Bring Up Kids
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
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.
4 Ways to Strengthen the Bond With Your Children
Jun 1st
Few things are more important in life than the bond you share with your children. If you lack a close relationship with your kids, the bond can be a source of pain and anguish, while a strong connection with your kids can bring incredible joy and happiness.
If you’ve lost the closeness that you crave, you can strengthen the relationship in four practical ways.
Help Them With Homework
Help your children with their homework to show them that you’re interested in their education. This also lets them know that they can rely on you when they need help. The message you send is that they’re more valuable to you than anything else you could be spending your time doing.
Life is hectic and time is short and, one day, the time to develop this bond may be gone. Seize the day by taking the time to help your kids with their homework. If you do this on a regular basis, you may find the conversation wandering away from homework to topics that give you a glimpse into what’s most important to your kids.
Share Their Interests
Join your kids in activities and interests that they choose. Children naturally gravitate toward projects and activities they’re interested in, so ask questions about the activities they choose to engage in! Become curious about what makes them tick, and let them know that you’re curious. Fuel their passion and draw them close to you by sharing in what they love.
Find Common Interests
If you feel like you have nothing in common with your children, try to expose them to something that you really care about. Introduce them to your passions in a kid-friendly way and make the activity as fun for them as possible, while sharing your interests with them.
Often, your enthusiasm and interest in your children will cause them to become interested in the things you like, but be willing to accept that they may not enjoy the same things you do, no matter how hard you try. The closeness you experience when you share something you both enjoy is exhilarating.
Most lifelong passions start at childhood. Many passions are handed down from generation to generation. If you desire a lifelong closeness with your children, introduce them to the things you care about. Involve them and stir their curiosity, while communicating acceptance and love no matter what their interests may be.
If you aren’t sure where to begin, try one of these activities:
* Take your children fishing.
* Take them to your favorite team’s sporting event.
* Take them shopping at their favorite store.
* Try a mommy or daddy date with a meal at your favorite restaurant (or theirs).
* Show them your favorite (age-appropriate) movie.
* Read a favorite book together.
Frequently, the activity itself isn’t what children remember. The time you spend with them creates the memory. Your availability and interest are the two most important factors in creating the close relationship you deserve with your children.
Include Everyone
With one child, it’s fairly easy to incorporate the entire family in activities that strengthen the bond between you. If you have more than one child, however, remember to spread your attention and activities among them as evenly as possible.
A little effort goes a long way. Just make an effort, and your children will see that you really do want a close relationship with them more than anything else. Most importantly, begin today! It’s easier to create bonds with your children that last forever when they’re younger. Make your children a priority, and you’ll be rewarded with a bond that will last a lifetime.
Affirmation: Staying home with my children
May 28th
I delight in staying home with my children.
My choice to stay at home with my children is something I am proud of. Although draining at times, I am committed to doing the best job I can at raising my children.
My calling as a parent is to nurture my children socially, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. For me, staying at home is the best way to fulfill that purpose. My life’s devotion is to foster a healthy home for my whole family.
I am grateful for the blessing that I have to spend my days watching my children flourish before my very eyes. I am present in my children’s lives to witness every new accomplishment. I celebrate their triumphs and help them overcome constraints.
Staying home gives me the opportunity to teach my children about life just the way I want to. I am able to pass on family ideologies and spiritual beliefs to secure their identity.
I appreciate my spouse’s support for my choice to stay home. My spouse works hard for me to have the privilege of staying home. While my spouse works hard outside of the home, I work hard at home to teach our children.
I am accountable for the time I have at home. My time is spent on educational activities and outings with the kids. I refrain from wasting time on idleness. The television, computer, and even household chores, fall second to taking care of my children.
Today, I celebrate my ability to stay home. I am free from guilt about not having a full time job outside of the home because staying home with the children is a full time job of its own.
Self-Reflection Questions:
1. Do I ever feel guilty about staying home?
2. How can I maximize my time at home with my children?
3. Why do I love staying home with my children?
Inter-Disciplinary Project Work (“IPW”)
Mar 5th
What does it mean when your child told you that he is having IPW week in school instead of his usual class routine?
“IPW” stands for Inter-Disciplinary Project Work and it seems that our primary schools are putting in more effort in promoting inter-disciplinary learning today. IPW allows students to understand a subject or topic in depth not through individual learning but through team work. Through research, discussion and brainstorming, it hopes to allow students to see things from different viewpoints.
According to my son, this is how I think IPW works:
- Grouping of members followed by appointment of leader by the team members.
- The team brainstormed on the topic they want to research and write on.
- Once the topic is decided, roles are assigned to individuals (e.g. editor, reporter, researcher).
- The team then works on the timeline & deliverables.
- Team members start work on their respective areas. • When at home, team members continue to do research (e.g. surfing the web).
- At next meeting, team members shared with one another on the information and materials they have collated.
- Team leader is to check and ensure timelines & deliverables are on track.
- Team to submit write up and do presentation on project on D-Day to teacher and class.
Sounds pretty similar to what we have done during our school days right? Yes indeed, just that the children today start to “work” earlier.
How to Hold a Pencil
Mar 4th
My friend who is in the teaching profession sent me this picture when I told her that my girl’s teacher commented that my girl was not holding her pencil in a right way. This picture clearly indicates the way we should hold a pencil and what we should avoid to do when holding one. In case you are keen, here you go … the correct method of holding a pencil. Cheers!
A blog on Mathematics in School
Mar 1st
A friend shared with me this blog by Dr Yeap who teaches at National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, which I personally find it useful and informative. It’s a platform to help parents and international teachers understand the way Mathematics is taught in Singapore schools.
An example of the question asked and answer by Dr Yeap as below (verbatim):
Question: A car needs 7 hours to travel from Town X to Town Y. A motorcycle needs 8 hours to travel from Town Y to Town X. The car leaves Town X for Town Y and the motorcycles leaves from Town Y to Town X at the same time. How long will it take for the car and the motorcycle to meet?
Answer by Dr Yeap: Speed Problems are frequently brought up. The earlier entries discussing Speed Problems. See below: So, how long will it take for the car and the motorcycle to meet. The standard joke is that we hope they don’t! That aside, we need to assume that the speed of the two vehicles are constant. If that is so then in an hour, the car travels 1/7 the distance in an hour and the motorcycle travels 1/8 the distance in an hour. The problem is solved when the distance travelled by the car and motorcycle add up to 1 whole. In an hour, total distance covered by both is (1/7 + 1/8) of XY. This works out to 15/56 of XY. In 2 hours, it is (2/7 + 2/8) of XY or 30/56 of XY. In 3 hours, 45/56. In 4 hours, 60/56. They would have passed each other in 4 hours. Can I leave it to you to complete the last step of the solution? It is by no means trivial but there are enough leads already.
If you have questions about mathematics learning, you can also send your questions to banhar.yeap@nie.edu.sg and the replies will be posted on http://www.askyeapbanhar.blogspot.com/
Hope you find this blog useful.
Choosing a Preschool
Feb 25th
What are the criteria you look out for when choosing a preschool for your children? Costs, distance, curriculum, teachers, environment?
My 3 years old Genz Kid is now in attending preschool in my neighbourhood. My 10 years old Genz Kid used to attend private preschool which required him to do some travelling. Why the difference, you may asked?
Well, the 2 main reasons are (i) there’s no good preschool in my neighbourhood; and (ii) since my son was the one and only then, my domestic helper can help fetch him to and from school. It’s a bit tricky now that my son is in primary school. I need to take into consideration a number of issues when sorting out my daughter’s preschool arrangement.
The advantages of the neighbourhood preschool? It’s cheaper and within walking distance. The disadvantages? They do not offer 2nd language for Nursery 1 so my girl is not exposed to her mother tongue (i.e. Mandarin) in school, they changes teachers too often and sad to say, their teachers do not speak proper English (my husband once thought he was talking to an admin clerk when in fact he was talking to a teacher). To make matter worst, my girl does not enjoy going to that school. If you asked her if she wants to go to the school opposite, it’s a firm “No” but if you ask her if she wants to go to her weekend Chinese enrichment class, it’s always a firm “Yes”.
I recently asked my son what’s so great about his preschool, he said he liked the teachers (whom I am still in contact with) and the environment. For myself, it’s the communication and professionalism of the teachers that impressed me.
I believe that in order for you to do / learn something, you need to have a liking in that thing first. Once you have the interest , you will naturally enjoy doing that thing. Same philosophy applies to going to school, you need to enjoy going to school first before you enjoy attending the lessons and learn.
Now, I’m really contemplating whether I should put my girl in my son’s preschool even though it means more money and require her to take school bus (the journey is about 20 minutes one way). On bright side, I can be assured that she would be in good hand with professional and experienced teachers.
Which would you choose if you were me?
For reading, http://preschool.sg/ (a website where parents shared their views and experiences on preschools, childcares, kindergartens & early educations in Singapore)