New Ways to Celebrate Children's Day

A mother shows her daughter how to exchange toys with a little boy at a flea market to celebrate International Children's Day in a residential community in east Beijing on Saturday, June 2, 2012. [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com/Xu Fei]

by Xu Fei

Parents and children in Beijing are celebrating Children's Day in different ways other than giving kids gifts, as they believe that an unforgettable experience will be more meaningful for their children and teach them to understand the concept of sharing with others.

Luo Hongwei, a father of a 10-year old boy, has helped organize a special flea market for Children's Day in the residential community where his family lives in east Beijing.

He says as soon as the residents were informed of the small-scale event, quite a few local families expressed a need to exchange their children's used toys, clothes and stationery items.

Luo, who joined the civil charity organization China Council of Lions Clubs last year, says the flea market was also arranged as a charitable activity.

"We'll collect the used toys, stationery and clothing that were not exchanged at the flea market and donate them to the children of ethnic minority groups in some impoverished areas in Yunnan Province."

Luo says those who have arranged the special activity to celebrate Children's Day hope the children can develop a spirit of giving to others.

"We expect the children to come to understand the concept of thrift and environmental protection as well as learn to show love for their peers."

Some kindergartens and other schools in Beijing have also held novel activities to entertain kids on Children's Day. The English First School for Kids and Teenagers in Beijing is one of them. It has invited parents to join their children in a super race around the city.

The super race follows the format of the "Amazing Race" show that's popular in the United States. Some 160 participants form groups of four, consisting of two children and two parents. Each group is actually involved in a competition to see who will first arrive at the destination after finding the right clues or providing the correct answers to questions asked by their foreign teachers who wait for them at four consecutive stops in the Beijing subway.

Lee Russler, an EF English teacher, designed the activity.

"Well, we wanted to have tasks for the students and parents to have a lot of fun. But we also wanted them to see Beijing, because I don't think parents and their children have the opportunity really to travel around their own city. I think it's nice to have such an opportunity on Children's Day."

Russler says an important goal of the activity is to further strengthen the relationship between children and their parents.

Sophie, who works in a local government department, says she believes the activity is a meaningful way for her daughter to celebrate Children's Day.

"I think two points. One is because we'll form a team, so it encourages the children to know how to have teamwork and then raise the competition spirit. This is one point, while another one is it's also a good way to practice their English. Today is Children's Day. And I think it's a good way to celebrate Children's Day."

In addition, some kindergartens in Beijing have also held joint parties to let children meet each other and possibly form friendships.

A mother helps her daughter place her used toys on a blanket at a flea market to celebrate Children's Day in a residential community in east Beijing on Saturday, June 2, 2012. [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com/Xu Fei]