Starchild: Why Malaysian kids want to celebrate their birthday with a bang

Bethany Wang Qi Syuen, 8

When children are given the chance to organise a birthday party, many of them prefer a grand celebration, inviting as many guests as possible and serving lots of food. Only a few readers say they will celebrate their birthdays with a few close friends.

Here are the letters from Starchild readers on the topic, My Dream Birthday Party.

Chia Yee Fern, 12, wants her dream birthday party to be held at Redang Island, Kuala Terengganu.

“I would book the whole island and celebrate my birthday with my family and friends. There are many activities to do there, like snorkelling, visiting the turtle sanctuary and playing on the beach. Food served at my birthday party would include prawn fritters, pasta, mushroom soup and coconut water.”

“If I could have a birthday party, I would want it to be in a trampoline park. Why? So that I can bounce on the trampoline, jump in the ball pit and play hide and seek. I would invite all my best friends. We would have the time of our lives. We would jump with joy – free of stress from school work. For food, I would order my friends’ favourite Subway sandwiches,” says Chuah Seng Koon, seven.

Chuah Seng Koon, 7

“For my sixth birthday bash, I wish to throw a ninja-themed party outside my house. First, I would set up a training camp for my friends to enjoy. Party items such as black headbands and plastic swords would be provided for us to act like a ninja. Hai-yah! Afterwards, we would head to the table decorated with colourful balloons to enjoy delicious food like sushi, pizza and ice cream,” says Arif Zahran Mohd Faisal, six.

Arif Zahran Mohd Faisal, 6

Nine-year-old Wong Cheng Yang wants a birthday party inspired by the video game, Plants vs Zombies.

“I would prepare food items like peas, walnuts and sunflower seeds. I would serve apple juice because it is my favourite drink. I would set up a play area with all the Plants vs Zombies characters. I hope this dream party will come true one day.”

Wong Cheng Yang, 9

Younger sibling Wong Jie Ern, seven, says: “I love to have birthday parties because I can receive presents from friends and family. I love to put up a lot of balloons as decorations. I like pizza so I’ll serve it during my party.”

Wong Jie Ern, 7

“My dream birthday bash would be an outdoor birthday celebration in the zoo surrounded by all kinds of animals. My birthday cake would be a chocolate vanilla cake and I will serve my guests cake with cookies,” says Bethany Wang Qi Syuen, eight.

Asher Wang Qi Chuen, 5

“My dream birthday party would be a dinosaur-themed party, with dinosaur print balloons and decorations, and a yummy chocolate cake with candles for me to blow,” writes Asher Wang Qi Chuen, five.

ITEM: What’s your favourite subject in school? Do you like English, Moral Studies or Art? Or are you the sort who prefers Mathematics or Science? Tell us why you like to learn this subject. Sometimes, we like a subject because the teacher makes the lessons really interesting.

Don’t forget to send us a drawing too!

Email your contributions to [e-mail] by Feb 17.

Please put “STARCHILD: My Favourite Subject” in the subject line of your email. Scanned drawings should be in jpeg format, with a resolution of 200 dpi. Your contributions must carry your full name, age (open to children aged 12 and below only), gender, phone contact, and address.

Instead of handwritten letters, please type out your letters.