temptation and then stole the bike.

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Kids Play 8

This is a conversation I have recently with an 11 year old boy called Vince. It gave me an interesting insight into how a child would view religion in their own instinctive way and also the sad reality with the current state of religions in the world.
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Vince: I hate religion class.
Me: Why?
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Vince: It's boring. During religion class, I would sit behind, put up my book on the table, put my head down and sleep. Once, the teacher came and asked me what I was doing and I told him I was praying.
Me: What did you say you were praying about?
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Vince: I didn't say. He didn't ask too. He believed me. He thought I was an angel.
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Me: But why do you say religion is boring?
Vince: They kept saying out loud that they love Jesus and so on.
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Me: What's wrong with that?
Vince: Loving Jesus is fine, but why must they close their eyes, stretch out their arms and hands wide, and go on a trance-like state when they sing in the church?
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Me: Do you know that when you were three years old, you would stop the car and ask to go into the cathedral? And you will get all of us to go with you.

Vince: Yes, I know, but that's because the cathedral is such a beautiful architecture.

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Me: Ok. So do you believe in Jesus?
Vince: No. I don't believe in any religion.
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Me: Why do you not believe in any religion? Do you know that not believing in any religion is also a religion in itself?
Vince: Yes, but at least you don't get killed.
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Me: What do you mean?
Vince: Many people get killed because of religion. When you don't have a religion you don't get killed.

Kids Play 7

I wanted to punish Vic (3 years old) and asked him to stand at the corner of the room. Instantly, he responded resoundingly, "Yes, but can I face outwards?"