kids / trending
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Tech Issue
16
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21st Century Child
What you need to know about the digital native
/ on the cover
18
model Sophia Franz Art Direction Aris Lai & Geraldine Tan Photography Justin Loh Stylist Sharon Tan Makeup & Hairstyling Gigi Sng using C’est Moi Outfit kookies + milk & Marks & Spencer
Into the World Wide Web and New-Age Classroom
See what your child is in for, from Google to coding and happenings in school
Shoes Superga
10
/ kids 10
trending
Stay up to date with the latest fashion trends and toy selections
/ learn 12
Nurturing Hands and Loving Hearts
20
Into the future
What you need to know about your child growing up in Smart Nation
22
Cool Techie
Comfy and fashionable picks for your kid
32
Like any seedling, young buds need tremendous care and nurture
What to do
21st Century coding woes and how to deal with them
14
Brain training kick-off
Are kids’ brains really like sponges?
34
28
Modern Arithmetic
Make a quantum leap with Maths Jumpers
30
The Gen X Parenting Wave
Getting tumbled in the parenting waves and feeling lost?
46
34
Parenting Woes
Feeling frustrated and at a loss about your child’s developmental milestones?
36
You Are Your Child’s Maestro 2 JUNe 2015
How to make the most out of your music practice
/ people 38
Daddy on duty
Debunking the myths of SAHDs
/ learn 42 Tech Talk
6 Signs of gaming addiction
44
The Parental Guide to Hashtags
It’s time for a quick #hashtag remediation
46
Cyber World Meets Traditional Play
3 Tips for more play and imagination
/ health 50
36 62
66
Cheating Ourselves of Sleep
Brain Fatigue
Find out how you can get more and better sleep
52
/ beauty 68
6 Signs and symptoms of brain fatigue and what you can do
Mind The Gadget Time
5 Tips on how to set tech boundaries
54
Take a break Swipe-tab-shake Recess!
4 Ways to take a tech break (gradually)
56
Good riddance, Scar
Remedy for scars from falls, insect bites and scratching
58
Cleanse without drying
Are you stripping your child’s skin off the moisture and natural lipids with over-cleansing?
/ you 60
Trending
Gadget Girl
Get the salon treatment at home with these do-it-yourself beauty gizmos to make all the difference
70
Pre and Post Baby Skin
Starting to spot (literally) differences on your skin, especially after baby?
/ love 72
Love Thy Self
Indulge in tips for me-time, tete-a-tete and recipe for heart health
/subscribe
Refer to page 77 for more details
Turn to page 57 & 75 to win WasserTec water dispenser & PAN movie merchandise
/ health 62
/ in every issue
8 Good reasons to hydrate
64
Playtime causing illness in children?
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our Experts From the Team Feast Reviews Stockists Events Inspire
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win!
3 JUNe 2015
Understanding bacterial and viral infections
48
/ promo
From hard tech to soft tech, we bring out the closet techie in you
Say Yes to The Plain Jane
54
Hi! I am a
DIGITAL NATIVE Having born into the 21st Century world, I believe in limitless possibilities.
i love
TECHNOLOGY
I believe the answer and solutions to many of today’s problems can be solved by men and I will be part of it.
I HOPE TO MAKE MY WORLD A BETTER PLACE, I BELIEVE I CAN.
Some companies I would love to work for
My hobbies and talents
Tech Consultancy,
Graphic Designing,
Alibaba
Apple Oh wait, perhaps I will have
Webinar Teaching, V-Blogging, Gaming, and Coding.
16 september 2015
MY OWN STARTUP, SOCIAL ENTERPRISE, ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY CORP… AND MY OFFICE WILL BE IN MY HOME, or rather, the world is my office. I can work anytime, anywhere, at the swipe of my finger.
21
into the
century
This will be a stimulating ride into the future. Your little tod has started to blossom in this new world. Their generation is wildly worldly wholly (www) different from yours. Have you, the digital immigrant caught up? Want a quick catch-up spin? Yes?
17 september 2015
Hair & Makeup Gigi Sng using C'est Moi
Art Direction Aris Lai & Geraldine Tan
Embracing your inner geek never goes out of style. Be inspired by these outfits ideas when dressing your own little geek.
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Photography Justin Loh
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Stylist Sharon Tan assisted by Naomi Tham
GEEK ON
Models Julius Fliss, Henry Fliss, Kiana Behnke and Juliana Behnke
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GET YOUR
On Kiana: Pom Pom Hat, kookies + milk, $35; Cream sweater, ZARA, $29.90; Grey knit outerwear, Massimo Dutti, $115; Denim skirt, Gap, $45; Beaded necklace, Cotton On Kids, $6.95; Gold shoes, Cotton On Kids, $29.90; Striped tights, stylist’s own
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parenting woes Feeling frustrated and at a loss about your child’s developmental milestones? By Juansa Arissa Cheng
W
orried that your child is left behind in school? Thinking of sending him to a special remediation school? Are we too quick to list different learning needs into learning difficulties? Here are some tips to help guide you because it’s not always just about the child. Check developmental milestones
It is important to work with your child’s first teachers, especially if your child is placed at a day-care centre where these teachers will be the best people you can find out about your child’s developmental progress. Check with the expert:
If you are constantly frustrated with your child, especially with their developmental achievements, check with the professionals and experts. They would know and can help to establish if it is a real learning disability or delayed skill mastery. Check expectations – be open and reflective:
Be very truthful with who you are, who your child is and what you want your child to be. Are the activities a reflection of your insecurities or your child’s needs? Are you pushing your child way beyond the present competency? Or are you being too laid-back?
34 september 2015
GREAT TIPS for the 21CC Parent Check PEEP
People – It could be a personality clash with parenting style or even teaching style. Environment – Environment and lifestyle factors such as diet can affect learning. Be very surprised how deficiency in certain nutrients can cause symptoms of learning disabilities. External influence – Check if you are giving your child too much of something because you are pegging your child’s ability to someone else’s child. Process – Check if your processes are ideal for your child daily routine, meal routine, study routine and even learning schedule. A quick check is the daily schedule - is your child exhausted by day one of the week or being ‘tantrumy’ by dinner time? Seek second (even third) opinion:
It is always good to do a cross-reference with other experts and professionals. Talk to parents with similar issues but never ‘cut-and-paste’ their strategies or solutions. Innovate
Be open about trying out new learning methods that your child will feel excited about. Curiosity and excitement goes hand-in-hand. When you have this in the equation, half the battle is won! *Be sensitive to your child’s needs and never make your child the conversation subject. They internalise things they heard and sometimes act out false projections (you have of them).
we say... 1
Do not let trends, fads, and other children’s achievements draw you away from your child’s real talents, gifts or potential.
2
Do not ‘self-diagnose’ and ‘label’ your child, seek professional advice if needed even though your instinct is important.
4
Breathe! Parenting is a tough job. Add some fun and humour! It’s alright to laugh at yourself. Have fun! Go find something that you can have fun while learning.
In this 21st Century education landscape, how can parents be more engaged in their child’s learning? Any positive interaction between parent and child is the parent engaging in a child’s learning. Parental engagement is more than being informed about school activities. It includes close interaction with your child both in the home and at school. Technology cannot replace the human touch from parents, caregivers and teachers. Children who interact more with their parents are more likely to perform better in school, are better-behaved and have better social skills. I cannot emphasise enough that parental engagement in whatever a child does is of utmost importance. Tip: Is your child being ‘babysat’ by electronic
gadgets at dining tables so that you can eat ‘peacefully’. Every child’s action at the dining table is a teaching opportunity for parents and a learning opportunity for their children.
2
Parents are afraid that they are over-exposing their child to technology and stick to traditional learning methods. Parents should not deprive their child of good learning opportunities as some studies suggest that use of computers for playing educational games, visiting non-profit websites, and doing homework may provide intellectual and academic benefits, so exercise moderation and guidance. Anything done excessively can be harmful – whether in eating, exercising, playing a game on an app, and yes, even playing educational games.
Meet our expert Ms. Foo Pau Choo
Curriculum Director of Kungfu Math with more than 20 years of experience Head-of-Department and School Leader within the MOE and International Schools in Indonesia
35 september 2015
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you / Learn
tech talk 6 signs of gaming addiction. By Shaistah Munawar
F
rom the time they are born, the children of today are exposed to technology in all forms… and that’s not their fault. It’s just the way it is, isn’t it?
My four-year-old nephew at home works the iPad better than I do, and knows exactly how to search for his favourite YouTube videos and games. In a recent study conducted by the Media Development Authority (MDA), it was found that YouTube was the most commonly used social media platform for children aged six and below. 42 september 2015
What’s more, the face-to-face survey done on 1,200 Singaporeans and permanent residents aged 14 and below showed that about 77 per cent of them have gone online, while 51 per cent of the lot have used some forms of social media.
At much as technology can be an excellent learning tool, it is crucial for parents to be aware of just how much time your child is spending on it and what they are doing. This is because without proper parental supervision, children are at a much higher risk of becoming increasingly obsessed and eventually becoming addicted to these new technologies. To get a better understanding on the addiction to technology, we spoke to Mr Chong Ee Jay, manager at TOUCH Cyber Wellness (TCW).
What are some signs of being addicted to technology? A true addiction affects various domains of a healthy person’s life causing damage to his family, school, social and psychological functioning. From the research perspective, addictive behaviour has been defined as any behaviour that fulfils all the core components of
addiction. The six features for gaming addition are: • Salience This happens when gaming becomes
the main priority of the child’s life and his or her thinking is predominately occupied by the game, affecting feelings and behaviour. • Mood modification This refers to the subjective
experiences of the gamer where the gamer feels good or a sense of “high” as a result of gaming. It may be a form of escapism or numbing by the gamer who feels frustrated or wants to de-stress. • Tolerance This occurs where the gamer
requires an increasing amount of gaming time to attain the same level of satisfaction previously experienced during gaming. • Withdrawal symptoms The physical symptoms
and/or negative emotional responses the gamer experienced when gaming is reduced or interrupted. For example, the gamer becomes easily irritated, frustrated and restless. • Conflicts These refer to interpersonal conflicts
between the gamer and people around them with regard to their gaming time, or conflicts with other important activities in their lives. For example, studies, social life, career and hobbies are affected due to excessive gaming time. • Relapse Repeated, unsuccessful efforts to
control or stop gaming by the gamer.
Parents heavily rely on technology to get their kids to do as they say – yay or nay? We do not encourage it because this method has backfired on some parents before. Anecdote: One of our parents Melissa (pseudo name) relied
on this method to get her son Jake (pseudo name) to go for tuition in exchange for more computer time. This exchange worked well for some time until an occasion where Melissa confiscated Jake’s mobile phone as he was becoming excessive with his phone’s usage. Eventually Jake locked himself in his room and refused to go for tuition unless he has his mobile phone back. What you used to bargain with your child might be used against you as well and we want parents to be mindful of that.
The MDA study revealed that
Addiction versus dependency, how can we differentiate these two?
60%
Online activities are forms of leisure and common bonding activity among the youths and young adults. It becomes pathological when it begins to produce serious negative life consequences and quality of life is compromised. An engaged user for leisure would know when to stop. Hence, if the user’s quality of life has dropped even if he/she can afford it, it would be important for the user to re-examine his/her priorities.
of children started using social media between ages seven and 10
what can parents do to prevent their kids from getting addicted?
13%
We recommend parents to set appropriate screen time for their kids at different stages of their child’s development. There are no short cuts and parents have to invest hard work to actively engage their child. Read a story to your child, spend the morning at beach or simply play together with them. The best way to get your child to participate is to do things together with them! It is a good way to build up the parent-child bond with your kid as well. When a child is fully satisfied by activities in the real world, there is no need for them to look for enjoyment in the virtual world.
of children started earlier at the age of six or younger
Social Media for Kids
So, are you ready to be your child’s friend on Facebook? Here’s what you need to know.
1
2
Make sure you understand the motivations and needs of your children even while they are exploring the Internet and the social media world.
3
Invest in a good filtering software to monitor your child’s usage on the Internet. This will help you monitor your child’s activities online.
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Talk to your child often about the dangers of social media and why they need to be extremely careful when making cyber friends.
43 september 2015
Be aware of the age limits specified for children on the social media that your child is interested to sign up for. For example, Instagram has a minimum age of 13 years old though they do not ask users to specify their age.
Kids / health
brain fatigue 6 signs and symptoms of brain fatigue and what you can do. By Juansa Arissa Cheng
I
n this new millennia, technological advances have made life much easier. Foods, products and services are not only easily and readily available to the masses, excessive consumption is feared. Parents are bombarded by a range of services catered to enhance learning and development of children, especially programmes developed to boost the ‘brain power’ of children. How do we know if we have crossed the lines of nurture to excessive stimulation? How much is too much?
1
Irritability
2
Anxiety
3
Restlessness
Lack of sleep, unhappiness, resentment and frustration are common causes of irritability. It is not uncommon to see a sleep-deprived child throw the most epic tantrum, especially after a long day. Worse, if your child is made to attend classes he absolutely has no interests in.
When your child experiences challenges and in this case, fatigue (stressor), the body reacts to it in the form of physiological stress or anxiety. He may get nervous and jittery over the smallest tasks as he feels challenged by it either because he is not well-rested or self-imposed limitations due of the negative feelings, a by-product physical tension.
50 september 2015
Your child becomes restless and bored easily. His boredom is usually because he chooses to disengage himself and decides that he will have no interest in the surroundings – disinterested.
4
Less commonly known causes: Clumsiness
Clumsiness is a physical manifestation of fatigue because the human body is a complex system. Once the body is tired, the body mixes up coordination signals and there you have it, formula for being a klutz.
5
1
Sleep apnoea
Symptoms include snoring and sudden waking (jerking) from sleep
Attention Seeking
Restless sleep
Your child will call out for attention and tend to do things to get your attention, and mostly to get you to soothe him (his emotions and feelings) as he is unable to recognise the stressors or why he feels frustrated. All he knows is that he needs to have someone to hold him and tell him that everything is ok.
6
Tossing in bed (asleep) or changing of sleeping position Interrupted sleep
Teeth grinding and sleepwalking
Reduced appetite
This is a vicious cycle. Most children tend to lose interest in food when they are tired – their bodies crave rest – and sitting still to complete a meal (with restlessness setting in) is near impossible. So, when they don’t eat well, they don’t get enough nutrients to prevent and fend off fatigue. Remember, the body needs not only rest for recovery but macro and micro nutrients from food. Now that we have recognised the common signs and symptoms, let’s see what the causes are and how can we help ease the brain fatigue without getting a headache ourselves.
Are you guilty?
Common reasons for brain fatigue and solutions. 1. Excessive use of modern gadgets such as electronic gaming devices, mobile phone apps and even surfing the Internet.
What are the common causes of brain fatigue, and how can parents prevent that?
2
What can parents do to help if they suspect their child is suffering from brain fatigue? • Control lifestyle and habits • Introduce variability • Introduce brain boosting foods
3
What are 3 brain boosting foods that are most commonly found missing from a child’s diet? Magnesium – green leafy broccoli Zinc – nuts and seeds, red meats Iron – dark leafy, seaweeds and red meats
Regulate use of gadgets.
Do not over pack your child’s schedule.
3. Late nights and even if the child is ‘relaxing’ in front of the TV before bedtime, the brain is actually working hard. It is abuse of the ears, eyes and brains unknowingly.
Minimise use of electronic devices after dinner time, if possible and before bedtime.
Meet our expert Dr. Kenneth Kang Ph.D. (Ed Psyc) Founder of Spectrum Learning, Asia’s First Neurofeedback Center Consultant to numerous institutes and universities in the region
51 september 2015
2. No downtime for the brain. The brain does have time to rest especially when the child schedule is also packed with activities.
FALL in! March into this fall season with military neutral shades of loden, pla green, caramel, toffee, cocoa, dove grey and ink! Or glam it up with jewel splashes of hot pink, cranberry, teal, emerald, mustard, orchid and crimson. Oh, how can we forget the classic wine (literally, too) as we indulge in midautumn sweets, French romance, Italian treats at the same time, bringing out the closet techie in you!
TRENDY MINIMALIST
Strut with flair as you flaunt your fashion accessory in your hands or over your shoulder for that matter.
1
Add lines to the curves Make a statement this fall with the Memphis print inspired
Longchamp Airwalk Cuir Collection. Now, you can wear
eighties-inspired patchwork art and design.
2
Fashion auxiliary office ‘bag-up’ Add a little pop to work wear with the softer sensual Longchamp Airwalk Cuir document bag ($1,290, Longchamp Stores/ Boutiques)!
gadget lane Take a techie stroll with (me).
WIN!
We are giving away 20 sets of Logitech® Wireless Mouse M238 worth $29 each and 5 sets of A’leph Zinc FE-151 earphones worth $58 each pair. Stay tuned on our Facebook page!
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60 september 2015
Hold-me As part of the 2015 Logitech Play Collection, the Logitech M238 Wireless Mouse features friendly animal faces and bright geometric designs. You have a reason to smile when you have this happy smiley mouse on your desk.Its bright, playful and high-spirited designs enlivens your working space, taking the feel of work off your hands.
2
Hear-me Immerse in your own world with A’leph Zinc FE-151 earphones, Fisher Audio’s ever popular and fashionable model with metallic finish. In sleek style, it delivers punchy bass and clean vocals.
3
Watch-me The Apple Watch (from $518, Apple Stores) is the first product designed to be worn and it epitomises a new chapter in the relationship people have with technology as it is the most personal product yet by Apple.
SOFT TECH FOR THE SOUL
Marc Jacobs, Keeper
Rejuvenate your soul with faltering eye colours and yummy scents to uplift your mood. Lunasol is deliciously beautiful. This season’s chocolaty eye, lip, nail and skin colours look and smell good enough to eat. Go grab the De Chocolate Eyes Four Quad Palettes ($77, Lunasol counters) now.
Armani Exchange, Mosiacs ($279)
Revamped Timekeepers
Accessorise with reinvigorated analog faces that are both chic and fun. Marc Jacobs Keeper leather bracelet watch in modern dove grey exudes timekeeping elegance while Armani Exchange Mosiacs features a contemporary mosaic print with matching leather strap. (Both available at WIS @ MBS, B2-93, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands or WIS @ Somerset, #02-22, 313 Somerset))
BESPOKE CHILDHOOD INNOCENCE
1
Tune in to a season of childhood fantasy where imagination, innocence and nursery rhyme rule. Check out Uniqlo’s Disney Project T-shirt ($24.90, Uniqlo Stores) and wear childhood regression on your sleeves without being caught by the fashion police.
2
For autumn transition, don a tasteful cappuccino shade of Cashmere V-neck Sweater ($129.90, Uniqlo Stores) with practical needs in mind. Who says you cant ‘have the best of both worlds? Wear Pop art in clean symmetries with the SPRZ NY Andy Warhol T-shirt ($24.90, Uniqlo Stores) - comfort, technology and style all packed into a sleek edgy silhouette.
Even French luxury joins the playful world with its bold, edgy and extravagant motifs of rabbits, elephants mushrooms. Accessorise with this Jeremy Scott X Longchamp “Humpty Dumpty”limited edition Le Pliage Bag
($440, Longchamp Boutiques).
61 September 2015
3
MODISH
pre-baby to post-baby skin Starting to spot (literally) differences on your skin, especially after baby? By Juansa Arissa Cheng
O
h, some of us have gotten away with simple skincare regime (what regime?) in our younger days and still manage to flaunt that glow and fashionable tan. Guilty? And those demalogic crimes are coming back to haunt you? And it doesn’t help that you have now accelerated into motherhood. You are now juggling feeds, diaper changes, bath and bed-time reading routines, and if you are lucky, a little me-time with that good cuppa, a good proper meal (meaning one that starts with appetiser and ends with a desert) or just time to sleep or pamper yourself. It seems that pandaeyes, dehydrated skin and wrinkles are no longer elusive – their omnipresence a little overwhelming? Get some tips on saying good-riddance to common skin problems at different stages of your life.
Meet our expert 70 September 2015
Sonia Belter-Helal CEO of Dr. Belter Belcos Cosmetics on time-freeze secrets
Pregnancy Pre-baby (20s or 30s) Beware of the slow degeneration of tissues beneath the glow where the collagen, elastin (tissue that keep skin supple) and hyaluronic acid are slowly dwindling. It is time to begin a skincare regime if you don’t already have one and you love sun-kissed skin bordering the lines of being sunburnt. Caution: Due to youthfulness and fast recovery, you may take your supple skin for granted and neglect sun protection. Always protect your skin from ultra-violet rays with a good sun protection lotion.Time to start good-skin habits that includes hydration (drink up), healthy diet (pile on the fruits and vegetables) and skincare regime (c’mon get your act together)!
It’s a hormonal roller-coaster ride from here! While some (really lucky ones) experience the pregnancy glow, others suffer from the mask of pregnancy and dark spots caused by elevated levels of estrogen and progesterone. At some points, it’s like puberty all over again! Pimply acne skin coupled with sensitivity or allergies start to flare up. Ensure that your skin is kept clean, moisturised and protected. Caution: Always seek professional or medical assistance before application of any topical creams and refrain from selfdiagnosis or purchase of over the counter remedies due to possible contraindications.
Post-natal Welcome to the world of sleepless nights and panda-eyed mornings! With maternal instincts kicked in, priority these days would be
100 percent committed to the bundle of joy and any second away from mini-me to a self-indulgent treat of facial, mani-pedi or massage, will send you spinning on a guilt-trip. Ironically, this is the time that your skin needs most attention – dermatitis, acne and dehydrated skin compete for attention. Caution: Some mothers are concerned that their skincare products may rub off onto their precious little skin. Choose hypoallergenic skincare with high efficacy for instant absorption. Ensure you wash your hands before breastfeeding, handling baby or food preparation.
Perimenopuase Are you thinking – what! Too soon! But lo and behold, many experience this transition of the ovaries slowly down hormonal production as early as her 30s even though actual menopause may be years away. Thus, this transitional period (unaware to many) is the cause to hypersensitive skin or simply
your ‘unusual’ skin issues or disguised as post-baby skin. Due to increase in androgen hormones, expect thinner and red flaky skin, hot flushes and dry skin (or worse - dry on the inside, oily on the outside). Caution: Invest in products that are suitable for your skin during this transitional phase and it is best to seek professional help as prescriptive remedies with natural progesterone may be needed. There are also high grade care products with isoflavones, plant derived estrogenic substances, which can help to locally balance the decrease of “replumping hormones” in the skin.
3 Tips for glowing skin especially for mothers juggling family and work?
1
Invest in yourself
Eat well, sleep well and cleanse well
Eating well boosts the immune system and good nutrition is important for the skin. Sleep helps the body to recover and crucial for tired skin repair. A well-cleansed face can prevent blocked pores from forming and prepare the skin to better absorb moisturiser or nutrients.
3
Keep active and healthy
Your skin tells your lifestyle. Keep active because sweating is a good way to flush toxins built up in the body and skin. It also helps to increase blood circulation that helps to nourish the cells with nutrients and oxygenated blood.
71 September 2015
If you want to splurge on something, opt to splurge on services that pamper you instead of buying expensive bags and shoes. Massages, facials, short holiday trips enhances your well-being and you’ll be surprised what it does.
2
SEPTEMBER 2015 ISSUE 166
FREE
VD Pop Dopy e l d d Pa ever y c wit h rc hased pu
So Weird
Animal Planet
Maze Game
Take a photo of your Mid-Autumn celebration with your friends/family and present it with a copy of P/S‌ My Pals
and Secrets Issue 4 at Plaza Singapura to redeem gifts. Refer to page 22 for details.
SEPTEMBER
2015
Publisher Foo Mei Siah Associate Publisher Kelen Koh Operations Manager Emmeline Lee EDITORIAL Deputy Editor Juansa Arissa Cheng Writer Shaistah Munawar Contributors Dr. Scott Poh, Justin Loh, Rachael Yohannan ART Creative Director Aris Lai Senior Designer Geraldine Tan Designer Chan Fei Ching ADVERTISING & MARKETING Associate Business Director Esmond Seah Business Manager Porter Christopher Andre Executive (Marketing) Lim Chin Yee, Marshall Ang ONLINE & DIGITAL Deputy Manager Arissa Ha Senior Writer Venetia Sng Writer Chew Hui Ling
Contents 2
Best Toys
4
DIY
6
Math Up!
8
So Weird
10
Cool Stuff
13
Poetry Board
14
Book Nook
16
Fun Guide
For editorial matters, sc-ed@key-editions.com For advertising & marketing enquiries, enquiry@key-editions.com For subscription, subscription@key-editions.com
18
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
20
All materials printed within Singapore’s Child are Copyright 2007 © and protected under the Copyright Act. All rights reserved 2007.
MCI (P) 125/01/2015 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 ar ticles 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
24 26 28
The best toys available in the market.
Make your own ring on page 4 and stationery holder on page 12.
Have fun solving these Math brain teasers.
Find out where our brains came from.
Head in to the wonderful world of arthropods.
Welcome to the world of junior literary magic!
Our favourite reads this month!
Things to look forward to in September.
Say It!
Learn about homographs and their pronunciations.
Animal Planet
Learn about the top 10 fastest animals and some weirdest-looking sea creatures.
Expressions
Learn more about figurative expressions.
Future Career?
Exclusive interviews with Marvel penciler and comic artist.
Try These
Have fun solving the occupation crossword puzzle.
Math Up! Let’s bring out the Mathematics whiz in you!
ue or False Tr is bigger 1 Athanbillion a googol. True
2
All triangles have equal sides. True
Decode Agent Math Monster is saying something. Can you decode his message to you? I xm qungry. I wxnt to ext x wqole pizzx. is Math 3 What Monster’s message?
6
False
False
Googol=1.0e100 Google's Googol
A googol is 10 to the 100th power (1 followed by 100 zeros) which is larger than the number of elementary particles in the universe (10 to the 80th power). Milton Sirotta, the 9-year nephew of mathematician Edward Kasner, thought such a large number should be called something as silly as a “googol.”
to the power of 100 zeros). Finally, how Google got its name is all thanks to Sean Anderson, a Stanford graduate student who mistyped googol as “google” when Larry Page and Sergey Brin, founders of Google were looking for an available web domain name. So, there you have it, Google’s corporate headquarters is called the GooglePlex, a cheeky reference to the origins of the company name.
Later, another mathematician, Frank Pilhofer coined the term googolplex for 10 to the power of googol (1 followed by 10
Equilateral, Isosceles and Scalene Triangle Not all triangles have equal sides. There are three types of triangles – equilateral, isosceles and scalene and they have three, two or no equal sides respectively.
60° 60°
=
60°
Equilateral Triangle • Three equal angles, always 60°. • Three equal sides.
A. Whole
Isosceles Triangle • Two equal angles. • Two equal sides.
Scalene Triangle • No equal angles. • No equal sides.
. Choose A, B or C. B. Half
C. Quarter
Answers: 1. False (Read Google’s Googol). 2. False (Read Equilateral, Isosceles and Scalene Triangles). 3. Replace x with a. Replace q with h. I am hungry. I want to eat a whole pizza. 4. A.
4 His request is
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So Weird
Where did our brains come from? le Cell Orga g ni n s Si m
Bacteria
1 2 ~ 2.1 billion years ago, cells with membrane and nucleus (eukaryote cells) developed membrane electric signaling. All multicellular organisms are eukaryotes, including animals, plants and fungi.
P ri
M
~3.5 billion years ago, bacteria lived in oceans without oxygen and they drew energy using ion channels that paved the way for nerve connectivity.
m
am
ma
ls
es t a
6 7
~65 million years ago, primate-like mammal species evolved and flourished with lineage leading to African apes and humans.
~200 million years ago, mammals evolved pushing advancement of the brain (limbic brain).
8 Homosapians - Our Brains! Finally, 200, 000 years ago all three major parts of the brain evolved. Reptilian brain that controls vital functions (heart rate, breathing, body temperature
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4.6 billion years ago, the Earth was formed and over the next three hundred million years, single-celled organisms flourished and brains have origins in these. S po ng e
Fla
tworms
4 3 ~ Multicellular aquatic animal that used proteins to permit neuron electrical transmission (synapses).
ians & Rep ti le
s
Am
ib ph
~550 million years ago, this planarian has tissues that developed into organs (mesoderm), primitive nerve cords and light sensors (eyes). And this evolved to the flatfish with a more complex brain protected inside a spinal-cord-like structure.
5 ~310-350 million years ago, reptiles arouse from amphibians and due to evolutionary pressure, amphibians become more land-based and developed a complex brain (reptilian brain).
and balance, the limbic brain for making judgements and influencing behaviour and finally, the neocortex responsible for development of language, imagination and consciousness.
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Fast and Furious
Animal Planet
Learn about the top 10 fastest animals.
<< Fastest Bird
1
u Did Yo Know?
• Fastest member of the animal kingdom too! • Flight speed is 389km/h
The peregine falcon is historically known as the duck hawk in North America. It is a bird-eating raptor and females peregrine falcons are considerably larger than males. During its hunting stoop (high speed dive), it can reach over 322 km/h and the fastest speed was a whooping 389 km/h.
Fastest Fish >> Fastest swimmer in the underwater world! Swim speed is 130km/h
2
u Did Yo Know? Black marlins are more solid than the striped or white marlins and sailfish (blue marlins). Though they have a shorter bill, a rounder and lower dorsal fin, they swim faster than the rest which averages at 80km/h. Black marlin weigh around 75 kg and is distinguished from other marlin species by their rigid pectoral fins, are thus unable to be pressed flat against their sides.
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The cheetah cover distances of 500m in short bursts, with acceleration from 0 to 96Â km/h in three seconds. It is known to use its speed to hunt even swift preys like the antelopes, but is vulnerable to larger predators and even humans who have caused loss of habitat and other actions such as illegal pet trading, big game hunting and poaching.
3
<< Fastest feline in the cat family! Running speed is 109.4 -120.7 km/h
Fre
e-tail ed Bat
P
ng ro
horn
5
4 Flight speed is 96.6km/h
kA k buc ntelop c a Bl
e
Lion
*It looks like an antelope but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not. Running speed is 88.5km/h Though second to the cheetah, it can sustain high speeds longer than cheetahs.
re Ha
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6
8
Running speed is 80km/h Running speed is 80km/h
Runnw is 80.5km/h
Grey hound
Jac krabb it
Fastest Dog Running speed is 74km/h
Running speed is 72km/h
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10 21
Crossword Puzzle
Try These
Have you ever thought of what you want to be when you grow up? 3
4
C
1
2
E
R 5
6
T
D
S
When I grow up! Down 1. An e work in a variety of fields to draft, design and develop large-scale, complex systems such as building a bridge. 2. A financial t usually works in banks or other financial institutions where they buy and sell shares, bonds and assets for investors to maximise gains and minimise loss. Across 3. A c is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry chemical composition, reactions rates and other researches related to the careful observation and use of chemical compositions. 4. A r is a person whose job scope includes management, maintenance and protection and preservation of protected parks, nature reserve or land. 5 A d is a person who conceptualises or implements ideas, sketches and designs, especially as for works of art that can be used in fashion and other lifestyle products. 6. A s is a person with a professional license to practice medicine and also specialises in medical procedures or operations.
Answers: Down 1. Engineer 2. Trader
Across 3. Chemist 4. Ranger 5. Designer 6. Surgeon
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