Sometimes it requires the wisdom earned from personal experience to understand something as basic as how to ensure a good night’s sleep with a very young baby. New parents are typically inundated with a variety of different opinions from well-meaning relatives and friends. This cacophony of voices, each with its own carefully considered piece...
I often get blank stares when I mention the term attachment parenting. People want to know what it is and how it works. The simplest way to explain attachment parenting is to describe it as parenting from the heart. At its most fundamental level, attachment parenting means being responsive to your baby’s needs. It...
One of the most useful gifts I received as a new mother was an adjustable baby sling. It allowed me to carry my baby yet have both hands free for other things. With the sling, I could work on the computer, read, go shopping, cook, set the table, pick the toys off the floor,...
As the mother of a child who is highly gifted and, consequently, different from other kids, Juliana Pillai has had more than her share of problems. She decided from the start to meet these difficulties head on and left her job as a litigation lawyer to focus all her attention on bringing up Balakrishna,...
As homeschoolers, we find that we are often asked to justify our decision to raise our children outside the school system. We are constantly bombarded with queries about our homeschooling from all quarters: the sincerely concerned, the intellectually curious, the secretly disapproving, the intensely doubtful and the hopeful wannabes. Homeschooling is quickly moving into...
The great thing about serving simple, yet delicious, recipes is that kids not only enjoy eating them, they also enjoy helping in the preparation. They can help wash, peel, mash, cut, dice, knead, mix, toss, marinade and even stir-fry standing on a stool (note: close supervision probably best for this last one). Cooking can...
If there was one big lesson I learnt as a new mother it was that there was nothing more humbling than being a parent. Suddenly you become a cook, cleaner, driver and entertainer on demand. No longer do you have people running around for you, you are now expected to run around serving the...
As part of our Interview Series, we talk to David Tan, father of two and a homeschool advocate in Malaysia who has been providing a voice for the many homeschooling families mushrooming in the country. Like most parents, David would like to see his children achieve their full potential and make a difference to...
Not too long ago scientists believed that babies were born with their brains completely wired but new research has since revealed that the brain carries on growing at a very rapid pace, especially during the first three years of life. Newborns arrive with about 100 billion neurons or brain cells, which form connections called...
Scientific studies have shown that mother’s milk is the most effective food for babies. It is packed with exactly the right amounts of nutrients and antibodies, matching your baby’s needs at every stage of her growth. Breast milk even changes daily in composition so that your breastfed baby sleeps well at night and feels...
In this first article of our Interview series, we speak to Tunku Halim, a Malaysian author well-known for his horror stories, who also has two children’s books to his name. Inspired by his kids, Kristina and Adam, Halim set off to research and write A Children’s History of Malaysia in 2003 followed by History...
When the weather does not permit outdoor play, there are still plenty of fun activities that we can do inside the house. Here are three rainy day ideas: Dress-ups Children have great imaginations. They love pretending and fantasising and there is nothing like putting on a “costume” for them to really get into the...
It’s a question I’ve asked myself many times: what to do with the kids today? For the under-eights, action is the name of the game. Also, anything that tires them out in the day will get them to bed quicker in the night. Ah! Strategy … Here are three fun outdoor ideas: Ant Watching...
For some children, pocket money is a necessity, used to pay for lunches and bus fares every time they go to school. For others, it’s a luxury—their own money to spend however they choose. Either way, pocket money gives parents an excellent opportunity to teach kids the value of money as well as the...
Smoothies make versatile icy snacks that kids will love. Some smoothies may even suffice as a well-balanced breakfast for the children. Not only are they convenient and easy to prepare—all you need is a blender—they can be packed full of goodness and taste depending on what is included in the mix. Adding healthy ingredients...
Having a fussy eater in the family can be the cause of much anxiety and tension. Young children, by nature, tend to be picky about their food. It seems that they love to turn their noses up at the meals over which we labour all day to serve them. According to the UK’s Royal...
A lady we know has been having problems with her daughter. She complains that nine-year-old Shauna is extremely stubborn and possessed of a will so strong that it never fails to wear her down. It always starts with minor disagreements over routine stuff like homework and computer privileges and attending enrichment classes outside of...
A new study has confirmed that the composition of breast milk changes every 24 hours in response to the needs of the baby. While the morning breastfeed contains natural stimulants equivalent to a wake up call, the nighttime feed is heavy in sleep-inducing components that help babies settle down for the night. The research,...
“Spotlight the good and the good will grow” According to Phyllis Wallbank, this was one of Maria Montessori’s most profound ideas. Children need positive remarks and attention and if parents are too busy to provide these in sufficient quantities, they will resort to behaving badly in order to get the attention that they need....
Ever since infant formula was invented in 1867, it has taken man rather a long time to come around and agree with nature that her way is, indeed, the better way. Study after scientific study have now established that breastfeeding is far superior to bottle-feeding, with breastfed babies shown to have lower incidences of...
