Learn something new and yet bond with your child! A unique recipe that is easy enough to do from home too… Watch the demo on how the candy is cooked. Get hands-on with your child to do piping for the candy. Get creative and decorate your candy with sprinkles (sugar & chocolate). Bring home and share with the family! Tastes as good as it looks!

Class size is kept small and cosy for around 12 pairs of parent-child for each session. Suitable for children aged 4 & above, accompanied by parent.

Sign up early to avoid disappointment!

Chocolate Candy Workshop

Date: 7 May 2012 (Mon, a school holiday in lieu of Vesak Day on 5 May)
Time: [Choose 1 session]
Session 1 – 2.30 – 3.30pm
Session 2 – 3.45 – 4.45pm
Venue: Plaza Singapura, Level 4 – The Family Lounge
[68 Orchard Road; Dhoby Ghaut MRT]

Fee: $48 per parent-child pair + $5* (Materials)

*To be collected on actual day. Materials include ingredients to make the candy, disposable piping bags and cello bags. Each child will bring home around 12 pcs of candy hand-piped by themselves.

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SPECIALLY FOR MOTHER’S DAY SPECIAL!

All mums will receive a nails treatment offer worth up to $15:

Choose between a $35 Spa Manicure & Spa Pedicure (worth $60) OR a $10-off for a la carte services priced at $30 or more.

Other terms & conditions apply. Courtesy of our partner, My Five Loaves and Two Fishes @ Bukit Timah Shopping Centre.

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[Options are available for additional adult(s)/kid(s) at the 'Sign up' link below]

Each additional adult or child costs $24.

Minimum 6 parent-child pairs per session to start, limited to only 12 pairs per session.

Closing date: 3 May 2012

Sign up now!
07052012

Join us for the ultimate chocolate bonding session with your child! Get creative! Experience mouldable chocolate that doesn’t melt. Squish it, shape it, eat it – your creativity knows no bounds! Magic Choc is a totally unique product, made of 100% Belgian chocolate and created with a patented recipe making it mess-free, fun and delicious.

Class size is kept small and cosy for around 12 pairs of parent-child for each session. Suitable for children aged 3 & above, accompanied by parent.

Sign up early to avoid disappointment!

Date: 30 March 2012 (Fri)
Time: [Choose 1 session]
Session 1 – 2.30 – 3.30pm
Session 2 – 3.45 – 4.45pm
Venue: Plaza Singapura Mall, Level 4 – The Family Lounge
[68 Orchard Road; Dhoby Ghaut MRT]

Fee: $20 per parent-child pair
*Each child will get a box of Magic Choc worth $12. Magic Choc contains a selection of preservative free white, dark and milk chocolate, along with an antibacterial handwipe and an ideas guide to help inspire chocolate model making.

[Options are available for additional adult(s)/kid(s) at the 'Sign up' link below]

Each additional child costs $15, adult $5

Minimum 6 parent-child pairs per session to start, limited to only 12 pairs per session.

Closing date: 22 March 2012

Sign up now!

Back by popular demand, our Bento Workshop is back with a difference! Using rice this time instead of bread, we’ll create either a caterpillar OR bear bento that is simply irresistible!
Sign up early to avoid disappointment!

Date: 16 March 2012 (Fri)
Time: 2.30 – 4.30pm

Venue: Plaza Singapura Mall, Level 4 – The Family Lounge
[68 Orchard Road; Dhoby Ghaut MRT]

Fee: $49 per parent-child pair + $8* (Materials)
[Options are available for additional adult(s)/kid(s) at the 'Sign up' link below]
Minimum 6 parent-child pairs per session to start, limited to only 12 pairs per session.
*To be collected on actual day. Materials include a lunch box, some food picks/separators + assortment of food items that participants will be able to bring home.

Closing Date: 8 March 2012

Sign up now!

 
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Session 1
Foster bonding with your child while inculcating the value of recycling! Have fun making Bunny Ears and Toilet Roll Binoculars…appropriate activities that will not only improve your child’s motor skills but also give the little ones a hopping good time with great exploration!
Fee: $20 per parent-child pair + $6* (Materials for 2 crafts)
Each additional child costs $15, adult $5
Closing date: 8 March 2012
[Options are available for additional adult(s)/kid(s) at the 'Sign up' link below]
*To be collected on actual day.

SIGN UP HERE FOR SESSION 1

Session 2
Calling all 6-8 year-olds! Experience recycling the FUN way! Using recycled paper from magazines, create a beautiful work of art by making your very own Flower Mosaic! Also, make your own Magnetic Message Board to allow for quick messages (eg “I love you” or “See you later”) between you and Mummy/Daddy! Frame it and proudly display it at home!
Fee: $10 per child + $8* (Materials for 2 crafts)

Closing date: 8 March 2012
*To be collected on actual day.
Minimum of 12 kids to start and up to a maximum of 24 kids.

SIGN UP HERE FOR SESSION 2
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I got to know about the promotion from a friend and decided to sign up as a premium member to try my luck. Felt really fortunate to win the stay! We had a terrific time at MBS. It was our 1st time staying there. Thank God for great weather as it was sunny on the day we checked in, so the kids had a splashing good time at the infinity pool, while the adults simply soaked in the breath-taking view of the Singapore skyline. We enjoyed the complimentary Afternoon Tea too, with unique pastries & berries for the taking. It was indeed a memorable stay & we would like to thank MadAboutKids for this great opportunity
Mavis Ong & family

We were pleasantly surprised with the club room size and facilities when we first checked in. Little did we realise that the free stay also came with free breakfast, afternoon tea and evening cocktail! We felt so pampered! My family also maximised our stay by enjoying the amenities such as the swimming pool and the view from the Skypark at level 57. Thank you, MadAboutKids!
Rena Tan & family

My aunt was very lucky to win a 1-night FREE stay at MBS while she was paying to attend the Bento-making workshop with me. On 30 Nov 11, my mum & I tagged along and we were really excited as it was our first time at MBS. When we checked into our room, the first thing I noticed was the huge beany- shaped bath tub! It was so spacious that my mum said it could be a mini personal swimming pool for me! Through our room window, we had a lovely panoramic view of the city skyline. If only it was National Day, then we could watch the fireworks. As it rained for quite a while that day, we didn’t get into the sky pool till almost 7pm. We only stayed for a while in the infinity pool as the water was pretty cold. Overall, it was a great experience for all of us!
Valentina, with mum & Aunty

As we pulled up to the Marina Bay Sands area, the children were awed by the many lights and large Christmas decorations. The Mall leading up to the hotel was large and spacious, and very elegantly structured, allowing the children to gleefully dash around to exclaim at one thing after another. The hotel room itself had a wonderful view of the Gardens by the Bay under construction and my son stood there looking at the construction for the longest time. My daughter absolutely loved the large king-sized bed and spent a good half hour simply bouncing on it. The club at the sky park provided friendly and wonderful service to us, on top of serving delightful treats even my little picky eaters enjoyed immensely. Despite the cold and wet weather we experienced while we were there, our spirits couldn’t be further from the opposite. Thank you so much to all the staff and supporters of MadAboutKids, we had a great time!
Doreen Tan & family

Congratulations to the other winners as well… (too bad we didn’t receive all the photos/testimonies in time for this publication)

What is Logos Hope?
Logos Hope is a ship operated by German-based non-profit organization, GBA (stands for Good Books for All) Ships e.V. that began sailing around the world since 1970 to bring knowledge, help and hope.

The word Logos (pronounced as ‘lor-gos’) is Greek, traditionally meaning ‘word, thought, principle or speech’.

Recently renovated as a brand new vessel, Logos Hope is here in Singapore for a limited period of time. So be sure to catch the world’s largest floating book fair with your kids and families!
What to expect?
• Logos Hope offers a selection of over 5,000 titles for all the family across a wide range of categories, including science, sports, hobbies, cookery, the arts, economics, medicine, dictionaries and languages.
Proceeds from the book sales go to extending literary aid and relief projects to people in developing countries.
• Meet the 400 crew members who come from over 45 nationalities.
• Join the 45-minute guided tours (details below) to see where their crew eats, where their Captain steers and what HOPE is all about.
Details
Date:    17 – 29 December 2011
Venue:    The Promenade, Vivo City

Opening Hours:  Tues – Sat 10am – 10 pm
Sun & Mon 3pm – 10pm
Closed on 25 Dec. For 24 Dec, 10am – 3pm
Admission Fee:  FREE (Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult)
Guided tours are on a first-come-first-served basis. Tour hours are Tues – Sat, 10.30am – 8.30pm; Sun – Mon, 3.30pm – 8.30pm. No tours on 24 & 25 Dec. Tour charges are $10/adult and $5/child (6-11 years), free for those 5 years and below.

For more details, log on to www.logoshope.org/singapore

What’s a typical day like for you?
Upon waking up, I’ll usually roll around a while and talk to Christopher. Between his Mandarin lessons, lunch & nap time, I’ll do my work or have meetings. I’m fortunate to have flexible work arrangements as I already know the business pretty well. My father owns the company and I’m evaluated based on results and not by the number of hours I clock. Sometimes I continue to do work after tucking the kids to bed till 1-2am. However, it’s a constant juggling act to balance work and home… especially when my husband feels that the kids can always be better off with more of my time and presence.

So what is it like being a mum and director of Mothercare?
I’m really blessed to be able to test and use a wide variety of products.
That said, modern mums today are also very privileged as there are assorted products available to help us maintain our same lifestyle even after becoming mothers. For instance, a mum who loves to jog can continue jogging with her baby in a 3-wheeler stroller. Our Phil & Teds Sport Double Kit is a compact double pushchair that even allows mums to bring 2 kids out on 1 stroller!

Any favourite product to recommend?
Having tried everything, I can only say that there is no 1 perfect product for everybody. Just like buying a stroller… It doesn’t mean the most expensive item is the best. It really depends on your needs, lifestyle, etc. and I’m proud to say that Mothercare’s diversified range will have something for many, if not all.

For a start, I would recommend to use the mainstream items that are tried and tested.

What are your current parenting challenges?
Like most parents with 2 kids, I struggle to cater to each of their needs, given the different phases of their growth and development.

With your children’s ages so close, how do you deal with sibling rivalry?
I believe it cuts both ways… Sophia needs to learn to respect Christopher and Christopher needs to know that he cannot take advantage of her and must protect Sophia as the younger sister.
Whenever Christopher does something wrong, I’ll tell him that “Mummy loves you very much, but that behaviour (eg scratching, biting or snatching) is not acceptable” before scolding or exercising time-out.
I constantly remind myself to treasure a child’s heart or intentions and consider his or her feelings before meting out any punishment.

What about discipline issues?
I do what a parent has to do, ie teach the child to obey both parents.
I once read that every negative moment needs to be offset by 10 positives and this applies to sibling relationship as well. I want my children to have more happy versus unhappy memories.

How do you share parenting roles with your husband?
I am the mouthpiece for the entire household, including the domestic helper. My husband will not interfere with the micro issues but for macro issues (eg choosing a preschool), I will always discuss with him and bow to his will.

How does your family spend time together?
Weekends are reserved for family time, except for one class (for Christopher) on Sat morning. We like to visit Sentosa once a month where Christopher enjoys taking the Luge with Daddy. We also visit the zoo every fortnight.

Can you offer some parenting tips?
I’ve learnt a lesson on praising kids. Though there is no right or wrong way to praise, I want to praise my kids for effort, not results. Christopher knows that mummy cares that he tries. Also, as children get older, we need to be specific with our praises. For example, I’ll say, “Christopher, I love the way you tried to help mei mei just now”, instead of just a “Good job!”

Pay attention to the child’s interest and go along with the flow. Follow the child’s directive if you want to teach him/her something. It’ll be much easier and more successful. For eg, Christopher is very much into trains at the moment and everything I try to teach him revolves around trains!

What has been most rewarding to you as a mum?
My happiest moment was when Christopher was asked who his best friend was and he replied Mummy as the one.
It’s great to know that Mummy is his best friend (at least for now). It is also very sweet to have conversations with your children and see their eyes light up. To be able to announce something my child has learnt or achieved is a triumphant moment that gives me immeasurable satisfaction.
Indeed, I feel very blessed to spend both quantity and quality time with my kids. It’s only when you know your kids well that you’re able to know what’s best for them.

You want something fun yet don’t want to live with more clutter or mess?

Here’s a fantastic, fuss-free solution: The Hot Wheels Wall Tracks, new from Mattel!

As we all know, cars and boys are inseparable. Most boys would already have some cars to begin with. With the Hot Wheels Wall Tracks, you can:

• • Keep play area neat and tidy
• • Avoid nagging the kids to keep their toys
• • See less stuff being left on the floor
• • Provide a new place for your boys to play – The Wall!
• • Maximise the limited space we all have at home
• • Save space around the house with easy storage
• • Give your current Hot Wheels cars a new lease of fun… Great ‘recylcing’ idea!

MadAboutKids is privileged to be given a set of the Starter Pack to test. Getting started needs only 3 simple steps:

• 1) Finding a wall space is not too difficult. You’ll need approximately a 1m x 1m space to start.
• 2) Adult assembly is required but not to worry, the box comes with a hanging template that is pretty easy to follow.
• 3) Wall Tracks leverages global brand 3M’s reputed Command Strips, which allow for damage free hanging and keeps Wall Tracks safe for walls. Paste on the strips, involve your boy(s) to put the pieces together and bravo! Their Hot Wheels can now race, jump, accelerate, spin and go 360-degrees on the wall.

Once set up, we invited boys aged between 3 and 7 to play. Needless to say, the boys love it! What’s more, if you’ve 2 or more kids (girls included), they could challenge one another to bring the cars down to a safe landing!

To watch the Hot Wheels Wall Tracks in action, check out this video:

The Hot Wheels Wall Tracks Starter Set is also compatible with selected Hot Wheels track sets, allowing the action to continue on from the wall to the floor for even more fun.

Wall Tracks track sets can be purchased in all major department and toy specialty stores in Singapore and retail from SDG$39.90. Here’s the latest promotion in Toys R Us Christmas catalogue:

Thanks to Mattel, we’ve 5 sets of Hot Wheels Wall Tracks (Starter Set) worth $69.90 each to give away for Christmas! Simply answer to this question:

Where do you play Hot Wheels Wall Tracks?
Answer: On the floor / On the wall

Email your answer contest@madaboutkids.com with your details (ie Name, NRIC No., Mailing Address, Email & HP). Closing date is 31 Dec 2011.

*We regret that only entries with complete details will be accepted.

*** RESULTS OF CONTEST (as published on our Facebook Fan page on 18 January 2012) ***
Thank you for the overwhelming response to our Hot Wheels Wall Tracks (from Mattel) Contest! Here are the lucky winners:
1) Goh Hui Ming – IC: XXXX557G
2) Chan Ching Lim – IC: XXXX517J
3) Chua Lay Hong – IC: XXXX935B
4) Calvin Seah Ser Thong – IC: XXXX254C
5) Lynn Hong – IC: XXXX977G

Congratulations! Your Hot Wheels Wall Tracks (Starter Set) are being sent to you from our sponsor.

1. Following Minnie’s Bow-tique on Nov 13, decorate/ design  your own bow with a few inexpensive decorating items like glitter, stickers, crayons etc. Here’s a printout of bow outlines you can use…
Or get into the spirit of Christmas,  decorate your Christmas tree with the bows!

2. Aye Aye Matey!  Like Jake and the Never Land Pirates, organise a treasure hunt for your little one(s) around the house.

3. Be Special Agent Oso’s (SAO) Partner! Dress up your little one like SAO using inexpensive materials lying around at home.

4. Make your Own Talking Tools Box! Using old socks, create hand puppet tools for your little ones! Add a Christmas twist to this by dressing the hammer and other tools as elves or Santa. Good way to give your existing tool toys a new lease of life!

5. Be a Little Poet! Teach your preschooler the beauty of poetry by reading to him/her every night and encourage your child to write their own little poems.

Did you know? Disney Poetry is a series of beloved and new poems set to scenes and imagery from classic Disney films and narrated by celebrities such as Jennifer Gardner, Katie Holmes and Whoopi Goldberg. The series will air throughout the month on Disney Junior (StarHub Channel 311)”

Here is a poem called “The Star” which is recited by Vanessa Williams:

The Star by Ann Taylor

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are !
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.

When the blazing sun is gone,
When he nothing shines upon,
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.

Then the trav’ller in the dark,
Thanks you for your tiny spark,
He could not see which way to go,
If you did not twinkle so.

In the dark blue sky you keep,
And often thro’ my curtains peep,
For you never shut your eye,
Till the sun is in the sky.

‘Tis your bright and tiny spark,
Lights the trav’ller in the dark :
Tho’ I know not what you are,
Twinkle, twinkle, little star.