“He was thrilled because he loves going there,” his mother, Harathi Dorairaja, said with a laugh.

What Shayan didn’t know was that he was attempting to secure a place in the Malaysia Book of Records by correctly naming 30 different insects in just 60 seconds.

“I told him he needed to be quick like Super Mario,” Harathi, 37, told FMT Lifestyle. “And even if he didn’t succeed, he’d still get a jelly bean. He just said, ‘Okay, Mama.’ He was completely relaxed – I, on the other hand, couldn’t sleep the night before!”

After three months of practice – going through countless insect images and learning their full names – Shayan began his attempt, with his mother and an MBR official present.

“You wouldn’t believe it. He took just two seconds per picture, and he named every insect perfectly,” Harathi said. “The existing record was 25. He got 30 – and he even wanted to keep going!”

The family only needed one attempt. “I was overwhelmed. I was shaking,” she admitted. “He knew he had done something special and couldn’t wait to tell his grandparents.”

At home in Sendayan, Shayan’s achievement reflects a parenting style centred on curiosity and balance. Harathi, a dentist pursuing a PhD in dental public health, believes in nurturing a child’s natural interests.

She noticed early on her son’s fascination with animals. On one occasion, he corrected her, insisting an insect she identified as a dragonfly was actually a damselfly. “I checked – and he was right. I apologised immediately,” she said.

Learning for Shayan happens everywhere – through books, cartoons, smartphone apps, and even walks in the park. But just as important is play.

“He spends time at the playground, cycling, swimming, and even play-wrestling with his father,” Harathi shared. “And he loves his toy cars – he has quite a collection.”

For Harathi, these everyday moments matter most. “Every morning he hugs me and says, ‘Good morning, Mama, you are my sunshine.’ That’s very special.”

Above all, she hopes Shayan grows up feeling supported and loved. She also encourages other parents to embrace their children’s interests, even if they seem unconventional.

“Some worry if their child enjoys something like music and try to steer them elsewhere,” she said. “But interests can change. What matters is not discouraging them.”

As for Shayan, he’ll soon be enjoying the reward he was promised – a trip to the playland. And for a two-year-old, that may be the best achievement of all.