To celebrate CreativeKids’ 30th anniversary, members of our team are sharing their personal and work stories with the Creative Community – to tell you why we love what we do!
Yanny Ng is the Studio Manager of CreativeKids’ Kowloon City Studio.
About Me:
I was born to be a storyteller, and enjoy making connections with people. I love taking photos, seeing the world through the lens.
I truly believe that childhood experiences have a lifelong significance for every person. That’s why I want to be part of children’s childhood memories, and be a source of positive power and wellness as they grow up.
How I entered the art education field
After obtaining my degree in Visual Arts. I wanted a job that allows me to face people instead of computers. I actually received another job offer, but then got CreativeKids’ interview invitation. Upon arriving the studio, I was impressed by the lively and energetic vibe. I noticed instructors discussing about children’s work. It is the openness and happiness of the work environment that appealed to me! And here I am, almost 4 years later 🙂
My growth at CreativeKids
Joining CreativeKids as a fresh graduate gave me a taste of having a bigger capacity and more significant responsibility in what I do every day. My multitasking skills certainly improved!
While I had experience organizing student events at university, doing that in a professional setting, with large external organizations, and being involved in multiple areas (including construction!), just felt a lot different. Particularly since the Kowloon City studio opened, I have been exposed to many differently types of people that I have not encountered at school, which also opened my mind to many new values and perspectives.
As the manager of the new studio, I am constantly working on understanding and meeting the needs of our current and potential customers (parents and students), and enhancing communications and teamwork among ourselves, to maintain a harmonious work atmosphere.
My favorite memory at CreativeKids
It has to be witnessing a toddler who cried for two lessons, finally experienced his “aha” moment and started to really enjoy class.
The little boy has been quiet and reserved since first joining the class. It was on a “Messy Day”* for CreativeKiddies (age 2.5-3.5) that he surprisingly started opening up and interacting with other students. He had so much fun painting on me while I lied on the floor as a “human canvas”!
*Messy Day is a day when children get messy with paint and other materials for an immersive and tactile learning experience.
At CreativeKids, I am the happiest when…
I see children’s breakthroughs, and when I develop strong relationships with parents of my students.
There was another CreativeKiddies student who refused to touch paint with his hands, yelling, “I cannot” every lesson. Half a year later, one day he finally dipped his fingers in the paint. I was in awe. It felt like a parent hearing the baby saying “mommy/daddy” for the first time!
I am grateful for parents who talked to me, shared their worries about their children, and comforted me when I was injured.
To me, “Constructive Creativity” means…
Creativity is not nonsense. Everyone needs it to do their job the most efficient way. We are all designers, even if one is unaware. Hence creativity can be applied to everyday life.
Hong Kong artist, Luke Ching Chin-wai, is known for designing a new feature for public rubbish bins – a simple idea that makes it so much easier for cleaners to clear the bins – in turn improving the work life of these cleaners!
Ultimately, I think it is a matter of how much one believes that creativity is an innate power that we all have – a power to solve problems!
On CreativeKids’ 30th Birthday
I wish that CreativeKids can show our society that there are choices in art education.
Art education is more than just the tradition idea of “drawing”, and that it has an impact on the way of thinking/living.
In an academics-focused city like Hong Kong, many parents tend to say no to art right away. This quick “no” takes away the “choice”. (And many are not even aware of the availability of an option!)
I wish that parents know that there is a choice in ways to learn. Having such awareness is as important as what they actually choose.
(And of course, I wish for more Kowloon City parents to get to know CreativeKids!)
