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lbert Einstein hit the nail on the head when he said: “Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the

world.” A child who is curious about the world and is imaginative will want to explore, discover and learn. Play and hands-on and interactive experiences that engage a child’s senses are a sure way of nurturing his curiosity and imagination, observes Ms Andrea Fam, the Assistant Curator of the Singapore Art Museum (SAM).

ARTFUL PLAY AT THE MUSEUMOne such platform is the SAM’s annual Imaginarium exhibition. Now into its eighth edition, the exhibition features artworks that encourage discovery through exploration and play.

One of the works in this year’s edition, Imaginarium: Into the Space of Time, is made of yarn. Children are encouraged to lie down on the soft, tactile material while gazing up to decipher a universe created by the artists, and squeeze wall-mounted yarn-wrapped objects that produce familiar childhood sounds. Another installation features different types of acoustic and digital megaphones, which encourage both vocal expression and auditory observation.

“One of the artworks we commissioned for the 2017 edition of Imaginarium was ‘Wanderland’. From teepee tents that children could hide in, to flapping textile

birds and bulb-like hangings that spring back upon release, the tactile and responsive aspects of the installation allowed both children and adults to engage directly with the artwork,” she says. Incidentally, those who missed it last year can experience an iteration of this artwork at the Jurong Regional Library from 5 April to 3 May 2018.

Ms Fam notes that the children who display a heightened sense of wonder and curiosity are the ones accompanied by adults who are supportive of these behaviours. “Opportunities to play, create and imagine are all critical to young children’s thinking and learning. A parent who provides his child with the time and space to hold, smell, taste and listen and

Photos courtesy of the S

ingapore Art M

useum and N

ational Library Board

ENGAGE YOUR CHILD’S IMAGINATION AND

SPARK OFF HIS CREATIVITY AND LEARNING.

the art ofCreative Play

who allows him to express himself is helping the child to fully engage with the environment,” she says.

Eighty per cent of this year’s Imaginarium artworks are interactive, with half of them suitable for pre-schoolers. “We hope to encourage incidental learning where in the process of interacting with the artwork, the participants are engaged in a process of creative discovery,” adds Ms Tan Shir Ee, SAM’s Head of Programmes.

STORIES COME ALIVE AT THE LIBRARYTraditional storytelling gets a new twist at the library with sound effects, lights and visual projects for a multi-sensory experience.

The immersive storytelling programme was piloted at the Stories Come Alive Room at Bukit Panjang Public Library in July last year. Stories are accompanied by special effects made possible with customised digital tools that weave in sounds like rustling leaves, signal scene changes like day and night, and add elements like snow, fire and rain.

“This digital experience is an exciting new platform to enable two-way interaction with children, creating a whole new world of immersive storytelling. It engages the children and cultivates

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their interest in stories. This is an important step for developing good reading habits in the young,” says Ms Lynn Chua, Head of Early Literacy Services at the National Library Board (NLB). “It also supports creativity as children interact with the digital tools and select elements to bring the stories ‘alive’ based on their own interpretation of the story.”

Apart from immersive storytelling, NLB also introduced the Play Library programme at Bukit Panjang Public Library. Here, the space comes with props and materials where children can explore educational aids like magnetic drawing boards, hand puppets and sensory play balls at the play corners. “This kind of play is child-initiated. At the same time, it builds vocabulary and facilitates the development of fine-motor and problem-solving skills,” says Ms Chua.

Children can use the hand puppets and act out a scene from their favourite storybook. Parents with babies can explore the sensory play balls and experience the different textures and shapes. The role of parents and the accompanying adults is mainly to keep an eye on their child’s safety but they can also join in the activity.

“Parents can help their child get over any initial uncertainties or anxieties in the play space by exploring it with their child. This will help children get comfortable with the educational aids and be fully engaged in free play,” explains Ms Chua.

Feedback from parents have been very positive, adds Ms Chua. Children have asked their parents to bring them back for future storytelling sessions, and parents find the variety of educational aids helpful in their children’s learning. This programme is now also available at the newly re-opened Yishun Public Library.

Children playing in ‘Wanderland’ by

Mary Bernadette Lee at the Singapore Art Museum

A

Children checking out the ‘Floating Mountain’ by Unchalee Anantawat

Children using hand puppets to act out scenes from storybooks

Immersive storytelling programme held at the Stories Come Alive Room at Bukit Panjang Public Library

‘Lizard Tail’ by Hiromi Tango

Parents and children having fun during a Play Library programme session

‘My Wonderful Dream’ by

Eko Nugroho

Imaginarium: Into the Space of Time runs from 6 May –

26 August 2018

Immersive artwork installations at the Singapore Art Museum’s

annual family-friendly exhibition.

Imaginarium

20 Beansta lk

50 Fantastic Ideas for Messy PlayBy Phill and Sally Featherstone

Parents and practitioners often question the benefits of messy play. In fact, messy play encourages imagination and creativity in young children. Messy play uses tactile materials such as slime, mud and water as opportunities for children to explore and discover. The book provides useful resources and activities with step-by-step instructions.

Contributed by Joanne Koh, Librarian, National Library Board

What Animals Really LikeBy Fiona Robinson

Mr Herbert Timberteeth has composed a new song for the National Animal Choir to perform. When he presents it to the audience for the first time, the animals decide to change the lyrics to sing about what they really like to do instead. Will the show go on with all this chaos?

Contributed by Mardhiah Binte Mahamood, Associate Librarian, National Library Board

BOOKS THAT CELEBRATE SELF-EXPRESSION AND INSPIRE

IMAGINATION IN YOUR CHILD.

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Creative CHAOS

At January’s Building Brain Connections through Art Viewing Expert Series workshop held at the Central Library, ECDA Fellow and Senior Principal & Academic Director of St. James’ Church Kindergarten, Dr Jacqueline Chung, shared her insights on how parents can help their children appreciate, view and talk about art. Here are some tips:

EXPOSURE TO ART Expose your child to art. It allows him to expand his thinking as he explores new ideas, concepts and perceptions. Abstract artworks, in particular, offer rich opportunities as they are open-ended.

LOOKING TO LEARN, LEARNING TO LOOKProbing questions enhance a child’s attention to details — “What’s going on in this picture? What do you see that makes you say that? What else can we find?”

ARTFUL TALK When viewing art, there are no right or wrong answers. It is about sharing and respecting perceptions which are subjective.

BRAIN CONNECTING THROUGH ART

I didn’t know that art could be such a powerful learning tool. It’s not just about seeing a piece for 30 seconds and walking away. The conversations can be enriching, sparked by the different elements (e.g. colours) of that artwork. For this to happen, I have to listen and ask the right questions.Workshop participant Mr Chong Kok Leong, father to a three-year-old daughter

Look out for the next Expert Series workshop on 28 July 2018. Find out how you can boost your child’s brain through communication, relationships and the arts. Jointly organised by ECDA and the National Library Board.

Hey educators and parents! Make the most out of your visit to the National Gallery Singapore with your little one. Check out the Artful Conversations resource kit (http://bit.ly/ArtfulConversations).

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