There’s something genuinely delightful about watching a young person discover their creative voice – especially when that discovery happens through what most of us would simply call a mistake.

Ayanvitta is a 13-year-old student at Tsinghua International School in grade 8 who takes the opportunity to turn boredom into opportunities to design and create.

Most people would look at a misshapen crochet sphere and leave it at that, but Ayanvitta saw a whale. One December afternoon in 2024, she was simply practicing a double crochet stitch, working with blue yarn, when something unexpected happened. The sphere she’d intended to make curved differently than planned. Instead of frogging the whole thing and starting over, she paused and looked at what sat in her hands. To her, it resembled her whale plushy. So she kept going, adding fins, stitching a tail, letting the accident guide her. A week later, she made a bigger version. Then another. What began as a practice exercise became the accidental birth of a signature creation.

This willingness to embrace the unexpected runs through everything Ayanvitta creates. She’s built a following on WeChat under the handle Ayanvitta23, where she shares her 3D-printed experiments and crochet projects with an audience that appreciates watching her process unfold in real-time. Her work spans traditional crafts and emerging technology, from yarn to CAD software, from stitches to code.

I really loved how you said Whaley came from boredom.  Does it bother you when other kids are on their devices, and you’re not?

At first, yes. When everyone around you is on a phone or tablet, it can feel like you’re missing out. But over time, that feeling changed. I realized that while others were spending time online, I was learning new skills and creating things that meant something to me. Especially when I started writing my blogs on weekends and seeing articles get published, I felt rewarded. Now I don’t really feel bothered—I just focus on what I’m working on. Many friends of mine also don’t have a phone.

Make a case – teen to teen – why boredom is a good thing.

Boredom isn’t always bad. When there’s nothing to do, your mind starts wandering, and that’s when ideas show up. If you’re constantly entertained, you never get the chance to think or create. Being bored pushed me to try new things. For example, I love to crochet, and I have friends who also love to crochet. My teachers at school are always very encouraging; they also taught us knitting and other stuff. I love to crochet whaley, capybara, to name a few. Sometimes, boredom is just your brain asking you to be creative.

What are some of your favorite creations that you’ve made?

My favorite creation is the Functional Whaley Mouse because it represents a lot of learning, patience, and problem-solving. I also enjoy making smaller 3D-printed objects and experimenting with designs, even when they don’t work out. Every project teaches me something new, and that’s what makes creating fun for me. I’ve printed many phone stands for my grandparents and cousins, along with toys. You can see many of these on my WeChat channel, Ayanvitta23. Besides 3D printing, I also love to crochet, which lets me be creative in a different way.Do you feel that it can sometimes be difficult to be creative nowadays when AI can do so much of the thinking for you?

It can be challenging because AI makes things easier and faster. But I don’t think it can replace creativity. AI can help with ideas and tools, but it can’t replace curiosity, imagination, or learning from mistakes. Real creativity comes from trying, failing, and improving—and that’s something you must do yourself.

Tell me a bit about the Harvard Innovation Challenge Program, where you received 2^nd prize. What is it? What was your submission?

The Harvard Innovation Challenge Program is a global competition that encourages students to create innovative solutions to real-world problems. I received second prize for my project called DoneGlow. DoneGlow is an intuitive medication reminder system designed to help elderly people avoid confusion about their daily medicines. The idea for DoneGlow came from a personal experience with my grandparents. My grandmother asked me several times whether she had taken her morning medicine, even though she had phone reminders. This made me realize that reminders alone aren’t always enough, and that a simple visual system could be more effective.

You’re clearly very self-motivated. What does a typical weekend look like for you?

A typical weekend for me would be 60% of time devoted to homework and tests, 25% of my time crocheting and 15% of my time designing. Hanging out would be kind of rare, as we have a ton of tests, and sometimes we’re kind of tired and just want some time to relax at home. You’ve already accomplished so much. Looking ahead to high school, what’s a new skill you’re excited to learn, or a type of project you haven’t tried yet but want to?

In high school, I’d love to explore more advanced engineering and maybe even robotics. I’m especially interested in combining design with electronics—creating products that are not only well-designed on the outside but also smart on the inside.I also want to learn more about programming and product development, so I can turn ideas into complete, real-world solutions. I’ve recently fallen in love with coding languages and want to take it further in high school.

For now, I mainly share my 3D-printed creations on my WeChat channel, Ayanvitta23, where people can see what I’m working on. When the blog does go public, I hope it can inspire others to start creating too—not just to read about my projects, but to try their own ideas as well.

Images: Ayanvitta

This year, the Panda Book Awards held a logo design competition open to all international school students in China, giving the prestigious award a more modern and colorful visual that’s easily recognizable.

Out of more than 50 entries that poured in from all over China, the winning design came from Amalia Mazart, a grade four student at Western Academy of Beijing (WAB).

“One day at school I saw the poster ‘Who wants to design the PANDA BOOK AWARD LOGO?’ I really wanted to do it, so when I came home, I started designing,” Amalia tells Jingkids. “First, I made a logo where the panda was looking over a book that had the pattern of the globe. Then I made another logo with a panda looking at [a]book with the globe pattern until I finally made the logo with a panda looking over a book with a colorful cover. After I made the three designs, I had to decide my favorite one.

“I [chose]the last one. The next day I started putting more details onto it, for example choosing the background or adding the text. After submitting the logo to Mr. Byrne it was time to wait. I waited about a week until one morning at school I saw one of the screens in the hallway show. I was very very happy. A few days later, Mr. Byrne told the class that I got first place for the whole entire competition. First place of all [the]students who participated in China. I was even more happy than before. I was so so happy, you can’t imagine. I hope you like it.”

Ten-year-old Amalia has been in Beijing for almost three years and has a few recommendations for young readers as summer vacation approaches.

Amalia Mazart’s Top 5 Summer Reading Recommendations:
1. Smile by Raina Telgemeier
2. Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
3. Oil Painting Step-by-Step by Noel Gregory, James Horton, Roy Lang & Michael Sanders
4. The Famous Five: Five on a Treasure Island by Enid Blyton
5. Sisters by Raina Telgemeier

Since its founding in 2008, the logo for the Panda Book Awards has been the work of artist Wang Hong Xu 王红旭, a folk artist from Shijiazhuang, Hebei province. His work, “Panda in Bamboo,” on rice paper has been mounted on a silk scroll and sent to every author/illustrator winner of the Panda Book Awards.

The Panda Book Awards invites students and teachers from participating international schools across China and beyond to vote for their favorite book published during the previous school year.

Titles that are chosen for the Panda Book Award shortlist meet criteria focusing on social justice, diversity, and inclusion by up-and-coming authors and illustrators from around the world. There is an added spotlight on titles that feature Asian settings, characters, or creators.

The Panda Book Steering Committee, which includes an international cohort of school librarians, is responsible for collecting input from schools, advertising the initiative, and organizing the voting.

The Panda Book Award reading program promises to take students on an exciting reading adventure. Classroom teachers, language arts teachers, and librarians are encouraged to distribute the reading lists to their students and to incorporate them into their daily teaching.

KEEP READING: Early Bird Sign Up for Avenir is Still Open

Images: Western Academy of Beijing

There’s a reason why people buy flowers to brighten up a room, cheer up a friend, and appreciate a loved one. Depending on the flower, they can symbolize complex human emotions just from their sheer beauty. As famed artist, Georgia O’Keefe once said, “When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it’s your world for a moment.”

Nine-year-old Madeleine and eight-year-old Ninon create a Georgia O’Keefe-inspired photo frame with Atelier Art School teacher, James Sserwadda.

What You’ll Need

• Stapler
• Plastic clay
• Acrylic paint
• Yarn and cardboard
• Some color papers
• 2-3 medium paint brushes
• Disposable plastic plates (10 and 15cm diameter)
• Double-sided tape, glue stick, and masking tape
• Pair of scissors and box cutters (cutters only used with the help of parents)

How to make it

1. Using a box cutter, cut out the inner circle of the big (15cm) plate leaving about 3 cm of space from the plate’s ridges. Take the smaller plate (10cm) and use the double-sided tape to connect the two plates by the edges.

2. Use the stapler to strengthen the taped side of the plates.

3.  After stapling the plates, take out a separate piece of paper and draw the shapes of flower petals from a rose, oriental poppies, and lily flowers. Cut out the shapes with a pair of scissors and use a stencil to draw other shapes on any color paper of your choice.

Note

· These can be 2-3 colors.

· The petal shapes can be of different shapes and of different color.

· The petal shapes of the 15cm plastic plate should be bigger than the 10cm plastic plate.

4. Using a glue stick, glue the smaller petals on the small plate first by gluing them side-by-side on the edge. Continue the same process on the 15cm plastic plate; use a mix of colors and place in varying positions.

5. Start to create decorative details of the flower with plastic clay. First roll out some plastic clay from a preferred color and line it along the cut-out line of the circle on the 15cm plate. Continue to create more details to represent a flower.

6. Using the brushes, apply acrylic paint around the decorative areas to cover the white area of the plastic plate.

7. Draw a 12-13cm diameter circle on a piece of cardboard, cut it out and tape your photo on one side of the cut-out cardboard. Use masking tape to tape it on the back of the 15cm plastic plate so that the photo is showing through the cut-out section.

8. Draw leaf shapes on color paper and cut them out to further decorate your flowers. Use double-sided tape to glue them on the back of the 15cm plate.

9. Finally, pick the yarn and tie a note and use masking tape to attach it on to the 15cm plate so you can place it anywhere that will brighten up mom’s day!

KEEP READING: Beijing Creative Institution Atelier Art School Closes Its Doors

Photos: Uni You

This article appeared in the beijingkids 2020 May issue

During the worst of the COVID-19 lockdown period, we tried to lift spirits and send love to the health workers fighting on the front lines by running a fun competition. Partnered up with our sister publication Jing Kids, we asking kids to submit their design for the COVID-19 T-Shirt Design Contest, and we received a huge number of entries kids in Beijing in response.

The votes were cast and the winner announced, and now the winning designs are available for purchase on the True Run Media Shop where proceed from the sale will be donated health care workers still fighting to good fight.

We are awed by the creative and thoughtful designed that our young artists came up with, and are very proud to present to you, them in their final T-shirt glory, below:

In addition to the kids’ designs, our sister publication the Beijinger also created a collection of T-shirts to encapsulate some of the lighter elements of the past few months that are available for purchase on the True Run Media WeChat shop.

‘Quarantine and Chill?’ click to buy

‘Just Mask It’ click to buy

‘Anti Social Social Distancing Club’ click to buy

To browse through the entire TRM Shop, scan the QR code below.

KEEP READING: Wear a Mask, Take a Selfie, and Enter to Win a Limited Edition Beijinger T-Shirt!

Photos: beijingkids, the Beijinger

First of all, we’d like to thank everyone who submitted their beautiful, creative, and heartfelt design submissions. Over the past few weeks, we asked kids to submit their design for our COVID-19 T-Shirt Design Contest.

We hope it provided a little space for reflection and creativity during this difficult time as we show support for all those fighting COVID-19 around the world. The submissions were sent in and the votes were cast.

Over 860 people cast their vote and we’re excited to announce the winner!

Congratulations to our winner, 14-year-old British School of Beijing, Shunyi (BSB Shunyi) student Lina Patuschka.

Thank you to all those who’ve participated. Together we’ll overcome COVID-19!

Photos: beijingkids, Lina Patuschka

Over the past few weeks, we asked kids to submit their design for our COVID-19 T-Shirt Design Contest.

We hoped it might provide time for a little reflection, creativity, and show of support for all those fighting COVID-19 around the world. Whether it was through a message of unity and solidarity, the importance of proper hygiene techniques, the power of social responsibility, or showing love and appreciation for doctors and nurses.

Well, all the submissions are in! And needless to say, we are absolutely thrilled with the heartfelt ideas kids put forth.

While there were tons of amazing designs, the beijingkids staff had the difficult task of whittling them all down to the following finalists. Now we ask for the help of our readers! Please cast a vote for your favorite design by scanning the QR code below:

Scroll down to see the entire list of submissions.

Lina Patuschka, Age 14

王皓哲, Age 11

张依然, Age 11

张乐然, Age 8

桂若礼, Age 9

高嘉琪, Age 7

高嘉琪, Age 7

Rachel, Age 13

宗亭君, Age 10

金歆萌Aimee, Age 5.5

潘隆欣, Age 8

Jacob Buryat, Age 7

徐洛怀, Age 4

陈梓昕, Age 6

崔亚楠, Age 32

Rodi Lee, Age 63

Rodi Lee, Age 63

李悦乐, Age 7

曾奚桢, Age 6

吕形, Age 6

Lester, Age 9

杨瑞轩（跃跃）, Age 9

任嘉禾, Age 5

苏晴, Age 10

Taliesin Andell, Age 7

Peregrine Andell, Age 14

孙嘉喆, Age 6

Solomon, Age 10

张乐然, Age 8

王宇泉, Age 9

王宇泉, Age 9

TT, Age 7

Cavior Jian, Age 17

武桢武岳, Age 9

王小南, Age 8

Tiffany Zhao, Age 7

张皓童, Age 8

金方喆, Age 6

Evan Gai, Age 10

Naheed Jamal, Age 7

Naheed Jamal, Age 7

曾千懿, Age 4

Muhammad Rao, Age 15

白雨瑄, Age 9

曹梓瑜, Age 4

肖子深, Age 6

Photos: courtesy of artists

Last call for all those who want to show off their creative side in our COVID-19 T-Shirt Design Contest!

While we keep those battling on the frontlines of the virus in our thoughts, we can also use this time for a little reflection, creativity, and to show our support for all those fighting COVID-19 around the world.

Whether it’s a message of unity and solidarity, the importance of proper hygiene techniques, the power of social responsibility, or showing love and appreciation for the doctors and nurses fighting COVID-19, we want to know what this experience has meant to you.

by Peregrine Andell

by 张皓童

It’s time to unite and show our love and support for one another. Together we’ll overcome COVID-19!

Here is how the contest works:
1. Submit your work here before Mar 29
2. beijingkids readers will have until Apr 3 to vote for their favorite design
3. The winner will receive a set of T-shirts with his or her design, a set of beijingkids quarantine-themed parent/child T-shirts, free entry to all upcoming Beijinger events for the year, and unlimited bragging rights!

Rules:
1. Use whatever medium you choose. it can be watercolor, stick figure, pencil, oil painting, computer drawing and so on.
2. Please paint/design on white paper or background.
3. Participants need to scan or take a photo of their works. Please make sure photos or scanned files are between 1-3M JPG, PNG, or PDF format.
4.  When you’re ready, click here to submit your work.

by Cavior Jian

See you on the other side of quarantine, Beijing! Until then, stay safe and remember to wash your hands!

Winter may be long gone in Beijing but the Games of Thrones (GOT) ice-cold final season is in full swing, and the buzz around the city couldn’t be anymore aflame with dragonfire-esque heat! New and seasoned GOT fans are gathering all over Beijing for communal viewings of the final episodes of what is set to be an epic end to a TV series that has captured the imaginations of millions across the globe.

A necklace inspired by the elements of nature

There are lots of ways to celebrate your love for GOT and all its mighty epicness, and many have been creatively inspired by the iconic aesthetics of the characters and the fictional kingdom of Westeros, not least jewelry designer Veronica Ciecierska from Poland. Veronica has been creating original and exciting jewelry pieces in Beijing for five years but has had a love for her craft for many years. Now using the whimsical designs featured in her favourite small-screen tale, Veronica has created a bold and brilliant line of Game of Thrones Jewelry, capturing the spirit of the female protagonists while leaving enough room for you to embody your own sense of self and womanhood!!

A replica of Cersei Lannister’s heavy, medieval pendant

Gemmu Jewellery is about the beauty and magic of nature. Using natural components, such as minerals, shells, and seeds, Veronica explores our natural world by crafting beautiful and balanced pieces that reflect nature and all its organic glory, and prides herself on using a number of different techniques and styles that mirror the constant evolution of her craft. Inventing and creating uniquely styled and masterfully engineered pieces will impress clients looking to make a purchase that helps express their individuality, while offering them and admirers something distinctive.

Earrings inspired by the rose sigil of House Tyrell

The women in GOT have not been Veronica’s sole source of inspiration. The name Gemmu comes from a legend told by the Mosuo tribe, which forms the last matriarchal society in China. Gemmu was a virtuous and diligent woman who was skilled in handicrafts. The badass women of GOT and the women that live around Lugu Lake in the South of China both reflect the strength and resilience of women that is mirrored in Veronica’s new and tested line of jewelry.

Replica of Sansa Stark’s necklace

To get your hands on items from Veronica’s collection WeChat: Veronica12040. The first five moms to make a purchase using the code below will also receive a pair of Ellaria’s earrings when making a purchase from the GOT line. Spoiler Alert: Ellaria Sand came to a bleak end in season 7 of GOT but Veronica has managed to keep her present in the collection with a recreation of her poison necklace and matching earrings. Code: BJKGOT.

A necklace inspired by Cersei of House Lannister

You can also catch Veronica at the monthly Rumble in the Jumble markets at Modernista. The next one will take place on May 19, noon-6pm. Get GOT ready and get your mitts on an exclusive set that you can treasure forever. Choose from House of Lannister, Stark, Targaryen, Tyrell, and Martell.  Here’s to the demise of winter and the Dead Army, and an end to the most epic of epics in the history of television.

What is Dead May Never Die.

Photos: courtesy of Gemmu Jewellery

Calling all young architecture enthusiasts! This Monday in 751 D Park (798 Arts District), as part of the upcoming Beijing Design Week, there will be a bilingual architecture and city planning workshop catered especially for children between the ages of 7-12.

Inspired by Archikidz! from the Netherlands, Kidscity will be providing youngsters with the opportunity to get familiar with the design process, and how to go from the “idea” stage into actually building it with their peers.

It will be a fun, hands-on day, with visiting architects and volunteers that will be helping along the way to make your child’s architectural fantasies come alive. The day will finally culminate in a big, messy, and colorful group model of Beijing built from scratch. This will go on to be exhibited in 798 during this year’s Beijing Design Week.

In regards to the intent behind this fun and creative event, the organizers stated; “We believe our cities can become better by inspiring and empowering the next generation of thinkers and city-makers. Our kids! It’s important for us that they know that their voices are heard and that they can take action in their cities in the future.”

For sign up and more info on Kidscity scan the QR code above, or add the event organizer on WeChat (seba1988). The event price is RMB 350 and includes a complimentary snack, a construction helmet, and KidsCity t-shirt.

Photos: archinect.com, courtesy of Kidscity