Explorer Juniors - Shark VS Train workshop

I am a mother of two lovely boys ; the older one is obsessed with trains since he was a baby , and the other one is fascinated about the ocean every since he watched the movie "Finding Nemo." This workshop "Shark VS Train " seems to be literally made for them. The school holiday had just begun not long ago and I thought I should use this opportunity for them to spend some meaningful time at holiday workshops and this just came at the right time. Once the boys knew that the workshop is called" SHARK VS TRAIN ", both of them began debating excitedly who is more powerful than the other . It was rather interesting to listen to my preschoolers' not-so-logical analysis as they argue friendly about it.

This workshop is inspired by a storybook called "Shark VS Train" , by the author Chris Barton. The children will get to explore two different themes for this workshop. The first one is about "sharks", where they learn about their habitat and their characteristics before their hands-on activities that revolved around the sharks topic. The second theme is the "train",and the children learn by going through a series of tech-based activities and hands-on experiments. From there, they get to discover more about this transportation invention and learn the science concepts behind it.   

Here are some of the photo-sneaks taken during the 3 days workshop of "Shark VS Train"

Each child was given a shark figurine so they can visualize better when the instructor describes the characteristic of every parts of the shark's body. 

The children were engaged in a hands-on experiment to understand how sharks are able to stay afloat due to their oil-filled liver. All of them were eager to gathered around the pail to watch what happens when oil is mixed with water . This allows them to learn about density by determining the objects that can float or sink in water.

Next they moved on to a brief technology lesson of Code-a-Shark using Scratch Junior application. The children are paired up together and taught to design and build a maze using simple coding. Rboy used to attend Robotics and Coding enrichment classes, therefore he is very familiar with this coding part and wants to lead his partner. I've to remind him to give his younger brother a chance to play too.

The children also touched upon science and geography by creating these sharks' fossils that they can bring back home.

On and off, they were given simple worksheets to enforced what they learned during the lesson. This time , they are required to design their own shark cage. I didn't expect the boys to get any creative because in my simple mind , I myself visualized the shark's cage to be just a cage that's big enough to lock a shark in. However Rboy drew a cage that has a claw on top (same like the one from the toy machines in the arcade) to grab the shark , spikey wheels at the bottom and some other weaponry to ensure the sharks don't escape. 

When I saw BabyK drawing many vertical and horizontal lines on his page, I thought probably my this 3 years old doesn't understand what he was supposed to do. When I asked him what he is drawing, he explained that his shark's cage is a sticky spider web that is spread across the ocean to trap the shark. I was equally surprised by his answer. This shows that a child can actually think out of the box so much easier than an adult. 

The second segment of the workshop is about "Train". 

The children were exposed to the architecture of a train, to understand the logic and science behind the construction of railway tracks. 

A group project was assigned to them to build up a town from scratch, using the wooden blocks of train tracks and houses.This was an excellent time to cultivate their teamwork spirit as they learn to interact well and respect each other opinions and ideas 

Another one of their favorite activity is making a train model out of recycled items. 

BabyK has difficulty doing certain part of the construction , like inserting the rods and fixing the wheels onto the train. The patient instructors try to encourage him and guide him to do so by himself.

I was touched to see the determination of my 3 years old as he continued to try even after many failed attempts. Yes, never once did he give up or lost interest in his mini project.

So as part of the train construction, they were supposed to attach a balloon to it and when it is inflated and released, the train will move forward.

The older kids managed to succeed and started racing once another with their trains. 

It was pretty amusing to see my boys keep trying and trying...

They were eager for their trains to join the race too.

Next, the instructor did a demonstration that shows the magnetism power of a magnet and how they attract and repel. Because of their gasps and ooh and wows,  it was as though the kids were watching a magic show!

They then moved on to the MagLev train activity where they were shown how it can be moved through the coils of wires with the use of magnets.

After the fascinating demonstration, the children cant wait to lay their hands on it.

This workshop by Explorer Junior is designed to be structural , educational and sparks creativity to preschoolers age 3-6 years old.  It focuses on real world science and engineering practices that work to reinforce science concepts and methodologies. 

If you are keen to check out other interesting workshops by Explorer Junior, do click their website below to learn more. They have many children holiday workshops all line up for this December month! 

http://www.explorerjunior.com

Early Math Matters - Math & Cognitive Development Enrichment for 3-6 years old

The Importance of Early Math Education for Preschoolers

Being parents of preschoolers, we do enjoy the moments when our kids share their world with us as they explore and learn with great enthusiasm. We always want the best for our children and give them all opportunities within our ability to achieve their potential to equip them well for the future. I've learnt that early math education is just as important as early literacy. Math is needed to build reasoning in a child and exposing them in their early ages can leads to benefits at later stage. In fact, young children are naturally interested in math as it exists in the world around them . By obtaining a strong Math foundation to understand concepts and terminology early can prepare the child to apply the skills learned and make it easier for them to make a connection with the real world.

Why EARLY MATH MATTERS (EMM) ?

I've been trying to source for an enrichment class for my 3 years old BabyK and that's when I chanced upon Early Math Matters; a premier Mathematics & Cognitive development enrichment centre that specialize in preschool math education.  It is also the sister company of NeuroMath Academy founded by Mr Norman Tien, a PSLE Math trainer with 20 years of experience. 
My requirements are pretty simple. I want a programme that can build up BabyK's math fundamentals learning in a fun and stress-free manner. At this young age, play is the perfect learning environment for them.

EMM believes that purposeful play can allow young children to grasp highly complex mathematical concepts if they learn math concepts in a fun and engaging way. This is totally in line with what I want Kyrian to experience now.

MATH INTELLIGENCE PROGRAMME (3-6 years old)

Young children learn math best by engaging in dynamic, hands-on games and activities. The Math Intelligence Programme is catered to preschoolers age 3-6 and focus on teaching math concepts through purposeful play lessons with interesting learning aids and experiential manipulative.  Lessons are made to be fun, interactive and engaging to help them build a passion for math.

Now let me show you some photo previews of the activities that BabyK did in his 3 years old class. 

Practicing number bonds to 10. The kids learn all the two numbers that make up to 10 by matching the caps to the right bottles.

After the teacher demonstrated the number bonds of 10 concept, the kids get to do a related simple worksheet to enforced what they've learned.

Auditory memory game that requires the kids to listen and count the number of clicks they hear for each round. Somehow BabyK really loves this activity and gets really excited to shout out the answer when everyone is still trying to focus on listening.

Learning simple addition of 5, using simple blocks to input the concept.

With teacher's guidance, they did some simple addition equations together. 

Visual memory game when the kids pretend to be holding a camera to take a picture on the screen. They have to remember and try to place the items back to the correct position.

This is also a type of photographic memory game that teaches them about spatial awareness .

IQ logic activity - Arranging the shapes according to their sizes and number of dots.

Spatial recognition game , learning about position of an item. 

Fixing a puzzle together.

Motor skills training - cutting with a scissor.

Another one of Kyrian's favourite segment; walking a straight line while balancing an egg on a spoon. 

Every week, the kids are exposed to different interesting games and activities that strengthen their Math foundation and cognitive development. And these are what EMM meant by learning through purposeful play. At the end of each lesson, the teacher will conduct a debrief session for parents to share what was taught during the lesson. She also provides feedback on the child’s strengths and learning gaps and advise what parents can do at home to improve their learning progress.

EMM is very gracious to share to my readers some of their manipulative and hands-on games that are played by the 3 years olds in their Math Intelligence Programme. 

All these games used in their purposeful play are designed to engage all of the child’s 5 senses and help them build a strong foundation for problem solving during their early experiential learning phase.

My Review

The programme definitely instills a strong interest in Math for BabyK and builds up his confidence in approaching numbers and concepts.  This is exactly what I want him to benefit from an early math education. If he enjoys math, it is so much easier to teach him more. I can also see great improvement in his concentration level and observance skill. For a 3 years old,  he is able to visualize and interprete very well. Most importantly I can see his great enthusiasm towards coming to class and to share with me what he learned every week.
I used to think that Math is a very difficult and boring subject, as I myself struggle with the subject in school. However now I understand that it is different if the child is able to cultivate a strong interest in the subject at a very young age and EMM gives the child an opportunity to achieve this.

PROMO CODE TO SHARE TO MY READERS

I highly recommend this programme to parents who is looking for an enrichment that specialised in early math for kids at a young age. So if you're looking for one that is able to kick start a child's love for math and for them to learn math in a fun and stress-free environment, then The Math Intelligence Programme from Early Math Matters is definitely the right enrichment school to start off with.

More information of Early Math Matters can be found below. Do make an appointment with their friendly consultant if you like to visit the outlet to understand more.

Website: http://earlymathmatters.com

Address: 42 East Coast Road, #01-02, Singapore 428762

Tel: +65 6384 0797 , +65 97703263

My Mushroom Garden Grow Kit from Mushroom Kingdom

" Where mushrooms come from?" If one day this question is thrown to me by my kids, I guess I'll non-nonchalantly reply "ehh....in the forest...on some dead logs??.." (Isn't that what we always see in cartoons? )

But if I would to throw the same question back at them, their reply is definitely going to be, "Mommy, mushrooms come from NTUC supermarket.."

We have to admit that living in an urban country like Singapore, most of us face the same issue inherent throughout our food culture, losing the connection with whole real food. What we eat always come from the shelves in a store, in the form of packages , tins or jars. Children now lack the knowledge about food, where it comes from, how to grow and how to nurture and harvest. So it makes sense that if they have a chance to learn more about the origins of their food, it will change their perspective towards the environment as well as the ecosystem. In another words, they grow to become more appreciative and responsible to their food. And the way to do this is to first let them see how nature works, and I meant, gaining practical hands-on knowledge of growing their food. 

There was a mix of anticipation and expectation from my boys on the day we received our very first mushroom grow kit from Mushroom Kingdom .My goal for this educational project is to get them to understand the entire life cycle and to learn the growing process of mushrooms. I told them their job is to ensure they mist the mushrooms and to check for bugs. Not that it attracts bugs, but just to increase their responsibility for them to monitor and observe the mushrooms closely.

By following the simple 3 steps instructions behind, we can start to grow our own Grey Oyster mushrooms!

Step 1: Tear open one side of the kit and cut an "X" onto the grow bag

Step 2: Place the kit near a window and mist 4 times a day. Make sure that the kit is in a relatively cool place and not under the direct sunlight. Everyday, the boys have to check on their mushroom kit and ensure it gets enough water, and then nature will take its course over the next few days.

The morale of the boys went dipping low after going through the first four days which they claimed that they see nothing spectacular. It was until the 5th day then we start to see these little "pinheads" popping out from the surface!

It was such a thrill to the boys as every morning the very first thing they do is to run to check on the mushrooms and marveled at how these shrooms have doubled their sizes. They mist them, fondled them for a while and asked me for the 1000th time whether the shrooms are ready to be eaten. The irony part is, my kids are pretty picky eaters and have never been a fan of mushrooms. Still, they were so looking forward to taste the first mushrooms they grew.

And once the oyster mushrooms grew and curl out like this, it's time to be harvested!

Which is what the boys have been waiting for....to pluck them out!

Grey Oyster mushrooms have a delicate texture and a smooth velvety taste. They are also packed with loads of vitamins and minerals which made very good choice of ingredients to cook for children. I gave them a good thorough wash before throwing them into a hot pan with some minced garlic, oyster sauce and sesame oil.

A very simple dish to cook in five minutes. 

My Review Of My Mushroom Garden Grow Kit from Mushroom Kingdom

The mushrooms are of excellent quality and if you follow its concise instructions, you can get really great results. With this kit, you can achieve at least up to three more harvests by turning to the other side of the pack and repeat the whole process again. 

Growing the mushrooms yourself is really fascinating. My kids and I were totally enamored by the entire incredible process as we witnessed how these tiny mycelium gradually developed into these marvelous full-grown mushrooms. It gave us so much satisfaction each time we completed our last harvest. 

I just cant recommend My Mushroom Garden grow kit highly enough and best of all, it came with a very reasonable price tag of only $17.90.

Do visit the website of MUSHROOM KINGDOM to learn more or to get your very own kit today. 

How My Children go Medicine-Free for One Year and still counting ( Oxyginberry and Millennium review )

Yes as shown on the title of this post, my 2 years old and 4 years old boys have already been free from doctors and medicine prescription for one year..and still counting. Yes they haven't been seeing a doctor (except for vaccination) for one whole year! That's a good record to break! No they are neither little Superman nor Ironman who never fall sick. They still have their occasional coughs, flu and fever, but ever since I replaced all the doctors' prescribed-medicine and over-counter drugs with good immunity food, their recovery rate has been so much faster and the frequency of them falling sick again has reduced tremendously. 

(My two cheeky boys! Staying healthy means they don't need to skip school and are in good health to celebrate the coming festive season!)

My first child was born prematurely and has rather weak health ever since he was a baby. I can never forget the first two years of his life filled with the tedious waiting time at KK hospital and all the colourful bottles syrups that filled up our entire fridge and cabinet. It became worse when we put him in nursery school because that was when cough , flu and fever took turns to attack him almost every week! He was so weak and vulnerable to all these viruses and often in a drowsy state because of all the prescribed drugs that we have to force-feed him.We understand that it is common and natural for a child to fall sick as it's also part of their growing up. I always believe that they become stronger each time they recover. However isn't it better if the kids fall sick lesser, recover faster and suffer less? 

Finally I made the decision to embark the journey of enriching myself with the knowledge of what is really beneficial to my children and how to improve their health. It was then I came to understand that

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Medicine for kids DON'T cure sickness. The drugs are used to temporary relieve the symptoms from the sickness but they DON'T cure. 

Your own immune system is your body's only best doctor. 

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When the child is having fever, the medicine that you feed the child (such as Ibrupofen) DON'T cure the fever. How it works is that it only temporary removes the symptoms of the fever (high temperature, flu, shivering) to make your child feel better for a while, but in this way it also PROLONGS the fever and drags their recovery time. During fever, the high body temperature is a sign that your body is doing its job by trying to "burn" away the virus inside. It is the child's body, their own immune system that is helping with the recovery. There are many truths that doctors didn't want you to know but I decided not to bored you with all the research and details here. I've given you the facts, go read up yourself if you wish to understand more. 

Now I'm going to share with you the ways how I improve my child's health and how I successfully go medicine-free for the past year. My belief is that sickness is prevented with good nutrients and strong immunity.

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Nourishing our body is necessary so our immune system is well-equipped to fight and recover from any viruses that came their way.

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(Oxyginberry and Millennium, the super immunity powder beverage )

Few months back I met a mom who shared her experience with Oxyginberry and Millennium from E.excel , to support her children's health. I'm the kind of mom who always approach new ideas and suggestions from others with an open mind, especially when it comes to something which I feel is beneficial to my children. Oxyginberry and Millennium are powder beverages that are recommended as premium superfood for kids. That's because they contain cactus, a premium ingredient which has 10,000 types of phytonutrients and is excellent in its healing, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties.

(I used to feed them with a large syringe but now they have got used to drinking right from the cup.)

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 Oxyginberry helps to nourish their skin and body organs and its high anti-oxidant and super immune ingredients work well to support a child's health. Millennium is my MUST-USE powder beverage whenever my kids are fighting a fever. It helps to prevent the fever from spiking and increase their recovery rate so much faster than before. It also seems to reduce the effects of the fever because after the use of Millennium, my kids somehow eat well and play well, showing no much signs of discomfort even when they are burning close to 39 degree Celsius. And since they don't suffer much from the symptoms of the fever, I am more at ease allowing them to self-heal naturally without the use of medicine. Most importantly, I noticed that with the use of Millennium, it seems to speed up their recovery rate. They used to suffer from prolong fever for up to 7-10 days, but now it takes only around 2 days for my child to recover from a fever. So now I believe that their body's fast recovery rate is due to the reduced usage of prescribed and over-counter drugs over the months. Which means that their body have been trained not to depend on medicine but to depend on their own immune system to naturally helps them to recover. 

Of course you also have to trust your mother's instinct and common sense. Eg.If the child is throwing a fit from over 40 degrees Celsius high fever then you gonna send the child to the A&E duhh !
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To maintain my kids' health, below are some of the health food , protocols or natural home remedies that I follow as well.
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Organic cold-pressed coconut oil - boost immune system, fights flu virus and helps body to better absorb vitamins from food.

Manuka Honey - contains amino acids which benefits a child's growing body, treats respiratory infections, protects liver and heal wounds faster. (But take note that no honey should be given to babies)

Green bean soup - relieve inner heatiness and clear body's toxin. 

Probiotics - helps digestion, reduce diarrhea and eczema and prevent gastrointestinal problems.

Homemade chicken essence (will share recipe soon)- high protein and nutrients to combat tiredness, improves concentration , support health and boost energy especially when child is sick and lost appetite. 

Epsom salt bath - to increase magnesium level, flush out toxic and promote sleep. I prepare this detox bath for my kids whenever they are not feeling well. 

Young Living Essential oils - apply Thieves oil under their feet before they go to school to form a protective barrier against germs and viruses. Apply Immupower oil under their feet or along their spine for immunity boost when they are falling sick. Diffuse Frankincense oil or apply on child to calm cough or generate body cells.

Taking care of our children and improving their health is always the top duty of a mom. There are so many other ways to boost their wellness, such as introducing more fruits and vegetables, engaging them in more physical activities, practicing good hygiene and the list goes on.  If you have any of your own special health remedy for kids, do share with me too!

(One last cute photo of my boys "yum-senging" with each other with their power beverage)