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KidZone,
now a magazine on its own.
Just for kids!
18
Ways to Show
Your Child
Your Trusted FAMILY Resource
Love
The benefits of
pets for kids Tips for coping
with pet loss
True Love Why your child is
hopelessly devoted to you?
PLUS
+ V-Day Gift Guide + Pet-Friendly CafĂŠs + Best Anti-Aging Skincare FEB 2014 Issue 147 S$4.50 (Incl. GST)
p a r e n t i n g
F A M I L Y
l i f e s t yl e
E D U C ATI O N
We Heart
Buttons
Red and white never goes wrong on a Valentine’s Day card. Using a pencil, draw out a heart shape on a piece of white card stock, and glue buttons of varying shapes and sizes in the heart. Overlap the buttons to create visual elevation, and use buttons with funky patterns like flowers or polka dots for a more whimsical look. Lastly, print out the letters ‘i’ and ‘u’ and paste it on the card, and give the corners a rounded edge for a softer look. Now you can say “I love you” to your honey in a delightfully creative way!
Photography Justin Loh Art Direction & Styling Mabel Leng & Isabel Cheong
Framed Heart
Whether it’s a gift for a friend or a decoration for your room, this striking showpiece will definitely catch your eye. The coloured stones can be purchased at an aquarium store, and you can find a framed corkboard at any bookstore. Then, glue the stones to form an outline of a heart, before filling it in with the rest of the stones. After leaving them to dry, place it in your favourite corner in the room to add a fun element to your home decor.
Write
From Your Heart Want to spice up an ordinary love note? Make a heart wreath by gluing heart-shaped chocolates on a piece of card stock, and write your greetings in the middle of the heart. This personalised love note is the perfect way for sharing your feelings and the happy memories from your marriage with your spouse.
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singapore’s child february 2014
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‘Cause It’s
AOut Jungle There We take a walk on the wild side with a fresh take on these basics.… By Raja Jumira
Jungle Print Sleeveless Dress (Price Unavailable, H&M), Joules Hot Pink Cardigan ($56, Not Too Big), Pink Mini Melissa Furadinha III ($75, MDREAMS), Cheetah, Zebra, Giraffe & Tiger ($109, $199, $339 & $149 respectively, Zero2Six)
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singapore’s child february 2014
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develop
Dealing With
It can be a huge emotional turmoil when the family bids farewell to a beloved animal companion, but the grief on a child might be much worse. Read on for parental tips on how to help your kid cope with the loss. By Chew Hui Ling
38 singapore’s child | february 2014
PHOTO GETTY IMAGES
Pet Loss
F
or many children, and even adults, pets are considered as faithful pals that have the unconscious ability to bring so much happiness into their lives. It’s essentially a dream come true for them when they have a furry playmate to spend their time with. At such a young age, some have already grasped a deep sense of connection when interacting with their pets. And when the two of them become the best of friends, this makes it harder for them to let go. “My eldest daughter is merely three years old, but she has since forged such a close relationship with my two pups that they’re practically attached at the hip. Before she heads to bed, she’d ask them to come into the room and sleep with her,” expresses Elaine Yew, mother of two and owner of two Jack Russell Terriers. A pet’s death might be their first experience losing someone so close to them. Whether it’s due to old age, accidents or illnesses, when that happens, the responsibility to shield your child from the pain falls on you. Of course you’d want them to return to the same little bundle of joy, but do understand that it’s a sticky subject, and it takes time for even yourself to get over it. Here, we list down some advice on what you should do to help your child get back on their feet. Honesty Is The Best Policy Do take note that how you handle the situation has a high possibility of affecting their pet adoption habits when they transcend to adulthood. An untruthful approach will most likely cause the memory to stay etched in their minds till old, and not in a good way. As Wendy Hlaing, ex-owner of a Burmese cat, frankly puts it, “I was only a little girl when I suffered the loss of my pet kitty. My parents tried all sorts of excuses to keep it from me, so when I eventually got wind of its death, I was so furious and upset.
Isn’t it better to be upfront about the situation?” Also, take into consideration the maturity level of your kids. Instead of blatantly stating the obvious, gently break it to them that the pets are no longer in pain. Even though they have gone to a much better place, they are still very much alive in their hearts. This will incite different responses depending on their personalities. But whether it is negative or positive, it’s still better than keeping them in the dark. White lies, such as the pet running away from home or being gifted to someone else, makes them feel abandoned. They probably have a lot going inside their heads, so whenever they raise a doubt, try not to sugar-coat the answers, and relate it at a level simple enough for their understanding. Time Heals All Wounds It could be weeks or months following the death, and your child would still be going through the grieving process. While others might not understand the humananimal friendship bond between your animal friend and the family, one should never feel ashamed about being gloomy over a pet’s death. This is especially important to emphasise to your child, in case their classmates tease them over it. Over time, they will slowly come to terms with it. Meanwhile, we recommend these “healing” activities to help you encourage your child to open up. 3 Does your child have the habit of writing in a diary every night? Getting everything off their chest and onto paper is actually a useful remedy for making them feel better. You can ask them to pen down questions, honest thoughts, stories and even drawings for the imaginative kids. 3 Speaking of stories, you can also do your part as a parent by
engaging them in a storytelling session on books about pet loss. Be careful not to dive too much into medicinal aspects and euthanasia procedures – it may induce fear and not give them the sense of closure they deserved. 3 Encouraging your child to flip through old photos and revisiting the places the pet used to frequent will help them to reminisce the good old times. It might trigger some waterworks in the beginning, but the internal struggle will subside bit by bit, and gradually become nothing more than just fond memories. 3 At the passing on of a loved one, you’d want to appreciate the people around you more. With so much sorrows lingering in the air, it can actually be a nice excuse for you to take a few days off work and spend some quality bonding time with your family members. Expect lots of hugs and kisses! New Beginnings Don’t be so fast to say goodbye to the old and hello to the new. It’s not wise to get a new replacement pet when the family is still in the early stages of mourning, but it isn’t entirely out of the question as well. The optimum time period before seeking out a new friend is about a month or so, but it really depends on how your little ones are behaving. Give them careful yet firm assurances that having a new pet do not translate to forgetting about the other’s existence. Only when they feel at ease and ready to accept a new addition into the family, then you could discuss the adoption of a second animal with everyone. After fully overcoming the grief, your children will be able to contentedly let other animals grace them with affection and companionship. All it takes is just patience and plenty of love from your side.
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singapore’s child february 2014
39
What Does
love Mean?
We asked a group of five- to 11-year-old children, and here are some of their adorable answers.
"It gives me a headache to think about that. I'm just a kid. I don't need that kind of trouble." – Elijah, age 7
"My mother says to look for a man who is kind. That's what I'll do. I'll find somebody who's kinda tall and handsome." – Yasmin, age 8
“Those who are in love will just be staring at each other and their food will get cold. Other people care more about the food.” – Brandon, age 9
“Love will find you, even if you are trying to hide from it. I have been trying to hide from it since I was five, but the girls keep finding me.” – Zavier, age 10
“It means listening to Mummy. But sometimes, I don’t like what she serves me for lunch.” – Jia En, age 7
46 singapore’s child | february 2014
“Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mummy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss.” – Nadia, age 8
“All of a sudden, the people get moviefever so they can sit together in the dark.” – Shermaine, age 11
“I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.” – Marissa, age 5
With fun educational activities for boys & girls KIDS
4 FEBRUARY 201 147 ISSUE
z o n d i e K & BELO 12 W
Be Awed By Great Anima l Migra tions
Avenue t Revisi 1960s: n A pore I Singa nt Era Differe
Follo
w th e nture of Sparr ow C ollin & the s Atta c k o f Flam ebird s Adve
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With fun educational activities for boys & girls KIDS
4 FEBRUARY 201 147 ISSUE
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In Cinemas march 6
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WIN! Let’s get to know
Mr. Peabody
DreamWorks Mr. Peabody & Sherman © 2014 DreamWorks Animation L.L.C.
Power Rangers
Megaforce Deluxe
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INSIDE
INSIG HT IN CINEMAS MAR 6
Meet Mr. Peabody!
A super-genius who just happens to be a dog, Mr. Peabody devotes himself to his adopted boy Sherman. We get up close and personal with Mr. Peabody, who confesses that parenthood is the one thing that even a genius has to figure out.
Mr. Peabody, a real pleasure to chat with you. History waits for no man, but you have a special way of making it come to you. Are you someone who wishes they were part of a particular era? Or are you happy being a thoroughly modern man, um, dog? While I've always been fond of the Renaissance – the art, the music – I can't say that I'm a fan of the tyranny. No, I'm very happy to be a part of this wonderful time. And with the WABAC, I can always visit. It's not easy being a sole parent to a young boy, no matter how smart and accomplished you are as a grown up. What do you want people to know about your family? What makes Sherman and yourself such a great team? Sherman reminds me of what's really important in life. And I remind him that super glue does NOT belong next to the toothpaste. You've always possessed such a classic look, Mr. Peabody. Have you ever wanted to trade in those iconic round specs and red bow tie?
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There was a brief period of time during the 70's when I experimented with square frame glasses but felt they were a bit too “groovy” – classics never go out of style. Being a veritable genius of all trades, what are the easiest recipe/ recipes you can recommend for even a child to become a top chef in the kitchen? One part encouragement, two parts chocolate. The world will be introduced to the magic of the WABAC machine soon. Why is learning about world history such an important task for us all? I think it's important to recognise the progress we've made and avoid the mistakes of the past – you can't rub people's noses in their mistakes.
You've met so many of world history's most famous figures. Who or what has been your greatest lesson to date? When Sherman hands you a can of soda, let it sit a moment before you open it. Given your own journeys through time, what do you want history to say about you? I lived, I loved, I made people laugh. Now, the myth is smart people can have a tough time making the rest of us laugh. What's your favourite joke, one that can make even the Mona Lisa smile? No, we won't judge. Have you heard about the new book on anti-gravity? It's impossible to put down.
DreamWorks Mr. Peabody & Sherman © 2014 DreamWorks Animation L.L.C.
STORY
Sparrow Collins, Space Cadet:
k c a t t A
e h t f o
s d r i b e m a
Fl
Low-J F e li c ia & z e n e ng a n J im l Cheo By Ad Isabe s n io t a I ll u s t r
im e n e
Sparrow knew she could not escape. Two Skysmashers were on her tail, and there was no way to shake them. She tried to bank left, and flew between two collapsing rock formations, but the Skysmashers kept pace and made it through unscathed. They shot at her with their powerful energy blasts, barely missing their mark.
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Sparrow had to think of something, and she had to think quickly. If these Skysmashers took her down, there would be nothing left to stop them from destroying Cronos, the human outpost on Titan, a moon of Saturn currently on the night side of the planet. They were minutes away from it, and the large creatures would land in the centre of the colony and tear through the buildings with their powerful claws. Their scaly hides would be nearly impervious to ground forces, which would give them more than enough time to go through even the most formidable of tanks with one snap of their jaws. Sparrow knew what she had to do. She pulled up, knowing her Sickle spacecraft was designed for the vacuum of deep space, and not to perform difficult aerial manoeuvres within Titan’s atmosphere. But her craft performed admirably, and she kept pulling up. She completed her loop-de-loop, losing only the port engine and cracking her canopy slightly. She aimed at the lead Skysmasher and fired every weapon she had left. Two Thunder missiles and a nearly-full magazine of armourpiercing ammo struck the creature, tearing through two of its six leathery wings. It quickly lost altitude and crashed on the moon’s surface. Left with no more weapons, Sparrow aimed at the second Skysmasher. She would only have one shot at this and she could afford no margin of error. She accelerated as fast as she could while still keeping control of her Sickle. She hit the Skysmasher on its back, destroying it, the Sickle, and herself in the process. The class erupted in cheers and applause. Sparrow stepped out of the holo-simulator and took a bow. “Alright, children, settle down.” Mr. Barnabus had to shout to be heard over the boisterous students. While he waited, he straightened his black tie on his black shirt, and smoothed out his black slacks. Once the class had more or less settled, Mr. Barnabus continued. “Yes, as exciting and… inventive… as Miss Collins’ simulated defence of
our home was, she unfortunately did not pass.” Forty students simultaneously said, “Awwww.” Sparrow was momentarily speechless, but that never lasted long. “Mr. Barnabus, I defended Cronos with no loss of life or property! How could I possibly have failed that simulation?” “Ah, Miss Collins, but there was both a loss of life and property,” Mr. Barnabus said. “You destroyed not only a perfectly good Sickle spacecraft, but you killed yourself to boot.” “Mr. Barnabus, ‘The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one,’ to paraphrase an Earth philosopher. In order to save everybody in Cronos, I had to sacrifice myself.” Mr. Barnabus looked down at Sparrow as a chime sounded. “We will speak later, Miss Collins,” Mr. Barnabus said. “Class is dismissed.” Outside, Sparrow walked to the canteen with her two friends, Maria and Yoshihime. The three of them wore the same school uniform they’d been wearing since starting at Cronos Secondary: blue-and-green chequered skirts with matching tie, and white, buttondown shirts. “Mr. Barnabus totally should have passed you, Sally,” Yoshihime said. “What you did was totally awesome.” She flicked her long black hair. Yoshihime’s hair was never tamed into any kind of hairstyle. It simply was. Sparrow did not like it when people used her given name, but she decided to let it slide. After all, Yoshihime had just complimented her. “I completely agree, of course, but Mr. Barnabus always thinks we should wait for back-up.” “If you had waited for back-up, maybe you wouldn’t have had to kill yourself,” Maria said quietly. Her brown hair was in a tight bun atop the back of her head. Maria’s hair was never flicked. “I called for back-up as soon as I saw the Skysmashers, just like I’m supposed to, but I
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