special feature
MUMMY EXTRAORDINAIRES DIANA SER, JAMIE YEO AND Y.Y. LOW
TRAVEL WITH BÉBÉ
Surviving family vacations Real tips from parents
GRACE & COURAGE
may 2016
Happy Mother’s Day!
OVERCOMING POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION
JAYMEE ONG SHARES HER STORY
w w w . s i n g a p o r e s c h i l d . c o m . s g
Use Ezerra™ to treat and moisturise dry, itchy and irritated skin. A non-steroidal moisturiser for atopic eczema in children. The complete range with naturally-derived active ingredients works in 3 effective ways:
Available at selected
stores, independent pharmacies, clinics and hospitals.
Protects and repairs baby’s fragile skin
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bébé
WHAT’S THE SCOOP?
TRUE STORY
Find out how Amber and Peter braved through Iceland and Japan with all of their beauty (and challenges) with their six-month-olds Leia and Lauren, the super adorable Momo twins. Pick up some tips for your own adventures!
preggy mums AND GDM
Pregnancy is no easy feat, and there is no denying that its unforeseen challenges may be shocking to some. Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) can cause seizures or still births if left untreated. Find out more about its risk factors and ways to conquer it.
Travelling with kids: Nice or Nightmare?
Does booking your beach getaway with your kids seem daunting? Well, vacations with the baby will certainly not be as relaxing as prebaby. How true is the saying that goes, “Being a mother means that your heart is no longer yours; it wanders wherever your children do.” At the same time, it doesn’t necessarily mean
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BABY-FRIENDLY TRAVEL TIPS
Best practices while vacationing with the kiddos
that the holidays are sure to be a disaster in the making. While there are hundreds of tips on how to make it easier, how about hearing some first-hand experiences? This month, we sussed out true stories of parents who have successfully travelled with their kids. Find out more on pages 6-15.
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Ways to keep your children’s food safe
Choosing the right baby car seat for your car
Learn how items in your car can pose risk
Travel easy with our top picks
SAY GOODBYE TO TUMMYACHE
BELT UP!
hidden car hazards
ready, pack, go
pregnancy / plan
PLAN FOR POSTPARTUM BLISS H Get ready for baby ahead of delivery aving a newborn is one of life’s most rewarding experiences; however the challenges of postnatal confinement, recuperation and infant care may dampen it (very) quickly and drastically. It is never too safe or too early to have postnatal plans drawn up when you are in your second trimester. However, regardless of whatever perfect plan you have in mind, you should always be open and flexible to change the arrangements especially if it is recommended by the doctor or healthcare practitioner.
Planning ahead is important but as you may want to consider contingency options, as even the best plan may not work out at times.
Expect the Unexpected
4 may 2016
You may have the best confinement nanny booked to await the arrival of your newborn, but unexpected family or emergency commitments may require you to make a change. Always remain open and give your ‘new’ nanny the benefit of the doubt and opportunity to forge a good partnership – in giving yourself and your newborn the best care possible.
Check out singaporeschild.com.sg for more postpartum bliss tips
text Juansa Arissa Cheng EXPERT CONTRIBUTION BEAUTY. MUMS & BABIES
Consider Contingency Plans
CONFINEMENT NANNIES
MUM AND BABY MASSAGES
It is important to scout for confinement nannies who are trained and accredited by reliable and reputable parentcraft centres. Your prospective confinement nanny should not only be experienced but must be able to support your new parenting journey with the right care for infant, and even encouragement and advice for you. These include correct methods of carrying baby, ensuring baby hygiene, and caring for a newborn. Do not underestimate the importance of burping and coaxing as wind and gas can make a baby uncomfortable and fussy. Your confinement help should also be able to help you cope with engorgement and use basic techniques to encourage breastfeeding. It is pertinent to establish expectations clearly with your confinement nanny and/or the centre managing her service. Ask questions such as:
Both mother and baby massages have gain popularity in the recent years and we speak with Director of Beauty. Mums & Babies, Genah Lim on some of the common questions that new mums have. Confinement Care Confinement Angels is the
exclusive accredited partner of Thomson Parentcraft Centre that provides highly trained confinement nannies who have undergone intensive accreditation syllabus and hands-on practicum. The confinement nannies are all individually tested and certified by trainers from Thomson Parentcaft. Plus, Confinement Angels also guarantees a free replacement should the need arises. Visit www.confinementangels.com.sg for more information.
What confinement care arrangements can they offer?
Some new mothers require 24-hour round-the-clock support whilst some prefer to have their own helper or relative’s assistance and as such may require alternative care arrangements. What confinement care duties do you need her to perform?
Ensure that you have the confinement menu worked out as some confinement nannies do not provide confinement cooking and you may have to seek additional confinement food arrangement. Also, do not overlook minor details such as how you would like the washing, cleaning and drying of infant clothes and burb cloths to be done, especially if you prefer those to be hand-washed. What can I do without?
Massages can help with improving baby’s well-being through: Relaxation: Babies are known to be calmer and more relaxed, with reduced hyper activity and improved sleep patterns. Interaction: Other than increased body awareness and flexibility, massages also help promote bonding, especially with eye-to-eye contact that improves communication skill. Stimulation: Due to the sensory stimulation, massages can help brain and muscular development on top of improving immune, nervous, circulatory, respiratory and hormonal systems. Massaging also tones the skin and aids in elimination thus improving the digestive system. Relief: Massaging can help to alleviate excess mucus accumulation, gas and colic symptoms as well as relieve stomach cramps, muscular tension, breathing discomfort and growing pains.
Massage Comfort Beauty. Mums & Babies is
a place where both you and baby can receive pampering recuperation and care with services ranging from prenatal yoga to postpartum massage and mum-andbaby yoga. One of these include the Baby Massage and Tuina which combines both Western and Chinese massage techniques to give your baby a tailored massage experience especially recommended for newborns to six-month-olds. Visit www.beautymumbabies.com for more information.
What are the benefits of massages for a mother?
The benefits for a new mum are numerous. Mother and baby bonding: With better understanding of her baby and increased quality time spent together the postnatal stress hormones are naturally reduced, thus resulting in a more relaxed parenting state. Practical parenting tool: Massaging is a tool that can be used to improve one’s parenting skill that can lead to enhanced confidence and higher self-esteem. Reduce postnatal blues: For a breastfeeding mother, touching and holding her baby helps in the secretion of prolactin which will increase her milk production to significantly reduce the stress (depressive state) of inadequate milk supply.
5 may 2016
Remember that your recuperation and baby’s needs are top priorities. And even if your living room and dining area may look like war zones (trust us, they usually do), the last thing you want to do is to distract your confinement nanny with less critical housekeeping duties.
What are the benefits of massages for a baby?
baby / nutrition
Your nutrition and baby Find out how your diet is intricately linked to your breastfed infant
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nfancy is the stage where the per-kilogram needs for macronutrients and micronutrients are highest compared to any other stage in the human life cycle. This is to fuel the rapid cell division that occurs during growth that requires energy and protein, along with the nutrients that are involved in DNA synthesis. This energy requirement is much greater in an infant than an adult (relative to size) and the baby’s resting metabolic rate is two times that of an adult. Even though your baby has not reached the weaning stage yet, the nutritional choices you make, such as the decision to breastfeed or bottle-feed, not only affect early childhood development, but also a child’s health and wellness later in life. Breast milk provides the most ideal combination of energy and nutrients that babies need to be healthy as it contains all the necessary vitamins and minerals. Breastfed infants have a lower risk of developing a milk allergy compared to those who are formula fed. Despite much research, the cause of milk allergy remains a mystery and many scientists believe it to be caused by genetic traits.
20 may 2016
Most infants fuss occasionally but look out for excessive fussiness, as it might be an indication of discomfort caused by an allergy to the protein in cow’s milk, which is the primary ingredient in most commercial baby formulas. A milk allergy happens when the immune system mistakenly identifies the milk protein as a foreign particle that the body should fight off – sending a series of allergic reactions such as stomachaches. Most who are allergic to cow’s milk are most likely allergic to goat’s milk and sheep’s milk, and some are also allergic to the protein in soy milk. According to the American Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, cow’s milk appears to be the most common culprit when it comes to food allergies in infants as compared to an occurrence of about 0.5 to one percent of exclusively breastfed infants.
Next, you may be surprised to know that the mum’s diet not only impacts the breastfed baby’s nutrients but can also cause allergy – proteins from mum’s diet can pass into breast milk, and some babies seem to be allergic to or intolerant of these proteins. Research has also shown that colicky babies have intestinal inflammation and abnormal gut motility. In a paediatric study, when 66 mothers of exclusively breastfed colicky infants eliminated cow’s milk from their diets, more than half of the infants showed “colic disappearance”. When the mums later drank cow’s milk again as a test, colic symptoms returned in two out of three of the babies. In another research, when breastfeeding mums cut out dairy, soy, wheat, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, and fish products with a low allergen diet, their babies cried about 90 minutes less per day. 74 percent of the low-allergen babies showed significant improvement in colic symptoms indicating that eliminating common allergens from mum’s diet may really be of significant help. Based on these, it seems that cow’s milk allergy or intolerance of other foods seem to contribute to colic. Likewise, the nutrient components as well as heavy metal traces can also be introduced from the mum’s diet through the breast milk. Below are some considerations for the new mum:
For newborns from six months and below, it is best that they are breastfed. The foods below are appropriate for babies who have started on their solids and consumption of smaller fishes is recommended due to lower mercury content.
Did You know?
Food to include Include whole grains such as oats, brown rice, quinoa for fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Choose nutrient-dense foods such as legumes, nuts and seeds, avocado, olives and vegetables. Consumption of low mercury fish such as monkfish, carp, mullet and salmon is encouraged.
Lactating mothers can consume calciumenriched milk and they should add nutrientrich foods to their diet as they lose nutrients when they lactate.
Foods to avoid Any inclusion of herbs or supplements should have medical consent sought. Limit high mercury fish such as tilefish, shark, swordfish, king mackerel and white or albacore tuna. Lastly, though breastfeeding is recommended and encouraged, no woman should be made to feel guilty or incompetent if she chooses not to or cannot breastfeed their infants.
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Babies are considered to have colic if they show abdominal cramping (drawing up of legs, appearing to be in pain), irritability, and intense crying.
A milk allergy is not the same thing as lactose intolerance, the inability to digest the sugar lactose, which is rare in infants and more common among older kids and adults.
Meet our expert Dr Ting Hua Sieng Specialist in Obstetrics and Gynaecology The Obstetrics & Gynaecology Centre (Singapore Medical Group)
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Mothers can switch to hypoallergenic formulas that can help reduce allergies.
Hydrolysed formulas have molecules that are partially broken down resulting in easy digestion.
Research has shown that maternal diet restrictions during lactation may increase baby’s chances of developing allergies. If your baby is NOT showing any signs of tummy troubles, your best bet is to eat a balanced variety of whole foods.
21 may 2016
Colicky Baby?
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from the editor
Honouring Mothers
Gratitude, Compassion and Love
This is the month for us to celebrate Mother’s Day! How else to better do it than honouring the mettle that mothers are made of and we have weaved together real stories of mums juggling the everyday parenting duties, career commitments and personal aspirations – from celebrity mums to inspiring individuals. We dig a little deeper to tell untold stories of dilemmas, postnatal blues, struggles and perseverance beneath the calm and poised composure of different mothers. But why should we confine ourselves to only this month to honour the person who gave us life? I guess the best way to do it is to live every day to the fullest – embrace life and be the best person you can be with grace and wisdom. So, work hard, play hard and live passionately. Go travel the world with your loved ones, see a little more of life through the lens of the child within you and slow down to smell the roses. Plus, with the travelling tips from real parents we gathered for you, jet-setting with the little ones will be a breeze. I hope you like the trendiest picks we got – from prenatal and baby massages to infant car seats and fashionista selections. There’s something for everyone in the family! Don’t forget to check out Snapkis car seat, Aviva Superfundae family tickets and 3D2N Club Med Bintan stay that are up for grabs! Happy reading! Xoxo
Juansa Arissa Cheng Deputy Editor
STAY CONNECTED with singapore's child wherever you are! SingaporesChild
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China is now the world’s largest economy. Alongside with English, proficiency in Mandarin will soon be a key prerequisite for your children to succeed. How then do you prepare them for the challenges ahead? The best time to start is at preschool where children are most receptive to learning. An ELFA preschool education will give your children a strong Mandarin foundation to embrace knowledge and take advantage of new opportunities in a changing world. ELFA is the only home-grown preschool brand backed
by more than 15 years of experience and expertise from operating more than 30 centres in China. Bringing together the best practices from the East, our rich Chinese curriculum integrates learning experiences in Science, Maths, Arts and Music, as well as the teaching of moral values for character-building. Through our engaging story-telling approach, our ELFA pre-schoolers develop a strong love for Mandarin, which helps them master the language quickly, and acquire a level of proficiency that is beyond their peers.
587 Upper Serangoon Road, Singapore 534564 elfats@crestar.com.sg www.elfa.edu.sg 6858 9620
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/ Mother’s Day 29
MUM, YOU ARE THE BEST!
Check out the heart-warming stories of inspiring mums
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mummy extraodinaires
Find out why Diana Ser, Jamie Yeo and Y.Y. Low are amazing mothers
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BRAVE MUM
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Jaymee Ong shares how we can overcome postnatal depression
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FESTIVE FEASTING
Best dining places to celebrate Mother’s Day
/ kids 38
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CREATIVITY AND YOUR CHILD
Why you should not quell your child’s imagination
/ health 50
cool yummy treats
Yummy recipes for you to try
52
obesity and your child
Learn how to better manage your child’s weight
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PAIN, PAIN, GO AWAY
Find out all about sprains and strains
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Keep your child safe
Ways to keep out those pesky mosquitos
trending
Style your kids with the hottest finds in town!
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PLAY IT UP!
sc loves this!
Get inspired with these stylish and playful looks
/ learn 46 fit kids
Starting your kids on a sporting lifestyle
Use Ezerra to treat and moisturise dry, itchy and irritated skin.
stockists 2 JUNe 2015
• Asics 290 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238859 • Biore www.biore.com • Massimo Dutti Marina Square, 6 Raffles Boulevard, #01-02, Singapore 039594 • Chateau De Sable 290 Orchard Road #05-59 Paragon Singapore 238859 • Cotton On Kids 435 Orchard Road #01-23/24 Wisma Atria Singapore 238877 • Crabtree & Evelyn 3 Temasek Blvd, Singapore 038983 • Dr Martens 501 Orchard Road #02-17A Wheelock Place Singapore 238880 • Geox www.geox.com • Heritage Hub 3155 Commonwealth Avenue West #04-31/32 The Clementi Mall Singapore 129588 • H&M hm.com • Ikea 60 Tampines North Drive 2, Singapore 528764 • I See i See 313 @ Somerset #B3 - 46, 313 Orchard Road, Singapore 238895 • kookies + milk kookiesandmilk.
56 MOZ AWAY Protect yourself and your loved ones with MOZ AWAY, a safe and effective mosquito and insect repellent even for babies.
/ you 58
Trending
Be inspired by the latest in the market
/ learn 60
KINDNESS IS GOLD
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love thy home
Has your child understood the importance of being kind?
Check out DIY tips to spruce up your home and last-minute kitchen help for your dinner plans
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MATH FUN
Supporting your child in Mathematics
love thy family
Fantastic family dining options that little one will surely approve
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WATER SAFETY 101
Tips on how you can ensure a safe water environment for the kids
/ health 66
take care of your vision
Keep your eyes in tip-top shape
/ love 68
love thy self
Put aside some quiet time to recharge with these book and music finds
/ win
3D2N stay for two at Club Med Bintan Island worth $1,816! Refer to page 11 for more details
/ subscribe
Refer to page 73 for more details
/ in every issue 24 28 68 74 76
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From the Team Our Experts Reviews Events behind the scenes
3 JUNe 2015
com • Melissa 501 Orchard Road #B2-03 Wheelock Place Singapore 238880 • Orbis 9 Bishan Place, #01-46, Singapore 579837 • Pazzion #01-01,4 Tampines Central 5, Singapore 529510 • Privi Kids 3 Temasek Boulevard #02-712 Suntec City Mall Singapore 038983 • Puma www.puma.com • Robinsons 6 Raffles Blvd, Singapore 039594 • Sephora 3 Temasek Blvd, Suntec City, Singapore 038983 • Tefal www.tefal.com • The Book Bank Gardens Shop @ Tanglin Gate, Botany Centre, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Cluny Rd, Singapore 259569 • Zara 541 Orchard Road #02/03-02/02 Liat Towers Singapore 238881
Mother’s day special
Thank you Mums! Celebrate and indulge in these Mother’s Day specials.
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GASTRONOMICAL DELIGHT
Tantalise your taste buds with the “Momstrous” buffet lunch ($108 for adults; $54 for children) featuring the best of Eastern and Western cuisines from Lime, Parkroyal on Pickering’s signature restaurant. Highlights include a grand carvery station delighting you with Roasted Wagyu Topside, Leg of Lamb and Traditional German Schnitzel. Additionally, Lime’s signature Traditional ‘Lux-Sa’ served with Maine Lobster Claws and 36-Hour Braised Pork Belly are not to be missed. You’ll be spoilt for choice with this exquisite buffet repertoire. indulge here
PARKROYAL on Pickering 3 Upper Pickering Street Singapore 058289 Tel: 6809 8899 www.parkroyalhotels.com/lime
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LOBSTER LOVIN’
In celebration of Mother’s Day, you can enjoy a Boston lobster for only $10++ at the wellloved traditional Thai BBQ restaurant Mookata with every purchase of Mookata Set Meal for four. Available for the entire month of May, the promotion is also available at the Mookata Katong and ORTO outlets. Alternatively, if lobsters aren’t for you, the newly launched buffet spread might just be right up your alley. At just $18.90, the spread serves up cuts of the bestselling meat, fresh vegetables and appetising finger foods. 36 may 2016
indulge here
#02-53, Bugis Junction Mall 200 Victoria Street Singapore 188021 (and other outlets across the island) Tel: 6837 0171 www.mookata.com
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FULLERTON FESTIVITY
The Fullerton Hotel and the Fullerton Bay Hotel are taking the Mother’s Day celebrations up a notch – where all mothers dine free for selected promotions including Jade restaurant’s individual set dinner menu and La Brasserie’s Sunday Champagne Brunch. Mothers will stand to win attractive prizes such as a Burberry handbag and hotel vouchers in the Grand Draw. Moreover, the Fullerton Hotel’s introductory packages for the Mother’s Day Stay and Spa and Dine are sure to make mum happy. indulge here
The Fullerton Hotel Singapore 1 Fullerton Square Singapore 049178 Tel: 6733 8388 www.fullertonhotel.com
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TAKING THE CAKE
If your mum is a pâtisserie connoisseur, why not treat her to Cedele’s handcrafted Strawberry Angel Cake? Comprising a melt-in-your mouth sponge cake layered with balsamic-roasted strawberry cream, this balanced delight is free of artificial enhancers and artificial preservatives. With no trans-fat, the Strawberry Angel Cake ($62; $8 per slice) is made with organic unrefined sugar, organic grapeseed oil and topped with a generous amount of fresh strawberries. indulge here
37 may 2016
252 North Bridge Road #B1-02A Raffles City Shopping Centre Singapore 179103 (and other outlets across the island) Tel: 6922 9700 www.cedelegroup.com
Play It Up! Let your kids have tons of fun in style with these muted hues and trendy pastel pieces.
Photography Justin Loh Art Direction Geraldine Tan and Hairin Rahman Stylist Sharon Tan assisted by Clarisse Chua Hair and Makeup Jane Lau | PaletteInc Location Trehaus Models Kadyn Shen and Simone Isobel Khoh
On Kadyn Pocopato Cloud Printed Tee, $38; Charcoal Drop Crotch Pants, $42, both from kookies+milk; Converse Velcro Hi -Top Sneakers, $55.90, Heritage Hub; Straw Hat, $29.90, Zara On Simone Star Tee with Tassels, Price Unavailable, H&M; Mini Pink Lilac Rose Sandals, $95, Melissa; Wide Leg Culottes, $45; Hairband With Pom Pom, $22, both from kookies+milk On Kadyn (Opposite page) Beige Rabbit Tee, $19.90, Privi Kids; Cargo Harem Trousers, $39.90; Striped Scarf, $19.90, both from Zara; Adventure Time Boots, $149, Dr Martens
Kids / learn
fit kids
Start your kids early on a sporting lifestyle
“Sports do not build character. They reveal it.’ - John Wooden Legendary UCLA Basketball Coach
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t doesn’t take research to show you that sports can bring a host of benefits. You probably would have observed how friends who lead a sporting lifestyle seem to have a quality about them that is a little different from the rest of us mere mortals – they (or most of them, anyway) appear more confident, happier, and perhaps even more outgoing. Sporting that healthy tan and glow that seem to emerge from deep within doesn’t hurt in contributing to an overall positive impression, either. These don’t develop overnight. As with many other things we learn throughout our lives, the love for exercise, sports and healthy living is best taught and inculcated at a young age. Research has found that children who engage in sports exhibit superiority in the following domains – self-esteem, peer relationships and self-control, etc – as compared to peers who do not play sports.
46 may 2016
Visit singaporeschild.com.sg for more sporty hangouts for kids
text hairin rahman
What are some ways parents can introduce exercise and sports in a fun and engaging way? We speak to Juria Maree from Reebok CrossFit Enduro to find out all about CrossFit kids and what your kids can get out of the CrossFit Kids special programme.
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What is CrossFit Kids and is it a different programme from the adult version? CrossFit Kids is a method for teaching Greg Glassman’s CrossFit to children from ages three to 18. So the method is no different from adult CrossFit. Based on the principles of Mechanics, Consistency and then Intensity, CrossFit Kids emphasises good movement throughout childhood and adolescence. Consistently good mechanics translates to physical literacy, enhanced sports performance and fewer sports injuries for kids. Not only that, a vast body of research indicates that exercise is beneficial to cognitive function, which means consistent adherence to the programme can have a positive impact on children’s academic achievement. Our approach is meant to be BIG fun for all ages – ‘Broad-Inclusive-General’ fun. Fun means we provide an active alternative to sedentary pursuits, which means less childhood obesity and all-around better health for our children. The programme is scalable for any age or experience level and accounts for the varied maturity levels one can find in a class full of kids. We ensure that each session is led and supervised by our coaches whom are all accredited Level 1 CrossFit CPR/AED certified in case of emergencies.
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What are some concerns that parents have about their kids’ early involvement in CrossFit and how are these fears allayed? Some parents are concerned about kids lifting weight. We explain that the kids do not use barbells or anything heavy during class until they are introduced to the teens class much later. We teach them correct techniques with unweighted PVC pipes so that by the time they reach the teens class, their bodies already “understand” the movement. Slowly more weight will be introduced as the kids reach teenhood. To put things into perspective, the PVC we use weighs far less than a standard schoolbag.
Improve physical literacy
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What is a good age to get kids started on strength and conditioning work? We enrol kids in our programme from age six and above. We run a class for kids and a separate class for teens.
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What are some values young athletes bring with them throughout their lives? The ability to work in a team and support one another. They also cultivate a strong work ethic as well as establishing far-reaching lifestyle habits early on in life.
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What are some simple ways parents can introduce exercise and healthy living to young kids? CrossFit Kids is designed to be minimalist; it is inexpensive and often requires little or no equipment, allowing a wide array of socioeconomic groups an opportunity to be physically fit and active throughout their lives. Families can also spend time outside in nature, exploring all the walking and cycling trails in Singapore. Lead by example by taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Praise the kids for being active, carrying their own school bag and being able to do all the activities at the outdoor activity stations that we see dotted around the city. Impact your sphere of influence positively by hosting activity birthday parties for the kids. Think trampoline parks, indoor soccer and tandem bicycles.
Enhance sports performance
Reduce sports injuries
Develop cognitive function
47 may 2016
CrossFit can help kids to:
Parents and coaches who are concerned about the safety of resistance training for kids, and even young athletes, should know that it is a safe and effective activity for this age group, provided it is well designed and supervised. We ensure each kid follows our charter of Mechanics, Consistency and only later on, Intensity. The benefits of a strength and conditioning program like CrossFit for Kids far outweighs the risks.
Kids / health
first aid Learn all about sprains and strains
Our children now face the same potential for injury while they run about at the playground or with friends in school, and especially if they’re already speedy little athletes and are training regularly to represent their schools in age-group tournaments. Injuries involving muscles, ligaments and tendons are common while doing strenuous activities, from simple aches to sprains and fractures that require the area be placed in a cast.
54 may 2016
Seeing your child in pain probably causes you a lot of anxiety but experts believe that children bounce back from these setbacks even faster than adults do – pain teaches lessons quite like nothing else does. Rock climbing prodigy Ashima Shiraishi, 15, who started climbing at a very young age, has suffered her fair
shares of scrapes, bruises, and falls; the latter can be alarming considering she boulders up both man-made and natural rock surfaces without ropes. But getting hurt does not seem to bother her much, explaining that she isn’t worried as she knows how to fall.
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Trauma involving muscles, ligaments, tendons
Sprains Sprains occur when ligaments are stretched too much or tear. A ligament is an elastic tissue that connects bones across a joint. In active children, sprains tend to happen at the knees, ankles and wrists when they are twisted sharply due to an external force or a sudden motion. Some symptoms of sprains include pain, swelling, bruising and immobility of the joint. Sprains are assigned one of three grades; with Grade 1 being a mild, overstretched ligament, to Grade 3, a complete tear that causes severe pain. Strains Strains, on the other hand, are injuries to muscle, when they are excessively pulled, or when they tear. They also happen to tendons, which are tissues that connect
text hairin rahman
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hink back on your own childhood and try to recall how often you got yourself into situations where you got hurt while playing, having to walk away with scratches or with serious enough injuries that warranted a visit to the doctor. Could they have been prevented? Probably. But recall how fun and play were hardly satisfying without that element of recklessness and adrenaline as you run, climb and crawl about.
muscle to bone. Strains can be a result of overuse or overexertion of the muscles. Strains are also described in grades, with Grade 1 indicating some muscle fibre damage, and Grade 3 indicating a complete rupture. Contusions This is more commonly known as a bruise and is often caused by being hit by a blunt object that injures the tissue underneath the skin without breaking it. While it might not sound as serious as strains or sprains, contusions at certain areas of the body like the knee can be very painful and limits the movement and normal functioning of the knee.
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3 ways to minimise sports injuries in children Children face a high risk of injury as they are less coordinated and hence less able to control their movements to prevent themselves from getting hurt. With different children of varying levels of physical development playing together, chances of someone getting hurt is thus pretty high. Here are some ways you can minimise risk of sports injuries in children: Adult Supervision This would probably not be an issue during trainings and activities in school during curriculum time or while carrying out co-curricular activities. But what about times when your child is playing at the playground or running about in a game of block catching with their friends? While you cannot possibly be tagging along with your child the whole time he plays with his friends, set some boundaries on where they are allowed to venture off to. Make sure they are able to seek for help from you immediately, or other parents should they need it.
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REST
To allow your body to heal, the affected area has to be rested. This means not using it as much as you are used to, or at all. 2
ICE
Apply ice or cold packs to the area, especially if you notice swelling. Keep it on the area only about 10-20 minutes at a time, and always use a towel between the ice and your skin.
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COMPRESSION
An injury wrapped firmly with bandage can decrease swelling, but care must be taken to ensure that blood flow is not compromised. 4
ELEVATE
Elevating means to raise the injured area to above your heart, usually using a pillow while you are lying down. This decreases and prevents further swelling.
their high price, they are necessary to keep your child safe, especially when it comes to safety gear and protective equipment. One of the most common mistakes parents make is to have a mentality that shoes are one-size-fits-all that can be used for running, hiking, water sports and indoor sports. Do your own research or speak to the teacher-in-charge to understand what equipment your child needs. Buying items secondhand might not be the best idea, especially for equipment that face wear and tear due to the nature of the sport. There are also hygiene issues when it comes to buying secondhand items, so best avoid that. • Warm up Ensure your child knows the importance of proper warm ups and knows how to do them effectively. This is a lesson he will bring with him for life. Even if he’s just playing a game of catch with friends, it is important that he takes some time to warm up his muscles first. Never stretch cold muscles! Do some light jogging before attempting to carry out stretches.
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How long will it take for my child to recover?
It all really depends on how serious the trauma to the muscle, ligament or tendon is. A strain would typically take about a week to heal, while a bad sprain can take anywhere from three weeks to a few months. It is important to ensure that there is minimal usage of the area affected while it is healing. Ensure your child follows instructions given by the doctor. If allowed to heal properly, most injuries would cause no further problems. However, those that don’t recuperate well can lead to more pain and a lot of stiffness. Talk to your child about how he feels during this healing process. He might feel a little lost and sad at not being able to run about as usual, and might even feel left out. He would need constant emotional support from you.
55 may 2016
• Use proper equipment Your child might ask for shoes and equipment that he needs for his newfound sporting passion. While it might be natural to balk at buying some equipment due to
How to take care of an injury: R.I.C.E
You / learn
at odds? Summing up tips on how you can support your child in Math
S
truggling with Math is not an uncommon problem in school. After all, many arbitrary concepts like fractions and algebra are completely new to your child and can be difficult to grasp at such a young age. With the competitiveness in schools increasing exponentially your child may feel stressed and overwhelmed. However, as his first and best teacher, there is definitely something you can do. We speak with Dr Yeap Ban Har, Principal at the Marshall Cavendish Institute, about how parents can support and help their children in being more proficient in Math.
Nurturing a Love for Mathematics
62 may 2016
Being good at Math takes hard work and consistent practice, and it’s much easier for your child to be adept at Math if he loves the subject. In order for your child to enjoy Math, he has to see a point to the endless stream of problem sums and school homework. “Children who grow up having a love for Math are those who have cultivated a productive mindset about what Math is,” explains Dr Yeap. “You are likely to love Math if you see
Why kids must learn Math
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it as a field where you figure things out and see patterns.” So ditch the complicated jargon, rote memorisation and tedious computations. Dr Yeap notes that children who learn Math through manipulating concrete materials, using diagrams, interacting with others and constructing a meaning for themselves are those who love the subject.
Develops logical and thinking skills Constant practise of Math trains the brain, allowing your child to better make connections and see patterns.
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Breaking it Down As the saying goes, practice makes perfect. Dr Yeap advises parents of children lagging behind in the classroom to focus on basic skills and tasks that are routine. “Avoid explaining solutions to children who are struggling to grasp ideas,” he adds, “scaffold their learning by asking questions. Concrete materials and diagrams are always helpful.” Additionally, he suggests exploring alternate ways of seeing a problem. For example, if long division (say 351 divided by 3) is troubling them, get your children to see that the number 351 is the sum of 300, 30 and 21, all of which are divisible by 3.
Understanding Problem Solving
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Trains up problem solving skills Children are taught how to creatively solve Math problems and apply such skills to real life situations.
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Promotes good work ethic Your child will learn vital life lessons such as perseverance, discipline and resilience.
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Application to real life situations Math enables your child to grasp real life concepts including time, measurement and navigation.
Along the way, your child is bound to be frustrated by a challenging question or a difficult concept and the best thing to do is: be patient with him and find out the root cause of the problem. Dr Yeap maintains that parents should find out the reason why they cannot solve the problem and provide help in the area – be it misinterpretation of the problem sum, the inability in handling a multistep problem or the incorrect calculation of numbers. Additionally, parents are advised not to spoon-feed their children from the beginning. “Children who are independent are resilient and not easily frustrated when faced with a problem they cannot solve straight away.” On the other hand, Dr Yeap states “children who are frustrated easily when they cannot solve a problem tend to see Math as something that involves routine tasks which can be solved quickly using a formula.”
Making Math Relatable to Real Life Children can better appreciate the beauty of Math when they realise how applicable Math is to real life. “Math was created to describe and connect the world around us,” Dr Yeap points out. Math is prevalent in our everyday lives, parents just need to show the relevance and importance of Math in even the simplest of real life situations; link something as ordinary as cookies on a tray to multiplication or how art can be created by arranging shapes in a tangram set. Interestingly, he adds that our everyday language can be peppered with mathematical ideas. For example, one could lament that things are not adding up or living by the motto that success is a function of hard work.
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One aspect of problem solving in Math is heuristics, the use of different strategies to solve an unfamiliar problem. “Heuristics are rules of thumb that one uses, often in combinations, to progressively move towards solutions of problems,” Dr Yeap clarifies, citing examples of heuristics such as drawing a diagram, making a guess and writing out an equation. How then do parents facilitate an understanding of heuristics in their children? “By choosing problems that lend themselves to the use of specific heuristics you want the child to learn and by letting them use the heuristics in their own way.” Dr Yeap advises against placing too many constraints in the way your children may use them.
Become Smart Savers Math helps your child understand the value of money and financial concepts from identifying money to knowing how compound interest works.
Handling Frustrations
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MAY 2016 ISSUE 174
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COMPASSION
Let's Learn
IS IN ALL OF US
Compassion means feeling concern for and helping others. All it takes is some practice.
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WALK WITH YOUR MOM AND DAD! No, I am not kidding you. Take your mom and dad out for a walk at the park and ask them how their day is. I am sure this will make them feel very loved!
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CHEER A FRIEND UP!
When your friend is sad, cheer him or her up by giving him or her a pat on the shoulder and saying nice things to him or her.
3 DONATE TO A CHARITY
Besides donating money, you can volunteer your time at a charity home. Actually, why not do point 1 & 3 together?
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OPEN YOUR EYES BIGGER!
This may take some training. You can only help others when you are aware they are in need. Always be alert and on the lookout to see if your friends need help, support or encouragement.
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Check out the 4 things you can do to be more compassionate.
CAN YOU LEARN TO BE COMPASSIONATE?
Yes! Everyone can learn to be compassionate. It is easy and check out the tips that Singa has on how you can show your compassion to your family and people around you.
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
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ACROSS:
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1. ________________ is treating others with kindness and caring for them.
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2. Your ___________and words determines who you are as a person. DOWN:
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3. The _________gave me a sticker to make me feel better at my visit to the clinic.
F
5
K
D
C
A
4. Be a better __________by offering to help them when they need it! 5. Be _________! There is a difference between empathy and compassion. Empathy is understanding another person’s feelings, while compassion is treating others with kindness and caring for them with actions! Answers: Across 1. Compassion 2. actions
VS. EMPATAHSYSION COMP
Send Singa your letters, drawings, pictures or questions on kindness and compassion! Post it by snail mail to: Singa and the Kindness Cubbies 140 Hill Street #05-01 Old Hill Street Police Station Singapore 179369 Remember to include your name, age, school and class because Singa and his friends might have a surprise for you!
Visit www.kindness.sg/kindsville for more fun activities!
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Down 3. doctor 4. friend 5. kind
Show You r
T I T A UDE R G !
Don’t be stingy with your smiles and your thank yous. The best people are kind and thankful for everything! Find out how you can show your gratitude to the people around you by completing the blanks below!
Answers: 1) breakfast 2) organization 3) lovingly, 4) favourite, notes, sincerely appreciate 5) important 6) grandparents 7) birthday, gifts 8) Volunteer, lucky, fortunate
1 Make everyone b______________ on a Saturday morning. You know best what their favourite food is, and they’ll thank you for sure!
2 Choose a beneficiary or o______________ to donate to every month.
5 Share your toys and snacks with your siblings, and they’ll share back. Your siblings might annoy you, but they’re still the most i______________ people around.
6 Surprise your g____________ with their favourite food, especially if you don’t see them often. They’d love to receive such a surprise from their loving grandchild.
3 Cook dinner for your parents on a Friday night, after they’ve had a long, tough week at work. Nothing beats 7 Don’t forget anyone’s b____________ when it comes eating something that has been l____________ and around! G_________ are not important – even letting s________________ prepared. them know how much they mean to you in a little note will make their day! 4 Bring treats for your f____________ friends in school. They can be small items like sweets and chocolates, 8 V_____________ to help the needy and those who are or little n______ to tell them you a_______________ not as l__________ as you are. You’d realise that not them. Start a giving culture among your friends and everyone is f____________ enough to enjoy the things have fun together! you do in life.
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E H T E R ’ YOU BEST,
DIY
MUM!
We’re sure you shower Mummy with love every single day but Mother’s Day is a special day to show her even more love! Check out this unique way to send her a heartfelt message!
Materials needed: • Glue • Scissors • Pen knife • Marker • Pencil • Pink paper • Coloured sheets of paper
STEP 1:
Trace your hand out on a piece of coloured paper. Cut out the shape of your hand, leaving a rectangular base attached to the bottom of your paper hand.
STEP 3:
Cut out paper hearts on different coloured papers and paste them on the fingers of your paper hand.
STEP 2:
Cut slits near both ends of the rectangular base so that you can slot the slits together to form a circular standing base later.
STEP 4:
Using a marker, write a message to your mum and paste it at the front of the rectangular base.
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DIY
FOAM BALL
OCTOPUS! Liven up your room with these funky foam ball octopuses*.
Materials needed: • Googly eyes • Coloured paper • Foam balls • Scissors • Glue • Sequins • Poster paint *Adult supervision is advised
STEP 1:
After tracing out the octopus’ tentacles on a piece of coloured paper, cut out the paper tentacles carefully.
STEP 3: STEP 2:
Paint the foam ball with your favourite colour. Make sure to wash off the paint that gets on your hands! Set the foam ball aside to allow it to dry.
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After attaching the foam ball to the paper tentacles with glue, paste sequins on the tentacles, and googly eyes on the foam ball.
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SC May Issue 174
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IN CINEMAS MAY 26