From Chinese New Year to Pongal Festival: How to keep celebrations interesting for kids

SINGAPORE – “Can we start yet?” eight-year-old Soh En Yi asks.

She cannot wait to knead the dough and make tang yuan, or glutinous rice balls.

Her eyes light up when she gets the green light and she deftly rolls small dough pieces between her palms, shaping them into balls.

Her sisters – En Han, six, and En Rui, four – and her brother En Kai, two, join her and, in no time, the tray in front of them is lined with colourful tang yuan.

It is evident that the siblings are familiar with the activity and enjoy it.

Their parents Evelyn Lim, 36, and Soh Jung Hong, 38, co-founders of Mdm Ling Bakery, and maternal grandmother Sally Soh, 63, have been involving them whenever they prepare the traditional sweet treat at Chinese festivals such as the winter solstice.

They like to serve the tang yuan in bubur cha cha, as introduced by their domestic helper Lourdes Nicholas, 70, of more than three decades. In her home country in the Philippines, the coconut milk-based dessert is known as bilo-bilo.

Ms Lim says their family usually eats tang yuan on the first and 15th day of the Chinese New Year to symbolise tuan yuan, which means reunion or togetherness.

Mr Soh adds: “It is important to pass down traditions to the younger generation to instil in them a sense of belonging and pride.”

Festive food is a fun way to engage kids as there is usually a good story behind them, Ms Lim adds.

During the Dragon Boat Festival, for instance, they regale their children with stories of how rice dumplings came about to commemorate Qu Yuan, a poet and patriot of the Warring States.

For education research scientist Yang Yang, food also plays a critical role in her celebration of Chinese festivals with her six-year-old daughter and two-year-old son.

“Using the skills I learnt from my mum when I was a child, I now involve my children in preparing traditional foods: dumplings for Chinese New Year, glutinous rice balls for the Lantern Festival, rice dumplings for the Dragon Boat Festival and mooncakes for the Mid-Autumn Festival,” says Dr Yang. The 38-year-old works at the National Institute of Education’s (NIE) Centre for Research in Child Development.

Whether it is the recent Pongal, a traditional Indian harvest festival, or the upcoming Chinese New Year and Hari Raya Puasa, kids get to connect with their heritage when they participate in festival activities.

Cultural identity plays an important role in shaping one’s sense of self, contributing to the development of positive self-esteem and mental well-being, especially in children, Dr Yang says.

Festivals also provide valuable opportunities for social gatherings, such as family reunions.

“As I grew older and became a parent, I came to realise that festivals are more than just celebrations. They are powerful vessels for strengthening bonds between family members and across generations.”

These shared moments contribute to the overall well-being of children, helping them feel secure, loved and supported within their social and cultural networks, she adds.

Involve the five senses

But how can parents engage their kids who may find traditions outdated and celebrations boring?

“It’s true that some children may feel disconnected from traditions like Pongal, especially when they don’t have a personal experience with farming or harvesting in Singapore,” says Mr Rajkumar, senior manager for programmes at the National Heritage Board.

“Parents can help to bridge that gap by focusing on the fun and meaningful aspects of the celebration. For example, the concept of gratitude for the harvest can be tied to a broader understanding of the importance of food and nature.”

And while food is the way to one’s heart, there are many other ways to make traditions relevant and interesting to children.

For example, read mythological stories and folk tales associated with festivals to spark curiosity in kids, suggests Associate Professor Seetha Lakshmi, assistant head for Tamil at NIE’s Asian Languages and Cultures Department.

Take them to festive bazaars to soak in the atmosphere and point out the cultural features, sharing how the same festival can be celebrated differently in various countries.

During festivals such as Deepavali and Pongal, involve them in creating rangoli floor art outside the home’s front door.

Put on some music and do a kummi, or traditional Indian folk dance, with the children, she adds.

Kids learn best through experiences that involve their five senses – hearing, sight, smell, taste and touch – says Ms Mandy Goh, head of curriculum at Mulberry Learning pre-school, which has 19 locations in Singapore.

Their young charges are exposed to major festivals to build multicultural awareness.

“By exploring different cultural practices, children learn to appreciate diversity and understand the rich tapestry of the world around them,” she says.

For example, the teachers have led them on excursions to Little India and Chinatown to experience the festive bazaars.

At a Hari Raya celebration, the little ones enjoyed ketupat, or rice cakes wrapped with coconut leaves. They also used the leaves to make art prints for green packets.

Mr Rajkumar and his colleagues organised the Pongal Open House activities at the Indian Heritage Centre on Jan 11 and 12.

From his observation, children were fond of the festive cultural workshops, crafts and storytelling sessions.

He says: “Encouraging active participation is key to helping our young ones connect with traditions that they may feel distant from.”

• Elisa Chia is a correspondent at The Straits Times, specialising in parenting and lifestyle features.

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