The theme of Racial Harmony Day, Our People, Our Tapestry, resonates with many of us deeply. The countless threads, each one distinct and beautiful, represent the unique identities, traditions, beliefs and practices of Singapore's diverse communities. Together, they form something far greater, a rich and unified whole that tells the story of who we are as a nation. This tapestry does not weave by itself; it is a deliberate choice we make – one that requires care, kindness and a community spirit.
For our children, the thread starts with us. As parents, we play an important role in helping our children build empathy, respect and courage. We can engage them when we spot situations where choices need to be made: what will the impact be between a kind and unkind action, and how our words and actions may affect others. We can also talk about being an upstander, one who speaks up and acts when one sees something that is not right. It can be a hurtful comment, a friend being left out, or an unkind action towards someone who is different. In a diverse society like ours, raising upstanders is one of the most important threads we can weave into our shared tapestry.
This Racial Harmony Day, try out The Kind or Unkind? card game in your child's copy of Kindsville Times Junior (Primary 1 and 2) or Kindsville Times Adventure (Primary 3 and 4) to spark meaningful conversations at home. Through familiar everyday scenarios, our children can reflect on the choices they make, consider how their words and actions affect others, and learn that kindness begins with the decisions we make every day.
For Primary 5 and 6 students, the Upstander Challenge in A-OK! encourages them to think beyond kindness by considering how they can support someone who has been hurt, excluded, or treated unfairly.
We hope these activities inspire meaningful conversations at home and encourage our children to practise kindness, empathy and courage in their daily lives. Everyone matters in this tapestry. Regardless of language or culture, every child, every family and every community has a place in it.
The Kindsville Times Junior (for Primary 1 and 2 students), Kindsville Times Adventure (for Primary 3 and 4 students) and A-OK! (for Primary 5 and 6) are publications given to all primary school students. They contain comic strips, sticker sheets and quizzes, fostering fun while promoting a deeper appreciation of racial harmony as well.
Ask your child for their copy to work on the activities together, or find the e-copy here:
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