Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2017 i Young Parents

THIS MONTH, WE ASK How should I punish my kid for bullying his friends? Address this issue as soon as possible. The key is not to punish him, but to correct the behaviour. Some children don’t mean to bully others; they’re simply reacting to their own emotions. They could be frustrated or angry, and don’t know how to express themselves. Listen to your kid’s reasoning and allow him to respond in a two-way conversation, rather than telling him: “This is what I want you to do.” Remind him about the importance of building friendship and help him to communicate better. It’s also vital to teach him problem-solving skills, which young people these days may lack. Alfred Tan, Singapore Children’s Society EDUCATION Brian Caswell is the dean of Research and Program…

1 Three’s the magic number. All babies cry and fuss, of course, especially when they are uncomfortable, sick, hungry or wet. But if your newborn is crying excessively when there is no identifiable reason, especially in the evenings, chances are she could have colic, says Dr Eugene Han, a paediatrician at Thomson Paediatric Centre. A colicky baby could be crying more than three hours a day, for more than three times a week over a stretch of three weeks, according to Dr Chua Mei Chien, head and senior consultant at the department of neonatology at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH). 2 It sounds different from a baby’s regular cry. Colicky cries, which tend to start suddenly and stop without apparent reasons, are usually louder and have a higher pitch,…

Q toddler How can is I a tell late if my talker (like his father was), or has development issues? A Most kids utter their first word at the of 14 months average age , although some babies may say one or two words from as early as nine months. Children who grow up in a bilingual or trilingual environment are often late talkers. They usually have excellent understanding of all the languages spoken at home, and can follow instructions, even though they are slow to verbalise. If your tot isn’t talking by 18 months, this may indicate an underlying development problem and you should take him for an assessment. Often, the doctor will arrange for a hearing test to make sure that your baby can hear well, and that…

Genuine kindness No matter how many tantrums your two-year-old has (and there will be plenty of these), there will be moments when his instinctive kindness shows through. Like the time he wiped your tears when you cried, or when he shared a toy with his friend. These special moments remind you that he is a wonderful, caring child. Second birthday party Compared to his first birthday party, his second is much more lively and vivacious. All his little pals from playgroup are there, and your toddler thrives in their company. Make sure you have lots of photos to record the look of delight on his face as the party unfolds. Language “explosion” He experiences a surge in his language development this year, as his vocabulary extends significantly and he starts…

 The supposedly simple task of getting your child out to school each morning can easily end up as a battle, and that’s not a great start to the day for anyone. You may be so worn down by the constant morning battles that you are grumpy from the moment you wake up. Try a relaxed approach, instead – your happy-go-lucky attitude may well rub off on her. If she is in a bad mood the second she wakes up, then you are likely to have a tough morning ahead of you. Here are some fun ways to get her out the front door without a fight. Use a child-centred alarm If your kid wakes up happy, then chances are she’ll stay that way for most of the morning. That’s why…

HIP HANGOUT Escape from the hustle and bustle of city life at W Singapore – Sentosa Cove. It boasts one of Singapore’s largest resort outdoor pool areas which is open 24 hours a day. Kids can groove along to the beat with underwater speakers while you sip on a cocktail. If you can tear them away from the pool, you can rent movies, Xbox 360 and PS3 consoles for free, or head out to the many fun zones that Sentosa offers, from themed rides at Universal Studios Singapore, zip lining at Megazip, to pretend play at Kidzania Singapore. HOW MUCH The Stay for Fun package starts from $430++ per night in a Wonderful room, which can accommodate two adults and two kids (you must stay at least two nights). It…

While it does sound like a natural next-step to toddler-hood, it can be quite daunting to new parents; imagine a mess created by spit-out and spills. How do you start the weaning process? Which is better: Purees & Mashes or Baby-led weaning? In the first place,is my baby ready for solid food? What about food allergies? Join us and learn from our nutrition experts about weaning steps and a hands-on practice how to prepare simple culinary delights for your little ones! PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS Introducing Solids Demonstration using various food texture Practical Session on making baby food Each registration is for 2 pax. *Workshop Fees - $38 per couple *Fees cover practical tips on weaning, food ingredients used in the class and a book on simple home cook meals for your…

A debate over whether parents should share beds with infants has been ignited online following the death of a 36-day-old baby in June. Her parents discovered she was not breathing after she spent the night on their bed. She was taken to KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH), but pronounced dead soon after. Police investigations are ongoing. In most cases, it can be diffi cult to ascertain whether a sleep-related infant death is caused by Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (Sids) or accidental suffocation, even with an autopsy, says Dr Michael Lim, a consultant at National University Hospital (NUH). Sids is an unexplained infant death resulting from an unknown cause and Dr Lim said NUH sees a “small” number of such cases. “There is little published local data, although there was…

He’s feeling uncomfortable Crying is an instinctive reaction to any form of pain or physical discomfort, and is a reflex. The pain could be internal, arising from illness; or external, such as being in an awkward position or if an object is digging into him. How you can tell If in pain, your baby’s cry is sharp, almost like a shriek. Then he gasps as he draws in breath, before shrieking again. If he’s ill, his limb movements are lethargic. What you should do Check that there is nothing obviously hurting, and also consider the possibility that he is unwell. Take his temperature. He’s lonely Your baby likes being the centre of attention. He enjoys being surrounded by a sea of loving faces, and can feel isolated when everybody is…

“Once, Faith had a massive bump on her head that remained for six months... Some people thought she was being abused.” Accidental bumps, tumbles and skin scrapes are part and parcel of growing up. For siblings Faith and James Loh (pictured overleaf), however, these minor childhood mishaps can potentially cause massive, uncontrolled bleeding. Faith, seven, and James, six, suffer from haemophilia, a lifelong bleeding disorder that prevents their blood from clotting properly. This means that wounds may take an abnormally long time to heal. Bleeding may also occur internally, into the joints or muscles. “Once, Faith had a massive bump on her head that remained for six months. There wasn’t any blood flowing out, but the bleeding was still happening – inside. Some people thought she was being abused,” shares…

Little Khloe Gan is merrily ambling towards the childcare centre’s play area when Lena Koh stops the tyke in her tracks. “Khloe, have you finished your snack? Can you put your bowl in the pail, please?” coos the principal of Kindle Garden. The child dutifully does as told, earning a beaming smile from Lena. “Good girl,” she says. And Khloe – a three-year-old with Down syndrome – happily goes off to join her friends, most of whom are typically developing children. Lena has good reason to be pleased. A year ago, when Khloe came to Kindle Garden – Singapore’s first inclusive childcare centre located at the Enabling Village in Lengkok Bahru – she could not even walk. “She had low muscle tone, so she moved around on her bum,” the…

etonhouse zhong hua pre-school Enjoy 10 per cent off first-term school fees when you enrol your child at this Bukit Timah preschool in September. It is the first childcare centre in Singapore to offer a Chinese-only programme. Delivered in an enquiry-based environment, your kids will be exposed to the language in a meaningful and enjoyable manner. In fact, there is growing evidence that children should be immersed in a language for at least four to five hours in a day to make language learning sustainable. Book a personalised tour and find out more. Website: www.etonhouse.com.sg . daekyo eye level Founded in 1976 in South Korea, Daekyo Eye Level believes that learning is most effective when the instructor understands his students’ learning needs. With the goal of nurturing…

What makes learning so distinctive at Carpe Diem is its emphasis on developing a child’s innate strengths through an innovative Multiple Intelligences (MI)-based curriculum which it pioneered in 2002. It is a pedagogy based on the belief that every child is unique and gifted with different intelligences. Learning at Carpe Diem extends beyond the classroom - to learning corners where children develop their individual intelligences through guided play and experiential learning. Empower your child to learn abstract concepts through the multi-sensory world of art and music, word and math games, role-play and story-telling, project work and outdoor activities. At Carpe Diem, we make learning so enjoyable that your child will be yearning for more! Enrol your child today for an extraordinary learning journey. • Multiple Intelligences-based curriculum • Focus on…

Housewife Emily Qian, 36, spent about $12,000 on her daughter’s one-year-old celebration in May. The birthday lunch for 70 guests at a five-star hotel here cost about $7,000. The customised, two-tiered cake and dessert spread cost about $3,000, and decor and photography for the event another $2,000. “I know, it’s crazy right?” says Emily. “But it was important to me that things were done up tastefully. Besides, this was hassle-free. I just told the vendors what I wanted and they executed things well.” She is among parents here who are forking out thousands of dollars to celebrate their children’s birthdays with a bang – not to show off, they say. They are willing to splurge for a variety of reasons: It is a milestone birthday, a chance for the family…

VEGGIE CROQUETTES Makes 10 to 12 pieces Water 1kg Idaho or russet potatoes, peeled 150g broccoli florets, chopped 150g carrots, peeled and chopped 150g button mushrooms, chopped 30g brown shimeji mushrooms, chopped 2 tbsp softened unsalted butter Salt and pepper, to taste 5 eggs 100g plain flour 150g Japanese breadcrumbs Oil, for frying 1 Boil potatoes on low heat for about 30 minutes. 2 While cooking potatoes, boil broccoli in another pot with lightly salted water for 1 minute. Set aside. 3 Boil carrots for 2 minutes or till soft. Set aside. 4 Boil button and shimeji mushrooms for 1 minute. Set aside. 5 Once potatoes are cooked – you should be able to slice through them easily with a knife. 6 Combine mushrooms, carrots and broccoli in a bowl,…

 You’re pretty happy that you’ve struck a good balance between your parenting and social lives. But your mother-in-law might not see it that way. She doesn’t understand why you often leave your toddler at home with the domestic helper and meet up with your friends or attend yoga classes. As far as she is concerned, you should be a more responsible mum. If that’s what you’re facing, here are nine suggestions to help you avoid unnecessary conflicts with her. Don’t be defensive Of course, your first reaction might be to bristle with indignation, because you are the mum and you decide how to look after your child. But that will only lead to confrontation with your mother-in-law. So stay calm, don’t over-react and treat her comments about your social life…

eat Take the kids to Potato Head for a brunch with a difference. The four-storey building is a gorgeous place to expose the kids to whimsical art and enjoy its Sunday Funday brunch party from 9am to 1pm. For $85++ per family with up to three kids under age 10 ($10 for each additional child), pick any five items from its new Good Times brunch menu. The selection includes its signature gourmet burgers such as Baby Huey, which comprises a 150g black angus beef patty, cheese and pickles in a toasted demi brioche bun. When the kids have had their fill, they can try their hand at T-shirt painting for $20 each. Potato Head is at 36 Keong Saik Road. Visit www.ptthead.com or call 6237-1939. do Some of your favourite…