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Chinese New Year Across Generations - Little Olive Tree Marsiling
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Two simple questions guided our team at Little Olive Tree (Marsiling) as we planned our Chinese New Year celebration:
· Who do we want to celebrate with?
· How do we want to celebrate?
When we looked around our neighbourhood, the answer was right there—an elderly home just across the street.
Every Chinese New Year, children bring a special kind of joy. The singing, the dancing, the unabashed confidence. People, especially the elders, light up when little ones take the stage.
So we brought our children to the elders.
They sang and dance to their heart's content.
But the most moving part wasn’t the performance (though it was adorable).
It was the faces in the crowd—grandparents smiling, clapping, leaning forward, fully present.
In Chinese tradition, presenting oranges to elders is a simple act that carries deep meaning—respect, blessing, and goodwill.
That day, it wasn’t “something we teach.” It was something our children did.
As they offered oranges with a respectful greeting and a cheerful “新年快乐！” respect sbecame a lived moment.
This visit gave our children a concrete lesson:
· Respect is shown through actions, not just words.
· Honouring elders can be joyful, not forced.
· Traditions matter most when they are shared.
Oftentimes we’re always asking how can we serve the needs of the community. It is through small yet meaningful, neighbourly choices like these that radiates joy.
This celebration is a great example of what we hope for across all our Little Olive Tree Preschools:
· Heritage that is fully experienced, not just explained in class
· Community that is built across generations through mutual respect and understanding
· Values that are taught through real-life examples
Chinese New Year is festive, yes. But it’s also a chance to shape who our children are becoming.
That day, our children didn’t just perform.
They participated—in tradition, in community life, and in a small but powerful act of respect.
