The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

58
DEC/JAN 2014/2015 www.thenewageparents.com Coverpage Model: Lucia Walcott Photography: Photography by Yew Kwang AUSPICIOUS CHINESE NAMES FOR GOAT BABIES 2015 13 Meaningful Gifts For Your Children That Money Can’t Buy TEACHING OUR CHILDREN THE VALUE OF… GIVING THANKS How Do I Know If I Am Over Protective Of My Child? 10 REFLECTIONS TO BECOME A BETTER PARENT

description

The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15 Issue

Transcript of The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

Page 1: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

dec/Jan2014/2015

www.thenewageparents.com

Cove

rpag

e M

odel

: Lu

cia

Wal

cott

Ph

otog

raph

y: P

hoto

gra

phy

by

Yew

Kw

ang

Auspicious chinese nAmes for

GoAt BABies2015

13 Meaningful Gifts For

Your Children That Money

Can’t Buy

Teaching Our children The

Value Of… giVing

Thanks

How Do I Know If I Am Over Protective Of My Child?

10 Reflections to Become A BetteR PARent

Page 2: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

2 The New Age Parents

table of contents

Contents04 Our Experts

08 Editorial Note

10 New Year Special12 Chinese Zodiac Outlook In 2015

10 Reflections To Become A Better Parent

Ready To Goal? Setting New Goals For The New Year

20 Your BabyAuspicious Chinese Names for 2015 Goat Babies

24 Health Bowel Trouble

26 DentalManual VS Electric Toothbrush

28 PreschoolRaising A Wholesome Preschooler Part 6: Character Building & Moral Education

Settling The Heart, Defining Your Child

36 Christmas Special 13 Meaningful Gifts For Your Children That Money Can’t Buy

40 The New Age Parents Coverpage Contest

44 Growing UpFirst Time Mum Series: Preparing For The First Day Of SchoolTeaching Our Children The Value Of… Giving Thanks

50 For The ParentHow Do I Know If I Am Over Protective Of My Child?The ‘Oversharenting’ and ‘Fakebooking’ Phenomenon

54 Finance6 Important Facts To Know Before Investing

Page 3: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15
Page 4: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

4 The New Age Parents

Our ExpErtsdental

PReSCHOOl

Fiona WalkerFiona Walker joined Julia Gabriel Centre in 1991 as a teacher and is now the Principal of Schools / CEO of Julia Gabriel Education. She holds a Masters in Early Childhood Education and is a qualified Montessori teacher with more than 20 years of experience in providing quality education for young children. She is committed to the

ongoing development of teachers and curriculum in Julia Gabriel Education.For more information, go to www.juliagabriel.com

Dr Chin Shou King Director of T32 Junior, Dr. Chin graduated from the National University of Singapore, Faculty of Dentistry, after winning two scholarships from Singapore Press Holdings. He served his bond as a Dental Officer in the Ministry of Health and became the Head of Dental Services at one of National Healthcare Group Polyclinics. Dr Chin enjoys and is proficient at treating

and managing children, having spent one and a half years at the National University Hospital Dental Centre.Practice address:One Orchard Boulevard, 17th Floor camden Medical centresingapore 248649 tel: (65) 6733 1388 email: [email protected] emergency dental services: (65) 6398 5578

Dr Goh Han MengPrior to coming on board with SBCC Baby & Child Clinic, Dr Goh served as a registrar at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital in the neonatology, paediatric medicine, children’s emergency and paediatric subspecialty departments. He has a keen interest in paediatric sports medicine and general ambulatory paediatrics.

Practice address:sBcc Baby & child clinic (ang Mo Kio)Blk 721 ang Mo Kio ave 8#01-2803/2805singapore 560721tel: 6456 8874 Fax: 6453 2278

Esther LimEsther Lim is the CEO and Founder of LEAP School House. Born and educated in Singapore, she holds a Master Degree in Education (NTU/NIE), Bachelor Degree in Arts (NTU), Diploma in Marketing – Top student for the year 2000 (Chartered Institute of Marketing). Esther has more than 10 years of teaching experience and

has taught widely in both Secondary and Primary schools. For more information on LeaP schoolHouse, go to leapschoolhouse.com.sg

PaedIatRIC MedICIne

Page 5: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

Kristie LimPrincipal & Co-Founder of Mind Stretcher Education Group, Kristie is a double-degree holder from the National University of Singapore and the University of London. She is both a trained accountant and a lawyer, and holds a Certificate in Early Childhood Education. Since leaving the legal profession, she has immersed herself full-time

in Mind Stretcher. Besides being in charge of operations, she also helps develop the curricula for Science and Mathematics. Her eldest son is the 2012 President’s Scholar and a very outstanding all-rounder and perennial prize winner at Raffles Institution and the very prestigious Wharton Business School. For more information, go to www.mindstretcher.com

FInanCIal PlannInG

PReSCHOOl

Tan Ooi Sim WinstonWinston is a Chartered Financial Consultant, with 12 years of experience in Financial Planning. Becoming a Dad in May 2013, his business is focused on Insurance Planning and Retirement Planning for young families and individuals.For any queries, you can email him at tanooisim [email protected]

Master Kevin FoongAt a young age, Kevin developed immense interest in Chinese Metaphysics, western astrology and numerology. He started to learn from various masters in Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Singapore and Malaysia. Master Kevin is known for his accurate Bazi reading that predicts events, to help his clients to make

important life decision on wealth, health and relationship. He is the founder of Kevin Foong Consulting Group, a global organisation devoted to the teaching of Feng Shui, Bazi, Man Xiang and other Chinese Metaphysics studies. For more information on Master Kelvin Foong go to www.kevinfoongcg.com

FenG SHuI Have a question for our expert?

Comment and post your question on our

Facebook, or drop us an email at mailbox@

thenewageparents.com with the subject title "Question

for TNAP Expert".

The New Age Parents 5

Page 6: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

The New Age Parents contributors:Dorothea ChowDorothea is a dedicated Christian homemaker, mum to two darling little boys and wife to a wonderful and supportive man. She loves to plan fun learning times with her toddler, read to her sons, and hang out with them at playgrounds, parks and shopping malls, in the company of fellow mummy friends. Baking, writing, scrapbooking and shopping are some of her favourite pastimes. She also runs a small home-business, Dottieshop creating customized paper cards and art pieces for birthdays, weddings and other occasions. Read more of Dorothea’s thoughts and motherhood experiences at www.apancakeprincess.com

Som Yew YaA stay home mother while pursuing a Masters in Counseling course, Yew Ya has returned to the workforce last year. Working in a Swiss pharmaceutical, she enjoys her work in the clinical field as well as being a hands-on mother cooking and planning activities with the family.

raChel tanRachel was working as a scientist and a healthcare analyst in London before moving back to Singapore to deliver her daughter in 2012. Since then, she has been a stay-at-home-mother, and loves to bake, cook, style and photograph the dishes when she has time to spare. She enjoys sharing the ups and downs of life, marriage and parenthood, and of course, write-ups on glorious food on her personal blog, The Pleasure Monger.

JennY tai Jenny Tai is a freelance writer, fledgling cook, and mother to a self-assured, playful toddler. She makes postcards in her spare time. Previously Jenny worked in a publishing company in New York.

contributors

Page 7: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15
Page 8: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

editorial note

As we leap into 2015, we give you some thoughts to ponder on. I believe it's important to self-reflect because it helps me to grow. Before, going to bed, I would take 15 minutes to sit and quietly contemplate on what I have done for the day. It goes something like this: What did I do well today? Did I manage to help someone in need? Did I get angry with myself or anyone? If yes, why? What could be done to improve? Did I fulfil my roles at home and at work to the best I can?

As much as we try to be the best parents we can be, we are not perfect and sometimes we inevitably fall short. In our article 10 reflections to Become a Better Parent, we give you points to consider on how you can pick yourself up again and be better. We give you something else to ponder in how Do i Know if i am over Protective of my Child?

Christmas is all about giving. Instead of giving material things to your child, why not give them 13 meaningful Gifts that money Can’t Buy? Or teach them the importance of being thankful for what they already have, in teaching our Children the Value of… Giving thanks.

On this note, TNAP would like to thank all our readers for their support through the year. We hope you will continue to journey with us in the year ahead!

Wishing all our readers and their family, a joyous Christmas! Let us usher 2015 with love, gratitude and remember to give thanks to what we already have.

May your hearts be filled with gratitude, love and light.

Yours sincerely,

8 The New Age Parents

Do you have any stories, tips or any feedback to share? We love to hear from you!

DroP uS an email at [email protected]

ConneCt with uS at www.facebook.com/newageparents

Follow uS on inStaGram: www.instagram.com/thenewageparents

STOP. PONDER. REFLECT.

Page 9: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15
Page 10: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

Chinese Zodiac Outlook In 2015

By Master Kevin Foong

10 The New Age Parents

Page 11: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

RatFor people born in Rat years: 1900, 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008

Rat is a water sign. 2015 is the year of the Sheep and it has Earth energy. In 2014, the rat clashes with the horse, so your career likely didn’t go too well. There are career opportunities in 2015 which is a good sign for your prospect. However, you need to learn to pay attention to your action and avoid argument at all level. The job requires you to put in good effort to maintain it well.In 2015, your money luck is average and going to be slower than your expectation. You need to invest most of your time to get what you want. The sign of money loss is there, thus you may find yourself spending money on your personal maintenance, car repair, bad investment or even cheated by a friend. You are reminded to be extra careful with your financial planning in 2015. Do not engage in any dispute with villain to prevent money loss.Take note of your stress level in 2015. While your mind will be potentially on your career fully, you need to cater your body to sufficient rest and recovery. You need to watch your kidney, bladder and cardiovascular system and keep them in good shape.

CowFor people born in Cow years: 1901, 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949,

1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009.The focus for the Cow people in 2015 should be on their career. There are both opportunities as well as pressure. Expect to see a possibly change to land yourself in a new job. While there is competitors in your career environment, you have to work well with your co-workers in order to progress well. There is sign of wealth loss for the Cow people which might be expected to spend on car maintenance, bad investment, robbery or risk of being cheated. You need to invest carefully before handling out large amount of money. Expect a busy year ahead and learn to take sufficient rest during busy schedule. You have to take care of your kidney, intestines, bladder and stomach area as it is likely to prone to sickness. Female Cow people will have better luck in meeting new partners in 2015, this will be good news for the single ladies out there!

tigeRFor people born in Tiger years: 1902, 1914, 1926, 1938,

1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998.Money opportunity is coming to the Tiger people in 2015! It is likely to be found among your friends, relatives or even co-workers, keep a look out for this. You are more arrogant and domineering in 2015, which is a negative sign in terms of relationships. You need to learn to be humble to avoid unnecessary enemies working against you. There is a leadership post possibility , so be expected to take up this challenge when you are tasked to

the job. Keep a look out against bad investment, strong expenses for your house and car maintenance. Due to the sign of wealth loss, be vigilant if travelling late at night to guard against robbery. Love is getting a good direction in 2015, this is especially good for the singles out there. Socializing and knowing new people is an advantage to seek for a new partner. Tiger people need to take care of their stomach, intestine and digestion systems.

RabbitFor people born in Rabbit years: 1903, 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999.

In 2015, it is generally a good year for the rabbit people as most of the auspicious stars is present. For your career luck, you are advised to look up for your friends for help if you require assistance, such as looking for a new job. It pay well to work with your manager or immediate superior as they will aid you in your chance of a promotion. The money luck in 2015 is among your friends or relatives. Call them out for a chat to discover potential new money opportunities! Do however be humble when you have earn your pot of gold and plan for new financial investment. For the single rabbit people, you are likely to attract more suitors in 2015 and thus if you are seeking potential partner, you should attend different social platform to get to know more people. July and October are good months to develop these relationship further. Keep a look out for your nervous system and digestive system, as they tends to give

new year special

Chinese Zodiac Outlook In 2015

The New Age Parents 11

Page 12: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

you problem in 2015.

DRagonFor people born in Dragon years: 1904, 1916, 1928,

1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000.Expect a busy year in 2015 which is going to be a year of growth and personal improvement. A job promotion is possible but you are required to be put up to the task and take up the challenge. Invest your energy to develop good planning at work and your hard work will not be un-noticed! Be careful when you are driving on the road this year to avoid accidents. Avoid taking up new investment in 2015 and focus your energy on your career instead. Money luck is on the weaker side. The energy may cause some conflict with your co-worker this year, thus it is better to contain the situation than to blow up the whole episode. You are likely to fall sick due to exhaustion from work. Remember to take periodic rest when your body requires them. You need to keep in check of your digestive system, stomach, muscle and your spleen.

SnakeFor people born in Snake years: 1905, 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965,

1977, 1989, 2001.For the snake people, you need to plan for proper strategy at work so you can score yourself for a chance of promotion. You will require your co-worker to aid you for your chance to succeed, thus

people relationship is going be the focus point this year. It will also build up your personal reputation as well as getting them from them when needed. For personal wealth and investment luck, you can try for August and September which are the autumn month to aid you. Relationship can be a little rocky, so learn to have patience with your spouse. For the singles out there, it will be not too easy for you to seek a real partner, so take your time to build these relationship. If you travel overseas frequently, you need to be careful in 2015, as the accident rate is high. Do not engage in dangerous activities. It is recommended to avoid white and black events in 2015 to avoid clashes. Take care of your heart, stomach and digestion area in 2015.

HoRSeFor people born in Horse years: 1906, 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002.

2014 is a difficult and challenging year for the horse people. 2015 is showing better sign of an all rounder year. The Horse people will find career luck to be average this year, on the positive side, it also means the stress level is not going to be that high. Use the people around you, train and guide them so they can be your hands and legs for you to achieve your goal. People relationship is important, so you should spend time to improve them. It is also a good year to start planning for your business strategy if you are running your own business as the creativity energy is strong. You will take your relationship to the next level thus a lot of time should also be focus on your loves one. Single Horse people can look

out to socialize for potential partners during August and September. You need to watch your diet and take care of your cardiovascular and digestive systems in 2015.

MonkeyFor people born in Monkey years: 1908, 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004.

It is a happy year for the Monkey people as there is opportunities for wealth and money in 2015. You are likely to find yourself busy in pursuit of wealth. You should pay attention to all the money opportunities around you and invest your time heavily on them. Money luck is excellent in 2015. In August and September will be the best period for money luck. For the attached Monkey people, it is a good time to consider for marriage this year as the energy is beneficial for you. If you are still single, you can look for your potential partner among your friends. Being a busy year also means you are likely going to exhaust yourself easily, sufficient rest is very important for you to catch up with your body. When you are driving on the road, be extra careful and you should not consider dangerous activities in 2015.

RooSteRFor people born in Chicken years: 1909, 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957,

1969, 1981, 1993, 2005.In 2015, Rooster people need to observe

12 The New Age Parents

Page 13: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

their career luck in 2014, if it was a good year to you, 2015 is going to be a breeze as well. However, to some Rooster people, you will have a lot of pressure on your job and finances. You should take this year to take on education and gain new level of knowledge. There are wealth opportunities in 2015, you might want to consider working with a friend or partner to obtain the wealth faster. For investment, you should avoid short-term investment, else you will lose money. The love star is weak in 2015, so you need to exercise a lot of patience when seeking for a new partner. Consider attending more socializing activities than usual. You are likely going to work very hard

this year to obtain your objectives, thus you should remember to rest enough and exercise regularly. You need to take care of your nervous system in case of anxiety problem.

DogFor people born in Dog years: 1910, 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958,

1970, 1982, 1994, 2006.Dog people likely find themselves frustrated and irritated easily in 2015. You will have to learn to curb your temper, else it will jeopardise your

SHeep (goat)For people born in Sheep years: 1907, 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003.You need to stay low profile in 2015 as generally everything is not going to be in your favor this year. Competition is high in your career palace as you

may find yourself vying for the promotion with another co-worker. If you do not get it, do not be disappointed and work harder for the next year. Your expenses is also going to increase and it is advised that you should not loan money out this year. Sheep people, you need to spend more time with your spouse or partner if you are already attached, in case of competition. For the single out there, though it is not going to be easy seeking a new partner, you can still potentially search for one if you put in enough effort. Your digestion system and urinary system is the focus area that you should spent time taking care of them. Pay extra attention when driving on the road, when it is not in your year of favor, it is easy to run into accidents. You should not engage in any dangerous activities.

work relationship and among your co-colleagues. You should focus your energy on your career and avoid investment in 2015. Your love luck is dim so spend more attention on your love ones if you are already married. For the singles out there, you can increase your social activities during July, November and December to increase your chance of seeking a new partner. You need to take care of your stomach, spleen and digestive system in 2015 as they are more likely to run into problem. Plenty of rest is required if you work hard for your career.

pigFor people born in Pig years: 1911, 1923,

1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007.You may be on the look out for a new job or work environment. Chances are you are likely going to end up in a good company. Your work effort in the company will be focus on your management of project and task, so as long you focus your energy on it, your reputation in the company is going to be excellent in 2015. This denotes to a good chance for promotion opportunities. Your money luck is quite promising this year so generate all your energy to complete the task on hand. The love star is lacking this year so your love relationship will be slow to develop further. For the single, you can consider dating during March and April to improve your chance of getting a good partner. Take care of building pressure in your environment and learn to cope well. You should pay attention to your nervous system, stomach, spleen and digestive system in 2015.

new year special

The New Age Parents 13

Page 14: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

14 The New Age Parents

Page 15: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

new year special

Reflections to Become A

Better ParentNo parent is perfect. As much as we try to be the best Dads and Mums we can be to our kids, we sometimes fall short.

dorothea chow shares 10 reflections for parents to consider.

The New Age Parents 15

Page 16: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

M aybe you have a bad temper that makes it hard for you to rein in harsh words and ultimatums.

Or perhaps you find it hard to remember things, like that extra diaper or wet wipes, and wouldn’t you know it – that’s the day your daughter decides to do a massive poo explosion all over the car seat. We all suffer from mummy guilt and daddy guilt, don’t

we? But truth be told, feeling guilty never helped anyone. Here are 10 ways to make the most of your mistakes and slip-ups, and get better at the task of parenting.

1Don’t cry over spilt milkThere is really no point at all crying

over spilt milk or having a pity party for yourself when things don’t go as planned. While we are not saying you should bottle up all the emotions that come along the

way, it’s best not to dwell on the negative instances, because these things all add up over time. You can trust us on that! By all means be honest with how you feel, but don’t allow your emotions to consume you. Every person has their own way of managing their feelings – for example, you could write a journal, blog, paint, listen to music or call a friend. Then, move on.

2Don’t look backWe can’t right every wrong or

16 The New Age Parents

Page 17: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

transform ourselves overnight into someone we’re not. No matter what has happened, the fact is that we cannot change the past. Feeling regret and trying to analyze problems can sometimes turn into an unhealthy obsession to be that perfect parent – which is just not possible. Don’t over-analyze and criticize yourself and your child. Oftentimes, there are many unpredictable factors at play in any given situation. Focus on the future.

3Resolve to choose differently – have a

Plan BDo consider what you could have done better, and how you would want to react if something similar happened again in the future. Then think through why this would be a better way of responding to the situation. Having a game plan is great, but it’s even more important to be convicted of what you are seeking to do.

4Don’t compareIt is all too tempting to compare

yourself with your friends who are parents. By all means, seek out others who have been in your shoes before and thrived, but don’t judge yourself by their standards. You should also keep in mind that no one really sees what happens behind closed doors or inside a person. For all you know, your friends may be struggling with intense issues of their own!

5Read widelyThere is so much literature on

parenting out there, waiting to be read. Read with an open mind, and read different perspectives before

arriving at your own convictions and conclusions about all manner of parenting issues. Follow mummy blogs that don’t set up a perfect, unattainable standard, but which are real and offer practical advice for the average parent.

6Celebrate every milestoneSo your son used to whine and

fuss every time you dined outside, because he gets easily restless while waiting. You tried reading him a book, but that proved futile. The offer of a pre-

meal snack seemed helpful at frst, but you soon realized it meant he wouldn’t eat his “real” food when it came. After searching the web, you came up with some age-appropriate hands-on activities that you could bring out with you to keep him entertained while waiting for the food to arrive. That first meal where the wait is peaceful and happy, celebrate with some chocolate cake for dessert. Even better, share that cake with him! After all, it takes two hands to clap.

7Be the adult – don’t share everything

There is authenticity, and then, there is foolish rambling. Your child is, at the end of the day, still a child. He’s not

ready to hear about every nuance of your frustration, every detail of how things didn’t go as planned. Yet we adults sometimes treat our kids like “little adults” in the name of being transparent, and offload all our feelings and fears onto their little minds. Firstly, they probably don’t get it. And secondly, it’s not their burden to bear, really.

8Get help when neededSometimes we are too proud to

ask for help. Don’t be. Part of learning from our mistakes is realizing when we just lack the wisdom or skill to do something, or have our capacities are limited. By all means, try, try again, but also know your limits, and recognize when it’s time to ask for the help that you need.

9Remember what works

It’s easy to zoom in on what went wrong and dwell on how to avoid something similar happen again. Here’s a suggestion: instead of focusing on how to avoid the bad, think about the good. In other words, recollect those times when the bad didn’t happen, and reflect on why that was so. Sometimes, the solutions to our problems don’t come from analyzing the issue at hand, but on remembering the good bits.

⓾The journey matters as much as the destination

Sometimes it feels like you’re going one step forward and two steps back. Don’t worry – you will still get “there” if you do not give up. Remember, too, that this journey of parenting failures and successes is a priceless experience that

new year special

Feeling RegRet anD tRying to analyze

pRobleMS Can SoMetiMeS tuRn into an unHealtHy

obSeSSion to be tHat peRFeCt paRent – wHiCH

iS juSt not poSSible.

The New Age Parents 17

Page 18: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

18 The New Age Parents

Page 19: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

new year special

I don’t usually set goals and resolutions for the New Year. Often it’s because, out of the ten goals that I might have set, nine would have been broken before the end of January after which an avalanche of emotions starting from guilt to self-pity to finally resignation comes into play. Still, over the years, I continued to set new goals every time and I realized that we need not set big goals but the trick is to set sustainable ones. There are merits to setting goals. Top of the list is that goals keep us focused and attentive to the end result(s) we want to achieve.

#1 Take a personal retreat to think of what you want to achieve

Often, people think that you will need to pack and go to a faraway land to think. Actually, just waking up earlier by half an hour, over a cup of coffee early in the morning does wonders to the mind. Set personal time to nurture your heart and soul as without that the physical body cannot function with a focus.

#2 Goal setting as a mum and woman are distinct (in my opinion)

As a woman, we need to be able to set personal goals that increases our personal being as a whole. As a mum, we naturally deviate towards achieving family orientated goals. Either way, take baby steps. I take daily goals as essential and whether it is to cut back on carbohydrates or to meet

datelines, I take the effort to note it down. My ‘Note App’ and my alarm are my daily essentials. When the reminders come in, they purposefully remind me to refocus. This is important as there are often so many distractions that come along in the course of the day that if we don’t emplace ‘post-its’ around us to set as reminders, that’s when we might realize that at the end of the day, we might achieve nothing.

#3 Embrace being organized

The interesting fact is that being organized actually provides freedom. Organization can give you more time, money, and peace of mind. For me, I will take time out to even physically take away clutter and rework out space that I can visually see and find myself using.

#4 Don’t forget to celebrate!

Setting goals is one thing, committing to one is another! Therefore it is so important to celebrate when a goal is achieved. That makes the effort to persevere more meaningful. It need not be a big celebration but must be something that satisfies.If we take the time to look at and take into account what we have and what we can achieve, things will happen. Nothing will change if we don’t take the effort to make that change happen. Start right by setting goals for ourselves and take the right step forward into the New Year!

Ready, Set,

Goal! Goals keep us in persistence and work the mind so that it can work the body.

When results are achieved, the goal setting exercise would have helped to increase our self-confidence. esther Lim, founder and

ceo of Leap schoolHouse shares why she makes the effort to set goals for herself.

The New Age Parents 19

Page 20: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

宋淑珍 or Song Shu Zhen was born in 1979, the year of the goat. She is well-educated and has landed herself a reasonably good job with a statutory board after her graduation from National University of Singapore. Her surname Song is regarded as an auspicious character for people born in the year of goat because it contains the radical 宀 which symbolizes protection and 木 which implies good support. To sum it up, goat baby born into the house of Song will be able to enjoy generous and unconditional love from the parents. There is also a high possibility that the child will inherit the parents’ business or wealth next time. Nevertheless, the same does not apply to surname like 洪or Hong. In fact, goat people with this surname usually have conflicts with the parents or even bosses.

What’s in a name?In the study of Chinese Name Analysis System (八字生肖姓名学), surname represents one’s relationship with parents, whether he or she is well provided for by the family, a person’s intelligence, academic performance during primary and secondary school, creativity, status, reputation and etc. So, having the appropriate surname enables one to enjoy a good head-start in life.

Now, the issue is that most of us are not able to change our surname if things do not turn out as what we want. In this instance, we would then have to rely on the careful selection of middle and last Chinese characters in the name to mitigate or neutralize the negative influence of the surname.

In the case of Ms Song, she has benefited a lot from the parental

Auspicious chinese nAmes for newborns

in the YeAr of the GoAt

201520 The New Age Parents

Page 21: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

support since young. However, her middle and last Chinese words in her name have violated the principles of Chinese Name Analysis System. The outcome is that she often suffers in silence in the marriage due to frequent misunderstanding with her husband. Whenever she needs someone to lend a listening ear, she is not able to find a dependable friend and confidante. Even her own siblings brush her off. In terms of finances, she could not seem to be able to save up as much as she wishes although she does have a stable job. Whenever she manages to save some money, something unexpected will occur and she has to spend it all again. Money comes and goes very fast.

The middle name influences a person’s relationship with peers, siblings and spouse. In addition, it also talks about Emotional Quotient (EQ ) and a person’s self-esteem. As for the last name, it governs the career and money luck of a person, affinity with kids and immunity. For Ms Song, her Chinese name is not compatible with her animal sign. Goat people do not want to see, for examples, Chinese radicals with 氵and 王. We will elaborate the implications in subsequent paragraphs.

General Characteristics of People who are born in the Year of the GoatThe goat, which takes on the 8th position in the Chinese 12 Zodiac Signs, has always been one of the few selected animals that present itself as an oblation to the God since ancient time. The other animals are cow and pig. In some other cultures, goat has been slaughtered for honored guests. Ancient folklore has always perceived goats as tame, gentle and peace-

loving animals. They do not compete with other animals for food as they are contented with quietly feeding themselves with the grass in the field. They are intelligent and inquisitive but they love to spend their time roaming around in a calming manner. While they may be perceived as less aggressive animals, goats have surprisingly very strong life force and survival instinct. Their primary fear, however, is water. You would never find them wading through water. The reason behind this is that their sweat glands are grown underneath their trotters. Once their feet are wet and covered with sand or mud, the sweat glands will be blocked and this jeopardizes their life.

Therefore, by combining the knowledge of the intrinsic behavior of the goat with the Chinese astrological aspect of it, the ancient masters had developed this Chinese Name system aimed at enhancing a person’s destiny path. Every Chinese name character carries certain energy which can cast either positive or negative effect on the child or adult depending on their destiny chart.

What Chinese Surname will provide a good head-start for your Goat Baby? Let us take a deeper look at the dos and don’ts when you are selecting the name for your baby. First of all, it would be preferable for goat babies to be born into families carrying surname like: 陳、朱、劉、馬、許、方、吳、黃、程、蔡、田、葉、楊、林、宋and etc. It does not favour surnames such as:王、彭、徐、孔、李、孫、郭、洪、江、沈、溫、潘、呂、高、鄭 and etc.

The approach to selecting good

names for your baby is a rigorous and holistic one because not only there is a need to ensure the names complement the baby’s destiny chart, individual Chinese character within the name must also contain the right sound, right shape that ultimately create the right result for the child in all aspects of his or her life. It is also of paramount importance that the given name is compatible with both parents’ Chinese Name and zodiac sign.

In fact, many children and adults nowadays are seeking help from name experts to enhance or improve their study, romance, career luck and even one’s behaviour.

What Chinese characters are suitable for babies born in the year of Goat? We have earlier discussed about some of the basic characteristics of the goat zodiac sign to allow us to select Chinese characters that are appropriate for them. In the study of Chinese astrology, goat does not like to see rat, which is a water element. Therefore, Chinese word that contains radical that resemble water is seen as a form of “punishment” – astrologically speaking – which is inauspicious.

The following Chinese characters or radicals are some examples that are considered inauspicious for people born in the goat year:

1妞、紐、鈕、炄、扭、牢、生、牲、笙、性、星

(A taboo to see radicals like 丑 or 牛 because in the study of Chinese Astrology, Goat and Ox have conflicting energies. Such type of conflict is also known to be one of the 6 clashes in the study of BaZi.)

The New Age Parents 21

your baby

Page 22: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

2子、字、孟、李、水、永、泳、泉、冰、清、涵、港、遊、溫、孝

(Considered as a violation of the principle to see radicals like子and 水 as it is a punishment on goat. If such word exists in the middle name, it will lead to stress in marriage and relationship with peers. If it is present in the last name, it will lead to issue with personal finances, challenges in career and even womb related disease.)

3怡、性、悻、思、恩、慈、惠、意、愛、愉、慧、育、志、忠、念

(No good to see 心、月、忄radical because such words are associated with

heart which is deemed as part of our flesh and goat only feeds on grass, herbs and plants. In this situation, the person having this character in their name will find that the effort he or she puts in does not equate to the reward. )

4王、珍、玉、玨、皇、玲、瑾、瑜、琨、珂、珮

(The presence of 王radical implies sacrifices. The closest that goat can get near a King is when it is being made as an offering in the palace. A person’s name with this Chinese character often finds herself making sacrifices for family, friends and relatives. She will not be able to enjoy good life. The money she saves

will eventually be spent on others and little on herself. Unlike other animal signs like Rat, Dragon and Tiger, goat lacks the capability to lead like a King. Hence, one will find it difficult to break-through in career especially when the word is located at the last name.)

5復、徬、役、俊、仙、修、欣、分、芬、以、钦、倩、夕、旋

(These characters contain 人 radical. In fact some words here like分 imply the human is carrying a knife. This is definitely not a positive sign because it means the goat is going to be slaughtered for offerings. It creates fear in goat. So, the person having such

22 The New Age Parents

Page 23: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

character in the name can be defensive in his dealings with others.)

6龍、辰、農、宸、震、晨、展、振、丽、庆、麒、麟、君、京、贝

(A taboo to see龍 or 辰 radicals since in the Chinese Name System, Goat and Dragon are deemed to be having conflicting energies.)

7文、友、淑、英、兴、典、真、光、亮

(Radicals like 八, 又, 儿 have such shape and form that imply the animal is running or escaping. This implies instability in one’s life. Some of my clients that have such Chinese character in their last name often have hectic life in making money.)

8示、衣、丝、巾、采、萧、军、彦、日

(The group of radicals here implies giving in and making sacrifices. They carry the meaning of clot and silk. When goat is dressed up, it is time to be slaughtered for either prayer or imperial ceremony.) On the contrary, below Chinese characters are considered auspicious for people having goat zodiac sign:

1豕、象、豪、家、亥、逸、東、木、栋、迎、羊、美、羚、羲、卿

(In the study of BaZi, such characters or radicals form a 三合 [San He] or 3-Harmony relationship with goat which is extremely powerful and auspicious. For your information, Pig, Rabbit and Goat form this trinity.)

2通、建、廷、庭、起、宛、强、融、虹、凡、弘、引、凱、川、之

(In the study of BaZi, such characters or radicals take on the shape of snake – a

fire element. They form a 三会 [San Hui] or 3-Seasonal Summer relationship with goat which is another auspicious set of combination. For your information, Snake, Horse and Goat form this relationship.)

3南、朱、夏、彤、竹、午、骏、骅、炎、火、燦、炯、杰、然、红

(The characters or radicals here are related to horse which is a fire element. Similarly, they form a 三会 [San Hui] or 3-Seasonal Summer relationship with goat. Good to consider them.)

4菁、莉、蓉、茂、菊、利、莉、和、香、凱、豐、豊、田、莆

(As mentioned in earlier paragraph, goats love to eat only plant and do not eat meat. The use of such Chinese character in the name signifies good support in life, plenty of helpful people and easier to achieve success in society.)

5国、园、同、宏、定、富、闽、阂、广、厂、姗、册、稐、丘、山、谷、容

(We learn that goats are hardy animal.

They are very adaptable and can survive almost in any living condition. They are comfortable to stay in hill and mountain, low ground and valley, or even caves. They are known to be one of the earliest species of animals that were domesticated. Hence, living in a farm that is fenced up is also conducive for them. If one selects the names from this group of radicals, the person in real life will be blessed with good quality of life, protected and sheltered from misfortunes, enjoys peace and calm, and have good achievements in career and relationship.)

The list of examples above is not exhaustive. My objective in this article is to share with you some insights and wider perspectives on Chinese Name Selection for goat babies. I would encourage you to seek professional advice if you are contemplating of picking auspicious names for your child to have a smooth-sailing path in future.

With this, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for reading this article and wishing you good health and good fortune in 2015!

Master Jo Ching is the founder of DestinyAsia Global Consultancy and Master Trainer of Destiny Academy. Besides providing professional advices to clients on their home and office feng shui, destiny analysis and auspicious Chinese Name selection, he also conducts professional feng shui courses and corporate talks. He is frequently quoted by media like Lian He Wan Bao, Asiaone, The New Paper, RazorTV, Yahoo and etc. You are welcome to visit his company website or contact him at: Website: www.destinyasia.com.sgEmail: [email protected]

your baby

The New Age Parents 23

Page 24: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

24 The New Age Parents

Q: What are the common bowel problems you notice in most

children?Feeding concerns range from gastro-esophageal reflux in infants to picky eating in older children. Others include poor weight gain, diarrhoea, recurrent abdominal pain as well as constipation. A common problem that I pick up, but is usually not noticed by the parents, is delayed toilet training, which can worsen constipation.

Q: My child has hard stools. What food can I introduce to

him to make him clear his bowels?The necessary ingredients for soft

stools are soluble fibre and adequate water intake. Various fruits contain larger proportions of soluble fibre. In our local context, I usually recommend the consumption of dragonfruit or papaya. Certain juices like pear and prune juice also contain insoluble sugars that help the stools to

health

BowelTrouble

What kind of food should you provide for your child for better digestion and bowel movement? dr Goh Han Meng, paediatrician at sBcc Baby & child clinic answers some commonly asked questions.

retain water.

Q: My child seems to have watery stools all the time. What kind of

food should I avoid or give him?The key is to determine if the stools are really watery or not. In the presence of good weight gain, "watery" stools may actually be normal for the child. I usually ask for a picture or a stool sample as interpretation varies on the description "watery". Food avoidance depends on the cause of the problem.

For example, those with lactose intolerance should avoid lactose-containing products, the most prevalent of which is cow's milk formula. Rarer conditions like cow's milk protein allergy may improve with total breastfeeding or switching to a formula that is extensively predigested.

Practice address:SBCC Baby & Child Clinic (Ang Mo Kio)Blk 721 Ang Mo Kio Ave 8#01-2803/2805Singapore 560721Tel: 6456 8874Fax: 6453 2278

Page 25: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

The New Age Parents 25

Page 26: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

dental

The Evolution Of A ToothbrushThe same can be said about toothbrushes. Early man used twigs and branches to clean their teeth. Nowadays we have electric toothbrushes, which can be adjusted to varying speeds and tell us when we are brushing with too much force. One manufacturer even boasts that their toothbrush has been calibrated to create sonic movements that vibrate plaque off the surface of the teeth. Maybe ten years from now there will be toothbrushes that fix cavities and treat gum disease! I worry for my future employment!

26 The New Age Parents

In this modern age, everything is getting smaller, easier to use, mobile and more convenient. From handphones to cameras, things are not what they were ten years ago and ten years from now, they will probably be even better.

It’s How You Use ItComing back to today, manual toothbrushes are still in regular production and are just as good as electric toothbrushes. It all depends on the user. If he or she has been taught the correct technique to brush their teeth and is able to hold the toothbrush and move it in the right way, their teeth will be just as clean as using a fancy schmancy electric toothbrush.

Conversely, if someone uses an electric toothbrush the wrong way, their teeth will never be as squeaky clean as someone who uses a manual toothbrush the correct way. It’s all about motivation and yes, hard work.

Expensive Does Not Mean The BestSo fear not… Investing in the most expensive electric toothbrush with the highest specs does not automatically mean your tooth will be cleaner. One must also take note that the replacement toothbrush heads are also pricey. Ask your dentist to teach you how to brush your teeth correctly and a manual

Which is BeTTer?toothbrush is just as good, if not better.

Having said that, we sometimes recommend electric toothbrushes to patients with special needs or limited manual dexterity due to a physical disability, so there is a place for all types of toothbrushes.

MANuAl Vs elecTric TooThBrushes

By Dr Chin Shou King

Page 27: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15
Page 28: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

The New Age Parents 29 28 The New Age Parents

N o education is com-plete without charac-ter building. Charac-ter building and moral education are inter-

twined. Nurturing a morally upright child is more important than anything

else. Would you want a child who is academically bright and has achieved great results, but uses his intelligence in immoral or deceitful ways later in life? We come across many such ex-amples today. Newspapers frequently report of successful lawyers siphoning

millions of their clients’ money and leaving their wives and children be-hind and disappearing without a trace. More recently, top civil servants have been prosecuted for allegedly receiv-ing sexual favours in exchange for dol-ing out lucrative business contracts.

Raising a Wholesome PReschooleR

CharaCter Building & Moral eduCation

Part 6

ness, kindness and public-spiritedness, it also helps them put things in perspec-tive and helps them appreciate what they have.

Imparting positive values to chil-dren is a never-ending, ongoing pro-cess. It shapes the character of the child and moulds them into a morally upright and socially responsible adult. This will take them a lot further in life than merely a good education. It is such an important area which we, as parents, must never neglect.

For me, the above are the basic te-nets of bringing up a wholesome child. Let our children be the beneficiaries of a more holistic education so that they are equipped with the necessary skills and values to face the challenging world out there!

This is the final part of the six part se-ries by Mind Stretcher Education Group.

Character and moral education can be subtly infused by parents at home. Bringing up my children has been more of an experiential learning than a sit-and-teach process. Very often, I would use what we witness as talking points for imparting values and principles to them. For example, while having lunch at the food court, we often see boisterous kids throwing tantrums or being disrespect-ful to their parents or caregivers. Though I have taught my children the values of being respectful, seeing the scene played before their eyes is more valuable than repeating the point to them a thousand times. As the saying goes, “a picture paints a thousand words”.

Whenever such a scenario presents itself, I take every opportunity to ask my children questions about what they consider as appropriate or inappropri-ate behaviour.

However, we should also be mindful not to judge a book by its cover. There was another incident which we wit-nessed at a food court. A child, about 4 to 5 years old, was sitting on his moth-er’s lap, wailing away very loudly, with

no intention stopping at all. His mother simply continued to tuck into her food and blithely ignored her crying child. Everyone was looking at them. Should we just shake our heads and dismiss it as another case of a disobedient child throwing a tantrum? Though that might be the case, I would point out to my children that we should never jump to conclusions. Who knows, the child might suffering from a medical condi-tion that causes him great distress. So, it is not always a denunciation session. We have to present to our children a balanced viewpoint in every situation. In this case, it did not occur to my younger children that this child might have a medical condition beyond his control.

Scenarios highlighted need not al-ways be negative ones. Acts of kindness or generosity depicted on television or reported in newspapers could also be used to reinforce positive values.

Involving our children in communi-ty events that reach out to children from less privileged backgrounds would not only teach them compassion, helpful-

preschool

PART 6

Page 29: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

The New Age Parents 29 28 The New Age Parents

N o education is com-plete without charac-ter building. Charac-ter building and moral education are inter-

twined. Nurturing a morally upright child is more important than anything

else. Would you want a child who is academically bright and has achieved great results, but uses his intelligence in immoral or deceitful ways later in life? We come across many such ex-amples today. Newspapers frequently report of successful lawyers siphoning

millions of their clients’ money and leaving their wives and children be-hind and disappearing without a trace. More recently, top civil servants have been prosecuted for allegedly receiv-ing sexual favours in exchange for dol-ing out lucrative business contracts.

Raising a Wholesome PReschooleR

CharaCter Building & Moral eduCation

Part 6

ness, kindness and public-spiritedness, it also helps them put things in perspec-tive and helps them appreciate what they have.

Imparting positive values to chil-dren is a never-ending, ongoing pro-cess. It shapes the character of the child and moulds them into a morally upright and socially responsible adult. This will take them a lot further in life than merely a good education. It is such an important area which we, as parents, must never neglect.

For me, the above are the basic te-nets of bringing up a wholesome child. Let our children be the beneficiaries of a more holistic education so that they are equipped with the necessary skills and values to face the challenging world out there!

This is the final part of the six part se-ries by Mind Stretcher Education Group.

Character and moral education can be subtly infused by parents at home. Bringing up my children has been more of an experiential learning than a sit-and-teach process. Very often, I would use what we witness as talking points for imparting values and principles to them. For example, while having lunch at the food court, we often see boisterous kids throwing tantrums or being disrespect-ful to their parents or caregivers. Though I have taught my children the values of being respectful, seeing the scene played before their eyes is more valuable than repeating the point to them a thousand times. As the saying goes, “a picture paints a thousand words”.

Whenever such a scenario presents itself, I take every opportunity to ask my children questions about what they consider as appropriate or inappropri-ate behaviour.

However, we should also be mindful not to judge a book by its cover. There was another incident which we wit-nessed at a food court. A child, about 4 to 5 years old, was sitting on his moth-er’s lap, wailing away very loudly, with

no intention stopping at all. His mother simply continued to tuck into her food and blithely ignored her crying child. Everyone was looking at them. Should we just shake our heads and dismiss it as another case of a disobedient child throwing a tantrum? Though that might be the case, I would point out to my children that we should never jump to conclusions. Who knows, the child might suffering from a medical condi-tion that causes him great distress. So, it is not always a denunciation session. We have to present to our children a balanced viewpoint in every situation. In this case, it did not occur to my younger children that this child might have a medical condition beyond his control.

Scenarios highlighted need not al-ways be negative ones. Acts of kindness or generosity depicted on television or reported in newspapers could also be used to reinforce positive values.

Involving our children in communi-ty events that reach out to children from less privileged backgrounds would not only teach them compassion, helpful-

preschool

Page 30: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

30 The New Age Parents The New Age Parents 31

preschool

Settling the heart, defining your childSettling the heart, defining your child

By Crystal Tan

"Settling the heart, defining your child" - this very unique slogan caught The New Age Parents' attention when we were surfing the websites of the preschools across Singapore. The New Age Parents' editorial team immediately called up the school to understand more about this slogan. Subsequently, I made an appointment to speak to the founder, Mrs Rachel Ding. Upon acceptance of the invitation, I visited the various Red SchoolHouse Centres in Singapore over a period of 2 weeks.

Stimulating learning environmentStepping into Red SchoolHouse centres, I was totally captivated by the vibrant energy in the environments. Looking around the classrooms, the warm smiles, the aesthetic emotions and the child-sized furniture made the environments just pleasing and comfortable. I felt right at home! If I were a child, I would enjoy coming to school every day!

As Greenman (1988) states, space does speak to all of us. A thoughtfully-designed environment for children will have fewer management issues and less wasted time for teachers if the following two fundamental goals are met:

i) the environment is congruent with the philosophyii) the environment is invitingBeautiful artworks and varieties of learning materials

adorned corners of the classrooms. I could imagine the children’s happy daily learning in school. The teachers at Red SchoolHouse Woodlands shared with me that they introduced a variety of art mediums to spur the children’s creativity in creating unique art creations.

Walking around the classrooms of Red SchoolHouse

Upper Thomson, I spotted a group of K2 children observing a little butterfly in the jar. They overwhelmed me with descriptions on how they found this little caterpillar at the rooftop garden. They had been tracking the daily growth of the caterpillar too. Apparently, that very morning, the transformation had been completed and the butterfly would be released later on. The children were that excited!

While waiting at the gate for someone to let me in at Red SchoolHouse Katong, it was love at first sight for me as I took in the sight of the quaint little red and white bungalow. Stepping into the cosy classrooms, I went straight for the areas with soft rugs and comfy cushions. Indeed a home away from home.

Page 31: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

30 The New Age Parents The New Age Parents 31

preschool

Settling the heart, defining your childSettling the heart, defining your child

By Crystal Tan

"Settling the heart, defining your child" - this very unique slogan caught The New Age Parents' attention when we were surfing the websites of the preschools across Singapore. The New Age Parents' editorial team immediately called up the school to understand more about this slogan. Subsequently, I made an appointment to speak to the founder, Mrs Rachel Ding. Upon acceptance of the invitation, I visited the various Red SchoolHouse Centres in Singapore over a period of 2 weeks.

Stimulating learning environmentStepping into Red SchoolHouse centres, I was totally captivated by the vibrant energy in the environments. Looking around the classrooms, the warm smiles, the aesthetic emotions and the child-sized furniture made the environments just pleasing and comfortable. I felt right at home! If I were a child, I would enjoy coming to school every day!

As Greenman (1988) states, space does speak to all of us. A thoughtfully-designed environment for children will have fewer management issues and less wasted time for teachers if the following two fundamental goals are met:

i) the environment is congruent with the philosophyii) the environment is invitingBeautiful artworks and varieties of learning materials

adorned corners of the classrooms. I could imagine the children’s happy daily learning in school. The teachers at Red SchoolHouse Woodlands shared with me that they introduced a variety of art mediums to spur the children’s creativity in creating unique art creations.

Walking around the classrooms of Red SchoolHouse

Upper Thomson, I spotted a group of K2 children observing a little butterfly in the jar. They overwhelmed me with descriptions on how they found this little caterpillar at the rooftop garden. They had been tracking the daily growth of the caterpillar too. Apparently, that very morning, the transformation had been completed and the butterfly would be released later on. The children were that excited!

While waiting at the gate for someone to let me in at Red SchoolHouse Katong, it was love at first sight for me as I took in the sight of the quaint little red and white bungalow. Stepping into the cosy classrooms, I went straight for the areas with soft rugs and comfy cushions. Indeed a home away from home.

Page 32: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

Over at Red SchoolHouse Bartley, I sat with a group of Nursery 1 children as they waited with great anticipations for a story telling session to begin. There was this little alcove in the wall that was set to look like a tiny stage and the teacher sat there. ‘Handa’s Surprise’ by Eileen Browne was introduced to the children by the teacher along with a basket of real fruits and animal props. At the end of the story, the children had a fruit tasting session. The teacher made the whole session interesting and as I can see it, the children were very happy.

InteractIve customIzed Playgrounds by Playground sPecIalIstsRed SchoolHouse Katong has plentiful space for outdoor activities like water play, painting, chalk drawing, ball games and Little Tikes Cozy Trucks to ride around. I was intrigued by the organic herb garden. I spotted little watering cans and

had this vision of little children watering the plants. True to my vision, the little ones came out to the playground soon and watered the plants before playing. It was a captivating moment for me.

The children at Red SchoolHouse Bartley were having their weekly water play session. There was an inflatable pool filled with water. The teachers added learning materials to the pool of water. As I walked closer, I saw two children pouring water from one cup to another. While pouring, they realized that the bigger cup could hold more water. The teacher was quick to take the opportunity to introduce the

32 The New Age Parents The New Age Parents 33

preschool

concept of size and the attributes of it; big and little, height. I give the thumbs up for incidental learning at its best.

I was amazed by this gigantic indoor playground at Red SchoolHouse Woodlands. Wow!!! I would love to attend this school right away! One would not need to pay extra for those commercial indoor playgrounds that parents bring their children to on weekends. You have it exclusively right here in school! I watched the priceless smiles on the faces of the children as they climbed the padded obstacles and slid straight into a pit full of coloured balls. Peals of laughter could be heard and I smiled as I stood there watching them.

Red SchoolHouse Upper Thomson has a rooftop outdoor playground. I followed the Nursery 2s during an outdoor activity. The children were given free choices in deciding what they want to play with. Some of the children played with the specially developed obstacles, others could be seen doodling with coloured chalk on the walls. As an ex preschool teacher myself, it was lovely to see the excitement and enjoyment on the faces of the children!

the sPIce currIculumRed SchoolHouse offers a holistic SPICE curriculum for children between 18 months and 6 years old. Spearheaded by Rachel, the curriculum is a collaboration between a pool of local curriculum specialists from Red SchoolHouse and seasoned lecturers from various education institutes in Singapore.

As shared by Rachel, the curriculum focuses on developing the Social, Physical, Intellectual, Creative and Emotional aspects of each child using a local approach. The main goal is to nurture Happy, Successful children and prepare them for their transition to the local mainstream primary programme in Singapore. By adopting holistic and innovative approaches, emphasis is given on hands-on experiential learning through a collection of specially designed teaching materials. Children are encouraged to be independent and creative thinkers.

Red SchoolHouse recently won an award; Best of the Best

Page 33: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

Over at Red SchoolHouse Bartley, I sat with a group of Nursery 1 children as they waited with great anticipations for a story telling session to begin. There was this little alcove in the wall that was set to look like a tiny stage and the teacher sat there. ‘Handa’s Surprise’ by Eileen Browne was introduced to the children by the teacher along with a basket of real fruits and animal props. At the end of the story, the children had a fruit tasting session. The teacher made the whole session interesting and as I can see it, the children were very happy.

InteractIve customIzed Playgrounds by Playground sPecIalIstsRed SchoolHouse Katong has plentiful space for outdoor activities like water play, painting, chalk drawing, ball games and Little Tikes Cozy Trucks to ride around. I was intrigued by the organic herb garden. I spotted little watering cans and

had this vision of little children watering the plants. True to my vision, the little ones came out to the playground soon and watered the plants before playing. It was a captivating moment for me.

The children at Red SchoolHouse Bartley were having their weekly water play session. There was an inflatable pool filled with water. The teachers added learning materials to the pool of water. As I walked closer, I saw two children pouring water from one cup to another. While pouring, they realized that the bigger cup could hold more water. The teacher was quick to take the opportunity to introduce the

32 The New Age Parents The New Age Parents 33

preschool

concept of size and the attributes of it; big and little, height. I give the thumbs up for incidental learning at its best.

I was amazed by this gigantic indoor playground at Red SchoolHouse Woodlands. Wow!!! I would love to attend this school right away! One would not need to pay extra for those commercial indoor playgrounds that parents bring their children to on weekends. You have it exclusively right here in school! I watched the priceless smiles on the faces of the children as they climbed the padded obstacles and slid straight into a pit full of coloured balls. Peals of laughter could be heard and I smiled as I stood there watching them.

Red SchoolHouse Upper Thomson has a rooftop outdoor playground. I followed the Nursery 2s during an outdoor activity. The children were given free choices in deciding what they want to play with. Some of the children played with the specially developed obstacles, others could be seen doodling with coloured chalk on the walls. As an ex preschool teacher myself, it was lovely to see the excitement and enjoyment on the faces of the children!

the sPIce currIculumRed SchoolHouse offers a holistic SPICE curriculum for children between 18 months and 6 years old. Spearheaded by Rachel, the curriculum is a collaboration between a pool of local curriculum specialists from Red SchoolHouse and seasoned lecturers from various education institutes in Singapore.

As shared by Rachel, the curriculum focuses on developing the Social, Physical, Intellectual, Creative and Emotional aspects of each child using a local approach. The main goal is to nurture Happy, Successful children and prepare them for their transition to the local mainstream primary programme in Singapore. By adopting holistic and innovative approaches, emphasis is given on hands-on experiential learning through a collection of specially designed teaching materials. Children are encouraged to be independent and creative thinkers.

Red SchoolHouse recently won an award; Best of the Best

Page 34: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

34 The New Age Parents The New Age Parents 35

preschool

Red SchoolHouse @ Upper Thomson

34 Sin Ming LaneMidview City

Singapore 573955T: 6353 3200

Red SchoolHouse @ Woodlands

11 Woodlands Close#01-29/30

Woodlands 11Singapore 737853

T: 6334 7680

Red SchoolHouse @ Katong

11 Margate RoadSingapore 438052

T: 6342 1377

Red SchoolHouse @ Bartley

67 Lorong PenchalakSingapore 536290

T: 6288 2387

W e b S i T e : W W W . R e d S C h h S . C o M

Red ScHoolHoUSe locaTionS:

Preschool Awards – Best in Character Building. As part of the curriculum, children build character traits every month like; sincerity, diligence and responsibility and by embarking on missionary and charity projects.

Red SchoolHouse strongly encourages parents to be actively involved in their children’s daily learning in school. Parents are given simple ‘mini projects’ to complete together with their children at home. This gives parents a chance to bond with their children. I feel this is a great idea for busy parents who need not source for ideas on what to do with their children.

Monthly Field tripsI must say I was pretty impressed when I heard that Red SchoolHouse brings their children out on monthly field trips, considering that logistics alone is not easy to handle. The little learners go to various places in Singapore such as goat / mushroom / tortoise farms, Health Promotion Board, Yakult

factory, butterfly park and even an otah factory. They will also go for age appropriate theatre plays at least once a year at places like the Esplanade and Act 3 International at Cairnhill Road. No wonder, the little kiddos at Red SchoolHouse seem very confident, exposure is important.

passionate and nurturing educators What makes a great teacher? Someone who is a role model? In every aspect, a teacher has to be responsible for her words and actions to the children. A teacher thinks for the children and helps them reach their fullest potential.

At Red SchoolHouse, I observed that the teachers are observant and attentive to the children. I could hear words of encouragement given to help the children overcome the obstacles.

One incident left a deep impression on me, at one of the schools; the activity was about balloon printing. During the craft

activity, a young child was having difficulty with the printing. The teacher was very patient and kept encouraging the child, eventually the child overcame his fear of getting dirty and succeeded in creating his own masterpiece. Now, in the process of encouragement, the teacher’s pants was accidentally dirtied by the child who was holding

the balloon with paint. She did not show any signs of displeasure and continued to guide the child. That touched my heart.

Are you looking for a school for your child? Come on down and visit Red SchoolHouse today! p/s: A little bird told me the schools offer free trials…

Page 35: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

34 The New Age Parents The New Age Parents 35

preschool

Red SchoolHouse @ Upper Thomson

34 Sin Ming LaneMidview City

Singapore 573955T: 6353 3200

Red SchoolHouse @ Woodlands

11 Woodlands Close#01-29/30

Woodlands 11Singapore 737853

T: 6334 7680

Red SchoolHouse @ Katong

11 Margate RoadSingapore 438052

T: 6342 1377

Red SchoolHouse @ Bartley

67 Lorong PenchalakSingapore 536290

T: 6288 2387

W e b S i T e : W W W . R e d S C h h S . C o M

Red ScHoolHoUSe locaTionS:

Preschool Awards – Best in Character Building. As part of the curriculum, children build character traits every month like; sincerity, diligence and responsibility and by embarking on missionary and charity projects.

Red SchoolHouse strongly encourages parents to be actively involved in their children’s daily learning in school. Parents are given simple ‘mini projects’ to complete together with their children at home. This gives parents a chance to bond with their children. I feel this is a great idea for busy parents who need not source for ideas on what to do with their children.

Monthly Field tripsI must say I was pretty impressed when I heard that Red SchoolHouse brings their children out on monthly field trips, considering that logistics alone is not easy to handle. The little learners go to various places in Singapore such as goat / mushroom / tortoise farms, Health Promotion Board, Yakult

factory, butterfly park and even an otah factory. They will also go for age appropriate theatre plays at least once a year at places like the Esplanade and Act 3 International at Cairnhill Road. No wonder, the little kiddos at Red SchoolHouse seem very confident, exposure is important.

passionate and nurturing educators What makes a great teacher? Someone who is a role model? In every aspect, a teacher has to be responsible for her words and actions to the children. A teacher thinks for the children and helps them reach their fullest potential.

At Red SchoolHouse, I observed that the teachers are observant and attentive to the children. I could hear words of encouragement given to help the children overcome the obstacles.

One incident left a deep impression on me, at one of the schools; the activity was about balloon printing. During the craft

activity, a young child was having difficulty with the printing. The teacher was very patient and kept encouraging the child, eventually the child overcame his fear of getting dirty and succeeded in creating his own masterpiece. Now, in the process of encouragement, the teacher’s pants was accidentally dirtied by the child who was holding

the balloon with paint. She did not show any signs of displeasure and continued to guide the child. That touched my heart.

Are you looking for a school for your child? Come on down and visit Red SchoolHouse today! p/s: A little bird told me the schools offer free trials…

Page 36: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

For Your Children ThaT

MoneY Can’T BuY

christmas special

36 The New Age Parents

Page 37: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

Y es, the Fisher-Price Octopod P l a y s e t provides ample entertainment, but will it really impact my kid’s

life in a significant way or make her a better, more self-assured person? Not to sound trite, but the saying, “The best things in life can’t be bought” comes to mind.

Next time you’re about to buy a present for your kid, consider this list of 13 gifts.

#1 “Open when” letters. Starting from babyhood or early

childhood, write letters to your kid’s future self with the label, “Open when you’re 18” or 22, 25, 30, etc. The point is to share details about what their younger selves are like.

For example, I would write to the future Chloe that at 2 years and 11 months, she can write her name and count to 29, likes dancing with her hair down in front of mirrors, playing with sand, and eating chocolate cereal for breakfast.

These intimate letters offer a precious glimpse into your child’s fleeting childhood years and lets them know how much they have grown.

#2 Attention. Sometimes when I desperately need to get stuff done,

I’ll put on a movie for Chloe. But the other day she looked up and said, “Mummy, I want you to sit here.” It occurred to me that she didn’t just want to watch Frozen. She wanted to watch it with me. Rather than sitting at the dining table typing away on my laptop, I should have kept her company.

Parents have practically made a profession out of multitasking. We’ve grown accustomed to juggling multiple responsibilities. And most of us have, on

For Your Children ThaT

MoneY Can’T BuY

13MeaningFul

GiftsBy Jenny Tai

The New Age Parents 37

Page 38: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

singing, dancing, playing, and talking, so this one’s easy. Just be sure you set these recordings aside for safe keeping to show your kids later. They’ll love these little gems.

#5 The confidence to say “No thank you.” Empower your

kids to stand up for what they think is right instead of giving in to peer pressure. Teach them to be self-assured people who follow their guts, and who aren’t afraid to say no.

occasion, divided our attention between our phones and our children.

Do you feel guilty about that? Good. That’s okay, now move on. Going forward, remind yourself that when you give your child your full attention, it is a form of love. Little else makes them feel as important as your presence.

#3 A “follow through” attitude. Nobody likes flakey

people who make promises only to break them. Teach your children that they’re held accountable for their words and actions.

Model determination and gumption, so that your kids will understand the importance of completing commitments. Goal-getters are made of people who follow through.

#4 Memorable recordings. You probably already record your kids

christmas special

38 The New Age Parents

Page 39: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

This will save them from plenty of trouble, regret, and inconvenience in life. Be sure to tell them how proud you are of their courage, because as we all know, it takes lots of courage to say no.

#6 Undisputed support. No matter the problems and confusion

your child encounters down the road, as long as they know they have your support, they’ll feel grounded.

Let them know that you have their back. That you’re rooting for them. That you love and support them through and through.

#7 Trust. As kids grow older, they might crave a bit of space and

privacy, which could explain why they’re exasperated by your constant hovering.

Perhaps they suspect that you don’t trust them enough, which is an awful feeling. Give them some freedom to figure out who they are and how to be independent. Trust that they’ll make sound judgments.

But do have an open discussion first about your family rules with online activities, curfews, and hanging out with friends outside of school. Above all,

be honest with each other about your expectations.

#8 Faithfulness to their other parent. “The best thing a father

can do for his children is to love their mother,” said John Wooden, an author and basketball player and coach. The quote can also be said for a mum loving her children’s father, of course.

By demonstrating love and kindness to your spouse, you’re modeling the very behavior you aim to instill in your kids. And don’t forget that a wholesome and complete family is the ultimate gift for any child.

#9 A sense of adventure. Make everything an adventure, be it a

family outing, a weekend trip to the mall, a walk to the park or even a simple errand. The key is exuding an adventurous attitude.

So ask your kids, “Want to go on an adventure?” Chances are, they’ll say yes. Then proceed to make this trip to the grocery store as fun as possible.

You can make a small challenge out of bagging and weighing vegetables. Or give them clues about what item to grab (“It’s in a box. It’s crunchy, and usually eaten with milk”). Use your imagination—it will inspire them to use theirs.

#10 Education. The French don’t really use the word “discipline.” Instead, they

use the term “educate” in reference to raising and teaching their children things outside of school, according to Pamela Druckerman, author of the bestseller Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting.

Discipline connotes punishment and stern correction. So let’s take on an educational spirit. Have the patience and determination to guide and advise your

children about what’s appropriate, kind, and ethical. They might not be grateful for it all the time, but they’ll thank you later.

#11 Your own happiness. The more obvious gift would be to give

your children happiness. But let’s think about your happiness for a moment. Now, I’m not saying be selfish and think only about yourself. Instead, let me ask if you have any insecurities, moments when you dislike what you see in the mirror, question your self worth, or feel like you keep failing?

Remember that your children are utterly affected by you. They learn from how you treat them, others, and yourself. Be kind, forgiving, and loving to yourself because it’s not just for your sake, it’s also for theirs.

Kids want their parents to be happy. Just as parents want their kids to be happy. So give them the gift of your own happiness.

#12 Affirmation. “Look at me! Mummy, look at me!” Does that

sound familiar? If your kids want to show you something they did, please put down what you’re doing and look. Acknowledge with warmth and enthusiasm as much as possible. Tell them you’re proud of them. Say the words, “I love you,” then say it again and again with your actions.

#13 Home as a haven. There are many things you can’t control in

your kids’ lives outside of home. Friendship drama, pressure, unkind words, injuries, disappointments—all of which make life, life.

But make your home a haven. Let them have no doubt that when they step inside, they’re in a place of comfort and security. This is a priceless gift that will impact them their whole lives: A home where they are accepted and loved.

The New Age Parents 39

Remember that your children are utterly affected by you. They learn from how you treat them, others, and yourself.

Page 40: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

coverpAGe contestT h e N e w A g e P A r e N T s

Lucia Walcott

Coverpage Winner

Page 41: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

gianna ashford

runner up

Page 42: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

Caeden Lee Wei Hong

SeCond runner up

Page 43: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15
Page 44: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

44 The New Age Parents

Page 45: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

The New Age Parents 45

Preparing for the day…In the months preceding D-Day, I hemmed and hawed over the decision to put my daughter in preschool. We don’t have opportunities for very many playdates and I thought it would be good for her to interact with other children more frequently. I also yearned for a few hours of respite to freely run errands and work on my projects, and so it seemed like a win-win situation if I should put her in the care of loving teachers in

school, especially when help was scarce at home.

I was well aware of the benefits of early childhood education, but I simply couldn’t bear the thought of saying goodbye to her when the day comes to drop her off at school. I have been her main caregiver since the day she was born, and I was sure that the girl would burst into tears if I should hand her over to strangers. After much contemplation, my husband and I felt that the only way to find out if she was suitable for

growing up

The First Day Of

F i r s t t i m e m u m s e r i e s

Preparing For

School I was a complete mess when my daughter first attended school. It was not a pretty sight; think hot tears streaming down the face (mine and hers), snot and drool smeared all over and uncontrollable residual sobs that wouldn’t cease for what feels like forever.

preschool at a tender age of 19 months, was to put her in for a month or so and see how things progress (note: we were on the thrice-weekly, three-hour program).

The first dayOn the first day of school, we asked our daughter to invite her favourite soft toy, Pooh, to school and we accompanied her for the first hour, left her with the teachers (and Pooh!) for another before picking her up. It seemed like I might have worried a little too much, because unlike jittery mum here who bit her nails and practically threw up her breakfast in that hour away from her, she seemed okay with it, and so we decided to try dropping her off on the second day instead of sitting in.

That didn’t go too well. She cried, naturally, on seeing us leave. My heart was broken, and I tried my best to hold back my tears as the teacher she took to

By Rachel Tan

Page 46: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

46 The New Age Parents

We kept our goodbyes very succinct and cheerful, and for the next 1.5 months, whilst my daughter showed some resistance in putting on her uniform, whined during the commute to school and of course, cried at drop-off, she did so only at the point of separation, and was happily running in to join her friends after I was out of sight.

Today, she looks forward to going to school, even on days when she is not slated to attend, and often talks about her friends and teachers when she reads her books or after periods of absence due to illness or holidays.

Your little ones deserve more creditYes. It was a very emotional time, as most parents would attest, but I have come to know this...that teachers are well-trained and experienced enough to help children settle down, and whilst it is very distressing to watch your child reach out for you, with tears streaming down his or her face, kicking and screaming even, we have to trust that the teachers will do everything they can to help. I have also learnt to give my child a little more credit.

My daughter wasn’t the easiest baby to care for and I admit I did think that she might take much too long to get used to being away from me, but the truth is, children are much more adaptable than we think they are. I’m glad that we went ahead with our decision to give preschool a try, even if there was a chance of a complete disaster, because looking at my daughter thriving and enjoying school, the first-day-of-school is probably one of the best things we have ever gone through as a family.

Stay tuned for part three of our ‘First Time Mum’ series in our next issue!

the most on the first day, guided a very distraught her into the classroom. I burst into tears once I was out of sight and felt like the most horrible mother in the world for abandoning her child who, by the way, cried like the world has ended (or something to that effect).

Two hours later, we picked our surprisingly cheerful girl up, and whilst she did cry occasionally for me while we were gone, the teachers told us that it didn’t take too much to calm her down. I was utterly relieved to hear that but

that didn’t take the dread away from subsequent drop-offs. The secret behind dropping your child offFriends who have gone through this ‘rite of passage’ shared that it was important for us to keep talking to our daughter about school, and maintaining a positive attitude when we say goodbye. The longer a caregiver holds onto a crying child at drop-off, the worse it gets and I have come to realise that my dear friends have told me nothing but the truth.

growing up

Page 47: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

What is the value of keyboard music in the

Kinderland Curriculum?

Keyboard music is a core programme in the Kinderland Curriculum since 1978. Taughtby professional music teachers, it helps to:

develop spatial-visual skills accelerate early literacy build focus and confidence refine motor skills

(Neurological Research by Rauscher, Shaw, Levice, Wright, Dennis & Newcomb, 1996)

Playing Keyboard music enhancesa child’s abstract reasoning skillswhich are important for learningmaths and science.

QUOTE THIS AD TO GET 2 KINDERFIT ATTIRE WHEN YOU ENROL* *T&C apply.

a member of Crestar Education Group, is a leading provider of quality and bilingual infant care, preschool and kindergarten to children 2 months to 6 years of age.

Page 48: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

Jenny tai shares with us why it’s important to remember the things to be thankful for.

An elaborate, traditional Thanksgiving feast of velvety, buttery mashed potatoes, cornbread, cranberry sauce,

pumpkin pie, and of course, turkey with stuffing. And a deeply satisfying food

coma afterward. That’s how Thanksgiving usually unfolds for us in our gathering of family and friends.

Which leads me to the first thought on giving thanks: Let’s start with being grateful for our food, and encouraging our

kids to follow suit. There’s been ample discussion about

picky eaters and how to get our kids to eat their veggies. We tell them not to waste food. That kids in Africa have so much less. My mother-in-law used to tell my husband

teaching Our children the Value Of…

Giving ThanksGiving Thanks

48 The New Age Parents

t n a P V a l u e S e r i e S

Page 49: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

that for every grain of rice he left uneaten, he’d grow a ghastly pimple. Well, we all have tricks to deal with picky eating, don’t we?

But how exactly do we make our kids understand that they should be grateful for having anything to eat at all? Nowadays, parents tend to let their kids reign at the table. You might say we give them too much control over their menu. But it wasn’t always so.

Get Your Kids involvedAs mummy Jenn Choi writes in an article for The Atlantic, “In the past, until about the mid-20th century, kids joined families in the kitchen, helping to prepare food, setting the table, clearing the table, and washing the dishes. Long ago…children even caught their family’s food.”

I’ve always advocated inviting children to help in the kitchen. My daughter, who is nearly 3 years old, loves washing rice and veggies. She’s a lot more enthusiastic about eating whatever she helps prep. It also gives her insight into all the work involved to get food on the table.

So for Thanksgiving dinner or regular meals, ask your kids to help you make food. When you take them grocery shopping, mention how much each item costs. At the cashier, hand your wallet to your kid and let them extract the bills to pay for the food. The physical act of doing this allows them to further grasp this reality: that one shouldn’t waste because everything has a price.

Then involve them in prepping and cooking, so that they’ll get a sense of what it takes to feed the family. I promise you, they’ll feel more grateful for the meal on the table. And as a bonus, watch their faces when you eat something that they cooked. When

you say “Thank you for making this,” they’ll positively beam with pride.

Grateful Kids Become Happier adultsIndeed, saying “Thank you” is one of the first things we teach our children when they begin to talk. It’s not just a form of being polite - it’s a way to show gratitude and even humility towards another human being.

But we tend to say “Thank you” more to strangers, aunties and uncles, friends, and people outside of our family, than to people within our own household. We might not bother voicing or expecting these notes of appreciation to and from our children or spouse as much.

Perhaps that ought to change. Let’s instill a spirit of thankfulness by setting an example, and thanking our little ones and dear husbands. Say thanks to your kid for picking up a dropped crayon, or sharing their toy with their sibling. Say thanks to your husband for handing you a glass of water.

It might feel a tad formal at first, but once you get the hang of it, everyone will be happier. Why? Because they’ll feel more appreciated, which will boost your overall household harmony.

At the dinner table, you could introduce

a family tradition of having everyone take their turn saying one thing they’re thankful for. According to Christine Carter, Ph.D., author of Raising Happiness, “Grateful people are more likely to be both kind and helpful. Researchers have found that people who practice gratitude feel considerably happier”- by a significant 25%!

Carter posits that thankfulness is a skill that can be nurtured and cultivated. If you’re still wondering what the big deal is in teaching your kids to give thanks, consider this: Grateful children are more likely to grow into happier adults.

If what it takes is teaching them to see the beauty of every day things and appreciate small moments and gestures - well, doesn’t that seem like a terrific deal? Gratefulness in exchange for happiness. Sounds like a win-win to me.

Stay tuned for the next part of our ‘Value’ series as we talk about Teaching Our Children The Value Of…Standing up for themselves.

growing up

If you’re still wondering what the big deal is

in teaching your kids to give

thanks, consider this: Grateful

children are more likely to grow into

happier adults.

The New Age Parents 49

Page 50: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

When your children suffer, we do too. fiona Walker, principal of schools & ceo of Julia Gabriel education shares some important questions parents can ask themselves if they are being overprotective.

OverPrOtective

Love, concern and wanting the best for our children make us instinctively jump to their aid, to ensure they are protected at all times. We may even set out to control their movements, even their friendships, as they grow older. When your toddler falls over and grazes his knee or your seven year-old is left out of the football team, how difficult do you find it to give them a warm hug, offer some sympathetic words - but then do nothing?

We all want our children to be safe, successful and happy and it hurts us to know if they are not. But are you so full of fear and anxiety at every stage of your child’s development that you feel the need to micro-manage their every move? Do you hover and swoop in at the first indication of a mistake (‘helicopter parent’), afraid your child will fail or get hurt?

It's Hard To JudgeIn reality, over-protectiveness is hard to judge. Parents instinctively adopt different parenting styles according to their own experiences, temperaments and behaviour patterns, just as all children are different. And honestly, who is anyone to judge that you are being over-protective with your

50 The New Age Parents

Page 51: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

child? Caring deeply for the welfare and wellbeing of your child should never be something you feel guilty about!

That said, research shows that when we do not allow our children time to work through predicaments themselves or experience a gamut of emotions brought about by failure, mishaps or struggling to acquire a new skill, we deprive them of the opportunity to work out how to manage their feelings during difficult times and obstruct their path to full independence. Karen Karbo, author of "Why being less protective is better for your kids" says, "Just as learning a sport demands years of practice, so does learning to handle life's setbacks."

What Is Your Style?So, what is your approach to raising your child? Studies have identified four parenting styles and the general impact of each as follows:

authoritarian ParentinG: Children are expected to follow strict rules set by their parents. Parents often respond to queries with “because I said so” and tend to believe children should be seen and not heard. They are very focused on

obedience and training.iMPAcT Children may be obedient and

proficient but have low self-esteem, poorly developed social skills and rank lower in happiness indexes.

authoritatiVe ParentinG: Parents establish clear rules and guidelines but are responsive to children’s questioning authority. They are more nurturing than Authoritarian Parents when children fail to meet expectations and are assertive but not intrusive or restrictive. iMPAcT Children are happy, capable and

successful.

PermiSSiVe ParentinG: Parents tend to be less traditional and more lenient. They may have relatively low expectations of maturity and self-control but are nurturing and communicative with their children, often seeming more like a friend than a parent.iMPAcT Children rank lower in happiness

and self-control. They are also more likely to have difficulty with authority, which can affect performance in school.

uninVolVeD ParentinG: A parenting style with very little communication and low expectations. Parents are often detached from their child’s life.iMPAcT Children rank lower in

happiness, self-control, self-esteem, social awareness and academic competence.

Stepping back to watch your child take a risk you know will result in a bumped knee or bruised ego takes courage, but if you believe you are being over-protective, try to do so in the knowledge that such experiences will help your child develop the resilience they need to move forward into the big wide world.

haVinG DetermineD Your StYle, now aSK YourSelF theSe queStionS:

Do you leap in to assist your child at the first sign of failure?

Do you worry about your child getting dirty or covered in germs?

Do you constantly remove your child from challenging or stressful situations?

Do you constantly make decisions for your child?

Do you put pressure on your child to be more successful than their peers?

Do you try to control your child’s every move?

Do you really listen to your child’s point of view?

Do you hover constantly over your child?

for the parent

The New Age Parents 51

Page 52: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

The ‘Oversharenting’ and ‘Fakebooking’ Phenomenon

Oversharenting and FakebOOkingThe term "oversharenting" - the tendency for parents to share too much information and pictures of their children online was coined by Steven Leckart in the Wall Street Journal in 2012. The media has been a popular platform for sharing news with the online community. Some parents get so desensitized to it that parenthood seems to be performed online. There is the "fakebook" phenomenon thrown in the mix too. Positive posts of near perfect parents and children make up the steady stream of updates. While there is nothing inherently wrong with this, it does create a false persona and alienates people in indirect ways.

We are nOt WhO We seem tO beRecent studies have shown that the online persona is a projection of a person's desired true self. Idealised versions of ourselves - feelings

trimmed with fancy words, pictures of your immaculate house posted, busy lives, spiritual posts - feed into what you want others to believe you are. In addition, people are less inclined to air 'dirty laundry' in public media, but because of this people are often led to believe other peoples' lives are much better than our own, shares Jill Smokler, founder of online parenting community Scary Mommy.

There is also a danger by viewers to evaluate people by

what they see online. Just because another parent does not post about all the baking and art and craft she does with her children does not mean she is not doing it. A very busy feed does not signify a more active life. Furthermore, it is a choice not to post personal pictures.

Life does not revolve around how many "likes" you get to give the rating on how one is living life. For the digitally controlled, it may be a choice not to get on the merry go round of online validation. I do

Ever been informed of a little too much information on your friend's or Instagram with details that were best kept intimate? som Yew Ya investigates the implications of ‘oversharenting’ and the ‘fakebooking’ phenomenom.

52 The New Age Parents

Page 53: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

for the parent

know of a considerable number of parents who intentionally do not post family pictures but choose to connect over Skype and email pictures.

There is great danger in losing the ability to think and see people outside of digital media and judging them based on what they do not post.

Online saFety COnCernsSharing simple anecdotes and photos are not all bad. Judith Donath, author of The Social Machine, feels that motherhood can be very isolating and the internet may be a means of socialising. It is a common medium to share with extended family and friends and to get up to date in one another's lives with just a few convenient clicks.

However it is also a fact that many people either do not bother to restrict viewing settings or prefer to distribute their posts publicly. Images can of course be redistributed and edited by others in many ways but many seem not to consider this.

Kathy Simovska, national manager of Child Wise, Australia's leading international child abuse prevention charity, cautions the potential danger of posting personal information online which makes it easier for child sex offenders to target children and find out more information than they could otherwise. "I don't think parents

realise strangers can see the information they post online." Some photos go viral just by different related persons liking them or secondarily sharing them.

digital legaCy OF Our Children

Nowadays it is not uncommon for parents to create Facebook accounts for their newborn children, or even posting updates in first person. There is a balance needed between that thrill of posting photos effortlessly with near instant response versus the need to give your child that space of privacy and choice. This is a difficult but necessary area to contend.

Steven Leckart says it well in The Facebook Free Baby, "It's not that I want my son to remain hidden from the world. I just want him to inherit a decision instead of a list of passwords and default settings. If he takes part in social media, he'll eventually do so on his own terms, not mine. (At what age? No idea. I'm new at this!)" There's got to be a balance between oversharenting and considerate sharing.

six tips for oversharents:

1. Think before you post2. Avoid identifying information of your kids and yourself3. Check privacy settings and updates4. Consider accepting tags by others & accepting friends requests5. Turn off location devices6. Look back over past posts and see what is viewable to others

The New Age Parents 53

Page 54: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

54 The New Age Parents

finance

iMPorTANT FAcTs To KNoW BeFore iNVesTiNg6

Page 55: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

Before embarking on the investing route, tan ooi sim Winston gives us a checklist of what we need to be aware of.

1unDerStanDinG Your riSK ProFile

Risk Profile is also known as Risk Tolerance. It is defined as an evaluation of your willingness to take risks. Simply put, if one is not able to take much risk (or downside, also known as possible loss) in their investment, they are considered a Low Risk profile. Risk profile is normally divided into 4 categories: Low, Low-Medium, Medium-High, High.

It is very important to understand your own risk profile before taking up any investments. Which is why this is the first on my checklist in this article. Some clients whom I have worked with, who believe they are low risk takers, expect very high returns with low risks. This is not possible in investing, as high returns demand a higher risk tolerance or downside.

Risks however can be mitigated via the Investment Efficient Frontier. I will not be going into further details on Efficient Frontier within this article as it is quite technical. You may like to search for this term on the internet for more details.

risk Profile and investments Knowing one’s Risk Profile would also decide on what type of investments they should invest in. For instance, a low risk taker should buy more bonds in their portfolio (between 70% to 80%). Whereas a high risk taker should have 70% - 80% in equities.

One may find their risk profile via a series of questions on their attitudes when it comes to investing. The answers are tabulated to a score, with corresponding scores tied to different risk profiles.

The New Age Parents 55

Page 56: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

finance

These risk profiling questions are normally available from a professional financial planner or one may find it online. One thing to be wary of online risk profiling questions is some questions may not fit into our local context. Also, do make sure that you answer at least 8 – 10 questions to have a more accurate score.

2inVeStment time horizon

One’s investment timeframe is also a crucial element in their investment portfolio and indirectly, affecting their risk profile.

A person who needs his investment monies in 5 or 10 years is normally recommended to reduce his risky

investments to a more low-medium risk portfolio.

Contrast that with a young person who is investing for his retirement funds he needs in 30 years, he may take on a more aggressive portfolio with more equities for the long term, that is if he can stomach the downside risk of the portfolio.

Time horizon is definitely one of

Page 57: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

The New Age Parents 57

the questions for Risk Profiling.A professional financial planner is able

to assist you in constructing a suitable portfolio(s) by taking into account your Risk Profile and Investment Timeframe.

3CharGeSFor any kind of investments, be

it bonds, equities, funds from fund houses, there are costs and charges involved. Do make it a point to ask for all charges. Here are a few types of charges one should look out for:Initial Investment ChargeAdmin Charge (to maintain your investments)Bid-Offer SpreadFund Management Fee (for fund managers)Investment Withdrawal ChargeBrokerage FeesFund Switching FeesIn general, if your investment involves active management from a third party, e.g. Fund Managers in an active Worldwide Equity Fund, the annual investment charge is slightly higher compared to a Fund Manager specialising in Asia Bonds.

4reBalanCinG Your PortFolio

Over time, some asset classes in your investments may outperform others. For instance, if one is a High Risk Profile and investing in 75% in equities and 25% in bonds. Overtime, his portfolio had become 85% in equities and 15% in bonds, he is taking on additional risks than he should be. He should rebalance his portfolio by selling 10% of his portfolio in equities and reinvesting them in bonds.

This rebalancing is important in

the long run as it eliminates emotional buying or selling by introducing a systematic way to maintain your portfolio. Also, rebalancing achieves an indirect effect by selling high and buying low.

5FinanCial PlanninG PrioritieS

Before investing be sure that you have already set aside the following:Emergency Fund of at least 6 – 12 months of your living expensesPurchased your own personal Hospitalisation & Surgical Insurance.Have set aside a substantial amount of insurance to cover your living expenses should Critical Illness or Disability occur. These events prevent you from earning monies, disrupt your wealth accumulation and drain your savings. Make sure you know how much you need to set aside for these events.Have set aside a substantial amount of insurance for your spouse and family should you decide to take a “long-holiday” without returning. This money should be able to cover the living expenses of your family and education fees of your children.Have set aside your children’s education funds.Investing monies should be spare sources of your funds, and not monies that you will need for emergency purpose or in the short term. Investments may not generate any meaningful returns in 2 – 5 years. Investing should be seen as for the long term of at least 10 years and not short term speculation.

6StiCKinG to Your inVeStment StrateGY

Investing strategies like, for instance,

what are you going to invest in for the long term? And how is your portfolio constructed. What are the times when you should rebalance or readjust your portfolio?

Do not be affected by short term news (some called it noise) and stick to your long term strategy of investing and you will have a higher chance of having good returns over the long run.

With the knowledge I have shared over the past one year, I believe you are more confident when it comes to investing. When in doubt, please do consult a professional for advice. With the knowledge you had read and now possess, you would know what to expect and the relevant questions to ask.

If you decide to engage a financial planner for your investment, he or she should be more than competent to do more than a risk profile and constructing a suitable portfolio for you. The adviser’s after-investment support is equally important. I provide my investment clients a quarterly update on their investment performance, be it the performances are in the black or red and will let them know when it is time to do a rebalance of their portfolio.

And do ask your financial planner what are the benchmarks and thresholds to sell, buy or rebalance. It will also be great if your financial planner has an investment philosophy to share with you.

Thank you for having me in the past one year. I hope all readers had benefited from my sharing. Please do contact me if you have any queries.

Wishing all my readers an early Merry Christmas and an awesome 2015!

For queries, you can email Winston at [email protected].

Page 58: The New Age Parents Dec 14 Jan 15

The New Age Parents 58

editor: Michelle Ang

experts: SBCC Baby & Child Clinic, T32 Junior Dental Centre,

LEAP SchoolHouse, Julia Gabriel Centre, MindStretcher Education Group, Tan Ooi Sim Winston & Kevin Foong Consulting Group

reGuLar contriButors: Dorothea Chow, Som Yew Ya,

Jenny Tai, Rachel Tan and Master Jo Ching

Art & Design

art director: Michelle Ang

Marketing & Advertising

Business deveLopMent ManaGerElaine Lau

Web Administration

WeB deveLopMent directorSeow Poh Heng

If you wish to contribute to the magazine, we will love to hear from you.Do email us at [email protected]

For advertising enquiries, email us at [email protected]

While every care is taken in the production of the magazine, the publisher, editor and its team assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies and omission, which might arise. Opinions by the contributors

and advertisers are not necessarily those of the publisher and the editor. The articles in the magazine are for references only. If you have any queries on any health condition for you and your child, you should seek

professional medical advice.

editorial team