Serious Child’s Play

by Pavle Radonic

Today the life section (the exclamation mark dropped in recent months) carries a feature on the importance of child’s play. (“Taking play seriously” on the cover and ROOM FOR PLAY for the piece.) One stay-at-home mum on the floor with her two youngsters “believes in encouraging independence;” as might be guessed from the colourful sheets of insects distributed on the laminate. An expat has bought a bespoke step climber for her little boy and also a custom-made Pikler Triangle. Third “letting loose daughter’s creativity” has constructed a dedicated play area on the tiles behind the living-room sofa.

The state of play among enlightened Singaporean parents.

Our Jono on the other hand, concerned about shuttered environments for his only child, has ventured further, renting his Tampines flat and taking a lease on a bungalow out at Changi replete with grass, vegetable garden, trees and a short walk to the water. Last report: visiting toucans delight his little girl.