Singapore's Child July 2016 [Preview]

july 2016

“Why did I agree to an induced labour?”

Birth plan derailed?

A mother shares her story.

parenting 101

think different are you a millennial parent?

Beyond P1

TRANSITIONING AHEAD How far would you go for your child’s success?

disney magic

A WHOLE NEW WORLD

What to expect at Tokyo DisneySea’s 15th anniversary

w w w . s i n g a p o r e s c h i l d . c o m . s g

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WHAT’S THE SCOOP? EAT RIGHT

Have you heard of people who crave tree bark and crayons when they’re pregnant? Your craving for ice cream or pork ribs soup might not sound as bad in comparison, but they can pose quite a bit of inconvenience for you or your family. These pregnancy cravings might seem uncontrollable – but the fact is that cravings are possible to curb. We give you some tips you could try out.

bébé

BE IN THE PINK OF HEALTH Piling on the pounds during pregnancy is inevitable and is part of the natural process so there's nothing to feel bad about. Just remember, it's all natural. But the real issue is to be able to get back in shape after your baby is out which can be a real challenge. From diets to creams and slimming treatments, which one should you opt for? Find out more on page 12-13.

RETHINK FERTILITY Time to walk out of the shadows of reproductive struggles and take proactive steps towards enhancing fertility health.

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Mummies tell us how pregnancy and labour pains are worth it

Get the lowdown on sitz bath and lochia discharge

Should I give my little one dietary supplements?

Tackle the teething war with some of these tips

Rock your baby to sleep with these bedtime essentials

MIRACLE BABY

POSTNATAL HYGIENE

OF VITAMINS AND MINERALS

teething pains

baby trending

pregnancy / true stories

All’s Well that Ends Well Pregnancy and labour are never easy, but they’re all worth it in the end

Nurainie's pride and joy, baby Aryan

2 july 2016

Like Nurainie, your doctor might find that it is necessary to start your labour artificially.

This is usually done when your health, or the health of your baby, is at risk. Induced labour is recommended and carried out usually when: • Your amniotic membrane has ruptured • You are overdue • You or your baby have a health problem

“I kept asking myself if I made the right decision in agreeing to undergo induced labour.”

N

urainie was ecstatic when she received news that she was pregnant, and already had hopes of how her pregnancy and labour would turn out. But at 38 weeks, she was recommended by her doctor to undergo an induced labour. “When she informed me that I needed to be induced because my baby was getting too big, I got upset.”

She explained, “I have always wanted to experience spontaneous labour. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I believe our bodies are made suitable for childbirth.

Plus, the women in my family and my other friends had done it – I thought I could, too.”

However, she also understood that she could face issues if she chose to deliver her son at full term. It could end up in a caesarean birth, and she would not be able to experience the natural delivery she wanted to anyway.

She was informed on a Wednesday during a routine check-up that she had to have her labour induced that Friday. News of this unplanned early induction meant that she had even less time to finish up her work. Already she was spending her days tirelessly working with youths, preparing herself for maternity leave, and handing over her cases.

text Hairin Rahman

What is induced labour?

“I barely had enough sleep because of work. I had initially planned on taking leave the following week before the baby’s arrival, just to sleep and rest.

Looking back now, I’m not sure if my exhaustion contributed to the slow dilation and overall long labour process.”

Nurainie was in labour for 23 hours when she finally dilated to 10cm. But after an hour of pushing, there was no progress. “The doctor also found that my son’s head had turned upwards, and I had to undergo an emergency c-section to minimise other risks. I was exhausted by that time, and got even more upset.

But I decided to trust my doctor.”

When asked how she felt throughout the whole ordeal, all she could think of was her son. “I was worried about him because I didn’t want him to lose oxygen or blood or suffocate in the process. At one point his heart rate dropped.”

Little Aryan, as he was eventually named, was safely delivered via c-section after approximately 24 hours of labour.

However, Nurainie shared that she had mixed feelings. “It wasn’t the birth experience that I had imagined. I often imagine what could have happened if I had waited for him to want to come out spontaneously. Because of the c-section, I also could not have skinon-skin contact with my son. And I didn’t get to hear his first cry, because I was so exhausted I fell asleep.”

“I kept having these negative thoughts that I couldn’t control, even though at the same time, I felt blessed to have a healthy baby. I talked it out with my husband and close friends. They gave me a lot of emotional support. My mom also helped me out a lot in terms of preparing food and assisting me in babysitting Aryan whenever necessary.

All these helped me get over the whole ordeal. I’m glad my child and I have recovered quite well.”

What does induced labour feel like?

The contractions during induced labour can actually be more painful than natural labour as hormones are introduced to start them. Mothers-to-be who have had to undergo an induced labour have asked for epidurals to cope with the pain. They are also likely to have an assisted delivery. Individual women’s experiences will vary, but induced labour is almost always not a comfortable process.

Does this mean you should not go ahead with it if your doctor recommends you to? This is a decision that you have to make after discussing with your spouse.

“Did you see my kids?? They’re so cute, of course I wanted more!”

H

yperemesis gravidarum (HG) is a condition no pregnant woman would want to experience.

More severe than morning sickness, hyperemesis is characterised by severe vomiting and nausea, where one can vomit almost throughout the day and feels faint. This could lead to weight loss, dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.

Ani, whose children are all in their twenties now, looks back at the period of her life as one of suffering, but also blessing. “Other than my hyperemesis I also developed very bad varicose veins, especially in my third pregnancy. By seven months, my legs were also very swollen, I couldn’t even fit into shoes. l felt like an elephant, and my joints hurt too. But other than that my pregnancies were very smooth-sailing, I didn’t have other issues. Labour was easy for me! It was the hyperemesis that was the worst!”

When asked what motivated her to continue having children despite her tendency to succumb to hyperemesis, she joked, “I wanted more cute kids!”

3 july 2016

Ani shared that she suffered from hyperemesis in all three of her pregnancies, where she was hospitalised for severe vomiting and dehydration.

She recalled being hypersensitive to smells and lying in bed for hours a day, unable to live her life normally due to her condition. “I was unable to eat or smell anything. Everything made me want to vomit! Everything from my mother-in-law’s cooking, to soap smells.

That made things very difficult for me as I was weak. I was hospitalised and

placed on drips, and would feel better throughout the duration of my hospital stay. But the minute I returned home, everything would become bad again.”

postnatal / health

Cream of the Crop Looking for creams that can stimulate fat-reduction? Here are some picks

Clarins Body Shaping Cream ($102) Delivering triple action – sculpting, firming and refining, this highperforming cream boasts a luxuriously soft formulation that feels amazing on the skin upon application and massage.

Trim That Waist

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h, mothers. It is true that a mother’s sacrifice knows no boundaries and this is why we’re totally cool getting out of shape for that entire nine months of pregnancy. But, for those mummies who think that they might not be able to get their pre-baby body back, think again.

12 july 2016

A good diet, regular exercise and choosing the correct treatments can aid in helping you bid goodbye to all that baby weight. We speak with the experts from Marie France Bodyline (MFB) to get their expert opinion on this matter.

How should mums start their weight loss journey?

MFB: For all mums who want to start a weight loss journey, a positive mindset plays a very important role.

With a positive mindset, they can then maintain a healthy lifestyle.

For mums who went through natural birth, they can start their weight loss journey almost immediately, while those who went through a c-section operation will need to wait for three months before they can take on any slimming treatments.

Marie France Bodyline BodyTech Activ-PPC Cream ($130) The BodyTech Activ-PPC Cream assists in increasing fat metabolism to break down fat deposits and improve cellulite condition.

It also aids in circulation or drainage of the broken down fats, thus improving the appearance of cellulite.

Derived from soya lecithin, this cream is 100 percent safe for use in the comfort of your home.

text Shaistah Munawar

Getting back your pre-baby bod is possible if you do it right. Let’s find out how.

Lemon

Coconut Milk

Olives

The Low-Tox 10

Anchovies

Step up your diet game with Dave Asprey’s (author of The Bulletproof Diet) absolute favourite waisttrimming foods!

Pumpkin

Cranberries

Macadamia Nuts Asparagus

Did You Know?

Edible Beauty & Coffee Contouring Crème ($54, Sephora) Besides renewing your skin with caffeine and shea butter, this cream stimulates fat-reduction and regenerates skin cells. The best part, this luxurious cream contains organic extracts from camellia and sunflower seeds that nurture your skin and health.

Marie France’s Bodyline Treat Campaign targets women of all ages and focuses on innovative customised treatments and nutrition carefully planned out by their professional consultants and certified nutritionists!

Share with us some dos and don’ts when it comes to getting back in shape!

blood circulation and water retention which will in turn affect the weight loss journey.

MFB: Do go for regular treatments to help contour the body and help you get back to your desired shape. For example, at MFB, there is a customised postnatal treatment suited for all body concerns.

Besides regular treatment, it is encouraged for mummies to exercise and also have a balanced diet. Don’t go on a crash diet. It is damaging for the body and the results are only temporary.

Share with us your take on a well-balanced confinement meal?

What kind of diet would you recommend a mother who is trying to get back to shape?

What is one advice you’d give new mums who are trying to lose the baby weight?

MFB: Many mummies find it hard because of their hectic schedule (either due to work or having to look after children). It is easy if you are determined to lose the postnatal weight gain and are disciplined to go for regular body contouring treatments, exercise and have a balanced diet.

Susanne Kaufmann Pomegranate Oil Firming ($86, Sephora) Supporting the regeneration of the connective tissue especially after pregnancy, the natural ingredients and components in this product have a regenerative effect and influences the formation of new cells while tightening up skin pores. It also serves as an antioxidant to improve the skin’s texture.

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MFB: After childbirth, women need to consume foods that are high in iron, calcium and potassium to strengthen the body and reduce water retention. If postnatal mothers do not get enough of these nutrients, it will often lead to bad

MFB: Mummies need to ensure that their confinement meal contains sufficient lean protein food, enough greens for fibre and potassium, with moderate amount of high fibre starch. Ample fluid consumption is also very important.

baby / grow

Growing up with my mini-me!

WIN THE TEETHING WAR Want to learn how to better manage growing pains?

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ust when you think you have eased into the initial phase of motherhood, you will be thrown into the teething battlefield – sleepless nights coupled with cranky tantrums and a fussy little one who’s tough to console and manage. But all these simply mean that your baby is reaching his developmental milestones and all it takes is some preparation for this growing stage. First, learn to recognise the common signs that your baby is teething and then tackle them with some of our tips.

Teething 101

18 july 2016

Did you know that your baby’s milk teeth start growing in the womb (sixth to eighth week) and the permanent teeth also begin to form in the twentieth week? Teething is the stage when the ‘baby teeth’ first emerge from the gums of your little one

sometime between the ages of four and eight months.

Growing Pains

The first teeth to show are usually the two bottom front teeth (central incisors), then the four upper teeth (central and lateral incisors). Because these are thinner with a knifelike edge, they often slide through fairly easily.

But this is just the beginning, wait till your baby’s molars start to arrive (those terrors in the back of the mouth); that’s when the massive soreness hits big time.

When these pearly whites debut, they are usually accompanied by discomfort that the baby will not hesitate to demonstrate. There could also be the presence of a low-grade fever and you should always consult a doctor when in doubt. So, you should ready yourself to help your baby manage the ‘teeth eruptions’ woes.

text juansa arissa cheng

Every day in parenting brings an exciting new discovery. From the day your baby is born to how their tiny feet grow, you celebrate every growth milestone and you wonder how you can help them grow better. And the first three years of a child’s life are the most crucial, yet many parents tend to overlook the emotional and behavioural development.

Join Donus Loh, an experienced psychologist and father of two, and Winifred Ling, a psychologist and Gottman Educator for the Bringing Baby Home parenting programme, at the Family Life Society’s parenting seminar with a focus on positive development and emotional health.

For more information, visit www.familylife.sg or call 6488 0278.

Teeth woes

Bulging Gums The outline of the emerging teeth can be seen bulging beneath the gums and the middle bottom teeth are usually the first to appear.

Drooling At this time, your baby’s excessive drool may cause a teething rash (rash caused by persistent and dried saliva) around the mouth and cheeks.

Refusal to eat It is not uncommon for babies to refuse food as their gums hurt and it may take a while even for you to introduce soothing teething toys.

Fussiness The lack of good sleep (due to night waking), gum soreness and mild fever may cause your baby to become cranky and more difficult to console.

Biting Your little one will have the ‘chew power’ full-on! He will be biting on everything he can get his gums on; his fingers, your fingers, toys, and even toes!

teething BFFS TO THE RESCUE! Most babies would bite, drool and fuss during the initial teething period, and also as and when their milk teeth emerge over the following months until they have their full set of first teeth (around two to three years old).

Here are some tips for you to help your baby: • Give sore gums a gentle rub with cleansed fingers or soft moistened gauze • Provide teething objects for your baby to bite and chew on • Soothe sore gums with chilled teething cloth or rings • Allow baby to bite on (or eat) age-suitable teething rusks

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Fun Pal OEM Teether ($23.66, Lazada) is specially designed to not only entertain your baby but help reduce irritability with the gutta-percha bump and the baby chew also provide relief during teething.

Perfect Lolly NUK’s Ice Lolly Set

by Annabel Karmel is perfect when it comes to making fresh fruit lollies from pureed fruit and pure fruit juice for soothing sore gums. Plus, it is BPA (Bisphenol A) free too!

Brushing Buddy Baby Banana Bendable Training Toothbrush ($11.51, Amazon) is a safer alternative to hard plastic toothbrushes and a great way to develop good oral hygiene early in young babies.

19 july 2016

Junior Freezie Sassy Freezie Teether ($8.90, Lazada) is a unique teether made from washcloths that you can wet and freeze. The cold can help soothe inflamed gums and the texture can stimulate gums where teeth are breaking through.

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from the editor

SAY CHEERS TO HEALTH! Get you and your family’s health back on track How time flies! The June holidays whizzed by so quickly. Had a good vacation with the kiddos? Or if you have not had time to do so, we have a suggestion for the next holiday – Tokyo Disney Resort where Tokyo DisneySea is celebrating their 15th anniversary. And if you’re recovering from holiday fatigue, we have some tips to rev up your energy levels with some magnesium magic and millennial parenting hacks.

In this health and wellness issue, we got it covered from fertility health to postnatal hygiene and wellness. Plus, find out when it’s time to introduce dietary supplements to your little ones to boost their immunity and why prebiotics are important in maintaining a healthy gut.

As we delve deeper into emotional well-being, we learn from experts more about optimal brain training and what

to do if your child’s imaginary friend takes over; where audio and visual hallucinations cripple everyday life.

And just like any other issue, we have exciting giveaways for the whole family, from NTUC eXplorerkid goodie bags to The Three Little Pigs musical tickets and The Magic Spicebox cookbooks, sure to leave your family entertained and their palates satisfied. This is definitely an issue brimming with goodness!

Get healthy, glowing and happy!

Xoxo

Juansa Arissa Cheng Deputy Editor

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FOOD & HEALTH

Drop your unhealthy snack cravings by powering up on these healthy and hearty superfoods instead.

LIFESTYLE

EDUCATION

Do your child's exams and tests stress you out? Fret not; we've busted out some super effective study tips.

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kids / trending

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/ HEALTH AND

WELLNESS SPECIAL

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Coping with your little athlete’s performance anxiety

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Get it right with prebiotics and dietary supplements

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/ learn 38

HOLISTIC GROWTH

Find out about some of Kinderland Preschool’s special programmes

Have you gone for these health screenings?

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Learn how to develop your child’s metacognition

Let your body experience some magnesium magic

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Find out which foods are the reasons behind your bad moods!

THINKING ABOUT THINKING

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HEARING AND SEEING THINGS

Learn what to do when your child has visual and audio hallucinations

/ kids 30

trending

Style your kids with the hottest finds in town!

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Style

3 sets of Nickelodeon Slime Cup 2016 goodie bags up for grabs.

Check out KIDZone page 7 for more details.

Be inspired by classic denims in fashionable indigo

stockists 2 JUNe 2015

• Amazon www.amazon.com • Closet Full of Books www.closetfulofbooks.com • Deer Industries www.deerindustries.com • Epigram Books www.shop.epigrambooks.sg • Etsy www.etsy.com.sg • Eu Yan Sang www.euyangsang.com.sg • H&M 1 Grange Road, Orchard Building, Singapore 239693 • Innisfree 391 Orchard Road, #B2-34/35 Takashimaya Shopping Centre Ngee Ann City, Singapore 238872 • iRoo www.iroo.sg • Kiddy Palace www.kiddypalace.com.sg • Laneige www.laneige.com. sg • Lazada www.lazada.sg • Melissa 501 Orchard Road #B2-03 Wheelock Place Singapore 238880 • Mothercare www.

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BEYOND PRIMARY 1 REGISTRATION

Tips on how to develop your child beyond academics

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MILLENNIAL PARENTING

Gale Choong shares her parenting tips

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SNAZZY TECH HELP

Top five picks to make parenting easier

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GET OUT OF THE MARRIAGE RUT

How to reignite the love and rebuild your marriage

/ love 64

love thy self

Put aside some quiet time to recharge with these book and music finds

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TOKYO DISNEYSEA magic

Don’t miss out on these attractions

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THE YEAR OF WISHES

Find out what’s happening at Tokyo DisneySea’s 15th anniversary celebrations

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/ win 29

12 sets of NTUC eXplorerkid goodie bag worth $165

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13 sets of The Three Little Pigs musical tickets (family package worth $153)

/ subscribe

Refer to page 63 for more details

/ in every issue 24 28 64 70 72

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From the Team Our Experts Reviews Events inspiration

3 JUNe 2015

mothercare.com.sg • Motherswork 1 Kim Seng Promenade, #02-16 Great World City, Singapore 237994 • Mummyfique www.mummyfique.com • New Baby www.newbaby.sg • NUK www.nuk.co.uk • Qian Jin www.qianjin.com.sg • Redmart www.redmart.com • Sephora 2 Orchard Turn #01-05/06 Ion Orchard, Singapore 238801• Toys’R’Us www.toysrus.com.sg • Uncommon Goods www.uncommongoods.com • Zara 541 Orchard Road #02/03-02/02 Liat Towers Singapore 238881

COOL BLUE DENIMS Dress your kids in the trendy and comfy washes of the classic indigo.

Photography Justin Loh Art Direction Geraldine Tan and Hairin Rahman Stylist Sharon Tan assisted by Clarisse Chua Hair and Makeup Gigi Sng Models Naomi Erokhin and Alina Franz Red Carpet Invite Models & Talents Agency www.facebook.com/REDCARPET.SG 9739 3673

On Naomi (left) Levi’s Shortall, $69.90; Levi’s Tubular Denim Top, $36.90, both from KidStyle; Wheat Nubuck Waterproof Boots, $219, Timberland; Cuff Socks, $15, kookies + milk; Francesco Ballestnazi Butterfly Hat, $250, Kids 21; Denim Embroidered Drawstring Backpack, $55.90, Zara On Alina Adam + Yve Denim Jacket, $58, Dreams Avenue; Tropical Tank Top, $29.90, Fox; Levi’s Shorty Shorts, $43.90, KidStyle; Wheat Nubuck Waterproof Boots, $219, Timberland; Black And White Printed Cuff Socks, $15, kookies + milk; Paisley Tie Back Cap, Stylist’s Own

Kids / learn

holistic growth Start your child’s education journey right

I 38 july 2016

t seemed like only yesterday that you held your child in your arms for the first time; it certainly didn’t seem that long ago when he first called you ‘mama’, and then took his first step. It’s now time to start him on his education journey, but preschool can be quite an adventure, both for parents and child. It might be very confusing for parents to discern and decide which preschool to send their child to. After all, preschools these days come with their own very special teaching pedagogy and special programmes, and you’ll be faced with a buffet table of choices. Gone were the days where one could be contented with just a clean environment and kind teachers.

We spoke with Kinderland Preschool to find out more about what a day is like in school, and what special programmes they have to offer.

1

What is a typical day like in Kinderland Preschool?

Kinderland offers well-balanced and age-appropriate activities to children of different age groups. These cater to the child’s development needs. Here are some exciting activities your child will get to experience with Kinderland: • Both active and passive activities (story time followed by outdoor play) • Large and small group learning and discovery (large group sharing followed by small group exploration and discovery) • Themes that are of children’s interest (nature, animals, plants, earth etc.)

• Meals offered are well-balanced as it is planned by our in-house nutritionist, where the use of process food is minimised

Choosing a preschool for the little ones

2

Tell us more about the Rudolph Laban’s movement-based framework used in the KinderFit programme and how it benefits children. How many hours a day do children spend on the KinderFit programme?

It is a structured wellness programme that is organised around the themes involving the body and its interrelationship with space, time, effort and body movement. It enables young children to look fit and feel great about themselves through activities that incorporate fundamental movement activities, cardio-wellness programmes, lessons on healthy eating and nutrition, as well as customised meal plans. Customised meal plans ensure that the children receive a balanced diet each meal.

Children will get to acquire fundamental motor skills, develop selfconfidence and responsible habits as well as improve their cardio-wellness.

In total, children get to spend 180 minutes doing physical activities in a day in Kinderland.

3

Why is it beneficial for children to have a structured fitness programme, including customised meal plans?

A structured fitness programme can contribute towards a holistic physical and emotional growth for the children. Physically, the children learn to perform skills or tasks, also leading to a reduction in the risks of obesity and diseases such as diabetes and heart diseases. An early introduction to physical activities also allow them to work towards staying active in adulthood.

Emotionally, a structured fitness programme allows the development of a positive self-esteem and confidence.

4

How does computer-aided learning benefit kids?

The use of computer and computer programmes act as an enhancement for learning. Kids will be entertained by the animation and audio from the computer programmes while they learn, and this makes the learning process more joyful, interesting, and easier to understand. The programmes are also designed in such a way as it allows the kids to better relate what they learn to daily encounters or topics.

5

Some parents might be concerned that kids will spend too much time in front of the computer in school. What can they do about this?

Parents need to communicate with the school to understand the use of the computer, in terms of the purposes of the usage, and also details like how long the children will be in front of the computer. Kinderland also has some guiding principles on the use of the computer here in the preschools. Parents can use these same guiding principles at home as the chidren might already be familiar with them in school.

enquiry@kinderland.com.sg

6881 8818

Learn all about the curriculum the centre offers

Find out what the environment of the centre is like

Familiarise yourself with the professional team (principal, teachers, staff etc.) in the centre

Supporting your child’s learning in Kinderland 1

Engage and support children’s daily learning through conversations (listen attentively to their stories and respond appropriately)

2

Participate in school events or activities (e.g. Mother’s Day celebration, parentteacher-meet session etc.)

3

Refer to the school’s guiding principles as a guide for use of computer at home for continuity and consistency

39 july 2016

Please visit www.kinderland.com.sg for more information.

Be clear of the need of parents and child

Kids / health

performance anxiety Is your little athlete stressed out?

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esearch on adolescent athletes has reported that some stressors felt by these athletes are the fear of making errors, parents, teammates, criticisms from coaches, pressure to perform, and fear of injury, among many others. Students who participate in sports-related co-curricular activities (CCAs) in school often face pressure to succeed, both from school and from parents, especially when the student shows promise and potential to continue honing his craft to a higher level. We give you some tips on how to manage your little athlete, and also speak to 14-year-old Ariel Loiter and her father. Ariel, a student at the Singapore American School, has wowed basketball fans and players with her talent at such a young age and her potential to grow into a truly remarkable player.

6 tips to Keep young athletes safe: •Encourage play It isn’t always about competition and practice. At a young age, it is important to teach children the essence of sports and games that older athletes learn to forget as they focus on winning – sports and games are essentially play and they should be fun.

•Talk to him about the value of the process Speak to his coach and find out how he’s being doing during practice. Focus not only on the progress of his technical skills, but also his morale and moods during practice.

44 july 2016

• Celebrate small successes Which brings us to this point. When you can get him to talk about how he feels about practice, guide him through the

text HAIRIN RAHMAN

• Ensure proper nutrition If training is held early in the morning, make sure they wake up early enough to have a healthy breakfast. When they’re old enough, they can also start making their own breakfast to ensure they take ownership of their own well-being.

process of thinking about how he thinks he did well, and some things he wants to improve on. Affirm his efforts by telling him that he has worked hard.

• Let him rest If he comes back from practice and you notice a bruise, or that he is limping, make sure to find out what happened and insist on rest if you think it is serious enough. He might not want to, but you need to teach him the importance of looking after his own body. Talk to his coach and find out what you can do to help him during this period.

• Don’t push it As we’ve said, having fun is very important at this stage of his sporting life. If he doesn’t want to talk to you about practice because he is upset about something, give him space. If you have developed a safe space for conversation at home, he should be more willing to speak to you eventually at a later stage. If he shows unwillingness or a low motivation to go for practice, find out why. It is very important that you do not seem like you are scolding him for it. At this point it is more important to understand the underlying issues that he might be having with practice.

Let’s see what Ariel Loiter has to say about living the life of a young athlete, and what her father has to say about raising one.

Ariel’s Fears “My biggest fear is of getting injured to the extent that I will not be able to continue playing the game. My second biggest fear is that my ‘good’ will not be ‘good enough’ to achieve my goals. This is what drives me everyday. I am training with the fear that someone more talented than me is working harder than me.”

Managing challenges “Most school and even club coaches in the limited training slots they have before competitions emphasise more on team movement and place little emphasis on skill development.

The skills and abilities gap between my teammates and I often created frustrating outcomes on court. It was frustrating to me as much as it was to my teammates. It also carried a lot of criticism, and took out a lot of the fun of playing a team sport.

It made both my teammates and I look bad. This isn’t what basketball is about.

I am a very competitive person and when I get on court for a game, my only focus is to win.”

Mr Loiter’s Tips for Parents “I have more tips of ‘what not to do’ rather than ‘to do’. I have made a lot of mistakes along this journey.

Raising a young athlete without ever being one yourself makes it that much tougher for both of us.

Dos!

As parents, the best thing we can do is support them in every possible way we can: • Watch their games and trainings. Be their number one fan.

• Get involved by learning and understanding.

• Help them with setting goals.

• Have their back. You might be the only one that does sometimes.

• Be honest about your opinion. A committed and driven athlete will expect nothing less.

“When we started this journey, I used to let my competitive nature and lack of understanding lead me. I used to ‘grade’ every training and every game (sometimes every single ball possession). Every achievement was expected and every loss or failure was judged. We all tend to think very highly of our kids, but I held Ariel accountable to that.

Moreover, as you invest so much time and money to support them, you automatically increase your expectations. I used to get so worked up when she underperformed. I would get vocal on court and take it off court after. I still do sometimes, but it’s a sin and one the worst things you can do to your child.

Your expectations of your child can only be as high as their expectations of themselves.”

45 july 2016

• Don’t ever forget it’s your child’s journey and dream, not yours. Push if and when your child needs it, as long as they accept it as motivation for them and not pressure.

DON’TS!

You / learn How kiasu do you want to be?

S

o you’ve fought your way through the highly competitive Primary One registration and your little one has managed to secure a spot in the school of your choice. He will now go on a journey that many others have taken before – in addition to starting this journey in the Singapore education system, it is also the start of his growth and development within the social institution: that is school. Have you already started penning down his schedules, complete with multiple daily slots for tuition, swimming and piano?

56 july 2016

For years now, parents and students have complained about the high level of stress and the competitive culture that exist in schools. The Ministry of Education (MOE) has recently announced that the PSLE scoring system will no

Check out other important tips on our website singaporeschild.com.sg

longer reflect how pupils do in relation to their peers; it will be replaced with a new system with wider scoring bands – similar to the O- and A-Levels’ – from the 2021 Primary Six cohort (or those in Primary One this year) onwards. Acting Education Minister (Schools) Ng Chee Meng hopes that this will allow students to focus on their own learning rather than be too caught up competing with their schoolmates.

The focus of a Singaporean education will also attempt to shift away from merely the academic. It will also expand (not shift, because grades are still important) to include outdoor education, and values inculcation. This means that you as parents need to perhaps tone it down with the tuition and expectations on academic success.

text hairin rahman

beyond primary one registration

Is this change in mindset even possible?

It is natural to feel skeptical. We probably know someone who everyone has labelled ‘tiger mum’ for her highly competitive nature, with a son or daughter who is so brilliant they cry when they get 99/100 in an exam. If we attempt to tone down our own kiasu-ness, how do we know that tiger mum over there will do the same and not power on, leaving our own kid in the dust?

If this does not highlight the immense role we play as parents, little else will. Minister Ng reminds us that this shift in thinking requires the full cooperation of schools (teachers and management), students, employers and you as a parent. Parents have blamed their patronage of tuition centres and private tuition on the school curriculum and Minister Ng acknowledged that there is no easy solution to this.

What can you do?

There is little you can do to control what the school, MOE, or employers do to contribute to this situation but let’s focus on what parents can do. While MOE attempts to shift its focus away from academic achievement and towards outdoor education and values inculcation, there are things you can do as a parent to kickstart this. A child might spend a substantial amount of time in school, but the lesson on values should start from home.

What message this sends to your child:

Dealing with a super competitive child

• Dealing with sibling rivalry What you shouldn’t do: Make comparisons.

What message this sends to your child:

Playlisten (playing to illicit laughter and assurance that he is loved) Some competitive kids might have an unresolved childhood event lingering in this emotional centre. Make him laugh, and allow him to be the victor in games that you play with him.including psychological care and day care support.

• Communication What you can do: Create a safe environment

at home that encourages sharing by employing active listening. Active listening is when you listen attentively when he speaks, and respond appropriately to build mutual understanding.

Don’t be too quick to respond or scold if your child mentions anything that is alarming to you – this will make him clam up.

What message this sends to your child:

That you care about his well-being. This allows you to understand him better, as he will communicate to you his wants, dreams, and fears.

• Building strong familial bonds What you can do: Spend time together as a family

Remind him that winning or being the best are not the most important For example, before playing a game of football, get him to think about and pen down other things that are also important in games. Focus on relationships with others and teamwork, and other technical things like good passes, covering for your teammate, etc.

The inclination to remind your youngest child that your firstborn always obtained As when he was at that his age is natural, but can be damaging to the self-esteem. The last thing you want is a child who equates his self-worth to his academic achievements and your approval. It can also cause an antagonistic relationship to develop between the two kids. Siblings can be great emotional support for each other and you don’t want to make them to grow up being enemies.

• Setting expectations What you can do: Discuss with him what

he would like to achieve in school, and how he can go about doing it. This is not limited to only exams; it is as important to talk to him about learning objectives and goals during term time. It might also be important to talk to him about why he wants to achieve a certain grade. If he says he wants to be better than a classmate, you know there’s a lot more processing you need to do to ensure he doesn’t place competition and the gratification that comes with ‘winning’ at the core of his values and motivations.

• Dealing with disappointments What you can do: If your child comes home with a 70/100 on a test and is on the verge of tears, it is important to find out why he feels disappointed. He would likely say that he wants a higher mark, or that his rank in class is affected, but don’t just stop there.

Those explanations explain very little. You need to get to the crux of the matter. Always dig deeper. He might not be able to explain himself, but your attempts should allow him to think about his own behaviour and feelings more deeply. After that, remind him that he has many other chances to do better, and work through with him on what he can do to manage his own expectations as well.

57 july 2016

either engaging in activities or just communicating at home. It might also be a good idea to spend more time outdoors and not cooped up indoors.

Being outdoors develops a child’s resilience quite effectively, and this might help him later on when MOE rolls out more outdoor programmes.

One’s relationships with others is important, and that family is a constant in life as a pillar of strength he can rely on. It also teaches an appreciation for nature and the outdoors.

events

july

What’s Happening in

IDEAS FOR DATE NIGHT AND FAMILY TIME

2 Jul

1-3 Jul, 8-10 Jul

2 Jul - 23 Jul

GROWING UP WITH A MINI-ME

Ballet Under the Stars

National Parks Board

What a journey it has been for you and your child! How ready are you for the next lap as your child moves from toddlerhood to young childhood? How do you ensure your little one grows up to be emotionally well-balanced and have good values? Join psychologists Donus Loh and Winifred Ling and learn the simple and right methods that can bring about a positive development in your child’s behaviour and emotional literacy.

Take a trip with the family (or just the two of you) to the iconic Ballet Under the Stars held at Fort Canning Green. Now in its 21st year, Ballet Under the Stars features pieces such as Blue Snow by Toru Shimazaki and Val Caniparoli’s exhilarating work Swipe. Marius Petipa, as well as an exciting world premiere of Incomparable Beauty by Ma Cong.

If you are bringing the kiddos check out the balloon sculpting activities, and exclusive merchandise on sale.

The National Parks Board is rolling out a series of activities this July!

Participate in cool workshops, go on informative guided tours or bring your little ones along for the children’s activities and get to know more about Singapore’s flora and fauna. Highlights include Nature Sketching, an Istana Nature Guided Walk and even a special Hari Raya Special Guided Tour for kids. If you inadvertently fall in love with Singapore’s biodiversity in the process, take a piece home with you in the form of a potted Orchid plant.

Visit www.familylife.sg for more information and registration.

Visit www.singaporedancetheatre.com for more details.

Visit www.nparks.gov.sg for more details.

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10 Jul

15 - 16 Jul

30 Jul

Runninghour

Discover a Day in the world of A Kinderland Child

Aliwal Arts Night Crawl

Integrate with visually, intellectually and physically-challenged runners at Runninghour 2016 and experience what it is like running with a visual impairment. Held at East Coast Park Angsana Green, Runninghour invites you to join in various activities, including a dance fitness session and Blind Run. During the signature Blind Run, runners will be paired up as one wears a blindfold while the other acts as a guide. Do note that children have to be above eight years of age to take part in the activities.

Visit www.runninghour2016.com for more details.

Join Kinderland at their Open House from 15-16 July to find out how the school has nurtured children over the past 38 years, and enjoy a waiver of the $250 registration fee when you enrol your child with Kinderland. You will have the opportunity to meet the academic team, ask questions about the curriculum and find out how you can better support your child’s learning.

Get ready for an exciting Sarong Party night at Kampong Gelam (also known as one of Singapore’s coolest neighbourhoods) for the Aliwal Arts Night Crawl! A diverse mix of traditional and contemporary arts await, so come dressed in your best sarong and enjoy a night of performances and activities. Go on the batik trail, shop at The Local People’s flea market and even indulge in some relaxing yoga before the sun sets!

Visit www.kinderland.com.sg or call 6881 8818 for your guided tour today.

Visit www.aliwalartscentre.sg for more information.

71 july 2016

JULY 2016 ISSUE 176

Did You Know

cool stuff

Let's Learn

Try These

WORD SEARCH Circle the correct answers to the question!

E Q R W X B K K A A F B

V U B G I A N T S B L T

B K K A A Q A K M C O S

C O O H Q B Q A J A S U

A L S K U Q C U F S N V

1 The B 2

J P O W E G B V L U O U

K L P F E B F T E V Z I

A O H Q N K G S S K Z K

U K I V C O A U H A C F

V A E M N V B M L U U Q

K U P B I B K L U V C V

A V O B G V U B M T U S

S H B K H U D U P J M U

V K B O T V R K E K B V

J S S W M T E O A W E K

K U V F A S A M T X R M

L V E Q R M M O E B K B

Y U M B E B S L R N S V

U H V R A F K S J M U B

B A N R M V R U F K V N

V R A P K K A A K L O M

is the 24-foot-tall giant who has superhuman hearing and speed.

S

is the protagonist of the story who was kidnapped by The Big Friendly Giant when she

caught a glimpse of him.

3

The Big Friendly Giant collects and distributes good d

4

As The Big Friendly Giant doesn’t eat humans or steal food from them, he eats a vegetable known as S

from Dream Country to children.

.

5

There are nine man-eating g

6

The largest and most fearsome giant is F Giant Country.

7

The Big Friendly Giant captures a trogglehumper; a horrifying dream that is worse than a n and blows it to Fleshlumpeater.

8

Sophie suggests and persuades The Big Friendly Giant to get help from the Q to imprison the other giants.

featured in The BFG and they especially love to eat children. and he is also the leader of the mean giants in

of England

Answers

1. BFG

2. Sophie

3. dreams

4. snozzcucumber

5. giants

6. Fleshlumpeater

7. nightmare

8. Queen

JULY 2016

Publisher Foo Mei Siah Operations Manager Emmeline Lee EDlTORlAL Deputy Editor Juansa Arissa Cheng Writer Hairin Rahman ONLlNE & DlGlTAL Senior Writer Shaistah Munawar art Creative Director Aris Lai Senior Designer Geraldine Tan Designer Chan Fei Ching ADVERTlSlNG & MARKETlNG Associate Business Director Kelen Koh Business Manager Porter Christopher Andre Associate Business Manager Maggie Mok Executive (Marketing) Jenny Teo Executive (Business Support) Wendy Kartikasari Contributors Marianne Lim, Michelle Lim, Rachael Lim, Sharon Salim, Sin Ye Pow For editorial matters, sc-ed@key-editions.com For advertising & marketing enquiries, enquiry@key-editions.com For subscription, subscription@key-editions.com Published by Key Editions Pte Ltd 20 Bedok South Road, Singapore 469277 Tel: 6445 3313 Fax: 6445 3373 Email: info@key-editions.com Business Registration No. 200005022G All materials printed within Singapore’s Child are Copyright 2007 © and protected under the Copyright Act. All rights reserved 2007.

MCI (P) 167/01/2016 Colour Separation & Printer: KHL Printing Co. Pte Ltd 57 Loyang Drive, Singapore 508968 Tel: 6543 2222 Fax: 6545 3333 Distribution: Pansing Distribution Pte Ltd No portion of this publication may be reproduced in part or in whole by any means without the express and prior written permission of the Publisher and Copyright holder. Singapore’s Child will not be held responsible for any infringements of Copyright material in articles submitted by contributors. While every care has been taken in the compilation of material for this publication, the Publisher is not liable in any way for errors, inaccuracies or omissions arising thereof and contained in the contents of the articles, advertisements, photographs or illustrations. All information published is correct at the time of printing. The views and opinions expressed in Singapore’s Child by writers and contributors do not necessarily reflect those of the Editor or the Publisher.

www.keyeditions.com

Contents 2

Best Toys

4

Movie Picks

6 8 10 12 14 16

Our picks of the coolest toys in the market

Meet Roald Dahl’s The Big Friendly Giant

Cool Picks

Check out Nickelodeon’s The Loud House and Slime Cup 2016

Racial Harmony Day

Find out why we can’t take a harmonious society for granted

Did You Know?

Dress up with ethnic costumes

What’s Up

Learn and have fun with our Hari Raya festive word hunt

Fun Guide

Things to look forward to in July

Cool Stuff

Go on a magical adventure at Tokyo DisneySea

20

Let’s Explore

22

Book Nook

24

Discover Egypt and its mystical culture

The best reads this month to indulge in

Science Whizz

Understanding gravity and its importance

26

Let’s Learn

28

Try These

30

Learn more about adjectives

Animal idioms and similes

Math Up!

Have fun solving these brain teasers

Best Toys

FUNGUS AMUNGUS MEGAPACK (SERIES 1) The Fungus Amungus outbreak has begun and it is time for you to learn all about these super gross and super sticky creatures called Funguys in order to catch them. What are Funguys?

They are a collection of germs, spores, bacteria, moulds and more that have escaped from a top-secret underground lab to wreak havoc in the human world. This mega pack contains 10 Funguys, including a hidden special character. And with over 100 characters to collect, there is no time to waste. Are you ready?

The Funguy hunt is on!

Retails at $24.90. Available at Toys‘R’Us and major department stores.

FUNGUS AMUNGUS VAC PACK COLLECTION (SERIES 1) Get your very own vac pack that contains five different Funguys, including a hidden special character.

Just watch your super sticky collection of germs, spores, bacteria and moulds unravel and come alive! Learn all about them with your collector file and collect them all! Get them back to the top-secret lab before they cause chaos in the world!

Retails at $14.90.

Available at Toys‘R’Us and major department stores.

2

BITZY BLITZ DECO SHOULDER BAG Decorate your own fashionable shoulder bag with threedimensional charms that click together easily. Choose your Bitz, layer them and then just click them together! Squeeze your Glitz glue onto your accessory and Blitzs it by applying your carefully chosen charms on top of the Glitz glue. Tada! Now your bag is all Blitzed up! You can use your bag to carry all your stuff, and it’s extra special because you designed it yourself.

Retails at $29.90.

Available at Toys‘R’Us and major department stores.

MONOPOLY JACKPOT

In the Monopoly Jackpot game, players spin for the chance to win it all! Throughout the game, players travel around the outer track of the gameboard buying properties and collecting rent.

But if they land on a Chance space, or roll the Chance icon on a die, it’s time to spin the Chance spinner and hope to make some extra big money. Players just might hit the big jackpot, or they could lose it all and go bankrupt, or even get sent to Jail. The player who has the most cash when the bank goes bust wins! Get up to three other friends to play with you.

Retails at $59.90. Available at Toys‘R’Us and major department stores.

PLAY-DOH BBQ BURGER SET Grill up the fun and have a PlayDoh barbecue! Pretend-lunchtime creations are up to the imagination with this set of tools. Creative cooks can first visualise their own makebelieve hamburgers, hot dogs, buns and toppings, and then shape them with Play-Doh compound!

Create outrageous onion rings and exotic toppings on the lid of the grill.

Squeeze the decorator tool to create fantasy fries and pretend-condiments using the different shapes on the rail attachment. When the picnic masterpieces are ready, share them and show them off with the plates!

Retails at $19.90. Available at Toys‘R’Us and major department stores.

PLAY-DOH PLAYFUL PIES SET Dish up pleasant Play-Doh pies with this Playful Pies Set! Create the perfect pie for your Play-Doh pie shop with a pie plate, a fruit basket and 5 piethemed tools. Roll out some squishy Play-Doh pie dough, use the moulds on the underside of the fruit basket to create fantastical fruit fillings, and then top off the colourful creation with crazy cream! Let your imagination run wild with this Playful Pies playset!

Retails at $17.90. Available at Toys‘R’Us and major department stores.

3

Did You Know?

LET’S DRESS UP! Learn more about the different ethnic costumes of Singapore Besides taking part in various cross-cultural activities, trying out different ethnic food and playing traditional games in school, students are encouraged to dress up in ethnic costumes on Racial Harmony Day.

BAJU KURUNG

Baju kurung is a Malay dress worn by both men and women. Men wear it as a shirt top with pants while women pair it with a sarong. Some say it originated from Indonesia for its popularity in the regions of West Sumatra, South Sulawesi, Maluku and Sangir Island while others believe that it has connections with the djallabiyah, a loose shirt originating from Egypt.

When loosely translated from Malay, baju kurong means “dress that conceals”.

This outfit covers the wearer’s body without showing his or her form. For formal occasions, the baju kurong is usually made from silk or brocade while everyday wear are made from cotton. Matching aesthetics are used in the making of baju kurong fit for formal occasions.

10

Text by Rachael Lim

For the ladies, it is a modest way of dressing whereby a woman’s face and hands are the only body parts that are exposed, the long-sleeved baju kurong top which only reveals the wearer’s hands is paired with a wide sarong that reaches the ankles.

CHEONGSAM

In Cantonese, cheongsam means long dress, typically with high cylindrical collars. It is a popular dress worn by Chinese women between the late 1920s and 1960s.

A few other distinctive features of the cheongsam are the side slits and the asymmetrical opening that starts from the middle of the collar to the armpit and down the side, which is traditionally secured with knotted buttons and loops called the hua niu (flower button). Cheongsams are made from materials such as satin, silk, brocade, velvet, lace and cotton. Cheongsams with simple designs are meant for daytime wear while elaborately designed ones embellished with sequins and beads are for evening wear.

Samfu, or also known as shanku in Mandarin, is a popular two-piece outfit in South China, Hong Kong and Singapore.

The outfit consists of a blouse, sam, and a pair of loose trousers, fu.

The sam has an overlap flap at the front that is secured with loops and toggles. Its edges are also outlined with bias-cut bands to prevent them from fraying. The fu has a wide waistband that is tied around the waist with a belt, with the excess cloth tucked in under the belt.

SARI

The sari is the traditional attire for Indian women.

It is a long unstitched cloth that ranges from 3-8m that is draped around the body and usually worn together with a short fitted blouse called the choli and a long petticoat.

Also known as the Punjabi suit, the salwar kameez is the traditional dress of women in the Punjab region of northwestern India and eastern Pakistan. This outfit consists a pair of trousers, the salwar, and a tunic called the kameez. It is usually paired with a long, sheer fabric scarf called the dupatta, which can be draped across the neck or over the head.

Punjabi men also wear the salwar, but instead of wearing the tunic women wear, they would wear a shorter tunic known as the kurta, which is the male version of the kameez. As compared to the traditional outfit, modern versions of the kameez are sleeveless and more tight-fitting.

d Splas or

h!

There are three main parts to the sari: a field, borders and the pallu. The main section that is draped around the wearer is the field. The border beautifies and adds weight at the edges in order for it to fall nicely in place. The pallu is the end piece that is embellished and draped over the shoulder.

There are several ways in which a sari can be draped. Both cultural norms and fashion can also influence a woman’s choice of sari. For example, older women would choose to wear saris in dark tones whereas younger women are encouraged to wear bright colours.

SALWAR KAMEEZ

W

SAMFU

asymmetrical: not identical on both sides brocade: a fabric with a raised pattern aesthetics: relating to the sense of beauty petticoat: an underskirt

11

Book Nook

SHELF HELP The best new stories to inspire young minds

1

Karung Guni Boy

2

By Lorraine Tan Illustrated by Eric Wong

Breaking News: Bears to the Rescue

By David Biedrzycki

Mama and Papa Bear’s beloved cub is missing! How are they going to find him?

Following the comical bears from the first installment of the series, Breaking News: Bear Alert, Mama and Papa Bear go on a wild goose chase to find their sleepy bear cub. From carnival rides like Ferris wheels and rollercoasters, to accidentally ruining a gang of cat burglars’ despicable plot, the bears go on an adventure they’ll never forget while trying to find their Baby Bear. Bringing you the latest updates about the bear hunt is clumsy reporter Chad Newsworthy and the rest of the team at Channel 3 News.

22

Retails at $26.91 at www.opentrolley.com.sg

Ming is an innovative and curious boy who loves to create things from scratch and longs for the opportunity to make his very own fanciful inventions. However, as he was wondering how to do so without very much money, he heard the familiar sound of the karung guni man’s car horn beeping away. Suddenly, inspiration struck – he would become a karung guni boy and make objects out of things that his neighbours threw out. Karung Guni Boy follows Ming on his journey to becoming an inventor and even helping his neighbours with his inventions during their time of need.

Retails at $14.90 at www.shop.epigrambooks.sg

3 Heroes of History

By Anita Ganeri and Joe Todd Stanton

How much do you know about brave warriors like Joan of Arc or brilliant scientists like Charles Darwin and Marie Curie? What about leaders who envisioned a better world like Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi?

Take a peek into the lives of the world’s most brainy, influential and wacky people in history.

You’ll love the entertaining diary entries, narrative texts and cool facts about these wonderful heroes of history and their astounding accomplishments.

Maybe you’ll be a hero yourself one day!

Retails at $21.79 at www.opentrolley.com.sg

5 4

Tokoyo: The Tomb of the Sea Serpent

By Catherine Khoo Illustrated by Teressa Ong

Danger Dan and Gadget Girl: The Animal Abduction

By Lesley-Anne and Monica Lim Illustrated by Elvin Ching

Tokoyo lives happily in a small fishing village with her father, a samurai. However, one day, things take a turn for the worst as her father is banished to the Oki islands, leaving poor Tokoyo all alone. Undeterred and driven by her love for him, Tokoyo leaves everything behind and travels miles and miles to reach him.

Before the father-and-daughter pair can be reunited, she must face the terrifying Yofune-Nushi, a scary sea serpent that lurks the waters of the Oki Islands. Can this brave and courageous young girl defeat the fearsome beast and rescue the islanders?

What will the world be like in a hundred years? Travel to Singapore in the year 2135 with Danny and Melody, where cars can travel up in the sky and the grass is so cushioned you can sleep on it! Danny is super excited about the amazing gadgets, but things don’t seem quite right.

Trouble arises in the Singapore Zoo, and Danger Dan and Gadget Girl must clear the mess and solve the problem before it gets out of hand. Danger Dan and Gadget Girl aren’t the only recurring characters in the novel – Danger Dan must face his nemesis, the Cockroach, once more!

Retails at $14.90 at www.shop.epigrambooks.sg

Retails at $10.90 at www.shop.epigrambooks.sg

6 Ang Ku Kueh Girl & Friends: The Magical Dragon Playground

By Wang Shijia

Ang Ku Kueh Girl is back! The Dragon Playground is her favourite place in the neighbourhood, until a bunch of frightened Eggies from Eggyland ask for her help from the Slicer, a frightening monster who wants to slice them up to make egg porridge! Her friends Png Kueh Girl, Kueh Lapis Girl, Curry Puff Boy and Roti Prata Boy join her as she faces off with the scary monster. In the process, she makes a special new friend and learns a valuable lesson. On another note, talking about all these local delights gets you a little hungry, doesn’t it?

Retails at $12.90 at www.shop.epigrambooks.sg

23

Science Whizz

UNDERSTANDING GRAVITY Do you know what gravity is and how important it is to us on Earth?

Rollercoasters

When the rollercoaster goes upwards, gravity presses you against your seat, giving you a sense of weight.

Conversely, when the rollercoaster takes a dive, you free-fall at the same rate as your surroundings (in this case, your seat). Since there is no force of the surrounding pressing on you, you may feel like you are weightless!

While you still have weight, you feel weightless because gravity acts on you without any opposing force.

24

Text by Marianne Lim

H

ave you ever been on a rollercoaster?

The drops are the scariest parts because you feel weightless. But wait – what does that have to do with the experiment on the next page?

The concept of weightlessness is actually the same!

In Space Similarly, astronauts feel weightless because there is no external force acting on their bodies.

The only force acting on them is gravity, and since spaceships and space stations are far away from earth, the effects of gravity are reduced. Gravity still acts on their bodies, but rather than pushing them down like what we normally see on earth, the astronauts orbit in circular motion.

Free Falling Experiment Is there really such a thing as weightless water? What happens when you drop a cup full of water with a hole at the base? Try out this experiment at home to see the results!

Materials needed: • A pair of scissors • A plastic cup • Camera (optional)

The experiment: 1

Use the pair of scissors to cut/poke a small hole at the base of the paper cup. Be careful when you’re doing this! Ask mummy or daddy to help you.

2

Block the hole with your finger and fill the cup with water.

3

Go outside to a garden or somewhere in the house where you can clean up the mess. Ask mummy or daddy for permission and get them to help film the experiment using their camera (or smartphone). Make sure they stand from a far enough distance such that the camera does not get wet.

4

Hold the cup at your eye level and release the cup! Release the finger that has been blocking the cup quickly so that the cup falls smoothly.

What happened?

Pay attention to the water in the cup once you drop it. Notice that the water won’t leak out of the hole when the cup is in midair, but will spill out of the cup once the cup hits the ground. Rewind the video recorded on your camera to get a better view.

You need to use your finger to prevent water from flowing out as gravity pulls downward on the water when the cup is at rest. When the cup is dropped, the water won’t leak out. Why? The water appears to not experience the downward pull of gravity, giving the illusion of being “weightless”. Truth is, the water and cup are falling to the ground and hit the floor at the same rate and time.

25

Try These

ANIMAL IDIOMS AND SIMILES Do you have any of these animal connections?

Ahead of the pack

describes or refers to a person who is more successful than other people who are doing the same thing (a pack is a group of animals like dogs or wolves that live together).

Fat as a pig

Answers: 1. fat as a pig 3. blind as a bat 5. black sheep of the family

2. hungry as a bear 4. conceited as a barber’s cat 6. ahead of the pack

describes a person who is overweight and tubby, with reference to the general plump appearance of a pig.

28

Black sheep of the family

refers to a person who is the worst, most unpopular or most disliked member of the family; usually because of something bad he or she has done.

Conceited as a barber’s cat refers to how someone is arrogant, conceited or vain.

Blind as a bat

refers to one who cannot see, nearly blind or has extremely poor vision.

Hungry as a bear describes a person who is extremely hungry.

Fill in the blanks with the correct word(s) from this list. ahead of the pack fat as a pig black sheep of the family

blind as a bat hungry as a bear conceited as a barber’s cat

1

Overweight Tammy refused to eat her dinner because she was teased by her friends in school as being as .

2

He gobbled up all his dinner within minutes as he was as

3

He keeps tripping over things and can’t seem to read the teacher’s writing on the board. It is obvious that he is as but he still refuses to wear the glasses his parents got for him.

4

Judy has always been a proud girl. Things became worse when she won the Championship for the Spelling Bee Contest and she has been walking around as .

5

James is the . James, after making friends with unsavoury characters succumbed to bad influence and became a drug addict.

6

Jane is not only an intelligent girl, but is hardworking and conscientious in her studies. She would always top the class and is always .

.

29

Math Up! Let’s bring ou Mathemat t the ics whiz in you!

Answers: 1. a = 6, b = 1, c = 8 Start at (a) where the answer is 6 (6 – 3 = 3). Moving on to the next column, (b) has to be 1 as 2 – 1 = 1. Thus, the last digit is (c) 8 because 8 – 4 = 4.

8 9 2 6 - 4 7 1 3 4 2 1 3

7 9 2 0

Nxw thzt the June hxlidzym zre xver, yxu mhxuld be zll fremh and rechzrged to fzce the remt of the yezr!

7 2 8

Can you decode his message and question?

8 6 4 8

DECODE AGENT

Answer: Replace z with a. Replace m with s. Replace x with o.

Now that the June holidays are over, you should be all fresh and recharged to face the rest of the year!

30

8 6 4 8 4 2 1 3

a 7 b c 9 2 a - 4 7 b 3

+

+

1)

2)

c 9 2 0

2. a = 8, b = 2, c = 7 Start from the right most column. (a) is 8 because 0 + 8 = 8.

Working towards the left, the next one has to be (b) 2 to make the total 4 (2 +2 = 4). In the next column, 9 + 7 = 16, so make sure to carry 1 over to the next column.

That means (c) is 7 as the total is 8 (7 + 1 = 8).

Can you help the Math Monster to solve this problem?

Find out what the missing number is in each square.

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