PASIR RIS SECONDARY SCHOOL390 TAMPINES STREET 21SINGAPORE 529400
1st July 2008
Mr Mah Bow Tan
Minister of National Development, Member of Tampines GRC
Dear Mr Mah,
Re: Feedback about the playgrounds in Tampines and suggestions to improve them
Tampines has always been a clean and lively environment for the residents. Under your expert leadership, you have brought Tampines to greater heights. I am writing this letter to propose some suggestions to improve on the playgrounds in Tampines.
Recently, together with my classmates, we have done a project on designing a playground for abused children with emotional scars. After we did some research, we found out that a playground could be a place for the abused children to relax and a place where they could vent their anger on. The playground could raise confidence and boost self-esteem. It could let the children feel loved too. And like any playground, they should have fun too and to forget their troubles and worries.
Thus, this led me to reflect on the playgrounds in our neighbourhood. Playgrounds seen around Tampines are very common. When it was first built, it attracted the children to go there to play but not long later, the playgrounds would be badly vandalized by people and because of the rain, many metal parts of the playgrounds would turn rusty. Most of the playgrounds are also not sheltered. When the weather gets really hot, no children would be interested to play there. Seeing the same type of facilities in every playground built, children may also get sick and tired of going there go play. Most of the playgrounds seen around Tampines are suitable for normal children and it is not suitable for abused children with emotional scars. The playgrounds may seem interesting but it is not a good place where they can vent their anger on to raise their confidence and boost self-esteem.
I suggest that a indoor playground be built so that the parts of the playground will not turn rusty when it rains. It will be a cooling and nice environment for the children to play in. There can have two to three floors in the indoor playground. A cosy room would be a great place for the abused children to relax and not have any worries to bother them. The furniture in the room will be cosy and comfortable to make them feel relaxed, and not to think about their unhappy memories. The walls should also be painted with a pale colour, to make it seem a peaceful place. A Room of Music would also be great as there will be different instruments for them to try out. They could vent their anger on those instruments too, not vandalizing or destroying it, but playing it. No matter how loud the noise created is, it will still be music to the ears. The walls surrounding the room will be sound-proof too, in case there are some children who would be disturbed by the sounds created. An enclosed area filled up with plastic balls for the children to play with can also be built. They can throw the balls around and can play with it as they like. Through this, they are able to vent their anger, frustration and misery all in the enclosed area.
I hope that you would look into this matter. I thank you for spending your time reading this letter. I hope this suggestion would help the abused children with emotional scars.
Yours sincerely,
Xin YI
