Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2018 i Young Parents

What’s not to love about December? The kids are out of school, the days are cooler and everyone seems happier. We hope our Christmas Issue (from page 40) puts you and your family in the mood for the season’s festivities. Use it as your specially curated guide to fun, feasting and giving. Pregnant mums will want to check out our stories on keeping fit safely (page 24) and where to go for prenantal classes (page 32). Staying active can help your delivery, and it’s great for your physical and mental well being, too. If you have a new baby, chances are you’ll want to get the best gear for your little one. You may have been eyeing a sitting pillow, bouncer or walker – but improper use can actually damage…

Times are getting exciting for pregnant women. While the general, well-meaning advice for mums-to-be a decade ago was to lay off exercise and get plenty of rest, the tide has turned. These days, so long as you have no pre-existing medical condition or any pregnancy-related condition in which your doctor deems you unfit for exercise, such as vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain, dizziness or breathlessness, health and fitness professionals actually recommend you to stay active throughout your pregnancy. Besides improving your posture and staving off aches and pains from loosening joints and ligaments due to the surge of pregnancy hormones called relaxin, regular exercise goes a long way to keep your energy levels in check (less dozing off in the office), reduce swelling and bloating, boost your strength and stamina (much…

CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND This year’s annual festive fair promises to be bigger and better, with an upsized Santa’s Grotto – the biggest of its kind in Asia – featuring Instagrammable installations and a larger outdoor skating rink. The kids will love experiencing “snow”, exploring gingerbread inflatable houses and taking part in traditional carnival games, among other highlights. Tickets prices start from $4 online and up to two kids under 0.9m enter free for every paying adult; family tickets are available. Nov 30 to Dec 26, Gardens by the Bay. FIND OUT MORE www.christmaswonderland.sg A SINGAPORE CAROL What’s Christmas without a heartwarming musical? W!ld Rice puts a local spin on Charles Dicken’s iconic A Christmas Carol in this family-friendly stage production. Broadway Beng’s Sebastian Tan takes on the lead character of…

The idea for Jump Eat Cry started in 2015 – a time when maternity wear available online was not only frumpy, it was also impractical and expensive. Word got around about the homegrown brand's comfortable, stylish and practical collection, and in no time at all, Jump Eat Cry was selling its creations to trendy mums-to-be all over Singapore. Its 80,000-plus customers loved how the clothes made them feel – con›dent, beautiful, and excited to get dressed every morning. MATERNITY AND NURSING WEAR YOU’LL LOVE Pregnancy is a special time in a woman’s life. Jump Eat Cry knows that you deserve to look and feel your best, which is why its collections are fashionably modern, fun, and designed from fabrics that are light, breathable, crease-free and stretchy – think rayon, cotton…

Struggling to cope with your spouse’s hectic travelling schedule? Try these tips – they work for both the travelling parent and the one left behind. Don’t see your spouse’s travelling as “free time” for them “This will only feed the resentment and jealousy you’re feeling towards them,” says family therapist Anoushka Beh. Instead, think about how difficult it is for your spouse to juggle travel with family life. Don’t feel like you need to be “supermum” or “superdad” when you’re flying solo Give yourself the freedom to break some rules. No time to cook? Order takeout or head to a fast-food joint. Need some shut-eye? Give the kids a few minutes of TV time. Most importantly, don’t feel guilty. Build a strong support system Hire a reliable helper and rope…

Give your little one a headstart and encourage his love for learning at Little Green House. This award-winning preschool, voted for having the Best Literacy Programme, nurtures your child’s total development by way of a strong academic curriculum, creative enrichment and hands-on activities. AWARD-WINNING LITERACY SMART TM  PROGRAMME What sets Little Green House apart from other preschools is its Literacy SmartTM Programme, which gradually and continuously develops your child in becoming a fluent reader, confident speaker and budding writer. It is especially helpful for children who do not have a strong foundation in reading, speaking and writing because of limited exposure at home. The programme is tailored for kids aged 18 months to six years. The parents of Adabelle say that their daughter has thrived beyond their expectations as…

Next to choosing a good doctor, planning where you want to give birth is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. After all, you want a place where you will have a safe and positive childbirth experience, with a high quality of care and a holistic support structure that extends beyond maternity care. Whether this is your first child or a new addition, Mount Alvernia Hospital understands that childbirth is a special experience. For over 50 years, its team of midwives, nurses and lactation consultants have offered personalised care and support – before, during and after the birthing process. FACILITIES FOR A STRESS-FREE DELIVERY Your comfort, safety and wellbeing – and those of your baby – are of utmost importance to the staff at Mount Alvernia Hospital. More than…

• Start slow. Begin with as little as five minutes per day and add five minutes each week, until you can stay active for 30 minutes a day. You may find it useful to consult a physiotherapist who is used to helping expectant women exercise, for advice on getting you started. • Always warm up and cool down. • After the first trimester, avoid doing exercises that require you to lie flat on your back. • Avoid brisk exercise in hot, humid weather. • Wear comfortable clothing that will help you remain cool. • Wear a bra that fits well and gives lots of support (especially when your breasts become larger towards the third trimester). • Drink plenty of water to help keep you from overheating and becoming dehydrated. •…

At 18 months old, the toddler still couldn’t walk without support. His family thought he was a “slow” learner, but kinesiologist Poh Ying Bin knew better. “Deep in my heart, I was screaming: The boy is not slow! It was because he wasn’t given the chance to go through developmental steps,” says Ying Bin, a rehabilitation specialist in private practice who has a special interest in developmental kinesiology (the development and movement of the body in childhood). The tot was always either in a cot or a baby walker, and rarely explored different movements without support. As a result, he couldn’t build up his motor control skills and learn to walk upright and unaided. Incidents like this have spurred Ying Bin to raise awareness on how improper use of baby…

PLAYSKOOL HEROES Even if your little one isn’t yet a Transformers fan, he’ll love this cool playset from Playskool Heroes. The Transformers Rescue Bots Flip Racers Optimus Prime Race Track Trailer converts easily from a truck into a 38cm-tall bot. That’s not all – the trailer can be turned into a dual track, measuring 76cm long. Now it’s time to launch the Bumblebee and Blurr Flip Racers figures, and race! Ideal for kids from age three. HOW MUCH $119.90, from www.toysrus.com.sg FITBIT ACE If you’re planning to give your child a watch this Christmas, make it one that doesn’t only tell time, but tracks his active minutes and sleep goals, as well. Available in purple and blue, Fitbit Ace is the brand’s first tracker for kids from eight years old.…

It’s a Girl Thing Your little angel will be head-over-heels in love with this cutesy collection of playthings and more. More for Her! Around TOYING Christmas won t be Christmas without a fabulous medley of toys, games and fetching outfits to please him. More for Him! Decor Tip A white tree adorned with gentle accents of pastels will perk up a room with neutral colours.…

Your toddler is such a “sticker” and only wants you. Sometimes, you wish you didn't have to take her to family celebrations because she refuses to be held by anyone else - sometimes not even her dad. She also cries her heart out whenever well-meaning relatives come up to greet her. It's not easy managing festive celebrations when there are so many people around. You want to catch up with relatives and want her to socialise with the other kids, but it seems impossible. Here are suggestions to help you break free: Look who’s here If you know your two-year-old usually clings to you at those seasonal gatherings, help build her social resilience. Gradually get her used to celebrations by inviting a friend to your house. Then invite two or…

Not all preschools are the same. At the award-winning Mulberry Learning, children aged one month to six years are taken on an experiential learning journey, during which they develop next-generation skills to prepare them for the future. Mulberry Learning is the first preschool network in the world to be certified by The Institute for Habits of Mind in the USA. It currently operates 10 centres in Singapore, in areas like Alexandra, Choa Chu Kang, Cairnhill, Toa Payoh, Woodlands and Shenton Way. It also has two centres in Australia and a preschool campus in China. HOLISTIC LEARNING FOR PRESCHOOLERS The vision of Mulberry Learning is to nurture well-rounded children with imaginative minds, positive attitudes and strength of character. Its research-based pedagogy, embodied in the four pillars of iLearn, iExplore, iDevelop, and…

How do I boost my kid’s leadership qualities Leadership is a mindset. It is built upon self-awareness, an understanding of the needs of others and an ability to think, plan, strategise and execute. These are processes suited to the mature mind, but you can still give your little one a good start. Focus on developing a “theory of mind”. It refers to the ability to understand that others think differently from you – and that they see, feel and experience things in their own way. Help your young one develop this by drawing her attention to emotions and reactions. Describe how you are feeling, with phrases like: “When you do that, it makes me feel proud/sad/happy.” Draw her attention to others’ reactions, such as: “I think you made Susie unhappy/feel…

GOODWOOD PARK HOTEL Impress the family with this gorgeous yuletide blossom log cake ($82 nett for 1kg, pictured above) from The Deli. It’s a masterpiece of strawberry chiffon sponge with yuzu-infused pear bits and a hazelnut Breton sable middle, adorned with butter cream blooms against a lovely white chocolate mousse. Make space, too, for the soy-braised turkey served with toasted spiced almonds and homemade chili sauce ($238 nett for eight to 12 persons). It comes with pumpkin rice or egg noodles in soy sauce with blanched seasonal vegetables. Buy at The Deli from Dec 1 to 26, order online or ring the hotel’s Christmas Call Centre at 6730-1867/68 by noon on Dec 19. FIND OUT MORE www.tinyurl.com/GWPFestive SWISSOTEL MERCHANT COURT, SINGAPORE The season is overflowing with exceptional flavours and…

Does your three-year-old always seem to be in his older sister's shadow? If she's outspoken, capable - and perhaps a little bossy - you may need to encourage him to develop a stronger personality so he isn't overawed by her - even if she doesn't realise the effect she has on her younger brother. It doesn't help that he is usually on the losing end of every argument because he's younger and therefore can't articulate his thoughts well. Don't blame his older sister for this - she doesn't deliberately set out to make her little brother feel small and insignificant. On the other hand, there is no harm in making her aware that her brother looks up to her and is in awe of her simply because she is older…

After 11 years of travelling on the job, Lesley Shepherdson Su, 35, a regional training and retail manager, has a solid routine going on. A few days before her trip, she informs her husband, Joel Su, 37, her mum and helper about her destination, leaving with them her flight and hotel details. As she packs, Lesley tells her boys Tristan, six, Tyrell, four, and Tilden, two, all about the country she’ll be visiting and after lots of hugs and kisses, she’s off. Being in the beauty travel retail industry, monthly business trips are part and parcel of Lesley’s job. She does mostly regional hops, visiting countries like Bangkok, Korea, China and Kuala Lumpur across two weeks every month. Sometimes, she does ad hoc international trips as well. Her travels can…

Your child’s early years are the most important of their life, particularly when it comes to learning. This is when they absorb information like a sponge and start to develop an interest in the world around them. MapleBear Singapore can help give your preschooler a strong educational foundation and fuel this passion for learning. A trusted global brand, MapleBear has over 300 schools, from preschool to elementary as well as high schools, worldwide. MapleBear Singapore’s chief executive is Patricia Koh, a renowned educator and early learning expert with more than 40 years of experience. She is also a sought-after speaker and advisor at early learning centres in the US, UK, Australia and the Asian region. With only three centres in 2014, she leads over 25 schools in Singapore now. EMPOWERING…

Each child featured on this page wins a My Gym trial class and romper worth $73. 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 in What A Cutie, 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.…