Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2018 i Young Parents

Conceiving naturally after the age of 40 can be a struggle. The chances of achieving pregnancy is about 10 to 20 per cent each year for women aged 40 to 44. If you're 45 and above, it's less than 5 per cent, according to Dr Lim Min Yu, consultant obstetrician, gynaecologist and fertility specialist at Gleneagles Hospital. But while you may not be able to turn back your biological clock, there are ways to improve your chances. Here, doctors share tips on how you can boost your odds. Have sex every two to three days, or around ovulation day The highest chance of fertilisation occurs when you have sexual intercourse on the day before or on the day of ovulation, Dr Lim says. You may predict ovulation by measuring your…

do Kids will love the new artworks at Future World: Where Art Meets Science, Singapore’s largest digital art exhibition. Its Nature gallery has been rebuilt from scratch to accommodate stunning interactive installations such as a six-metre-high “waterfall”, where the water’s direction changes at the slightest touch of your hand. What a fun way to learn about biodiversity! A family ticket for two adults and two kids costs $54. FIND OUT MORE www.marinabaysands.com/artsciencemuseum do Bring the family down to the Straits Family Sunday – Berkilau Kilau (So Shiny) on Nov 4. Go on a tour of the Peranakan Museum to explore the community’s love of beautiful and intricate jewellery. After that, you can learn to design a Peranakaninspired brooch and play dress-up in a sarong kebaya. Admission is free. FIND…

Your three-year-old’s misbehaviour can drive you nuts. When she’s going through one of those phases in which she is uncooperative, doesn’t do what she’s told, and gets up to mischief no matter how many times you warn her, you might struggle to keep your temper in check. But screaming at her just makes matters worse. That’s usually like pouring petrol on fire, because all that happens is tension mounts, disagreements escalate, and everyone feels even worse than they did before. It is far better to avoid such emotional explosions altogether, if you can. The next time you feel yourself about to lose it, try one of these strategies to keep calm and parent on. Children this age like to explore, experiment, and test the limits – that’s normal behaviour. So,…

It’s that time of the year when your kids look forward to unwrapping their favourite toys for Christmas. While they deserve the joy that such playthings bring, it’s also timely to remember that toys can sometimes pose very real health hazards. In fact, toy-related injuries account for more than 500 cases that the KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital’s (KKH) department of emergency medicine sees each year, says a report in The Straits Times (ST). Many of these injuries occur in children under five years old – of these, about half of the cases involve those aged one to three. Dr Chong Shu-Ling, a physician with KKH, tells ST: “Although the majority of these injuries are minor, some are serious and have led to surgery or hospitalisation.” Here’s what you must…

With three women at home, actor Shaun Chen is constantly outnumbered. His first daughter, Nellie, arrived in December 2015, five months after he married wife Celine. In July 2017, the couple welcomed their younger daughter, Neia. But even when he jokingly wails in a U-Weekly interview about “working so hard”, his tone turns to love and affection as the 40-year-old confesses: “They are my greatest motivation.” Here's more about what Shaun shares in his interview. BALANCE IS KEY Unlike some actors, who can get obsessed with staying lean and fit, Shaun prefers a balanced approach. He used to hit the gym for a workout or play badminton three times a week. Now, he considers it a luxury if he goes once a week. “My wife and I have time to…

Mummies living in northern Singapore now have a Sephora store to call their own. Located in Causeway Point mall in Woodlands, it brings together all your favourite brands, including Fenty Beauty, Huda Beauty, Tarte, Too Faced and more. Ask for help for its friendly beauty advisors if you want to try a new look or are unsure of your perfect shade. Visit www.sephora.sg heritage feast How do you teach kids about their heritage in a fun way? Do it Singapore-style, by getting them to whip up dishes unique to their culture and beefing up their reading skills at the same time. Straits Times Press’ five heritage cookbooks help children do just that. Each contains an beautifully illustrated story – in Beverly and the Peranakan Feast, for instance, Beverly…

Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash and friends have made their way to the My Little Pony X Kumoya cafe! Mindchamps sent us a yummy Children’s Day cake. How thoughtful! New parents whipped up delish meals at our recent Baby’s First Foods Cooking Workshop. Were you wowed by the sand sculptures at the Sentosa Sandsation: Marvel Edition, too? Our kids loved the artworks on this Pilot Pen range, which were designed by student artists from Rainbow Centre’s Talent Art Programme. Check out these microfigures of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger from the new Lego collection. Follow us and find out what the Young Parents team is up to.…

Is Baby doing okay in the rear-facing car seat? Don’t worry, this cute alien mirror will help you keep a watchful eye over him while you drive. Strap it to the headrest facing your little one – its wide angle view means he will always be in your vision when you glance at the rear-view mirror. Use the remote control to play four melodies and four white noises of train, ocean, bubbles and birds to soothe and entertain. The mirror can light up, as well, and has been crash-tested.…

NO BABY TALK Never mind that he’s not even uttering his first words yet – your infant’s first year is crucial to building a strong foundation in language. Babies process language structure and meaning long before they begin to speak, says Huang Ying, the principal of Chengzhu Mandarin education. So, go ahead and respond to his coos and babbles with your regular speech. “Although young infants can’t grasp the precise meaning of words, the speech and language parts of their brains are stimulated when we speak to them. The more language they hear, the more those parts of the brain will grow and develop.” By the time he can put words together, he would have already learnt the peculiarities of the languages you’ve spoken to him. “Children who are exposed…

Q Is it safe to take antibiotics during pregnancy? Antibiotics are sometimes A required, for example, if you are having a urinary tract infection, Group B streptococcus infection, bacterial tonsillitis, and so on. There are many antibiotics that are safe to take during pregnancy, including common ones such as those in the penicillin family or erythromycin. Trust your doctor – take them as prescribed, especially if your baby’s health or yours could potentially be affected with an untreated severe infection. That said, there are other antibiotics that may cause fetal abnormalities. If your pregnancy isn’t yet confirmed or you’re planning for a family, let your doctor know, just in case. What should I Q expect from my first check-up after delivery? A Your doctor will usually ask to see you…

BEACH ROAD KITCHEN Where are the bouncy castle, toys and balloonists? You won’t find them at JW Marriott Singapore South Beach’s Sunday buffet brunch. Instead, its chefs engage the kids with hands-on baking fun – at no extra cost. My children, aged 10 and five, got to make pizza from scratch and watch their creations go into the wood-fired oven. They decorated cupcakes, as well. Tip: Go early and settle your kids down for a good meal first. They might not want to eat once the guided activities begin. But that’s when you and your spouse can feast on the sumptuous spread of oysters, lobsters and roasted spring lamb. Don’t miss the barbecue section, where you can pick fresh whole fish, such as seabass and snapper, and have the chefs…

“Helicopter parenting” – first identified almost 50 years ago by an Israeli psychologist – is the term applied to the parent who micromanages, takes over and control’s their child’s life, no matter their kid’s age. Helicopter parenting can start to show through even with one-year-olds. If you want to avoid becoming one, here are some of the early warning signals: Don’t be afraid to let your tot work things out for himself. Give him a chance to learn. You jump in to solve all your little one’s problems He has a new puzzle toy, and as soon as you see him struggle to play with it, you either show him exactly what to do or you take it away from him altogether. WHAT YOU SHOULD DO INSTEAD Trial and error…

The most common stereotype of an only child is that he is precocious, aloof, self-centred and lacking in social skills. But the reality is usually quite different. Here are 10 statements you should never say to a mum of an only child – and if you are one, share this on your social media feed. Every child has the potential to be spoilt by their parents, grandparents, and extended family, not just an only child. “You are so lucky to have only one child.” You might think that because you have two or three children and you imagine it would be wonderful to have fewer demands made on you. But maybe the mother desperately wants more children but can’t have them, for example, for medical reasons. If so, she won’t…

Now in its 24th year, the Healthy Breastfed Baby Contest by KK Women’s & Children’s Hospital (KKH) has become an annual tradition that new parents look forward to. Held on Aug 4 at United Square, the fun-filled event saw 60 finalists vying for the various titles – including KKH Healthy Breastfed Baby and Most Popular Baby – with families and friends cheering them on. Participants and shoppers at the mall took part in exciting stage activities, such as a Daddy and Me challenge and a baby puzzle game, and enjoyed a ventriloquist show. Professor Alex Sia, KKH’s chief executive officer, Cynthia Pang, assistant director of Nursing, Lactation Services, and Vincent Lim, deputy director of Corporate Communications department, presented the top prizes. Winners walked home with attractive gifts sponsored by Newborn…

EDUCATION Brian Caswell is the dean of Research and Program Development at Mindchamps. He has 15 grandchildren. Helen Marjan is the CEO and director of Studies at Lorna Whiston Schools. Her three children are in their teens. June Rusdon is the chief executive officer of Busy Bees Asia. She has three kids in their 20s. Fiona Walker is the group managing director of Julia Gabriel Education – Julia Gabriel Centre, Chiltern House Preschool and Chengzhu. Her son is aged 14, and her daughter is 11. Dawn Lim is the curriculum advisor at Star Learners. She has four children aged eight to 16. PSYCHIATRY Dr Cornelia Chee is a psychiatrist and director in the Women’s Emotional Health Service at the National University Hospital. Her daughters are in their teens. CHILD PSYCHOLOGY…

There has never been a more exciting time to be a kid in Singapore. Just look at the number of family-friendly places that keep popping up around the island to keep you busy every weekend, plus the special activities that are planned during holiday and festive seasons. The only complaint? It can get a little costly sometimes to take the brood out for the day. But did you know that the Lion City is teeming with free stuff to do as a family? Here's Young Parents’ round-up of the top 20 free things to do in Singapore with kids. CHILDREN’S GARDEN AT GARDENS BY THE BAY It's all about having fun at this playscape, which has a dry and wet play area suitable for all ages. Junior will have a…

JW MARRIOTT SINGAPORE SOUTH BEACH It's rare to find infinity pools that are shallow enough for toddlers and preschoolers. Guess what? This hotel has two. There is one on the sixth storey that faces Suntec City, and another on the 18th storey, which has sweeping views of the Padang, Esplanade and CBD skyline. Both pools begin from 0.5m and go up to 1.2m deep. This is Singapore's first Philippe Starck-designed hotel, so you can expect to be wowed by uber-stylish decor at every corner. Until June 21, 2019, book its two-night family package - with the promo code F10 - for two adults and one child up to 12 years old. Besides a daily buffet breakfast, your brood enjoys one buffet dinner at Beach Road Kitchen and a choice of…

You need to be less open when you’re arguing Your toddler is very aware of everything that goes on in the family. If he sees Mummy quarrelling with Daddy, he’ll feel confused, troubled and upset. At this age, he’s extremely sensitively to parental disputes. If at all possible, don’t have a blazing row in from of your two-year-old. It doesn’t matter who is in the right and who is the wrong – sort out your disagreements when he’s not there. Wait till he is busy playing in another room, or better yet, hold your argument until he’s fast asleep at night. As your child grows, family expenses rise, and this changes your budgeting priorities. You may struggle to find marital privacy You never know when your young child is going…

Even if your child apologises for something she has done, you may feel that she isn’t sincere, that she only said the words because she knows that’s what you want to hear. That’s why you should discuss the problem with her rather than simply insist that she says those two simple words. Saying “sorry” should come afterwards. Explain why you think her behaviour is unacceptable. Maybe she shouted at her younger brother unnecessarily, perhaps you caught her watching her tablet long after she told you she had put it away and was working on her homework, or it could be that she was cheeky to you when you asked her to tidy her room. Whatever the offence, chat with her about her actions and talk about their impact on you…

How do you usually spend time with your children? Chances are, most parents would name shopping and watching television among their top activities. At our Young Parents Master Class on Aug 25 – facilitated by The Little Skool-House’s early childhood educators – mums and dads discovered meaningful ways to bond, play and learn with their kids. During the hands-on session at Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre, families used materials provided to create storytelling, games and craft activities. Actor-host-entrepreneur Ben Yeo was the event’s guest speaker. He took the stage to share how he builds confidence in his two young sons and fosters a close relationship. While the parents were interacting with Ben, their little ones had fun at a learning workshop specially designed for them. All families also walked…

Kids in Singapore start formal science lessons only in Primary 3, but there’s so much you can do with your preschooler before that. Introduce your little one to scientific concepts in a safe and fun way with these cool activities from Amy Lim, senior principal at Kinderland (Yio Chu Kang). BUBBLES WHAT TO DO Make your own bubble solution with dishwashing detergent and water. Create bubbles using straws or pipe cleaners as bubble wands. Now try making new bubbles by adding glycerine, corn syrup or vinegar to the soap solution. Which ingredient makes longer-lasting bubbles? CONCEPTS YOUR KID LEARNS Chemistry, surface tension. FUN FACT The secret to making bubbles is surface tension. Adding soap to water changes the surface tension, creating bubbles. When glycerine, corn syrup or vinegar is added…