To the Singapore Zoo, with an Objective

Being "Friends of the Zoo", it explains our frequent visitation to our Singapore Zoo for obvious reasons. Sometimes, we meet up with our friends there, and other times, we go to the zoo because Beatrice has requested to see her favourite animals. Well, this time round, we went to the zoo to make Beatrice, draw. Yes, you did not read wrongly. Mommy's intention of bring Beatrice to the zoo this day, was to make sure that Beatrice can sit quietly, and do something, "meaningful".

Beatrice has always been an active girl. And most of the time, we would simply leave her to do the things she like when she is at home. She gets lots of freedom in deciding on what she wants to do, and what she does not like to do. Hence, getting her to work on activities like simple colouring or even writing has become a stress to both Larry and I. Beatrice will always bargain that she will do them "later" or that she "does not" want to do any at all as she wants to engage in free play. Well, all play and no work would make Beatrice looks so playful and never serious at all times. Hence, in order to strike a balance between work and play, we have decided that we will bring along some drawing materials to the zoo this very day. And with the objective to make sure that Beatrice would co-operate with us, and focus on some serious activities, like drawing :)

And here we are, our cheeky little girl posing for the camera before we enter the zoo.

Some chimps were making loud noises, and the noise has drew a large group of onlookers to see what exactly has happened. Well, the chimp who was swing on the tree seems to be calling out to those down by the tree to join him up there. And our little girl was a little terrified by the noise produced. She was looking, and staring in the direction as the chimp "bounced" and swing from tree to tree. And then, she turned around and commented, " Mommy, the chimpanzees are very scary. " Well, I am not too sure what to say to her. Because I do not want to paint a nice picture of these chimps that they are so friendly, and neither do I want to scare her because these are really tame animals who are freed to roam in the zoo. Well, perhaps more of Geo kids and discovery channels might help them to understand these animals better =)

As we entered the Orang Utan Free Roaming Zone, we get to see Orang Utans walking on tide rope suspended from trees above our heads.

Having our objectives in mind, we told Beatrice that we wanted to see her draw the animals she get to see at the Zoo. She obliged and we handed her the drawing materials we brought with us to the Zoo. Here we are, Beatrice was looking good as she started to drool on the paper. I've decided to draw with her, so that she was able to see exactly what I meant by, drawing. Well, she did mimic the way I shared the details of the parrots I was drawing, and she also shared with me what she was trying to drawing on the paper. Obviously she is not up to the skill yet. However, she did spend a good 20+ minutes, sitting quietly in her pram as she drew. Focusing on details like the parrot's tail and the hut they were sitting in. Quite a good achievement for a start, I would say. We just have to keep on working on her length of attention to a task she has been assigned for.

And here is the object of our drawing that very day, a lovey-dovey parrots. These parrots were actually hopping on the branches, and cleaning their beaks, when two of them decided to tease each other using their beaks. Our little Beatrice caught them in action and commented, "Eee ... no kissing on the lips right, Mommy?" Errr ... I was speechless ... and all I could do was to grin and felt quite silly. "Aiya, not lips lah Beatrice. Those were their beaks."

A picture of Beatrice and mommy. Say cheeze ...

Beatrice agreed to draw when we were at the Elephant show. This time round, Beatrice was able to focus for a long duration as she drew.

After a good 20mins of drawing and doodling, Beatrice requested for the snack I have brought along. And as we waited for another 10mins for the show to start, Beatrice was having a great time swirling her biscuits in the strawberry dips.

Here is video clip to share with you. Beatrice wiggled and danced as she draw =)