KKH Week One

Like DaiXuan, I also had some nerves and apprehension going into the ward, wondering how we would be received by the children, to whom we were but strangers. Annette and I decided to approach the children at their bedsides rather than the common play area because the rest of our group seemed to be able to handle the little ones at the play area.

Hence we ventured around and chanced upon a young boy who took interest in the craft book that we were holding. Initially, he was trying to figure out how to draw the car before he gave up. He then took it upon himself to draw his horoscope after we pointed out his star sign to him, before completing the drawing with the horoscopes of his parents. I tried telling him that horoscopes occur from how people read the stars in the past and believed that they hold the answers to their own destinies, but Annette said I was too abstract. After drawing, he took interest in the "Eyewonder Earth" book that we brought along and was soon engrossed in unravelling the mysteries of the world with his mum.

Next we chanced upon a primary 5 girl in the opposite ward whom the social worker brought us to. Apparently she was too shy to play with the other kids and soon left the common area. The social worker asked if we could do something with her as well. Again, the craft book worked wonders with children as she started to draw dainty-looking dresses, butterflies, and even inscribed her name alongside her mum's, complete with heart shapes. It was truly a sight that melted our hearts. Drawing reveals the inner creative world of children just as the shy but sweet-natured girl poured her interests and heart out onto the art canvas. Her mum also expressed her gratitude and thanked us for entertaining her daughter.

Annette then read her the story of Rapunzel. While Annette was reading out the story in her usual animated way, the girl quietly sat by her side and listened. I wondered if the girl really understood the story and asked her that when the story ended. She shyly nodded. Till today, Annette and I are unsure if she really understood the story or was merely "patronising" Annette in her considerate manner. Only the girl will know. She also showed her generosity in completing the car drawing that I wanted to pass to the boy whom we met earlier, and she even wrote "Get well soon" on the card. We felt it was really heartwarming and sweet of her to do so for the boy patient whom she did not know until then. She even drew a card to thank us, and I realise now that she had probably expressed what she could not say aloud into her drawings.

Before we left, we spent some time interacting with the kids in the play area. Time flew by in the blink of an eye as we were lost in the hustle and bustle of entertaining the kids and packing up. I asked a boy (under 4 years old) engrossed in watching the cartoon show, "Tom and Jerry's", whether he liked the mouse. He nodded quietly. I asked if he liked the cat, he slowly shook his head. I asked why, and his response was, "cat.... very.... bad...", while shaking his head slightly. The three children who really made a huge impression on me struck me as very perceptive little ones, despite their tender age.