Today’s Motherhood

Blossom Berrykidz Centre (Hillview)

We engage trainers from Kindermusik and conduct Kindermusik lesson once weekly for our Nursery children.

Exploration of different musical instruments

Highly engaging music and movement that harness physical development

Blossom Edugroup - The preferred choice for quality childcare and pre-school education

Blossom Edugroup has been providing quality childcare in Singapore since 2002 across four centres island-wide. By constantly updating our curriculum, we offer the most innovative and effective pre-school programme that caters to children with varying learning abilities and different learning styles. Our full day, half day and flexi-programmes are offered to
children at:

• Playgroup Level
  (18 months - 2 years old)
• Nursery Level
  (3-4 years old)
• Kindergarten Level
  (5-6 years old)

We are proud to offer parents our patented ‘e-Profiling’ service, a secure online portal that provides comprehensive feedback on your child’s development.

This user-friendly system surpasses all other conventional progress reports and is only available exclusively to Blossom Edugroup clients.

Visit us to download a free ebook on Nursery Rhymes worth $47

Website : www.blossomedugroup.com.sg

Email : info@blossomedugroup.com.sg

Contact: 6764 8707

Fax: 6764 8627

Address : 21 Chu Lin Road Singapore 669915

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Participate in Cutest Baby Boy | Toddlers Model Search brought to you by Kids Cover Looks

To take part, simply call for an advance booking and present this page for your baby boy’s photo session at Kids Cover Looks.

Cutest Baby Boy | Toddlers Model Search Session Entitled for:

• 1 own outfit change
• 15 shots for selection
• 1 x 4R Complimentary Designed Photo Print
• 3 Shots in 1 x 4R Complimentary Baby Model Comm Card

Nominal Fee $28

For baby boys / toddlers age of 3 and above
Closing Date for entry: 15 Jun 2011

Results Announcement Date : 28 Jun 2011

Results of last 2 contests by KCL as below
Disney Princess Search
Baby Angel Model Search

*Terms and Conditions apply.

Kids Cover Looks
Address : 545 Orchard Road #05-13 Far East Shopping Centre Singapore 238882
Tel : +65-6235 4993

Congratulations to the winners of Today’s Motherhood SportsKids Multisports Lessons Giveaway. They have won a themselves 8 multi sports lessons worth S$240 each.

1. Andy Yeo
2. Felicia Ng
3. Grace Ong
4. Gayathri Narayanan
5. Karen Wong
6. Katty Chia
7. Michelle Yip
8. Soon Meiling
9. Seow Hui Leng
10. Tay Mui Keng

*Winners will be notified by email/phone individually.

** Terms and Conditions apply.

The prizes are sponsored by SportsKids Singapore.

School break is arriving! No idea what to keep your children occupied with? Fear not dear mummies, Today’s Motherhood has lined up a few upcoming June holiday programmes.

Little Scholars June Holiday Programme
Chinese Holiday Camp
Date : 2 Jun 2011 (Thursday)
Ages : Nursery 2 to Pri 2
Time : 9 am to 5pm
Fees : $129* (subject to GST)

Etiquette & Deportment Camp
Date : 3 Jun 2011 (Friday)
Ages : 4 to 8 years old
Time : 9am to 5pm
Fees : $129* (subject to GST)

Read & Tell Camp
Dates : 10 Jun 2011 (Friday)
Ages : Nursery 2 to Pri 2
Time 9am to 5pm
Fees : $129* (subject to GST)
Call 65 62423403 or email scholar@littlescholars.com.sg for more information.
* Includes lunch and 2 snacks, Certificate of Attendance, course materials such as worksheets
Enroll before 19 May 11 & Enjoy 10% Discount

My Art Pencil Jun Holiday Art Workshops 2011
Junior Workshop (7-12 years old)
Date : 8th-10th June (Wed-Fri)
Time : 2pm-3:30pm
Fees : $95 per child

Kinder Workshop (3.5 - 6 years old)
Date : 15th-17th June (Wed-Fri)
Time : 2pm-3pm
Fees : $80 per child
Kindly call 96929495 to check for availability or visit www.myartpencil.com/events

SportsKids Sports Boot Camp
Multi Sports Boot Camp
Venue : Tanglin Community Centre, Singapore
Cost : $320 per camp
Age : 3 - 6 years old

Early Bird Discounts
25% off if enroll before 13th May 2011
20% off if enroll before 20th May 2011
10% off if enroll before 27th May 2011
Email enquiry@sportkids.com.sg for details or visit www.sportskids.com.sg

Fast Track Kids June Holiday Programmes
Blast Off (3 - 4 years old)
FasTracKids, let’s have a fun ride as we take you to the Moon, Planets and explore the possibility of life on these distant worlds. Travel through the expense of the universe and discover just how much SPACE there are in the universe. So strap yourself in for a great ride!
Dates : 13 - 17 Jun 2011 (Mon to Fri)
Time : 9am to 12pm
Charge : Cost @ $250 including tea breaks

Ready, Set, Travel (5 to 6 years old)
FasTracKids will travel to varies regions of the world and learn how children in those countries live. Visit the FasTracKids International Expo at the end of the week.
Dates : 13 - 17 Jun 2011 (Mon to Fri)
Time : 9am to 12pm
Charge : Cost @ $250 including tea breaks

Earth Science (7 to 9 years old)
The earth reveals its wonder and variety as children explore climate, geology and forces of nature. Activities and games on the Learning Station allow the children to take imaginary world journeys to examine and understand the composition of the earth from its surface to its core. Join us on the 5 days adventure as we learn!
Dates : 6 - 10 Jun or 13 - 17 Jun 2011 (Mon to Fri)
Time : 2pm to 5pm
Charge : Cost @ $250 including tea breaks
Call 6255 0508 for more information

Nurture Kids June Holiday Programmes
Dealing with Feelings (4 - 6 years old)
Objectives:
• To become aware & label own feelings
• To understand feelings: angry, happy, frustrated, proud, afraid, sad
• To learn how to deal with uncomfortable feelings
• To learn to perspective take and show empathy

Duration : 3 consecutive days; 3 hours per day
Dates : 1 to 3 Jun 2011 (2-5pm)
6 to 8 Jun 2011 (9am to 12pm)
15 to 17 Jun 2011 (2-5pm)
20 to 22 Jun 2011 (9am to 12pm)
Fees : $210 (plus $25 registration fees)

Resolving Conflicts (7 - 9 years old)
Objectives:
• To understand and respect that we are all different and that people can have different views and feelings
• To learn to recognise and manage uncomfortable emotions
• To learn and practise problem solving, negotiation and cooperation skills

Duration : 3 consecutive days; 3 hours per day
Dates : 30 May to 1 Jun 2011 (9am to 12pm)
8 to 10 Jun 2011 (2pm to 5pm)
13 to 15 Jun 2011 (9am to 12pm)
22 to 24 Jun 2011 (2pm to 5pm)
Fees : $210 (plus $25 registration fees)
Call +65 62884823 or email enquiry@nurturekids.com.sg or visit www.nurturekids.com.sg for more details.

Mustard Seed Early Learning School June Holiday Workshops
Weekly classes from 30 May to 24 June 2011

Language Arts Boot Camp
Age Groups: 2.5 - 6 years old (N1 - K2 Levels)
Class Duration: 2 Hours | Class Size: Six or less

Sign Up Now!
10% discount for sibling/friend

Project Play! Learning Naturally
Ages Groups: 18-30/31-36 months old
Class Duration: 2 Hours | Class Size Six or less

Trial Play! is available
Kindly call +65 64651060 or email info@mustardseed.sg for more details
For more information, visit mustardseed.sg

Peek-A-Boo’s June Holiday Camp 2011
Join Peek-A-Boo Playground for their fun-filled and enriching camps this June Holidays!

Explore the Chinese culture through Wushu sessions conducted by trainers from Ch’i Life and Chinese Calligraphy sessions taught by Mr. Lee Ping Khoon from Vision Art Studio! Cultivate your child’s artistic talents as they experiment with mediums such as oil paste, washable paints and canvass sheets with dedicated teachers from The LPN Art School!

Sign your child up before 23rd May to enjoy Early Bird Discounts!

Call them at 6440 8355 or email michelle@peekaboo.com.sg

For more information, visit their website

Shaws Little League June And July Holiday Camps 2011
If you haven’t planned any activities for your children these holidays, Shaws Little League has the following holiday camps in June and July 2011 (all 9am to noon):
• 30 May to 2 June (full)
• 6 to 9 June
• 20 to 23 June
• 11 to 14 July
• 18 to 21 July

Our holiday camps are for children between the ages of four and nine and are a great way for children to learn and play a wide range of sports, meet other children and just have a great time. There are lots of cooking, art and craft activities thrown into the programme as well.

Please also note that our regular weekly classes will continue to run as well.
If you have any questions, or would like to register for the camps, please email us fun@shawslittleleague.com or call us on 6440 9545.

For more information on our holiday camps, please visit www.shawslittleleague.com

Sportz Kulture “Kids on the Move” Camp June 2011

Date: 9 & 10 June 2011, Thursday & Friday
Time: 9am to 12pm
Venue: Kallang Netball Centre (9 June), Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden (10 June)
Other Weekly Programmes Available:
“Play Pen” 4 to 7 years old
“KidzNet” 6 to 10 years old
“Fun Netball” 10 to 12 years old

Find out more about our programmes:
Website: www.thekidsnetwork.com.sg
Email: fun@thekidsnetwork.com.sg

ACT 3 Drama Academy June Holiday Workshops
Five-Day Drama Workshop – Pinocchio
Through a mixture of narration, improvisation and puppet role-play, students will re-enact Pinocchio’s journey into boyhood. At the end of the workshop, the children will be given an opportunity to showcase their performance to loved ones.

For 3 to 10 year olds
Workshop dates and times
6 to 10 June 2011 or 13 to 17 June 2011 or 20 to 24 June 2011
9.30am to 11.30am (till 12.30pm for the older ones) or 3pm to 5pm (from 2pm for the older ones)

Drama Workshop – Frankenstein
The story of Frankenstein is an intriguing one that may have been written in the 1800s but remains a timeless literary treasure of universal themes. The workshop encourages students to explore the dramatics of this dark and mysterious classic as well as invites them to draw parallels with the plot and characters.

For 11 to 15 year olds
Workshop dates and times
6 to 10 June 2011 or 13 to 17 June 2011 or 20 to 24 June 2011
2pm to 5pm

Five-Day Singing Workshop – I Can Be Me
‘I Can Be Me’ is an exciting workshop that teaches the fundamentals of musical performance – singing, dancing and acting – and aims to draw out the pure voices of children. Students will also have the opportunity to present a 20-minute revue surrounding the story of Pinocchio and the theme of being true to oneself.

For 7 to 10 year olds
Workshop dates and times
6 to 10 June 2011 or 13 to 17 June 2011
2pm to 5pm

Five-Day Magic Workshop – Mirage
This awe-inspiring magic workshop aims to build self-esteem and teach children the art of presenting their magic using the skills of creative thinking and good communication.

For 9 to 12 year olds
Workshop dates and times
20 to 24 June 2011
2pm to 5pm

Discounts for all workshops
15% for students currently with ACT 3 Drama Academy
10% if parent is an OCBC Platinum Mastercard or OCBC Arts Platinum Mastercard Holder, OCBC Children Development Account (CDA) Holder, OCBC Mighty SaversTM member and NTUC Education Services Union member

To register for the workshops, call ACT 3 Drama Academy at (65) 6735 9986, email act3int@act3international.com.sg

More information can be found at www.act3international.com.sg

The Reading Loft is one of supporting partners for Singapore Education Summit 2011, we are giving 30 complimentary general tickets to the event.

This is on a first come first serve basis.

Register now to find out the latest trend in Education and how you can position your child for success in studies and life!

Date: 21st & 22nd May 2011 (Sat & Sun)

Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm

Venue: Marina Mandarin Ballroom, Level 1 Marina Mandarin Singapore

Register @ http://www.sgeducationsummit.com/thereadingloft/index.html to receive your Complimentary Tickets now!

If you haven’t planned any activities for your children these holidays, Shaws Little League has the following holiday camps in June and July 2011 (all 9am to noon):

• 30 May to 2 June (full)
• 6 to 9 June
• 20 to 23 June
• 11 to 14 July
• 18 to 21 July

Our holiday camps are for children between the ages of four and nine and are a great way for children to learn and play a wide range of sports, meet other children and just have a great time. There are lots of cooking, art and craft activities thrown into the programme as well.

For more information on our holiday camps, please visit www.shawslittleleague.com.

Please also note that our regular weekly classes will continue to run as well.

If you have any questions, or would like to register for the camps, please email us fun@shawslittleleague.com or call us on +65 64409545.

Started in 2009, Between Two Trees Preschool is tucked away in a small and cosy corner off Bukit Timah Road. Small, quaint and homely, B2T does not feel and look like your typical childcare centre. The preschool’s interiors are curated by the school’s visual artist, Hui Hua. Everything ranging from children’s work to the display and storage of materials are presented in an aesthetically beautiful manner.

After a tour around the school, Today’s Motherhood spoke to B2T’s director, Charmaine, to learn more about the preschool.

- Reggio Emilia Inspired
B2T’s curriculum is inspired by the preschools in Reggio Emilia, Northern Italy. In a nut shell, the Reggio Emilia preschools work around an educational philosophy founded by Loris Malaguzzi and the parents of those schools after World War II. This philosophy has become very relevant in the early years educational fields, particularly in North America, Australia, New Zealand and the Scandinavian countries in the recent years.

Charmaine summarises the essence of the philosophy, “It not only equips children with the knowledge to learn, but also encourages them to learn the process of learning and be excited about that.” At B2T, children embark on ongoing projects based on their interests. Each project is broken down into three learning stages: provocation, investigation and reflection. For example, the K2 class’ current interest (at press time) was about the “Supermarket”. The children were busy with trolleys, prototypes of which they had created using recycled materials. During the process, they learned concepts such as shapes and numbers while figuring out the various components in a trolley. As there are so many sub-categories to a theme, the learning in each stage is rich in all learning ways (physical, cognitive, intellectual, social/emotional) and subjects (English, Math, Science), and there is no fixed time frame.

- Environment
Another highlight of the Reggio Emilia preschools is the role of the environment as a third teacher. Looking around B2T’s walls, it is evident that the children’s work at B2T are respected, appreciated and admired. Charmaine explains, “Documentation acts as a catalyst to spark off conversations in the classroom, and serve as a reminder to children of their own work and how far they have come during the project process.” In addition, all the displays and arrangements in each classroom are designed to have an aesthetic appeal. Hui Hua works closely with the class teachers to have the walls “speak” to the children by being “provocative” enough to start conversations. The class layout is dynamic and changes frequently.

Charmaine adds, “A lot of things are modular. Our environment is always changing. This reflects one of our key concepts of our curriculum; on how there is no one right or wrong way of looking at something. We are always trying to figure “it” out by making “it” better. We want the environment to stimulate and foster thinking.” The resources and materials used in the preschool are not those which one would see in a normal preschool as well. For example, standard cubby holes have been replaced with baskets, and a large pipe was sawed into pieces and drilled together to form a shoe rack. Charmaine says, “We thought very seriously about how to make our space filled with natural materials which could be recycled. Some ideas are not new, and were inspired by others. We just thought of ways to make these ideas work for our space.”

- Close Partnerships with Parents
B2T shares a close and personal relationship with their parents. The preschool organises monthly trips to the gardens nearby, where lessons are conducted outdoors and parents are encouraged to participate. The event is aptly named “B2T’s Out In The Park“. Children not only get to learn and play in nature, but also get to relate their work to the environment and share quality time with their parents.

An example of parent involvement was when some children were learning about colours. A father, who works in the Singapore Army, came down to talk about the colours of his uniform. The older children took this opportunity to ask him questions about his life as a soldier. In addition, I was told these same children were to start ballet lessons because a mother, a ballet teacher, had offered to come in to conduct a few classes for them.

- One Hundred Languages
On B2T’s school website, you might stumble across a poem written by Loris Malaguzzi, titled “The 100 Hundred Languages of Children”. This poem is about how it is not just the languages we speak, but the possibility of how any form of communication can be a language to a child. It is a reminder of the infinite possibilities available and how children should be encouraged to use the different languages in their lives. This poem is about a philosophy which is clearly practised by the people at B2T.

For more information of B2T, log on to their website, or email them at info@betweentwotrees.sg

About the Director, Charmaine Teo
Charmaine was a corporate lawyer who became an early years educator by completing her masters in early childhood education. She is currently pursuing a Phd in the same area. She left legal practice after 8 years to found B2T.

About the School Artist, Koh Hui Hua
Hui Hua is a trained art therapist, with a Masters in art therapy. She left the Association for Early Childhood Educators after 8 years to found B2T.

LIMITED TO 35 SETS!!! 60% off Discover English with Ben & Bella Set priced at $388 instead of $960 + Free Delivery (Local)

Highlights

• Winner of 2009 AEP Awards, recognized as top educational resource
• Integrated program of DVDs, CDs, books and activities
• Provide immersive English environment for your child
• Immediate apparent results in learning English for kids 2-7 year old
• Professional advice* given to 35 customers by friendly staff on how to fully utilise and maximise this set of Program for your children

To get this deal, visit Great Parenting Deals

* The workshop will be conducted at 28 Sin Ming Lane #03-131, Midview City, Singapore 573972

The Ben & Bella set consists of

1. Story Books x 6
2. DVDs x 18
3. Sticker Book x 1
4. Sing Along CDs x 4
5. Sing-Along Songbook x 1
6. Activity Books x 9
7. Cube Puzzles x 1

The Fine Print

Limited to 35 Sets exclusively for Todays Motherhood readers. Vouchers are transferrable and non-refundable. No expiry dates for the vouchers. Please call +65 64563526 or email gdbaby@singnet.com.sg for redemption.

To get this deal, visit Great Parenting Deals

Is your baby between 16-36 months?

Come join us in in a study specially made fun for babies!

How will you benefit?

Have an assessment of your child’s vocabulary development & cognitive abilities using standardized assessment instruments. Receive $20 and be reimbursed for your travel expenses to the Infant Language Centre.

Visit us at http://blog.nus.edu.sg/babytalk. Contact us at 6601 1718 or email psycjc@nus.edu.sg.

All in the Family Counselling provides parents with an evidenced-based and proven Parenting Skills Development (PSD) program, to help building positive relationship between parent and child.

Our skills enhancement will help you develop positive self-concept in a child while teaching a child to develop an internal sense of control and how to make positive choices. Most importantly, we can make parenting fun for you so that you don’t need to use yelling, blaming, criticizing, caning, complaining and nagging to get your children to comply.

Tangible benefits of our PSD program usually include:

• Better parent/child relationship
• Shift from nagging parent to coach
• Improved educational performance of the child at school
• Better Compliance of Homework
• Reduced Family tensions
• Increased cooperation
• Overall improved family cohesion and happiness

Visit: www.allinthefamilycounselling.com and see adolescents and parenting.

Or Contact us at +65 9030 7239 for a copy of our PSD brochure or call for more information on how we can help become more effective as a parent.