Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2017 i Young Parents

Singapore is such a happening place to be a kid now. What we lack in land space we make up in play options, from unusual playgrounds to water parks and outdoor activities. Why, you could spend months just exploring the island’s best playgrounds – all for free. That’s what we discovered when we set out to do a comprehensive guide to family fun this issue (page 74). You don’t need to spend lots of money to have fun, and, besides, what your kids really care about is that you spend time with them – that means turning off your gadgets so you’re engaged in the activity, rather than sitting on the sidelines checking Facebook. Celebrity Joanne Peh also shares this philosophy of being fully hands-on with her tot. Now seven…

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It’s frustrating to see your baby in discomfort or pain and not know exactly why your child is crying. When Baby’s suffering is accompanied by diarrhoea, vomiting and a fever, it can be even harder to tell what’s going on inside the body. If Baby exhibits all these symptoms – severe watery diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and a fever of 39.4 deg C or higher – it is likely that your child has rotavirus1,5 . Rotavirus symptoms may persist up to seven days, and infants aged three to 24 months are more likely to suffer severe infections. In Singapore, 40 per cent of diarrhoeal cases are due to rotavirus2 . HOW ROTAVIRUS SPREADS According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the US, rotavirus spreads easily among infants…

Children today have so much to learn, understand and remember. But the early years are the best time to inculcate a love of learning, so that they will be able to learn more with greater ease. The ages between zero and six are crucial, as this is a time of rapid brain development. The right hemisphere of the brain is particularly dominant during this stage; it controls a range of functions, including visual perception, reasoning and problem solving, memory, organisation, insight and social communication. ENHANCE HIS IQ AND CREATIVITY Developing Junior’s right brain will help uncover his potential. This is where the Heguru method comes in. Founded in Japan by Hirotada and Ruiko Henmi, the Heguru method has been said to help enhance photographic memory power, improve comprehension skills and…

Do you know that what determines success is not knowledge or talent alone? Take a closer look at top athletes such as golfer Jordan Spieth, and famous entrepreneurs like Jack Ma – founder of e-commerce firm Alibaba Group – and Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg. These successful personalities have something in common – they are able to attain desirable results despite setbacks because they all started honing their craft and developing positive-thinking habits early in life. Indeed, a report by Cambridge University on habit formation shows that children often develop key habits before the age of seven. GROWING UP SUCCESSFUL Since positive-thinking habits determine future success, you must be wondering: “Is there a structured way to build these habits in my little one?” Through extensive research, renowned experts and researchers from…

If you are looking for a one-stop mall for all things children-related, United Square wins hands down. Well-known as a kids’ learning mall, United Square houses renowned enrichment centres like The Learning Lab and Growing Up Gifted. Those requiring speech and language therapy can zoom in on TLC Speech & Language Clinic. There are more than 140 shops here, many of which are devoted to child-related products. Parents and their little ones can stock up on casual togs, shop for sportswear, find the perfect shoe, and shop for quality kids’ furniture. There are also plenty of child-friendly services, including paediatric and dental clinics, and optical shops. UNDER ONE ROOF It’s no surprise that this mall has been awarded the We Welcome Families Excellence Award. Family-bonding activities are aplenty at United…

Doing a fashion shoot is tiring for kids, so model Isaac Ho hams it up for the camera during a break (turn to page 16). Dinosaur skeleton? No, it’s an installation of makara, a mythical creature, by artist Tan Zi Hao at the Singapore Biennale. The event is surprisingly kid-friendly, by the way. Young ones will have a blast at Laser Quest – its second Singapore outlet is at HomeTeamNS Tampines. We spotted these colourful rooster accessories at the Chinatown Chinese New Year bazaar. The chefs from Wan Hao Chinese restaurant at Marriott Singapore Tang Plaza got really creative with this elaborate Year of the Rooster yusheng. You don’t need a green thumb to grow healthy plants. These cute holders from Tokyu Hands are self-watering. @youngparents_sg Follow us and find…

Even before Muhammad Raed (pictured) received his first cuddle or tasted breast milk, morphine – a potent painkiller – was already coursing through his tiny 2.68kg body. At birth, little Raed’s shrill cries not only announced his arrival into the world; they also told of the unimaginable, excruciating pain he suffered due to a rare genetic skin disorder known as epidermolysis bullosa (EB). Now approaching two years old, Raed was born with no skin on his lower limbs, back and hands. In the first few weeks of his life, he relied on strong medication around the clock to dull the pain from his raw, open sores. Often dubbed one of the cruellest diseases a person can be afflicted with, EB is an incurable genetic disorder that causes the skin to…

You don’t have to take your child to Disneyland. Sometimes, she just wants you around her.” Today’s children are an entitled lot, proclaims actress Joanne Peh, who is seven-months pregnant with her second child. “At one time or another, we’ve all had to endure the antics of a screaming child in a restaurant, demanding an ice-cream dessert until the parents are so embarrassed and flustered that they order it just to keep the child quiet.” And that’s not just a Singaporean phenomenon. When Joanne spent about a month in Beijing, China, with her husband – actor Qi Yuwu – and daughter after giving birth to her in 2015, she found herself surrounded by kids from single-child families behaving with the same level of disrespect. Horrified by such protective parenting, it…

Who doesn’t love the scent of talc on a newborn? Talc is a gentle, sweet-smelling way to keep skin dry and avoid rashes as the powder absorbs moisture and reduces friction. However, talcum powder can cause breathing difficulties if your tot inhales a lot of it. For a safe way to protect her skin, use Biolane Liquid Talc on skin folds that are prone to redness and irritation, such as on the neck, legs, bottom and armpits. This cream has all the properties of classic talc while avoiding the inconvenience of volatile powder. Once in contact with skin, the emulsion transforms miraculously into powder form. ALL NATURAL Biolane products boast natural ingredients and are perfect for Baby’s delicate skin. Used in maternity wards and recommended by those in the medical…

Enrol your child in any programme at Julia Gabriel Centre and they’ll experience and enjoy the benefits of EduDrama® , a unique teaching methodology that combines drama with planned educational outcomes. Devised more than 30 years ago by Julia Gabriel Education founder, Julia Gabriel, EduDrama® sits at the heart of every Speech and Drama programme, as well as other curricula. Through a deep understanding of how children learn best, EduDrama helps develop social, emotional and academic skills. It works effectively at all levels and for all ages, from two to 18 years old, whether it’s play-based drama for toddlers, role-play and improvisation for young children, or the performing arts and debating for older kids. LEARNING WITH A DIFFERENCE Enter any speech and drama studio while a session is in action,…

There’s always something to celebrate with a new kid on the block. From your newborn’s full-month celebration to his first birthday, take the stress out of party planning by catering food so you can play host and enjoy the party. With Neo Garden Catering, you know you’re in good hands. The company was named by leading independent market research provider Euromonitor International as Singapore’s No. 1 events caterer. RIGOROUS PROCESSES Its success lies in the company’s “one chef, one dish” policy. This simply means that the dishes you order are cooked simultaneously by different chefs to ensure that your buffet is delivered within an hour. This way, the food is always hot when it arrives at your doorstep! You’re assured of high standards as chefs observe standard procedures for each…

MALL PLAYGROUNDS COMPASS ONE Kids who love adventure will enjoy the Ninja Trail on Level 4 of Compass One, which is linked to Sengkang MRT station. The mall was formerly known as Compass Point and reopened in September last year. The water obstacle course has 17 play features, such as Jelly Jumping Pads, which they have to jump on to find bursts of water, and the Soaking Monkeys, where kids will have to navigate through “fog” while hanging from monkey bars, before ringing the bell at the finishing line. Pack a change of clothes; there are toilets beside the playground. VISIT www.compassone.sg VIVOCITY Level 2 is home to a recently renovated outdoor playground with two play areas for children of various age groups. The younger ones will enjoy bouncing…

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, My Gym 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. send us your child’s best photo & win!…

Imagine skin so fragile that just going down a slide, being hugged, walking several steps or wielding a pencil can cause blisters or open sores that feel like third-degree burns. That is the horrifying reality a child with a severe form of the rare, inherited disorder – epidermolysis bullosa (EB) – faces every day. About 15 in every one million births worldwide are affected by the genetic disorder, according to Dr Mark Koh, head and consultant at the Dermatology Service of KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH). In Singapore, about 30 to 40 families have children who are affected by the incurable condition. The skin has an outer and inner layer. In healthy skin, both layers are held together by “anchors”. Children born with EB lack these anchors, so any…

Baby is almost a month old! Your confinement period is finally over and it’s time to show off your precious bundle to the world. Impress your guests with baby full-month confectionery packages from Choz Confectionery. This established brand has been in the market for more than 18 years. Just view the testimonials on its website for rave reviews from customers. TAKE YOUR PICK With more than 20 gift packages available – and prices from $6.80 – you’ll be spoilt for choice. Can’t decide on which gift package to get? Customise your very own with the “Pick and Choz” option (from $8.20 to $10.60). To make things extra special, a personalised baby card with your little one’s photo and name will be given with every gift package. Rest assured that your…

The hospital maternity experience is one of the things expectant mothers have to consider when choosing a hospital for delivery and postnatal care. After all, you want a place where you will have a safe and positive childbirth experience, enjoy a high quality of care, and have a holistic support structure that extends beyond maternity care. Mount Alvernia Hospital offers new mums quality service and maternity care in a warm and supportive environment. Established in 1961, the hospital pioneered maternity care and parentcraft services, and has been providing such help in Singapore for more than 55 years. BEST FOR MOTHER AND CHILD New mums get the best support through all stages of pregnancy – antenatal, childbirth and postnatal. Pro-life and pro-breastfeeding, the team of doctors, nurses, nutritionists, lactation consultants from…

Did you know that a baby’s skin loses more moisture than adult skin does, and needs help in retaining critical moisture levels? For your little one’s skincare routine, it makes sense to pick products that protect and nourish his delicate skin. Make a beeline for the QV Baby range, which is designed to mimic the way an infant’s skin functions, and uses ingredients that help form a protective moisture barrier over your little one’s skin. AS GENTLE AS MUM’S TOUCH QV Skincare – Australia’s No. 1* dermatological skincare brand - is found in family homes in more than 25 countries today. Its paediatrician-recommended and dermatologically tested QV Baby range boasts the trusted soap-, fragrance- and irritant-free formulation found in QV Skincare to cleanse and moisturise sensitive skin types. As part…

PROBLEM 1 If your child is constantly comparing himself with others “Matt has an iPad. Can I have one too?” Sounds familiar? Making social comparisons is a natural part of life and it is how we build our self-identity, starting from a young age. However, Desiree Wee, a clinical psychologist at the Institute of Mental Health, says children have a hard time distinguishing between needs and wants. “They may think they absolutely have to have what their friends have or they will not be valued in society,” she explains. “They may feel sad, angry or even lonely when they do not seem to live up to society’s standards.” What you can do Desiree suggests acknowledging your child’s feelings. For example, say: “I know you would love to have that too”…

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