The Start Small Dream Big project inspired Kinderland Preschool (Serangoon) to think out of the box for its ‘Kindness’ Carnival. The project provided a great opportunity for our children to be encouraged and be more aware of their efforts in recycling, water and energy conservation. Children learnt to respect and embrace nature with kindness.
Working closely with their teachers, children learned the dangers we face should we continue to take our Earth for granted. To expand their awareness on the environment, teachers used Newsflash periods during classes to share local and international news of pollution and environmental effects on humans and animals.
Under the guidance of their teachers, our budding entrepreneurs worked with their peers to create interesting games that can help to educate their peers on ways to help protect our environment. They were equipped with ideas on how they can set up their booths, taking into consideration factors such as how they can manage themselves effectively and the items that they want to put on sale. The children were excited to embark on the journey to become little entrepreneurs.
They assigned themselves roles of booth attendants, packers, coupon collectors and promoters of their own stalls. They spent some time role-playing these positions before the actual day of the carnival. On the day of the carnival, children worked hard from setting up and manning their stalls. Handmade posters became the backdrop for their booths and as another effort to promote their stalls. Parents were excitedly welcomed and they were amazed to see their children in various job roles and carrying out their responsibilities with confidence. In turn, parents assisted the children in their business and when the children needed additional help.
The experience has been enriching and gave children the hands-on learning opportunity to operate their little business in a realistic setting. It encouraged them to be independent and the children were seen taking pride in the success of their efforts. They picked up wonderful customer service skills and assisted to problem-solve issues on the spot. Most importantly, children were able to raise awareness on saving the environment amongst themselves as well as the parents.
