Five-year-old Eden Eyok looks forward to Tuesday afternoons at Playeum, a children’s centre for creativity.
Tuesday afternoons at Playeum are free entry for children with special needs. More important is that these afternoons allow those children to interact on an equal footing with other children of similar age.
Regular social interaction at Playeum has helped Eden develop social and verbal skills.
Public institutions such as the National Gallery Singapore and National Museum of Singapore have long had a mandate to be inclusive and welcoming to those with special needs, but now arts-makers are taking the initiative to create programmes where children of different abilities can enjoy the arts and one another’s company.
The National Arts Council (NAC) also organises training sessions and forums, bringing in art-makers from different countries who specialise in creating inclusive arts and can share their expertise.
Ms Chua Ai Liang, senior director of engagement and participation at NAC, said that the council also works closely with artists as well as stakeholders in the health and social service sectors.
Writer and researcher Hidayah Amin has published several inclusive books for children, thanks to state grants and private sponsors.
Those books are printed in English, using dyslexia-friendly fonts and also Braille. The illustrations are also raised and tactile for the enjoyment of readers.
The books have been featured in inclusive storytelling sessions facilitated by arts movement Superhero Me. All sessions are open to children of different abilities and Hidayah teaches simple sign language alongside telling the story.
Research shows that groups of children with mixed abilities tend to do better and learn better.
CHANCE FOR CHILDREN TO LEARN TO SOCIALISE
During a recent Tuesday session at Playeum, more than one child had meltdowns, but such behaviour did not seem to bother other parents nor stop other children from playing.
The welcoming atmosphere at Playeum is why housewife Sandra Chan goes regularly with her children. Her seven-year-old son, Jeston, has autism spectrum disorder.
Playing with other children has helped Jeston learn to moderate his speech and behaviour. He has also become more independent.
Parents of children with special needs also frequent programmes at Gateway Theatre.
Eight-year-old Nathanial Png, who has Down syndrome, is a regular. In class, he follows the teacher’s instructions and actions carefully. If he misses a cue, the teacher, actress Amy Cheng, gently reminds his peers to help their friend out in class.
Says Amy Cheng, “It’s about encouraging them, respecting them, making this space safe and fun. It’s respecting what they can do and giving them manageable challenges.”
Nathanial’s mother Michelle Seah, 40, says it took a while for the other children to accept him.
The parents of Nathanial’s classmates appreciate what he teaches their children. For example, Madam Portia Tan, 43, has seen her four-year-old son, Thaddaeus, become more aware of children with special needs and more helpful.
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Source: The Straits Times, 25 June 2019