Series 5: Flowers
With pretty colours, interesting shapes, and lovely fragrances, kids like bees are naturally drawn to flowers. Focusing on flowers is not just indulgence in frivolous figments of fancy, but flowers provide an amazing subject to teach about nature, biology, art, science, caring and more.
Let Kids Explore, Experiment, Experience Through Play
Learn About Them
- Neighbourhood watch. While some flowers are a familiar sight, many Singaporeans cannot name the common blooms. Take time to point out the perennials – the brilliant pink bougainvillea, bright red hibiscus and shoe flowers, fiery orange ixora, and the many orchids around your neighbourhood. Celebrate the seasonal blooms – the golden showers, flame of the forest and chrysanthemums. Do it soon as Singapore is getting built up and the natural flora and fauna are rapidly diminishing!
- Flower Stops. Take time out of the hum drum day to allow your child to see and smell the flowers. Singapore Botanic Gardens and National Orchid Garden are two must-do stops to visit so that your kids will learn to internalise the names of the famous flowers. Look out for workshops and tours for children on their websites. Wet markets and supermarkets are also a great place for the popular blossoms that make their way to brighten up living rooms. Gaze at the more exotic blooms in the nature and landscape stores that line Thomson Road. Point out the classic favourites such as roses, lilies, ginger flowers, and more.
Drop in at the annual Singapore Garden Festival and the Sentosa Flower Festival that are truly visual feasts. If you enjoy travelling, our neighbouring countries have floral farms that are a wonderful sight to behold. Visit the Flower Festival in Thailand to help your kids envision the role of flowers in an Asian culture.
- Books. Borrow or buy books about the blossoms in Singapore. Read them out and point out the flowers you have seen together. Soon the children will be familiar with the names and shapes of flowers.
Experiment
- Plant a Floral Garden. Let your child have the pleasure to plant a few shrubs and watch them bloom. Use the opportunity to teach your child what each type of flower needs to grow - some need a daily dose of sun, the right amount of water, and the right type and amount of fertiliser.
- Experience Living Science. Give your child the opportunity to examine the flowers at close quarters and even take them apart. Many classic science lessons are learnt this way. Remember how you learnt about sepals, petals, stamen, pistil and calyx? Recreate those learning opportunities for your little one.
- Floral Science. Older kids will be fascinated to learn about the use of flowers for perfume, medicine and even food. So, as your child grows up, add to the foundation lessons with snippets of information of the multiple uses of flowers. A visit to the Science Centre’s section on botany will fascinate your child about the wonders of flowers and the role of flowers in the plant kingdom.
Art Expression
- Floral Art. Flower themes are great for art classes – for beginners and for the advanced student. Start with drawing outlines, filling it in with brilliant crayons and progress on to capturing flowers with water colours and oil paints. Flower petals make natural paint pigments so read and experiment together to share fun times. Paper and clay lend themselves to making beautiful flowers. Floral cards, garlands, and posies extend the joy beyond the art class.
- Care and share. Flowers have become a language of expression for emotions - red roses speak of love and white lilies of purity. When the little one learns that a blossom picked from the garden will steal grandma’s heart, your child will pick up the nuances of floral expressions and learn to effectively use flowers to share joy and show concern.
- Inspire Creative Writing. Read to kids the classic poems and stories that incorporate flowers in their themes. As you allow your child to explore, experience and experiment with the world of flowers, create opportunities for expressions in words as well.
Abbott’s Recommendations For Play n Learn With Flowers
Places.
- Singapore Botanics Garden and National Orchid Garden.
- HortPark
- Singapore Science Centre
- Far East Flora
Websites.
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