Starchild: Why Malaysian kids think their siblings rock!
Erica Sophia, 12 Siblings are often our first friends. We share toys, games, secrets and even silly arguments with them. Sometimes they drive us a little crazy, but at the end of the day, they are the ones who stand by us through everything.
This Siblings Day, why not surprise your brother or sister with a kind gesture? You could draw them a card, bake some cookies together, or simply tell them you love them. Small acts of kindness can make their day extra special.
Even if you don't have a sibling, you can still celebrate by showing love to your cousins or close friends who feel like brothers and sisters. After all, family isn't only about blood — it is about the bond you share.
Here are the letters from Starchild readers on the topic, Siblings Day.
"My older brother Ryan and I like to play superheroes together. He is always the bossy one but I don't mind because we have lots of fun. I love Ryan because he makes me laugh even when I am feeling down," says Adam Cheng, 10.
Adam Cheng, 10 "My name is Ashraf, and I am four years old. I love my older sister, Aina Maureen, because she plays with me. Sometimes, she reads books with me. I like it when we play games together. I also love my baby brother, Aiman. He is tiny and so cute! I like when he smiles at me. I tell him funny jokes and make him laugh. Even though he can't talk much, he is my best friend," says Mohd Ashraf Ismail, four.
Erica Sophia, 12, says that although she squabbles with her older sister, Emma Natasha, she wouldn't trade her for anything. "We argue a lot, like all the time. Sometimes it is about silly things, like who gets to use the TV first, shower first or who ate the last slice of pizza. We don't always agree, and we can get pretty annoyed with each other.
"But even though we fight, I still love her a lot. I also admire how smart and strong she is. Happy Siblings Day, Kakak Emma."
Jayden Tan Li Sheng, 12, writes, "I have two sisters, and I am the youngest at home. Their names are Julia Tan and Jodie Tan. My elder sister, Julia, likes to cook. Sometimes, she cooks dinner for me, and I love her cooking. Recently, she got her SPM results — she received 10As and 1B. I want to congratulate her on her excellent results. My parents are very proud of her. My second sister, Jodie, always plays with me when I feel bored at home. She teaches and shows me how to do school revision. I love both my sisters very much."
Mohd Ashraf Ismail, 4
ITEM: If you could invent your own cookie, what would it look and taste like? Would it be packed with gooey chocolate and rainbow sprinkles, or something completely wild - like a durian-filled cookie or a spicy gochujang-flavoured one? Maybe you love savoury snacks and want black pepper and cheddar cheese in your cookie! Tell us all about your dream cookie. It's a bonus if you can give it a fun name too!
Email your contributions to lifestyle@thestar.com.my by May 16. Please put "STARCHILD: Cookies" in the subject line of your email.
Scanned drawings should be in jpeg format, with a resolution of 200dpi. 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.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
Starchild: The unique friendships of Malaysian kids
The International Day of Friendship is celebrated on July 30. Declared by the United Nations in 2011, it signifies how friendships between people, cultures and nations can promote peace and unity. Bethany Wang Qi Syuen, 10 Do you have a best friend or several best friends? A close friend is someone we can laugh with, share secrets with, and count on when we need help. They stand by us during happy times and sad moments too. That's why having a good friend is so special. Friends make our lives more colourful too. A best friend doesn't have to be someone who is exactly like us. In fact, many best friends are different from each other! What matters most is being kind, respectful and understanding. A good friend listens when you talk, cheers you up when you are sad, and celebrates your achievements – no matter how big or small. Some people may have one best friend, while others may have a group of close friends. Either way, having good friends makes school more fun and life more exciting. You will always have someone to play games with, do homework together, and share stories during recess! Here are the letters from Starchild readers on the topic, My Best Friend. "My best friend is Yu Ze. He always shares his snacks with me. He helps me with my homework. He is good at making me laugh with his comics. He is friendly and caring. I am happy to have a friend like Yu Ze," says Gian Zhe Cheng, nine. Ho Shin Hong, 9 Ho Shin Hong, nine, writes: 'I have two best friends. Their names are Ye-Za and Raj. We play together during recess and help each other in class. I am happy to have kind friends like them.' Kyra Grace Chang Kai Er, 11 'My best friend is Ariel. We sit next to each other in class. She always discusses homework with me when I don't understand something. We like to talk to each other. Ariel is a great friend,' says Kya Loo Qing Xin, nine. Ariel Li Xin Yue, 9 'My best friend is Kya. She always shares her colour pencils with me. We love to draw and colour together. She is kind and funny. I like being her best friend,' says nine-year-old Ariel Li Xin Yue. Kya Loo Qing Xin, 9 'Cayra and Hayley are my best friends in school. We have known each other for four years. We like to chit-chat and invent stories for our comics strips which we draw during free time in class. We share lots of fun and laughter together; memories that I shall treasure for many years to come,' says Bethany Wang Qi Syuen, 10. ITEM: We are celebrating Hari Merdeka on August 31! This day is very special to all Malaysians, as we will be marking 68 years of independence. This year's theme is 'Malaysia Madani: Rakyat Disantuni' (Malaysia Madani: The People Cared For). Starchild wants to know – what makes you proud to be Malaysian? Is it our delicious food, colourful festivals, or the many cultures and traditions that make Malaysia unique? Maybe it is our beautiful nature or the kindness of our people. Show us your love for Malaysia by sending in your letters, stories or drawings. Let's celebrate Merdeka together! Email your contributions to lifestyle@ by Aug 15. Please put 'STARCHILD: Merdeka' in the subject line of your email. Scanned drawings should be in JPEG format, with a resolution of 200dpi. 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.
The Star
25-07-2025
- The Star
Starchild: Why Malaysian kids love their grandmas so much
Do you know that Gorgeous Grandma Day is celebrated annually on July 23? Tan Mei Jing, 10 It is a special day to celebrate all the grandmothers in the world – especially yours! Grandmas are amazing people. They give the warmest hugs, tell the best stories and always seem to know how to make us feel better when we're sad. Many grandmas cook delicious meals, sew clothes, teach us about tradition or share fun memories from when they were young. They may even spoil us a little, and that's okay too! Some grandmas are quiet and gentle. Others are energetic and love to go on adventures. Some love gardening, while others enjoy watching dramas or playing games. No matter what they do, one thing is certain - grandmas always have a big heart filled with love. Remember, being "gorgeous" isn't just about how someone looks. It is about the kindness, wisdom and love they share. And our grandmas give us plenty of that! Here are the letters from Starchild readers on the topic, Gorgeous Grandma Day. Bethany Wang Qi Syuen, 10 "My gorgeous grandmas were both former teachers. My paternal grandma (Mah Mah) taught primary school and kindergarten children while my maternal grandma (Ah Mah) taught in secondary schools. Mah Mah could sew very well in her younger years. "She sewed me a baby pillow (using rice as filing) when I was born. Nowadays, she keeps her mind sharp by doing sudoku daily. As for my Ah Mah, she is very hardworking; she will bring us a variety of cut fruits regularly. On special days, there will be freshly squeezed orange juice for us. She often encourages us to draw for Starchild. Both my grandmas are uniquely special and I thank God very much for them," says Bethany Wang Qi Syuen, 10. "I love spending time with Grandma, be it for evening walk or cooking up a storm in the kitchen. She is strict but funny and loving at the same time. In my eyes, she is the best grandma and best chef in the world," says Hannah Lee Zhi Yin, nine. "My grandma is super stylish – she wears sunglasses, matching scarves and walks like a movie star! She used to be a teacher, so she's very strict about homework and manners. But she's also the best baker ever. Her pineapple tarts and marble cake are the best. Even though she's fierce, I know she loves us a lot — and I love her too. Happy Gorgeous Grandma Day, Amachi," says Meera Segaran, 11. "My grandma is the kindest person I know. She makes yummy chicken porridge when I'm sick. I love sitting with her while she waters her plants. I love you, Poh Poh,' says Tan Mei Jing, 10. Clayra Bungan Yeoh Hui Qing, 8 Jayden Tan Li Sheng, 12, writes: "My grandma taught me how to cook my favourite noodles. She takes care of me whenever my parents are at work. She used to look after me when I was a baby. She is an excellent cook and her homemade soups are delicious. I always wish my grandma good health. Grandma, Thank you for taking care of me and I love you very much." Jayden Tan Li Sheng, 12 ITEM: Ever peeked into your fridge and found something yummy... or maybe something strange? For this week's Starchild topic, we want to know all about your fridge. Tell us what are some of your favourite things in your fridge right now. And if you could fill your fridge with anything in the world, what would it be? Draw us a picture of your fridge – real or imaginary – and don't forget to label the items. Email your contributions to lifestyle@ by Aug 8. Please put "STARCHILD: My Fridge" in the subject line of your email. Scanned drawings should be in jpeg format, with a resolution of 200dpi. 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.
The Star
03-07-2025
- The Star
Starchild: Why Malaysian kids can't get enough of the playground
Playgrounds are one of the best places for children to have fun. Kids enjoy going there because there's always something exciting to do. You can climb, swing, slide and run around freely. Is there a playground near your neighbourhood? What do you like best about the playground? Could it be the colourful slides, swings, see-saws and monkey bars? One great thing about the playground is that it lets kids run and play, giving them a chance to move their bodies and stay active. P.L. Melissa Audrey, 12 The playground is also a great place to meet new friends. Some popular games children play at the playground include hide and seek and racing each other down the slide. Spending time at the playground is also healthier than staying indoors, glued to a handphone screen or TV. When we play outside, we get fresh air, sunshine and our much-needed exercise. It also helps us sleep better at night. Best of all, playing at the playground is fun! It makes us happy and helps us forget our worries. We can be silly, laugh loudly with friends and enjoy the moment. Nyon Qian Rou, 6 Starchild received an overwhelming response from our readers on the topic, Playground. We will publish the next sets of drawings next week. Here are this week's letters from our young and active readers. Chong Chen Kai, 6 Six-year-old Chong Chen Kai would create a colourful balance beam that makes him feel like a tightrope walker. "It would help me learn how to balance myself while having fun at the same time." Sham Kok Ren, 7 "In my dream playground, the slides are bright red and blue. I would spend the whole day zooming down them. I love to spend time in my special playground," says Sham Kok Ren, seven. "My seesaw would have a fun, unique design just for me. I'd go up and down with my best friend, laughing all the way," says six-year-old Nyon Qian Rou. Pang Yu Xuan, 6 Pang Yu Xuan, six, says: "My playground will have three merry-go-rounds in red, pink and green. My friends and I will get to twirl and whirl safely." Older sibling Nesha Anne Isitor, 12, writes: "I like the playground because I can play with my younger siblings, Ethan and Kaira. We sometimes play badminton at the park, and I try to hit the shuttlecock really high! Other times, we play basketball and try to score points like our favourite players. It's always so much fun!" "At the playground, I meet lots of friends and we play games like 'police and thief.' I also like the swings because I can go really fast. Playing outside makes me happy and healthy," says Kaira Anne Isitor, 10. Kaira Anne Isitor, 10 "In my dream playground, the adventure starts from the moment you step inside. First, there's a fun zone with trampolines and slides where kids can jump, bounce, and race. Then comes a rock-climbing wall that leads to a Minecraft -inspired maze filled with hidden passages. A wooden bridge with a breathtaking view connects this area to a stone maze. Deep within the maze lies a mineshaft, where sparkling fake diamonds shimmer on the walls, just like in a video game. It is the perfect place to relax," says Yap Si Hsien, 10. Yap Si Hsien, 10 ITEM: Grandmas are full of love, warmth and wonderful stories. They bake our favourite treats, give the best hugs and always know how to make us smile. July 23 is Gorgeous Grandma Day – so let us celebrate them! Write in and tell us what makes your grandma special and why you love her so much. Email your contributions to lifestyle@ by July 11. Please put "STARCHILD: My Gorgeous Grandma" in the subject line of your email. Scanned drawings should be in jpeg format, with a resolution of 200dpi. 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.
