The case story comes from Yunnan Kawadgarbo Initiative Preschools of the Future project. The project is implemented in the North West of Yunnan and is supported by UBS Optimus Foundation with cooperation from China Social Welfare Foundation and Right to Play (China). The project aims to establish an effective early education system in remote rural areas, so that to promote integrated development of the early child education in local.

Children’s day is coming! Cannot such an important day leave the children alone! I planned to organize a parents-child activity and tried my best to invite the parents to celebrate the festival together with the children at the preschool. 

The project office gave each child many delicious snacks and sweets, and gave each teacher some money to buy small gifts for the children.

I bought gifts a day in advance, and prepared bottles of drinks for each of the parent. On Children’s day, I was glad to see all parents come. Children were happy to dance seeing their parents join them for their own festival. 

The performance started at nearly 14:00pm, each child set face to face with their parents, and the happiness on their faces made me feel so satisfied and delighted.

Some of the children gave performances and dances for the first time in front of their parents. After the party came to an end, each child took a gift that I had prepared for their parents in their hands (a rose). The children gave roses to their parents, saying “I love you”. I noticed that some of the parent’s eyes were filled with tears.

Children’s Day makes me understand that what children want are not many toys or snacks, but they want their parents to accompany them! Be together with them! The company of parents is the best gift of children’s childhood!

Children in the Gudi POF school celebrating Children's Day with parents

Children performing

 This project is funded by UBS Optimus Foundation (www.ubs.com/optimus) 
 Content in this article reflects the views of the authors and not necessarily those of the funder.