SINGAPORE - Nine pupils from the An-Nahdhah Mosque kindergarten visited the My First Skool childcare centre in Bishan and exchanged goodie bags with the children there on Friday (Feb 5) to celebrate Chinese New Year.
This was a follow-up to My First Skool childcare's visit to the mosque kindergarten - also in Bishan - to celebrate Hari Raya Haji in 2014, said My First Skool's principal, Madam Rabeah Mohter.
Donning festive qipaos and red outfits, the children kicked the morning off with interactive presentations on the food and clothing seen during Chinese New Year.
The presentation, by My First Skool's teachers, was followed by storytelling sessions on the origin of the Chinese Zodiac and the mythological beast, "Nian".
The pupils heard how Nian attacked villages, and people scared it off by wearing red and setting off firecrackers.
My First Skool students then put on dance performances with bells and shakers, and excited parents snapped away with their smartphone cameras.
Following this, the hosts gave their guests goodie bags, which they had prepared themselves; and in turn received similar gifts, containing tangerines and chocolate coins in red packets.
My First Skool's Ong Hui En, six, said she enjoyed the dancing the most, and liked the milk carton in her goodie bag.
Mrs N. Neethya, 30, mother of another My First Skool pupil, Vanishaa, five, said: "The goodie bag exchange is a very good activity. It shows the culture and tradition of Chinese New Year."
Maika Lemoni Amanda, five, from the mosque kindergarten, said she liked the tangerines most, "because they're the biggest."
Madam Rabeah said of the visit: "We wanted children to be aware and learn to appreciate one another, and become respectful of each other's culture and religion.
"In the long run, that's what we want to achieve, that we'll be a gracious community."
