Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2016 i Young Parents

Who’s a pushover? Nudge this penguin and watch it wobble back and forth on the wooden roly-poly base. The beads inside its plastic body rattle, as well. At 16cm tall, it’s just the right size for your baby’s hands and reinforces her understanding of cause and effect. Djeco Roly Pingui, $29.90, from The Better Toy Store Turn the page to see more cool penguin-themed toys and fashion. Now in Singapore You might be familiar with Chicco (say “KEE-koh”) for its baby gear, such as strollers and car seats. But did you know the 58-year-old Italian brand also has an extensive range of toys and fashion (pictured) – for newborns to kids up to eight years? Find them all under one roof at its new concept store at #02-17/18 Tanglin Mall.…

CHILLED OAT PARFAIT WITH BERRIES AND CHIA SEEDS Makes 8 to 10 servings 250g rolled oats 500ml milk 20g chia seeds, soaked 80ml strawberry yogurt 100g fresh assorted berries, cubed Mixture A 70ml honey 50g almond, grounded 100g raisins 1 green apple, skinned and grated 1 Soak oats with milk and leave to soften overnight, or about six hours, in the fridge. 2 Combine mixture A with overnight oatmeal. Mix well. 3 Assemble some transparent plastic cups for toddler guests, and glasses for adults. 4 Layer the ingredients in this order: chia seeds, oat mixture and strawberry yogurt. 5 Top with assorted berries, such as strawberries, blueberries and raspberries. Serve immediately. This recipe is suitable for toddlers from 12 months old. Executive chef Lawrence Tay Lian Chin and principal dietitian…

 Christmas is just round the corner, and you are worried. Your shy toddler is uncomfortable having to mingle with guests at parties, so she usually glues herself to your leg and refuses to respond to even the kindest show of interest. Here are some dos and don'ts to help her enjoy the festivities. Don’t let her take the easy way out. Avoiding social challenges means she won’t learn to deal with them. Do share your thoughts with her Let her know that you care about her and that you want to help her overcome her shyness. Reassure her that you understand how she feels and that you will help her feel better about speaking to others. Explain in simple terms that you sometimes worry about going to a party even…

When the latest iPad was released in Singapore, Patsy Koh’s nine-year-old daughter begged them for one. “Her birthday and Christmas were coming up, so she wanted it as an early gift,” shares the 39-year-old private tuition teacher. “She already has an iPad from a couple of years back, so I denied her request. “But she wouldn’t stop pleading with me, telling me that she needed to have it. After months of whining and begging, she finally got her wish. She wouldn’t let the matter go and I didn’t want to disappoint her.” Does this sound familiar? Perhaps you, too, have kids who will stop at nothing to get the newest toys and gadgets but, for some parents, the demands just never end. “My eight-year-old son always wants the latest game…

BELOW $920 There’s only one bed in this swanky, spacious suite at The Ritz-Carlton hotel, but my kids didn’t have to squeeze with Hubby and me. They wouldn’t have wanted to, anyway – they were going glamping. A sleeping tent that could fit two kids was pitched next to our king-size bed (main photo). Inside, there was a thick, cushy mattress, two pillows, a portable night light and adorable Ritz-Carlton lion plushies. The latter were still sealed in plastic bags, giving parents peace of mind that these are brand new. (You know how easily germs are spread through shared soft toys.) My kids were so excited, they said they were going to stay up and chat all night in the tent. But that didn’t happen – they were exhausted from…

The best age for fine dining is when your child is at least six years old, says Clara Tan, founder of etiquette school Molly Manners Singapore. At this age, he would already be aware of his social environment and have a good understanding of how to behave in a formal setting. He would also know how to handle basic cutlery and be able to eat on his own. Practice makes perfect Show him what a formal table setting looks like, suggests Yvonne Anjelina, director and chief etiquette coach at The Etiquette School Singapore. Teach him how to use the different pieces of cutlery – for example, the round soup spoon is strictly for soup, and the butter knife must be used only to butter the rolls – and explain what…

In July 2015, I set off on a two-week holiday with my then-six-month-old son, Owen. It was a break I was looking forward to – a free-and-easy journey through the south of France by train and a few days in Paris. My goal was to cover 14 cities and towns in all. I was breastfeeding Owen at the time, so I had to take him along with me. My husband didn’t have any issues with me holidaying alone with our son, and being a seasoned and savvy traveller, I wasn’t too worried either. My dream holiday-turned-nightmare The trip went smoothly the first six days. Owen and I had a wonderful time checking out the lavender fields in Haute Provence, and the stunning coastal views of the French Riviera and Monaco.…

ASK THE EXPERT These questions were answered by Dr Goh Shen Li, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist in S L Goh Women’s Clinic at Mount Alvernia Medical Centre D. Got a question? E-mail us at magyoungparents@sph.com.sg. Q Can I eat runny, soft-boiled eggs during pregnancy? A The problem with soft-boiled eggs is the risk of food poisoning, namely a salmonella infection. That’s why expectant mums are advised not to eat them. It is important to cook eggs fully as this process kills any bacteria that may be present on, or in, the eggs. This means the whole yolk and egg white should be solid and no longer runny. Unfortunately, washing the egg shells before cooking does not guarantee that bacteria is eliminated completely. It is also important to avoid freshly…

A two-year-old who deals well with moments of disappointment and distress is likely to enjoy preschool. Choosing when to send your toddler to preschool can be one of your toughest decisions as a parent. Leave it too late, and he can become bored; start him too early, and he might end up stressed out. Here are six signs that he's all set for the learning journey: The sign He has lost interest in the toys and activities at home. What it means Your two-year-old is curious and inquiring, and it can be a struggle for you to provide that stimulation every day. His apparent drop in enthusiasm indicates he is ready for the wide range of new experiences available in preschool. The sign He is socially independent. What it means…

TEACH THEM TO BE GRATEFUL FOR WHAT THEY HAVE If there is no gratitude, they will never be happy no matter how much they have, because they will always want something else or something more, says Keon Chee, co-author of Bringing Up Money Smart Kids. Discuss the importance of making full use of the toys, books, games, gadgets and clothes that they own, and encourage them to share these items with their siblings. MAKE THEM AWARE OF THE VALUE OF MONEY “Explain the concept of money to them – how it was earned, the energy that went into earning it, and its potential and value,” advises Lee Cheon Loon of Executive Coach International. “If you want to reward your kids with material goods, ensure that the reward is deserved. They…

Christmas eats Baked with candied fruit steeped in brandy and English tea for over a year, the tangy topping on the aged fruit cake with yuzu frosting ($48 for 950g) adds a new twist to the classic Christmas cake. It’s available at Bakerzin outlets from Nov 11 to Jan 2; order online by Dec 22. Visit www.bakerzin.com. If you love spicy food, the festive lamb shank in dried chilli and Sichuan pepper ($58++ per order) is a great Christmas treat. Seasoned and roasted with Sichuan chilli and peppercorns, the lamb shank will be available at Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant at Parkroyal on Beach Road from Dec 1 to 31. Visit www.sichuandouhua.com. Made of 16 squares with six ›avours, the Merry Mosaic cakes ($48 for 500g) from Goodwood Park Hotel…

the white house Nestled in Bukit Timah estate, The White House gives an air of space and warmth, thanks to its large outdoor playground and garden with fruit trees. Its double-storey building has a suite of classrooms for the younger children on the ground level and spacious classes upstairs for older kids. The preschool follows the International Preschool Curriculum and a Mandarin curriculum developed by the Confucius Institute – Nanyang Technological University (CI-NTU). Its bilingual curriculum integrates the internationally renowned preschool programme with the requirements of the local school framework. Call to find out more about its full-day and half-day programmes, flexi care and holiday programmes for ages 18 months to six years. Tel: 6464-6088 click and learn Visit www.youngparents.com.sg for expert advice on parenting in Singapore!…

THIS MONTH, WE ASK How can I tell if my child’s preschool teacher is doing a good job educating her? It is now more common to see well-informed parents – thanks to the Internet – judging and demanding that their child’s teachers do certain things in a certain way. You must understand that every kid is unique. Don’t compare the progress of one child to another, or make a request for specifi c academic outcomes, because it regresses the plan that teachers put in place. More often than not, teachers tailor a style of teaching suited to your child. Trust them to do the very job they are trained in, much as you would trust your doctor, lawyer or similar professionals. June Rusdon, Busy Bees Asia EDUCATION Brian Caswell is…

A one-in-100 chance of a Down syndrome baby, one-third odds of a miscarriage and two-fold risk of stillbirth. By medical standards, the risks of having a child at the age of 40 are unnerving enough to put a damper on any sizzling baby-making plans. But more older mums are thumbing their noses at the gloomy statistics. Think 40-something actresses like Halle Berry and Fann Wong, both of whom defied statistical odds and delivered healthy babies. Then, there’s 50-year-old singer Janet Jackson, who confirmed her first pregnancy and showed off her baby bump in October this year. In fact, the number of women conceiving in their 40s has doubled over the past three decades in Singapore. Last year, there were about nine births for every 1,000 women aged 40 to 44,…

If you need two incomes to balance your family finances, you may not be able to become a stay-at-home mum. How would I feel if I became a stay-at-home mum? There are many women who are content as a full-time parent. Yet that doesn’t mean you will feel the same way. Try to imagine what life would be like – you would have all day with Baby (which probably seems delightful), but it could be endlessly demanding on you physically and emotionally. If you feel a warm glow inside, then it might be right for you. Will I miss the companionship of work colleagues? If you enjoy the hustle and bustle of an office or workplace environment, you could feel lonely and isolated when it’s just you and Baby together…

The more often he makes these decisions, the more he’ll realise that nothing dreadful will happen as a result of his choice. By now, your four-year-old has realised he can't get everything he wants, and that sometimes means he has to make hard choices. When he's told he can't buy a robot toy and watch a movie, he'll probably argue with you and even storm off. Even adults have difficulty making such decisions. When you shop for clothes, do you ever struggle to choose between two tops? Maybe you take hours (and several visits to the store) before making the purchase. The challenges and dilemmas you face are the same as those your child faces. Making trade-offs can be very difficult - sometimes it is easier to postpone the decision…

IT’S CHRISTMAS… IN JULY! Located in Kosciuszko National Park in the state of New South Wales, Thredbo Ski Resort features a range of accommodations, from self-contained apartments and hotels to traditional lodges. Its village contains shops, restaurants, and even a pharmacy, a medical centre and banks. Check out Thredbo’s “Christmas in July” festival, which takes place every year during the Australian winter and features live entertainment, Yuletide feasts and appearances by Santa. Thredbo has a variety of trails, from gentle slopes to advanced terrain. Its Snow Play Park, which is located in the base station area of the village, is perfect for snow tubing and tobogganing, building a snowman, or enjoying a fun snowball fight. Just for kids The resort offers skiing and snowboarding programmes for children of different age…

COOKIES FOR CAUSE Unsure of what desserts to serve at your Christmas party this year? The Association for Persons with Special Needs sells Mystical cookies that are baked and packed by its clients – people with mild intellectual disabilities. The cookies come in four flavours - chocolate chip, double chocolate chip, eggless and shortbread. This Christmas, it's offering star-, heart-, snowflake- and Christmas tree-shaped cookies, in the eggless flavour ($5 for a pack of four). All profits are ploughed back into the running of the social enterprise, as well as its beneficiaries' salaries. Order by Dec 16. FIND OUT MORE www.apsn.org.sg ARTY BUYS Arts@metta provides visual-arts training to special-needs youth in Singapore, where they learn how to create products with batik painting such as bookmarks, recycled carrier bags and…

Did you know that more children are developing myopia, and at a younger age than before? In Singapore and other East Asian countries, about a quarter of the population end up with short-sightedness of over 600 degrees. High myopia increases your kid’s risk of sight-threatening complications when he grows up. These include retinal detachment, macular degeneration and glaucoma, said Dr Chua Wei Han, an ophthalmologist at Mount Elizabeth Hospital. He was speaking to parents at the Healthy Kids, Happy Kids seminar on Sept 24 at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital. Spending more time outdoors is the first step to help keeping your child’s eyes in good condition, Dr Chua shared. If Junior is already wearing spectacles, see an ophthalmologist for atropine eye drops to slow the progression of his myopia. Another…

Once the baby years are over, parents get less panicky about every fever their child suffers. But did you know that you shouldn’t use a fever strip thermometer or sponge your kid for more than 30 minutes at a time? Dr Grace Lim, a paediatrician at Thomson Paediatric Centre, shares her insights on this common childhood illness and when you should raise the alarm. What’s considered a fever? A person’s normal body temperature varies with age, general health, activity level, and time of day. It is highest between the late afternoon and early evening, and lowest between midnight and early morning. A fever is a body temperature that is higher than the normal range of 36.4 and 37.5 deg C. Most paediatricians consider a temperature above 38 deg C as…