Inexpensive At-Home Activities You Can Enjoy With Your Child

Kicking off the month of April is the new educational structure advised by Education Minister Ong Ye Kung. Last Friday, he highlighted that all schools will conduct one day of home-based learning in light of the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in Singapore. This re-structuring will help prepare the parents and students if more days of home-based learning will be necessary.

Primary schools will conduct home-based learning o Wednesdays, Secondary schools will apply ths on Thursdays. The rest of the institutes will be having it on Fridays. These social distancing efforts are on top of the enrichment and tuition centers’ closure. The question on the parents’ minds now is: “What will the children do all day?”

The key to extending the learning at home is to make a routine. Students are used to following a schedule. Mimic this blueprint by creating a distinct schedule to help the continuous flow of their home-based education day. The goal is to keep your children busy as you tend to other matters.

TIP #1: FOLLOW THE ADVISE OF THE TEACHERS

As teachers will be giving their assignments through emails and other platforms, you may start the day with those modules. Study time may last from 30 minutes to an hour and a half. Allow heavy subjects and academic assignments to be engraved during this block of time.

TIP #2: DEDICATE A BLOCK FOR PLAY

Allow your children to have at least 15 to 30 minutes of time of dedicated child-led play. Provide materials that will cater to their interests and allow them to play. When a child is playing, it stimulates different facets such as imagination, creativity, innovation, and socialization. You may provide a bin filled with educational toys and art materials. Serious learning can take place while having fun.

TIP #3: SCHEDULE A TIME FOR READING

Being at home all day gives you a chance to increase the child’s habit of reading. Gather your books at home or download free books online. Schedule at least 20 minutes of reading time per day to engrave the importance of reading. Remember that this block is the total amount of minutes. You may break it apart throughout the day. In the first half, you may be the only one talking. The adult will read the book aloud for the child. As the day ends, you may let your child to read the same book by himself or herself. Do not worry if your child wants to extend the reading block! Reading is beneficial for your child’s language proficiency and vocabulary expansion.

TIP #4: SPARE SOME TIME FOR GROOMING AND SELF-HELP SKILLS

As an educator, I believe that children learn best through experiences. Let your child experience household chores to learn more about responsibility and self-reliance. Assign 10 to 15 minutes of time for household chores and other self-help activities. Guide your child as they clean their rooms, sweep the floors, wash the dishes, or fold the clothes. They can use these skills as they grow up. More importantly, those are less tasks for you to fill.

TIP #5: ALLOT A BLOCK FOR SCREEN TIME

Whether we admit it or not, technology has been a part of our children’s lives. Hence, it is better to adapt and to limit their usage. Keep your children from “over-indulging” on the screens by having a set time in the schedule for screen time. Ideally adults should limit the children’s use of screen time to two hours per day. For instance, you may allow 30 to 45 minutes of screen time before breakfast and after dinner. Follow through the scheduled time by turning the devices and appliances off afterwards. If the house feels too quiet, turn on some delightful music instead.

TIP #6: ALLOW YOUR CHILDREN TO MOVE

It is easy to put down toys for free play. However, children enjoy it when you get to bond with them as you facilitate some indoor activities. A great way to entertain your children while practicing educational skills is to schedule some easy indoor activities. You may plan at least 30 minutes of this category before snack time or before dinner time.

Here are some of the ideas for your indoor play:

a. Build A City: Flatten out a box. Draw a round using markers and paint. Add blocks and other toy vehicles to let your child build his or her own city.

b. Backhand Balloon Balance: Challenge your children to balance a balloon on the back of their hand. See how long they can do it before it falls to the ground. Amp up the stakes by putting water inside the balloon.

c. Long Jump: Put some lines of masking tape or colored electric tape on the floor. Make 6 separate lines of tape, which are one foot apart. Label the first line as the “Starting” line. See how many lines your children can jump over. Have them beat their best score each round. You may even let them jump backwards!

Image Credits: unsplash.com

May you entertain your children while staying safe! 🙂

Sources: 1 & 2

Read More...

Surefire Ways To Save Money As A First Time Parent

Congratulations on becoming a new parent! Welcoming another human being into this world can change your life in many ways. Most of these changes are for the better. While, some changes are challenges too.

I am referring to the hefty price tag attached to child-bearing and child-rearing. You have to spend about S$8,000 to S$18,000 a year for that.

You read that right! You will be spending five figures on groceries, clothes, toys, diapers, hospital visits, and daycare. With a growing list of expenses, you must rethink how to manage your financial life after having a baby. Here are some tips to help you out:

SHAKING THINGS UP

You and your partner have had a working budget for years. And this household budget seem to work fine. However, you have to reset your budget once the baby comes. Your pooled incomes, savings, and investments shall cover your child’s expenses.

Begin by saving for the delivery by taking up Medisave’s Maternity Package. Using Medisave for childbirth can help offset the cost of your hefty delivery. Roughly, you can claim about S$450 per day on hospital stay, S$900 on prenatal expenses, and S$750 to over S$2000 on surgical procedure.

For instance, you wife had a Cesarean delivery and was hospitalized for two days, you will be able to claim about S$900 on prenatal expenses, S$900 on hospital stay, and S$2,150 on surgical procedure. This sums to about S$3950 worth of claims.

FILLING THE PIGGY BANK

It comes as no surprise that education will take a huge toll in your expenses for the years to come. Thus, setting up an education fund for your beloved can help you in the long run. While taking up an education loan is always an option, the cost of schooling gets higher each year. You must start saving money along with the arrival of your little one.

A scenario close to my heart is the effects of my uncle’s death. My uncle is the breadwinner and his son has not yet finished his schooling. As he continue his secondary education, he finds it difficult to fuel his financial resources. If only my uncle set up an education fund beforehand!

Saving up for your child’s education can cushion potential financial bumps. This way, your child will not have to compromise his or her education.

SETTING UP A CAPSULE WARDROBE

Along with the trends of minimalism and sustainable living comes the existence of the capsule wardrobe. A capsule wardrobe enables to the owner to keep key pieces that he or she can mix and match in the years to come. The only challenge when it comes to toddler is that they grow up so fast!

Matching outfits or assorted clothing can be adorable to look at! However, your infant does not need twenty sets of outfits! He or she will grow out of these clothes faster than you can post about it on Instagram. Thus, you must limit your child’s wardrobe. Allow a set of basic items with interchangeable colors and patterns to full your drawer. You do not want to spend on designer clothing that your child will surely ruin with stains and other mishaps!

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Here are just some ways to save money as a first time parent. Make it a habit to check children’s websites and forums for ways to create your own baby food or to conduct your own reading class. Nothing is impossible with a little determination from a parent!

Sources: 1& 2

Read More...

How To Save Money For Your Child’s Education In Singapore

GO LOCAL

As parents, you are well aware that deciding your child’s school involves various choices and costs. It is quite a task to run through every option available in Singapore. Budgetary constraints start from pre-school onwards. To play things safe, choose a government-associated institution. The public school system provides globally competitive education without putting a strain on your pocket.

LOCATION IS VITAL

Location plays an important role when choosing a tuition center. If you value tuition then, opt for the centers close to your home. Alternatively, you may organize a carpool program to cut down your transportationc costs.

Say that you intend to enroll your children in a private tuition. Consider asking for their package or discounted deals.

HONE THE HOBBIES

Academics is not everything! Raising a well-rounded child involves shaping his or her hobbies. You do not need to spend cash on workshops as there are many free amenities found in your town park. Go to the nearby park and let your child play on the swings.

Is your child interested in reading? Spend quality time at home by reading your child a storybook during bedtime. Furthermore, the National Library Board hosts free educational events such as the sold out program entitled: “Let’s Science Together! – Science Experiments for Parents and Kids”. For more information about their upcoming events, visit: nlb.gov.sg.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Lastly, you may stroll in Esplanade to experience their free artistic events such as the “A Monsta Party”!

TREASURE IN THE BOX

Dig through your child’s closet and toy box to find some hidden treasures! Instead of throwing away your children’s outgrown clothes and used toys, you may sell them online or through a consigment store. Selling your stuff away will not only help you clear out, but also provide you extra cash.

INVEST ON BONDS

Investing your money on the stock market help you grow an education fund. One of the most popular investment options for education funding is bonds. Singapore Government Bonds is believed to be close to risk-free. Choose long-term bonds with periods ranging from 2 to 30 years in order to get higher returns.

A FAMILY AFFAIR

Birthdays are important to your children as gifts come along with it. In lined with this, you may try asking your relatives to provide experiential gifts. Experiential gifts refer to soccer classes, swimming lessons, or other enrichment programs that your child can benefit from.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Not only are these gifts more memorable than toys, but it can also help you save for your child’s future education.

Sources: 1 & 2

Read More...

Financial Sacrifices Are Crucial To Send Your Child To A University

HSBC, one of the world’s largest financial institution, conducts its yearly survey series entitled “The Value of Education”. This yearly report examines the parent’ expectations and aspirations for their children’s education.

In 2015, it highlighted that a whopping 90% of Singaporean parents saw undergraduate studies as an essential tool for their children’s success. The interesting part was that majority of these parents (about 83%) were willing to pay more to send their children overseas. The only downside was that some of these parents do not have sufficient money saved. Can you see how much importance was given to university education despite the lack of financial foresight?

Let us move towards the recent 2016 report. Parents in Singapore spend an average of S$21,000 annually on their beloved’s university education. This significant amount is more than twice the global average. Furthermore, majority of these parents (about 52%) were willing to get trapped into debt just to fund their children’s studies. Singaporeans seem to perceive higher education, including overseas studies, as a clincher for future success. Simply ask the billion-dollar tuition or tutorial industry!

The potential issues arise when parents ignore their other financial commitments such as building a savings account for their golden years. Avoid these issues by employing practical steps when planning for your children’s education.

Consider these four steps:

1. ESTABLISH YOUR SAVINGS IN ADVANCE

If you are going to have stellar aspirations for your children, it is only fair that you plan ahead. Open a savings fund for your his or her education during the early development years. Doing so will enable you to have a decent amount of money kept by the time that your child goes to university (i.e., 19 to 21 years old).

2. ENCOURAGE FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE

Teaching your child the value of money and work opens doors to a brighter financial future. Do not forget about the basics of personal finance including budgeting and investing. Being able to manage their finance is essential to adulthood.

3. ASK FOR PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE

Seeking professional advice allows you to pinpoint your financial opportunities and potential pitfalls along the way. Need I say more?

4. TAP INTO YOUR CPF ACCOUNT AS A LAST RESORT

Singaporean parents may use their Central Provident Fund Ordinary Account (CPF-OA) savings to cover their children’s diploma or degree courses at approved institutions. If your CPF-OA is insufficient, you can apply for the school’s financial assistance schemes or the Tuition Fee and Study Loan schemes offered by the government.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Make this option your last resort as you need your savings for retirement, healthcare, and other emergencies.

Sources: 1 &2

Read More...

Let Your Child Learn Beyond Textbook Knowledge With These Enrichment Centers

As a holistic nation, Singapore has a competitive spirit. Most (if not all) Singaporean parents start to shape the academic skills of their children early on due to the fear of falling behind the fierce system. To accomplish this, they employ the services of several enrichment or tuition centers.

Searching for the “perfect center” seems like a hunt for the most delectable candy at Candylicious. There are hundreds of attractive options! Choosing a singular center is often a confusing, uncertain, and difficult task. You can either send your child to a competent center that breeds Ivy league students or to a mediocre institution taught by incompetent teachers.

You need to be able to spot a diamond among the duds. To do so, you must analyze if the center is suitable for your child and if the teachers impart things that are beyond what the textbook says. Few enrichment centers in Singapore offer just that! The short list includes The Learning Lab, Mathnasium, SmartLab Education Centre, and ThinkersBox.

Let me start with the The Learning Lab. The Learning Lab is a premier provider of tutorial programs for primary, secondary, and pre-tertiary levels. Aside from stimulating academic excellence, they are in the business of cultivating world-readiness. You see, the center conducts a series of events including creative writing workshops and Ivy Summit Series. The creative writing workshops were run by media personalities while the Ivy Summit Series were run by Harvard undergraduates. These efforts help establish a good reputation among parents, students, and educators in Singapore. Do not get me started about their alumni who studied in prestigious universities such as Princeton and Oxford! All these come at a relatively costly price tag. Expect fees of about S$30 per hour for primary students.

The next center has a niche as it focuses on Mathematics. The Mathnasium is not your average Maths tuition center! In fact, it has a reputation of being less stressful and more enjoyable. The people behind Mathnasium aim to increase the child’s appreciation for the subject in order to improve his or her academic performance. They use a unique way of teaching that was developed over 30 years ago. If you are skeptical about it, you will be happy to know that they have several branches all over the globe! So, browse their courses that range from Primary 1 to Secondary 4 Maths.

The third center is called SmartLab. What started off as a humble classroom in Bishan has expanded to providing quality tutorial classes that incorporates Information Technology. SmartLab was one of the early adopters of modern technology by equipping their classrooms with computers. More than regular classes, SmartLab offers FREE support sessions twice a month for students who need the extra hand. What separates it from other centers is its “Results Guranteed Programme” whereby parents pay a lump sum of money in exchange for an agreement (e.g., achieving a certain grade). You will get your money back if the agreement is not achieved. The lump sum is between S$2,500 to S$5,850.

The last, but not the least is ThinkersBox. It is a specialist center for brain development that caters to children aged 5-12 years old. The teachers at ThinkersBox impart the most fundamental aspect of schooling, which is rarely taught in schools. That aspect is cognitive or thinking skills. The dynamic duo behind the ThinkersBox believe that “textbook knowledge and grades will not be sufficient in a fast-changing and unpredictable environment”. I certainly agree!

Enrichment centers are becoming more of a necessity than a luxury. As parents, you must find the most suitable center to improve your children’s learning. Look not only at the reputation of the brand but also at other factors such as class size, tutor’s competence, and testimonials.

Good luck on your search! 🙂

Sources: 1 & 2

Read More...