Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2017 i Young Parents

The start of each year is often a harried one for parents. Trying to get the kids up, dressed, fed and out the door on time requires superhuman effort. So what happens if your kids don’t go to school? Our story on homeschooled children (page 64) reveals a very different routine – one where exploration and discovery is child-led, where play is unfettered, and where kiasu-ism has no place. It all sounds perfect, but homeschooling actually involves a lot of hard work, determination and discipline by the mums we interviewed. It’s not for everyone, but these mothers deserve a pat on the back for their efforts. You’ll also want to congratulate Gladys and Kareen, two women who dispel the notion that only surgery can get rid of “mummy tummy”. Read…

power play If these toys leave you puzzled, don’t worry. They’re meant to unleash your child’s imagination – the Sunny and Cloudy brushes are sensory playthings, while the Oogi figures are gender-neutral toys that offer hours of fun, open-ended play. So, ditch your prescribed notions about what a toy should be and let your little one take the lead. Moluk Plui Sunny and Cloudy brushes, $11.90 each or $19.90 a set; Moluk Oogi figures (part of a Family set), $37.90, all from www.littlellama. sg . it’s a match Homegrown kids’ apparel brand Chubby Chubby Singapore launches not one, but four new cheongsam designs for little girls this Chinese New Year. Its Kampung Hues collection comes in baby pink, blue and orange, and you can get a mini sling…

A day out at the mall or at the opening of a new toy store can quickly turn to tears if your toddler is terrified of people in costume, even if they’re her favourite characters like Barney and Elmo. You expected her to have great fun. Instead, she cowers behind you, trembling and tearful. Don’t be surprised, though, because toddlers can be afraid of anything. Some are scared to go near cats, dogs or creepy-crawlies. For others, it is the fear of experiences, such as swimming (in case she’ll drown) or climbing (she might fall). It is also common that they are fearful of larger-than-life characters – even if they look exactly like they do on TV. The problem is that these fears are often irrational. Most of the time,…

Dressing two children the same way is always delightful. One of our favourite family photos shows our six-year-old daughter wearing a T-shirt that reads: “I’m the big sister”, and our four-year-old daughter wearing a similar T-shirt that says: “I’m the little sister”. Another wonderful holiday snap shows them at ages eight and six years wearing similar dresses. They look so cute in the photos. But, by that age, we already felt they wore those dresses mainly to please us, and that they were well on the way to developing their own sense of style. The “I want to dress differently from her” cry is a sign of your child’s growing independence and of her steadily increasing sense of self. It’s not that she doesn’t love her sibling, and it’s probably…

Jedidiah Eo, eight, has been learning Latin and the history of the Magna Carta. These subjects – as well as others he takes, such as geography and science – are not part of the syllabus for pupils his age, who are in Primary 2 in mainstream schools. They are part of his Classical Conversations homeschooling curriculum, which aims to develop a love of learning through a Christian worldview. It is one of several curricula, including the Ministry of Education (MOE) syllabus, which his mother, Elaine Eo, 40, has been using to homeschool her son since he was 2 1/2. His sister Sarah, six, is also homeschooled; and their youngest sibling, Hannah, three, joins in where she can – for example, in their daily reading sessions. Homeschooling encompasses a wide range…

As a child, 49-year-old dyslexic Heman Tan was the proverbial troublemaker who failed every academic subject in school. “I could not spell or read a proper sentence. My Mandarin was terrible, too. In those days, people didn’t know about dyslexia. They just thought you were naughty,” says the secondary-school dropout. Now an accomplished chef, artist and triathlete, Heman has beat his learning disability into submission by developing his own coping strategies. In his 30s, Heman picked up the English language on his own, with the help of Google and his trusty dictionary, which he takes with him wherever he goes. “Previously, you would not be able to conduct this interview with me in English,” says the father of three, who recently published a book titled The Iron Man Chef's Guide…

IT’S OKAY TO BE BORED Before Isaac Lim turned two years old, he had zero screen time on an iPad or a smartphone. His parents had read that screen exposure had adverse health effects and felt that he would not understand what he viewed anyway. He was gradually allowed to watch programmes such as Frozen, one of his favourite movies, as well as Peppa Pig cartoons and kids’ music videos so he could learn vocabulary, the alphabets and numbers. Isaac’s father, Lim Choon Kiong, admits he wanted to keep his only child entertained, especially during meal times when he wouldn’t sit still. The 37-year-old finance manager says: “My wife and I were paranoid about keeping him occupied. We found ourselves letting screens be our babysitter.” But eventually, he and his…

1 Woot-Woot Earth hand-woven rattan basket, $78, from http://woot-wootsg.com 2 Great Little Trading Co. wooden storage cart, $69, from http://piccolo-house.com 3 3 Sprouts polyester storage box, $33.90, from www.pupsikstudio.com 4 Tellkiddo paper storage bag, $32, from www.madeforkai.com 5 Great Little Trading Co. canvas storage cube, $69, from http://piccolo-house.com 6 Flisat wooden storage box with wheels, $39.90, from www.ikea.com/sg 7 Olli Ella rattan basket with wheels, $130, from http://littleplayroom.com 8 Flyttbar polyester trunk, $29.90, from www.ikea.com/sg 9 Play & Go cotton storage bag, $79, from http://andersanddawn.com…

It is a myth that “lifting” creams can tighten loose skin after pregnancy, says Dr Chua Jun Jie from Mount Elizabeth Hospital. “If you apply them after delivery, it is already too late. Creams can never penetrate the whole layer of skin and can only improve the superficial texture,” he shares. What you should do to reduce skin damage is to frequently apply moisturiser to common stretch mark areas – tummy, breasts, thighs, buttocks and arms – as soon as you know you’re pregnant. The first few weeks of pregnancy are the most important.…

KOOLFEVER FOR BABIES gel sheets are sized for little ones up to two years old. They are free of fragrance and colouring, and are gentle on the skin. They stick snugly onto your baby’s forehead and won’t budge even if he tosses and turns. Its cooling effect lasts for about four hours. A pack of four sheets retail for $4.50 and is available from leading pharmacies. Visit www.fb.com/KoolfeverSG. BRAUN NO TOUCH + FOREHEAD THERMOMETER is perfect for taking your baby’s temperature when he is asleep – just hold the sensor up to 5cm above his forehead for two seconds. The easy-to-read LCD screen comes with a backlight so you can read it in a dim room. When your little one is awake, you can convert it to a contact thermometer.…

Your child is introverted and you are worried that she won't speak up in primary school, where the teacher has a large class to attend to and therefore won't have the time to mollycoddle her like her preschool teachers did. For example, she might be afraid to tell the teacher that she needs to go to the toilet, or to ask him to repeat his instructions. You know that an introverted child can easily get lost in the hubbub of the classroom. Here are eight tips to encourage her to be more outgoing: Don’t panic Remember that the way she behaves also depends on the particular context. For instance, although she might be very quiet at home, she may be more talkative among her friends in class. So don't assume…

“Some kids need more breaks than others, some prefer to study with friends, some need to discuss what they are learning with others, while some need to see visual examples.” IF YOUR CHILD IS IN PRIMARY 4 OR 5 Set a regular study time Once Junior enters upper primary, set up a weekly revision routine so that he’s absorbing knowledge in “bite-sized” portions, and will reduce the amount of cramming he needs to do in Primary 6, says Alan Yip, founder of Mind Edge. “Do a weekly review to measure how much he has studied each week, which will lead to increased motivation.” But be realistic about study time, says Helen Marjan, CEO and director of studies at Lorna Whiston Schools. “An hour to 1½ hours a day should be…

1 Late speech or difficulties in correctly pronouncing certain common words. 2. Difficulties in remembering the right names for objects. 3 Confusion with directions (for instance, left-right, up-down) as dyslexics tend to think in 3-D. 4 Having trouble learning the letter names or numbers. 5 Not being able to recognise rhymes, as this might indicate a reading difficulty in the future. 6 A family history of dyslexia: if you or your spouse has dyslexia, there is a 50 per cent chance your child will have it, too. Source Geetha Shantha Ram, director of MOE-Aided DAS Literacy Programme…

A digital detox is a period of time during which you refrain from using all electronic devices, such as smartphones or computers, explains Helen Marjan of Lorna Whiston. It helps reduce stress and let you focus on social interaction in the physical world. How often and how long the detox is depends on your family’s preferences, but Helen suggests it be done at least once a month. She emphasises: “During a digital detox, it is important that all members of the family take part, not just the kids. In this instance, the phrase ‘do as I do, not just as I say’ really does apply.” Here, she recommends activities to occupy kids of different ages. You can find more ideas on the school’s blog (http://blog.lornawhiston.com) as well. IF YOU HAVE…

fit for baby and daddy Peter Opsvik, the designer behind the iconic Stokke Tripp Trapp, has come up with another high chair, named Nomi. The concept is similar – both chairs can be adapted to sit a baby, child or adult. But while Tripp Trapp is purely made from wood, Nomi features a combination of wood and recyclable plastic. The new design makes it easier to adjust the seat and is lighter, as well – weighing 4.9kg. However, it can take adults up to 130kg. Get it for $349 at Mothercare; accessories such as the tray and harness are sold separately. Find out more at www.evomove.com . mozzies away! Get up to three hours of protection from insect bites with Moov insect repellent. Made with melaleuca plant…

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Not keen to go under the knife? Dr Chua Jun Jie from Mount Elizabeth Hospital says mums with mild to moderate loose skin issues may benefit from non-invasive skin-tightening treatments, which use technology like radiofrequency, infrared and ultrasound waves. These treatments heat the skin and stimulate the skin’s collagen growth, he explains. Collagen is what keeps the skin looking wrinkle-free, plump and youthful. The best results are usually seen when mums also do some form of exercise and eat sensibly, says Dr Christopher Ng of GynaeMD Women’s and Rejuvenation Clinic. However, Prof Walter Tan from Raffles Skin and Aesthetics says most of these tightening techniques tend to work better on the face – where the skin is finer – than on the tummy. It is also possible for mums undergoing…

What are the typical characteristics of a Rooster child? Roosters are generally known to be creative people, and this creativity can be expressed in different forms. Chances are, your child is also hardworking, and he is obsessed with work. Now, because 2017 is the Year of the Fire Rooster, you can expect your child to be better in the field of business, and that’s how he will express his creativity. He will be good at coming up with business ideas and plans. And that’s why people in the olden days predicted that those born in the Year of the Fire Rooster would be wealthy, because they’re hardworking and knowledgeable in business. In terms of weaknesses, however, they tend to be blunt and sharp when they speak. Is true that those…

At a recent family gathering, your relatives criticised you for having to rely on your domestic helper to soothe your crying baby or get him to nap. The comments made you feel ashamed that you don’t understand your little one as much as your helper does. What can you, as a working mum, do to catch up with your maid or win your baby’s trust? Consider these eight pointers. Don’t get jealous First things first: understand that your baby is capable of forming an emotional bond with more than one adult. He might share a connection with your helper, but that doesn’t mean he is unable to establish and maintain one with you. Get involved in his routine Maybe you are tired at the end of a workday and would…

Kindergarteners are taught to use apps like Garageband to compose their own music. Both the art and music programmes are taught by specialists. THE ODYSSEY AT STILL ROAD What’s special Housed in a heritage building that used to be The Grand Hotel decades ago, Odyssey at Still Road wows you with its indoor and outdoor spaces. Its 21,000 sq ft campus includes a spacious outdoor area with mature trees, a ship-themed wooden play structure and a water play area with showers attached to tree trunks. Along the side garden, there’s a “stream” where kids can scoop up little canal fish and guppies with a fishing net – this helps them learn about eye-hand coordination – and a “mud kitchen” to encourage outdoor play, mess and all. Inside, corridor walls are…

A visual learner studies best with visual aids, so try these strategies: Drawing a map of a scientific process Making outlines and charts of everything Listing key points Watching videos Using flash cards and highlighters, underlining and circling words An auditory learner studies best by reading text out loud. He may learn better by: Using word association to remember facts Repeating facts with eyes closed Participating in discussions Listening to audio materials for language practice Recording notes and playing them back A kinaesthetic learner needs constant movement and thrives on experiential learning. Boost his capabilities by doing these: Studying in short blocks of time or with others Taking practical classes Role-playing Going on field trips or visiting museums Using memory games and flash cards Taking short breaks throughout study time…

BRIGHTON MONTESSORI E contact@brightonmontessori.com.sg W www.brightonmontessori.com.sg T 6588-3883 @ FORT ROAD 16 Fort Road, Singapore 439077 @ FRANKEL AVENUE 125 Frankel Avenue, Singapore 458235 @ GREAT WORLD CITY 1 Kim Seng Promenade, #02-41A/42 Great World City, Singapore 237994 @ LOTUS AVENUE (NEW!) 35 Lotus Avenue (near Sixth Avenue), Singapore 277618 @ MOUNTBATTEN 764 Mountbatten Road, Singapore 437764 @ SUNSET WAY 41 Sunset Way, #02-01/02 Clementi Arcade, Singapore 597071 @ THE GRASSROOTS’ CLUB 190 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8, #02-01 The Grassroots’ Club, Singapore 568046 LEARNING VISION E enquiries@learningvision.com W www.learningvision.com T 6781-0888 @ ALPHA (SCIENCE PARK II) 10 Science Park Road, Singapore Science Park ll, #01-02/03 The Alpha, Singapore 117684 @ BIOPOLIS One North, 11 Biopolis Way Helios, #02-01/03, Singapore 138667 @ CET EAST CAMPUS (PAYA…

send us your child’s best photo & win! Each child featured on this page wins a trial class at My Gym and its mascot plush toy worth $68. Designed for kids from three months to eight years old, it offers structured weekly classes that incorporate music, dance, games, gymnastics, sports and more. Visit www.mygym.com.sg to find out more about its programmes and locations around Singapore. To take part, upload a clear JPEG photo of your child (at least 300dpi) to www.youngparents.com.sg/cutie and fill in your details. Terms and conditions apply.…