Today’s Motherhood

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A 15% discount for any purchases above $50, up to 28 January 2011 at our online store www.thepartystuff.com.sg

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As the name tells it, Chinese New Year marks the beginning of a new year for the Chinese. However, do we know and appreciate the significance behind the culture and traditions?

As we prepare for the celebrations, let us take the opportunity to have fun making “red packet” chinese lanterns!

There are five lanterns featured in this article. Make effort to spend time to learn how to make a chinese lantern for your kids.

There are many stories behind the beliefs that we know today.

Why are the twelve Zodiac animals arranged as they are today?

Legend says that in the past, the animals had a race. The first twelve animals who reached would have the chance to be part of the Zodiac.

When Cat heard about it, she was very excited. Cat shared the good news about the race with mouse. However, Mouse was afraid that he would not be able to be part of the first twelve animals to complete the race, so he tricked Cat into sleeping late.

The next day, Mouse woke up long before sunrise, and hurried to run the race. He was the first animal to reach, and is thus the first in the Zodiac. Animal by animal came. Even Pig managed to wake up early and reached in time to be the twelfth animal in the Zodiac.

When Cat awoke and realised that she did not have an opportunity to be part of the Zodiac, she was very angry with Mouse. And that’s why cats are always chasing mice. And that’s how legend says the Chinese Zodiac was created.

During Chinese New Year, children wish their elders blessings, and offer them mandarin oranges (橙). This is an act of sincerity (诚心诚意).

Blessings are exchanged as the younger generation (children and unmarried adults) bless their married siblings and relatives 恭喜发财, 万事如意, 年年有余, 身体健康 and many more.

Parents, relatives and married couples exchange oranges and return the blessing with 快高长大, 读书聪明 etc.

The year 2011 is the year of the Rabbit. There are still many Chinese traditions that build up positive values in children. Apart from the visiting of relatives and friends, and spending time together, Chinese New Year also signifies a new beginning.

A family often spring cleans the house to prepare for new wealth. During the first few days of Chinese New Year, some families do not sweep the floor or dispose of their trash as they don’t want to sweep away the luck and throw away good fortune.

I believe that the most important part of welcoming the New Year is the evening before. Often, my grandparents will come home with bags of good things to cook for steamboat dinner. This is a time when the whole family makes time to have dinner together, in the midst of busy schedules.

After steamboat, we will “捞鱼生” and speak of our hopes in the New Year. The elders say that the higher we lift our chopsticks as we “捞鱼生”, the more successful we will be. We just have lots of fun eating, and laughing together.

Tradition says that to wish their parents longevity, children can stay up past midnight on the eve of Chinese New Year. In the name of fun, we do it. What traditions do your family share during Chinese New Year?

How to Make Chinese Lantern : Red Packet Fish Lantern

Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

How to Make Chinese Lantern : Circular Fan Lantern

Fold red packet in half, and use scissor to cut lines along the length. Staple the two ends of the red packet. Roll up a small red packet to make the handle.

How to Make Chinese Lantern : Tall Lantern

Fold triangles at the 4 corners, and then staple the corners.

How to Make Chinese Lantern : Blessing Lantern

Fold triangles at the 4 corners, and then staple the corners.

How to Make Chinese Lantern : Rabbit Lantern

Use 3 square red packets, staple together. Cut the centre of the red packet halfway, and fold triangles rounded at the tip to create the rabbit’s ears. Attach ribbons if desired.

Article written by: Michele See

This article was first published in Today’s Motherhood Magazine Feb / Mar 2011 issue Page 6

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It’s a great way to spend your Saturday mornings playing KidzNet, Fun Netball and making new friends!

KidzNet Saturday Programme is a programme by Netball Singapore which was developed in 2006 for children aged 5 to 10.

Sportz Kulture Pte Ltd is the first and only endorsed company by Netball Singapore to conduct the KidzNet Saturday Programme. KidzNet aims to develop children in their motor skills and giving them an opportunity to try out a team sport such as netball. Children can expect lots of fun games, active participation and the development of basic netball skills.

Fun Netball is initiated by Co-curricular Activities Branch (CCAB), developed by our committed and dedicated coaches and endorsed by Netball Singapore. It is for children aged 8 – 12 years old. Like KidzNet, Fun Netball focuses on fun and active participation. It refines the children‘s basic netball skills and develop advance netball skills through exciting and engaging games.

Our programmes are conducted by passionate coaches with netball credentials, including skills acquisition, teaching modified netball to children and first aid certifications. Our coaches are well trained to conduct trainings in a positive environment to help our players improve in their skills, gain confidence in the sport and in their lives!

Age Group

KidzNet Saturday: 5 – 10 years old
Fun Netball Junior: 7 – 10 years old

Venue

6 Stadium Boulevard Singapore 397797

Dates

1. 12 Feb
2. 19 Feb
3. 26 Feb
4. 5 Mar
5. 12 Mar
6. 19 Mar
7. 26 Mar
8. 2 Apr
9. 9 Apr ( Reserved Day )
10. 16 Apr ( Reserved Day )

Cost

KidzNet Saturday Programme
Usual price: S$160.00
(S$140.00 + a S$20.00 registration fee)

Specially for Today’s Motherhood members:
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(S$126.00 + a S$20.00 registration fee)

Fun Netball Junior Programme
Usual price: S$200.00
(S$180.00 + a S$20.00 registration fee)

Specially for Today’s Motherhood members:
10% discount, $182.00
(S$162.00 + a S$20.00 registration fee)

Online registration is available on www.sportzkulture.com.sg

Please quote ‘Today’s Motherhood’ when doing online registration.

Website : www.sportzkulture.com.sg

Name: Zhenzhen
Mobile: 9049 2423
Email: zhen@sportzkulture.com.sg

Name: Lizhen
Mobile: 9877 6715
Email: lizhen@sportzkulture.com.sg

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Congratulations to the winners of Today’s Motherhood and Innokidz New Year Giveaways. They have won themselves a Babar and the Adventures of Badou hamper worth $45.

Below are the names of the winners:

1. Claire Liu
2. Debbie Ng
3. Gloria Liu

**Winners will be notified by Innoform individually.

** Terms and Conditions apply

The prizes are sponsored by

Congratulations to the winners of Today’s Motherhood Momsinmind Baby Carrier Pouches Giveaway. They have won themselves a Momsinmind Baby Carrier Pouch Worth $42 each.

Below are the names of the winners:

1. Casey Charmain Ang
2. Charlene Gor
3. Ng Li Yeen
4. Rina Lim
5. Vicki Koh

**Winners will be notified by The Birth Shop individually.

** Terms and Conditions apply.

The prizes are sponsored by The Birth Shop.

The risk of baby choking is considered to be highest in young children because they explore objects with their mouths. Furthermore, babies and children air ways are narrower as it is still developing, thus making it easier for them to choke on food as well.

Knowing these considerations, parents are encouraged to make necessary interventions, to prevent their little ones from choking.

Steps in reducing your baby’s risk of choking:

1. If your child is bottle-fed, make sure you monitor the bottle nipples and check the regulation of the flow. Too much fluid gushing into your baby’s mouth at once can lead to your baby choking and gasping for air.
2. Cherries, grapes and tomatoes are great snacks for children. Make sure you cut them into smaller bite size pieces before serving.
3. Position your baby in a right posture during mealtime; by sitting him in a high chair and placing him upright on the floor.
4. When eating, prepare a bottle or a cup of juice just by your side to help your baby swallow his or her food.
5. Babies don’t have the ability to hold their own utensils yet. It is important for parents to hold them in order to control the amount of food your child puts into his or her mouth.
6. Demonstrate chewing. Show your baby how to chew food while feeding him. This will encourage him to mimic the chewing motion and will ensure that he is swallowing small pieces of food.
7. Meat and poultry should be cut into very small pieces before serving.
8. Stay near your baby throughout the meal. Never force your baby to eat or drink when he is crying or having difficulty breathing.
9. Children below four years old should not be given hard candies and uncooked food.
10. Choking with toys is a common scenario for babies. Parents should always check their children’s toy. Children under one years of age should not hold toys smaller than 2 ¼ inches long and 1 ¼ wide.

The home is where your baby begins to discover so many things. Keep your floors clean and free from any potential choking hazards for babies such as buttons, marbles, bottle caps, and lighters. Circle off an area for play and crawling in order to prevent your baby from reaching foreign objects.

Careermums is the first job portal in Singapore striving to provide a platform for professional working mothers to register their interest in non-traditional working hours. Employers who are hiring working professionals on a part time/freelance/flexible basis, look no further!

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For more information, please visit www.careermums.com.sg. Terms and condition apply.

Not In The Malls’s new competition starts today… would you like to win this lovely ear-ring/pendant set from Polli?

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1. Your name will automatically be entered into the prize draw for every order over $100.00 you place at www.notinthemalls.com

OR

2. Complete a recommend a friend form on their website

The competition runs from 5th Jan and the draw will take place to coincide with Valentine’s Day on Monday 14th February 2011!

For more information, visit www.notinthemalls.com/pages/competition

Terms and Conditions Apply

With 6 years of experience, Sportz Kulture Pte Ltd is known to schools and public as a NETBALL sports related company dealing with Netball programmes, team jerseys and sports equipment.

We specialize in children enrichment programmes - KidzNet Saturday, Fun Netball Junior, Fun Netball Senior and “I am a Netballer” Camp.

KidzNet is a modified netball programme developed by Netball Singapore for children aged 5 – 10 years old. The emphasis is on fun, active participation and the development of basic netball skills.

Sportz Kulture Pte Ltd is the first and only company in Singapore to be endorsed by Netball Singapore to conduct the KidzNet programme as enrichment for the public.

Fun Netball is the next stage after KidzNet. It is initiated by Co-curricular Activities Brunch (CCAB), developed by our committed and dedicated coaches, endorsed by Netball Singapore, for children aged 8 – 12 years old.

Like KidzNet, Fun Netball focuses on fun and active participation. It refines the children‘s basic netball skills and develop advance netball skills through exciting and engaging games.

Our programmes are designed and conducted by a team of passionate coaches with netball credentials, including skills acquisition, teaching modified netball to children and first aid certifications. As a well recognized company in conducting netball programmes for children, our coaches are well trained to conduct trainings in a positive environment to help our players improve in their skills, gain confidence in the sport and in their lives!

Website : www.sportzkulture.com.sg

Name: Zhenzhen
Mobile: 9049 2423
Email: zhen@sportzkulture.com.sg

Name: Lizhen
Mobile: 9877 6715
Email: lizhen@sportzkulture.com.sg

Address : No 35 Jalan Pemimpin, Wedge Mount Industrial Building, #03-02, Singapore (577176)



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Article written by Dr Ratna Sridjaja, SBCC Baby & Child Clinic, Gleneagles Hospital

You’ve probably experienced waking in the middle of the night to find your child flushed, hot and sweaty. You little one’s forehead feels warm. You immediately suspect a fever, but are unsure of what to do next. Should you get out the thermometer? Call the doctor?

In healthy kids, fevers usually don’t indicate anything serious. Although it can be frightening when your child’s temperature rises, fever itself causes no harm and can actually be a good thing.

It’s often the body’s way of fighting infections. And not all fever need to be treated. High fever, however, can make a child uncomfortable and worsen problems such as dehydration.

Here’s more about fever, how to treat them and when to call your doctor.

Fever Facts

Fever occurs when the body’s internal “ thermostat” raises the body temperature above its normal level. This thermostat is found in the part of the brain called hypothalamus. The hypothalamus knows what temperature your body should be ( usually around 37 Celcius or 98.6 Fahrenheit ) and will send messages to your body to keep it that way.

The body’s temperature is usually a little lower in the morning and a little higher in the evening and can fluctuate as kids run around, play and exercise.

Sometimes, though, the hypothalamus will reset the body to a higher temperature in response to an infection, illness or some other causes. Researchers believe that turning up the heat is the body’s way of fighting the germs that cause infections and making the body less comfortable for them.

Causes of fever

It’s important to note that fever by itself is not an illness – it’s usually a symptom of an underlying problem. Common causes of fever are:

• Infections
• Overdressing
• Immunizations

Is it a fever?

Use a reliable thermometer to confirm a fever ( which is when a child’s temperature is at or above one of these levels ):

• 38 C ( 100.4 F ) measured rectally ( in the bottom )
• 37.5 C ( 99.5 F ) measured orally ( in the mouth )
• 37 C ( 99 F ) measured an axillary position ( under the arm )

The height of the fever doesn’t correlate to the severity of the child’s illness. A simple cold or other viral infection can sometimes cause a rather high fever ( in the 38.9 – 40 C / 102 – 104 F range ), but this doesn’t usually indicate a serious problem. Serious infections, on the contrary, may have no fever or even abnormally low body temperature, especially in infants.

Fever may cause chills as the body tries to generate additional heat as temperature begins to rise.

A child may sweat as the body releases extra heat when the temperature starts to drop.

Helping Kids Feel Better

• If your child is fussy or uncomfortable, you can give paracetamol or ibuprofen based on the package recommendations for age or weight.( Never give aspirin due to its association with Reyes syndrome which can be fatal, unless instructed by a doctor)
• Infants under 2 months old should not be given any medication for fever without being evaluated by a doctor. Remember that fever medication will temporarily bring a temperature down, but won’t return it to normal – and it won’t treat the underlying cause of fever.
• Giving a sponge bath will help bring the fever down. Use only lukewarm water. Never use alcohol ( it can cause poisoning when absorbed through the skin ) or ice packs or cold baths ( they can cause chills that may raise body temperature ).
• Dress your child in lightweight clothing and cover with a light sheet of blanket. Overdressing and overbundling can prevent body heat from escaping and can cause body temperature to rise.
• Offer plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration – a fever will cause a child to lose fluids more rapidly. Avoid drinks containing caffeine, including colas and tea, because they can cause increased urination. Water, soup, popsicles and jello are good choices.
• Let your child eat what he or she wants. Don’t worry too much if your child doesn’t want to eat as long as your child is still drinking and urinating normally.
• Make sure your child gets plenty of rest. Staying in bed all day isn’t necessary but a sick child should take it easy.
• It’s best to keep a child with fever from school or childcare. The child may return when temperature has been normal for 24 hours.

When is it a concern

Call your doctor if you have an:

• infant younger than 3 months old with a temperature of 38 C/ 100.4 F or higher
• an older child who has a fever of > 39 C/ 102.2 F
• an older child who has a fever of < 39 C/ 102.2 F but also:

a. refuses fluids or seems too ill to drink adequately
b. has persistent diarrhea or repeated vomiting
c. has any signs of dehydration ( urinating less than usual, not having tears when crying, less alert and less active than usual )
d. has chronic medical problem such as cancer, heart or kidney disease.
e. has pain with urination.
f. has fever longer than 72 hours.
g. has a rash.

Seek emergency care if your child shows any of these signs:

• inconsolable crying and extreme irritability
• lethargy and difficulty walking
• rash or purple spots that look like bruises on the skin ( that were not there before the child got sick )
• stiff neck
• headache
• blue lips, tongue or nails
• seizure
• infant’s soft spot on the head that bulges out or sunken inwards
• difficulty breathing
• leaning forward and drooling

If you are ever in doubt about what to do or if your child is acting in a way that concerns you even when there is no fever, always call your doctor for advice.

Dr Ratna Sridjaja
Paediatrician
Bsc (USA), MD (USA), FAAP (USA)

Dr Ratna graduated magna cum laude from the University of Southern California, U.S.A. She then continued on to pursue her medical degree at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, U.S.A., in 1995. Dr Ratna completed her paediatrics specialty training at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in 1999. She is American Board Certified in Paediatrics and a Fellow of American Academy of Paediatrics. She is a member of the honors society in Alpha Epsilon Delta and Phi Beta Kappa.

Dr Ratna has extensive paediatric experiences. Since 1999, she has worked in private practice in New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania. She worked in the Emergency Department at Dupont Hospital for Children before coming to Singapore in 2008, where she worked at National University Hospital Children’s Emergency Department.

With her global experience, Dr Ratna is multi-lingual; of which she is able to communicate in English, Mandarin, Malay, Hokkien and Indonesian language.

Practice Address :
SBCC Baby & Child Clinic (Gleneagles)
6 Napier Road
#07-01/03 Gleneagles Medical Centre
Singapore 258499

For more information, visit SBCC Baby & Child Clinic