Q: My children are 9 and 11 respectively but they are not interested in studying.
A: Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.
To start getting interested in something, motivation is very important. I would think that your children lack the motivation to study. This is what you should work towards.
Ways to motivate your child to study:
Get them to read or study something easier. One reason why they do not have the motivation could be that they could find what they see very difficult. In such cases, try to break down the studying into shorter times periods or less material. When kids gain confidence from easier tasks, their confidence builds up naturally.
Encourage them to dream and set goals for themselves.
With dreams and goals, your child will look forward to something. - If you think your children have competitive streaks, do try to pit them against one another and they will develop a lot of drive from there. Ever wondered why many high achievers sometimes come from families where their siblings are also high achievers?Sibling rivalry can be a good thing if it is kept friendly and they will both challenge and spur each other on.
Once you get motivation from your kids, it becomes a habit and you can look forward to being the proud parents of high achievers.
Any questions to ask our experts? Please feel free to write in to us!
Hasbro Looking For Consumer Consultants From Singapore 2011
Hasbro, a worldwide leader in children’s and family leisure time entertainment products and services, has created a private, password protected online community of about 300 moms who are willing to serve as “consumer consultants” and share their wishes, needs, and candid opinions.
We currently have 15 open slots for Moms in Singapore. If you are selected to join this community, we ask that you login and contribute your thoughts (via surveys, discussions, chats, etc.) an average of 5-15 minutes per week at whatever time is convenient for you.
In addition to providing your feedback and building relationships with other members from around the globe, you will receive monthly rewards in exchange for your participation. Your responses will be kept completely confidential and used only to determine your eligibility for membership. They will not be sold, shared, or used for any other purpose.
Please visit the following link to see if you qualify:
Parenting is the most wonderful job on earth. Parenting involves being extravagant in your love to your children, meaning to say, to love them unconditionally, no matter what happens.Acceptthem for who they are, regardless of the path they have chosen, and the mistakes they have made. You may or may not get any returns after all. But it is still worth the time and effort as he/she is still your child.
There are 5 very simple and yet powerful ways in which you can express your love for your child. There is nothing fanciful or expensive. All it takes is your sincerity and your heart.
1) Spending Quality Time
Some children’s love language is to spend quality time with them. I understand it is hard for busy parents with a full-time job and hardly have time at home to rest. However, there are still ways such as communicating through the phone, going out for lunch or even going for coffee together!
2) Words of Affirmation
Using words of affirmation is a powerful tool to express your love. Every child needs words of positive affirmation to feel assured and encouraged that they are improving and doing the correct things.
I remembered there was once when Matthew (not his real name) ran home excitedly to show his dad that he has improved his Chinese grades. He had been struggling to pass his Chinese for many years and he finally passed by a few marks.
Unfortunately, expecting his dad to share his excitement, his dad did the opposite by saying that it is only a pass, and there is nothing to be proud of. Matthew was very sad and demoralized. He gave up studying for his Chinese as he got no encouragement despite passing his Chinese exam.
As we can see, the dad’s thinking was very different from his son’s. He thought that by saying that, he would prevent his son of being too proud of his results, and spurred him on to greater improvements. But it turned the other way round.
Therefore, parents should be more generous with their praise and encouragement. Words of affirmation can go a long way in helping your child to succeed in life.
3) Giving Gifts
Gifts come in many forms. They need not be expensive. A small gift can go a long way in telling your child how special he or she is. Gifts need not be given only on birthdays. In fact, it is best to give gifts at unexpected moments! All children love surprises. A little note or surprise would make up their day and can motivate them to do so much more stuff than you can ever imagine.
Pasting simple notes like “I appreciate you because…” on your child’s desk can work really well in spreading your love. Your child will really feel great by just reading your words alone.
Johnny (not her real name) had been longing for a mobile phone. His parents refused initially as they thought that he would not need at a young age and would caused a huge telephone bill. But after observing him for a while, they found out that giving him a mobile phone as a surprise gift would make him feel good.
When they finally presented Johnny the gift, they could see the disbelief in his eyes. He was so touched that he almost cried. He felt so loved and happy and the whole family felt good for him too. After the gift, Johnny became very motivated in his studies. He put in a lot of hard work and his results improved dramatically for the next exams.
4) Providing Acts of Service
There are many types of acts of service that parents provide. Common ones include picking your child up at school or cooking a nice meal for him or her.
John and Mary (not their real names) were both very busy working parents who had not much free time to accompany their children. They felt their children’s relationships drifting apart from them. One day, John decided to take half day leave from his work to travel to his children’s school to pick them up. Mary also took leave to prepare a nice dinner for them. Their children really showed their appreciation by finishing up all the food and helping to clear the table.
You need not do great and mighty things to love your child. Just a simple act of service can really touch your child’s heart.
5) Physical Touch
A touch can spread much more love than words can spread. A pat on your daughter’s shoulder when she is going through a bad day helps. Your touch will tell her that, “It is ok, dear. I am always here with you.” Other forms of non-verbal communication include giving your child a hug, giving a high-five, rubbing their shoulders or affectionately messing their hair.
However, remember to avoid hugging or kissing your teenage children in front of his peers. Nothing can embarrass them more! This totally violates their emotional need to look ‘cool’ and ‘independent’.
Some children do not feel comfortable with certain types of physical touch. The kind of physical touch that makes them feel loved is based very much on their own personal preference as their preference changes as they grow older.
In conclusion…
To love your child extravagantly does not mean that you have to give to his whim and fancy. But you need to make him feel important, special and loved.
Are you tired of Hi-5 and looking for an alternative? If yes, you may want to consider The Fairies DVD. In The Fairies Series, the 2 fairies,Harmony and Rhapsody sing, dance and play with their friends in the fairyland.
When I first got hold of the singalong DVD, I had the impression that the DVD is for “girls only”.
It was pinkish and the main characters were 2 fairies. I did not introduce that to my son as I thought that he would not be interested. Surprisingly, it was quite well received. Though not so much into Harmony and Rhapsody, he loved Wizzy the Wizard and Bizzy Buzzy Bee.
The songs were catchy and easy to sing along for the children. The children loved dancing along and following the actions of the characters. What amazed me most is that my son who doesn’t dance actually danced along with the music. The children watched Fairy Beach, Fairy Magic and Fairy Dancing.
Of the 3 discs, they liked Fairy Beach the best. It is about Harmony and Rhapsody travelling in a magic boat with their friends in fairyland to the Beach Fairy, Bubble. They had lots of fun together and towards the end of every series, they had a very catchy song “Now we have to go”, which even my 2 year old daughter will hum along.
Although the children get hooked onto the english DVDs, The Fairies DVD is indeed good entertainment to keep them occupied while I am busy.
Here’s a short clip on “The Fairies“. Enjoy!
Watched any good singalong DVDs recently? Tell us about it by leaving us a comment below.
We sell taiwan street snacks like Beancurd Chicken Wings, Chicken Nuggets, Chicken Cutlet, Fried Mushrooms, Fried Green Beans, Fried Sotong Tempura and Bento Sets.
Invite your friends who stay in the east, work in the east or frequent Tampines Century Square.
Staff of UMC, PSK, Echo Music or AFPD are entitled to 10% discount off MENU price when you present your staff/employment or student/privilege card.
Students get 20% off menu prices*. Just show your student.
KidSpecialty (formally known as LINGENIUS) is an educational-specialty online store that aims to provide the best language and educational resources for young children.
We started as an online store that distributes children foreign language products, as we recognise the many benefits of exposing young children to foreign languages and sounds since infancy. Decades of research show that early exposure to languages sets the stage for fluency later in life, and stimulates overall brain development.
Since then, we have been expanding our online store to include other ranges of educational resources, many of which are award-winning products from USA. Currently, we have over 900 titles of products: Languages ( English, Chinese, Foreign Languages) , Phonics , Signing , Educational videos , Children and Baby audio CDs, Charts/Posters , Activity Books , Flash Cards and more.
KidSpecialty is the authorized reseller for Signing Time! products, and the sole distributor for TotTalk brand in Singapore.
Question:
I’m a new mummy. I will like to buy an insurance program for my baby. What should I be looking out for?
Sharmine
Answers:
Guru Ed:
Many parents make the mistake of NOTinsuring themselves well before their children. Remember the story of the golden goose and golden egg. Which is more important? You, as the parent is the golden goose. You are the income provider. So insure yourself instead.
For your insurance program, I suppose you meant by Education Saving plan. Ensure that both parents names are added to the policy, as many of us are dual income family. Both mummy and daddy have to work to provide.
Guru Foo:
Rather than just focusing on the type of insurance that you want to purchase, my suggestion is that you speak to a professional instead. Ensure that these people you are speaking to is currently or already obtained a professionally recognized certificate such as CFPTM, ChFCCM etc. They will provide you a proper long term advise to suit your needs.
Generally, all insurance policies have almost the same features and benefits, however, a good planner will advise you on the mix of investment returns and the amount of protection you will need to consider.
Do you any questions on finance for our experts? If you have, we welcome you to go to our Financial Expert section to submit your questions.
Description: Join in the fun with your children and find out what they learn through their daily activities in pre-school education. Activities include art sessions for Nursery to K2 children, music and dance performances, Chinese poem recitals, and a Primary School preparation talk.
Firstly, I will like you to be truly honest with me and ask yourself, “Are you tired of nagging your child?”
Well, if your answer is ‘Yes’, there is good news for you! There are ways you can get your child to cooperate with you without constantly scolding and nagging at them! As a matter of fact, most children I asked have a common wish for their parents - That is hope their parents will stop nagging!
Therefore, I concluded that constantly nagging and scolding is not the way to get cooperation. The biggest secret is that parents should never tell their children what they should do. Children, especially when they are teens, have a strong emotional need for independence, and they hate being told how to think and what to do.
Instead, you should empower them with choices, giving them the choice of what they want in life.
Empowering them with Choice
When you give them choices, they feel a sense of independence, and they also feel the freedom to choose their own life.
Hence, instead of nagging at them to study, you should give them choices.
E.g. “If you don’t study, you will end up with lousy grades. Then you cannot choose the course you want to study, and can only take the leftovers. Being poorly educated, you usually end up with lousy jobs with low pay. Then, you will have very few choices in life, not having the freedom to eat the food you like and to buy the things you want.
BUT, if you choose to study hard and get good grades, you will have the FREEDOM to choose the school and course you want to study. With top qualifications, you can get high pay jobs and you will have many choices in life.
In the end, the choice is still up to you. Think about it carefully.”
If you put it across to them this way, they will feel empowered in their life. They will associate studying with freedom and happiness and not just to make their mum and dad happy.
Most students study because their parents are very strict with them. Though it may bring short term effects, they will get disheartened in the long run as they feel that their feelings have been neglected and they are just studying to make their parents happy.
Talk About your Feelings
Instead of scolding my students every time they commit a mistake, I will use this useful strategy of sharing my feelings with them.
The wonderful news is most kids care about their parents from the bottom of their heart. And if you are open enough to share your feelings with them, they will be touched!
Instead of scolding them…
“Why are you so playful? Can you stop playing the computer games and study?”
Share your feelings…
“You know, son, I get upset when I see you neglecting your studies.”
Give Constructive Feedback
When children make mistakes, the first thing most parents do is always throwing accusations such as,
“That is wrong!”
“That is really so stupid!”
“Don’t do that!”
When we tell people that they are wrong, their automatic response will be to defend themselves. They will tend to ‘fight back’ to justify their actions.
So what can be a more effective strategy? Instead of scolding straight away, you can first praise your child for what is correct, then give advice on what can be improved.
Remember that there is nothing wrong with your children, there is only something wrong with their behaviour.
E.g. “It is great to see you putting so much effort in your art, at the end of it, do clear up the table so that you can save me some time in tidying up the house.”
I have just shared 3 creative ways in which you can get your child to cooperate and listen to you willingly. Follow it and you will enjoy a happier and closer child parent relationship.
Article by Study Grandmaster. To nurture your child into a genius, visit www.studygrandmaster.com.
Top Fun Places in Singapore for Your Kids on a Rainy Day
Troubled over where to bring your hyperactive kids out when it’s raining cats and dogs? Fret not, if you arm yourself with our list of rainy day activities for kids in Singapore to keep our kids entertained on rainy days. Maybe you can even squeeze in some shopping, coffee, reading or a manicure session while they are having loads of fun!
The Polliwogs
Featuring quirky characters and the largest outdoor inflatable bouncy named Polliwobbly in Singapore, The Polliwogs boosts both indoor and outdoor play areas for kids. Its beachside location, in-house cafe with free online access, magazines and newspapers also makes it ideal for parents to relax while the kids have gazillions of fun!
Eager to introduce your child to the joy of baking but fear the chaotic mess?
Join Home Horizon’s baking classes and discover how fun and enriching it is to bake with your children. Learn how to make irresistible goodies such as Monster Chocolate Chip Cookies, Home-made Sausage Rolls, Orange Butterfly Cupcakes and have some fun, bonding time with your children!
Peek-A-Boo Peek-A-Boo! is a fun and safe indoor playground where kids can enjoy active play in an air-conditioned environment! If you are looking for a unique venue for your kid’s birthday parties, look no further! You can also put a big smile on your children’s face by organising birthday parties without all the frazzle!
Whether you are a new parent looking for a baby friendly place to relax and have a cup of coffee, or a family looking for a fun family outing or perhaps you are looking for a safe and fun place to drop your kids while you catch up on some “me time”, Peek-A-Boo is the place to go to!
Rediscover the wonders of Science with your kids at the Singapore Science Centre with the wonders of the 5-storey high Omni-Theatre equipped with state-of-the-art IMAX dome technology. To beat the heat, have an indoor “winter getaway” fun at Snow City with your kids too!
LilliPutt
Have fun in Singapore’s first indoor golf course! Everyone from the seasoned player to the little amateur player can participate in this interactive game in groups! This is an indoor mini-golf adventure that promises many thrilling moments as u put your way through 18 sensational mini golf holes – all modeled after familiar Singapore landmarks. Souvenirs are also available for those interested in bringing home a memento to remember their wonderful outing.
Have hyperactive kids? Why not put their energy to good development? Promote the physical, social, emotional and cognitive development of your children, targetted at those aged 4 months to 9 years old, through physical fun and exercise in a non-competitive environment!
eXplorerkid is a family-friendly club for families with children aged 12 and younger which operates the largest Indoor Playground in Singapore - eXplorerkid Indoor Children Playground – at E!hub in Downtown East. eXplorerkid is part of the NTUC Club leisure and entertainment arm..
Besides the Indoor Playground, eXplorerkid offers the following products and services: Membership services, School field trips, Birthday parties, Signature events, Retail @ Fun Shop.
They run an attractive ongoing membership programme to encourage families with children under 12 years and below to join as members of the extended NTUC family.
Looking for an indoor playground that’s fun as well as hygenic? Based at Turf City, Fidgets is Singapore’s largest indoor soft play structure for children from 0-10 years, with dedicated baby and toddler play areas. Custom designed and manufactured in Australia by world leader Playtec, the structure includes the first automatic and interactive ball washing machine in Singapore reducing over 99% of germs.
With two dedicated party rooms accommodating up to 80 children and a 100 seat cafe full of the latest magazines and newspapers from around the world, there’s something for everybody. All of this and 2000 parking lots add up to hassle free entertainment for all the family.
(Note from Admin : Frisk ‘n’ Romp is no longer in operation)
Overlooking the sea, Frisk ‘n’ Romp Kids’ Playclub, a 7,000 sq ft indoor and outdoor space for kids’ fun educational activities makes it a great spot for a relaxing weekend with the kids! Bring your kids to this playspace where play is facilitated and parents can have peace of mind. Dining is also available in the compound of Playground @ Big Splash.
Visit: http://www.frisknromp.com
Lorna Whiston Speech & Drama Centre
If you’re worried about your children’s skills at expressing their emotions, consider taking them to a speech and drama class such as Lorna Whiston Schools where they can learn something useful and new to build up their imagination and confidence level. Programmes are available for 3 to 12 year olds.
Go-Go Bambini is a unique concept based on the proven success of the play industry that has enjoyed huge success not only in the USA but also in the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and many other countries around the world.
When it comes to the G0-Go Bambini concept, parents do not lose out on fun as well. While giving kids the fun factor they want, good food, excellent coffee, something to read, free wifi, computers to use, nail spa services are all little perks that make the parents’ experience an enjoyable one as well.
Want your kid to have safe indoor fun in a clean and conducive environment? If you are looking for some rainy day activities for kids, The Altantis City’s playroom allows your kids to have a good workout and interact with other children while you enjoy a cup of coffee and snack, come rain or shine. Birthday party packages and babysitting services are also available upon request.
With indoor choices galore today, there’s bound to be one that will keep you and your gloomy kids perked up on a dreary, rainy day. Besides, who says the parents cannot relax and have fun at the same time too?
If you have any interesting place to recommend, please feel free to write in to us!
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Firstly, I will like you to be truly honest with me and ask yourself, “Are you tired of nagging your child?”
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