June Holidays 2024: Kid-Friendly Activities in Singapore

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<?xml encoding="UTF-8"><html><body><div id="attachment_119513" style="width: 710px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-119513" onerror="kspReplaceCdn(this)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-119513 size-full" src="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u36736/mark-stoop-SD5aW0TPHNY-unsplash.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u36736/mark-stoop-SD5aW0TPHNY-unsplash.jpg 700w, https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u36736/mark-stoop-SD5aW0TPHNY-unsplash-320x213.jpg 320w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px">Photo courtesy of <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/brown-and-white-animal-on-brown-sand-during-daytime-SD5aW0TPHNY" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Unsplash</a></div>What should your child be doing during the March school holidays?
If you&rsquo;re stressed over finding the right holiday classes to give your child an edge in the future, it&rsquo;s time to pause and think differently!
The truth is that we don&rsquo;t know what will happen in the next decade. In the last year, AI tools like ChatGPT have not only displayed the ability to replace repetitive and mundane tasks &mdash; they&rsquo;re also capable of handling assignments requiring creative and analytical thinking. For some of us, this shift prompts a deeper reflection on what it means to contribute meaningfully in a world where technology can <a href="https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/feature/Will-AI-replace-jobs-9-job-types-that-might-be-affected" target="_blank" rel="noopener">replicate</a> many aspects of our current jobs.
What does this mean for your child?&nbsp;
Well, AI can&rsquo;t do it all. For instance, it falls short in understanding complex human emotions and making ethical judgements. For your child to develop the skills that matter in the long run, you can look at activities that enhance emotional intelligence, spark moral reasoning, and promote real connections with people as well as the environment. This approach doesn&rsquo;t just prepare your child for a career, but also for living a rich, empathetic life in a tech-driven world.&nbsp;
Below are three activity suggestions for the March holidays, which you can carry out with your child without signing up for a class!
<h2>School Holiday Activity: Innovating with Nature</h2>
Objective: This activity encourages children to observe and appreciate the complexity of the natural world, and link their observations to real-world applications.
Materials Needed:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">A notebook or sketchbook</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Writing and drawing materials</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">A magnifying glass</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">A camera or smartphone for taking photos&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Reference books or a mobile device for researching plants and animals</li>
</ul>
Activity Guide:
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Preparation: Choose a local nature reserve, park, or even a well-planted area within your neighbourhood. Ideal settings for this activity include popular green spaces like the Singapore Botanic Gardens, Gardens by the Bay, and the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Introduction: Start by explaining <a href="https://www.treehugger.com/amazing-examples-of-biomimicry-4869336" target="_blank" rel="noopener">biomimicry</a> to your child &mdash; how designers, architects, and scientists take inspiration from nature to solve human problems. Give examples like the structure of a <a href="https://asknature.org/strategy/surface-allows-self-cleaning/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lotus leaf</a> inspiring self-cleaning materials, or how the <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/ie-originals/engineers-muse/season-1/ep-1-how-kingfisher-inspired-bullet-trains" target="_blank" rel="noopener">kingfisher bird</a> influenced the design of high-speed trains.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Exploration: Take a leisurely walk with your child through the chosen location. Encourage them to look closely at the shapes, structures, and behaviours of plants and animals. Use a magnifying glass to examine details like the veins of leaves, the patterns on insect wings, or the way certain plants respond to touch.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Documentation: Ask your child to choose several natural elements that intrigue them and document these observations in their notebook. They can draw, write descriptions, or take photographs. Encourage them to think about why these features exist, for example, how certain leaves are shaped to collect or repel water, or how the colouration of an animal might serve as camouflage or a warning.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Design Challenge: Back at home, encourage your child to design their own invention based on what they have observed. They can imagine a new building inspired by the structure of a tree, clothing that mimics the adaptive camouflage of an animal, or a new tool that incorporates the efficiency of plant or animal designs. They can draw their invention, describe it in detail, or even build a simple model using household materials.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Reflection: Have your child share their invention and the natural inspiration behind it. Discuss how nature solves problems efficiently and how we can learn from these solutions. Encourage them to think about how their invention could be used in real life.</li>
</ol>
To adapt the activity for different age groups, try this:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Younger children (6 to 10): Focus more on the exploration and drawing, simplifying the concepts. Their inventions can be imaginative, and do not need to be practical.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Older children (11 to 16): Encourage deeper research into the scientific principles behind their observations, and challenge them to think about the feasibility and environmental impact of their designs.</li>
</ul>
<h2>School Holiday Activity: The Adventure of Trial and Error</h2>
Objective: This activity helps children to embrace failure as part of learning and growth. By engaging in challenges where failure is seen as a step towards innovation, children can develop resilience, enhance their problem-solving skills, and learn the value of perseverance &mdash; these are all essential emotional intelligence skills.
Materials Needed:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Basic craft supplies (paper, cardboard, glue, scissors, etc.)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Building blocks or LEGO</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Access to a coding platform (for older children)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Timer&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Reward tokens&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Activity Guide:
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Preparation: Set up a &ldquo;challenge zone&rdquo; in your home. This could be a table for crafting, a floor space for building, or a computer area for coding. Choose a series of challenges suitable for your child&rsquo;s age and interests, ranging from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-syPVPQqnck" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LEGO challenges</a> to programming a simple game.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Introduction: Explain the concept of gamification and how incorporating game elements into learning can make the process fun and engaging. Discuss the importance of persistence and learning from mistakes, using <a href="https://www.rd.com/list/ironic-failures-of-wildly-successful-people/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">examples from real life</a> where successful people have overcome failure.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Challenge Rounds: Present each challenge to your child, clearly stating the goal and any rules or limitations. To add a sense of urgency, use a timer. After each round, regardless of success, you can celebrate the effort with a reward token.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Building Challenge Example: Task your child with building the tallest possible structure using only a limited set of materials. After each attempt, discuss what worked and what didn&rsquo;t, encouraging them to try different approaches.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Craft Challenge Example: Provide your child with craft materials and a theme, e.g. create an animal that could live in a future world. Emphasise creativity and iteration, allowing them to make adjustments based on what they learn with each version.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Coding Challenge Example: Using a coding platform such as <a href="https://jupyter.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jupyter Notebook</a>, challenge your child to follow a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uQrJ0TkZlc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">coding tutorial</a> that includes exercises, or jump straight into solving <a href="https://www.havi.co/blogs/coding-problems" target="_blank" rel="noopener">beginner-level problems</a>. Celebrate debugging as a key part of the coding process, and encourage your child to view errors as clues rather than setbacks.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Reflection: At the end of the activity, ask your child if failure brought them closer to a solution. If this was not the case, did failure provide any takeaways?</li>
</ol>
Here&rsquo;s how you can tweak the activity for different age groups:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Younger children (6 to 10): Keep challenges simple and focus on the fun aspect of trying and retrying. Praise effort and creativity over achieving the perfect outcome.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Older children (11 to 16): Introduce more complex challenges that require planning and revision. Encourage them to document their process and reflect on their learning journey, fostering a deeper understanding of the value of resilience.</li>
</ul>
<h2>School Holiday Activity: Ethical Quests in Everyday Life</h2>
Objective: This activity guides children to develop their moral reasoning and empathy by encountering and reflecting on everyday dilemmas.&nbsp;
Materials Needed:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Writing supplies</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">A list of daily ethical quests (suggestions below)</li>
</ul>
Activity Guide:
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Preparation: Create a list of relatable &ldquo;ethical quests&rdquo; that can be encountered during a typical day. These should be age-appropriate challenges that provoke thought and discussion, such as whether to return a found item or how to respond to unfair play at the park.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Introduction: Sit down with your child and discuss the concept of ethical dilemmas &mdash; situations where deciding what is right might not be straightforward. Emphasise the importance of empathy, honesty, and respect for others&rsquo; feelings.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Ethical Quest Examples: Each day of the school holidays, introduce a new ethical quest for your child to engage with. This could be as simple as choosing whether to share a snack with a sibling or friend, or deciding whether to use extra allowance money to buy something for themselves or someone else.&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Reflection: Ask your child to describe how they arrived at a decision, and what they feel about the outcome. They can also use a journal to record their thoughts. At dinner or during family time, share the ethical quest with the whole family. Encourage everyone to offer their perspectives, and discuss how different choices might have led to different outcomes. This not only helps in understanding the dilemma better, but also strengthens family bonds through shared values and empathy.</li>
</ol>
Here&rsquo;s how to approach the activity with different age groups:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Younger children (6 to 10): Keep the dilemmas simple and directly related to their daily experiences. Focus on the feelings involved, and the basic concepts of fairness and kindness.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Older children (11 to 16): Introduce more <a href="https://www.thegoodproject.org/dilemmas-for-teenagers-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">complex scenarios</a> that may involve societal issues or abstract concepts like integrity and accountability. Encourage them to think about the broader impact of their decisions on their community or the environment.</li>
</ul>
Need more school holiday activity ideas? Check out the <a href="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/article/september-school-holidays-2023-balance-studies-relaxation/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">resources</a> that we&rsquo;ve previously shared!
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March School Holidays 2024: Use this Time to Sharpen Key Skills

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Do your kids study during the school holidays?
In an <a href="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&amp;t=46469&amp;sid=248a580d87226f39b66c91b59dd9514a" target="_blank" rel="noopener">informal poll </a>of about 40 KSP members &mdash; conducted several years ago &mdash; half of the parents indicated that yes, they would prefer to schedule some time for revising schoolwork or learning new material during the school holidays.
Some concerns <a href="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/article/school-holidays-a-time-for-work-and-play/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">voiced</a> by these parents were that children might take several weeks to &ldquo;get their engines cranking again&rdquo; when school reopened, or that a long break might lead to kids forgetting much of what they had learned during the school term.
Are these worries valid?
<h2>The Summer Learning Loss Syndrome</h2>
Studies in the US have <a href="https://www.brookings.edu/research/summer-learning-loss-what-is-it-and-what-can-we-do-about-it/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">indicated</a> that students could lose up to a month&rsquo;s worth of learning during the summer holidays, and that these losses were more pronounced for math than for reading, and more obvious at the higher grade levels.
The learning gap between students from higher- and lower-income families could also widen during vacations, as students from higher-income families are more likely to continue engaging in learning activities, compared to students from families with fewer resources.
That said, these studies are based on the US school year, where the summer break is about 10 to 11 weeks long. In comparison, Singaporean students in primary and secondary schools, as well as junior colleges, have shorter vacation periods. The June holidays are only four weeks long, whereas the year-end vacation is about six weeks long.
However, any extended break in learning can potentially lead to math learning loss, and this is due to the fact that kids will typically have <a href="https://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/uk/16/06/summer-math-loss" target="_blank" rel="noopener">less time</a> to engage in mathematical thinking during the school holidays.
<img onerror="kspReplaceCdn(this)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-75049" src="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/48521778_s.jpg" alt="" width="799" height="599" srcset="https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/48521778_s.jpg 799w, https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/48521778_s-320x240.jpg 320w" sizes="(max-width: 799px) 100vw, 799px">
&ldquo;Reading activities are often part of the fabric of a family&rsquo;s daily life,&rdquo; says neuroscientist and professor Joanna Christodoulou. &ldquo;But if you try to imagine a bedtime math routine, as you might for reading, the idea of winding down by completing math equations doesn&rsquo;t elicit the same interest. The issue isn&rsquo;t that engaging math activities are not available outside of school, but rather that it is easy to overlook the presence of math in everyday activities, like measurement in cooking, calculation when dealing with money, or distance while driving.&rdquo;
<h2>Second Language Woes</h2>
If your child is taking a second language in school &mdash; as most children in Singapore do &mdash; a break could be detrimental to your child&rsquo;s progress, especially if your family doesn&rsquo;t speak the language at home.
According to a 2012 University of California Irvine <a href="https://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/co/2015/08/07/the-not-so-secret-ell-summer-slide-problem-that-no-one-has-quantified/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">study</a>, students from non-English speaking homes experienced a &ldquo;larger summer setback&rdquo; and a &ldquo;steeper learning trajectory&rdquo; during the school year. Anecdotally, it&rsquo;s not uncommon to hear of second language teachers or tutors bemoaning their students&rsquo; loss of vocabulary after a learning break of several weeks.
<h2>Make Time For Work And Play</h2>
Even the best students are prone to forgetting much of what they&rsquo;ve been taught. In fact, as humans, we&rsquo;re said to forget information <a href="https://www.edutopia.org/article/why-students-forget-and-what-you-can-do-about-it" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fairly quickly</a> &mdash; about 56 percent in one hour, 66 percent after a day, and 75 percent after six days.
The only way that your children can ramp up retention is to review their work regularly throughout the year. And while it is likely to elicit groans during the holidays, the fact remains that <a href="https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/49750/a-better-way-to-study-through-self-testing-and-distributed-practice" target="_blank" rel="noopener">practice testing</a> is one of the most effective ways to study, and it&rsquo;s said to benefit students from preschool all the way through to graduate and professional education. Apart from working on past-year papers, practice testing can also include flashcards and online quizzes.
If your children are not facing high-stakes exams in the upcoming semester, and you&rsquo;re loathe to have them work on tests during the holidays, take a cue from college professor Marty Lobdell and quiz them about what they&rsquo;ve learned <a href="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/article/5-study-strategies-that-every-student-should-use/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">over the dinner table</a>. He cites the example of a student who aced his class by regularly summarising his lectures for the family over mealtimes. Some refer to this process as &ldquo;reviewing,&rdquo; or rephrasing learned information in one&rsquo;s own words. Better still, get your children to reflect on what they&rsquo;ve learned, by providing practical examples of a concept or stating how it is relevant in real life.
If your child is working with a private tutor for his or her second language, you might not want to call off lessons for the entire holiday &mdash;&nbsp;a two-week break should suffice.
&ldquo;I think that students should do some work during the holidays. If not, they may dread returning to school, and the prospect of having to work,&rdquo; says a local secondary school teacher. &ldquo;They should also have ample time for relaxation and play during the school term. Balance is important.&rdquo;
At the same time, do remember that it is, after all, your child&rsquo;s vacation.
&ldquo;There may be no right or wrong on this issue, as it may come down to <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/cutting-edge-leadership/201406/the-psychology-summer-vacations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">differing philosophies</a>,&rdquo; writes leadership professor Ronald Riggio on Psychology Today. &ldquo;[But it] seems like it would be sad to lose the longer summer&hellip; since few of us remember sitting in a classroom, but many of us remember what we did during our summer breaks!&rdquo;
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Should Kids Study During The School Holidays?

Why Discovery Camps? 
Discovery Camps runs across the local and international winter school holidays. We start our winter season on 19th Nov and the fun doesn’t finish up until 4thJan!
We have 3 convenient locations to make it easier for parents to drop off
<ol>
<li>Lorna Whiston Schools-Novena @United Square</li>
<li>Lorna Whiston Schools-East Coast @Parkway Parade</li>
<li>SJI International School – Thompson Road (bus service available for this location)</li>
</ol>
Discovery Camps has one, all-inclusive price &#8211; $595 per child, per camp. You don’t have to worry about a thing! The price includes:
<ul>
<li>Camp fees Monday to Friday, 9am through to 3pm.</li>
<li>Early drop off from 8.30am so you can drop and then get to work.</li>
<li>Healthy lunch, morning and afternoon snacks by Michelin Star Chef Emmanuel Stroobant, all cooked and delivered fresh daily. Check out a sample menu here <a href="https://discoverycamps.com/content/why-parents-choose-us/healthy-food" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://discoverycamps.com/content/why-parents-choose-us/healthy-food</a></li>
<li>A Discovery Camps T-Shirt and all you kids’ camp suppliers like a laptop for Code Academy or paints for Art Studio.</li>
<li>Flexibility – you can change your dates up to 10 days before camp subject to availability/</li>
</ul>
 Booking is a whizz with our easy online booking system where you can pay by credit card. <a href="http://www.discoverycamps.com"><img onerror="kspReplaceCdn(this)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-67816 size-full" src="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/Book-now.jpg" alt="Book now" width="200" height="60" /></a>
Different children, different interests? Look no further we offer a wide choice of camps to keep every child having fun and learning a new skill this winter:
<h5>Multi-Activity &#8211; Ages 3 to 8 Dec 17 till Jan 4 at SJI International</h5>
<img onerror="kspReplaceCdn(this)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-67817" src="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/Discovery_Camps_MUlti_Activity_option_3.jpg" alt="Discovery Camps" width="700" height="253" srcset="https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/Discovery_Camps_MUlti_Activity_option_3.jpg 700w, https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/Discovery_Camps_MUlti_Activity_option_3-320x116.jpg 320w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
Crammed full of different activities to keep kids learning and having fun this summer. Multi-Activity is a balance of educational and creative classes including Sports, Drama, Music, Art and Zumba.
<h5>English Explorers &#8211; Ages 3 to 8 Nov 19 till Dec 7 at United Square Lorna Whiston Schools </h5>
<img onerror="kspReplaceCdn(this)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-67818" src="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/Discovery_Camps_English_Explorers_option_3.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="253" srcset="https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/Discovery_Camps_English_Explorers_option_3.jpg 700w, https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/Discovery_Camps_English_Explorers_option_3-320x116.jpg 320w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
Native English teachers nurture and develop your child’s English skills through fun interactive activities in English Explorers with a focus on creative writing, story comprehension, cloze passages, grammar and vocabulary.
<h5>Actor’s Studio &#8211; Ages 4 to 8 Nov 19 to Dec 7 at United Square Lorna Whiston School- 6 to 8-year olds Dec 17 to 21 at SJI International by ABA Theatre Academy – 4 to 5-year olds</h5>
<img onerror="kspReplaceCdn(this)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-67819" src="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/Discovery_Camps_Actors_Studio_option_3.jpg" alt="Discovery Camps" width="700" height="253" srcset="https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/Discovery_Camps_Actors_Studio_option_3.jpg 700w, https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/Discovery_Camps_Actors_Studio_option_3-320x116.jpg 320w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
Lights, camera, action! Building confidence on stage throughout Actor’s Studio, our 6 to 8-year olds work collaboratively to rehearse and prepare a show for parents in our Black Box Theatreat Lorna Whiston Schools!
Our 4 to 5-year olds perform a musical theme run by ABA Theatre Academy at SJI International.
<h5> Art Studio &#8211; Ages 6 to 8 Dec 3 to 7 at United Square Dec 24 to 28 at SJI International</h5>
Do you have a wannabe Picasso! Join Art Studio where kids not only create art through different techniques such as drawing, painting, printing and pottery, they learn about the history of art and different artists.
<h5>Lego Robotics &#8211; Ages 6 to 12 Nov 19 to Jan 4 at United Square, Parkway Parade and SJI International</h5>
<img onerror="kspReplaceCdn(this)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-67821" src="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/Discovery_Camps_Robotics_option_3.jpg" alt="Discovery Camps" width="700" height="253" srcset="https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/Discovery_Camps_Robotics_option_3.jpg 700w, https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/Discovery_Camps_Robotics_option_3-320x116.jpg 320w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
Encourage your child’s critical thinking skills with Lego Robotics as they are exposed to science, engineering and maths. A hands-on learning experience brainstorming, building and experimenting as they programme and bring their robots to life.
<h5>Magic Maths &#8211; Ages 6 to 8 Nov 19 to 23 at United Square Dec 17 to 21 at SJI International</h5>
Boost your child’s problem-solving skills through interactive game and number exploration in Magic Maths! Focus during each week is given to addition, subtraction, multiplication, fractions, graphing, estimation and story problems.
<h5>Code Academy &#8211; Ages 6 to 12 Nov 19 to Jan 4 at United Square, Parkway Parade and SJI International</h5>
Does your kid love Minecraft or Roblox? Instead of playing games let’s teach them at Code Academy to design, code and publish their own game! Coding enhances kids critical and logical reasoning and, in the process,, they become more effective problem-solvers!
<h5>Movie Maker &#8211; Ages 6 to 8 Dec 17 to 21 at SJI International</h5>
Calling budding film makers! Kids write and learn to produce their own stop-motion animated film in Movie Maker! Characters and scenes are brought to life with clay and Lego, then using digital photography and movie editing tools they create their animated movie.
Have a question? Call us on +65 6664 8122

Boost your child’s talents this winter break with fun educational holiday camps for kids 3 to 12 years old!

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<?xml encoding="UTF-8"><html><body>Be it during the school holidays or on weekends, here&rsquo;s how you can connect with stories and experiences from a bygone era, while learning together as a family.
<img onerror="kspReplaceCdn(this)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-55807" src="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/vintage-camera.jpg" alt="Travel back in time" width="1080" height="720" srcset="https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/vintage-camera.jpg 1080w, https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/vintage-camera-640x427.jpg 640w" sizes="(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px"> 
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/vintagecamerasmuseumsingapore/photos/a.1350589908392796.1073741829.1326005000851287/1426850800766706/?type=3&amp;theater" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Photo image from Vintage Cameras Museum</a>
<h3> 
Heritage Centres</h3>
Singapore&rsquo;s <a href="http://www.museums.com.sg/about-us/mr-directory/culture-community" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">heritage centres</a> offer rich historical and cultural insights, and in particular, the <a href="https://chinatownheritagecentre.com.sg/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Chinatown Heritage Centre</a> (which features reconstructions of 1950s shophouse interiors) is visually arresting, and fully capable of holding the attention of children as well as adults.
Other prominent centres are the <a href="http://malayheritage.org.sg/en" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Malay Heritage Centre</a> in Kampong Glam, the <a href="http://indianheritage.org.sg/en" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Indian Heritage Centre</a> in Little India, and the <a href="http://www.visitsingapore.com/see-do-singapore/culture-heritage/heritage-discovery/eurasian-heritage-centre/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Eurasian Heritage Centre</a> at Ceylon Road, which is currently undergoing renovations but will reopen at year end.
Lesser-known centres to explore include the <a href="http://chc.ntu.edu.sg/Pages/Home.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Chinese Heritage Centre</a> at the Nanyang Technological University; the <a href="http://ganclan.sg/en/heritage/exhibition" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Gan Heritage Centre</a>, housed in an 80-year-old clan association building in Bukit Pasoh Road; and the <a href="https://www.sbg.org.sg/index.php?option=com_k2&amp;view=item&amp;id=821&amp;Itemid=315" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Singapore Botanic Gardens Heritage Museum</a>, featuring botany artefacts dating back to the early 19th century.
<h3>Tiong Bahru Air Raid Shelter</h3>
This is Singapore&rsquo;s last remaining pre-World War II civilian air raid shelter, with a <a href="https://roots.sg/learn/resources/virtual-tours/tiong-bahru-air-raid-shelter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">history</a> that dates back to 1939. The shelter is located at <a href="https://www.google.com.sg/maps/place/Tiong+Bahru+Air+Raid+Shelter/@1.2834291,103.8308495,15z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x9887085edab52086?sa=X&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjgyPX3vObZAhUMK48KHbu-BucQ_BIIlQEwDg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">78 Guan Chuan Street</a>, and passersby can survey the surroundings and read the display notes on the shelter, put up by the National Heritage Board. However, to enter the shelter, you will need to <a href="http://www.tptc.org.sg/www/contact.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">contact</a> the Tanjong Pagar Town Council for permission. For more information on this and other &ldquo;hidden bunkers&rdquo; in Singapore, refer to TheSmartLocal&rsquo;s <a href="http://thesmartlocal.com/read/hidden-bunkers" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">guide</a>.
<h3>Singapore Chinese Opera Museum</h3>
Founded by a couple with a great love for Chinese opera, this <a href="http://www.singopera.com.sg/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">museum</a> is a chance for children to view costumes, props (such as puppets), and other artefacts showcasing the depth and diversity of this art form. To broaden the experience, call ahead to enquire about performances and family-friendly workshops.
<h3>The Intan</h3>
&ldquo;With a deep love for all things Peranakan, I have devoted my home to be a haven for the treasures of the Peranakan Culture. And it is this love that gives me inspiration to share with you a glimpse of the yesteryear as a guest to my home,&rdquo; says collector Alvin Yapp and founder of <a href="http://the-intan.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Intan</a>.
As a Peranakan himself, Yapp was drawn to objects that represented the spirit of his culture, and he hopes to ignite a similar interest in others too. Options for touring The Intan include booking a tea visit or one that includes a full meal, based on the &ldquo;secret recipes&rdquo; of Yapp&rsquo;s mother. Think of this heritage space as a living museum, where you and your family can learn more about the fascinating Peranakan culture through questions and conversations.
<h3>Kampung Lorong Buangkok</h3>
This sleepy village has the distinction of being the sole surviving kampong on Singapore&rsquo;s mainland, and it has seen some renewed interest since last year, when it was briefly made the <a href="https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/big-read-singapores-last-kampong-villagers-cast-wary-eye-future" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">subject</a> of parliamentary discussions and media headlines. To get a sense of what to expect in this kampong, read <a href="http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/one-day-in-buangkok-singapores-last-kampung-on-mainland" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">this journalist&rsquo;s</a> account of a day spent exploring the area and mingling with the residents. If you do <a href="http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/one-day-in-buangkok-singapores-last-kampung-on-mainland" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">visit</a>, be mindful of the residents&rsquo; privacy, especially when taking photographs.
<h3>LTA Gallery</h3>
Increasingly, schools have begun to include the Land Transport Authority <a href="https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltaweb/en/ltgallery/home.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">gallery</a> in their field trip roster, but as admission is free, you will have nothing to lose by visiting it once yourself as well. The gallery&rsquo;s advantage is that it&rsquo;s not laden with details that may put off or bore children, and it will give the family a <a href="http://www.bowdywanders.com/2014/11/when-in-singapore-lta-gallery-in.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">quick introduction</a> to the evolution of Singapore&rsquo;s public transportation system, with memorabilia (such as bus tickets) that may evoke a sense of nostalgia in parents.
<h3>Musical Box Museum</h3>
Home to over 40 antique music boxes, some of which still work, this specialty <a href="http://www.singaporemusicalboxmuseum.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">museum</a> harbours both interesting sights and sounds, and by some visitors&rsquo; <a href="https://www.google.com.sg/maps/place/Singapore+Musical+Box+Museum/@1.2808235,103.8453074,17z/data=!4m7!3m6!1s0x0:0xb5f134507dcf457b!8m2!3d1.2808235!4d103.8474961!9m1!1b1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">accounts</a>, children are just as likely as adults to enjoy a visit here. How did the music box make its way to Singapore from Europe, and what was its cultural significance in this country? Find out this and more when you visit.
<h3>Vintage Camera Museum</h3>
This camera-shaped <a href="https://www.facebook.com/vintagecamerasmuseumsingapore/photos/a.1350589908392796.1073741829.1326005000851287/1426850800766706/?type=3&amp;theater" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">museum</a> possibly has Singapore&rsquo;s most photograph-friendly facade, but what awaits you as you step inside is even more impressive&mdash;over 1,000 vintage cameras. You can also watch a documentary on the evolution of cameras, from their classic incarnations to the digital versions that we&rsquo;re familiar with today, and if you have extra-careful kids, go ahead to request for a hands-on experience as well.
<h3>The Cathay Gallery</h3>
After a family movie at the Cathay Cineplex, extend the outing by heading to the little-known <a href="https://www.timeout.com/singapore/things-to-do/the-cathay-gallery" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Cathay Gallery</a>, which the Lonely Planet calls &ldquo;a pocket-sized silver screen museum.&rdquo; Expect to see antique cinema chairs, film projectors, vintage movie posters, and more. Movie buffs can also learn more about the Loke family, who founded the Cathay Organisation. &nbsp;
<h3>Red Point Record Warehouse</h3>
More of a vintage lover&rsquo;s haunt than a museum, this unassuming 2,000-sq-ft <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RedPointRecord/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">record store</a> in an industrial estate (now easily accessible by train) has been called Singapore&rsquo;s best-kept secret. Even if you don&rsquo;t have a vinyl player at home, this is worth a visit just for the experience&mdash;you can try any of the store&rsquo;s thousands of records dating back to the 60s, including children&rsquo;s records, by simply playing them at the listening stations.
</body></html>

10 Ways To Travel Back In Time With Your Kids

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The region’s largest educational event, SmartKids Asia returns this March school holidays. The  event will take place on 16 &#8211; 18 March at 10am &#8211; 9pm on Friday and Saturday (16 &amp; 17 March) and 10am &#8211; 8pm on Sunday (18 March) at Singapore Expo, Hall 6.
This year, the event refreshes its focus on language and learning in the 21st century for young learners between 2 and 12 years old. Fun, hands-on and interactive activities aim to help young learners develop competencies in line with the Ministry of Education, Singapore (MOE)’s Framework for 21st Century Competencies and Student Outcomes.
Here are some things you shouldn&#8217;t miss when you&#8217;re there.
<h4>Check out what these first-time exhibitors have to offer</h4>
DaVinci Labs participates for the first time at the event and is located at Booth C01. The provider equips students aged 9 to 15 with the Computational Thinking foundation required to succeed in the algorithmic economy. By learning to code, DaVinci students develop a deeper understanding of traditional school subjects such as science and mathematics. They become better equipped with test-taking, problem solving and collaborating.
Also a first-timer at SmartKids Asia, YANG GUANG Chinese Enrichment Centre is located at B25 within The Learning Pavilion. The centre supports children in building character through values &amp; helps build confidence in speaking and writing Chinese. As the first values-based enrichment centre in Singapore, it focuses on developing future-ready children and offers highly-interactive Chinese Composition Writing &amp; Enrichment Classes to help children master the language.
CHALLENGE ISLAND, located at B27 within The Learning Pavilion debuts as well at the event. The programme was developed in the US and is a fast-growing international enrichment programme that combines GROWTH MINDSET development with S.T.E.A.M education elements. The programme builds Critical Thinking, Communication, Collaboration, Sociability, Creativity &amp; Perseverance which are core skills essential for the 21st Century.
Other first-time exhibitors include MusiKinder, Inspired Arts, Kodecoon LLP, Le Grand School of Dance, Writers’ Studio, Las Lilas to name a few.
<h4>Learn something new&#8230; and get free gifts too!</h4>
In conjunction with World Water Day, PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency will be leveraging the educational platform towards developing responsible water users for the future through an interactive exhibition and engaging activities at Booth B01. Redeem a free gift* at the event when you show a drop in their latest water bill. *upon availability
The first 200 participants to register and visit the first-ever Sensory Art Trail &#8211; a multi-sensory experiential trail that facilitates brain development &#8211; can also receive a mystery gift. Specially curated by a lecturer from Laselle College of the Arts, Singapore’s premium art school and three Singaporean artists, participants will encounter a carousel of textures, a lab of taste and smell, a land of instruments, a logic game space while navigating a conceptual tropical forest trail. Online registration opens in the first week of March.
Visitors to The Learning Pavilion, a dedicated educational pavilion focusing on language and enrichment programmes, can look forward to specially curated educational activities and games ranging from puzzle-solving, mini board games, word games, comprehension speed games, math quizzes, mini English challenges, craft activities such as make-your-own-musical-instrument, musical word of the day (Presto/Largo, Crescendo/Decrescendo as an example), pop quizzes on cards for all levels and more. All activities within this pavilion are free-to-play for children between 2 and 12 years old. Participants may get to walk away with small prizes and rewards upon completion of individual prizes conducted by participating exhibitors.
Don&#8217;t miss these too:
<ul>
<li>Daily Lucky Draws with prizes worth more than $10,000 with every receipt of purchase.</li>
<li>Goodie Bag Giveaway (Worth up to $50). Reserve a goodie bag through pre-registration on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/smartkidsasia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SmartKids Asia Facebook page</a> or be the first 200 to queue at the door.</li>
<li>Kids who complete the Fun Passport get to spin the prize wheel with exclusive prizes up for grabs. The first 200 to complete the fun passport daily could also redeem an ice cream from Milky Kreme.</li>
</ul>
<h4>Try out enrichment lessons from participating exhibitors for free</h4>
Three days of trial classes from educational and enrichment providers will happen from 10.30am &#8211; 8pm on Friday &amp; Saturday and 10.30am &#8211; 7pm on Sunday. The programmes are tailored for ages 3-12 years old, encompassing English, Maths, Science, technology, arts and more. Online registration will be on <a href="http://www.smartkidsasia.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Smartkids Asia website</a>.
<h4>Sit back and be entertained</h4>
Be enchanted by theatrical plays and storytelling from timeless classics such as The Frog Prince, Pinocchio, The Sleeping Beauty, and more at the SmartKids Asia Storyland. Book your seat at the <a href="http://www.smartkidsasia.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Smartkids Asia website</a>.
There will also be daily stage performances and Meet &amp; Greet sessions from ChuChuTV featuring ChuChu and friends, Larry from The Polliwogs and more from participating exhibitors.
Find out what other activities will be in store at <a href="http://www.smartkidsasia.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://www.smartkidsasia.com/</a>.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Activities You Shouldn’t Miss At SmartKids Asia 2018

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<?xml encoding="UTF-8"><html><body>Should the school holidays be reserved for relaxation and play, or should parents factor in study time as well?
I have two kids aged six and 11, and they&rsquo;ll be entering Primary 1 and Primary 6 next year. For my six year old, life is still fairly simple&mdash;we practise reading, sporadically, and we&rsquo;re currently going through the <a href="http://www.scholastic.com/branches/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Branches</a> series from Scholastic, created for emerging readers. For enrichment, he has two hours of soccer per week. Like his sister, he has a Chinese tutor but there&rsquo;s been a break as the tutor is overseas.
My 11 year old has more on her plate but I would like to think that she&rsquo;s had a balanced and fulfilling holiday, mostly spent bonding with her brother, fixing up Lego sets, cycling, reading, and catching up with friends.
For this holiday, she&rsquo;s had a weekly three-hour gymnastics training session (she&rsquo;ll be part of the school team next year), and she&rsquo;s joined her brother at soccer as well. She also has a weekly two-hour science class at our nearby enrichment centre, where the teacher has started covering topics from next year&rsquo;s syllabus.
At home, I&rsquo;ve tried to establish a revision schedule for my daughter, which I hope will take her into the new year. I don&rsquo;t interfere with her tutors but I don&rsquo;t believe in learning ahead&mdash;I don&rsquo;t want her to lose interest in the classroom. Instead, my priorities are for her to revise concepts that she&rsquo;s already covered, score herself and assess her own understanding, take note of areas that may require further study, and develop good work habits.
We&rsquo;ve set weekly and daily work targets but they haven&rsquo;t been effective. Often, my daughter has incomplete tasks at the end of the day that need to be shifted to the next day, and this affects the overall plan. This is sometimes due to her underestimating the amount of time needed to complete a task, or, more frequently, distractions that get in the way of work. Time management is something that I hope to help her improve on in the next year.
<img onerror="kspReplaceCdn(this)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-51494" src="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/01_Holiday-Work-Plan.jpg" alt="School Holidays" width="700" height="525" srcset="https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/01_Holiday-Work-Plan.jpg 700w, https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/01_Holiday-Work-Plan-640x480.jpg 640w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px">
What we have instead is a flexible holiday work plan with mandatory and optional items. The two items marked with an asterisk are my daughter&rsquo;s priorities for each day&mdash;they are not difficult to complete and require about an hour of her time. If she feels like doing more, she can choose from the remaining optional tasks on the list. There are still days where no work is done, but I feel this arrangement works better for her.
<img onerror="kspReplaceCdn(this)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-51495" src="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/02_Record.jpg" alt="School Holidays" width="700" height="525" srcset="https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/02_Record.jpg 700w, https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/02_Record-640x480.jpg 640w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px">
At the end of each day, my daughter records what she&rsquo;s completed in a planner, so she can easily see what she&rsquo;s accomplished every week.
<img onerror="kspReplaceCdn(this)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-51496" src="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/03_Science-MCQs-Maths.jpg" alt="School Holidays" width="700" height="525" srcset="https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/03_Science-MCQs-Maths.jpg 700w, https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/03_Science-MCQs-Maths-640x480.jpg 640w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px">
I bought the Conquer series for Science MCQs and the Score A* In Singapore series for math problems because they both have detailed answer schemes. I don&rsquo;t mark my daughter&rsquo;s work&mdash;instead, she checks her answers immediately after completing each exercise, so she instantly gets feedback about her answers, and she knows her next step is to seek help from an adult if she needs further clarification.
<img onerror="kspReplaceCdn(this)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-51497" src="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/04_Diagnostic-Practice.jpg" alt="School Holidays" width="700" height="525" srcset="https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/04_Diagnostic-Practice.jpg 700w, https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/04_Diagnostic-Practice-640x480.jpg 640w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px">
I like the Diagnostic Practice in Science series because the learning process is clearly delineated&mdash;there is a pre-test to check awareness and preliminary understanding, followed by revision notes, worksheets featuring MCQ and open-ended questions, a mind-mapping exercise, and a questionnaire to wrap up each topic.
<img onerror="kspReplaceCdn(this)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-51498" src="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/05_questionnaire.jpg" alt="School Holidays" width="700" height="525" srcset="https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/05_questionnaire.jpg 700w, https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/05_questionnaire-640x480.jpg 640w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px">
I&rsquo;m using the questionnaire to gauge if my daughter needs more support or additional materials (e.g. books or online resources) to better understand certain concepts.
For English, my daughter doesn&rsquo;t have major issues with grammar. She doesn&rsquo;t score very highly on compositions but she tends to do well in situational writing. Writing a good story requires maturity and life experience, so I&rsquo;m willing to let nature take its course. I also feel that while it&rsquo;s important to be familiar with exam formats, slaving over exercises such as Synthesis &amp; Transformation don&rsquo;t contribute to long-term growth, whereas reading for pleasure and building one&rsquo;s vocabulary will serve one well throughout life. This explains why I&rsquo;ve prioritised reading and vocabulary practise for English, and not much else.
For Chinese, my kids will resume work when our tutor returns next week.
I&rsquo;ve wondered if other parents were encouraging their kids to use holiday time for work and I found a KiasuParents <a href="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&amp;t=46469&amp;sid=248a580d87226f39b66c91b59dd9514a" target="_blank" rel="noopener">discussion</a>, where half the parents polled indicated that yes, they would like some holiday time to be spent on revision or learning ahead of the syllabus.
Here is some food for thought on the subject, courtesy of the KSP community:
<blockquote>
My understanding with my kids is: as much as possible, I do not touch their holidays. But in return, they have to show me consistent work and results during the school term. So far, they have been fine. One drawback though: when school starts, it takes about two weeks for them to get their engines cranking again.
We will usually go for a two to three-week break in December. When we get back, there will be a flurry of activities for Christmas and the New Year, and before we know it, it&rsquo;s the first day of school. 
The only thing I do to get them into the school routine is to go back to school-term bedtimes and waking hours about one week before school begins. This is done as much for them as it is for me and my husband.
Very honestly, I thought that during this holiday, we would complete some of the more useful assessment books that we have not done. It would be a form of revision and it would at least keep some of the studying momentum going. 
Here&rsquo;s what happened instead:
1st week: aiyah, let them play lah, still so many weeks to go. 
2nd week: maybe next week we&rsquo;ll start. 
3rd week: ummm I think we should clear out the assessment books. I don&rsquo;t think we will ever touch them again!
</blockquote>
&mdash; KiasuParents member <a href="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&amp;u=6230" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Funz</a>
&nbsp;
<blockquote>
If I allow my kids to just play the whole holiday, god knows where their brains would have gone come January 2! Academically I do have to push a little, two hours of work every day to keep those brain cells active. But it&rsquo;s the holidays, so we slot in play and TV time, and in the evenings after dinner, we go for dessert or take a stroll.
</blockquote>
&mdash; KiasuParents member <a href="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&amp;u=12950" target="_blank" rel="noopener">janet88</a>
&nbsp;
<blockquote>
I believe in balance, so this is what I&rsquo;ve done over the years (my kids are teenagers now).
<ul>
<li>I don&rsquo;t teach in advance.</li>
<li>At the beginning of the two longer vacations, I assess whether there are weak areas that we might need to go over, and then I will see how much needs to be done. I limit such work to a couple of hours a day at most, and try to do it within two weeks (less time if possible).</li>
<li>I impose daily reading time for both languages&mdash;20&ndash;30 mins for Chinese (this they don&rsquo;t like!) and at least one hour for English (they usually exceed this).</li>
<li>I limit computer and TV time even though it&rsquo;s the vacation, although they will get more time than on school days.</li>
<li>I set them little projects based on their interests, like reading up on a new topic, trying experiments, making a Powerpoint presentation, writing a story, etc.</li>
<li>If I &ldquo;teach&rdquo; anything during the vacations, it will be non-academic stuff like crafts and baking.</li>
<li>The rest of the time is free.</li>
<li>The final week of the mid-year vacation, I will ask my kids to flip through the past semester&rsquo;s work, especially in their weaker subjects, and maybe attempt a few practice questions (total time: a maximum of two hours per subject). We don&rsquo;t do this before the new school year.</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
&mdash; KiasuParents member <a href="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&amp;u=28674" target="_blank" rel="noopener">slmkhoo</a>
&nbsp;
<blockquote>
It depends on what the kids want, but usually some form of work helps to engage their brains and keep them grounded. My first daughter has a multiple-choice English book that she can flip and do if she likes, and the rest of the time, her head is either in her storybooks or she will be practising the piano. My second daughter is self-motivated; she plans work and drives us into coaching her. Aside from work, my kids will still have their play/free-and-easy time for other activities.
</blockquote>
&mdash; KiasuParents member <a href="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&amp;u=1546" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BlueBells</a>
&nbsp;
<blockquote>
I think there is a difference here between stay-home mums and working mums. Part of the reason that I give my daughter work is to keep her busy. I&rsquo;m at work all day and she refuses to go out with my mother-in-law&mdash;bad for her street cred! So if I don&rsquo;t give her any work to do, she will be calling me all day saying that she is bored. I&rsquo;ve taken leave for every Friday of the school holidays and we are going away before Christmas, but that still leaves a lot of time to fill.
</blockquote>
&mdash; KiasuParents member <a href="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&amp;u=13601" target="_blank" rel="noopener">nms1</a>
&nbsp;
<blockquote>
Other than their Chinese tuition once a week, there is no academic work planned for my P4 and P2 kids. My boy is already busy during the term, so every holiday, he will be &ldquo;off&rdquo; from work. We keep him busy with books and play dates, plus sports and games. My girl is kept busy with cooking and art classes and her favourite hobbies. The rest of the time, I&rsquo;ll bring them to visit local attractions. I need their brains to be recharged for next year.
</blockquote>
&mdash; KiasuParents member <a href="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&amp;u=20431" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Breadandmuffins</a>
&nbsp;
<blockquote>
During the school holidays, I load my kids with books and more books. But only storybooks, both fact and fiction. I double up on music and dance classes. I want to engage them differently. Let the overworked brain cells rest while we stimulate the dormant ones. 
The school curriculum can be easily covered when school reopens. Objectively speaking, there isn&rsquo;t much value in doing more and more assessment books. Down time is so precious, and a limited resource. I prefer to open my kids&rsquo; minds to the world outside of textbooks. 
At the moment, they have no enrichment besides Chinese. I don&rsquo;t have anything structured at home. I oversee their schoolwork at arm&rsquo;s length. They will ask their teachers to clear doubts. They will come to me if they still need clarification. When there is a chance, i.e. right time and place, I will go beyond what is covered in class. I love the &ldquo;eureka&rdquo; sparkle on their faces when they learn something interesting and new. Oftentimes, they don&rsquo;t know why they need to learn something in school and they learn without understanding. There is a disconnect because they don&rsquo;t see the purpose in an exercise. That is where I come in.
</blockquote>
&mdash; KiasuParents member <a href="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&amp;u=45616" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mawar</a>
<h6>
Contributed by Evelyn, a freelance writer and <a href="https://datewiththenights.wordpress.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">parent blogger</a>. The comments in grey were excerpted from a KiasuParents<a href="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=46469&amp;start=60" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> discussion</a> on work during the school holidays; comments have been edited for language and clarity.</h6>
</body></html>

School Holidays: A Time For Work And Play?

Ever since our family watched the latest instalment of the Transformers movie franchise earlier this year, our DS has been somewhat obsessed with all things Autobots and Decepticons. We even recently bought him a Bumblebee action figurine for his birthday.
Of course, when he got wind that his favourite characters from Cybertron were descending to Earth – at City Square Mall – for the festive season, he started pestering us to bring him there. It was something he did not want to miss this December holiday.
So we decided to fulfil DS’s wish during the weekend. The Transformers aren’t quite up DD’s alley, but she always loves a trip to the mall and thus, happily tagged along.
<a href="https://www.citysquaremall.com.sg/happenings/events-promotions/christmas-2017-transformers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img onerror="kspReplaceCdn(this)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-50770 size-full" src="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u36736/CSM08-45-17-Transformers-Title-Feature_564x300px_R1_for-Web.jpg" alt="" width="564" height="300" /></a>
11.30 am
We arrived at City Square Mall and immediately headed for an early lunch. From the many dining options available, we settled on the family-friendly Saizeriya Italian Restaurant (#B2-55/56) for pastas, pizzas and wings, which all kids would like.
Our meal came up to over $50, which entitled us to redeem a Meet the Autobots and Mask Making Workshop pass following the show later. Passes are available only for the first 50 redemptions per show, and fortunately, we managed to secure one.
1pm
3-2-1! Countdown! DS had his eyes glued to the stage, eagerly awaiting the moment for Optimus Prime, Bumblebee and some other new characters to appear during the Transformers ‘Live’ on Stage show. And when the music started and the action began, he got on his feet excitedly and interacted responsively with the mascots on stage. Later, I jokingly said to DS that it would be great if he showed the same enthusiasm whenever I asked him to finish his homework!
1:20pm
The performance ended with a bang and it was time for the much-anticipated Meet the Autobots session. With the pass we obtained earlier, our family had the opportunity to pose for a photo with the action heroes.
Afterwards, we went downstairs to Basement 2 where the Mask Making Workshop was taking place for Meet the Autobots pass holders. DS chose to decorate an Optimus Prime mask and then don its costume, saying that he wanted put it on and be strong like the leader of the Autobots. Sigh, boys will be boys…
3pm
After making a pit-stop at the food court for some afternoon tea/desserts and to rest our feet, we brought DS and DD to the Level 1 City Green Park where there were more photo opportunities with life-sized Transformers statues, specially brought in from overseas. The kids wandered around doe-eyed, awed by the realistic statues, complete with smoke and laser.
While Hubby watched over the two little ones as they had fun at the Cyber Galaxy Christmas carnival, with bumper cars, inflatable slide and other activities (we redeemed an activity pass with a minimum $40 spend at the mall; shoppers with a minimum of $200 spent will be entitled to receive a travel essential and a Cyber Galaxy activity pass), I sneaked off for some retail therapy at Uniqlo (#02-41/49) and Lalu (#01-36/37) by myself.
5:30pm
By this time, the kids were tired and we were actually contemplating to head home. However, I told Hubby that since we were already at City Square Mall, we might as well hang around till 7pm for the Stellar Light Show, which was supposed to be a first-of-its-kind light and music show in Singapore.
Meanwhile, we had a leisurely dinner of dumplings and noodles at Din Tai Fung (#01-10/11) while poring over the numerous photos we had taken with the Transformers statues this afternoon. I uploaded the best shots to Facebook to take part in the Transformers Photo Station’s photo contest, hoping to win some shopping vouchers.
<img onerror="kspReplaceCdn(this)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-50832" src="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u36736/Stellalight3-640x424.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="464" srcset="https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u36736/Stellalight3-640x424.jpg 640w, https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u36736/Stellalight3.jpg 1089w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
7pm
We were transported into a starry universe, through a musical tunnel of stars (spanning over 50 metres) as the night approached and the Level 1 City Green Park was awash with an action-packed light show. The 10-minute show, with over 24,000 LED lights, afforded a sweet ending to our eventful mall outing.
Our family made plans to return to City Square Mall maybe next weekend to catch the Snowy Playtime, which will take place nightly at 8.10pm till 31 December 2017. The kids will surely love experiencing “snow” in the tropics!
<img onerror="kspReplaceCdn(this)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-50835 size-full" src="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u36736/SIN_1231.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u36736/SIN_1231.jpg 700w, https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u36736/SIN_1231-640x426.jpg 640w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
<img onerror="kspReplaceCdn(this)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-50836 size-full" src="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u36736/SIN_1263.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u36736/SIN_1263.jpg 700w, https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u36736/SIN_1263-640x426.jpg 640w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
All City Square Mall Christmas activities are available from 17 Nov to 31 Dec 2017, except for Transformers ‘Live’ on Stage show, Meet the Autobots and Mask Making Workshop, which are held from 2 to 17 Dec 2017 (Tue-Sun only).
For more details on the activities and promotions, visit <a href="http://www.citysquaremall.com.sg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.citysquaremall.com.sg</a> or check out City Square Mall’s Facebook page <a href="http://www.facebook.com/citysquaremall" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.facebook.com/citysquaremall</a>. Terms and conditions apply.

Fannie Mummy’s Blog: Spending an Out-of-this-World Day at City Square Mall

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd">
<?xml encoding="UTF-8"><html><body><img onerror="kspReplaceCdn(this)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-50481 alignright" src="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/25479634_s-crop.jpg" alt="parent child workshop" width="234" height="261">Family fun doesn&rsquo;t have to come at a high price. Cost-conscious parents will be familiar with the People&rsquo;s Association&rsquo;s holiday offerings, and this year end, you can choose from over 2,000 courses at various locations, including parent-child classes.
From making a snow globe to learning to fly a drone, there is something for everyone and every budget. For more information, enquire with your nearest community centre, or visit PA&rsquo;s school holidays <a href="https://www.pa.gov.sg/our-programmes/lifeskills-and-lifestyle/school-holidays-series" target="_blank" rel="noopener">page</a>.&nbsp; 
<h2>Snow Globe Craft (Parent-Child)</h2>
Bring winter to your home this festive season by making your own snow globe with recycled materials. Use toys, glitter, and paint to create a special snow globe that will be the perfect centrepiece at gatherings.
No. of Session(s): 1 Duration: 1&shy;&ndash;1.5hrs Fees: $30/pair (PA Member) $40/pair (Non-Member) Material Fee: $8/pair
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="195">
DATE&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</td>
<td width="195">
TIME&nbsp;&nbsp;
</td>
<td width="195">
CC
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="195">
18 November 2017, Sat
</td>
<td width="195">
2.30pm &ndash; 3.30pm
</td>
<td width="195">
Ci Yuan CC
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="195">
26 November 2017, Sun
</td>
<td width="195">
1.30pm &ndash; 2.30pm
</td>
<td width="195">
Paya Lebar Kovan CC
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="195">
27 November 2017, Mon
</td>
<td width="195">
2.00pm &ndash; 3.00pm
</td>
<td width="195">
Yio Chu Kang CC
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="195">
10 December 2017, Sun
</td>
<td width="195">
1.00pm &ndash; 2.30pm
</td>
<td width="195">
Teck Ghee CC
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="195">
11 December 2017, Mon
</td>
<td width="195">
11.00am &ndash; 12.30pm
</td>
<td width="195">
Tampines Changkat CC
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="195">
15 December 2017, Fri
</td>
<td width="195">
1.00pm &ndash; 2.30pm
</td>
<td width="195">
Bukit Batok East CC
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="195">
15 December 2017, Fri
</td>
<td width="195">
3.30pm &ndash; 4.30pm
</td>
<td width="195">
Ayer Rajah CC
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="195">
19 December 2017, Tue
</td>
<td width="195">
2.00pm &ndash; 3.30pm
</td>
<td width="195">
Clementi CC
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2>Brush Letter Writing (Parent-Child)</h2>
Create Christmas cards using watercolour and brush lettering techniques. Participants will be introduced to simple lettering templates, letter writing styles, and watercolour blending.
No. of Session(s): 1 Duration: 2.5hrs Fees: $30/pair (PA Member) $40/pair (Non-Member) Material Fee: $10&ndash;15/pair
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="195">
DATE&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</td>
<td width="195">
TIME&nbsp;&nbsp;
</td>
<td width="195">
CC
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="195">
03 December 2017, Sun
</td>
<td width="195">
1.00pm &ndash; 2.30pm
</td>
<td width="195">
Teck Ghee CC
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="195">
11 December 2017, Mon
</td>
<td width="195">
2.00pm &ndash; 5.00pm
</td>
<td width="195">
Pasir Ris Elias CC
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="195">
13 December 2017, Wed
</td>
<td width="195">
2.00pm &ndash; 3.30pm
</td>
<td width="195">
Yuhua CC
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="195">
14 December 2017, Thu
</td>
<td width="195">
2.00pm &ndash; 3.30pm
</td>
<td width="195">
Tampines Central CC
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="195">
16 December 2017, Sat
</td>
<td width="195">
10.30am &ndash; 12.00pm
</td>
<td width="195">
Bukit Batok East CC
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="195">
22 December 2017, Fri
</td>
<td width="195">
2.30pm &ndash; 4.00pm
</td>
<td width="195">
Woodlands CC
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="195">
23 December 2017, Sat
</td>
<td width="195">
1.00pm &ndash; 3.30pm
</td>
<td width="195">
Bukit Merah CC
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2>Basic Drone Flying Course (Parent-Child)</h2>
Parents may have grown up flying kites for fun, but the next generation will be flying drones.&nbsp; These popular flight machines have many applications, from filming to package delivery.
Together, learn about handling drones, including safety and care practices. Then comes the exciting part of the workshop: flying a drone.
No. of Session(s): 1 Duration: 2hrs Fees: $30/pair (Member) $40/pair (Non-Member) Material Fee: $35/drone
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="195">
DATE&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</td>
<td width="195">
TIME&nbsp;&nbsp;
</td>
<td width="195">
CC
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="195">
17 December 2017, Sun
</td>
<td width="195">
10.00am &ndash; 12.00pm
</td>
<td width="195">
Ulu Pandan CC
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2>Be A Storyteller (Parent-Child)</h2>
Together with your child, learn to be masters at the art of narration, using words and actions to heighten your delivery and trigger your audience&rsquo;s imagination. At the end of this workshop, you will learn how to better entertain anyone with any story that you tell.
No. of Session(s): 1 Duration: 3hrs Fees: $75/pair (PA Member) $85/pair (Non-Member) Material Fee: $25/pair
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="195">
DATE&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</td>
<td width="195">
TIME&nbsp;&nbsp;
</td>
<td width="195">
CC
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="195">
13 December 2017, Wed
</td>
<td width="195">
2.00pm &ndash; 5.00pm
</td>
<td width="195">
Bukit Panjang CC
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2>Basic Baking (Parent-Child)</h2>
Children as young as four can learn how to make biscuits, cupcakes, muffins, tuiles, eclairs, and more with the help of parents. It is an opportunity for the little ones to not only learn about food preparation, but also enjoy themselves. (Recipes will vary for each session.)
No. of Session(s): 1 Duration: 3hrs Fees: $30&ndash;$35/pair (PA Member) $40&ndash;$45/pair (Non-Member) Material Fee: $30/pair
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="195">
DATE&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</td>
<td width="195">
TIME&nbsp;&nbsp;
</td>
<td width="195">
CC
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="195">
18 November 2017, Sat
</td>
<td width="195">
3.00pm &ndash; 5.00pm
</td>
<td width="195">
Pasir Ris Elias CC
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="195">
19 November 2017, Sun
</td>
<td width="195">
4.30pm &ndash; 6.30pm
</td>
<td width="195">
Rivervale CC
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="195">
03 December 2017, Sun
</td>
<td width="195">
4.30pm &ndash; 6.30pm
</td>
<td width="195">
Punggol Vista CC
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="195">
03 December 2017, Sun
</td>
<td width="195">
9.30am &ndash; 11.30am
</td>
<td width="195">
Tampines West CC
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="195">
09 December 2017, Sat
</td>
<td width="195">
9.30am &ndash; 11.30am
</td>
<td width="195">
The Serangoon CC
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="195">
10 December 2017, Sun
</td>
<td width="195">
10.00am &ndash; 12.00pm
</td>
<td width="195">
Senja-Cashew CC
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="195">
16 December 2017, Sat
</td>
<td width="195">
4.30pm &ndash; 6.30pm
</td>
<td width="195">
Yio Chu Kang CC
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2>Handcrafted Bear Cookies (Parent-Child) </h2>
Learn how to design and bake adorable bear cookies this holiday. You will also be taught how to create recipes that are free from food additives, by using healthy natural substitutes.
No. of Session(s): 1 Duration: 3hrs Fees: $38/pair (PA Member) $48/pair (Non-Member) Material Fees: $12/pair
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="195">
DATE&nbsp;
</td>
<td width="195">
TIME
</td>
<td width="195">
CC
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="195">
10 December 2017, Sun
</td>
<td width="195">
2.30pm &ndash; 5.30pm
</td>
<td width="195">
Ulu Pandan CC
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="195">
14 December 2017, Thu
</td>
<td width="195">
2.00pm &ndash; 5.00pm
</td>
<td width="195">
Bukit Timah CC
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="195">
17 December 2017, Sun
</td>
<td width="195">
10.00am &ndash; 1.00pm
</td>
<td width="195">
Bukit Panjang CC
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="195">
17 December 2017, Sun
</td>
<td width="195">
2.00pm &ndash; 5.00pm
</td>
<td width="195">
Woodgrove CC
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2>Solar &amp; Wind-Powered Car (Parent-Child)&nbsp;&nbsp; </h2>
Learn about solar and wind power as well as the importance of clean technologies, and assemble a solar and wind-powered car designed from recyclable materials. (Participants will be able to bring the car home.)
No. of Session(s): 1 Duration: 2hrs Fees: $120/pair (PA Member) $130/pair (Non-Member)
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="195">
DATE&nbsp;
</td>
<td width="195">
TIME
</td>
<td width="195">
CC
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="195">
20 December 2017, Wed
</td>
<td width="195">
2.00pm &ndash; 4.00pm
</td>
<td width="195">
Clementi CC
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="195">
23 December 2017, Sat
</td>
<td width="195">
2.00pm &ndash; 4.00pm
</td>
<td width="195">
Bukit Panjang CC
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2>Family Jump Rope Programme (Parent-Child)&nbsp;&nbsp; </h2>
Take rope jumping to the next level as you and your little one learn to execute simple solo and partner tricks. These jump rope activities are fun, easy to learn, and suitable for all ages.
No. of Session(s): 4 Duration: 1hr per session Fees: $50/pair (PA Member) $60/pair (Non-Member)
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="195">
DATE&nbsp;
</td>
<td width="195">
TIME
</td>
<td width="195">
CC
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="195">
26 November 2017 &ndash; 17 December 2017, Sun
</td>
<td width="195">
2.00pm &ndash; 3.00pm
</td>
<td width="195">
Whampoa CC
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2>Stride to Ride (Parent-Child)&nbsp;&nbsp; </h2>
Your child&rsquo;s first cycling experience is a memory to be treasured. Be a part of this significant moment in your child&rsquo;s life, as you learn to methodically teach him or her to ride and steer a balance bike. This course is suitable for children aged four to six.
No. of Session(s): 1 Duration: 1.5hrs Fees: $68/pair (PA Member) $80/pair (Non-Member)
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="195">
DATE&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</td>
<td width="195">
TIME&nbsp;&nbsp;
</td>
<td width="195">
CC
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="195">
09 December 2017, Sat
</td>
<td width="195">
4.00pm &ndash; 5.30pm
</td>
<td width="195">
Buona Vista CC
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2>Urban Dance (Parent-Child)&nbsp;&nbsp; </h2>
Together with your child, discover different dance forms, and mix and match various elements to the beat of catchy dance hits, including funk, hip-hop, and pop.
No. of Session(s): 1 Duration: 1.5hrs Fees: $16/pair (PA Member) $24/pair (Non-Member)
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="195">
DATE&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</td>
<td width="195">
TIME&nbsp;&nbsp;
</td>
<td width="195">
CC
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="195">
05 December 2017, Tue
</td>
<td width="195">
11.00am &ndash; 12.15pm
</td>
<td width="195">
Yew Tee CC
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="195">
12 December 2017, Tue
</td>
<td width="195">
11.00am &ndash; 12.15pm
</td>
<td width="195">
Jurong Green CC
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
:: Also, check out the full line-up of holiday programmes at Katong CC. There are many interesting activities in store, including the Flower Pot Dessert Making Class, Turbo RoboCar workshop, Angry Ping-Pong Blaster (ping-pong shooting machine building workshop), and Lollipops Maths &amp; Science Cookery. Find out more <a href="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u36736/KatongCC_DecHolProg2017a.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>!
</body></html>

Nov–Dec ’17 Holidays: 10 Budget-Friendly Parent-Child Workshops

A mother of a bookworm (aged 11) and an emerging reader (aged 6) shares her tricks.
<img onerror="kspReplaceCdn(this)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-50295 aligncenter" src="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/Picture01.jpg" alt="Nov wk1.1" width="650" height="519" srcset="https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/Picture01.jpg 650w, https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/Picture01-640x511.jpg 640w" sizes="(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" />
Play a video game based on a book. Back when she was about 8, my daughter showed no signs of wanting to budge from her Enid Blyton comfort zone until my brother introduced her to the LEGO Harry Potter <a href="https://www.lego.com/en-us/videogames/harry-potter/about/screenshots" target="_blank" rel="noopener">video game</a>. The game follows the sequence of the seven books in the Harry Potter series and they played it together for many weeks, with him walking her through the entire plot. Right after they completed the game, she asked to read Harry Potter and three years later, she’s still revisiting the books—with new understanding as she matures.
Listen to an audiobook. A friend had bought my daughter a beautiful picture book edition of The Hobbit several years ago. On receiving it, she flipped through it once but it didn’t leave an impression. The book was left untouched until recently, when my kids requested an audiobook before bedtime. I found a well-narrated recording of The Hobbit <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kuz4sewdqf4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">online</a> and played it for the kids for several nights in a row. Shortly after, my daughter picked up her copy of The Hobbit to read, saying that she liked the story now.
Watch the movie first. Even as an adult, watching the movie first has helped me ease into reading Shakespearean works and other less accessible classics. Many popular children’s stories, such as How To Train A Dragon, have also been adapted into quality films. If your children are not inclined to discover new stories through books, watching the movie first could provide a gentle introduction as well as a nudge to enjoy the story in its printed form.
When screening movies, turn on closed captioning or English subtitles. In our home, weekend nights are designated as movie nights, where I screen an age-appropriate movie for both my kids. I made a habit of turning on closed captioning initially because we don’t have a good sound system, but recently, my 6 year old specifically requested closed captioning, saying, “It helps me to learn new words!”
Discover authors through picture book biographies. Pick a story that fleshes out a memorable episode in an author’s life (such as <a href="http://janeyolen.com/works/my-uncle-emily/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">My Uncle Emily</a>, about Emily Dickinson) or one with a chronological approach, with examples of the author’s work woven in (such as <a href="http://www.matthewjohnburgess.com/enormous-smallness/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Enormous Smallness</a>, A Story Of E.E. Cummings).
<img onerror="kspReplaceCdn(this)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-50296 aligncenter" src="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/Picture02.jpg" alt="Nov wk1.2" width="650" height="488" srcset="https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/Picture02.jpg 650w, https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/Picture02-640x480.jpg 640w" sizes="(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" />
Where possible, make stories feel real. My son and I were reading a story about the life of poet/author Maya Angelou, and he asked if she was a real person. By chance, I remembered that a friend of mine who works at the United Nations in New York had met Maya Angelou, and I found a Facebook picture of them posing together to show my son. I could see he was delighted at the real-life connection; he was much more interested in her thereafter, which paves the way for us to explore more of her works in future. We currently have one of her poems—Life Doesn’t Frighten Me At All—in the form of a <a href="https://www.brainpickings.org/2013/05/03/life-doesnt-frighten-me-maya-angelou-basquiat/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">picture book</a>.
There is more than one way to experience a story. Some book-loving parents are <a href="https://teachingourown.wordpress.com/2011/09/30/books-for-boys-and-girls-also/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">against</a> letting children read abridged or adapted versions of classics­—they claim watered-down stories don’t do justice to the originals. Others are happy to expose their children to stories that may enrich their lives, in any form that will appeal to them. There is no template for helping your child fall in love with books, so the best approach would be to try everything. We have one adaptation of Franz Kafka’s works for children, <a href="https://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/07/19/my-first-kafka-roth-eason/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">My First Kafka</a>, which is a work of art in its own right.
Read aloud, as often as you can. This is age-old advice from experts and parents, but you don’t have to restrict your read-aloud material to children’s literature. When my son roomed with me at night, I read aloud from whatever I was interested in reading, be it from the New York Times or one of my favourite blogs, Brainpickings. It killed two birds with one stone—I could catch up on my reading while putting him to sleep quickly. I think it’s useful exposure even if comprehension is minimal or non-existent; they’re absorbing grammar structures and will develop an appreciation for wordplay, and better still if they are curious about the content that they’re hearing. 
Read anything as practice. We’ve instituted a nightly “games after dinner” routine to bond as a family, using card games purchased from a mom-run <a href="http://www.myfirstgames.sg/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">games store</a>. Apart from promoting thinking skills (strategising), math skills, and life skills (such as handling defeat), the games have been so much fun that my son was motivated to read the game instructions independently—to check the rules or explain them to someone else. I’ve also noticed him trying to read random signs and notices, and even attempt to decipher my personal messages; I’ve explained the concept of privacy to him, but his defence is that he’s “practising his reading.”
Plan a treasure hunt. I was inspired by the novel Gone Girl to organise a simple kids’ <a href="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/Picture03.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">treasure hunt</a> some years ago, in my home. It’s a fun activity for gatherings and parties, and kids have incentive to read the clues because they’re curious about the reward and want to get to it before their friends do. To make sure that each child gets a chance to practise his or her reading skills, print enough clues for all your participants. If you have the time, you could even turn this into a daily game for your kids.
<h6>Contributed by Evelyn, a freelance writer and <a href="https://datewiththenights.wordpress.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">parent blogger</a>. Photo credits: <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/mIVpbn8j-6w" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jessica Fadel</a> (Harry Potter).</h6>

10 Mom-Tested Ways To Get Kids Reading This Holiday

<img onerror="kspReplaceCdn(this)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-50124 size-full aligncenter" src="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/caption_final_3-1.jpg" alt="mymca caption" width="700" height="511" srcset="https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/caption_final_3-1.jpg 700w, https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/caption_final_3-1-640x467.jpg 640w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
<h3>METROPOLITAN YMCA SINGAPORE Presents:  Learning &amp; Adventure Camps! PLAY &amp; LEARN!</h3>
<h3><a href="#daycamps">SORRY PARENTS, OUR 2017 CAMPS REGISTRATION HAVE CLOSED!</a> ^CLICK HERE FOR MORE CAMPS IN 2018^</h3>
<h3> <img onerror="kspReplaceCdn(this)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-50098 size-full aligncenter" src="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/mymca-combine.jpg" alt="mymca combine" width="685" height="350" srcset="https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/mymca-combine.jpg 685w, https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/mymca-combine-640x327.jpg 640w" sizes="(max-width: 685px) 100vw, 685px" /></h3>
How outdoor adventure camps can teach your kids confidence, leadership skills and resilience
There has been a lot of talk about going back to nature, and drawing on its diversity to school our children.
The thought of children roaming in forests and letting their senses be heightened by the smell, sight, and sound in our natural environment may sound appealing indeed – especially in this day and age where children spend more time on television and gadgets than on physical activities outdoors.
<img onerror="kspReplaceCdn(this)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-49934 aligncenter" src="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/mymca5.jpg" alt="mymca5" width="686" height="514" srcset="https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/mymca5.jpg 1600w, https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/mymca5-640x480.jpg 640w, https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/mymca5-1200x900.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 686px) 100vw, 686px" />Children taking a break with drinks from our sponsors!
But what are the benefits of letting children freely (and safely) explore the outdoors?
This <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/family-holidays/the-science-behind-how-holidays-make-your-child-happier-and-smarter/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">article in The Telegraph</a> makes a few important points. It states that the brain has a play and seeking system, as discovered by Professor Jaak Panksepp, a world-leading neuroscientist at Washington State University.
The play system is stimulated every time you engage in rough-and-tumble play with your child or bury his feet in the sand, while the seeking system is exercised when exploring a new place or forest together.
In the Singapore context where much of our land is developed for urban use, family holidays and regular romps in the outdoors may be even more important for your child.
Such activities release “well-being neurochemicals” such as oxytocin and dopamine, which reduces stress and activates a general sense of wellness in the child, as well as the parents. 
Over time, such play and exploration can lead to the maturation of the frontal lobes, the “part of the brain involved in cognitive functioning, social intelligence and well-focused, goal-directed behaviours that may last a lifetime.”
In other words, letting kids play outdoors and bringing them on a vacation can help them develop their intelligence and build a sense of confidence and independence.
Sounds good already?
But there’s more.
Nature supports the development of children in some very key ways:
<ul>
<li>It enhances a child’s ability to focus</li>
<li>It supports creativity and problem-solving</li>
<li>It improves academic performance</li>
<li>It reduces stress</li>
<li>It reduces rates of myopia in children</li>
<li>It reduces (Attention Deficit Disorder) ADD symptoms</li>
</ul>
“It’s important for children to experience nature. Having an adventure in the great outdoors is an excellent way to teach children about the diversity of our natural world,&#8221; says Daniel Ang, MYMCA’s senior programme coordinator. &#8220;You also get to stretch their confidence through outdoor obstacle courses and team events, and help them develop a resilience that naturally comes with overcoming small challenges.” (<a href="https://naturalearning.org/sites/default/files/Benefits%20of%20Connecting%20Children%20with%20Nature_InfoSheet.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Source</a>)
<h3 style="text-align: center;">“In other words, letting kids play outdoors and bringing them on a vacation can help them develop their intelligence and build a sense of confidence and independence.”</h3>
<img onerror="kspReplaceCdn(this)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-49935 aligncenter" src="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/mymca6.jpg" alt="mymca6" width="685" height="514" srcset="https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/mymca6.jpg 700w, https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/mymca6-640x480.jpg 640w" sizes="(max-width: 685px) 100vw, 685px" />
Life and learning should always be an ADVENTURE
What is unique about Metropolitan YMCA’s children camps is its focus on equipping children with the skills to explore and learn from nature, and tackle challenges with a can-do attitude.
The adventure camps cater to the abilities of the very young, even preschoolers as young as four years old.
Daniel explains, “Our organisation believes in training and mentoring our youths to become compassionate and caring leaders of tomorrow. We have been working with a group of youths and providing them with training to handle young children.”
“For example, there may be occasions where we have to care for and encourage a clingy or fearful child. In such a situation, the child usually finds one facilitator whom he feels an affinity with, and follows that person around. What we’d usually do is have that facilitator introduce that child to another facilitator in a gentle way. So that by the time it’s the end of the first camp day, the child would have already been exposed to two to three different facilitators, thereby increasing his comfort level by day two.”
Another way the youth volunteers are trained is in the art of asking questions that prompt young children to reflect upon their actions and lessons from the events.
This is important in promoting the critical and reflective thought process in a child. For example, how have I cared for another person today, and in this way contributed as a team member?
Each activity then becomes more meaningful and memorable for the child, and is not just a touch-and-go event.
<h3 style="text-align: center;">“Our organisation believes in training and mentoring our youths to become compassionate and caring leaders of tomorrow. We have been working with a group of youths and providing them with training to handle young children.”</h3>
<img onerror="kspReplaceCdn(this)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-50015 aligncenter" src="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/mymca10.jpg" alt="mymca10" width="685" height="515" srcset="https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/mymca10.jpg 1200w, https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/mymca10-640x481.jpg 640w" sizes="(max-width: 685px) 100vw, 685px" />Youth Volunteers! Guardians, Mentors &amp; Leaders! 
<h3 id="daycamps" style="text-align: left;">SORRY DUE TO OVERWHELMING RESPONSE OUR 2017 CAMPS REGISTRATION HAVE CLOSED</h3>
<h2>MYMCA 2018 Learning &amp; Adventure Camps</h2>
Please note that the registration for 2018 MYMCA Camps have not open.  These dates may be subject to change.
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><img onerror="kspReplaceCdn(this)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-50779" src="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/MYMCA-table.jpg" alt="MYMCA" width="1160" height="484" srcset="https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/MYMCA-table.jpg 1160w, https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/MYMCA-table-640x267.jpg 640w" sizes="(max-width: 1160px) 100vw, 1160px" /> Please email <a href="mailto:Daniel.Ang@mymca.org.sg">Daniel.Ang@mymca.org.sg</a> to be part of the mailing list.</h3>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">MYMCA December Holidays Adventure Programmes </h2>
 DAY CAMPS Every child has unique talents and smarts! Whether it’s Picture/Word/Logic/Body/Nature/Sound/People/Self Smarts, we believe that they should explore all the Multiple Intelligence and discover more about themselves!

<img onerror="kspReplaceCdn(this)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-50017 aligncenter" src="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/Superkids_Camp_ITINERARY.jpg" alt="Superkids_Camp_ITINERARY" width="686" height="484" /> SuperKids Camps – 5-12 years old Fee: $260 (Member) / $310 (Non-Member) <a href="https://www.mymca.org.sg/activity?type=Holiday%20Camp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Click here for more information</a>!
OVERNIGHT CAMPS Challenge your fitness, creative thinking and problem-solving skills in our 3D2N Commando Camp!
<img onerror="kspReplaceCdn(this)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-50018 aligncenter" src="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/Commando_Camp_ITINERARY.jpg" alt="Commando_Camp_ITINERARY" width="686" height="479" /> Commando Camp – 5-7 Dec, 7-12 years old Fee: $320 (Member) / $370 (Non-Member)  <a href="https://www.mymca.org.sg/activity?type=Holiday%20Camp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Click here for more information</a>!
<div>
<hr />
Learning in Adventures, Learning in Sports</div>
Beside their exciting children camps, they also provide Swimming and Basketball programmes for 4-12 years old.
The Aquatic Education Programme (AEP) offers children a systematic and customized learning experience in swimming.
The Basketball Club offers children professional basketball training in non-competitive pace.
Their non-competitive learning environment helps the instructors to focus on the character and value development; a discipline attitude, a strong will, a positive mindset, the courage to take up challenges, and the strength to accept failures. While the children explore his/her own potential in fun and engaging training, all the progression will be based on their ability and competency without the pressure to excel.
<a href="https://www.mymca.org.sg/activity?type=Aquatics" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Click here for MYMCA Aquatic Education Programme Details</a>
 <a href="https://www.mymca.org.sg/activity?type=Basketball" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Click here for MYMCA Basketball Club Details</a>