Universal Scribbles

Moving on - Universal Scribbles

2011-11-13T10:17:00.001+08:00

Dear Friends,

Thank you for visiting this site. I have migrated this site to Universal Scribbles - Conversations among friends. Do join me there for new updates and articles on parenting, travels, lifestyle and personal development.

In addition, I have also set up a Facebook page. Please "Like" the page.

See you at the new site.

Cheers,
Meiling

Imagination and creativity learning at the Science Centre

2011-10-27T15:30:00.003+08:00

Want to encourage imagination and creativity in your child?

Great news! The Science Centre Singapore is collaborating with Make*Believe, a company specialising in children's enrichment programmes to roll out a series of themed Make*Believe programmes for students aged 18 months to 6 years.

Interactive blocks for kids to build anything that seize their imagination.

The first in the series is a 50-minute enrichment programme called "Common Spaces", which is based on architecture and urban planning. There are 4 hands-on stations for the pre-schoolers to explore. Learning activities are built around a local landmark building (Central Fire Station), fire engine, fireman and city planning.

There are two types of common spaces, said Ms Juliana Teo, co-founder of Make*Believe and principal architect of Metropolitan Office of Architects. She explains that common spaces exist in the physical form like a playground or a sand pit, but also exist in the children's mind, so let's pretend to be pirates or princesses.

"We aim to provide a fun-filled learning experience which cannot be easily replicated in school," said Michael Chay, Director of Marketing & Communications of the Science Centre Singapore.

Lay Wee Mee, a mother of 3 and co-founder of Make*Believe, adds that she hopes the exhibition will give parents some idea on how to engage with their children further and the teachers different perspectives to encourage the spirit of learning in children.

Using the Central Fire Station as a backdrop, students learn about the design of Singapore's oldest fire station and are guided to piece together puzzles and cubes of varying levels of difficulty.

Signs in the City - Students take on the role of city planning and learn about shapes, numbers, space and more!

3D puzzle blocks

To Believe is to have confidence in, to have an opinion of, and to accept as real.

Make is to create, transform, build, change and to put parts together to make a whole.

Make*Believe is the coming together of the imagination and reality. Through different activities, mediums and platforms, children are encouraged to explore and experience concepts and make new discoveries through the lens of science, architecture and design.

Come and play with your kids. They just might teach you something new.

Common Spaces is open to public on weekday afternoons and weekends. For more information on timing and admission fees, please contact the Science Center Singapore at 6425 2500.

Review: Natural corn-based baby utensils

2011-10-18T14:15:00.000+08:00

Finally, moms can say goodbye to toxic plastics and feed their babies nutritious food from all-natural, 100% baby safe utensils made from corn!

"Mothers put tremendous effort to feed nutritious food to their babies, but it's frustrating to have to feed them with conventional plastic utensils that contain toxic chemicals like BPA, Phthalates, Maelamine or PVC" said Daphne Goh, owner and Director of Boo-tiful, a fine children's furniture boutique.

"We want to give mothers in Singapore an organic alternative to complement their feeding routines with their babies," she adds. Boo-tiful's latest addition to its feeding range, Dandelion feeding products are made from all natural cornstarch that are environmentally friendly and completely child-safe.

You can be assured when baby puts these award-winning feeding utensils and teething links into their mouths for oral stimulation, their health and well-being are taken into consideration.

Dandelion products come in bold colours, with unique shapes and multi-texture surfaces to assist the babies' exploration development. They are recommended for all ages birth and up.

Dandelion range is priced from S$14.90 - S$16.90. It is available from Boo-tiful and the following stockists:

Mothercare stores islandwide
Eat Organic
Doolbydoo
Jam and Muffin
Simplethots

Expert tips on creativity

2011-10-15T10:31:00.001+08:00

We all want our kids to be creative, but may not have the know-how. Here are some expert tips on how to get their creative juices flowing!

Electrolux Singapore is sponsoring an art competition open to children under 12 years old, to educate and highlight the very real issue of marine debris and its impact on marine life and the environment around the world. The top three entries win a total of S$8,000 worth of eco-friendly kitchen products.

Click here for more information on Dreaming of a greener Singapore competition

To get our budding designers started, Senior Interaction Designer at Electrolux, Tan Chin Chin shares these tips:

Create the right environment for children to be creative; make sure they have a clear table to work at and remember to protect it either with newspaper or a plastic dustsheet
Encourage them to look at the environment around them and draw what makes them happy and what they wish to keep forever e.g. trees, parks, a clean seaside, happy and people and pets etc.
Children work better on large pieces of paper, as they tend to draw large scale; give them at least A3-size sheets of paper to work from to achieve the best results
Provide young designers with as many different types of paints, brushes and crayons you can get your hands on – as far as they will be concerned, bigger is always better
Encourage your little ones to have a few practice attempts and remind them that they do not have to produce the final version in the first sitting – that way you spread the fun and they will enjoy the exercise even more

When you are ready, help your child tap into his/her creativity by following these instructions…

Step 1. Don’t be afraid to let your imagination (and pen or brush) run wild –close your eyes and draw the first thing that comes to your mind. Art can be an expression of yourself – what you are thinking about, what you feel, what your dreams and aspirations are. Draw whatever you think about when you imagine a Singapore that is friendlier to our environment.

Step 2. One of the best ways to be inspired is to look at the environment around you- draw what makes you happy and what you wish to keep forever e.g. trees, parks, a clean seaside, happy people and pets.

Step 3. Be creative – anything goes! Substitute your brush, crayon or colour pencils for shapes cut from potatoes (potato stamps) or dip some dried leaves in paint of different colours and print them all over your canvas. What better way to express yourself than to use what is natural.

Step 4. Remember, practice makes perfect – Have a few practice attempts, or as many as you want to! You don’t not have to produce the final version in the first sitting – that way you spread the fun and you will enjoy the exercise even more!

Step 5. Last but not least, have fun! Your artwork doesn’t have to be a masterpiece, as long as your painting makes you happy, be proud of it! Enjoy yourself and put your heart into it.

This post first appeared in theAsianparent.com

Halloween in Singapore: costumes and supplies

2011-10-13T17:17:00.001+08:00

There's nothing scarier on Halloween night than a bunch of little devils, ghouls and witches roaming around your block, demanding for treats.

The Bride of Frankenstein and the Evil Witch

Typically falling on the last day of October, Halloween has become a huge event in Singapore. Kids and adults alike love this occasion where they get to fantasize, put on make-up and play dress up in their favourite characters and let their imagination run wild.

The Devil and The Angel

Most adults usually make do with Halloween accessories which they can easily get at any supermarkets (NTUC, Cold Storage or Carrefour) or department stores like Isetan Singapore or Robinsons. Or they can rent a costume from speciality costume shops like Number 1 Costume Costume, Talent House Studio, Foreigners House of Costumes (Tel: 62823110) and one of the oldest suppliers in town, Costumes & Mascots (Tel: 62990882). Depending on the quality of the costume, rental costumes may cost you between $50 to $200 for a 3-days period, and terms and conditions vary with each company.

For children, it is simply easier to purchase costumes as you don't have to worry about wear and tear and the forfeit of your deposit. Also, if the costumes are of a more generic nature (like princess or pirate), they can be re-used on other occasions (birthday parties or school performance etc). Plus, it is also economy of scale if you have kids of the same sex - you can recycle the costumes for the younger ones or exchange with friends who have children of the same sex.

So, where can you buy costumes for kids in Singapore?

Almost any places that sell party supplies will have some costumes or accessories for you.
Toys "R" Us - catering to the various needs of kids, this toy retail chain offers a range of costumes for children the whole year round.
Spotlight - you can buy a range of costumes here, or if you are good with needles and thread, get the materials and make one yourself. In addition, Spotlight has a range of supplies and decorations for you to choose from; a definite must-visit when preparing for Halloween.
Mini Princess - a great concept store that lives up to its name, this store sells the prettiest dresses for your little girls, including princess and fairy outfits at very reasonable prices. You will also love the lovely 'girly' shoes and accessories to complement the outfits.
The Internet is a wealth of resources for your shopping needs. Check out these websites to get your costumes.

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Tips for shopping online

Give yourself sufficient shipping time for the costumes to arrive.
Make sure the website you are purchasing from has good on-line safety features to protect your credit card and personal details.
Clarify the return policy before making a purchase.

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Even if you are not a big fan of dressing up, you may wish to decorate the entrance of your home to join in the fun. Click here for the list of party supply places and have fun when the little tykes come around with their face-painted or masked outfits begging for tricks or treats.

Happy Halloween!

Party: supplies list

2011-10-12T18:25:00.000+08:00

Whether its a birthday party, an occasion, a celebration, a get-together or an event you are putting together for your company, school or family, party supplies are a must.

Here is a list of the best places to get your party supplies from.

Party with Us - there are 2 outlets, one at The Centrepoint (#05-14), and the other at Valley Point (#01-10), 62350221
Party City - Holland Village, Tel: 6462-6011 and Raffles City Shopping Center (#03-28), Tel: 63362161
AZ Gift & Trading - 116 Middle Road, #01-01 ICB Enterprise House, Singapore 188972, Tel: 62913130 and 390 Victoria Street, #01-39 Golden Landmark, Singapore 188061, Tel: 62989311
Heartlink Trading - 116 Middle Road, #01-02 ICB Enterprise House, Singapore 188972 - also provide balloon sculptors, face body painters, magicians, clowns and inflatables Bouncy Castles. Contact Sam at 62974939 or 91477801.
P&G - 116 Middle Road, #01-03 ICB Enterprise House, Singapore 188972, 63968208
ABC Bargain Centre Pte Ltd - 63 Queen Street, Bugis Village, Singapore 188542, 69935807
Yeo G M Trading - Blk 1 Rochor Road, #01-550, Singapore 180001, 62955545 - has a retail outlet and is also the wholesale supplier to some of the other party retail outlets in town.
Chin Giap Soon Trading - The Verge (Tekka Mall), 2 Serangoon Road, Level 5, Tel: 62970075
Hsen Global Pte Ltd - 312 Lavender Street, Tel: 62995510
SKP - has 46 Branches island wide and is the largest supplier of party wares in the country.

If you don't have time to physically visit the shops, do your shopping online at these websites:

Kidz Party Store
Bug's Party
Harvest Well Enterprise - is a balloon wholesale distributor that branched out to party supplies. They also have a small retail space called Party Joy on the second level of Parkway Parade.
Fantastic Party Supplies
Kidforte Pte Ltd
Bouncy Castles

Other retailers were selling this White Unicorn Pinata at S$55 but I found this at Kidforte for only S$27.

This large Disco Ball was sold at most of the party supply stores at varying prices between $50 to $120. But I got it at a steal of S$30 at Yeo GM Trading!

In the news

2011-10-12T09:48:00.001+08:00

Discovered I was quoted in this article by theAsianparent.com; check it out.

By Anjali D'Mello | October 5, 2011

Nanoboy Mission Health Cover

Teach your young ones about how to keep clean and healthy in a fun new way! You might just see all their bad habits disappear.

If you’re having a hard time trying to get your little ones to brush their teeth or cut down on TV time, you now have a superhero who might just do the job! Meet Nanoboy, the world’s smallest and Singapore’s first superhero. He battles the world of bacteria on a microscopic level and teaches young ones about the importance of health and personal hygiene. Pick up a copy of the new Nanoboy comic, based on the hit TV series, for your kids. Boys are certain to fall for the action packed, adventure-filled pages, and girls will marvel at Nanoboys secret identity and the Nanosquad.

Keeping things clean

The visual aspect of the Nanoboy series really speaks to a young audience, and they can relate to the characters that are around the same age as the comics target audience – six to nine year olds. This is the perfect age to make them aware of the negative impacts poor personal hygiene and damage to their health, can have. The Nanoboy Mission Health series does this in a very graphic and cleverly plotted manner. The storyline starts off with depicting how the main character neglects his mum’s advice and then learns why his mum was right through an adventure.

Go graphic

Carol Loi Pui Wan, taught her two girls how important personal hygiene was with the help of a picture book about germs. “They loved it, and we often referred back to it”, says Carol. There are ways of scaring your kids into believing bugs might attack their teeth, or that they might get diseases if they don’t clean themselves, but instead of using scare tactics, many graphic descriptions can help. Meiling Wong-Chainani printed out a step-by-step guide on how to wash your hands, had it laminated and placed it over the sink to teach her kids. She says this worked effectively. Check out another little Singaporean who got graphic here.

For their eyes only

There are various ways of getting your kids into the right habits, especially getting them to follow what you do on a daily basis, but they might just respond better to an outlet that is speaking directly to them and from their point of view. The first issue of the Nanoboy Mission Health series is available at all major bookstores and convenience stores. Future issues will deal with how to teach your kid about healthy eating and how to use the Internet. You can also check out their range of online activities here: www.nanoboy.net

Steve Jobs: iPod, iMac, iPhone, iPad

2011-10-06T21:59:00.000+08:00

Steve Jobs is dead.

This very sentence sends a ripple effect of shock and gloom throughout the world. With this sentence, the world seems to have grown dimmer as the world mourn the snuffing out of a brilliant light.

With his passing, Apple Inc co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs joined the the league of the GREAT who had left an indelible mark in the world, not just by what they have achieved, but also their philosophy and legacy of wisdom.

Many people are wondering what's going to happen to Apple now that "the brain" is gone. Always the man of vision, Steve Jobs assured us:

I mean, some people say, ‘Oh, God, if [Jobs] got run over by a bus, Apple would be in trouble.’ And, you know, I think it wouldn’t be a party, but there are really capable people at Apple. My job is to make the whole executive team good enough to be successors, so that’s what I try to do.

So much has been said about this man who brought us the iPod, iMac, iPhone and iPad - some are good, some are bad, but most are amazing!

Steve Jobs himself once said, "I want to put a ding in the universe."

And that he did beautifully, elegantly and effectively.

All I can say is: for a man with such humble beginnings, you have been a true inspiration. And for all that you have given the world, our children and the generations to come, "Thank you" doesn't seem enough! You have truly made a 'ding in the universe'. But given your wisdom, vision and foresight, I wouldn't be surprise if YOU surprise us with "just one more thing" from the heavens above. You will be greatly missed, Mr. Jobs.

Rest In Peace.

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Steve Jobs on naming Apple:

I was actually a fruitarian at that point in time. I ate only fruit. Now I'm a garbage can like everyone else. And we were about three months late in filing a fictitious business name so I threatened to call the company Apple Computer unless someone suggested a more interesting name by five o'clock that day. Hoping to stimulate creativity. And it stuck. And that's why we're called Apple.

This is extracted from Steve Job's public address to the Stanford University's graduating class of 2005 - a rare public speech by him - read more about it HERE.

The amazing revolution of the Apple computer.

The first Apple prototype

that became the stylish iMac

and then the incredibly light Macbook Air

Revolutionary iPad

1955 - 2011

The Singlish Dilemma

2011-10-01T12:13:00.000+08:00

I cringe every time I hear my children speak Singlish. “I cannot lah,” they’ll say or “Why so like that one, ah?” And then, there are these definite shudder-inducing phrases, “mummy, today eat what”, “I already eat” and “can go or not?"

Courtesy of theAsianparent.com

Now, before you get all worked up, this article is not about dissing Singlish or Singaporeans. It is rather about the challenges we as Singaporeans face when it comes to speaking proper English. Without a doubt Singlish has become very much a part of our identity today, and I am not an advocate of eradicating it; we all know how useful it can be. The real dilemma is in how to encourage the use of proper English, while not necessarily eroding our Singlish heritage.

At the launch of the recent “Speak Good English Movement” initiated by the government earlier this month, Minister of State Mr. Lawrence Wong, said that the objective of this year’s movement is to “enable every Singaporean to speak Standard English – that is grammatically correct, commonly understood around the world and intelligible to English speakers everywhere.”

When I met with Mr Goh Eck Kheng, Chairman of the movement, he was quick to point out that “Singlish has a role in Singapore and is a marker of Singapore’s identity.” He emphasized that “we are not here to eradicate Singlish but to promote English because it is an advantage that we already have in the international community and it is something we cannot afford to lose.”

So, why do we have so much difficulty speaking in a language that is recognized by the international English community?

Mr. Goh believes it all boils down to the mind-set. “You can speak in simple English even if you are at the hawker or to the taxi uncle. Try saying ‘Uncle may I have some chilli?’ instead of ‘Uncle, chilli.’”

He stresses it is important that those who can speak well must not give in to societal pressure to “dumb down” their language. Instead they should serve as role models so that the standard of English in Singapore is elevated. He also advocates that one must know how to switch between Singlish and proper English, and learn to effectively use both languages to build relationships under appropriate circumstances.

Georgina Knight-Hassel and her husband, Chris, have been living in Singapore for the last 14 years. Originally from the West of England, the couple settled in the heartlands of Singapore. When their older daughter, Elizabeth, was younger she spoke in Singlish despite her parents being native English speakers. Her mother explains that this was mainly due to her social activities with the local children in school and at the playgrounds. But during her visits to England, Elizabeth realized that her British cousins and relatives could not understand her ‘colloquial English’. She quickly became aware that if she was to be understood elsewhere, she needed to speak in proper English.

Her younger sister, Lily, on the other hand, was more influenced by Georgina’s presence and spoke in proper English. But when she entered a local primary school, she too began to speak Singlish.

Are they “dumbing down” as Mr. Goh suggests? Definitely not, said their mother. ”The girls are merely trying to fit into their environment.” She adds that both girls, now 7 and 11, have learnt how to easily switch between Singlish and British English with ease.

What about our local kids? Can they learn to switch too?

Mr. Goh believes they can. With good role models, he assures us that little children can differentiate languages by listening and absorbing them. For families who do not have a strong foundation in English, Mr. Goh suggests these options:

use the mother tongue to converse with the kids
outsource or find good English speaking role models for their children in enrichment centres or schools
children will recognize the efforts of their parents or caregivers when they consciously try to speak proper English and will follow suit.
allow the children to influence and help the adults at home speak better English.

Adel Ang, Channel Sales Manager at TREND Micro, has two kids, 3 and 5, who correct the way she speaks English. She confesses that sometimes she doesn’t “feel at ease” when her kids correct her, but admits it has made her more conscious of the way she speaks English around them.

So, is it a parenting or an education issue?

Some parents like Ms Ng Yi Ling try to impart good English speaking skills to their children but say their efforts are thwarted whenever someone speaks Singlish to them. Others like Ms Mei Loh blame it on impatience. “Children can be impatient to get the message across so they resort to using wrong grammar; parents are impatient too so they often fail to correct them.”

It seems it takes a conscious effort from parents, schools and the public in general to enable our children to speak in proper English AND be able to switch to Singlish when needed.

“Speaking in proper English is speaking in proper sentences,” says Georgina. “While the school teaches them the technical aspects of grammar and vocabulary, as parents, we can supplement this education with guidance and encouragement as well as giving them opportunities to practice speaking in proper English.”

Georgina shares some tips she uses to help her kids speak in proper English.

Be aware and conscious of the way you speak around your child
Allow the child to hear conversations in grammatically correct English
Don’t correct your child each time he/she speaks
Remind them to speak clearly, not to mumble, and to pronounce the endings of their words
Practice makes perfect – have conversations with them
Encourage your child to finish his/her sentence
Discuss, debate and/or talk about the difference between colloquial and proper English
Give them the freedom to clarify the pronunciation of words – (eg. American or British pronunciation of tomato or mischievous)

Sure, my kids will continue to speak in Singlish. They are Singaporeans after all. And I know I will continue to reply, once in a while, with my usual sarcastic “Excuse me? What did you just say? I don’t quite understand you.” But I’m pretty confident they are able to switch and speak in formal, proper English when required. And that, I suppose, is fundamentally the most important thing we need to ensure.

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There are many more great tips and insights on the official website of Speak Good English movement. As with the learning of any language, it takes time, patience and perseverance to master a language. Share with us how you encourage your kids to speak proper English.

This article first appeared in theAsianparent.com

The 15-minute birthday party

2011-09-30T19:33:00.001+08:00

Today I threw a birthday party for my son. For a party with 30 kids, it was over all too soon!

This whirlwind party was the quickest and easiest party I have organized. All that was needed was a cake, some table decorations, goodie bags full of unhealthy snacks, and a bit of luck - catering to 30 seven-year-olds is no mean feat.

My seven-year-old son, Krysh wanted a "playable Angry Bird cake", so I bought his favourite chocolate cake (from Bengawan Solo) and decorated it with Angry Bird toys bought from the local peddlers. His classmates sang him a birthday song, the cake was cut, and devoured! Some even asked for seconds - there were no left overs!

Kids love goodie bags. And when the birthday boy distributed the goodie bags, there were squeals of delight! Mamee noodles and chips - sorry moms, but the kids LOVE them. And of course an Angry Bird multi-coloured pen!

And then, they were off to play with the cake toppings!! 15 minutes! And the party was done!

We left the kids in school, all happy and pumped up with sugar, MSG and adrenaline... (Sorry teachers, we hope they didn't give you too much trouble).

Matthew treating Krysh to an orange juice!

Why did GOD take my baby away?

2011-09-24T09:41:00.000+08:00

Today's posting is submitted by guest writer, Kian who shares her quest to have a second child. Read about the emotional challenges she faced and the faith she gained in the end.

For the past 5 years, I had been asking God many questions. Asked why did He allow my 3 unborn babies be brought back to heaven before I can even cuddle them.

Asked why He was so cruel and did nothing when my baby’s heartbeats stopped beating. Asked if my miscarriages were a punishment because I am not a good mother to my 7 year old boy. Asked why He was so ruthless to a boy who yearned to have a sibling just like his friends.

“Why Lord why?”

It was one of my toughest walks with God. I could not understand why God thinks I can handle this trial. Through a person who did not know anything about me, God told me “a new life will birth forth.”

A new life.

I did not know what it meant. I only understood its meaning 5 years later.

When my husband and I decided that we would not try to get pregnant again, the idea of adopting a child came automatically to me. I am an adopted child myself and I was an assessor who worked in a Voluntary Welfare Organization (VWO) that helps to assess couples interested in adopting. I know the guideline from the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) and have helped many clients adopt children from Singapore and overseas. Although I am very familiar with the process and thus at an advantage, we were faced with many hurdles being permanent residents, rather than citizens.

Due to all the restrictions, we were confined to adopt a local child. From my experience as an assessor, the chance of adopting a local child is rare. To adopt a local Chinese child is even more difficult, and for the child’s well being, we decided our adopted child should be of the same race. Hence, we would need to wait. Usually, it would be a long waiting period. Due to personal beliefs, we decided that we would not adopt from the private adoption agencies in Singapore. There are children under MCYS’ care whom we could adopt. However we were not confident if our family could take up this challenge. It would not be right to “return” the child if it did not work out.

I dragged myself to do the assessment. I asked God what is the point of being assessed when I do not see the possibility of adopting a local Chinese child? As a matter of fact, why do I even need to be assessed when the assessment is not needed to adopt a local child?

Through someone, God revealed to me that I was focusing on the impossible circumstances instead of Him. “Begin with people and all circumstances, you will have a wrong view of God; begin with God, you will have the right view of everything. Difficult circumstances do not prevent God’s blessing.”

With the prompting and reassurance of the Holy Spirit, we submitted to God and went ahead with the application with a VWO. Half way through our assessment, our assessor told us that there was an unborn Chinese baby girl who may be given up for adoption. The biological mother was not ready to be a parent and with the consent of her family, she decided to put her baby up for adoption. We were over the moon! My son was on cloud nine! As the biological mother still has to the right to keep the baby, our assessor asked us to wait for the confirmation after she had given birth. Compared to others who had to wait for a year or years, we only waited 1 month. In this month, everything went really smoothly. We brought our adopted daughter back when she was 2 days old. Yes, when she was 2 days old. God spared me the agony of waiting, the uncertainty and disappointment many adoptive parents have to face. If I had not obeyed the Holy Spirit’s prompting, I would have missed His blessing.

“His will must be done in His way and in His timing.”

It was when I looked at my 4 days old adopted daughter sleeping soundly in the cot that my tears started rolling down my cheeks. Sitting on the floor, hugging my legs, I started to weep uncontrollably. How could I explain what had happened? It just happened too quickly and smoothly. I started to ask God again.

“Why me Lord, why me? What did I do to deserve this new life from you?”

“Because I love you.” This sentence kept coming to me as I wept. It was my tears of joy as God affirmed His love for me. It also dawned on me how unworthy I was to receive such a wonderful new life from Him. What rights do I have?

It is purely His love and grace.

My daughter, Mikaela, is going to be 1 year old soon. She is a cheerful girl who brings a lot of joy to our family, especially my son, Joseph, who adores her. The name Mikaela carries the meaning of “Who is like God?” Indeed, who is like God? My God. He is my comforter when I am sad. He is an amazing God who works in ways I do not see. He is the God who provides in His prefect timing. He is the Mighty God who can do the impossible. He is the God who chooses to stay faithful when I doubt him.

“Who among the gods is like you, O Lord? Who is like you – majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?” (Exodus 15:11)

Is my daughter a replacement of my 3 unborn babies from God? No. Not because she is not my biological child. It is because God had never granted her to me as His second best. She is a jewel among jewels. I still think of my darlings in heaven. I still do not understand why but I choose to believe “the secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law” (Deuteronomy 29:29). God also says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Hence, a new life, a baby, has birth forth in an amazing way. Yet, I believe that there is another meaning to this new life. It is also a new transformed life that has birth forth through me. It is a new life that chooses to cling to God even though I have so many questions and doubt. It is a new life that trusts that God does not make mistakes and has the best plan for me. It is a new life that believes in reaching out to others despite of my own pain and sorrow.

Hebrews 10:36 says, “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.”

I have indeed humbly received what God had promised me, a new life.

Testifying God’s love…

How do you choose between two loves?

2011-09-21T00:02:00.000+08:00

Two words. Tenacity and Compromise.

I love this movie. Aside from being a huge fan of the incredibly likeable Sarah Jessica Parker, who plays the movie's lead role Kate Reddy, this movie speaks volumes to me.

I was excited to watch it as soon as I saw the trailer. I could relate to Kate and completely understand her emotional turmoil to be physically and emotionally present for her children AND fulfilling her professional dream at the same time.

I love my kids. I love my job. How do I choose between 2 things that I love? Must I make a choice?

As always, LIFE throws you curve balls, and watched while you agonize over your decision to choose or compromise. The invitation to the movie preview fell on the same day as the annual Mid-Autumn Festival at my son's school. This festival was a big event for the school and was organized by the Parent Support Group (PSG or PTA equivalent). It was a major fundraising opportunity for the PSG as well as a chance for families to bond.

As a parent volunteer who had reduced my volunteer hours due to work commitments, I had promised the PSG committee that I would help out at this event. I had even made plans to put in my hours manning the game station, and then spent quality fun time with my kids at the Festival.

With the movie preview, these plans had to be revised. The night before the Festival, I sat down with my kids and helper (my husband was out of town - remember the curve ball?) and we discussed the 'new' plans.

Like an army sergeant, I gave them their marching orders.

My son will bring his mobile phone to school so that he can call me and know where to find me after school is out at 5pm. I will be at school at 3:30pm to help with setting-up of the game stall. My helper and my daughter will leave the house at 4:30pm and join me in school at 5pm.

All parties have to regroup at 6:30pm and we have to absolutely leave the school at 6:45pm for me to drop them home. That would give me a comfortable 30 minutes to rush downtown from the East, in time for the movie preview.

On that day, it was all systems go. Things went according to plan, except for one minor detail. I had forgotten to instruct them where to meet me at 6:30pm. As I frantically dialled both my son and helper's phone numbers, I was scanning the faces of the hundreds of students and adults milling around the school, hoping it will be them. And of course, they were not and they were not answering their phones. Darn it! We are on the clock here, people!

I could feel my panic button being pushed, as I tried to focus my thoughts and think of contingency plans. Then on the sixth try, my helper answered her phone. And miraculously, my son was with her! Yea! We are only five minutes behind.

"But Mom! We still have to redeem our prizes!" cried my son. We rushed to the redemption room, picked out the prize and sped off to the car park. By the time I dropped them home, I had only 15 minutes to get to my movie preview. This was no easy task considering that I'll be driving in after-office-hours traffic on a Friday.

I'm happy to say that I got to the preview breathless, but with a minute to spare. And yes! I bribed the children with cotton candy and home movie so I could have a night out with my friend to watch this preview.

"I Don't Know How She Does It" opens on 22 Sep with a stellar cast Sarah Jessica Parker, Greg Kinnear, Pierce Brosnan, Olivia Munn, Seth Meyers, Kelsey Grammer, Christina Hendricks and Jane Curtin

Click HERE to watch the Trailer

When Should Kids Have Their Own Mobile Phone

2011-09-17T09:07:00.001+08:00

Nine-year-old Emma Knapp and her sister, Margot, 7, go to school two blocks from their home. They both carry a phone each to school. While Emma uses it sparingly to call her mom to pick her up after sailing lessons, Margot loves to get social calls from her friends.

Pat Kwek gave her only child a mobile phone when she was in Primary-three (P3). “She needs to walk home (alone) after school; the phone’s for emergency use,” she explains. But she confessed that her daughter, now in Primary-five (P5) “has increasingly been using it excessively after school” and has now decided to confiscate it.

Courtesy of theAsianparent.com

Nelawati Moohamad Hock’s 9 year old son has had a mobile phone since he was in P2. The mother of 3 gave her eldest son a phone so that she can communicate with him between her drop-offs and pick-ups to and from school. “[Also], if we are going out, I usually hold his two younger siblings and he ends up walking by himself, following behind me. In case he gets lost in crowded places, he can always call me. So far, he’s been responsible,” she adds.

While some parents feel that it is prudent to give their kids a mobile phone to stay in touch, others like Madelene Tan is holding off the inevitable for as long as possible.

“I don’t see a need for mobile phone since he takes the school bus and goes to student care after school,” she said of her primary one child. Martha Chan Liebman agrees. Her nine-year-old son does not have a phone and hasn’t asked for one yet. But she concedes that she would give him one “when she deemed it necessary.”

Evelyn Koh has not given any to her kids yet, but is thinking of doing so when they start going for tuition, while Lee Li Kian said she prefers her children “use [the] coin phone in school if they ever need to call.”

While parents are divided over the age their child should own a mobile phone, there is no denying that the mobile phone is increasingly becoming a necessary accessory for the new generation. But where does one draw the line? Are primary school kids too young to own a mobile phone or can they be trusted with the responsibility that comes with it?

Guided ownership

Parents like Jack Loo, doesn’t think it’s an issue. He gave his daughter her personal phone when she started primary one, but clearly stated his rules to her. She cannot bring the phone to school and is allowed to carry the phone only on school excursions or outings with her friends or cousins, without her parents present.

Loo is the Director of Alpha Telecom Pte Ltd, a SingTel exclusive retail partner at Funan Centre and has been in the telecommunication industry for over 20 years. He has noticed a tremendous change in the landscape of mobile phone sales in the last two years. “Parents are buying Smart phones for their kids as incentive for good grades or behaviour,” he said. “Even the Blackberry, formerly known as an Executive’s phone, is now popular among teenagers because of its social media properties. They can Tweet, Facebook and MSN each other easier, faster, and with the data plan, for FREE.”

Basic phones are best suited for kids

But SMART phones can be a distraction for a young child. Loo advises parents to opt for a simple, basic phone for their younger kids to eliminate any gaming temptation or penchant to abuse their calling privileges.

He also recommends getting a pre-paid SIM card for their child’s phone to avoid what he calls a “bill-shock”. While some parents worry about the lack of funds in the pre-paid card, Loo reassures that the pre-paid card will prompt the user when the funds are low and need replenishing.

Is Cell Phone safe for my child?

The decision to give a personal phone to a primary school student is very much dependent on the family’s needs (as expressed by parents above). However, aside from the usual warning against obvious risks like giving out phone numbers to or taking calls from strangers, there are other potential hazards.

Earlier this year (May), the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a health warning regarding the potential dangers of cell phone radiation. While the findings remain controversial, they are sufficient to cause some countries like Finland and France to be concerned enough to issue public warnings.

Experts like Devra Davis, epidemiologist, author (Disconnect: The Truth about Cell Phone Radiation) and founder of the Environmental Health Trust, are concerned that our children are exposed to cell phone radiation at an earlier age and over a longer period of time, and because their nervous systems are not fully developed, they are more susceptible to the effects of radiation.

Still, with inconclusive findings and insufficient research done, we are still in the dark whether this is a real threat or just another scientific spoof.

Another concern that is gaining grounds among parents is the usage of text slang in messaging. While there is some worry that frequent use of such slang may affect their children’s ability to read or write properly, parents seem to be more anxious about text abbreviations becoming a communication barrier between them and their children.

Decoding our children’s txt messages

Text slang used by kids comes in the form of acronyms, abbreviated words, numbers, letters and symbols for sounds. We are familiar with common ones like LOL (Laughing out loud), OMG (oh my god), 121(one to one), and gf / bf / bff (girlfriend / boyfriend / best friend), but here are some of the sporadic ones that may pop up in your child’s phone:

I h8 txt msgs – I hate text messages
Gr8 / W8 – great / wait
W/E – whatever
RUOK – are you ok?
Cmb – call me back
CUL – see you later
TTLY – Totally
xlnt – excellent
hldmecls – hold me close
2bctnd – to be continued
Iowan2bwu – I only want to be with you
Roflmao – rolling on the floor, laughing my ass off
Cu2nite – See you tonight
WYSIWYG – what you see is what you get
IWYWH – I wish you were here
JC – just chilling
KWIM – know what I mean
PITA – pain in the ass
IDC / IDK – I don’t care / I don’t know
GTG /G2G – Got to go / Get together

While the mobile phone has brought about unprecedented ease and convenience in terms of communication, the potential hazards are very real. There can therefore be no clear cut rules on when your kid should have that first phone. All we can probably do is try and limit the potential dangers and misuse as best we can.

This article first appeared in theAsianparent.com.

Internet safety for your child

2011-09-16T13:58:00.000+08:00

You kids may be digitally savvy. But are they digitally-safe?

image courtesy of emirates247.com

Children as young as five years old are going online these days. The older kids are engaged in social media activities like Facebook and twitter, while the younger ones go online to play games in communities like Club Penguin, or to access YouTube to watch their favourite programs.

While kids today are adept at navigating the worldwide web, they are very susceptible to poor judgement and may not be in positions to take care of themselves. This is clearly demonstrated in the results of a study done by the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPV) in Singapore on 1500 local students and their online habits (2008).

50% of our children have accepted strangers as friends on social networks
25% admitted to having suffered cyber-bullying

According to Myla Pilao, Director of Core Technology (marketing) at TREND Micro™, a digital security company specializing in cyber security, "we receive 5 billion cyber threats on any given day. Cyber criminals use gaming platforms to prey on us and our children. Security is no longer an option. Security means survival and we need to be responsible for our own security."

Parents want to support their children's endeavours on the internet, yet are greatly concern over their safety. Here are some ways to create a safer surfing experience for your child:

1. Practical tips for the family to follow

Keep the computer in a common area
Agree to time limits for using the internet and all social devices
Keep software security up-to-date
Agree on websites your kids visit (for younger children)
Use URL filtering
Review the content and the privacy and security policies of the sites your child frequents
Have a conversation with your kids about entering personal information online
Remind your kids to ignore unwanted contact with people you have never met.

2. Educate your child on cyber awareness
Introduce your kids to Cyberonia, a new initiative targeted at all 11 year old students (primary 5) in Singapore. It is a new virtual world game where kids are engaged and taught how to handle the many facets of cyber wellness, cyber safety and cyber security. Click here for more information on Cyberonia.

3. Secure your cyber space
Avoid cyber security pitfalls by investing in a good security tool like the Trend Micro™ Titanium™ Cloud Edition Maximum Security 2012. Some of the key features include a tool that visually identifies safe and malicious links on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.

For the concerned parent, Trend Micro™ Titanium™ Cloud Edition Maximum Security 2012 can be quickly customized to protect your children from inappropriate websites, limit their time on the Internet and see detailed activity reports about what they do online.

Retailing at S$39 (1 year/1user) or S$109 (1 year/3users), Trend Micro™ Titanium™ Cloud Edition Maximum Security 2012 is money well spent as it offers quality protection for your cyber activities. And that means peace of mind when your kids are surfing online.

Just as we take all precautions to protect them in their physical environment, we should also take similar if not more prudent measures to ensure their safety in the virtual world that they are threading in. Tell us what steps you have taken and whether it has worked for you and your kids.

Maldives: Heaven on Earth

2011-09-14T13:49:00.000+08:00

Everything you heard about the Maldives is TRUE. It has the bluest skies, clearest seas, softest sand, biggest coral and most gorgeous marine life! Just a little piece of heaven on Earth!!

Maldives is a brilliant country that consists of over one thousand islands! You heard me, right. This nation of islands has over 200 resorts on 89 of its habitable islands. The main mode of transport is by cruiser. Once you are on one of the island resorts, time stands still. Literally.

During our four days on the island resort, Vivanta by Taj, time became irrelevant. We ate when we felt hungry, slept when we were tired, swam when we felt hot and lounged when we got tired of being in the sea or pool. Clocks and watches disappeared from sight and like they say, out of sight, out of mind. Life was idyllic, peaceful and good!

A hotspot for honeymooners and celebrities, Maldives is ideal for those who crave for some peace, quiet and privacy. I met local celebrity comedienne, Irene Ang yesterday at the Trend Micro event and she told me she just came back from Maldives too! Check out her lovely tan and how fresh she looks!

Is Maldives family friendly?

Absolutely!! How can you go wrong with sun, sea and sand with the children? While Vivanta by Taj did not have a kids club like some of the other resorts, the staff was very hospitable, understanding and helpful when it came to catering for the children. For example, one morning my 2 kids were fighting over who should have the single yummy chocolate donut in the breakfast basket. Even before, we (the parents) could step in to stop the bickering, Amol, one of the waiters walked over with an extra chocolate donut. Conflict resolved.

Later that evening, we wanted to dine Al fresco at The Grill. As we scanned the menu, we noticed that there wasn't anything on the menu for the kids. We were about to get up and returned to our rooms to order room service when again, by his own initiative, the waiter serving us immediately offered to put together some spaghetti bolognaise for the kids. He even served them in separate pasta bowls so there'll be no messy division on my part. How thoughtful !

And one evening, we returned 'home' - that's what the kids were beginning to call our hotel room - to find a manually printed scroll addressed to my 5-year-old girl. It was a storybook that the housekeeping had thoughtfully printed out 'just for her'.

This dream vacation was a delight in so many ways. We enjoyed the island tremendously from the food, the activities to the friendly people we met on the island.

Rowan with her mom (England)

The honeymooners (France)

And yes, Maldives is expensive. Very expensive! Getting to the mainland, Male cost us US$70 per person. But I tell ya, the joy of experiencing Mother Nature's pure creations at such close proximity and all the first-memories I gained with my children?

Our first midnight cruise ride to our island resort (50 minutes away from the main island of Male)
Our kids' first snorkelling experience - the water in the lagoon is so clear you can see all sorts of Marine life!
Sharing our first glimpse of the famous natural, unsullied coral reef of Maldives together as a family
Feeding stingrays and seeing sharks and eels in their natural environment for the first time.

These memories are priceless! So, my husband and I will have to work harder and smarter for the next few years. But at least we can say, we've been to Heaven, enjoyed it and came back to share with our friends.

A picture can say a thousand words, we hope you enjoy our memories as much as we do.

Record Breaking Event - Longest Line of Flower Pots

2011-09-07T17:49:00.001+08:00

If you are sitting at home, and bored of watching the same re-runs on cable, and don't want to do the usual shopping and dining weekend routine. Why not do something that will make history?

Singapore's first eco-friendly mall, City Square Mall, is hosting a record breaking event for the Singapore Book of Records - "The Longest Line of Flower Pots".

In conjunction with the National Environment Agency (NEA), the mall has organized a series of "Shiny Eco Workshops" over the last 2 weekends to encourage the public to display their creativity by decorating reusable plastic containers.

At the same time, to commemorate the Mid-Autumn Festival, the flower pots will be transformed into lanterns for shoppers to bring home after the record breaking event,.

“We are encouraged by City Square Mall’s creative idea of using these reusable plastic containers to engage the community for the Mid-Autumn Festival and fully support them in this green cause. Furthermore, these containers will be used to form the longest line of flower pots to set a record in the Singapore Book of Records and NEA will also be sponsoring the plant stakes with dengue prevention messages. We hope that through this initiative, shoppers at City Square Mall can help spread this important message and take up personal responsibility to clear any stagnant water in their flower pot plates at home to prevent breeding of mosquitoes,” said NEA's Central Regional Office Senior Manager for 3P, Mr Brandon Low.

When: 10 September (Sat)
Time: 8:30pm
Venue: City Square Mall's Basement 1 Fountain Square

Here are some of the quirkiest records made by Singaporeans:

Tampines West Constituency Sports Club broke the world record for the most number of people sitting on a chair with 1,058 participants. (2008)

1,314 Singaporeans, including Greenridge Primary pupils and staff held the record for the most number of people drinking milk at the same time (Sep 30, 2009)

Biggest number of Singaporean students (1,082) performing a Bollywood Dance (May, 2009)Longest Karaoke Session

by Eunos Citizens' Consultative Committee (CCC) and its Grassroots' Organisations (GROs) - The residents sang for 50 hours 50 minutes and 50 seconds - 13 Aug 2010

As part of the festivities, there will be exciting stage performances, games with prizes and 600 goodie bags to be given away. Whether you want to part of history or to see history in making, head on down to City Square Mall this weekend.

Fostering a positive attitude towards learning

2011-09-06T01:53:00.000+08:00

All of us have an emotion towards learning. While some kids love to study and learn (literally), the majority enjoy learning in a fun and playful manner.

But for Singaporean parents, play is a “taboo” word that just does not go together with learning. “When my child is playing, how can he/she be learning or studying?” they protest.

That’s where Roderick Chua disagrees. Psychologically speaking, he says, we all learn best through play; that’s why in adult classes, we are encouraged to play games and interact so that the learning is better absorbed. The key issue then, is to have focus play.

The consultant and head coach at Edu.Quantum has had more than 20 years of experiences teaching, coaching and guiding youths as a tutor and pastoral counsellor. Currently pursuing his master degree in psychology, Roderick is interested to enhance the emotional attitude of his students towards learning.

What are your child’s feelings towards studying?

Roderick explains that the taxing education system in Singapore drives parents to enrol their child for tuition or enrichment at the first sign of a dip in grades or out of fear that their child couldn’t cope.

When befuddled parents question Roderick about their child’s poor grades or learning attitude despite the numerous tuition or enrichment programs they have engaged for them, he would turn the tables on them and ask: Does tuition build up a positive emotion towards learning? If the answer is no, then the tuition is ineffective.

He adds that oftentimes, the children feel that there is very little disregard for their feelings towards learning. The kids may feel resentful that their rights to play or free time have been violated. Homework is a chore, and they feel that they are forced to do things (i.e. go for tuition) that are not to their liking or decision. This, he said, is the beginning of a negative emotion towards learning.

Thus, for a child to learn well, we should access the level of emotional association the child is at towards learning – is it positive, negative or neutral?

Implementing play in learning

When a child becomes sensitive to learning, he/she will have adverse reactions to learning or even doing homework (read Help your child to like homework). Some of these reactions include dislike to do homework, untidy handwriting, poor grades despite preparation and taking shortcuts in their work.

Roderick explains that there is a difference between learning and studying. The former is fun and enjoyable, while the latter is hard work. Thus, in order to encourage positive feelings in a child towards learning, it is important to implement play in learning, especially for the younger kids.

As part of his lessons, Roderick always play games with his students. For example, in his English lessons, his students are broken into teams and encouraged to find as many meanings of the words as they can. He allows them to use the dictionary, thereby encouraging them to be independent in acquiring knowledge and to make use of external resources. In Mathematics, he challenges his students in a “who is faster / more accurate” match.

He also understands that kids, especially those in lower primary, need movement in class. Hence, in his classes, he has his students practise discussion, do projects, collect data, do presentations, and include riddles and solutions.

His students always look forward to his classes and are invariably disappointed when he couldn’t make it to class. “That’s how much my students enjoy learning,” he reports with a laugh.

As a centre that offers tuition, he is especially adamant that P1 and P2 students should not have any tuition as they are too young to be stressed with academic purposes, and are not mature enough to process certain learning skills.

Roderick shares the side effects of students who are ahead in their academic level. In upper primary, the stress and dullness in school could discourage him from learning and he may begin to hate the whole education process.

Instead, his centre offers play-base enrichment programs for these groups of students by focusing on these:

Build up Confidence
Character development
Communication Skills

Edu.Quantum – keep the interest in learning and students in school

Edu.Quantum concentrates on the P3 to P6 and prides itself more as a coaching centre than a tuition centre. It uses psychological techniques, positive education emotions and parental support to help the child learn effectively.

The philosophy of the centre is to train its students to be leaders, not followers. In this essence, they are interested to keep their interest in learning and students in school. Their students learn the SUCCESS formula to do well in school:

excel in their studies
build up their interpersonal skills
be a fun person to be around

As their students gain confidence in themselves and their learning abilities, they also pick up these essential techniques:

Teambuilding techniques
Presentation skills
Study skills
Confidence building
Creative Writing

Edu.Quantum Learning Systems is located at Blk 134 Jurong Gateway Road, #04-309R, S600134, For more information, call 6566-8835.

This article first appeared in theAsianparent.com

Meet Disney Stars And Win Tickets to Mickey's Music Festival

2011-08-31T06:00:00.000+08:00

Are you bored of going to the Zoo, the Bird Park or the Science Centre? There are plenty of interesting events to take your kids to this weekend. Read on...

1. The Disney Meet & Greet
Every child is a Disney fan! Catch two of Disney's mega stars, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, at City Square Mall, Level 1 Atrium, (180 Kitchener Road, Singapore 208539) on 3 & 4 Sep (Sat and Sun), 3pm & 8pm.

The island's only Eco-Mall is hosting Meet and Greet sessions for their shoppers to commemorate the stars' performance at the "Disney Live! Mickey's Music Festival" from 7 to 11 September 2011.

And they are giving away 20 sets of four tickets to the "Disney Live! Mickey's Music Festival" show during these two days. Simply spend a minimum of S$100 (maximum of 3 same-day receipts) at the mall to qualify for the entry form. Answer a simple question on the entry form and submit your entry before 8pm on 3 and 4 September to win.

2. How much Time do you have?
Catch the new movie, Spy Kids 4: All The Time In The World scheduled for release on 1st Sep. Watch the first ever 4D movie on the island! Yeah, you heard me right; this movie has a special fourth 'D' - aroma card your kids would love. Read my review here and check these theatres for screen schedules: Golden Village, Cathay Cineplexes and FilmGarde Cineplex

3. Flying in the Sky

There's something awesome and uplifting to see beautiful kites soaring and dancing in the sky. Join us at the NTUC Income Kite Festival 2011 on 3 and 4 Sep (Sat and Sun), 4pm to 8pm. The festival is curated by ACT 3 International, so you can expect lots of dance and music performances at this festival.

There is no charge to this event. Pray for good weather, pack a picnic basket and head down to The Promontory @ Marina Bay (click highlighted words for map). Click here for the programme details.

4. Starry Night of Lights
If staying up late at night is not an issue for your child, mark the Night Lights 2011 in your weekend calendar and head down to the Singapore Art Museum - 2 and 3 Sep ( Fri and Sat).
The Night Lights 2011 is a nine-evening outdoor showcase ofspectacular light installations from France around the Bras Basah precinct. It starts at 7:30pm and ends at 2am. If you've missed the last three festivals, make sure you catch this 4th edition, which ends on 3 Sep.

Admissions to the museums are free and you can expect lots of interesting exhibitions, performances and activities. My children (age 5 and 7) love the Paramodel Joint Factory (1st floor to your left) which is an amazing track exhibition from ceiling to floor; kids can even partake in the Paramodel workshop (every hour from 8:30pm).

They were simultaneously awed (son) and freaked out (daughter) by the French installation, Curiosities in the courtyard of SAM. It features “a nest of luminous jellyfish that rose up from the fountains and float over the SAM courtyard in a curious ballet of tentacles” and is particularly appealing to the kids.

On the second level, the kids get to try their hand at creating arts and crafts. And make sure to point out the intriguing light presentations atSchool of the Arts (SOTA), Singapore Management University (SMU), Singapore ArtMuseum (SAM) and National Museum of Singapore (NMS) as you pass them.

And if they are not too tired, catch the performances by various international artists in the open air space across SAM. Click here for a sample of the light installations.

Parking may be challenging, so park 1km radius from the museum area and walk to the festival. Also, trying to catch a cab may be tough at 10pm or 11pm, so do have transport plans in case your kids get too tired.

We wish you the start of a brilliant term break. Happy Holidays!!

Best Vacation Guide

2011-08-31T01:25:00.003+08:00

Term break starts tomorrow! Have you planned any getaways yet?

Whether you are going a quick trip away or an extended vacation, great planning is the foundation to a relaxing, beautiful vacation. To cut short your research time, we've scout the net for some great sites for you to start your holiday plans. Here's what we found on cheap airfares, great hotel deals, reasonable rental car rates and essential travel insurance.

Affordable AIRLINES

www.ZUJI.com.sg

www.expedia.com (especially for North American flights)

www.united.com

www.singaporeair.com

Selection of HOTELS

www.hotels.com

www.asiarooms.com

www.agoda.com

Travel on RENTAL CARS

www.traveljigsaw.com.sg

www.avis.com.sg

Budget

Hertz

World Drive Holidays

Tarun C, a seasoned traveller who travels frequently for business and takes at least 2 family trips per year, swears by www.traveljigsaw.com.sg. He shares that this is by far the cheapest, most transparent and best site for car rental deals he had used.

“Some of the car rental sites may quote cheaper, but they have a lot of hidden charges that you have to pay for when you retrieve your car at the counter. This is the only site that informs you upfront of the charges so there is no further ‘surprise’ when you go collect your car.”

Essential TRAVEL INSURANCE

When you travel, it is always a good idea to get travel insurance. This is even more so when you travel with young kids, you get peace of mind and coverage for the following:

Loss/misplacement of luggage, shopping or personal belongings

Accidents – car or personal

Illness – self or child

The amount of travel insurance you have to pay depends on the region you are travelling to and the number of days. Always do your own research to find which ones are suitable for you. Here are some travel insurance for you to consider.

AXA travel insurance

HSBC travel insurance

Aviva travel insurance

NTUC travel insurance

This article first appeared in theAsianparent.com

Are We Running Out Of Time?

2011-08-29T11:49:00.000+08:00

Don't you wish you could just stop time from flying away or have more hoursin a day to fulfil your professional, parental and personal commitments?

And when you become a parent, are you constantly trading your time to be with your family or to be at work? How many times have you uttered these words to your child and then felt incredibly guilty right after: “Notnow, honey, I’m busy. I’ll make it up toyou later.” But you never seem to find the time to do so.

And that's what the new Dimension Film Spy Kids 4: All The Time In The World seeks to do. Do we really have all the time in the world? While we are chasing time, are we making the right priorities?

Wilbur Wilson (Joel McHale) is a famous spy hunting television reporter, married to Marissa Cortez (Jessica Alba), a homemaker with their new baby and stepmother to Wilbur's kids Rebecca (Rowan Blanchard) and Cecil (Mason Cook).

He wishes to spend more time with the family but is under constant pressure by his work to make new discoveries for his television show. What he doesn't know is that the woman he shares his bed with - his wife - is a retired super spy. Things get interesting when maniacal Timekeeper (Jeremy Piven) threatens to stop time with his Armageddon machine and Marissa is called out of her retirement by the head of OSS to deal with this threat.

The competitive and bickering siblings are thrust into action when they learn their boring stepmom was once a top agent. And the step kids, with the help of former Spy kids Carmen (Alexa Vega) and Juni Cortez (Daryl Sabara) must work together and use their wit to fight alongside their stepmom against the Timekeeper and his sidekick, "Tick-Tock".

Will the world run out of time?

This is a feel-good movie on sibling rivalry, acceptance and family unity. It has many funny bits of dialogue which I shall leave you to discover. We love the family pet, a dog named Argonaut, who talks with a British accent (sounded very much like Ricky Gervais of The Office UK fame). And of course, there's Jessica Alba! She has got to be the hottest, sexiest, kick-ass pregnant mama EVER!

The first movie to introduce a 4D: Aromascope; the Aroma Card distributed at the beginning of the show was a great hit with the kids. Personally, it smelled more like strawberry bubblegums to me, but my son swears he could smell all eight different scents on the aroma-card!

Do expect lots of idioms about time such as "time flies when you're having fun" and “spend your time now or you'll always find time later for regret.”

Spy Kids 4: All The Time In The World is scheduled for release on 1^st Sep in Singapore.

Giving his students a good start every morning

2011-08-25T17:35:00.013+08:00

I was trawling the web for leads on my next writing assignment when I found this post. You can imagine my surprise to see my son's school principal, Dr Chin from Tao Nan School in the news! Fortunately, it is GOOD news.

As my son is in the afternoon session, he doesn't have the benefit to be greeted by or to greet Dr Chin every morning. However, Dr. Chin does his 'rounds' in the afternoon during recess to mingle with the lower primary students. How do I know? I was a parent volunteer at these recess time for the first half of the school year.

During that period, I observed that the students are comfortable in the presence of Dr. Chin (unlike our time in school when the principal was fearsome and unapproachable). I was also impressed that Dr. Chin took the time and effort to meet his students and establish a friendly rapport between him and his students, as well as the staff and volunteers who work on the school grounds.

While some parents from other schools may snigger and make fun when they hear of the principal's unusual practices - greeting his students at the school gates, dictating that they have to bow and greet him when they see him - parents of current Tao Nan students know that it is an effective way for the principal to make himself visible and accessible to the kids who passes through the school gates.

"Dr Chin always respond when we greet him," my son said, adding "he never just walk away." I too, have witnessed Dr Chin countless of time with his fair share of greetings, followed by friendly conversation with the students and parent-volunteers. As a result, he's built an atmosphere of respect and friendliness on the school grounds.

A principal like Dr. Chin is hard to come by. I'm grateful that he is the principal during my son's first year of primary education, as his attitude and leadership are good grounds for a strong foundation to my son's academic journey.

Here's the article from Asia One EDvantage that this blog is based on. Share your thoughts and stories of good principals who engage with their student body.

Principal stands outside gate to welcome students every morning

The principal of Tao Nan School says he hopes to give students a good start to each morning.

SINGAPORE - It is a sight you don't see very often, if at all - a man standing outside a school gate, smiling and welcoming pupils as they stream into the school every morning.

And the man is not a worker at the school, nor a teacher, but the principal.

Dr Chin Kim Woon, principal of Tao Nan School, takes it upon himself to stand outside the school gates every morning to greet pupils from Primary 1 to 6 as they come in.

According to some parents the Shin Min Daily spoke to, Dr Chin bows ever slightly to greet each one of them, and does so no matter rain or shine.
His actions have touched many parents, one of whom contacted the Chinese daily to pay tribute to him, ahead of "Teachers' Day" in September.Madam Huang Li Fen, 44, who works in the insurance sector, has two boys studying in Tao Nan Primary. She told Shin Min she always sees Dr Chin outside the school gate at 7am when she takes her sons to school.
He always has a warm and sincere smile for all his pupils, says Madam Huang.
She recalled how when it rains, Dr Chin would carry a large umbrella to shelter the kids from the car to the school building after their parents had dropped them off.

According to her son who studies in the afternoon session, Dr Chin also makes it a point to share a few stories during the assembly that will imbue kids with the right moral values.

When interviewed by Shin Min Daily, Dr Chin says he does his morning routine because he believes mornings are the most important part of the day.
He quoted an old Chinese saying, on "how one's plan for the day largely depends on the morning".

Dr Chin, who has more than 20 years experience in teaching, said it is important to "be full of life and energy in the morning", and hopes to give students a good start to each day.

According to a reporter who observed Dr Chin, pupils will automatically greet Dr Chin cheerily, with no hint of fear of trepidation as one would expect when faced with the principal.
Dr Chin also spots students with undone shoe-laces, and tells them to tie them up before they trip.

Conan the Barbarian (2011)

2011-08-19T18:07:00.011+08:00

If you are lusting for a movie that is all blood, and gore, then the recent remake of Conan the Barbarian will not disappoint. The reprised version is packed with all kinds of violent, gruesome and brutal graphic details.

Conan the Barbarian is an adaptation of Robert E. Howard's sword and sorcery adventures (1932), which depicts the epic tale of a Cimmerian child who witnessed the murder of his father and the massacre of his entire tribe, Cimmeria, by a cruel warlord or King (in the new adaptation). The sole surviving Cimmerian youth vows for revenge and makes it his life mission to hunt down the perpetrators and execute vengeance on them.

In the new adaptation, baby Conan was born in the midst of war and “suckled on his mother’s blood instead of milk”, hence his thirst for blood and war. The scene moves on quickly to young Conan exhibiting his barbaric traits by decapitating the heads of cannibalistic natives and defacing one of evil King Khalar Zym’s henchmen by cutting off his nose.

The movie gets bloodier and bloodier by the minute, with lots more amputations, decapitations, slashing, and deliberate blood spills. Don’t expect any real conversation in the movie either. Any conversations that take place are peppered with gnashes of teeth and growls. A classic example is Conan’s simple declaration to justify his existence: "I live. I love. I slay. I'm content." Nuff said.

While the movie is a real genius in making you cringe (check out the scene where Conan digs his fingers into the hole where once there was a nose; trust me, not even the most stoic of men can look on without flinching), and it has all the elements of monsters and scary stunts, it lacks the panache of the original Conan that made it so great.

We also give Jason Momoa of “Baywatch Hawaii” fame an ‘A’ for his acting effort. But how do you step into the shoes of a character immortalized by Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1982?

Despite his hunky good looks and smoky piercing eyes, Momoa’s physique (even at 1.93m) just wasn’t adequate enough to fill the screen presence the way Schwarzenegger’s did.

At least he was a great piece of eye-candy (but not the only one) in the movie. Look out for Rachel Nichols, who played “pure blood” Tamara and the damsel in “distress” as well as the bewitching Rose McGowan (of 'Charmed' fame), who played yet another witchy role as the daughter of evil king Khalar Zym, Marique.

Directed by Marcus Nispel, the reprised version also stars Stephen Lang (arrogant misguided general in “Avatar”) and Said Taghmaoui.

Without a doubt, this is a movie for those nostalgic of the original version of Conan the Barbarian and definitely a must-have movie for any male-testosterone bonding sessions.

Conan the Barbarian is currently showing at all Golden Village theatres.

Rated R for strong bloody violence, some sexuality and nudity. Duration of movie: 112 minutes

Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension

2011-08-17T23:40:00.011+08:00

Catch the movie event of the year!

Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension premières on Disney Channel - 27 August, 7:30pm!

I have heard a lot about "Phineas and Ferb". From colleagues too young to know about the Eagles (only the greatest band of all time) and from young fans like my 7-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter. They gushed about the characters, the music, the graphics etc.

"What's the big deal?" I thought. It's just two brothers who get into all kinds of scrapes and an older sister who's out to bust them - shows you what little I knew about them!

So, when Disney invited me and a plus one to the première of their Phineas and Ferb movie launch - whoa! they are so popular they have a movie launch? - I thought: "if it's so popular, I'd better get with it."

Kyana with Mai Tatoy

With my daughter as my plus one, we headed over to Shaw Theatres nex (23 Serangoon Central, #04-64, Nex, Singapore 556083). While the mall is easily accessible via the Serangoon MRT and a bus interchange, finding the entrance to the parking was a little tricky.

When we finally arrived at the theatre, we were greeted by our kind hostesses, Joanne and Georgina from T/PR who graciously led us to our seats in the "Première Screen" - a first-class equivalent of movie theatres with deluxe leather seats and premium dine-in services within a cosy hall of 48 seats.

We were served popcorn (my girl's favourite), soft drinks and tea. And then Mai Tatoy, Media Relations Director of Disney Channels Southeast Asia came bearing goodies... Talk about first-class treatment!

But back to the movie...

The story begins on a summer afternoon in Danville. While celebrating the anniversary of getting their beloved pet platypus, Perry, imaginative stepbrothers Phineas and Ferb are catapulted into Dr. Doofenshmirtz's Evil Inc., where they encounter a machine that opens portals into other dimensions.

Phineas and Ferb travel to Alternate-Danville, which eerily resembles their home in the Tri-Sate area. There, they encounter their alter-egos - exact replicas of themselves except their characters are completely opposite. The alter-ego Ferb and Phineas are pale-skinned and unadventurous (having not known what summer is), while their alter-ego sister, Candace is a kick-ass heroine.

They also discover that their faithful pet Perry is actually a secret agent. Without revealing too much of the plot, the trio or six-er had to work together to usurp the evil and smarter alter-ego of Dr. Doofenshmirtz.

Expect lots of clever lines that reflect the humour of the series creators, Dan Povenmire and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh. Its good versus bad theme may be all too familiar, but juxtaposed that with the opposing alter-egos and the collaborative efforts to thwart their nemesis, and you get a minty new look on this common theme.

The movie is light-hearted and fun and true to its message for the young: with enough imagination and ingenuity, practically anything can be accomplished.

"When we were growing up, we went out into our backyards and garages and we built things. Now there seems to be way too many 'organized activities' that limit the freedom of creativity and artistry," Marsh says. "We hope [Phineas and Ferb] can convey the kids to go outside, use their imaginations and create something."

While this may not be a must-see movie for the adults, it is a nice, heart-warming movie to watch with your kid(s). To borrow a line from Candace in the movie: "give [yourself and your kid] a little more time to be young."

Click here to watch the video.

Kyana's favourite: popcorn!

August 27, 7:30pm, Disney channel

How to tell if your husband is cheating on you.

2011-08-13T12:00:00.006+08:00

Jack Neo isn't the only husband to stray when he already has a fabulous wife by his side. Wondering if yours is too? Here are 9 red flags that you should look out for!

It’s been a while. Your hubby has been a bit distracted. You are not entirely certain, and you don’t want to be too suspicious but you can’t help wondering: Is he cheating on me?

Citrix Chee, a counsellor from the Kang Ren Counselling Services has seen her fair share of cheating spouses. She shares that the main reasons for infidelity are the husbands’ inability to resist the advances from China ladies, or temptations from female colleagues, but she also adds that communication barrier between the couple and unavailability of the wife as a sexual partner to the husband are also contributing factors to extramarital affairs.

When a man is unfaithful to his wife, there is generally an increase in secrecy, abnormal changes in behaviour and attitude and an unexplained distance between the two of you. Here are some clues to look out for if you suspect your trust is being betrayed:

“How good do I look?” When your man suddenly becomes overly concerned with his looks, he is either coming out of the closet, going through a midlife crisis or cheating on you. Either way, it probably spells trouble. Observe his sudden change in grooming habits such as getting or changing to a new cologne, obsession with going to the gym, or getting a new hairstyle or wardrobe. Be mindful if he acts like a teenager going on his first date.
“I have to work.” Watch out for any sudden changes to his work schedule, for example is he working late or travelling more than usual? The work commitments are usually not in the office and he is snappish whenever you try to inquire about his schedule. A cheating man doesn’t want to be accountable for his whereabouts.
“I need to answer this call or email. It’s urgent.” Is he taking calls at irregular hours of the day or night? Does he drop his voice or answer in a softer tone when he takes particular calls? Loud warning bells should go off if your husband suddenly begins to excuse himself and takes his calls privately, out of your hearing range, and not giving you any plausible reasons for the calls. Or if he begins to spend excessive amounts of time on the computer, answering emails or replying to face book comments (that are not yours).
“Please don’t touch my cell phone.” Does he password protect his cell phone, computer, email and or Facebook account? The main way that trysts are found out is through the discovery of incriminating e-mails, or cell phone texts So if he’s being unfaithful, he may guard his gadgets or act really defensive when you innocently touch his phone or computer.
“I want more or no sex.” Another symptom of infidelity is a change in sexual desire. Cheating husbands will often stop having sex with their wives or suddenly want to have more. The latter is usually to assuage their guilt.
“I need some space or alone time.” A man who has betrayed his marriage covenant may act aggressively towards his wife. He may start to pick fights or find faults with her to justify his reason for having his affair. If your husband has a sudden adverse change in attitude towards you, your family or home life, your guard should go up.
“Where has the money gone?” If your husband suddenly has no money to spend on you, your children or your family, you should be concern. Having an affair is costly, requiring your husband to spend money on flowers, wining & dining, gifts or dirty weekends away. But some husbands are crafty and will make use of company expenses or become adept at hiding their expenses from you. Check his wallet for unexplainable receipts or look for more obvious signs like random purchases or unfamiliar scents on his body or clothes.
“Why are you carrying a condom?” Look out for physical clues of an affair such as lipstick on shirt collars, perfume odours on shirts or jackets, secretion stains on underwear. Are there unexplained bits of paper, receipts, and condoms in his pockets?
“Something is just not right.” Sometimes, despite all your precaution, it might be hard to track a devious cheater. Trust your intuition or gut feeling if something is not right. Whether your husband is cheating on you or not, your investigations may lead to new discoveries.

But if you are still not sure, or you know that he IS cheating on you, here are a few websites to help you catch your cheating spouse.

geylangchecker.blogspot.com – a female vigilante website exposing men for cheating with prostitutes.
www.dpquest.com – a detective agency that will help you get concrete evidence against your cheating spouse.
www.catchcheatingspouse.org.sg/ – a portal that supplies a list of private investigators in Singapore

There is nothing worse or more difficult than the realization or suspicion that the one person whom you trusted and loved most is cheating on you. According to the Statistics on Marriages and Divorces, 2010, divorces among Singaporeans are still high; especially those aged 35 – 44. Couples who were married for up to 10 years accounted for the largest group of divorces last year. 97% of these applicants cited “unreasonable behaviour” and “having lived apart or separated for three years or more” as main reasons for divorce.

But not all infidelity cases end up in the Divorce Courts. Chee says that couples can choose counselling as recourse but the success of these sessions depends on several factors:

1) The initial communication between the couple before the affair started. If the husband had felt abused emotionally or psychologically by the wife and found solace in the “other” woman, he may not wish to continue the relationship with his wife.

2) The reason the affair began in the first place – was it one-time faux pas, sexual frustration at home or a long-term affair with the lover. “It all depends on the mom,” Chee says. “Usually the female wants to save the relationship; if it is a first offence, the wife is more willing to forgive. However, if it is repeated offences, the marriage is often dissolved.”

3) Are there children involved? Children play an integral part in the reconciliation process. According to Chee, couples with children under 5 years old are more open to reconcile or manage their relationship with counselling, whereas those with grown up children are more likely to separate.

If you wish to know more about marriage counselling, check out this list of services here.

This article first appeared in theAsianparent.com.

Discipline from a child's perspective

2011-08-12T16:24:00.007+08:00

I was a really good child, not because I wasn’t mischievous or experimental or curious like every child, but because I had a mother who believed in using the feather duster rod as a disciplinary tool.

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And like most Asian moms, my mother had the “LOOK”, which I’m sure many of you are familiar with. It’s that “LOOK” that freezes every fibre in your body; that “LOOK” that says if you don’t stop what you’re doing right now, you’re getting the “ROD”.

Today, I’m a mother of two and I found myself using the “LOOK” once or twice with my 4-year-old son in an effort to discipline him. It worked. I don’t know if it was a lucky coincidence or perhaps my son is a lovely, accommodating boy.

With my 2-year-old daughter, the “LOOK” is completely ineffective. Whenever I tried it with her, she would mock me and promptly dissolve me into laughter.

Discipline is a tough subject for parents. There are so many “what ifs” and “what not’s”. Do we discipline or not? When and how should we discipline? What kind of disciplinary measures should we use? When does discipline become corporal punishment?

Then there are the questions based on our personal beliefs and experiences. Giving a “time-out” or smacking – which is more effective? Who is the disciplinarian – Mom or Dad? Is the “crime” deserving of the “punishment”? Are we under-disciplining or over-disciplining?

While researching on this subject, I found plenty of literature to help parents answer the above questions. But what about the child in this equation? What is his or her opinion on discipline? After all, we were all children once and how we were disciplined, now influences the way we discipline our children.

So in the name of fairness, this article is dedicated to explore discipline from a child’s perspective. What is discipline to a Child?

Discipline is INFORMATION

Children have a built-in mechanism called curiosity which challenges them to experiment, question and examine their immediate surroundings in their quest for knowledge.

They are compelled to defy the boundaries to confirm your allegations. If you say the iron is hot. Well, they need proof. If you tell them that the jungle gym is too high to climb, well, that’s a challenge they can’t resist.

Children’s love affair with the television is legendary. It’s a great source of information and they will watch it for hours if you allow it. These little geniuses know you’ll allow them to watch MORE television programs when you’re amazed. Hence, they offer snippets of social wisdom learned from Strawberry Shortcake, speak phrases of Spanish (courtesy of Handy Manny), and tell you about the distant places they’ve been with The Little Einsteins.

Discipline is SECURITY

Children like rules and routines. It gives them stability and familiarity. Once in a while, they like to test the boundaries and the authority of the rules (that’s you, mom & dad) to ensure that they are dependable. But the truth is that they are secretly entertained by mom and dad’s reactions to their “rebellion”.

Discipline is CONFUSING

Children are keen observers who enjoy emulating the behaviour of adults around them. My husband is big on manners and often instructs my son not to speak with his mouth full at the dining table. On a few occasions, he was caught talking with food in his mouth by my son and was gravely reprimanded.

Another point of contention is ambiguous instructions from adults. Contrary to what adults think, young children are unable to multitask. Thus, giving them multiple instructions only renders confusion. A more effective way to communicate would be to provide one or two succinct instructions at a time. In addition, the instructions should be conveyed in a language that is clear and simple for the child to understand. Sometimes, children seem defiant because they don’t know what the adult wants or how to fulfil instructions that they have been given.

Discipline is DISRESPECTFUL

Remember that day you had a million errands to run? And you were hurrying your child because you were behind schedule and distracted? He was dragging his feet and you asked “Why are you so slow? Come on, come on!!” Or remember the arguments that ended with you saying “because I said so…” to your child?

Children are a work in progress. Physically, their short legs are just unable to catch up with our long ones. Emotionally, they are still discovering where the buttons are and how to express themselves. Is it any wonder when they refuse to cooperate?

Children are people too. They desire respect and recognition as individuals with different temperaments. They feel affronted when adults deny their rights to accomplish tasks in their personal style, and protest with resistance, challenges and tantrums.

Discipline Tips for Parents

If you’ve instructed, demonstrated or clarified any information to your child, then without a doubt, you are a disciplinarian.

Often confused with punishment, a disciplinarian is really a teacher, a mentor or a leader to the child. Judith Graham, Extension human development specialist (Family Issues Facts), provided the following disciplinary guidelines for parents:

1. Set reasonable limits. Setting reasonable limits offers realistic parameters for children and helps them feel secure. Be consistent with your limits, otherwise you will confuse the children and risk added misbehaviour.

2. Explain consequences. When used properly, explaining consequences teaches children about responsibility and decision-making. Parents can adopt this strategy to help children understand that their choices produce results that may be unpleasant. For example, if the child chooses to touch a hot iron, he will get burn. However, parents must be willing to accept the child’s decision and grant the latitude of learning from experience (in a safe environment, of course).

Consequences can be natural or logical. Natural consequences let children learn the natural order of the world. For example, “If you don’t eat, you will be hungry.” Logical consequences are consequences that are arranged by the parents. For example, “If you don’t put your dirty clothes in the hamper, you won’t have clean clothes to wear to school.”

3. Take corrective action as soon as possible. It is important to correct misbehaviour soon after it occurs. Carry out the logical consequences you’ve established for your child. If you don’t, what are you really teaching your child?

4. Stay calm. Anger can “turn off” or “tune out” your child. It may make the corrective action ineffective. It may also create unneeded power plays. Any kind of punishment done calmly is more effective than that done in anger.

5. Provide a short time to “cool down.” Popularly known as a “timeout,” the intent is to allow parent and child time to calm down and manage their emotions such as anger. Timeout should be brief and not be mistaken by the child as punishment. Follow up after the timeout teaches the child the skill of regaining composure and the ability to resolve conflict calmly.

6. Set an example. Discipline is best taught by example.

Discipline is a difficult task for the parents but when it is executed properly, the rewards are overwhelmingly satisfying.

This post was first published in theAsianparent.com in 2009. It is also posted on the I Love Children website.

Musical Performance: Elmo's Green Thumb

2011-08-11T07:11:00.010+08:00

Hey mom and dads, bring your camera and catch Sesame Street's favourite teachers this September with "Elmo's Green Thumb"!

Television's celebrity teachers Big Bird, Elmo, Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch, Bert and Ernie star in Sesame Street Live's latest production, Elmo's Green Thumb, to teach your little ones about nature and how to love and live with nature.

Elmo has raised his sunflower, Sunny, from a seed, but his floral friend has outgrown the flower pot. Elmo and friends find Big Bird’s garden the ideal place for Sunny to flourish and grow but they are too excited to wait. Rather than let Sunny follow nature’s course, Abby Cadabby, Sesame Street’s fairy-in-training, casts a spell to make Sunny grow. The spell does just the opposite and, instead of growing, Elmo and all of his friends shrink!

While Abby searches for just the right words to reverse the spell, Elmo, Zoe, Telly and friends explore Big Bird’s garden from a smaller perspective and learn some big lessons about patience, overcoming their fears and appreciating the role that each creature plays in our ecosystem – from dancing ladybugs and beautiful butterflies to grouchy beetles that scavenge the garden floor.

When: 30 September - 2 October 2011
Show Time: 9 shows only

30 Sept 2011 (Fri)

1st Show - 3.00pm
2nd Show - 7.00pm

01 Oct 2011 (Sat)
1st Show - 11.00am
2nd Show - 3.00pm
3rd Show - 7.00pm

02 Oct 2011 (Sun)
1st Show - 11.00am
2nd Show - 3.00pm
3rd Show - 7.00pm

Venue: Kallang Theatre (closest MRT: Stadium MRT)

Ticketing: S$48, S$68, S$78, S$98, VIP and Private Box tickets available at S$988 and S$1,288 respectively (includes entry pass to a Meet-and-Greet session with the Sesame Street Live characters)

Discounts:

OCBC Platinum MasterCard and Arts Platinum Card - 15%
OCBC Credit and Debit cards (applicable on selected card number only)- 10%
Popular Card - 10%
Toy "R" US - 10%
HomeTeam NS - 10%
Passion Card - 10%
NTUC Members - 10%

*Price inclusive of GST; ticketing fees.

Get your tickets from www.ticketbooth.com.sg or a AXS station TODAY!

Food: Best Cha Kway Teow in Singapore

2011-08-09T07:28:00.004+08:00

Singaporeans love to EAT. Follow our series on favorite food haunts and irresistible dishes as we scour the island and consult expert foodies on their recommendations for the best in town.

Char Kway Teow

There’s something about this sinfully delicious dark horse of a dish that makes fans salivate like babies and hunt the island in search of the best.

Whatever your preference - with plenty of Lap cheong (Chinese sausages), cockles, vegetables, wet or dry, laden with dark sauce, with or without lard – there’s one that will surely satisfy your palate.

According to our food experts from HungryGoWhere.com, ladyironchef.com, and makansutra.com, here are the best Char Kway Teow stalls in Singapore.

1. Hill Street Char Kway Teow – THE BEST

Blk 16 Bedok South Road
#01-187 Bedok South Road Market & Food Centre
Tel: +65 9042 1312

2. No 18 Zion Road Fried Kway Teow No18炒粿条面

images courtesy of ladyironchef.com

No 18 Zion Road Fried Kway Teow
Zion Road Riverside Food Centre

3. Heng Huat Fried Kway Teow

121 Pasir Panjang Road
Pasir Panjang Food Centre
Stall #01-36
11am to 9.30pm
Closed on Sundays and PH

4. 928 Char Kway Teow

726 Clementi West Street 2
#01-124 Market And Food Centre.

5. Katong (Peter) Fried Kway Teow

Tanjong Pagar Plaza
Stall #02-14

6. Lau Fu Zi Fried Kway Teow

Blk 51 Old Airport Road
Stall #01-12

This post first appear in theAsianparent.com in April 2011.