8 February 2020 – What’s the significance of the date, you may ask. The date is definitely not as significant as the more familiar Valentine’s Day (14 February), but the 15th day of the Lunar New Year certainly has its importance, despite not being widely recognized by the increasingly cosmopolitan youth of today in Singapore.
Hongbao Money, let it grow!
As children, it is important that you understand the difference between “needs” and “wants”. To put it in simpler words, “needs” refer to the things that you cannot do without and “wants” are things that aren’t essential but make you happy.
Rains bring solace. But what are the lessons from Australia?
Did pictures of kangaroos, koalas and other visual treats appear in your mind? Well, yes, that is the Australia that we all know about. Or perhaps, it is the old Australia that we were all familiar with. Australia is home to a great number of unique plants and animals. It is famous for its pouched animals which are called marsupials – kangaroos, koalas, wallabies, quokkas and so on.
Coronavirus – All you need to know!
According to news reports, more than 50 people in China are dead. More than 2000 cases have been confirmed in mainland China alone. Over 60 million people have been affected by the Government’s efforts to stop this virus from spreading across other nations. People have been stranded in airports and not able to return to their destination. So, what exactly is this “coronavirus” that has taken the entire world by shock?
Let’s welcome the Year of the Rat (老鼠)!
Falling on the first day of the traditional Chinese calendar, the public holiday falls on any date between 25 January 2020 and 8 February 2020. The 15-day long festivities are filled with delicious food, firecrackers, parades, presents and well-wishes.
Helping our kids overcome the fear of failure
Logically we Singaporeans should be less fearful and more confident. This is the country that achieved high-income development within the span of a single generation. Yet we remain fearful about our capabilities and are still skeptical about future success. Why are our kids so scared about the future? The main reason is the pressure that our kids are put under related to academics.
Let’s destress our kids!
Are we making our kids sacrifice their playtime? Well, we never should. We need to realize that and make sure that they spend adequate time on the thing that they need the most – play. Let them play outdoors and let them play indoors as well. Our kids learn a lot of things when they play. Many of the vital life skills that define people and help them succeed are acquired in fruitful childhoods which give adequate scope for play.
Student well-being – Is it more important than marks?
We live in a world filled with competition. The average Singaporean parent is conscious about this and devotes a good amount of attention towards making sure that his/her kids are best prepared for this world. What has this resulted in? It has led to a greater emphasis on academics. Consequently, our kids are among the best equipped with regard to academic skills and educational infrastructure. But has this come at a cost?
Building confidence using the classroom
“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence”. These are the words of the legendary Helen Keller who through her life showed us that no matter what difficulties we are faced with, a determined and confident mind can always find a way to succeed. But let us examine the predicament of our school-going kids. How confident are they today?
How to help your child overcome the fear of failure?
Logically we Singaporeans should be less fearful and more confident. This is the country that achieved high-income development within the span of a single generation. Yet we remain fearful about our capabilities and are still skeptical about future success
