Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Swensens' birthday treat



It maybe a well known secret but some of my friends are still kept in the dark about this...so thot this is indeed a good lobang to share. Apparently , Swensons have this promo for quite a while already.

So, what's the big deal ? The deal is that swensen's will give the birthday person a firehouse ice cream worth $7.50 anytime and anyday (3 scoops of ice cream and u can choose the flavor) if u show the birthcert or IC before ordering. The catch is : it must be on the exact birth day and no purchase is required..though the terminal 2 outlet wanted a min. purchase...so I ordered a coke to go along with the ice cream - cheapo rite.

Other branches, dont need any purchases but sometimes, we still order some other stuff to go along with it.....cos pai seh.

Happy celebrating and feasting !! : )

Monday, May 25, 2009

Simply Sofa Hunt


A bonding opportunity for the whole family - fun local version of the "Amazing Race" in search of sofas only.Take a family photo and submit to win the grand prize.
I have already sign up ! See u there.

Review of the Singapore Museum - Children's Seasons 20009






Learning the High School Musical grooves









Rock painting, sand painting, face painting, making giant bubbles - we liked them all











Sticking wires, pipes is not a difficult feat for us !














Using seeds, leaves and twigs to make a puppet - economical, simple and fun !



Brought the two eldest for the family carnival at the opening of the Children's Seasons 2009 yesterday since I have listed in one of the earlier post as one of the children's activities for June. This is the 2nd yr running that we were there...but this year was our 1st yr attending the opening carnival.

FUN is the agenda of the day !

There were different stations to do the activities eg face painting, sand painting, balloon sculpturing, carcricature, stick puppet making, other drop in actitivies for them to do free play, movies, story-telling, dance clinic,free popcorns. All these for free.
The smiley faces of the kids tells you all....

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Crocs sales- review

Went to crocs sales early in the morning with my bro and sis-in-law. We reached there at 9.20am and already there was a queue forming in the next hall. According to my brother who was there last Nov, there are more organised now - queueing in another hall rather than queuing outside the corridor.

Verdict - I would rate it 3 stars out of 5. Good to go if you have the time and dont mind older models.

Each pair on average about $20-$25. Limited designs for each size... Need to go early in the morning to get the right size. I saw alot of boxes labelled as 1st day, 2nd day etc...so I believe that if you go early on the next 2 days..u may still get some real bargains.

No clothing this year. Besides shoes, they are selling Jibbitz's twin pack for $5 (each pack has 2 designs). They have collectibles like thomas, cars, batman etc..

5 jibbitz with the mounting board for $10. HP pouches for $10.

They were also giving free Jibbitz when you fill up the survey forms with your particulars for their customer database. On top of that , they are giving free gifts with purchases of $200 and above in a single receipt.

Overall, I am satisfied with the sale cos I didn't manage to go last yr..and I managed to grab some footwear for myself : )

Happy shopping !!

Friday, May 15, 2009

Therapeutic and Good family bonding - Building Sand Castles

Do u build sandcastles only in the air thinking it is impossible to build nice sandcastles that u always see on books ?

Years ago, my brother actually bought a set of sandcastles tools when my nephews and niece were very young. They seldom played with it or rather they weren't taught how to use the tools...after so many years, my sister actually passed down the pretty well maintained and clean tools to my kids (though with some missing parts). We didnt really get to use it partly because my kids were much younger then...so we only let them play with the tools at home minus the sand.

Last year, I happened to borrow a book by a local author Alvin Lee, the mastermind behind the company - Castle Beach who created the sandcastle tools and marketed to an American firm which helped him to mass produce for worldwide distribution. Coincidentally I found out from a parents magazine few mths later that his company actually conducts a weekly demonstration and team-building workshops (for corporations etc) at the East Coast beach to teach people how to build beautiful sandcastles using his tools.

Late last year, I brought my family and headed down to East Coast beach with the old tools that we have..after the demo we were so inspired by the simplicity of use of the tools that we bought another set from them to complete our half-dysfunctional set.

Since that day, building sandcastle is one of my family's favourite activitiy at the beach - it is a cheap and fun activity ...and it allows for creativity for the kids too !! Kids will gain confidence from this activity and your heart will melt seeing them so happy and proud of their worksmanship.

Details of the company and the weekend demonstrations and sale of the tools are as below :
http://www.castlebeach.org/ (see the gallery for the photos).

Free sandcastle building classes for public is on every Sat, Sun from 3pm to 7pm.

Location is at East Coast Parkway carpark E2 (near to the food centre) .Walk down to the beach front and you will see a concrete sandcastle (make of grey bricks - that's their office). The set of tools is S$30 but you don't have to purchase it to watch the demonstrations.

Here are some of photos of my humble family's creation and my kids at work :












It is really simple enjoyment and pleasures in life...to be able to do that admist the hustle and bustle of urban leaving. I hope that you and your family can enjoy this too..

*but do remember to spray insect repellent because I got a very bad episode of beach flies bites at the beach and need to be on medication for nearly 2 weeks*




Latest posted on 5th June * Coupon to get 20% Off castle Beach - sandbuilding set *

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Celebrate as a family this coming holiday

Starting 29th May being the "Eat with your Family Day", the National Family council is starting a calendar of events that really is exciting and promises loads of opportunities for you to bond with your family. This will run from 29th May to 28th June 09

There is also a contest for you to participate and win tickets to local tourist attractions.

Be sure to check out the upcoming events under the calendar of events..Happy bonding this June holidays : ). I am kinda of interested in the simply sofa hunt listed in the events calendar.


http://www.nationalfamilycelebrations.sg/

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Parties ideas, locations, stockist etc etc


One parent wrote to me asking me for suggestions for any ideal party locations,where to get stuff etc. Thanks for suggesting that. I have listed it below, as per request. For the rest of the readers , if you have any questions or topics of interest, do write to me, will love to hear from you and get to know you better.

Do drop me some comments under the comments tab if you find the recommendations useful or not so good. I have not tried the services for most of the companies listed here, so can't comment much. Do assess the services and cost of each of these carefully before making an order.

Parties supplies :


1. Online stores


http://www.partybundles.com/#

http://www.balloonsrus.sg/

http://www.ebay.com/ - Alot of varieties and designs but you need to pay for overseas postage. Generally prices are much lower than Singapore after the exchange rate.



2. Shops that sells birthday supplies, pinatas


a. Parkway parade outside Mothercare. Party Joy - They have services for entertainers as well, magician, princesses etc.

http://www.harvestwell.com.sg/party.htm


b. Centrepoint 5th floor


c. Any Toys R Us shops


Parties Entertainers & activities :


1. http://www.themagicavenue.com/explorerjoe.html



2. http://www.singaporeforkids.com/kidscorner/entertainers.php


Parties Locations :



1. ExploreKid at Pasir Ris


For ExploreKid at Pasir Ris, my daugther was invited by her classmates and my son was invited as well. I went it with them and I can see their excitment and the fun they had ...I find it very fun and interesting. The whole place is very child friendly and children can just run around with minimal parents supervision. Recommended for kids 3 and above.


The price is about S$25 per head and gives the child unlimited play at the explorekids where they have obstacle course kind of maze. Highly recommended if you not on a tight budget for your kid's birthday


http://www.explorerkid.com/bdaytrips/bdaytrips_partypackages.aspx


2. Mcdonalds and KFCs - if you don't mind junk food


3. Build a bear workshop Party

http://www.buildabear.com.sg/party


4. For the younger kids - The little gym and Kindermusik

http://www.thelittlegym.com.sg/parties.htm

http://www.kindermusik.com.sg/birthday.htm


Cake and food suppliers :


1. Agar Agar cute characters design


Highly recommended ! I ordered this for my daugther's birthday celebration in her kindergarten last year and everyone (including the teachers) love the pretty designs. Service is great too ! However do note that for this agar agar, they put in coconut milk so some kids dont really like it..though the designs are en



1. Agar Agar supplier with very cute and nice designs to complement your theme. Is called the Mrs Chan Jelly. Pls call to check out the prices for the different designs. Catalog is uploaded in this link

http://parentslobang.bravehost.com/Mrs%20Chan



Details of the contact :


Mrs Chan’s Jelly
H/P: 96350758 / 97887807
E-mail: j88chan2000@yahoo.com


2. Creative Cake Design

http://www.ecreative.com.sg/index.asp


Designs are nice and creative but taste so-so not fantastic. If u are looking for novelty...


3. If you like something chocolaty.... then buy your kid's favourite toy (eg thomas train or princess figurine) and put in on top of the cake. The toy can put to good use after the birthday.


http://www.awfullychocolate.com/



If you have any more suggestions to add, do email or add in the comments.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Sales , Sales and more sales


The sales that I have been anticipating - The CROCS Sale! I missed that last year and I heard that it was very very good..is about $20-$25 a pair. I went on the last day after church since my church's services are held at Expo. The queue was super duper long and the security guard has to control the no. of people going in. In the end, I didnt want to squeeze in, with all my kids, stroller, bags and everything.

Hope that this year, things will be better..should be there on the 1st day !

Popular Sales at Tampines Mall

For members there is a 25% storewide at Tampines Mall only....good for those intending to buy stationary, books, assesments books for the exams and the new term in July.


https://www.popular.com.sg/jsp/homepage/html/EN/promo/tampines-Promo.jsp



Sunday, May 3, 2009

Happy Mother's Day ! A mother's job never ends...

This video is dedicated to all wonderful moms out there....makes one wonder if we do talk or nag so much in a day.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

What can we do during the school holidays ?


Fret no more... here are some suggestions on what you could do with your kids during the upcoming holidays... I am considering going for some of these with my kiddos : ). Anybody who have been or tried any of the following can give your comments.


1. Nature and outdoors

  • Forest and Tree top adventure - a place to rough it out through obstacle course. Venue at Bedok Reservoir. Kid min height must be 1.1m


http://www.forestadventure.com.sg/


  • Visits to the Singapore Botanic Gardens - Jacob Ballas for kids or the Hort Park


http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/index.php?option=com_visitorsguide&task=parks&id=17&Itemid=73


  • Kids' skating classes - did a trial once with Skate with Us..not too bad..just that didn't sign on the course due to other commitments on weekends. They have holiday program for inline skating and ice skating..cool idea right ?


http://www.skate-with-us.com/


  • Join the Singapore Sport Council - Sport on kids club for regular sporting activities for kids. Activities fees are much much cheaper if you are a member.


http://www.sportonkidsclub.com.sg/



2. Indoor Activities


  • Clay Cove - get your hands busy with clay making into all sorts of stuff


http://www.claycove.com/


  • Baking classes


- Genius R Us - they hv baking and other classe. Located in Tg Pagar

http://www.geniusrus.com/



- The famous bakerzin

http://www.bakerzin.com/schedules.asp at UE Sq. My ex-colleague recently brought her two kids there (11,6), they enjoyed the fun while the mum is having tea with her girlfriends...her comment was is fun though pretty expensive. Each kid cost $42.


  • Surf the local PA website for holiday programs in the CCs.


http://www.pa.gov.sg/


  • Art Classes

http://www.globalart.com.sg/


  • Dance classes


http://www.crestar.com.sg/ - several locations. My daughter is currently learning classical ballet. Pretty good and they offer Royal Academy Dance (UK) curriculum and exams.



http://www.jitterbugs.com/ - Millenia Walk


  • Speech and Drama

- Julia Gabriel's

http://www.juliagabriel.com/



- Act 3 International

http://www.act3international.com.sg/



- Tien Hsia

http://www.tienhsia.com/


3. Educational and Farm Tours



1. Hay's Diaries - Highly Recommended !

If is a large group, pre-booking is required and they will conduct a tour for you. There is an admission fee for this farm but they will give you a free bottle of fresh goat's milk.

http://www.haydairies.com.sg/


2. Farmart - I find it quite commercial. Small shops selling quail eggs, acquarium etc..is like visiting different shops but all confined at a big Mart.


http://www.farmart.com.sg/farmtours.html


3. Bolloywood vegetables farm - haven't been there myself but heard from friends it is interesting

http://www.bollywoodveggies.com/



4. Pasir Ris Kids Kampong - My kids went with their Kindergarten last year and enjoyed themselves very much. They liked the farm tour plus the long kang fishing.. they were thrilled to be able to bring the fishes home.

http://www.prkidskampong.com/

Enjoy !!

Monday, April 27, 2009

Chinese websites for kids

Some of the parents have asked if I have any good recommended sites for Chinese learning. These are the ones that I know and find it quite good. Any parents out there have any sites to share ? Pls feel free to email me so that I can post it here.

http://www.zbcomma.sg/friday/tu.html

MOE site for chinese learning for both primary and secondary levels (based on MOE curriculum and text) - recommended !

http://www1.moe.edu.sg/dir/cl/

Toys R Us May Day Toys Bazzar



More info can be found at the website :

Thursday, April 23, 2009

June Holiday Program - Children's Season 2009 at the Museum


Time flies really and we are going into the 5th mth of the year. With exams just round the corner for my eldest daughter who is in Primary 1, I am just very excited with the upcoming June Holidays ! I just feel the need for a break too from all the rigors of revision, preparing for oral, exams, homework.... unlike last year.

I always like to bring my kids for fun and hands-on activities or exhibitions where they will learn through play. Last year, we went to the children's mozart exhibitions and they enjoyed v. much !

If you are not travelling or just thinking where to bring your kids this holiday, do consider the National Museum.

http://www.nationalmuseum.sg/nms/nms_html/nms_content_6d.asp?content_template=4&content_id=4&tab_id=4&cine_id=1288&fest_id=2

Happy bonding and fun time !

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Primary 1 english oral exam tips


My primary 1 daughter will be having her Primary 1 oral exam from 21/4 to 23/4. Many of my friends are surprised that she still has SA1 as many schools in Singapore have already scrap CAs and SA1.

Anyway, it seems that she is not stress about it ..which is good. Thought it will be a good exposure for her to experience how a oral exam is conducted and what she needs to do. Hopefully the feedback and pointers from the teacher after the exam will help her to be more ready when it comes to SA2.

I have scanned and attached some pointers of what they need to do and what not to do during oral exams and how parents can help their kids. Guessit will benefit those parents of pre-schooling kids (going P1) and those P1 parents whose kids will be having it at the end of the year.

Open the link below :

http://parentslobang.bravehost.com/Oral%20exam%20tips%20_P1_april09.pdf







Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Singapore Maths

While we are all complaining how difficult learning maths is now as compared to those times when we learnt our 1, 2, 3 ..other countries found that our Singapore method of learning to be best and most effective. So take heart, our efforts of teaching our kids the modeling way will pay off : )

See video :

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Lost Generation - let's pray that our kids will be a generation that rise up and not lost !

First heard about this "Lost Generation" poem in church...my sister just send me this you tube video and I listened to it again..the person who wrote this is really igenious...reading forward and backwards gives a totally different meaning altogether.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Get more discounts in Borders (better than 10% for members !)






These discount coupons have saved me much $$ and because of the good discounts I have been getting books for my kids and friends' kids for their birthday, christmas etc.. I believe that books are the best pressies : )

This is a well kept secret but some of you may have know about this lobang from your friends already. You don't have to be a member to get this discount..sometimes up to 35% (plus 10% if u are a member). Yes , is a near 45% discount off the prices and is applicable to BARGAIN books as well.

So you must be thinking how to get the discounts now rite ???

Simply go to http://borders.com.sg/(choose the tab "Borders Mail" ) to sign up as an online member.. they will send you the newsletter each fortnight with different promotions. So wait for the 30% or the 35% coupon. You'll need to print out the coupon.

Enjoy shopping and most important inculcate the love for reading in your child

Friday, April 10, 2009

Sites for teaching reading to kids

I couldn't emphasize the importance of reading even more until now when my eldest child is in Primary 1 this year. She has been a good reader since young and I thank God that she is able to read even before she enters Pri 1. She is now reading junior novels like Enid Blyton, Geronimo Stilton, Rainbow Magic etc. With the level of standard and the type of work that they are expected to do, I wonder what will happen to the poor kid who enters P1 without knowing how to read or write in English. Just for info to those parents whose kids are still preschoolers - P1 students are expected to write composition in 5 sentences based on a picture (wonders how some kids can manage if they enter P1 not knowing how to read), grammer, vocabulary, matching pictures to what the teacher says "eg Mother is talking to a grocer", match pictures based on similar sounds eg match a picture of a tyre with the sound of tie (teacher reading aloud the word "tie")




For those with preschooling kids, do get them ready for Primary 1 especially in the area of reading...it is really a gift of a lifetime and not a kiasu act.


Some recommended sites are -

1. http://www.starfall.com/ - highly interactive and fun


2. http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/books/step/ - recommended books for each reading levels. You can search for these books at our public libraries


3. http://resources.kaboose.com/games/read1.html - they have reading games



I also recommended the Leapfrog DVD phonic series..these are the ones that boost up my kids' interest in phonics and help them to read earlier ( i truly believe). There is one for maths - maths circus..my kids loved to watch over and over again. You can buy them at amazon.com or in ebay (US)












HAPPY GOOD FRIDAY - GOD LOVES YOU !

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Exam papers for free download


With this impending gloomy economic crisis , who will not welcome something that is FOC (Free-of-charge) ? (esp for SAHMs like me)


Here are the links to the downloadable exam papers. Tks to some of my friends who pointed me the rest of the sites that offers 2008 papers : )


Pts to note : There are far too many pages to be printed, so it will be best if you choose what you would like to print first..anyway your poor kid cant finish everything rite ? For me, I choose to print those questions that is applicable for her level at this moment (eg print all the Han Yu Pin Yin portion ), just to reinforce some concepts and to do it as a revision for her upcoming tests. Be kind to the trees too, BE GREEN, use recycled papers or print them as double pages.


1) http://www.misskoh.info/08primary1.html

2) http://www.universaltuitionlink.com/download.php (this one has 2008 papers !)

3

PSLE Oral exam tips



Time flies and we are already into the 1st month of the 2nd term. For parents with kids taking the PSLE this year, I hope you are still keeping your sanity - try not to get too stressful and edgy now... Is about 5 more mths to the BIG day so try to pace your child in his revision. Set a home timetable, if you haven't - otherwise it will be very stressful for both your and your child when it comes to last minute revisions. PSLE will be testing on concepts from Pri 3 - Pri 6 and not just Pri 6 work only...so there's really alot of revision to do !
To help you relieve some PSLE fever & stress, below is a very humourous 5 mins video (produced by Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' primary school) of how to help your PSLE kid prepare for his oral exam. In fact, this video is so light-hearted and funny, it is suitable for kids for any levels to take a look and get some useful tips of what to do and what not to do during oral exams. Enjoy and let me know if you like it ok ?

http://www.evideo.edu.sg/vat_programme.asp?id=4&cat=1&level=Primary
Happy revision !!

Friday, April 3, 2009

Welcome to Parents' Lobang - a High 10 to all of u !!



Having been proscratinating for a long time..finally get down to do a parents' resources blog for all my friends, ex-colleagues relatives etc.

U see, I am informally labelled as the "lobang queen" (for non-singaporean it means resource queen) by some of my ex-colleagues and church friends especially in the area of parenting and/or children related stuff. How is this idea started ? I used to email them about this lobang and that, this newspaper article, the different holiday programs available at the malls etc. Some of them used to tell me "Gerri, can you put all these fantastic information on the web so that we can refer to it frequently and know where to get it when we need it..we simply can't keep track of the emails that are sent to us"....so here it is !! The idea of parents' lobang is finally conceived !

Having being a SAHM for 2 over years, I must confess that I have slightly more time to surf the web for parents' resources to help my kids in different areas. Besides being a SAHM, I am also a Family educator giving parenting talks, workshops to pre-schools and primary schools as well as a Education coach in a local pte institution that teaches students how to excel both in their studies and in life. Phew !! Sounds like a mummy of all trades isn't it but definitely NOT a master of none hee hee..


I hope that this blog will serve as a common area for parents to drop by to check out the available resources that are found on the web, the latest buzz happening for parents and children and almost anything or everything that revolves around parenting, kids etc.

Most of all I hope that all of you, parents are there can contribute and share your thoughts, lobangs etc !!

See u on this blog ,
Gerri