By Elaine Chong
Residents and passersby of Bukit Batok may have noticed colourful murals decorating the walls of its HDB blocks. But they may not have known that the mural designs were adapted from the artworks of our children at Little Seeds Preschool (Sonshine) and children from PCF Sparkletots Preschool!
Inspired by their joyful experiences and memories in the neighbourhood, these murals were designed as part of a community project organised by the Bukit Batok Zone 7 Residents’ Network. The purpose of this project was to enliven the walkways of the Bukit Batok zone and brighten residents’ daily routine.
So how did our children get involved in this unique project?
Exploring community through design
The journey began with a group of inquisitive children embarking on an inquiry-based project to explore the concept of community. Discontent with having two separate bays in the school which separated them from their friends and siblings, they reimagined a space that was both larger and more fun. Our children started brainstorming ideas for their dream school.
They envisioned colourful slides bringing them into the classrooms, camping tents for sleeping, a swimming pool, and even a miniature ball pit. With their teachers’ guidance, they sketched out ideas, combining elements from their imaginations into a cohesive design called the Mega Bay.
As part of their exploration of community, the children also learned about spatial planning and basic map-making. They created a map of their local area, marking important locations such as supermarkets, parks and HDB flats. This exercise enhanced their understanding of their surroundings and fostered a sense of community awareness.
A unique community project
The children’s enthusiasm for their community project bore fruit when an opportunity came from Mr. Koh Soon Sng, a parent of LSP (Sonshine) and a member of the Bukit Batok Residents’ Network. Recognising the children’s creativity and dedication, he invited them to participate in a wall mural project centered on the theme of community. This initiative involved the children drawing pictures depicting their neighbourhood, focusing on themes like buildings, nature, and people.
Soon Sng said, “The main goal was to decorate the vacant walls around the estate and involve the community in this initiative. We wanted the students to be proud of contributing to the beautiful murals of the neighbourhood when they see their creations admired by the public.”
Creating the wall mural was an extensive process spanning seven days.
Artists Germain Goh and Pearlyn Yap meticulously selected various elements from the children’s drawings, combining them into a larger, collective artwork to ensure the essence of the children’s illustrations was fully captured. This collaborative piece was then adapted into a design for a wall mural which would be a lasting testament to the children’s creativity and vision.
Right: Artist Pearlyn and the Bukit Batok community cat who came by to visit the artists during one of the painting sessions
Once the mural was ready for final touches, the children were invited to participate in a painting session, adding their personal flair to the project. This hands-on involvement instilled a sense of pride and ownership, providing a memorable experience of contributing to a public art piece.
Germain shared, “We enjoyed spending time with the children who helped with the painting. We were also very encouraged by residents who passed by while we were doing up the murals. They appreciated the community coming together to make these bright and cheery murals in their neighborhood.”
The grand unveiling
The mural was officially launched on 25th May in a heartwarming ceremony attended by Minister Murali Pillai and the young artists from Little Seeds Preschool and PCF SparkleTots.
The event celebrated community spirit, creativity, and the power of collective effort. Minister Murali praised the children and organisers for their vision and initiative, highlighting the importance of nurturing young minds through community projects.
One of our LSP (Sonshine) alumni, Raylon Lee, said, “I drew my house because it reminds me of going home to my mummy and daddy and watching TV. I’m so happy to come back to my kindergarten to see my teachers and friends today.”
His classmate, Jewell Lee, added, “It was my first time painting a wall and I loved it! The mural is so beautiful!”
The community theme inquiry project and the mural painting initiative are testaments to the boundless creativity of children and the transformative power of community collaboration. They have shown that when given the opportunity, even the youngest community members can contribute significantly to its development and cultural landscape.
Principal of LSP (Sonshine) Mrs Moira Fonseca said: “The wall mural stands as a colourful reminder of what can be achieved when we work together, dream big, and support our children’s visions.”
To find out more about our preschools, visit https://littleseeds.edu.sg/.
Elaine Chong is a Mentor Teacher at Little Seeds Preschool (Sonshine)
