A total of 26 children from Kiwanis Down Syndrome Foundation (KDSF) National Centre were treated to a fun-filled, educational adventure back in time to the Mesozoic era at Dinoscovery by Dinosaurs Live!, Asia Pacific’s first interactive, world class edutainment dinosaur exhibition at Discoveria, Avenue K recently.
The excursion, co-sponsored by EMS Entertainment, the producer of Dinoscovery by Dinosaurs Live! was part of an ongoing sensory integration programme by KDSF to educate its students to adapt to the environment as well as to develop their sensory systems including touch, sight, movement and hearing.
“Children with Down Syndrome may face auditory, tactile or oral sensory defensiveness. Dinoscovery’s concept of animatronics dinosaurs that move and roar presents a perfect opportunity for us to expose our students to different types of sensory stimulation which is one way of helping the children to overcome their sensory defensiveness. Overall, this effort helps realise our Centre’s mission to maximise the potential of children with Down Syndrome as well as one of our main aims which is to prepare them for entry to the Pendidikan Khas programme in government schools,” said Angie Heng, Administrative Director of Kiwanis Down Syndrome Foundation National Centre.
Added Heng, “To prepare our students and let them know what to expect at Dinoscovery, the teachers conducted Social Story related to dinosaurs prior to this visit. They showed videos of dinosaurs roaring loudly in a darkened room to help them accustom to the exhibition’s environment as well as to encourage their involvement in the activities.”
At the exhibition, the children were decked in paleontologist vests with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags and maps in hand to navigate the Dino Quest trail. The children were then taken on a guided tour as they familiarise themselves with the darkened environment while learning about the dinosaurs and their specimens through touch and sight.
They also had the opportunity to partake in 15 other interactive, educational activities including Race A Theropod where they challenged a Gallimimus on a 10-metre race track, climbed a wall to peek at the Pteranodon’s eggs, excavated for fossils in a sand pit and even enjoyed a 3D dinosaur documentary.
“EMS Discoveria is pleased to sponsor this charity event as a complementary educational opportunity to the ongoing early intervention programme that is advocated by KDSF. We hope that today’s visit will make a lasting impact in their lives and help enhances their quality of life in the future,” remarked Lee Yew Jin, General Manager of EMS Discoveria Sdn Bhd.
KDSF was established in 1989 as a non-profit organisation committed to the welfare of children with Down Syndrome, its main focus being the education of these children up to 6 years old through the implementation of the Early Intervention Programme, a Special Needs Education Programme using the Robert Dellar’s Curriculum. To date, it manages 7 Down Syndrome Centres in Malaysia including Petaling Jaya, Klang, Johor Bahru, , Seremban, Melaka, Kota Kinabalu and Kulai.
Members of the public who are keen on Dinoscovery by Dinosaurs Live! can contact the exhibition hotline at 03 2181 7218, log on to www.discoveria.com.my or visit Discoveria’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/discoveria.kl. Opening hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends including school and public holiday.