Today’s Motherhood

iBenma latest promotions: Disney themed furniture up to 50% off while stocks last! Strictly First Come First Serve! Promotion from now till 23 Jan 2011!

What’s more, every Today’s Motherhood member can get $10 taxis subsidy and free trolley for purchases of weight more than 10kg.

To enjoy this special promotion, please quote “Today’s Motherhood” before payment.

Details and more promotions please kindly visit our showroom located at 3 Coleman Street #04-32, Peninsula Shopping Centre, Singapore 179804 or www.ibenma.com.sg/promotion.asp

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Congratulations to the winners of Today’s Motherhood and Kids Cover Looks Christmas Kids Babies Model Search. The names of the winners and prizes are as follows

1st Prize Winner - Renee Lim En Xi
Prizes:
Cash $200
Family Photo / Kids portfolio session worth $350
Mary Chia voucher for parents worth $350

2nd Prize Winner - Marco Hong Zhen Pavanello
Prizes:
Family Photo / Kids portfolio session worth $300
Mary Chia voucher for parents worth $350

3rd Prize Winner - Joash Thomas Paine & Joseph Eric Paine
Prizes:
Family Photo / Kids portfolio session worth $250
Mary Chia voucher for parents worth $200

Highest Rated Facebook Hit Winner - Vashmitha do Vaengadis Waran
Prizes:
Cash $100
Family Photo / Kids portfolio session worth $300
Mary Chia voucher for parents worth $350

20 Photogenic/Cutest Babies
Prizes:
Kids portfolio session worth $150
Mary Chia voucher for parents worth $200

1. Justin Chang
2. Shazly
3. Tasha Teo
4. Lhorein Claire Lim
5. Kayden Chan
6. Caleb Tan
7. Liao Xiao Qiao
8. Howard Lim
9. Ezekiel Tan Rui Jie
10. Kiara Sidwell
11. Anya Quay
12. Jaylynn Loh Le Ci
13. Sophie Ching Sum Santhier
14. Chantalle Lim
15. Wong Wan Xuan
16. Koy Hiok Hian
17. See Kexuan Katherine
18. Ng He Jun Ryoji
19. Tan Wee Kian
20. Loukas Ng

To see all the photos, please please click this link www.facebook.com/todaysmotherhoodfans

**All winners will be contacted by Kids Cover Looks.

** Terms and Conditions apply

The prizes are sponsored by

Wink To Learn has launched another new product Speak And Read Malay DVDs

There are 4 DVDs to each set and they are designed to input more than 600 words using 48 topical lessons of fast moving flashcards. They help your child recognise words effectively by using proven flashcard-based techniques pioneered in USA and Japan.

Captivate your child through 6 levels of learning fun with:

* 1,200 vivid images
* Real-Life videos
* Fun music

Wink To Learn helps your child to:

* Develop a positive interest in Malay
* Recognise words
* Speak Malay accurately
* Form proper Malay phrases and sentences

Each DVD is about 40mins running time

Visit www.winktolearn.com for our free video lessons and printables or catch the free videos below

The profiles of the Malay Language Teacher

Ms Nor Diana has a number of years of teaching experience in Singapore primary schools helping children to excel in Malay language

Speak & Read Malay 4-DVDs Program - “Personal Belongings”

Speak & Read Malay 4-DVDs Program - “Animals”

Speak & Read Malay 4-DVDs Program - “Self-Introduction”

Sleepless nights and grueling labor are some reasons why parents need to receive positive feedback from their babies. Love between parents and babies emanate from everyday attachment; as you feed them, change their diapers and pat their backs. It is very rewarding to know when your little ones reciprocate your love and care. The below are several meaningful examples which babies’ display, to express their gratitude and appreciation of your love:

1. Smiling – More than an involuntary reflex, smiling is a baby’s way of creating a bond between the two of you. Research indicates that a smile means more than just a reflex; at age 6 to 8 months, babies are able to associate their parents’ faces into something which good and fun.
2. Staring – The first thing a baby recognizes is his or her mother’s face. From birth, the smell and the voice is linked with the facial features of the primary person whom the baby is in contact with everyday. Staring is a baby’s way of memorizing your face.
3. Bubbling – One of the earliest physical tricks that your baby can do, bubbling is a baby’s way of showing you that he or she has learned something new.
4. Holding up the arms – Babies express preference through action. Once your baby recognizes you as an emblem of love and comfort, they will habitually hold up their hands and twist their bodies towards you, asking you to pick them up.
5. Smooching – These may not actually be real kisses but babies can slide their lips up onto your faces for wet and sloppy smooches. When they smooch, do prepare for a huge blow of wetness and love!
6. Giggling at you – Babies giggle whenever you come towards them as your image has been associated with love and care. Their giggling means they are excited to be cuddled and played.
7. Wailing when you leave – Just as how much giggling can show, babies can tell you they don’t want you to go by wailing and crying when you leave. This means that they acknowledge your absence and your absence signifies some sadness in them.
8. Imitating your actions – The act of imitating what you do is a baby’s way of showing how closely he or she has been observing you. Toddlers are known to imitate actions or expressions by people they love.
9. Making a beeline for you – Coming to you and wanting to be comforted in times of pain and distress is one way of telling you that your child considers you as a safe refuge. You might mistake this action as a way of getting attention but babies come to the person whom they feel safest and most comfortable with.
10. Snuggling close to you – Babies express affection through touch and skin-to-skin contact. Like how little puppies burrow themselves onto their mother’s fur, babies love to be cuddled. Cuddling close to you is a sign of feeling secure and safe.

Babies may lack words to express their feelings but their actions speak otherwise. As you recognize these physical ways of saying ‘I Love You’, you can always continue loving and caring for your children

This article was first published in Today’s Motherhood Magazine Oct / Nov 2010 issue Page 14

With over 19 years of retailing experience in Singapore, we know what our local mothers’ needs are: merchandise that offers Superior Quality, Proven Safety and Exceptional Benefits.

We are committed to offer the best products by maintaining a strong line-up of trusted brands. Over the years, we have even gone the extra mile to bring top products around the world to Singapore.

As we approach our 20th year, Cheri Kids is determined to re-position ourselves to stay relevant while continuing to serve our local parents with the same commitment or even more, with an extra zest.

Cheri Kids store provide customers a one-stop shopping for all parenting and child care necessity products. Our stores have an urban presence, look and feel, and offer customers room for discovery. The store display encourages parents to envision products in their home and offer realistic visual merchandising to facilitate purchasing decisions.

Website : www.cherikids.com

Email: cherikids@singnet.com.sg

Outlets:

Heartland Mall (Kovan)
Blk 205 Hougang St 21 Level 3 Singapore 530205
Tel : 6383 0156

Sun Plaza (Sembawang)
30 Sembawang Drive #02-11 Singapore 757713
Tel : 6555 1031

With the increasing demand and popularity of the iPhone, it is no surprise that new applications are created everyday to cater to the growing population of iPhone users. Today’s Motherhood is happy to feature some great iPhone Apps parents should share with their children.

1. Speak & Read (WINKtoLEARN.com)

WINK to LEARN Speak and Read application for iPad and iPhone is a spin off from their Speak and Read DVD series, developed by Mr. Lee Hann Yang. Inspired by the flash cards method spearheaded by Dr. Glenn Doman and Dr. Makato Shichida, this application focuses on developing your child’s language skills. It includes lessons and games, where all words and images are in specific ‘cards’, with visual and audio features, to facilitate word and sound recognition skills. WinktoLearn iPhone apps / iPad apps are available in 6 different languages.

Cost: Only USD$0.99 (With free lifetime upgrade to more games and enhancements)

Promotes word recognition skills, vocabulary learning and science (environmental awareness)

2. Read Me Stories (8Interactive Limited)

A fun new educational and captivating e-book, your child will recieve a new educational picture book every day as they use this app. Each story teaches new concepts, new words and how to say them. Spend quality time while teaching the core skills of reading and speaking that are so necessary for your child in today’s modern world. Your child can practice reading anywhere and anytime! Read Me Stories also keeps track of your child’s favourite books, so yuou can read to them again and again.

Cost: Free

Promotes vocabulary learning and reading and word recognition skills

3. Piano Pals (BigStack Studios)

No toy pianos for your little ones? No worries! Spend some music time with your child today with Piano Pals, developed by parents for parents. There are four main modes to play with in this app:

Animal mode - Press the keys on the keyboard and an animal in the scene will start to animate with sounds. Young children begin to associate a colored key with a certain animal. The names of the animal will appear on the keyboard to help older children learn word association.

Music Mode - Turns the keyboard into a multi-touch Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, Ti, Do piano.

Color Mode – Press the keys on the keyboard and the correlating color will swipe across the screen as a pleasant female voice narrates the color.

Number Mode - Each of the keys on the keyboard has a number of dots on them. When your child presses the key with five dots on it, the number 5 swipes across the screen as a pleasant female voice narrates the number.

Cost: Only USD$0.99

Promotes music development, number and word recognition

4. BabyFirst Mobile (BFTV, LLC)

Amuse your child as they play and learn with BabyFirst Mobile! Your child is sure to giggle with delight as they explore the vivid animated and live action videos – all complete with simple inspiring adventures and cheerful music.

Choose among numerous programs and characters, including:
-Harry the Bunny: the lovable funny bunny introduces new words and experiences
-Peekaboo, I see You: the timeliness game of peekaboo comes to life!
-Rainbow Horse: a spirited horse brings colors into the world around him
-Music and Sounds: exploring the joyous word of music
-First Words: introducing basic vocabulary words for children

Cost: Free

Promotes language and music development

5. Shapes Learn Chinese Books (Swag Soft LLP)

Based on the popular animated series SHAPES, SHAPES Learn Chinese Books feature 6 delightful and colorful storybooks designed to supplement your child’s Chinese education the FUN and EASY way! Famous fables are brought to life using geometrical shapes such as triangles, squares and circles as they form different animal characters and backgrounds. Every story has a strong moral message that teaches kids wonderful values such as the importance of friendship and kindness.

Special Features:
- Each story comes with 18 pages of beautiful illustration.
- Stories are written in large fonts for easy reading.
- Hanyu Pinyin for selected words is included for enhanced learning.
- Kids can choose to read the stories themselves or have the stories read to them.
- All stories are read by professional talents in perfect Mandarin.
- Each story comes with Flashcards teaching new words.

Cost: Free

Promotes language, mathematical and social concepts.

6. iWriteWords Lite (gdiplus)

iWriteWords teaches your child handwriting through innovative and engaging games! Help Mr. Crab collect the numbers in sequence by dragging him with your finger - and drawing the letter at the same time. Once all the letters in the word are drawn properly, a cute drawing appears. Tilt your iPhone or iPod Touch and watch the letters slide into the rotating hole and advance to the next level.

Features:
• Learn handwriting the fun way
• Playback the accomplished words featuring your child’s own handwriting
• Uses realistic physics and gravity for falling letters
• Play the ABC song by tapping or shaking your iPhone or iPod Touch likeh drumming
• Each letter and word is spoken as it was completed and many more!

Cost: Free (iWrite Words Lite), US$2.99 (iWrite Words Handwriting Game)

Promotes fine motor and writing skills, word and letter recognition

Find out how your kids perform in studies and health in the New Year

Come join us for this evening workshop to find out what is in store for you in the year of Golden Rabbit. The speaker, Master Jo Ching, will share with you the following:

- Outlook for12 Animal Signs in terms of wealth, health and romance luck.
- Flying Stars Feng Shui Prediction for house and office (we teach you how to DIY)
- Best feng shui direction and location to position your children’s study desk to achieve good academic result in 2011
- Face reading tips for your Maid Selection **Newly added**

Date : 11 Feb 2011 (Friday)
Time : 7.30pm to 9.30 pm
Speaker : Master Jo Ching, DestinyAsia Global Consultancy
Venue : The Action Room, Bras Basah Complex #04-41 Singapore 180231
Fees : S$15 per pax Early Bird Price S$10
Only 50 seats available

2 lucky winners get to walk away with FREE BAZI Consults worth S$188, get your tickets now!

After payment, please email mailbox@todaysmotherhood.com Email title “Tickets to Fengshui Talk” with the following details:

(a) Paypal receipt #
(b) Your Name
(c) Your Email
(d) Contact Number

Email support@todaysmotherhood.com if you have any queries

Limited tickets, get yours now

After payment, please email mailbox@todaysmotherhood.com Email title “Tickets to Fengshui Talk” with the following details:

(a) Paypal receipt #
(b) Your Name
(c) Your Email
(d) Contact Number

Email support@todaysmotherhood.com if you have any queries

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True Bilingualism Starts at Pre-school

Details : Sat, 15 Jan 2011 @ 10am

Parents’ Seminar by Professor Chua Chee Lay, Chief Editor of Lee Kuan Yew’s Language Learning Experiences: Keeping My Mandarin Alive (both English and Chinese edition)

Dr Chua Chee Lay is a linguist, an educational technology researcher, and an award-winning poet. He was formerly Advisor for the Pre-School Curriculum Development for the Ministry of Education, a Sub-Dean at NIE and trainer for teachers. He is presently the CEO of CL Lab, Director for Educational Technology Research Centre, and Mentor for Gifted Education Creative Writing Programme (Ministry of Education).

Click here to read the article on True Bilingualism Starts at Pre-school

Please call to pre-register
6440 4466, 8511 7056
www.ChildFirst.com.sg

Brought to you by ChildFirst Pre-School Singapore

MY BABY READS! (exclusive seminar on infant education)

Date : 22 Jan 2011

Venue: 81 East Coast Road #01-01 (Smart Alley Classroom)

Call to book: 6440 9195 or email info@smartalley.com.sg

Time: 7.30pm - 9.30pm

Registration Fee: $5 only! (Book Early, Limited Seatings)

Speaker: Mr Lee Hann Yang (Founder of Wink-to-Learn Speak & Read Programme)

WHAT IS IT ABOUT?

Flashcard methodology is a science by itself whereby a lot of parents had under-estimated its complexity and effectiveness as well.

Traditionally, flashcards come in the form of paper or cards. It requires the serious and conscientious participation of parents in flashing the cards to their children. However, without regular flashing of the words, the child will not have the chance to learn and recognise as reinforcement is critical for early childhood learning.

WINK to LEARN Flashcard programs have perfected the flashcard techniques using DVDs. Accurate voice pronunciation is critical.

These DVD programs took into consideration the important variables of an effective flashcard system fused with accurate voice pronunciation. It innovates further by using bright colours on Chinese radicals and English syllables which helps your child to learn to read 25% faster!

To find out how to maximise your child’s potential, join our seminar!

PROMOTION

Exclusive Seminar Wink to Learn product bundles offered in this seminar

For more information, visit www.smartalley.com.sg or join Smart Alley facebook page

Stand a chance to win HotDots - Phonics Fun! in Smart Alley Giveaway Contest. We have 3 sets worth $75.90 each up for grabs. Contest ends 31 January 2011. See below for contest details

Phonics Fun with Ace

Remember “Ace” – the Talking, Teaching Dog? Educational Insights has developed yet another product with HotDots Jr. This all-new kit includes five sets of colourful cards that enables children to learn phonics independently.

• Set One introduces children to the sound alphabet.
• Set Two leads children to recognise and identify short vowels in words
• Set Three provides children with more practise with long vowel sounds in words
• Set Four brings children to the next level with word blends and digraphs
• Set Five kicks starts reading simple sentences, and helps children recognise commonly used sight words.

The lesson guide is thoughtfully designed to help parents extend children’s learning. The “Play and Learn” activities reinforce the new concepts presented in each set of cards. Children have the opportunity to discover that language has meaning in the world around them.

What I liked

I like the colourful illustrations that included a variety of objects familiar to children. Children are challenged to keep learning through the progressive “learn to read” categories. The interactive design of this educational toy makes it possible for children to receive instant feedback as they look and name each picture in the card.

Recommendations for usage

As with all educational toys, your children’s joy in learning and acquiring a love for reading will reflect the effort and time you invest with them. When beginning to introduce each set of card to children, focus on helping them understand how it works before giving it to them to engage in independent learning.

Remember to have fun and enjoy the exciting journey in the world of reading.

Product reviewed by Michele See

Giveaway Contest

We have 3 sets of HotDots - Phonics Fun!, each worth approx. $75.90 up for grabs. Total 3 winners. All you have to do is

Simply fulfill these 2 conditions

a. Like Smart Alley Fan Page in Facebook.

b. Answer a simple question and fill in your contact details

Contest ends 31 January 2011

Note : Winner will have to collect the prize from Smart Alley office

The above contest is proudly brought to you by Smart Alley and Today’s Motherhood.

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