SimplyGo Adventure Quest Pop-up
- S. N. Linn
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
A few days ago, we saw someone post a short video about the SimplyGo Adventure Quest Pop-up. Knowing our ten-year-old vehicle otaku was almost guaranteed to love it, we immediately added it to our weekend plans. Then the weekend came, and off we went.
The pop-up occupied the Level 2 atrium of Bugis+ and was buzzing with visitors. Several people were queuing to buy merchandise, and we saw many families with young children darting between the displays. It was hard to keep track of Alex while filming at the same time. Alex was so excited that he disappeared into the crowd so often. There were a few kids around his age, and you know how boys sometimes look similar. At one point, I even grabbed another boy's hand, thinking he was Alex.
The pop-up had games for the kids, including one where they had to identify the fastest MRT route and another matching transport uniforms to the correct organizations. Alex's favorite involved pressing a giant red button and trying to stop a digital timer exactly at 88:88. Children could only participate after purchasing merchandise, so we bought a few items for Alex—with one condition. They would become birthday presents.
I almost bought a few more toys to use as incentives for Alex, but in the end, I decided against it because I couldn't wait to escape the crowd.
That brings me to incentives. Whenever Alex develops a strong interest, we try to build on it. Trying a new food, or attempting something unfamiliar often earns him a small reward related to whatever currently fascinates him. Sometimes it's nothing more than a toy car or a fidget spinner, but to Alex, those little rewards are incredibly motivating.
Alex ate only mashed food until he was seven. He was afraid of foods that looked unfamiliar, and chewing was also physically difficult for him. With the help and encouragement of the people around him, he gradually overcame these challenges. Today, he often suggests trying new foods himself. Most recently, he asked to try a meat pau.
Fortunately, Alex isn't especially sensitive to smells or textures. He is simply reluctant to try foods that look very different from those he already considers safe and familiar. I understand that many autistic children genuinely struggle with certain smells and textures, so what works for ours may not work for everyone else. We simply have to observe our children and patiently tailor our approach to suit them—very patiently—over the years.
After Alex finished the games, we headed to Bugis Junction to look for a place to have dinner. There were plenty of restaurants nearby, but my husband was craving Sichuan food in Chinatown, so we headed there instead and had dinner at one of the many eateries.
Watching Alex happily eat mapo tofu made me smile. There was a time when I genuinely believed he might eat only mashed food for the rest of his life.
Now, little by little, his world is growing larger.
And little by little, I hope his courage grows with it.
