KAYA & ROTI: A March School Holiday Camp At Home!

Posted by May March 15, 2021

KAYA & ROTI: A March School Holiday Camp At Home!

We first got to know Kaya and Roti from The Theatre Practice in 2017 when they launched The Nursery Rhymes Project. My children were drawn into their stories from then. Watching a performance live in person and over Zoom has its differences for sure. With COVID-19 spiral-heading everyone's lives into a new normal, The Theatre Practice has also adapted to the changes and took very bold steps to continue entertaining its audiences. Who would have thought a Holiday Camp involving every member of a family could take off this well? "Who would have thought" because they came up with a programme plan involving an overnight camp without breeching any safe-distancing protocols!

Best of all, Gypsie can be part of our camping fun. Pets Allowed!

When I asked Faye if she would like me to sign her up for a Kaya and Roti camp to kick-start her first March School Holidays, she nodded in excitement. We haven't heard from Kaya and Roti since their online episodes were aired over 2020's Circuit Breaker! Faye, including myself, missed the pair of bubbly bread and spread! I especially love them because it is theatre conducted in mandarin; the best way to increase the exposure of our mother tongue through play.

Mommy and Daddy were a little apprehensive though. The programme schedule is a 1pm to 9pm Zoom session on Day One and 8 am to 11am on Day Two. How are the actors going to keep us all entertained meaningfully without boring the daylights out of us? I mean. Wow! It is a straight eight hours on the first day!

Faye said it wouldn't be a problem. She wanted to do this. And so, we will do this!

A CAMPING ADVENTURE AT HOME.

NO BREECH IN HEALTH AND SAFETY.

LOTS OF FUN AND FAMILY BONDING INVOLVED.

Before the arrival of Camp Day, we received a small package by mail which included the Schedule Plans, Meal Plans, Checklist, Craft Kits and Instructions for Mom and Dad to prepare the surprise in advance. I had initially thought of setting up the tent for the kids before the camp begun but we had specifically been told not to in Instructions for Mom and Dad. I was impressed the working team even considered we parents might do just that! Instead, they told us to hide props and materials needed for the making of our tent around the house to aid in their idea of a Treasure Hunt activity.

Bravo!

Now I see why eight hours on Day One seems plausible.

I was doubly impressed when it rained on the day of our camp and now I see why they had asked us to prepare umbrellas or ponchos in the Checklist! They had intended to send us out for a rain or shine family walking adventure involving the making of art installations to blend into our surroundings, solving math problems and photography opportunities to encapsulate that moment we shared.

We received a Passport where kids were tasked to paste stickers each time they completed a task. I was just as excited as Faye to fill that passport up! If you think I was the only enthusiastic parent in this camp, now think again. I was surprised to see other families [daddies included] put in so much effort in pitching their tent at home with their children. Not only that! When it came to art and craft, fellow campers came up with impressive adventure hats and art installations too! I would say Faye and my craft works paled in comparison. I am so proud of the involvement these parents have put in for their family. The Gift of Being Present.

Be warned. This isn't a Holiday Camp where you can just dump your kids at. It is one that requires your undivided attention [if time allows you]. The purpose of this camp is to help create family time together which many of us fail to have. With this Camp Breakfast, our children are sure to get 12 hours of our time. More if mommy or daddy fell asleep with them in the tent we made together!

This camping experience through Zoom had proven that with creativity and passion, all things are possible. We truly had an amazing experience camping at home with 35 other families, hosted by Kaya and Roti. Joined by two more new characters, GuYou and He Bao Dan, they quadrupled the fun. They tasked the children to cook their own meals and ate in our camp, we listened to stories and sang to songs in the tent, we interacted with other families and with our hosts through our sharings and of course we [kids and I] all had our arguments as well about how we want things to be done. Time to learn how to resolve conflicts and set boundaries too!

By nightfall, they wind the kids down in their tents to the sounds of crackling fire and silent night; had us imagined we were looking up to a starry night sky and played with our torches. The next morning, we were woken up by the song of morning birds and a rare cockerel crowing which got us all laughing [and Gypsie barking curiously, wondering where the animals were in the room she was in] in our make-shift campsite.

This theatrical Camp Breakfast is designed for our four to eight year olds. I was on the fence on whether Ewan might find this too childish for him. Well, I think for my eight-going-on-nine, he himself was divided. He decided to sit out of some activities but enjoyed himself thoroughly at others! A day after Camp Breakfast, Ewan was heard humming alongside Faye and I to 白浪滔滔我不怕.

I blurted out, "I wish Camp Breakfast hadn't end."

Faye agreed in unison, "Me too. And mommy, I want to sleep in my tent every day from now!"

If The Theatre Practice does come up with yet another Camp similar to this one, I highly recommend your enrolment because trust me. Your children will be gifted with an experience they will never forget. Best of all, the programme is conducted in MANDARIN!