CATHERINE Sharma is a firm believer in toys as a vital tool in childhood education. “They are not just playthings,’’ says the 35-year-old Filipina housewife who has lived in Malaysia for the past three years.
She regularly surfed the Internet for the varieties that could be used to enhance learning skills for her four-year-old son, Ashton Cayle.
Early last year, she read about some parents who deployed wooden peg dolls as an educational tool for children and she decided to do the same.
She booked some blank wooden peg dolls online and painted them to look like astronauts.
She says: “I wanted to teach my son about the job of an astronaut. He really enjoyed the experience and I have decided I will paint more wooden peg dolls.”
Catherine also took on an assignment to paint wooden peg dolls during Merdeka Day last year.
“I wanted to tell my son, something about the country that we are currently living in,” says Catherine, whose husband – a bar manager – has been posted here by an international hotel chain.
“The unique thing about Malaysia is that different races are living under one roof, peacefully. I decided to portray three main races – Chinese, Indian and Malay – in their traditional attire. I even made a wooden Malaysian’s flag.”
Catherine’s doll set-ups have included an Antarctica group, complete with penguins, a pirates group and cute bunnies.
She has encouraged her son to paint his own wooden peg dolls, to build his creative thinking skills.
“He has his own collection of works,” she says.
She believes the dolls ignite her child’s imagination.
Postings of the creations on her Instagram account have won praise from followers.
Some women even wanted to commission Catherine to craft them for their children.
This inspired her to set up Little Wonders Everyday, an online space where she displays and sells her dolls.
One loyal customer hopes that Catherine will remain in the country so she can continue easily to buy her craft. “I am flattered!’’
Her dolls have even been featured at the prestige toys online platform called Malaysia Toys.
Despite the overwhelming interest, Catherine prefers to keep her business small.
“I am a mother first and businesswoman, second,” says Catherine.
“If I let the business grow, I will have less time for my son and I do not want that. He should have my ultimate attention.”
She adds: “When my son grows up, I want him to remember his childhood years, fondly.”
There is a saying the greatest thing a mother can give her child is a beautiful childhood.
Catherine is certainly working towards this goal.
