Ikea stuffed toys come alive at Christmas storytelling event

Children at Ikea Tampines' Christmas storytelling event. -- ST PHOTO: CHEW SENG KIM
Children at Ikea Tampines' Christmas storytelling event. -- ST PHOTO: CHEW SENG KIM
Author Adeline Foo engaging children at Ikea Tampines' Christmas storytelling event. -- ST PHOTO: CHEW SENG KIM
Former ST journalist Clara Chow role-playing with Ikea toys and telling stories to children at Ikea Tampines. -- ST PHOTO: CHEW SENG KIM
Former ST journalist Clara Chow role-playing with Ikea toys and telling stories to children at Ikea Tampines. -- ST PHOTO: CHEW SENG KIM

SINGAPORE - Around 200 children and adults listened to tales of thieving foxes and angry owls over the weekend at Ikea's first Christmas storytelling event.

Storytellers including former Straits Times journalist Clara Chow and deejay The Flying Dutchman had to tell stories using props such as soft toys, placemats, and mirrors from the furniture store.

The two-day event took place at Ikea Tampines, in a "storybook house" built especially for the occasion.

Inspired by her prop, Ms Chow told a tale of an owl upset with global warming.

"Ikea has been very supportive of recycling and environmentally-friendly initiatives, so my story tied in with that," she said.

Ikea Singapore will be donating $2,000 to local charity Food From The Heart on behalf of those judged to be the best storytellers at the event.

It will also match donations of soft toys, to be given out by the charity as birthday presents to its young beneficiaries.

Internationally, the Ikea Foundation is donating €1 (S$1.65) to children's education for each soft toy and children's book purchased from now until Jan 3.

"Through this storytelling event, we hope these soft toys can help stimulate joy, imagination, and creativity," said Ikea Singapore marketing manager Caroline Ng.

"At the same time, these toys will also go further to support education and improve opportunities for children in disadvantaged communities."

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