Today’s Motherhood

One of the most anticipated developments in the life of the baby is infant teething. Maturity is clearly indicated by the baby’s first set of teeth clearly signifying his preparedness to go beyond the milk and explore new kinds of foods to aid in his development.

Infant teething is a painful journey for babies so parents should be aware of some home remedies which can alleviate the pain suffered by the baby caused by the breaking out of gums and emergence of the tooth.

Once you have noticed that your baby is beginning to give something a bite and that gums are swollen, some of these interventions could be done:

• Satisfy your baby’s urge to bite and chew by providing teething, cookies, tablets and gels or teether toys. This could not only prevent the baby from putting into his mouth anything but will also relieve him of the pain.
• Whole honeybees and chamomile could also help alleviate the teething pain. These are substances that soothe the baby and divert their pains into a calming therapy.
• Clove oil is known for their calming and warming properties. Hold a clove against a sore tooth can ease the pain long enough. You can also rub the oil onto the swollen gums to ease the pain. However, you have to make sure the amount of oil that the baby could take in should be minimal because too much of it can cause stomach troubles.
• Have the infant chew on natural licorice stick. The licorice is naturally cool and has the ability to numb the gums during teething.
• Avoid candies as a teething tool. The sugar will not be good to the developing teeth.
• Rub pure vanilla extract on the swollen gums of the infant. The rubbing effect could ease the teething pain by providing counter pressure. Vanilla also contains alcohol that creates a warm sensation for temporary comfort. Moreover, vanilla is known for its soothing and energizing effect that could ease the baby pain.
• Soothe the infant with music or soft massage.
• Consult your doctor for pain relievers appropriate for babies which could be applied or taken before bed time.
• Rum should not be applied to ease baby pain. Alcohol has never been good to anyone especially to babies.

There are a lot of myths encompassing the teething journey of the baby. What is important is for the mother to be able to seek for professional help if home remedies are not yet enough to alleviate the baby’ condition. Be careful with objects which are said to be aids on infant teething like teething stone which are associated with baby choking. Seek the best way to ease baby’s pain. Your little effort would mean a lot of relief.

Obedience is a humble virtue. The innate attitude of a person is to initially complain about the things he needs to accomplish because he might have found it unfair or difficult. Getting your children do what you are asking them to is indeed difficult especially if you don’t know how to reprimand them right to get things done. How to let a child obey is a test for the parent’s ability to instruct and let things be understood. Here are some tips you can rely on to encourage children to adhere to what you say as parents:

• Explain why something needs to be done. Do not just command things which the child does not understand.
• Learn to say “NO”. Children tend to ask for extension or reduction of a job for relief or for a test of your firmness. As parents, you can instill authority by standing firm for what you have said. Deadlines are ceasing points which children need to value to avoid procrastination.
• Use the reward-consequence system. It is but essential for children to know that if something is not done, an unfavorable result would happen and vice versa. The tendency for parents is to do the things by themselves instead which is not just an infraction to their own rules but also a clear revelation of inconsistency. You can always take away privileges for instances of defiance by the child.
• Ask the child to clean his own mess. This is not just discipline but also a means to let him know there is actually a consequence.
• Add extra chores for the things undone. For example, you can let the child fill up a paper of his written promise to finish what is asked of him.
• Avoid threatening, shouting and intimidating the child. Instead, talk about how you feel discouraged and sad about his defiance. Let him understand by citing situations like what does he think would happen to the family if you also stop working and earning money for them?
• Never give consequences that are not related to the misdeed and implement them at the right time. Correcting the child right then and there is more effective than accumulating the consequences.

Child Obedience should always come from the parents by setting a good example. Show your children how you can manage to accomplish whatever you have started and how you are responsible enough to face the consequences of your actions.

Mobile phones are now the easiest way to get in touch with your kids while you are at work. Whether our children are at home or in school, cellular phones are helpful gadgets for parents to keep track of your kids’ whereabouts.

A single call could determine how your children are doing and who they are with. But then again, not all technological advancements are solely for beneficial results. Some pose threats to family relationships and children’s activities like mobile phones.

Children are now engrossed with the games and other features which advanced gadgets are incorporated with. WLAN features pave the way for kids to browse the internet without you even knowing. This is why there is a need for parents to supervise their children once they allow them to use these gadgets. Here are some pointers to consider when disciplining your children regarding the use of cellular phones:

• Introduce phone etiquette. Remind your children that the phones which you are allowing them to use are for personal and family purposes. Teach them how to answer calls the right way and be able to compose polite messages when replying through SMS.
• Tell your kids to put their cellular phones in silent mode when inside places of worship or their classrooms. This way, they will learn to respect venues that require silence and focused attention.
• In terms of budgeting, teach your children to spare a little amount which they could save for buying load or paying for their monthly bills or for availing of network features like internet use and game downloads.



• Once in a while, find time to check on their phones, look into who they are communicating with and browse on some internet pages they have searched into. Kids will find it hard to keep undesirable things like obscenity and foul images and sounds which they could acquire from their classmates and friends.
• Give schedules to when they could use their phones at home. Set time for studying and make sure their cellular phones are kept while they are doing their assignments.
• Hone their sense of responsibility through asking them to care for their own phones, prevent chances of losing it, and keep up with their allocated budget for calls and text messaging.

It is only through the absence of parental supervision that children tend to try out things which are not appropriate for them. Mobile phones for children bring about huge benefits and practicality especially during emergencies. Technology will result to maximum benefits if parental guidance is applied.

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Running is a natural and enjoyable activity for children, no matter what their ages are. Do you remember how good it felt to just let loose and run around during your childhood? There are so much fun and delights shown on a child’s face when they run.

Introducing our little ones to the fun of running at a young age is also an exciting way to help them develop healthy habits for keeping fit that they will stick with for life. Running is a fantastic activity that promotes fun and fitness, as well as family bonding opportunity.

There are also more upcoming walking/running events to suit different ages and abilities. These events cater to younger age group, aim to challenge their ability, heighten their perseverance and in the meantime, for them to have fun. Some of these runs are definitely much more rewarding for you and your child, knowing that you are supporting a great cause.

Upcoming Running/Walking Events For Kids

Walk The Talk 2010 by Crocs
Crocs suggested to walk the talk of understanding the importance of familial communication. Walk together with your family at East Coast Park and spend some quality time enjoying the breeze and having a warmly conversation.

Where: East Coast Park – Dalbergia Green (Area D1)
When: 28th February 2010
Time: Registration starts from 6.45am. Flag-off is at 8.30am
Distance: 4.8km walk-a-ton
Registration Fee: $20 per walker; Kids below 12 walk for free
More information: www.crocs.sg/walkthetalk2010

North East Run 2010

The beneficiary of the North East Run is for Singapore Heart Foundation (SHF) is a non-profit charitable organisation at the forefront of the battle against cardiovascular disease (heart disease and stroke) in Singapore.
Where: Pasir Ris Park (Car Park C)
When: 14th March 2010
Time: 6.30am – 12.00pm (Fun run is at 8.15am)
Distance: 2km
Registration Fee: $15.00; Passion Card Holder - $12
More information: www.northeastrun.com

“The Amazing Kidney Race”
In conjunction with World Kidney Day 2010, KDF is organizing a race cum educational expedition for all participants. Race through the different road-blocks and obstacles and at the same time, learn more about your kidneys and health.
“The Amazing Kidney Race” organized by the Kidney Dialysis Foundation will have four event categories. There is the heart-warming 2.2K Parent-Child Tandem Run especially allocated for Mom/Dad-Child team-ups. During the race, participants and spectators will get a touching sight of a parent egging on and encouraging her/his child who is determined to give his/her all.

Where: Nee Soon South Community Club, Singapore
When: 27th March 2010
Time: 8.00am – 4.00pm
Distance: 2.2km
Registration Fee: To be eligible for The Amazing Kidney Race, each participant simply has to adopt our KDF pledge card and raise a minimum amount of $25 for our needy patients. Alternatively, you can also participate in the Race by making an outright donation of $25.
More information: www.kdf.org.sg

Dow LIVE EARTH Run For Water 2010
The Dow Live Earth Run for Water is a series of 6km run/walk taking place over the course of 24 hours in 192 countries. This is the average distance women and children walk everyday to secure water in rural countries. This event bundle up with concerts and water education activities will help to ignite a massive global movement to help solve the global water crisis. 10% of entry fees will go to our local water charity partner, Lien Aid, to support water project around the region.

Where: Marina Bay, Singapore
When: 18th April 2010
Time: 10.00am
Distance: 1km
Registration Fee: $22 per runner, $25 with effect from 1 March. Children below 12 years old have to be accompanied by an adult.
More information: www.runforwatersingapore.com

100 Plus PAssion Run 2010

There is no age limit for the CSF@SE 5km Chance Run, one of the race categories.

Where: East Coast Park, E2 (Angsana Green)
When: 22 May 2010, Saturday
Time: 4.00pm - 11.00pm (Each category will flag-off at a different time, timing TBC)
Distance: 5km
Registration Fee: Early Bird Special - Register now at $16 (Passion Card member) & $26 (Public).
More information: www.singaporepassionrun.com

Watch out for other running events suitable for children’s participation coming your way:

1. Cold Storage Run 2010
2. Singapore Marathon 2010

Besides participating in these running events, parents can provide other opportunities for children to run about freely in a safe environment. Generally in Singapore, there are also tons of great places like the parks and open spaces that are safe and suitable for parents and their children to run and have fun together.

Highly Recommended Places to Visit in Singapore That Let You Loose, Run and Have Fun

1. Bedok Reservoir

The reservoir and its surrounding park is an attractive landscape, popular with not only water-sports and fishing enthusiasts but also cyclists, skaters, joggers and picnickers.

2. Botanic Garden

The Singapore Botanical Gardens is a great place to take a stroll or run about with your child on the nice green field coupled up with flowers and birds. Do drop by Jacob Ballas Garden – Asia’s first children’s garden, a well-known kid’s paradise!

3. East Coast Park

East Coast Park is the largest beach park in Singapore and one of the most treasured urban getaways, with beautiful beach and path suitable for children to play and run around freely. Children will never get bored with other alternatives like building sand-castles, skating and cycling. It has a wide range of facilities available too.

4. Henderson Wave

The highest pedestrian bridge in Singapore is popular among joggers and tourists. Children love to run up and down the slanted path.

It is a newly constructed park connectors which aims to completely link all the various parks in Singapore in a continuous round island loop, taking you from ends such as Choa Chu Kang to Changi coast road. A great place to trek and explore fauna and flora too.

5. Marina Barrage

Here at Marina Barrage, there is a large open roof garden suitable for your child to run and have fun. You can an excellent view of the city and the Singapore Flyers. Fancy a picnic session with your family? Definitely a great place to relax and have fun together.

Do you have other great recommendation where children can let loose and run about freely in a safe environment? Or have your child participated in any running event? If yes, we will like to hear from you!

Having a partner does not always mean a good time. The individual differences between two people may direct them to unwanted misunderstandings and detrimental fights if not handled wisely. Although couples may have loved each other for a long time, battles of ideas and preferences may bring forth quarrel and rough moments. It is wise for couples to take some precautionary measures when a fight is about to begin.

There are many issues that bring about conflict between couples. Money problems, career choices, priorities and attitude differences are just a few of the many reasons why couples fight. Here are certain unfavorable situations and some tips to handle them:

• Money fights. Couples fight about money issues because they may have difficulty trusting each other. One may not be responsible enough so that the other seeks to take charge. They may have different ways of valuing money. Couples need to communicate their concerns and create a strategic plan for the family budget. Merging of finances in a joint account is advisable for married couples only. Couples should also be together in both times of sacrifice and privileges.
• Allocation of household chores. Although wives have traditionally been expected to manage the entire home, these times of equality means a fair division of household chores between the couple is necessary. Make a plan and follow it. Instead of thinking how to take advantage of the other, focus on how to help ease the burden of chores for your partner.
• Sexual conflicts. The couple’s differences in activities they engage in everyday may result to discrepancies in sex preferences like frequency and duration. Couples should extend intense understanding of their partner’s condition before allowing themselves to feel deprived or unwanted. The partner who fails to devote enough time for sexual activities with the other should find time to make up in return.
• Kids. Couples also fight over how to manage their children. Disciplining children becomes an issue when one is more lenient than the other. Couples should learn to compromise personal ideas for the benefit of their children. They should implement rules beneficial for the kids and not for their own authorities.
• Varied Expectations. Your partner may have viewed you extremely different from the way you actually are. Before getting into serious arguments, it pays to lay down your cards; tell your partner straight about what you can and cannot do. Change is not beneficial if done by force. Never try to change someone according to what you want.

Like any other conflict, couple fights are best resolved when they communicate with each other. A quality time together to open up will heal pains and will push for a better understanding of each others’ needs.

How do you deal with the differences with your partner? Do you have some good pointers for other mothers?  Feel free to write to us. Thank you.

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Who Are We

A team of dedicated and passionate Early Childhood Educators and certified Fitzroy teachers, led by Dawn Choy, aiming to create the love for reading as we believe that reading is the essential medium to gain vast knowledge and to create thirst of wanting to learn more. More importantly, LEARNING TO READ CAN BE SIMPLE, NATURAL AND FUN!

Reading Journey with The Reading Loft

“When a child creates with blocks, when he communicates with paint, when he uses his body freely as a means of expression, he is being taught to read.”
J. Hymes, 1965

This quote clearly reflects the spirit of The Reading Loft. We create a fun, stimulating and energetic environment to engage children actively in learning. Reading is intertwined in the environment and hence at The Reading Loft, we have the POWER to BRING READING TO LIFE.

The Reading Loft brings reading BEYOND books when children begin their magical learning journey with us and we encompass all aspects of developmental domains and subject domains. We teach in creative and innovative ways as we provide ways for children to learn to read and to explore the world around them.

The child’s learning journey with us is packed with learning experiences as we value literacy, understand the importance of literacy and are committed to help children gain the Success of Reading.

We provide regular Success Experiences to keep them motivated and it is FUN learning to read with us. We empower the young ones to take charge of their learning, we build character in children and we inspire them to help them scale greater heights.

We Are Different!

Many reading programmes in the market focus on only techniques to read. In The Reading Loft, we bring sense to reading by giving our children the opportunity to EXPERIENCE THE USEFULNESS OF READING. Reading becomes fun and COMES TO LIFE as children learn using their 5 Senses!

Each lesson is carefully designed, planned and tailored to success as children need to EXPERIENCE SUCCESS to keep their morale and enthusiasm for mastering the skills to read. They will become dispirited and resist learning when they fail to overcome the challenges or the tasks presented are challenging for them.

Our Approach – Experiential Reading Approach

The Experiential Reading Approach is designed bearing in mind that children learn in different ways and there is no one method that can suit all children. Aristotle once said, “For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them.” For instance, a reading lesson could be in the form of a cooking lesson, in which children learn to read recipes and enjoy the experience of cooking and reading! This reading approach creates a stronger and deeper impression which results in greater retention as children learn through their 5 senses!

There are generally 3 predominant learning styles today, namely Visual, Auditory and Kinesthetic Learning. To teach our children to read effectively and quickly, we need to tap on all these 3 styles of learning and the most fundamental law of learning – Memory. Children who learn through a variety of learning modalities are likely to acquire reading faster.

To become a strong reader, the child needs to be strong in his visual and auditory skills. Experiential Reading Approach is a systematic and multi-sensory approach that strengthens all learning styles. We focus on:

1. Phonics - learning to blend sounds together to read
2. Whole Language - using the Power of Memory to remember high frequency words that cannot be decoded using phonics
3. Bodily Kinesthetic & Creative Expression – using one whole’s body to express ideas and emotions, to produce, create or transform things
4. Pictures - to create strong visual links to the phonics, help children to distinguish between word and letters (Visual Learning)
5. Readers and Stories - Readers based on the Fitzroy Method (children starts to read while learning phonics rather than swallowing the phonics rules before they even start reading)
6. Playacting to create long lasting learning experiences (Kinesthetic)
7. Writing skills – To learn to read is to learn to write. Reading enhances writing, and Writing enhances reading.
8. Oral Reading (Fluency)
9. Basic grammar, punctuation, language art skills – children learn to these skills through crossword puzzles, read phrases, comprehension and games
10. Life-skills - The Power of Words in Neuro Linguistic Program (NLP), Communication and Interpersonal Skills, Decision Making and Critical Thinking Skills & Self-Management Skills

Website : www.thereadingloft.com

Email : dawn@thereadingloft.com

Contact Number : (65) 96816264

Address : 175B, Thomson Road, #03-175B, Goldhill Centre, Singapore 307624

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Congratulations to the winners of Today’s Motherhood Mini Contest. They have won themselves a set of The Wiggles DVDs.

Below are the names of the winners:

1. Angel Sim
2. Lina Chew

**Winners will be notified by Innoform individually.

** Terms and Conditions apply

(more…)

Despite the discomforts of pregnancy including the body pains and emotional irritability, pregnant mothers have all the reasons to smile and view the world as an ally and not as a foe. Pregnancy is a wonderful experience and a mystery every mother should take pride in. Here are some reasons why pregnant mothers should smile:

1. Pregnancy is a gift. What makes women distinct from men is their ability to carry the baby inside the womb for nine long months.
2. The growing of the breast for the reproduction of milk is an amazing undertaking. Being well-endowed with milk-producing cells that make the breasts larger despite silicon and other enhancements is something to shout about.
3. Strengthening of the nails and the hair. Pregnancy is the time for you to boast of stronger nails and hair as you do away with conditioners and moisturizers. Pregnancy induced metabolism produces hormones that benefit the nails and your healthy hair.
4. Getting into the healthy lifestyle. Knowing that whatever you take will get into the baby, you willingly refuse vices and other unhealthy foods and this directs you to the track of being fit and well.



5. Public privileges are overwhelming. The pregnant women are given the priority in almost everything especially in having the best seat in public transportation.
6. Pregnancy relieves you of the stress at work especially for check ups and rest as recommended by your specialist. This means paid time off-work and no one else the world gets that for free except the expectant mother.
7. No menstrual hassles. Pregnancy will get rid of menstrual cramps and leaks for at least 40 long weeks. This gives you a refreshing feel and a chance to spend money on something else instead of buying pads and pain relievers.
8. Blaming the hormones for mood swings. Pregnant women can always point their fingers to hormonal changes as culprits to their mood change. Actually, no pregnant woman is at fault when it comes to mood swings.
9. Opportunity for shopping. Nothing fits in any more as the body of the pregnant woman becomes larger for the baby’s growth. This is your chance to buy the best dress and go shopping around all the time.
10. Everybody’s a friend. No one around you will want to act rude or irritating. This is a moment for you to savor friendly conversations and sweet smiles from neighbors and friends.

Pregnancy is something to treasure and to be thankful for. So relax and put on your best smile.

Are there other reasons that make you smile during pregnancy? We like to hear from you. Kindly leave your comments below, thank you.

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Take part in our Mini Giveaway Contest and stand a chance to win a pair of tickets to the play “Bear and Chicken Get Ready For School”. 5 pairs of tickets to be won. See end of post for more details.

Bear and Chicken Get Ready for School
6 - 20 March 2010
DBS Arts Centre - Home of SRT

Bear and Chicken are back! They are getting ready to go to a new school. But moving from their familiar school to a new one is scary. Together Bear and Chicken decide to join the Circus. Wouldn’t it be fun to be the circus clown, acrobat or even the lion tamer?

What entails is a charming discovery that not all lessons in life are learned in a classroom and perhaps the circus isn’t all fun and games after all.

Recommended for 3 – 6 year olds

Stand to win a pair of tickets (worth S$50) to the play on 7 March, Sunday, 2pm! Total 5 pairs to be won. To take part in this Giveaway Contest, simply fill in the form below and answer a simple question below

This Giveaway Contest Ends 22 Feb 2010.

Terms and Conditions Apply