GenZ Mom
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Posts by GenZ Mom
Myopia Control – The Atropine Eye Drops Therapy
Aug 20th
Myopia is getting more and common nowadays. The eyes of the Z generation are always “working” – reading, watching TV, playing games. The only time they rest, I suppose, would be when the kids are sleeping.
As such, it is not uncommon to see children (even toddlers) wearing spectacles today. My son, a typical Z generation, worn his first pair of spectacles when he was 5 and the power just won’t stop going up (like the stock market).
When he was 7, I started actively to look for ways to control his myopia. By chance, his pediatrician introduced me to an optometrist who specialist in myopia prevention and control management. After detailed examination of his eyes, the optometrist recommended that I tried the Atropine Eye Drops Therapy. This therapy is commonly used by optometrist safely to treat eye conditions such as lazy eyes and squints; but for use in myopia control, it is still something new in Singapore, I was told then.
With the optometrist’s advice and after due considerations, we decided to give it a try. Every night before he sleeps, a single drop of atropine eye drop is instilled in each of his eyes. His myopia has since stabilized for the past 2 years. He sees the optometrist half yearly for review and for replenishment of his eye drops.
So far, the only side effect I’ve observed is the glariness from the sun when he is having his outdoor activities. The solution? I have the optometrist wrote me a letter for the school to allow him wear transition lenses.
Of course, eye care is still the most important thing; and do consult an optometrist if you are concern with your child’s myopia.
For information:
http://www.eyecare.com.sg/atropine.htm
http://www.eyespecialist.com.sg/mypoia.htm
Is My Child Gifted?
Aug 20th
It is common for parents to wonder if their children are gifted.
There’s this little boy, aged 4, from my girl’s school. He can read books that are meant for Primary 4 student. Is that little boy gifted? I think so. However, does it mean that he is “gifted“ in everything? I don’t think so.
I believe that all kids are special in their own way. Even children with learning disabilities such as dyslexia could be “gifted” in their own way. I know of a little girl who is dyslexic. She is academically slow but extremely talented in photography. When she takes photographs, she took them in a very “special” way. For example, she would take a close snap of the checkers on the handbag instead of the hand bag itself. The snap was so sharp that you can see even the finest details of the checkers. Is she talented? Yes, I think so too.
Kids may have different talents. Some children are gifted in music, some in arts and some in sports. It is important for us, as parents, to encourage them and help them develop these talents. Parents must realize that not all gifted children have the ability to do well academically. One child may show his giftedness in his study while the other might show his in performing arts and music.
By the way, do you know that Einstein was four years old before he could speak and seven before he could read? So next time before you ponder if your child is gifted, remember not to limit yourself in the academic way, your child might have hidden talent you have yet discovered 
Reading on Dyslexia:
http://www.squidoo.com/davisdyslexia
Reading on Theory of Multiple Intelligences:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_multiple_intelligences,
Ants on an Apple
Aug 19th
I like this phonics song. It’s catchy and easy to remember. You can even change the wordings to something that your child likes in order to catch their attention. It goes like this
Ants on an Apple, “a” “a” “a”
Ants on an Apple, “a” “a” “a”
Ants on an Apple, “a” “a” “a”
“a” is the sound of “A”
Balls are bouncing, “b” “b” “b”
Balls are bouncing, “b” “b” “b”
Balls are bouncing, “b” “b” “b”
“b” is the sound of “B”
Caterpillar is crawling, “c” “c” “c”
Caterpillar is crawling, “c” “c” “c”
Caterpillar is crawling, “c” “c” “c”
“c” is the sound of “C”
(in the video, it’s Caterpillar coughing, “c” “c” “c”)
Dogs are digging, “d” “d” “d”
Dogs are digging, “d” “d” “d”
Dogs are digging, “d” “d” “d”
“d” is the sound of “D”
(in the video, it’s Dolls are dancing, “d” “d” “d”)
See what I mean, it’s a fun and entertaining way for young children to learn their phonics.
Link to the Phonics Song – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFFyS3PrjZk
Drawing by 3 years old
Jul 29th
My 3 years old Genz Kid drew this picture of her big brother last weekend… cool rite?
Say “I Love You” …
Jul 15th
I was deeply saddened by the sudden news that my girlfriend, who was only 40 years old, passed away recently. There was never a sign of illness and her death due to cancer caught me by surprise. She was a wonderful person and left behind her, her husband and her beloved daughter. Her sudden departure makes me realized that life is so fragile. Indeed, who would know what will happen in the next minute, so to all those people out there, please cherish those around you while you can…. We never know “What’s Next!”
Life is so unpredictable, don’t you think so
You will never know what will happen tomorrow
Cherish your love ones while you can
For you will never know when they will leave you to be with the God
Say “I Love You” to those you love
It’s never a shy thing to do
Stop thoes cold wars and make peace with your love ones
Don’t wait till it’s too late to say “I’m sorry”
So to all my dearest out there
I love you …..
Andrew Matthews – Wisdom of Words
Jun 9th
I enjoyed the talk by Andrew Matthews during the recent Singapore Education Summit 2010. In case you wondered who he is. He is the international cartoonist, speaker & best-selling author of motivational and personal development books such as “Happiness Now”, “Follow Your Heart”.
This is what I’ve shared with my Genz Kid:
You can choose to be happy or misery. Misery is a choice.
I took the opportunity to teach my Genz Kid that life is never fair. You can choice to happy with what you have or misery with what you don’t have. MISERY is a choice!
You are happier when you accomplished something.
I asked my Genz Kid whether he felt good after obtaining good results for his mid year results, knowing that he had tried his best and put in his best effort. He said yes!
Life is a circle of continuous challenges.
My Genz Kid was bothered that his friend was not finding time to do the project they were supposed to complete during the June school holiday. I told him that a person grows up when they faces challenges in life. It’s when you know how to overcome these challenges that you find yourself wiser. When you thought you have overcome one challenge, before you could rest your feet, you find yourself facing another challenge and this will go on and on …. AND again, you can choice to face these challenges positively with an open heart or miserably.
Ability + Attitude + Strategy = SUCCESS
I told my Genz Kid that a person could be very smart, but without the right attitude and strategy, he can never be successful. He may not be the smartest person in his class but if he learn from the mistakes and take failure positively, and with the right strategy, he will be successful.
Fun is when you are involved and participated, not watch
I asked my Genz Kid which is more fun, to watch your friend playing a scoccer game or you participate in the game. He told me “PARTICIPATE”. Yes, participate even if you are not the best in the game or even you have lost the game. The more important thing is you have fun and enjoyed the game!
That’s all I have to share today. If you have not read his book, I would urge you to read one. I believe you will feel as enlighten as I do!
And guess what, I’m going to get his “Being a Happy Tenn” for my Genz Kid. Although he is not a teenage yet, I believe he will benefit a lot from the book.
Official website : http://www.andrewmatthews.com/
Also on facebook http://en-gb.facebook.com/pages/Andrew-Matthews-Author/108867285809877
And this is from Andrew’s “Happiness Now”…. ENJOY!
A mother’s feeling – My Son has Grown Up
Jun 8th
Do you have this sudden feeling that your child has grown up …
Well, I do. Recently my child went for a school trip to Malaysia and he was all so excited. He packed his own bag on items he needed to bring, did a checklist of things he needed to do during the trip and went to bed early the night before and set his alarm clock to ring at 5.15 am so that he won’t oversleep and be late for the “big” day. All so impromptu without any tinker from the parents.
I recalled a week before the “big” day, I jokingly asked if I could go with him, promised that I would stay a distance away from him, just to make sure he’s okay and not mantle into “business” he needs to do. It’s a firm “No, no parents are allowed!”. When I teased him that I would be tagging along after all as a parent volunteer, he gave me that “oh no, you are not!” look. It’s kinda of funny but suddenly, I felt that my little boy who used to like to do everything with mummy has grown up.
Well, we still do things together – sports, WII, watch TV, read but soon (and I mean real soon), he would start to prefer to do all these with his friends and very soon, I would start missing my little boy, the Mommy’s Boy.
Free Test Papers
May 19th
I am just sharing with you on an update of this website – http://www.test-paper.info/. Some of you may be away of the free website providing primary school test papers. Well, it has improved its portal. Now, besides free test papers, there are articles, forum and many more. Some of the forums are very interesting – parents posting questions on their children’s test papers questions. Check it out!
Learn to Ride a Bicycle
May 18th
I have been wanting to teach my Genz Kid how to ride a bicycle but never succeed as he was too afraid to ride one without the training wheel.
Last Sunday, we brought him a bicycle (with training wheels) as an early birthday present for him. He was thrilled and was having fun with his new “toy” until yesterday, a few aunties laughed at him when they saw him riding the bicycle with training wheels. He was embarrassed and felt a bit down. I told him it was okay and the next time if someone makes fun of him because that, just tell them that you will remove the training wheel when you are ready.
I recalled how I learnt to ride a bicycle when I was young. In fact, my brothers & I were “trained” to ride a two-wheels bicycle when we were about 5 years old. I remembered our parents just told us to get on the bikes, then they would push us for a short distance, let go their hands and off we go… we fell down, cried a bit and then get up and try again ….
Today, I done some research on the internet and found some useful information on “teaching your kids to ride a bicycle”. I was surprised to note that our old way of learning to ride a bicycle is difficult and dangerous. The more “friendly” way is to remove the paddle or put the paddle down a little so that your feet can touch the ground. Let them go down a gentle slope…. Eventually, with practice, they will still learn how to ride a two-wheels bike but I think we should try to let the learning journey be as pleasant as possible.
Reading materials:
http://www.bikehash.freeservers.com/learn.html
Newspaper at your Fingertip
Mar 29th
This is brilliant!
Want to know what’s happening in the world? Well, here’s a useful link to the newspapers in the world. You name it, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, USA, they have it!
Just click on the country / city you wish to read the newspaper on and the newspaper headlines would pop out.
Now you can know what’s happening in other parts of the world at your fingertip. Enjoy reading !