XN000022-1981-08-09 — Page 7

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 1981

SHA TIN PLAY-AND-LEARN SCHEME POPULAR

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A PLAY-AND-LEARN SCHEME INTRODUCED BY WO CHE COMMUNITY HALL IN APRIL HAS PROVED POPULAR WITH SHA TIN CHILDREN.

MORE THAN 130 CHILDREN AGED BETWEEN SIX AND 12 HAVE JOINED.

THEY MEET AT THE HALL EVERY SATURDAY FROM 2.30 PM TO 5.30 PM AND ARE DIVIDED INTO SIX GROUPS, WITH THREE INSTRUCTORS LOOKING AFTER EACH GROUP,

DURING THE FIRST ONE AND A HALF HOURS, THE CHILDREN PLAY ON THEIR OWN WITH TOYS PURCHASED BY THE CENTRE WHICH INCLUDE BUILDING BLOCKS, JIGSAW PUZZLES, DOLLS AND CARS.

FOR THE REMAINING PERIOD THEY ARE TAUGHT SINGING AND DRAWING, ARE TOLD STORIES AND PLAY GROUP GAMES.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES SUCH AS PICNICS, VISITS TO FARMS AND PAINTING IN THE COUNTRYSIDE ARE ALSO ORGANISED EVERY MONTH.

THE OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE HALL, MR ALBERT LEE YUEN-HUNG, SAID THE SCHEME WAS SET UP TO HELP LOCAL CHILDREN LEARN NEW SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE THROUGH PLAYING WITH TOYS AND JOINING IN GROUP ACTIVITIES.

ALSO, IT WAS HOPED THAT BY SENDING THEIR CHILDREN TO THE CENTRE, PARENTS COULD HAVE SOME FREE TIME TO DO OTHER WORK, MR LEE SAID.

HE SAID THE ATTENDANCE RATE HAD ALL ALONG BEEN MAINTAINED AT 95 PER CENT WHICH WAS AN INDICATION OF THE POPULARITY OF THE SCHEME.

IN SUPPORT OF THE SCHEME, SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD HAS PROVIDED MORE THAN $11 000, WHILE SOME MANUFACTURERS HAVE DONATED TOYS.