Most parents want what’s best for their children – but what exactly does it mean to provide a holistic environment for our kids to learn and grow ?

Are we doing what we can to ensure that their childhood years are safe, happy, and healthy? And what roles do society – be it parents, teachers, or the community – play in educating and nurturing the next generation?

These are just some of the questions explored in “Dear Child, How Are You?”, a new documentary series presented by non-profit organization Little Yellow Flower Foundation and produced by renowned Malaysian actress Lee Sinje.

Comprising four stories, the series focuses on themes such as love, family relationships, parenting styles, as well as the bond between parents, educators, and children.

The aim is to provide audiences with insights on the myriad education systems, processes and philosophies – and raise awareness among parents and educators alike on how they can find balance in educating the next generation.

(From left: Lee, Tan, and Chee at the media preview for “Dear Child, How Are You?”)

Speaking at a recent media preview, Lee said the idea for the series was conceptualised during the pandemic, as many children were not able to attend school. This prompted her to reflect on what other learning methods were available to children, and what we as a society can do to promote a better learning environment for children that is centered around love and care.

“The reason why the series is called Dear Child, How Are You? is because there are two versions of a child that we are reaching out to. One is about our own children, but there’s also the child within us. I believe that through these stories, we can gain a better understanding of different perspectives, be inspired to reflect, discuss, and care for each other, and think about what our children really need,” she said.

In “The Journey of Sinje”, directed by award-winning local director Tan Seng Kiat, the audience follows Lee as she takes a trip back to her hometown of Alor Setar, Kedah. Along the way, she shares memories of her childhood – from the school desk where she once performed that sparked her life-long interest in performing and the creative arts, to the old family home where she lived with her parents and siblings. The film also covers her journey as a mother – from bonding with her stepdaughter in her 20s, to becoming a mother again after giving birth to her twin sons at 40.

A scene from “The Journey of Sinje” showing Lee and her sons at her father’s motorcycle workshop in Kedah. Photo courtesy of Little Yellow Flower Foundation.

Lee’s story – narrated through a mix of personal recollection and interviews with family and friends – is an intimate look into her life, and never feels like a glorification of her numerous achievements as an actress and singer – but rather touches on the underlying commonality of the human experience. In one scene, standing in front of her old family home’s dirt-stained dresser, Lee recants how the strife between her parents affected her as a child, and goes on to talk about how they were able to overcome these obstacles together as a family.

Lee also talks about the freedom she was given as a child growing up in a natural environment, how it shaped her personality and worldview to live fearlessly and with a strong, positive outlook, and how she now tries to instill the same for her children.

The next documentary in the series, “Hilltop House”, sees Lee in her directorial debut, as she explores The Waldorf education system in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. In the documentary, audiences gain a peek into the Hilltop House, a kindergarten that applies the Waldorf system – an educational style based on the philosophy of Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner. The system focuses on imagination and creativity as well as developing each pupil’s unique intellectual, artistic and practical skills.

Aside from learning about the school’s founder and principal Ms Audrey, and how she came to create Hilltop House, the documentary also covers how the children learn through non-instructional play, and gleans thoughts from parents on how the acceptance of non-mainstream education can promote the balanced development of body, mind, and soul.

Meanwhile, the quirkily named “We Rode An Ostrich”, directed by Kethsvin Chee, is a heartwarming documentary that takes viewers on a journey through homeschooling, following the experiences of two families from different backgrounds. Through their stories, we see the flexibility and benefits of homeschooling, as well as the vital role that parents play in their child’s education and personal growth.

The fourth documentary in the series titled “Who Am I?”, also directed by Tan Seng Kiat, offers an insightful look into the lives and thoughts of educators in the national-type Chinese primary education system of Malaysia. While the system is often believed to be ultra competitive with a focus on grades and heavy school work, this documentary follows several new generation teachers, to see how they are working within the system to create better, more well rounded students that can lead the charge into the future. (**Due to technical issues, the release date for this episode has been postponed to accommodate shooting additional footage.)

The three Dear Child, How Are You? documentaries will be showing from April 13 onwards at selected Golden Screen Cinemas nationwide, including GSC Mid Valley, GSC 1Utama, and GSC Gurney Penang. Each episode runs for about 1 hour, in Mandarin Chinese with English subtitles.

For more information about each documentary, and for hall bookings to watch the film, visit Little Yellow Flower Foundation’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/littleyellowflowerfoundation.