I’m not sure there is anything more delightful than watching your child do something they truly love. I’ve long known my daughter is creative and more than anything is highly kinesthetic. From the age of 10 months, she enjoyed the sensation of smearing food over her arms, which then progressed to painting her body at age two and three, to squishing and wiggling her toes in the mud, and she was always the kid to play the longest with a sensory material such as slime or goop. Combine this with her love of creating, and the fact she is older now, I purchased her a series of pottery lessons at 798 Art District.

The way her eyes lit up as her hands moved and shaped the wet clay, I knew we had found something that makes her spark inside.

Kind of like the time we got lost in the mountains trying to find an ‘off the beaten track’ down from the Great Wall. While my other children were crying, my daughter was relishing every minute, swinging from tree branches across the slippery slopes, singing made up songs, her face full of joy. After 6 hours, and back on the track, she was the one skipping down the bush track with her face still lit up, her heart full of joy, and her entire being energized, when everyone else was tired. That’s when I fully realized how being in nature, and especially the mountains, ignites the spark of joy inside her. When I saw her climb on top of a rock, and lose herself in movement as she was ‘filling herself with power from nature,’ I can see that she is truly filling up her soul with something that brings her deep joy. And so now, I try and create even more opportunities for her in nature.

The ‘spark’ is different from just ‘enjoying’ a hobby. The ‘spark’ is when your child comes truly alive, and leaves you thinking ‘wow,’ this is what this child was born to do.’ It is our role, as guides for our children, to try and find those things that make a child spark with joy, and help the child to develop those interests and passions. If we observe our child, without forcing any of our own agenda or hopes and dreams for their future, we can see what they are drawn to, what they lose themselves in, and hopefully, what brings them sheer joy.

This doesn’t mean enrolling your child in every ASA (after school activity) that is available in the hope that you will discover what makes them really come alive. Watch them in everyday life – what are they attracted to? Is it music, dance, intense physical movement, sensory stuff, creating, building, or taking things apart? Expose them to things in your home that can give you clues and insights into what their future passions will be, then create opportunities for your child to do that and enjoy watching your child as they really come alive.

Photo: littlebunnybear.com

Every week, Japan-born and raised Tomoko Ueda opens her home to the community. Her after school activity (ASA) of teaching origami, the Japanese art of folding paper, to children and adults has been a wonderful addition to Beijing’s Shunyi international community.

Having grown up in Japan, Ueda describes how origami was prominent in her childhood, for Japanese children learn how to fold origami already in kindergarten.  She fondly recalls the homemade origami birthday cards her grandmother made her every year, and overall equates origami with fun and loving times.

A kimono doll, made for a departing foreign friend, was the start of Ueda’s “teaching career”.  When people saw the beautiful doll she had made, they asked her to teach them how to make it.  That’s how Ueda began teaching small classes in her home, later teaching origami at international schools and even birthday parties.

Ueda’s origami ASA classes teach children not only how to fold traditional origami (think, paper cranes), but also her original creations, such as ornaments and accessories.  She currently hosts themed origami classes in her home and at the Beijing Riviera market (on Sundays), in addition to the classes she teaches at international school.

Tomoko Ueda’s Origami classes are Halloween themed in October, normal in November, and Christmas themed in December. Her next class is on Friday, October 14, from 4:30-5:30pm at her home in River Garden, Shunyi. Classes cost RMB 60 per person and includes all material fees.

If you can’t make Friday afternoons, you can aim for her Halloween themed Origami class at the Riviera Sunday Market. The next class is on Sunday, October 23, from 11am-3pm at Riviera Club House.

RMB 60. 4:30-5:30pm. Fridays. October 14, 21, 28. Beijing River Garden Villas, 7 Yuyang Road, Houshayu, Shunyi District. 北京裕京花园. 顺义区. 后沙峪榆阳路7号. To sign up, email happiesttomoko@hotmail.com or add her on WeChat with her id: Tomoko Ueda

Photos courtesy of Tomoko Ueda.

I was a girl scout! It was a rite of passage in our family. My parents wanted us to have fun – well that was more us than them- as we went to out of town activities and made lifelong friends. The Kenya Scout organization is very different from the US system and the most distinct feature is that I didn’t sell any cookies to raise money for our troop. My parents paid an annual membership for the uniforms and badges, then out of pocket for our trips. This system does have a major drawback for families without a disposable income.

The Girl Scout system in Beijing is open to foreign passport holders. The city’s troop follows the American system and is open to girls from kindergarten to High School.

Another difference with the Kenya system is that the scouting was unisex both open to boys and girls and were all jostling for the same badge – some boys were every good at sewing while some girls were very good at wilderness survival- this was more about merit and very good at separating society’s gender roles.

This doesn’t in anyway take away the benefits from the US system of girl scouts such as time management, organizational skills, team work, and much more. The new year begins this September and registration will be taking place at the Western Academy of Beijing’s Elementary School Cafeteria from 9.30-11am. There will be an overview of the organization for those unfamiliar held from 9.30-9.45am followed by registration.

The organization is looking for adult volunteers passionate about paying it forward and helping girls build skills and confidence.

If you can’t make this registration, send an email to BeijingUSAGSO@gmail.com and they will try to find a suitable troop for your daughter(s).

Photo: styleblueprint.com