Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2018 i Young Parents

Which of these confinement beliefs is worth following? Young Parents gets the low-down from Vivian Lee – one of several physicians from Pulse TCM Clinic with double degrees in biomedical sciences and Chinese medicine – on common Chinese confinement myths. MYTH Avoid plain water during confinement. FACT The belief probably stems from concerns about water retention. However, sufficient water consumption is essential during confinement. Your kidneys produce more urine after birth to remove excess fluids from pregnancy, and water is also lost during breastfeeding. The key is to avoid cold water – which depletes qi (life force), something new mums are already low on – and sip on warm/hot water. You can also drink red date and longan tea, which nourishes the blood and qi, and also improves sleep. MYTH…

Can you spoil your baby by carrying her too often? You're concerned because now she cries whenever you try to put her down. Don't worry - you can hold her in your arms as long as you want. Your child thrives with your love and attention. The warmth of your touch, the feeling of comfort when she nestles against you, as well as the sound of your heartbeat, enhances her attachment with you. So why does your baby howl the moment you put her down? Consider this: She likes being held in your arms so much, she doesn't want that comforting feeling to stop. Yet this also means you can never get a moment to yourself. If it's for this reason that you want to change her behaviour, you'll find…

In an educational climate that favours Stem (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects, it is easy to dismiss the arts as a superfluous frill. But some preschools in Singapore are going against the grain by incorporating a good dose of arts into their curriculum. Here, we ask the experts what every parent should know about this learning approach, and how it helps boost development. Your preschooler gets to experience different art forms At an arts-integrated preschool, kids may try their hand at specialised art forms that are usually not available in mainstream preschool programmes. For instance, kindergarten children at Kinderland’s preschools are introduced to weekly keyboard lessons taught by professionally-qualified music teachers under its Children’s Music Programme. Over at Nafa Arts Preschool, little ones learn fine arts skills and techniques…

Lina Ng’s life seems like a fairytale come true. She got her start as an actress after clinching the first runner-up spot during Star Search in 1993, when she was only 19 years old. Twenty-five years later, she’s now a respected veteran in the business. She is also a mum to three adorable boys – Jeriel, 14, Joel, 12, and Samuel, seven. But few know about how she put her life on the line to become a mother. Jeriel: the miracle baby Lina had been married to former national bowler, Mike Lam, now 48, for four years before conceiving their first child at age 30. But her elation soon turned to trepidation when a routine check-up at the gynaecologist showed that her unborn baby had swallowed meconium, which is greenish…

August is the month when we celebrate Singapore’s birthday, and what better topic to focus on than our national obsession for food? In our Nutrition Issue, we look at confinement meal deliveries, which have come a long way since the rich, traditional menus that used to be the mainstay of such caterers. These days, you can expect dishes like coq au vin and organic ingredients, and some companies even work with TCM or nutrition experts. Turn to page 42 for this fascinating story. We also tackle the challenges of the weaning months, when you worry about the transition to semi-solid food. While porridge is often one of Baby’s first foods here, haven’t you wondered why Grandma wants to add ikan bilis – which is incredibly salty – to it? There…

How do I raise a happy child? The most important thing your child needs to be happy is self-confidence. Let her know you love her for who she is and not what she does. Praise your child frequently for both efforts and achievements, so she feels good about herself. Be specific about what she has done well, no matter how small it is, because then she knows how to do a good job the next time. Childhood is a time filled with curiosity and adventure. Provide an environment where she can be herself, and explore and experiment. Don’t rush her from one activity to another – it gives her little time to discover who she is and what she can do. What’s also crucial: How happy are you? You are…

Grandma likes to add ikan bilis to porridge to boost the taste and calcium content. But aren’t they a tad salty for Baby? Dr Bhaskaran Ikan bilis (or anchovies) are a good source of calcium and protein, if consumed whole. Whole ikan bilis with the head, organs and bones intact, are richer in nutrients such as calcium, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus, copper and iron, compared to cleaned anchovies without those parts. It is found that the consumption of the cleaned body resulted in a significant reduction in calcium (eight-fold difference), iron (two-fold difference) and zinc (1.5-fold difference) compared to the whole ikan bilis. That’s why the nutritive value depends on how they are eaten. But your concern is valid, too. They’re very high in salt and should be used in moderation.…

Words are very powerful, so what you say can have a very strong influence on your six-year-old. That's great when you encourage him, but not so great when you inadvertently hurt your child's self-esteem. Here are nine things to avoid saying: DON’T SAY “What’s that you’ve drawn?” WHY NOT You think he'll be happy with your attention and interest, but when your preschooler has been creative, he just assumes that you know what his painting or drawing represents. The moment you suggest that his work is unrecognisable, his self-confidence dips. TRY THIS INSTEAD “That's a very interesting picture. Tell me about it.” DON’T SAY “You didn’t try hard enough.” WHY NOT You are disappointed with his poor performance in the latest worksheet; you expected him to do better because you…

Kinderland Art, music and movement are integrated into Kinderland’s preschool curriculum, providing kids with a sense of connectivity between art-focused activities and the concepts and skills of other learning areas. The chain runs a unique Children’s Music Programme that uses a five-step system (listen-sing-play-read-write) developed according to children’s developmental stages. Each week, pre-nursery and nursery kids get an early foundation in music through 60-minute lessons conducted by specialist teachers. During these group class sessions, they are encouraged to express themselves musically through singing, rhyme recitation, rhythmic movement, music stories and ensemble playing. Kindergarden 1 and 2 children are introduced to weekly keyboard lessons to further develop their hearing, singing, keyboard playing and notation reading skills. VISIT https://kinderland.com.sg Nafa Arts Preschool The first arts-themed preschool in Singapore, Nafa Arts Preschool’s…

send us your child’s best photo & win! Each child featured on this page wins a My Gym trial class and T-shirt worth $83. 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, hashtag #ypcutie when you post your child’s photo on Instagram. Make sure your account is public so we can see your photos. Terms and conditions apply.…

Kids learnt how to whip up delicious meals all by themselves at our Kids’ Cooking Boot Camp, presented by Bosch. Forget the usual burgers; your kids will love the yummy pork chop buns at Hong Kong-style cafe Tsui Wah at Clarke Quay. We went behind the scenes at The Lion King musical and spotted these gorgeous headgears. Look what we found at the supermarket? These apples in Paw Patrol packaging simply look sweeter. The Colours of Odyssey: Exhibition X at the Art House showcased beautiful works made by the children from Odyssey the Global Preschool. You’re never too young to love shoes, especially when they’re from Melissa’s covetable F/W 2018 Open Vibes collection. Follow us and find out what the Young Parents team is up to.…

It looks like something from a DIY store, but this busy board is actually a sensory toy created by a Singapore mother. Slot the balls into the chute, switch the light switch on and off, tie and untie the shoelace – babies and toddlers will love the repetitive actions that hone their fine motor skills, and you’ll have peace of mind knowing that it’s safe for them to play with. This version can be personalised with your child’s name, too. Personalised single board, $215.99, from www.busyboardies.com…

Singapore billionaire Peter Lim is looking forward to having more grandchildren. “My family loves children. My dad also really loves kids and has been telling me since I was 22 to have babies soon because, you know, my dad is quite old,” his 26-year-old daughter Kim shares in an interview with The Sunday Times. Her businessman father, 65, is a former stockbroker-turned-private investor with dealings in various fields such as healthcare and sports. He also owns Spanish football club Valencia and, according to Forbes, has a net worth upwards of US$2.1 billion (S$2.8 billion). Kim gave birth to her first baby - and Peter's first grandchild - Kyden in July 2017. “My father loves the baby so much and would offer to help take care of him. Our whole family…

Food-wise, there is some commonality between Malay and Chinese confinement practices. According to Dyyana Awang of Sizzling Dyyana, Malays similarly believe that “cooling” foods such as kangkong and cabbage should be avoided, in favour of “warming” foods such as black pepper and lemongrass. Jamu, an herbal concoction that originated from Indonesia, is also thought to be essential in keeping the body warm, especially during the immediate post-partum period. The confinement period typically runs for 44 days, and wraps and massages feature prominently on the agenda. Quite often, the two are done together by an experienced masseuse. Bengkung, the practice of tightly binding the tummy, is considered helpful in recovery and in reducing post-partum bulge. For best results, bengkung is recommended to be done all-day for at least one week.…

Boost your preschooler’s development with these art and music-based activities suggested by Cindy Pat Thomas, curriculum specialist at Kinderland, and Stacey Toh, executive principal at My First Skool at Blk 119 Edgefield Plains. FOR YOUNGER PRESCHOOLERS • Dancing with bells You will need bell bands or bracelets and music for this activity. Have your little one put on bell bracelets (on wrists and/ or ankles) and dance to various types of music. Children use gross-motor skills and their sense of hearing when they combine movements and music to express themselves creatively. BEST FOR toddlers up to age two. • Fun at the beach Make a trip to the beach or playground with sand in the morning or late evening. Encourage your little one to feel the texture of sand between…

You don’t have to worry about getting hangry kids when you’re at these play facilities. Take your brood to I Am… which has outlets at both HomeTeam NS clubhouses in Bukit Batok and Tampines. The halal eatery prides itself on serving Dutch-inspired food. The kids will love its Fries and Mayo ($7.90), which is crispy thick-cut fries drizzled with mayonnaise. Other signature dishes include the Bitterballen ($10.90 for six meatballs) and slow-baked beef ribs, which is good for two people ($34.90). It comes with potato wedges or fries, salad and garlic bread, as well as a choice of garlic BBQ or guava flavoured sauce. There are also Singapore-inspired dishes – we love the lamb satay burger ($17.90), which has chunks of grilled flavoursome satay and mint cucumber cumin yoghurt dressing.…