KidsSTOP

We visited KidsSTOP during a school holiday and it was probably not the best idea to visit during peak hours.  The kids enjoyed themselves but it could have been more fun if we had the luxury of time to leisurely enjoy each exhibit.  

There were long queues at the hot favourites like the Dino Pit where you can dig for "dinosaur bones".  The kids were given only five minutes to play (understandably so because of the crowd) and E, the dinosaur lover, was clearly not too satisfied with this touch and go approach and wanted to queue for another round.  By then, the queue had grown even longer. So, we decided to maximize our time and explore the place (instead of getting stuck in queues) before our session was over (each session was limited to 2 hours).

As I was there alone with the kids and I have a 8 year old and a 3 year old - the 8 year old gave a cursory glance at some exhibits which the 3 year old had a lot of interest in, I had to leave the 8 year old on his own at times to explore the place (thankfully the area wasn't huge so I could occasionally check that my boy had not gone missing!) while keeping a close watch over my 3 year old.  

And of all days, the settings on my DSLR went nuts! Okay, not really.  Just that the hubby set it to burst mode to take photos of the fireworks display on National Day and we forgot all about it until I started taking photos and blurred images were all I got.  I had no idea how to revert to the original settings and ended up taking most photos with my phone.  So, pardon the image quality.

We started off at this exhibit where you can role play being a pilot seated at the cockpit, complete with a photo opportunity of the kids looking smart in a captain's uniform. This attracted mostly the younger kids and  I was surprised that E enjoyed this exhibit so much that he came back to this a second time.  Pilot in the making, perhaps?

Next, was the ever popular Dino Pit where the kids dug for "dinosaur bones".  I'm not too sure about the digging part because the bones looked exposed to me instead of being buried under the sand.  It would have been more exciting if the kids actually had to spend some effort digging and be rewarded with their find.  Nevertheless, this is a huge hit with the kids.  You can never go wrong with sandplay!

                                  C used to be all squeamish about stepping on sand but now she loves sandplay at the beach, at the playground and right here in this sandpit.

Here's another interactive exhibit which C enjoyed.  You can choose from different-sized gears, connect them together and make the gears move round and round.

 

 This was another hot favourite judging by the long queue.  Kids get to operate this clamp-like thing which grabs coloured balls from a big basket.  Someone has to standby to catch the balls when the coloured balls are being released.  This catching the balls job is serious business and the child needs to stay focused.  I was guilty of distracting E when I asked him to smile for the camera and he missed the moment.  All the balls came tumbling down and everyone there had a good laugh!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Intense concentration

This is when the 4 years age gap comes in handy.  I can sit back and relax while E and C climbed the play structure.  C made it all the way to the top with the help and encouragement from her brother.

A must try for the older kids.  You are pulled up to 7 metres and dropped.  E went all the way up to 7 metres the first time but on the second try decided to go for 6 metres instead.  It can be quite scary especially with the suspense building up when you are being slowly hauled up to 7 metres.

This section is not housed in the main area.  It is behind a set of doors found near the above exhibit. This brought out the performer in C.  She spent most of her time in this section on the stage.  There is a control panel where you can control the lights and other special effects.

                                                                                                                                                
  This was captured on the panel where director wannabes can control various components of a stage set.

For the boys, this was the attraction.  You can choose from a variety of scenarios and it gets projected on the screen behind.  You can now imagine you are a hero, fending off dinosaurs and other exciting adventures.

Back at the main area, we explored the Human Body section.

                             

                                                                                                                             
Incisors, molars and yes, those are intestines.  You can examine the internal organs on an operating table, that is if you are not grossed out by it (which my kids were).

Trying to get the skeleton to co-operate!

This was taken at the last stop and made me laugh.  This is an exhibit on construction.  And look at what we have here.  Construction workers loafing on the job!  What were meant to be bags of cement have now become cushions!

They were reluctant to leave so we hung around this tiny play area after our session was over.

We didn't manage to visit every exhibit because of the crowd but it was definitely a hit with the kids.  I'm coming back on a weekday!

Do note that KidsSTOP is catered for children aged 18 months to 8 years.  Although E had fun, a number of the exhibits did not interest him while C was very entertained by almost everything.  

For more information, visit  http://www.kidsstop.edu.sg/.

*Disclosure: We received complimentary entry to KidsSTOP for the purpose of this review.

Review: The New Dyson Cool Fan

C recently discovered how fun it was to sing into the fan, how it magically changed her voice. Singing "Let It Go" at the top of her lungs into the fan and hearing her voice reverberate is a source of much amusement to her.

Unfortunately, with this new discovery, she is often found near the fan and I have caught her attempting to stick her fingers and other objects into the fan. The downside of a traditional fan is the issue of safety, especially in a household with curious, young kids. 

Recently, I received an invite to attend the launch of the new Dyson Cool fans. It was timely as there was a slight mishap involving E and our standing fan. E ran into the fan and the base cracked. The result: a wobbly fan that looked like it might collapse any moment.

The distinct difference between the traditional fan and Dyson Cool fans is the absence of blades. The Dyson Cool fans are designed with the Air Multiplier Technology. What this means is that air is accelerated through an annular aperture, drawing in surrounding air to project smooth, powerful, high velocity airflow. No blades needed.

This setup at the launch depicts the air multiplier effect. As surrounding air is drawn in, the balloons are being propelled forward, moving in a circular motion through the aperture.

When we received the Dyson Cool AM06 desk fan, the kids were inspecting the new contraption with delight. 

 

The two major pluses for me in using the Dyson Cool fan is that of safety and the ease of cleaning. The absence of grilles and blades makes it easy to clean with a damp cloth.

The other minor detail which I liked was the magnetic location to store the remote control (see 2nd photo, the small rectangular object at the top of the fan). I'm always misplacing the remote controls to the TV, aircon, etc., so this user-friendly detail is great for scatterbrains like me.

I used the fan in the kids' bedroom while they were sleeping. Both slept through the night without any complaints but C perspired a little. As the model given to us was a desk fan, I don't think it is fair to compare it to the standing fan which the kids used previously. Using it while E does his homework works better for us than having both kids share a fan while they sleep.

There are other models of Dyson Cool fans to suit a variety of needs. 

                                                                                    

AM07 Tower Fan

AM08 Pedestal Fan

Here's a summary of the features of the new Dyson Cool fans:

Air Multiplier Technology

Air is drawn in by an energy-efficient, brushless motor. Airflow is then accelerated through an annular aperture, passing over an air foil-shaped ramp, which draws in and channels its direction. This creates and projects powerful, smooth, high velocity airflow.  

Quieter (75% quieter compared to last generation models)

The fans have been engineered to be quieter, with streamlined air channels to reduce turbulence and a Helmholtz cavity to capture motor noise.

Acoustic engineering

Quiet Mark awarded by the Noise Abatement Society for improved sound quality.

Up to 40% less power consumed (comparisons made against previous generation)

Engineered to create powerful airflow using less power than AM01

Remote control

10 precise airflow settings. Magnetized to store on the machine.

Sleep timer

Fan can be programmed to turn off after pre-set intervals ranging from 15 minutes to 9 hours.

* I received a Dyson Cool AM06 desk fan for review purposes.

Power Up!

I did not have the privilege of being fed bottles of chicken essence while cramming for exams. My induction into the world of chicken essence came during my confinement period, after the birth of E. Having received bottles upon bottles as gifts, I guzzled the yummy goodness day after day. It was definitely way more palatable than DOM, pig trotters and other strange tasting (in my opinion) post natal meal options. Plus the empty bottles were the perfect size for storing small portions of expressed milk.

Unlike me, my kids now have the privilege of enjoying chicken essence that is specially formulated for them. I attended the Eu Yan Sang Power Up! Essence of Chicken series media briefing a couple of weeks ago and was introduced to Singapore's first and only Essence of Chicken series for children without caramel colouring. 

The event was both informative and entertaining. I received a greater understanding of the brand and is further assured of the quality of the products. 

To ensure quality consistency, the company implemented a herb fingerprinting process to quantify the ingredients and properties of Chinese medicine used in each product. Every production process demonstrates full GMP accreditation for quality assurance and product safety. The company has the ability to control its total supply chain from the sourcing of raw materials to the production, distribution of its products and the provision of treatment. 

At the event, we were given milkshakes infused with ingredients that are used in the Power Up! Essence of Chicken series. Power Up! Essence of Chicken is made with natural herbs used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) which are blended with cutting-edge food technology to help  kids’ metabolism and growth and to prevent common problems such as loss of appetite and challenges feeding fussy eaters, lethargy and inability to focus in class.      

Benefits of Power Up!

Power Up! 100% Pure Chicken Goodness series is made up of three variants, each with its own exciting flavour to entice the child’s fickle palate:       

1. Power Up! Concentration aims to boost mental power, improve concentration and promote growth.

2. Power Up! Vision  is packed with the health benefits of Wolfberries, Beiqi and Baihe extract and  gives the child improved vision, better sleep quality and stronger mental clarity.   

3. Power Up! Appetite livens up the child’s palate with Dangshen, Huaishan and Fuling extract and improves appetite, soothes digestion.

The highlight of the event (for the kids) was the appearance of one of the Power Up! monsters.

There was a game segment where we had to sort out the ingredients used in Power Up! according to the three variants in the series.

I received a one week supply of Power Up! for the kids to try at home. When I introduced the product to E, I was very surprised by his response. My fussy eater who usually viewed any new food with suspicion was very curious about this new product.

He studiously examined the description on the box and seemed to liked what he read. I think the product made a first good impression on him because of the catchy sounding name! He'll be the one reminding me to give him his daily dose of Power Up!.

On one particular night, he said,"Can you give me my Power Up!, I need to sleep well!" I was very amused! I think he must be very convinced of the benefits that he read about on the packaging.

C, who didn't quite take to the taste the first time she tried it, is now slowly being converted by her ever enthusiastic brother. Being the foodie that she is, she does not want to miss out on good food! With her brother asking for Power Up!, every night without fail; she is afraid of missing out on something delicious. 

She has been asking to try it and takes a few sips each time. I think she'll be asking for more in no time. The Power Up! fan back home will ensure that!

Here's E having his daily fix!

Giving a satisfied "aaahhh"

*****

Every bottle of Power Up! is 100% free from caramel colouring, added flavouring or salt, preservatives, sugar, fat and cholesterol. Voted "Best in Natural Health Tonic 2014" by Parents World magazine, Power Up! stands out from competitors by being the first and only Essence of Chicken in the market formulated for kids that is caramel-free (food additive). It is specially formulated for children age 2 years and above.

* This post is sponsored by Eu Yan Sang. All opinions and photos are my own.

Review: Bellio Shoes

The innate trait of vanity is becoming more and more apparent in my little girl. She loves carrying bags and strutting around in a somewhat tai tai fashion. She pulls out clothes from her closet, gets me to put them on for her; and proceeds to check herself out in the mirror. And her greatest love, a girl's best friend - shoes. She adores shoes and will try them on at every opportunity. So with much delight, she welcomed her latest fashion accessory.

Thanks to Elly, we received a pair of Bellio shoes for Baby C to explore her world in. Bellio shoes are hand sewn in Sweden and the leather used is organically produced in Sweden using vegetable-based tanning methods that are environmentally friendly and gentle on a toddler's delicate skin.  Bellio shoes:

• are flexible;
• are designed to ensure a snug fit;
• do not constrict tiny growing feet.

For more information on why soft-sole shoes are good for your child, check out this post on Elly's blog.

The shoes were soft and really comfortable. I liked that there was no separate piece of lining inside the shoe or a hard sole. The problem I faced with many of Baby C's shoes was that either the lining or the sole started to peel/come off after frequent use. It got rather frustrating to be replacing shoes so often!

Another important aspect in choosing shoes was the grip it provided. As Baby C is now learning to run, a good pair of shoes which allowed her to do so safely was of paramount importance.

She wore the shoes to a shopping mall and to the airport, the weekend after we received the shoes. And when greeted by the vast space at the airport, she couldn't resist roaming and running. I was a little concerned initially because I had the mentality that hard soles provided the grip and wasn't sure if soft-sole shoes can do the job. And the verdict? It did an excellent job! No falls, no mishaps, just an ecstatic toddler bubbling over with joy at being able to play catch with her brother!

Bellio shoes comes in many designs for both boys and girls age 4 months to 2 years. Bellios can be bought at Elly, which is located at Cluny Court, #02-29.

Here's Baby C in her Erica in Purple Bellio shoes.

Review - Kindernomics Workshop

During the March school holidays, E and I had the opportunity to attend a Kindernomics workshop; thanks to an invitation from Kindernomics, extended to us by Rachel and Pauline from My Playschool.

I was looking forward to the workshop based on what I read from the Kindernomics website. From the writeup, Kindernomics stood out as offering an enrichment program in a league of its own, in a market saturated with the usual speech and drama, phonics classes.

The economics curriculum helps kids make sense of what goes on in the world around them by introducing them to essential and easy to understand economic concepts such as:

• The notion of money
• What are savings
• How waiting can sometimes pay off
• Why work is necessary

The 1.5 hours session was interspersed with various activities which helped in engaging the children as there was a change in activity every 15 minutes or so. The children watched a video which explained the concept of money and how they could earn Kinder Dollars and later choose to save or spend the money.

A table was laid out with different ingredients for baking cookies. I liked the added detail of having the same ingredient with a different measurement (like honey in two different containers, one with 2 tablespoons and one with 4 tablespoons). The ingredients were also labelled with cost in Kinder Dollars.

 

The children proceeded to do a worksheet which focused on addition skills. Thereafter, they took turns to mix the ingredients and prepare the dough.

While they were waiting for the cookies to be baked, the children were led to the Kinderbank where they could deposit the Kinder Dollars they earned. The Kinderbank worked like an ATM and it was fun for the kids. At the end of the lesson, the children could choose to redeem an item if they had money left (if they did not choose to deposit all their Kinder Dollars).

Reflections:

E enjoyed the lesson and being the active boy that he is, the variety of activities offered throughout the workshop; allowed him to learn in an engaging and fun way.  Being a kinesthetic learner, he learned best through hands on activities and plenty of movement.

He identified with using the Kinderbank as he has withdrawn and deposited money when he's with me at the ATM. The choice to save or spend the Kinder Dollars was made by the children and while this is a good concept where they can learn delayed gratification and decision making skills, it was not emphasized.  This concept could have been reinforced by the teacher before they proceeded to use the Kinderbank. Older children might grasp the concept after repeated lessons but younger ones might need the extra reinforcement to make sense of what they are doing.

The workshop barely scratched the surface of what Kindernomics offered in its curriculum. I felt that it did not fully convey the niche of Kindernomics. I was expecting the presentation of economic concepts (other than the more common concept of money) in a unique way.

Nevertheless, the fun and educational factor was present and the briefing conducted after the workshop provided more insights into the curriculum. 

These are the 6 concepts which will be covered in the Kindernomics curriculum.  A term of l0 lessons (1.5 hours each) will cost $550. A child has to attend 30 lessons to complete the whole course but parents have the flexibility to sign up on a per term basis.  Holiday camps are also conducted during the school holidays.  Do contact Kindernomics for more information.