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Reading and writing are core skills for any young person to possess; however even in developed English speaking countries, kids today are found to have lower than average reading and writing skills. This is not surprising when you consider how heavily children today rely on digital technology to do the thinking for them. Just the other day, I caught my oldest daughter too lazy to correct her spelling mistake on her Word document. When I questioned her about it, her reply was simply, “It’s ok, mom. The computer will spell check it for me.” 

 The key to improving our kids’ literacy level is to develop their interest in reading and writing from a young age. If you find your kid struggling with reading and writing or simply lack the interest, give the following tips a try.

Last week during Chinese New Year, my family and I were blessed to be invited over to our neighbour’s place for a traditional new year celebration. Our little ones really enjoyed trying all the traditional Chinese dishes, learning about new year traditions and were even given ‘red pocket money’ for good luck. This got me thinking about the culturally diverse world our children live in today. Today more than ever, our children need to learn to respect and appreciate that everyone is different - whether it’s their hair colour, skin colour, race... Here are some kids activities that helps to extend your child’s cultural learning.

Are you concerned about your kid’s lack of interest to spend time away from their computer, PS3, comic books and their reluctant to leave their rooms? Or perhaps you have been a little too over-protective of your kids to leave the walls of your home and backyard. Well, it appears that you are not alone! A recent Melbourne study of 300 children aged four to eight years found that two-thirds of kids were banned from playing outside their garden gate, citing fear of abduction and death as reasons. Spending time outdoor is also essential for the mental and physical development of all growing child. So this weekend, take your kids to go explore the great outdoor!

I know your first day of school is probably a faded, distant memory now but I’m sure most of us had butterflies in our stomach for days before starting our first day of school. The fear of being rejected by other children and struggling to keep up in class can become overwhelming for most children. If you have kids starting school for the first time or going back to school this week, here are some tips and tricks on how to beat that first week back to school blues.

Got plans for a family road trip sometime soon? Family road trip is a good way for the whole family to take a break from their daily routines, engage and interact with each other while having fun! But trust me, I understand that there’s nothing in the world that’s more irritating than a car full of bored kids on a long road trip. The last thing you need to hear on a long weekend road trip is the dreaded line: “Are we there yet?” on repeat. But fear not, I am here to share my top family road trip survival tips to guaranteed you and your family a fun and safe time.

I want you to think hard about the last time you managed to have some quality time to yourself, doing something that you enjoy and just let you mind and spirit unwind. If you’re able to recall the moment straight away then you’re amongst the minority of parents who are not suffering from the ‘Pressured Parents Phenomenon’. 

We all feel pressured to be the perfect do-it-all parent but the truth is, by taking on too much and constantly denying ourselves of time to relax and rest, we are actually causing more harm to our relationships with our kids. We’ll become more easily agitated and too tired to spend time with our kids. So, start incorporating some of the following tips to your weekly routine towards a more stress-free and balanced lifestyle.

A young mind is like a giant sponge, constantly absorbing new knowledge and findings. Today’s kids are not only fast learners but are constantly in search of activities to keep them amused and entertained. It is exhausting just trying to keep up with their latest obsession. As parents, you can help to encourage the following habits and activities that helps to stimulate brain growth and development in young kids.

With New Year’s Eve came and gone, I’m sure most of you have already worked on a list of goals for your New Year resolution. As parents, we play an important role in shaping the way our children think and act now and the type of person they will become in the future. These goals will help to kick start 2014 to become a memorable year for you and your family.

I am the first to admit that while I love my kids, it is not always easy to keep my cool when they misbehave. The argument of whether it is ever ok to smack your child as a form of discipline is an old one. Studies have found connections between spanking and development of “mood disorders, anxiety disorders, substance abuse/ dependence, and personality disorder” later on in life. Before you give into the temptation of spanking your kids next time, give these alternative methods a try.

Whether your family is religious or not, Christmas is a time to reflect, to show gratitude to those that have been good to you during the year and to acknowledge the importance of your family. I don’t want my kids to grow up thinking that Christmas is just about eating a lot of Christmas pudding, playing Playstation all day at home and being spoiled with presents. This festive season, we should all aim to teach our kids the true meaning of Christmas - showing gratitude, compassion, empathy and learn the joy of giving to others. Let’s get started!

As parents, I’m sure you are well aware of the many health related benefits of learning to swim from a young age. A recent research conducted by the Griffith Institute for Educational Research in Australia revealed that children who learnt to swim from a young age are on average 11 months ahead of the population in oral expression, 6 months ahead in mathematics reasoning and 2 months ahead in brief reading. If you’ve been thinking about putting your kids through swimming lessons, now is the time to start!

A friend of mine raised a very interesting conversation topic earlier this week: “Are kids today growing up in a ʻbubble wrapped, over-protectiveʼ environment?”. Early childhood experts are having growing concerns that Australian parents and schools are being too soft on kids, resulting in a national culture that “every child gets a ribbon”. Take these 7 tips as starting points to teach you kid responsibilities from a young age.

It’s that time of the year again - end of year festive party season! Like my family, I am sure you’ve already started receiving end of year Christmas party invites from family, friends and work. With all the sweet temptations around this time of the year, parents should also keep an eye on their kids’ food intake at Christmas gatherings and parties. Here are a few handy tips to keep your kids from over indulging this festive season!

Summer is all about making the most of the abundance of sunshine and spending it outdoor with the kids. This summer, I’ve put my family to the challenge of coming up with kids activities that are fun, creative and economical. I want my kids to enjoy mother nature as much as possible during summer but at the same time, I want them to do something fun and creative that won’t break my bank account.

Here’s an interesting observation that I’ve made when out for dinner the other night. There was a family of three dining in the table next to us and when the youngest son started crying out loud, seeking for attention, I saw his dad handing him the latest mini iPad. He then immediately stopped sobbing and sat quietly swiping away at his new gadget. It raised the question in my mind that “Are parents using gadgets such as iPad and PS3 as more than just entertainment and toys for their kids? Or as substitutes to babysitters?”