Innholdsfortegnelse for 2019 i Young Parents Pre-School Guide

If your child has special learning needs, finding the right preschool can be a daunting task. About half of Singapore parents with such kids encountered difficulties when enrolling their children in preschools here, according to a 2016 Lien Foundation’s Inclusive Attitudes survey, which polled more than 800 parents for their views on inclusion. More than half of the parents surveyed (54 per cent) observed that schools were unwilling to take their child because of reasons such as inadequate support and readiness. Thankfully, an increasing number of preschools here are now bridging the gap by offering programmes where kids with and without special needs can learn and play together. Here, we ask the experts what every parent should know about inclusive preschools. It’s for all kids, not just those with different…

These days, Singapore parents not only have to contend with steep preschool fees, but they also have to budget for the extra costs that come with giving their tots the “full educational experience”. Parents are forking out a few hundred dollars a year – sometimes up to a thousand – for anything from concert costumes, to field trips and graduation photos. Excursions, for instance, are held around four times a year, costing about $15 to $50 per trip depending on transport charges, entry fees and whether lunch is provided. These can be to places like Sentosa or the zoo. Meanwhile, costumes for concerts can cost from $30 to close to $100. Fear of missing out While these are considered “optional”, many parents say they would still pay for them, for…

Words are very powerful, so what you say can have a very strong influence on your child. That’s great when you encourage him, but not so great when you inadvertently hurt your child’s self-esteem. Here are nine things to avoid saying: DON’T SAY “What’s that you’ve drawn?” WHY NOT You think he’ll be happy with your attention and interest, but when your preschooler has been creative, he just assumes that you know what his painting or drawing represents. The moment you suggest that his work is unrecognisable, his self-confidence dips. TRY THIS INSTEAD “That’s a very interesting picture. Tell me about it.” DON’T SAY “You didn’t try hard enough.” WHY NOT You are disappointed with his poor performance in the latest worksheet; you expected him to do better because you…

By the time your child is five or six years old, you can reasonably ask her to assume responsibility for some basic household chores. She might not be happy about it, but she should learn to complete simple household chores. Point out to her that doing so goes beyond helping you out – there are important values to pick up, even though she might not agree. She is part of your family Allocating your six-year-old routine tasks develops her awareness that she is a committed member of your family, and must play her part like everyone else. It strengthens her emotional connection with you and her siblings because it signals to her that everyone is in it together. She has personal responsibility Give her time to adjust to her new…

When your child was younger and dependent on you, you might have longed for the freedom his independence would bring. You no longer need to nag him to do his homework, or rush to his school to deliver the water bottle he’d forgotten. Now that the moment has arrived, you realise that letting go is much harder than expected. Suddenly, he seems so vulnerable and at risk. But understand that your over-protectiveness can undermine his self-confidence and reduce his ability to cope in situations where you are not present. Letting go is a gradual process. It takes years, and perhaps is never fully completed. It’s not a matter of your child acquiring independence in one fell swoop, totally dependent on you one minute, then totally free to make all his…

In an educational climate that favours Stem (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects, it is easy to dismiss the arts as a superfluous frill. But some preschools in Singapore are going against the grain by incorporating a good dose of arts into their curriculum. Here, we ask the experts what every parent should know about this learning approach, and how it helps boost development. Your preschooler gets to experience different art forms At an arts-integrated preschool, kids may try their hand at specialised art forms that are usually not available in mainstream preschool programmes. For instance, kindergarten children at Kinderland’s preschools are introduced to weekly keyboard lessons taught by professionally-qualified music teachers under its Children’s Music Programme. Over at Nafa Arts Preschool, little ones learn fine arts skills and techniques…

1 It’s normal for babies to get a runny nose, fever or cough every other month. Healthy babies, toddlers and preschoolers catch a bout of cold or flu about six to eight times a year on average, says Dr Michael Wong, deputy medical director of Raffles Medical. Some studies even show that babies under the age of two may fall sick up to 12 times a year, adds Dr Natalie Epton, a specialist paediatrician and neonatologist at SBCC Baby & Child Clinic at Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre. This is normal and does not mean that your child has a poor immune system or is sickly, Dr Wong says. Contrary to what Grandma thinks, colds are not brought on by exposure to cold air, so don’t over-swaddle Baby if the…

Preschool isn’t enough for some parents. They believe that learning should continue at home, too. Parents here who are proponents of home learning say the practice has been growing in recent years, as more people document their activities on social media platforms. While home-learning parents have their detractors, who view what they do as being “kiasu”, they say their objective is not to make their children smarter, but to expose them to a sensory-rich learning environment where they learn through play, and make learning is fun. To facilitate such an environment, these parents consider their children’s interests, which could range from nature to construction, and spend time and effort coming up with interesting, hands-on activities based on a chosen theme. At times, they choose topics and create activities that help…

Take complaints of bullying seriously Remember that it takes a great deal of courage for your child to admit to you that he is being bullied – he may be worried that you will think he is making a big fuss about nothing. This aggressive behaviour can take many different forms, including verbal threats, racial harassment, teasing about his clothes or appearance, or social exclusion. Avoid asking him to fight back Physical retaliation rarely has any positive impact on the bully – and often, it completely backfires on the victim. You can never be sure of the bully’s physical potential. There is no guarantee that a momentary overpowering of the aggressor will stop his tormenting – he could return with a large, powerful group of his friends. Look for tell-tale…

Research has shown that the ability to read and write is tied to everything we do, and kids who are strong readers and writers tend to perform better in school and later in life. On the other hand, kids who fail to develop their literacy skills will lag behind others, and this may continue throughout their school years, says Matthew Scott, head of preschool courses at the British Council. But recognising and blending words as well as deciphering a bunch of squiggles called punctuation don’t just happen naturally. Research has shown that reading and writing are not innate, but acquired, skills, shares Dawn Lim, curriculum advisor at Star Learners chain of childcare centres. So, how can you help your little one get a head start? Here, we ask the experts…

When Dr Maria Montessori, the first woman in Italy to become a physician, opened her first school in a low-income district in Rome in 1907, her child-centred educational method was considered radical. But despite going against the grain of conventional education, the Montessori way has churned out numerous movers and shakers in the last century, among them Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page and Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos. What’s all the fuss about the Montessori method, and how can parents choose the right school? Here, we get the lowdown on this unique learning approach. How did the Montessori method come about? The child-centric educational approach is based on Montessori’s observation that all children are instinctively curious and constantly use their hands and bodies to connect with the world around…

Children need much more sleep than adults, and not getting enough affects their attention, concentration, reasoning and problem-solving – everything that is required for them to perform well in school, says Dr Chong Yaw Khian, chief of Sleep Disorder Services at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, National Healthcare Group. Sufficient sleep also keeps the memory in top-notch condition. Without it, it is harder for your child to remember what he learnt and experienced during the day, he adds. Here, we get the sleep experts to share six things that can sabotage a good night’s rest for Junior, and tips to fix them. 1 Your kid is too tubby Does Junior snore at night and appear very sleepy in the day? A good night’s rest can remain elusive if your child is…

Your threenager can certainly dig his heels in – when he doesn’t want to do something, he can stand his ground no matter what you say. At times, he acts as if he is the boss at home, not you, and it’s hard staying cool when your child refuses to cooperate. Here are strategies to manage your stubborn, unhelpful preschooler: Keep control of your temper Despite your best intentions, your blood may start to boil when your three-year-old refuses to cooperate with you. If you think you are close to exploding, remove yourself from the situation – while making sure he is safe – and don’t come back until your temper has cooled. Don’t anticipate confrontations The problem with your child’s repeated noncooperation is that you start to expect a…

ADMIRALTY PARK After two years of redevelopment, Admiralty Park opened again in October 2017, featuring a whopping 27ha of nature and urban areas – that’s about a third of the size of the Singapore Botanic Gardens. In addition to being the largest park in the north of Singapore, Admiralty Park’s playground also boasts 26 slides, the most number of slides in any park in Singapore. This playground definitely compares to the likes of the well-loved Pasir Ris Park and East Coast Park playgrounds. Here’s what you need to know before you head down with your tykes. Family Terracing play Best for: 5 to 12 year olds This is the largest out of all three play areas. Let your children explore the different levels of terrain as they play with the…

Your tween’s identity – that is, her sense of “self”, her understanding of who she is, her view of her personal characteristics, skills and attributes – continues to form during the tween years. Her identity is influenced by many factors, such as her parents, friends, teachers, siblings, successes and failures, and as well as her experiences. Amidst all of these, Dad has a distinctive effect on her identity, as well. Dad usually has a special connection with his tweenager, and so has a special contribution to make to her identify formation. Here are our top 10 strategies for a father to help his primary schooler build a strong and positive view of herself. That said, bear in mind that they apply as much to boys as girls. Mums also have…