Today’s Motherhood

June Holiday Programme! SUMMER FUN!

Hello Summer! Hello Summer Fun @ Hess Education Centre

Choose 1, 2, 3 or 4 weeks

• May 30th to June 3rd Summer Camp
• June 6th to June 10th Summer Festivals
• June 13th to June 17th Summer Places
• June 20th to June 24th Summer Shows

Part-time English or Mandarin Programme
10am – 12pm or 1pm – 3pm

Full-time Bilingual Program
10am – 3pm

Primary
Reading Comprehension, Creative Writing, Speech & Drama , Grammar, Vocabulary, Spelling, Phonics, Arts and Crafts, Mini Performance

Kindergarten
Grammar, Sentence Writing, Phonics, Spelling, Speech & Drama, Sight words, Reading Comprehension, Arts and Crafts, Mini Performance

Nursery
Writing practice (letters & words), Phonics Play, Speech & Drama, Sentence Patterns, Listening Comprehension, Arts and Crafts, Mini Performance

… and heaps of fun!

Join in on the Summer Fun! Call 6333 6915 to register Now!

For more information on Summer Fun!, visit www.hess.com.sg/holiday/summerfun/index.shtml

Refer a Friend: if they sign up and expect a 10% discount on your child’s tuition

The Birth Shop will be at the Motherhood Exhibition 2011

Venue: Singapore Expo, Hall 6B, Booth F12
Date: 2 ~ 5 June 2011 Thurs till Sun
Time: 11am ~ 9pm

Find great bargains for Nursing wear, bras & baby slings!

The Birth Shop Facebook fans gets an extra $5 off $60 purchase!

Prepare your child for PSLE with The Reading Loft June English and Chinese PSLE Power Revision Programme.

The fear of uncertainty and embarrassment is increasing as our economic standing is getting worse. Every time you turn on the television or read a newspaper you are bombarded with more depressing news about the downturn of the economy.

With a recession looming over our heads, many families are faced with the loss of their jobs, homes, and vehicles. This type of dark cloud hovering over our heads causes unnecessary stress, depression, and uncertainty.

In today’s society, standard living necessities are much higher than earlier years. Maintaining this type of lifestyle increases the amount of stress brought onto a family. It is only natural that you hope that everything works out, your emotional stability is still altered.

Unfortunately, this stress is easily visible to children and transfers down to them. The uncertainty of such times affects the entire family, not just the bread winner.

Even in such tough times, there are some ways to protect your family from the effects of a recession, also known as recession proof your family. Below we are going to discuss some of the things you can do, as a family, to protect and prepare yourselves for an economic downfall.

Spell out the entire / current situation to the whole family. The only way to do this properly is to have everyone – in the family – sit down together with not interruptions (i.e. television, mobile phones, MP3 players, iphones etc). Discuss what is going on and how it will affect the family – as a whole. (Do NOT hide anything here – this is crucial.) Discuss what cutbacks or changes the family is going to have to make – together – to make things work.

Get the entire family to participate in ideas and family activities that will keep you bonded and active. Some great examples are watching a movie – at home – on a Friday night rather than going to the movies. Have a picnic at the local park rather than a fast food restaurant. Go for walks around the neighborhood, it gets you out of the house and is good for you.

Whatever you do, make it clear that this is a rough time but that you will make it through if everyone works together.

It doesn’t matter how much you make; it’s how much you spend or save. Every family brings in a different amount of money. Some families, with the least amount of income, are happier than those families with a large income. It’s about surviving and being happy with what you have, not with what you could have or keeping up with what your neighbours have.

Plan, as a family, how you would live on a smaller income if necessary. Shop at different stores, start collecting coupons (and actually using them), shop at the stores that are having sales, or stop spending excess money on unnecessary items like gourmet coffee (this can be made at home).

If you, and your family, take a look at where you are spending your money, and eliminate the unnecessary items, you would be amazed at how much money you could save!

Make friends with like-minded, frugal people. Hanging out with people who are not dealing with the negative effects of the economy is more harmful than beneficial. Find families, and friends, who are in the same position, who are trying to save a buck wherever they can. Making a network of families who are all in the same boat, gives your entire family the confidence to move forward, and lessens the chances of depression and negative thoughts. This gives you more people to work with and hang out with, and less of a chance to see the negative effects of an economy that is falling apart.

Count your blessings. One of the most important aspects of a situation like this is to look at the good stuff. Remember to be grateful for what you do have, and be happy that you are given another day to enjoy life. (Do NOT focus on the negative!)

Vehicles, for example. Their one and only purpose is to get you from point A to point B. Is there any point in purchasing a brand new car when the one you have gets the job done? There is not – at least you have a car!

Do you really need to take a trip to Europe? Why not travel to Asian countries instead? What about all of the new gadgets and toys on the market? Do you really need your house full with them? If you already have a mobile phone that works, why spend hundreds of dollars on the latest release?

Learn to be content with what you have; materialistic items do not make you happy!

Let go of your pride. This one is tough, there is no doubt about it. Learn to appreciate clearance racks, second hand stores, and generic brand foods. There is absolutely nothing wrong with purchasing these items!

My sister and I shop at neighborhood shops near our mum’s place. We can usually find what we are looking for and are happy with our purchases.

The money you save, by shopping in this manner, can be put aside for a weekend getaway, a big family purchase, some sort of reward money to praise your family for becoming frugal.

Save for rainy days. Remember the days before you had kids, where you could take long holidays for 3 weeks to New Zealand? Or buy all of the latest electronic gadgets on the market?

Your family and children are worth more than any of that combined! Whenever we have extra money, it goes away for children’s education or for those inevitable rainy days.

A great example is, before I had kids, I used to go shopping at least once a month. Now that I am a stay at home mom, I have chosen to put that money aside. Surprisingly, maybe to some, I wouldn’t change it for the world!

Cut down on the “negotiables”. If you have any debt, get it paid off. Stop buying the extras, and use that money towards your debt. The quicker you pay this off, the quicker you will be back on your feet and doing well.

What are extras? Movies, cable, phone bills, anything that you do not NEED to live. Extras are the things you want but can definitely survive without.

Managing your expenses gives you better control on your finances. Getting control, before anything drastic happens, gives you a solid foundation just in case you lose your job or you take a pay cut.

Learn a new skill. Any skills that you have, keep them up to date and continually add to your skill set. The more skills you have, and the more up to date that they are, the more needed you become!

Start looking into home or side business opportunities, ones that allow you to use your skills and talents. Having an extra income, on the side, will help if anything were to happen.

Many people are not good with computers, which eliminates many of todays “work from home” programs. However, if you have a skill in sewing, cooking, or even baking, you can find a side job.

Be creative, think of ways that your skills can be used to help add to your current income.

In conclusion, live your life to its fullest! Get control of your financial situation. Build a strong bond with your family. Find common grounds where everyone can help keep your family together. Enjoy each other!

There are many opportunities out there, which can help bring in additional income. Kids can babysit, mow lawns, water plants, use your skills! Take control of your financial situation NOW, before something happens, protect yourself and your family!

This article was first published in Today’s Motherhood Magazine Apr 09 issue Page 6

June holidays are in! Out with the books! Bring your children to the outdoors, get in touch with nature and cultivate some gardening skills. Who knows, your child might just have a hidden green thumb.

Hort Park

Gardener’s Day out!
Date: 11 & 12 June 2010
Time: 9am – 6pm
Free Admission

Join the Hort Park for a weekend of fun filled activities the whole family can enjoy!
For more information, visit their website.

Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden

My Garden In A Bottle (A Planting Workshop)
Date: 7 June (Tues)
Time: 10am - 11.30am
Repeated Run
Date: 11 June (Sat)
Time: 2pm - 3.30pm
Venue: Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden
Fee: $30.00 per child (materials are included)
Nearest MRT Station: Newton
Age: Suitable for children from K1 - P6 levels

Bottle Gardens, also known as Terrariums, involve growing and arranging plants in an enclosed (usually glass) container. Find out which plants can grow in an enclosed bottle and use your creativity to personalize your very own miniature bottle garden. Bottle Gardens make great school holiday projects and gifts for family and friends! Online registration is available on www.sbg.org.sg (under “Education”)

Father’s Day Special: Flowers In A Tool Box For Dad (A Floral Arrangement Workshop)
Date: 14 June (Tues)
Time: 10am - 11.30am
Repeated Run
Date: 18 June (Sat)
Time: 2pm - 3.30pm
Venue: Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden
Fee: $30.00 per child (materials are included)
Nearest MRT Station: Newton
Show your love for your dad by taking part in this special workshop. You will have a chance to express your creativity in making a unique gift for dad.

For more information, call 6471 9961or 6465 0196.

In 2002, Mr Lawrence Lim founded Blossom Edugroup and is now the Group Principal of childcare centres under the Blossom brand name. Through the interview, it was clear that parent’s feedback and internal consultation play a big part within the centre’s operation. In this interview, we have an opportunity to understand better Blossom’s tagline, featuring the two words “Quality”, and “The Preferred Choice”.

Today’s Motherhood: Can you share how you developed the vision for Blossom Edugroup?

It started off as something simple. A desire to provide a service that is different. We want to know what parents value most and how Blossom can cater to their needs. It is with this perspective that we seek to continually develop and explore new ideas. In fact, Blossom has become rather synonymous with this vision that whenever I meet with teachers and friends, they will ask “What’s the next new thing for Blossom?”

Today’s Motherhood: How have your experiences in working with children and families influenced your current practice?

We realized that parents are not just concerned about their child’s milestone development but are also interested to find out how their child progress in comparison with his/her peers. Therefore, Blossom Edugroup developed and launched our “e-Profiling portal” that provides comprehensive feedback of individual children’s progress through the use of portfolio, rubrics assessment and comparative benchmark.

Today’s Motherhood: We understand that you patented the “e-Profiling portal” in 2007. Can you share with us how you track and coordinate children’s learning and development?

The portal serves as a digital portfolio for each child. Photos and videos of children engaged in learning are displayed each term with a personalized anecdote recorded by the teachers. The highlight however, is the progress report. The system computes the statistics based on the teachers’ assessment of every child, and generates a “comparative benchmark” in real time providing insights of each child’s relative development against children in the same age-group. Collectively, these evidences allow teachers and parents to identify their children’s specific strengths and areas of improvement.

Today’s Motherhood: In a nutshell, can you share the highlights of what sets Blossom’s curriculum apart as a model advocating for children’s holistic development?

Our curriculum is designed based on our triple track syllabus as we believe that all children develop at a different pace. Within the triple track syllabus, learning objectives are pegged at “basic”, “standard”, and “advanced” levels. With these clearly delineated objectives, teachers are able to ensure that each child builds a strong foundation in grasping the standard concepts; at the same time, we also provide opportunities to develop deeper understandings for more advanced children by engaging them in extended learning while slower learners attain a minimum level of understanding through remedial activities. In addition, our teachers seek to cater to every child’s different learning styles by designing their lessons to cater to all the learning styles of children.

Today’s Motherhood: The readers seem to be responding very positively to your Free Nursery Rhyme e-Book. Personally, I really appreciate the follow up work your team puts into sharing ideas for play with children.

Yes, good ideas must be shared. As an educator and a parent, I see my role as one who tries to provide opportunities for children to learn through enjoyable experiences. As a parent, naturally, I would like to find out the various learning activities children are involved in these days and how fun can be incorporated into such learning experiences. Blossom believes that by sharing our resources and expertise, our ultimate goal to present quality care and education for children will be achieved.

Today’s Motherhood: Thank you for your time Lawrence. We hope that as more readers visit Blossom, they will also learn about the fun experiences their children can have.

Early introduction and regular emphasis on negative space is a good method to learning about still-life drawing for children. A still-life describes a genre of art. It is an arrangement of objects within a framed composition. In a still-life composition, mastery of these basis art elements make a composition successful

• construction of geometric shapes
• keen observation of scale and proportion
• understanding of light and shadow depicted through tones
• creating a balance of objects within the
• sensitivity to negative space (empty space around the objects)
• creating texture

Negative space is one element many learners find difficult to grasp. And often when negative space is forgotten, we can find the perspective and placement of objects within the composition different from the objects placed in front of the artist.

As a young child, it is common practice for many of us to create art by filling colours into the key subjects and when we are done. We continue to fill in the colours till the last thing left is the empty space around all the subjects, this is the negative space.

On alternative occasions, we can start to introduce negative space to young learners by having them fill in these spaces first.

This is demonstrated by A Flock of Birds by Aaron Yap. He filled in the background first, in this instance, it is the sky and tree.

It is during this exercise that young learners are forced to take a step back from the art piece to identify and associate spaces and shapes around the key object/subject.

Contributed by Teacher Ranae’s Art Workshop from Singapore for children with special needs

For the last two decades, there has been a significant rise on allergy incidents among children. Infants are even more susceptible to allergic reactions. As such, parents need to be vigilant about their children’s health and diet, in order to deal with allergies appropriately.

Here are several precautionary measures to take to protect your new born against allergies and further complications.

• Breastfeed your newborn. The American Academy of Pediatrics has been long advocates for mothers to breast feed their children in order to provide them with essential antibodies that work against any form of allergic reactions.

• Slowly introduce a single solid food, one at a time. If breastfeeding your newborn needs to be stopped at an early stage, mothers should slowly introduce one single solid food a time. This is for better food identification purposes, should there be an allergic reaction.

• Know the right time to introduce solid foods. Studies have shown that cow’s milk and solid foods bring certain health problems when given to 12 month old infants. Experts have identified several food that can only be given to the child at specific ages. Dairy food and cow’s milk should be consumed only after 12 months old. Also, eggs should be given after 24 months, peanuts after 36th months. Fish and selfish should only be introduced after the child has turned 3.

• Know the right type of solid food to give. Not all solid foods are appropriate for your child. Consider factors such as nutritional values, food preparation hygiene and low allergy potential.

• Fruits and vegetables can be allergenic (any substance capable of causing an allergy), especially when served raw. The cooking process helps in breaking down the allergen contents of raw fruits and vegetables. It is recommended that these should be cooked before introducing to the child. However, celery could also still be allergenic, even after cooking.

• Avoid feeding raw food to children. Pediatricians have suggested cooking anything before allowing the child to ingest the food.

Just remember to carefully analyze the food first before feeding it to your child. When in doubt, do not hesitate to consult your pediatrician.

Come and enjoy some great discounts offered by Genius R Us, Magic Fiddler, Lexuan, Leap SchoolHouse & The Study Place.

Happening only this weekend, 27 - 29 May, at City Square Mall!