The Mid-Autumn Festival brought children and families together at ELFA Preschool for a celebration of Chinese traditions through stories, games and hands-on activities. At ELFA Preschool @ Jurong East and ELFA Preschool @ Hougang, children explored the customs and symbols associated with the festival while sharing the experience with their loved ones.
Celebrating Tradition Through Play at ELFA Preschool @ Jurong East
Children and parents make mooncakes together while creating sweet memories.
At ELFA Preschool @ Jurong East, children learnt about the moon’s changing shapes through stories and conversations. They also made mooncakes with their parents and grandparents, discovering more about a traditional festive treat through a hands-on activity.
Children also played traditional games including 水中捞月 (catching the moon in the water) and fed the 玉兔 (Jade Rabbit). The celebration concluded with the children’s Yueyuan Dance, followed by a surprise Gummy Bear dance performed by parents.
Children explore Chinese traditions through festive games and activities.
Discovering Chinese Culture at ELFA Preschool @ Hougang
At ELFA Preschool @ Hougang, children came dressed in traditional costumes and explored Mid-Autumn customs through stories and riddles.
A grandparent guides a child in making snow skin mooncakes.
A grandparent of one of our children also demonstrated how to make snow skin mooncakes, giving children the opportunity to learn from the older generation. Tasting mooncakes and chrysanthemum tea further introduced them to the flavours associated with the festival.
Children showcase their handmade lanterns made from recycled materials.
Children also participated in a lantern making competition, creating lanterns from recycled materials. The activity encouraged creativity while showing how everyday materials could be repurposed into festive decorations.
Learning Through Culture and Community
From making mooncakes to performing dances, the celebrations gave children opportunities to explore cultural traditions through active participation. Involving parents and grandparents also allowed families to share their knowledge and experiences with the younger generation.
Through these stories and traditions, our children gain a deeper understanding of Chinese culture and the significance of the Mid-Autumn Festival, while learning values such as gratitude, compassion and togetherness. These experiences help foster cultural awareness and an appreciation of Chinese traditions from an early age.
Through the legend of Chang’e, children discover themes of love and reunion. The story of the Jade Rabbit introduces values of kindness and selflessness, while the history of mooncakes helps them understand the significance of this traditional treat. The round shape of mooncakes symbolises completeness and family reunion.
By exploring these stories and customs, children deepen their understanding of Chinese culture, develop an appreciation for Chinese traditions, and learn the values of gratitude, compassion and togetherness. These meaningful experiences nurture cultural awareness from a young age.