Walk of Freedom

Our son’s kindergarten organized a Merdeka Walk today. It was great! They invited parents to join in the fun, arranged for police escort, bought little flags for all the children to wave while walking and put stickers on the back of the children’s shirts which read “We Are A Happy Family”.

The walk started at the school and went for about half a kilometre then everybody turned around and headed back to the school. Before leaving, both the policemen got a chance to shake hands with the very sweaty but excited children. When it was time for the children to leave, each one got a ‘goody bag’.

The parents also had the opportunity to mingle and chat, something we would normally not get a chance to do. More importantly, we were given the opportunity to take part in our children’s schooling activities.


I think this is exactly what children today need.

Some fun, some exercise, some well organized activities that can be tied back to a historical event which the children can learn about. Of course, at the pre-schooling age the children are too young to fully grasp the meaning of ‘Merdeka’, but they certainly shouted it aloud as if they were right there at Stadium Merdeka with Tunku Abdul Rahman!

It was a bit of challenge, though, manoeuvring 60-odd pre-schoolers on busy and, at times, main roads but it was heartening to see all the parents who participated take it upon themselves to help the teachers marshal the students during the walk. Children are so unpredictable – at one point a 5-year old suddenly darted in front of me to adjust his shoes which had come loose. I thought he was about to run off to the middle of the road! Then there were the front markers with the big school and Malaysia flags who were supposed to follow a safe distance behind the car (which was the principal’s car all decked out in Malaysian flags) but at times somehow managed to overtake it!

A well spent (if not sweaty) 1 hour, getting to know some of the other parents, but most importantly, quality time with my son.