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Stand-Up Paddling – Fun for the entire family

We had the opportunity to try a new water sport, Stand-Up Paddle (SUP), at Constant Wind Sea Sports Centre which is located off Changi Coast Road.

The kids said it was one of the best family activities we’ve ever tried.

While I was arranging this sponsored session (thank you Constant Wind!) I showed them pictures and the 4 older girls were excited to give it a go.

#5 is fearful of water sports and asked if he could stay at home. I told him he has to come along, but could sit at the side and watch until he felt comfortable enough to join in.

Kate, being the gung ho little kid who wants to do everything the older jie jies do, quickly changed into her swim gear and waited at the door lest we left her behind.

I was a little apprehensive of how it would pan out with 1 reluctant kid and 1 young kid who can’t swim, but was thrilled that it turned out wonderfully.

The good thing about this sport is that you can take it as easy or as competitive as you desire.

Preparing to race

On the long drive there, the deserted road leading to the seasports centre set the mood that we were about to go someplace out of the ordinary. The kids were feeling high anticipation coupled with slight apprehension.

Upon arrival, we headed to the Pro-shop to register and sign the indemnity forms.

Our instructor for the day was a nice young man, Raymond, and he pointed out the changing rooms and got us togged out in life vests.

We slathered on sunblock before making our way to the edge of the facility where Raymond taught us how to paddle, turn, and most importantly how to fall off properly.

We attached the velcro band to our ankle so that our board will not float away if we fall in.

Our instructor held the board for us while we sat down, and we pushed off quite easily.

It is similar to kayaking but instead of a boat, we sit on a flat board.

Setting off

Kate and #5 refused to go on the board and agreed to follow the boatman gor gor.

His job was to ensure the safety of the group as he could speed to anyone who needed assistance. He was also the designated photographer and all these photos were taken by him. Thank you Bryon!

Kate’s first time in a power boat

As Kate watched us drift further and further away, she started to get worried and told the boatman gor gor that she wanted mummy. He sped to me but she started crying because she was afraid of the loud engine sound.

He was so accommodating that he turned off the engine to pacify her and paddled the 2 kids towards me.

When they reached me, Kate said she was afraid that “Mummy will disappear” and was agreeable to come onto my board.

I’m getting the hang of it

As you can see, she was really stiff and apprehensive of the whole deal. Gradually, she warmed up to what was happening as we reassured her that none of us was going to vanish into the distance and she was happy being paddled around by #3.

Acccording to Raymond, Kate is the youngest child they have ever had on SUP (previously they had a 4-year old), and he just had to add that he has never had so many kids in a family too 🙂

#5 is by nature very cautious with new experiences, but after watching from the boat for about half an hour, he was ready for some action.

Steadying her little brother

He hopped over from the boat and it was easy for him to stand up as #1 was providing the balance. After he got the hang of it, he progressed to doing it on his own, nicked my board and paddled all the way back!

So proud of him for overcoming his fear.
Once we got the hang of balancing and paddling, all of us managed to do it standing up and none fell into the water!

The older girls even raced each other far out and had a good workout.

What I really like is that with this flat board, we could lie flat and relax. (Yes, we all had different agendas). It feels wonderful to gaze up at the sky in the silence and stillness of the waters.

Before we knew it, the 2 hours was up and we paddled back to shore.
Spaghetti Bolognese $16

We were ravenous after the session and had an early dinner at Stella, which serves western and local cuisine. The charming ambience more than made up for the average food, although we really liked their Fried Chicken Wings ($11.50).

With planes flying overhead, the kids commented that it feels like we were on holiday, and it was such a bummer they had tests the next day and we couldn’t hang around longer.

Kate finished her meal before us and went to play at the little house and made new friends.

Simply idyllic

They are having a promotion from now until March 2016. Call 64455108 or email them at reception@constantwind.com to book your slot.

We loved the whole experience so much that we will definitely be back during the school holidays!

Constant Wind Sea Sports and Sailing School
(National Service Resort & Country Club Seasports Centre)
11 Changi Coast Walk
Singapore 499740
Tel: 64455108

Disclaimer: We were sponsored a session of Stand-Up Paddle. All opinions are my own.

~ www.mummyweeblog.com – a blog on parenting 6 kids in Singapore ~
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Brewerkz at Sentosa Boardwalk

We were invited to the newly-opened Brewerkz restaurant at Sentosa Boardwalk for dinner and the kids were all excited. We have always loved their Riverside Point outlet for its laid-back atmosphere, but this location is unparalleled.

Flanked by the picturesque Resorts World on one side and Vivocity on the other, with cable cars overhead, it feels grand yet cosy. We got there before dusk and soaked in the beautiful view surrounding us. Alfresco dining can’t get much better than this!

Brewerkz at Sentosa Boardwalk

We started off with our favourite Nachos appetiser Рtortilla chips served warm topped with a hearty mix of tomatoes, olives, jalape̱os, salsa, and guacamole.

Nachos $22
Calamari $17

The gran must have her salad, and she was keen to try their speciality – Soba Noodle Salad with Salmon. She enjoyed it very much, and shared her grilled salmon with Kate.

Soba salad with Salmon $28

Pizza is standard fare when we dine out, and the girls loved this thin-crusted smoked salmon version.

Smoked Norwegian salmon pizza $24

Their gramps was in the mood for lamb, and we all snuck some from under the leaves. Nice and succulent. Thankfully the portion was quite big. You have a choice of sides with the mains, such as French fries, Beer-battered onion rings, White cheddar mashed potato or side salad. For a $2 upgrade, you can have the Sweet potato fries, Truffle fries or Orange Butter Broccoli.

Rack of Lamb $42
Cowboy burger $24

We ordered a Meat Lovers pizza as well, and the kids polished everything up! We had a slow and relaxed meal as we wanted to catch the light show at 9pm.

Meat Lovers pizza $23

#5 ordered his usual Fish & Chips kid’s meal, which comes with a drink and a scoop of ice-cream. They provide crayons and an activity sheet to keep the little ones occupied.

Fish & Chips $14

While the rest of us sat and chatted, Kate and #5 entertained themselves with the lights embedded in the wooden floorboards. They come on and off intermittently, and that was enough to keep them in stitches as Kate tried to stomp them with her foot.

There is ample space for the kids to run around while the adults enjoy their dessert and hand-crafted beer, which needs no introduction.

Sitting here watching the sky turn dark, time seems to stand still.

Brewerkz Sentosa Boardwalk

At 9pm the Crane Dance show at RWS commenced, and even though we could only see the back view, it was a treat. Kate had never seen it before, and was enthralled by the dazzling light and water display.


The show is on daily, however I did a quick check and discovered it will be closed between 16-26 November 2015. Here is the link to the Crane Dance schedule.

Captivating display

The finale was a burst of fireworks!


It lasted less than 10 minutes, but what a way to end our meal.

Fireworks!

Sane tip: A good meal, entertainment and a chance to relax all rolled into one. Simply lovely.

Save tip: {GIVEAWAY} I am pleased to give away 3 vouchers worth $50 each to my readers. All you have to do is:

  • Like Mummy Wee’s Facebook page
  • Like this post on Facebook
  •  Leave a comment on Mummy Wee’s Facebook post stating your name and email address
Details:

  • 3 lucky winners will be chosen at random
  • Open to Singapore residents only
  • Ends midnight of 23 November 2015
  • Winners will be announced on Mummy Wee’s Facebook page on 26 November 2015
  • Winners will be contacted by our sponsors.

Directions: Park or alight at Vivocity. Head towards the Boardwalk which links to Sentosa. Brewerkz is somewhere in the middle, on the lower level. NOTE: If you have strollers or bicycles, you need to go by the left side to avoid having to carry your wheels down the flight of stairs. Let me try and explain as best as I can:

As you start walking on the boardwalk, imagine it being 3 lanes. The left ‘lane’ is by the road, the middle ‘lane’ is the travallator and the right ‘lane’ is by the water. GO by THE LEFT ‘LANE’. Keep walking until you come to an entrance to the right, and enter that. You would have reached the lower level. You will see The Wine Company, followed by Brewerkz.

Brewerkz Sentosa Boardwalk

Sentosa Gateway
#01-05 Sentosa Boardwalk
Singapore 098072
Tel: 62210702

Operating Hours:
Mon – Thur: 5pm – 11pm
Friday: 5pm – 1am
Saturday: 12pm – 1am
Sunday: 12pm – 11pm
Eve of Public Holiday: Opens till 1am
Public Holiday: Opens from 12pm

We also love their Riverside point outlet which is near Clarke Quay.

Disclaimer: Our meal and the giveaway are sponsored by Brewerkz. All opinions are my own.

~ www.mummyweeblog.com – a blog on parenting 6 kids in Singapore ~
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Dyson Pure Cool: 2-in-1 Purifier and Fan

I was pleased as punch when Dyson sent over their new 2-in-1 purifier and fan. Not only is it practical but it looks ultra sleek and is light-weight as well. This time round, we are definitely more prepared for the upcoming haze period.

Dyson Pure Cool

Two years ago when the haze situation was at it’s peak, we tried to stay indoors as much as possible. We mistakenly assumed that the air in our homes is clean, and was horrified to discover that it is not. In fact, levels of pollutants and allergens indoors can be up to 100 times higher than outdoor levels. Gasp!

I was comforted to know that Dyson Pure Cool can capture up to 99.95% of particles as small as PMO.1, which includes harmful components found in the air during the haze period.

If you are keen to understand the nuts and bolts of this machine, read on:

How Dyson Pure Cool technology works

Using powerful Air Multiplierâ„¢ technology and an energy-efficient DC motor, the Dyson Pure Cool purifier fan draws in air via a mixed flow impeller.

The air is passed through a patented 360° Glass HEPA filter, containing 1.1m2 of constructed microfibers. Unlike other purifiers that rely on non-woven filters, the Dyson Pure Cool’s filter has been pleated 254 times, meaning it can trap even the smallest particles – including pollutants, pollen, bacteria, viruses and particles down to PM0.1.

Clean air then leaves the amplifier loop at a high velocity and is directed over an airfoil-shaped ramp. This way, a long-range stream of smooth air is released, purifying the air you breathe.

Dyson Purifier and fan
For me, with so many kids running around the house, I can be rest-assured that none of them will get their fingers caught in the blades as it is a blade-less machine.

The Dyson Pure Cool purifier fan is the only one accredited with the Quiet Mark, which encourages the design of quieter high performance technology to reduce unwanted noise in our environment. We can all sleep as soundly as babies!

Did you know that babies breathe up to four times faster than adults? And that asthma affects nearly 20% of children in Singapore? It is vital to keep our homes safe for our families, especially for children and the elderly. With a built-in sleep timer, it allows for night-long purification.

The last round when the haze hit us, I bought an air purifier as Kate was still a baby. Since then, the bulky machine has been taking up a lot of space in their room. It’s great that the Dyson Pure Cool is streamlined, and also doubles up as a fan. Just to set your expectations right, don’t expect the fan power to be very strong. If you are too far away from it, you won’t be able to feel the breeze even when you turn it up to 10. I see this as an air purifier with the added bonus of doubling up as a fan and not vice versa.

Space saving

The other plus point is that while most other purifiers have a laborious filter changing and cleaning process, the Dyson filter can be changed in 4 simple steps which takes less than a minute. Brilliant.

Dyson Pure Cool is retailing at $999. Replacement filter at $79. Available in all good electrical and department stores.


Disclaimer: We were sponsored Dyson’s Pure Cool. All opinions are my own.

~ www.mummyweeblog.com – a blog on parenting 6 kids in Singapore ~
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A fun-filled weekend at LEGOLAND Malaysia

#5 has been asking for the longest time if we could book a stay at LEGOLAND Hotel as he had seen the advertisements on TV. The hubs does not see any reason why we should pay to “sleep elsewhere when we can come home to our own bed”. So the last 2 times, we visited the Parks as a day trip. #5 finally had his wish come true when the generous team behind LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort extended us a stay last weekend.

Pirate themed Premium room

9am: We left our house bright and early so that we could play the whole day at the Water Park which opens at 10am. We took the Second Link at Tuas and was pleasantly surprised that traffic was smooth all the way even though it was a Saturday morning.

 10am: It took us a mere 30 minutes to reach LEGOLAND hotel once we cleared the Malaysian immigration. I dropped the kids and my parents at the lobby and the porter collected our luggage. I was wondering what would happen to our luggage as check-in time was only at 4pm, but he assured me that our bags would be kept safe in the luggage holding room. I drove down to the basement carpark to park my car and saw that the hotel opens right out to the entrance of the 2 parks at the basement level. Perfect. I didn’t know it was that close.

As I stepped into the lift to head up to the lobby, I was dazzled by the disco lights in the lift! I knew then that the kids would have a swell weekend ahead of them.

Ultra cool lift

There was already a queue of people doing pre-check in so I guess everyone wants to check-in before heading out to the parks. Thankfully the lobby is filled with Lego everywhere to keep the kids occupied while waiting. Several staff were on hand to greet the guests and to provide assistance. I mentioned to a staff that I needed to collect my complimentary tickets and was wondering which counter I should get it from. She went to check with the manager and ushered me to the priority counter which had no queue. (Guests with the annual pass can also use this privileged counter).

The manager on duty was expecting us and his welcome was effusive. He informed me that check-in time was 4pm but not to worry, they had our room prepared for us and we could head straight up. Blogger privilege! So honoured. Before I could even open my mouth to thank him and request for a late check-out for tomorrow, he granted that to us and wished us a happy stay at their hotel. You should have seen the kids’ faces. They couldn’t believe their mum was treated like a mini-celebrity or something.

The staff are really good with kids and they have a fun little Trade with me policy whereby if you like any of the figurines attached to their name tags (see photo above), you can purchase a figurine from the Gift shop and trade it with them. She explained to me that it was their way of initiating conversation with the guests.

Hotel lobby filled with Lego pieces

Once we got the room access card, the kids couldn’t wait to dash up to check it out. There are 3 different themes such as Pirate, Adventure and Kingdom themes, all with various room sizes to choose from. There is a little treasure hunt game with clues around the room to unlock the treasure chest to find a little door-gift within. So exciting. A box of Duplo is provided in the room to keep the kids entertained.

What I really like about the rooms is that the kids have a separate sleeping area with a sliding door in between. This means that while Kate is sleeping in one area, she wouldn’t be easily disturbed by the other kids coming into the room.

Partitioned kids’ room

11am: The kids would have stayed in the room for a much longer time, but I reminded them that the Water Park was awaiting them downstairs. I needn’t have brought so much water along as 4 bottles of mineral water are provided in the room and more can be requested with no extra charge.

This was Kate’s first time here at LEGOLAND Water Park and she was extremely excited. We started with the “Build-a-Raft” lazy river which all of us enjoyed together, then the older kids headed straight for the challenging slides while Kate stayed to play at the toddler areas.

“Water Park, here i come”

I’ll let you in on a secret. I’m a real chicken and even simple kiddie roller-coasters get me screaming my lungs out. The last time we were here, I didn’t dare go on any of the intimidating looking slides. But guess what. This time, I managed to go on ALL the rides! And I actually enjoyed them. What an achievement. My kids were really proud of me.

Climbed all the way up for this photo!

1pm: We took a break for lunch and after that the kids relaxed at the wave pool and lazy river to digest their lunch. They ingeniously used an extra life jacket as their head rest and managed to float around.

“Build-A-Raft-River”

2pm: Kate went back to the hotel room for her nap while the older kids stayed and went down repeatedly on their favourite slides, which were the Slide Racer and Brick Blaster. Last year, #5 didn’t dare to go on the scarier ones, but this year, he was much more confident and enjoyed all the rides. My mum told me that when they returned to the room, Kate immediately climbed up to the upper bunk bed, declared it was hers and promptly fell asleep for 3 whole hours.

Water gun

6pm: The older kids played till closing time which was at 6pm. They spent the last hour at this interactive play station building a water gun which shoots water, complete with a peephole. We went back to shower and my dad wanted to eat at BRICKS family restaurant as he likes the wide variety of food available and didn’t want the hassle of leaving the hotel. (Children/Seniors RM48++, Adults RM88++). As expected, the restaurant is extremely kid-friendly. Crayons are provided, and even the table cloth can be doodled on. There are sinks conveniently located near the entrance of the restaurant.

Besides BRICKS, there is also an Italian restaurant in the hotel. If you want more options and don’t mind taking a little walk, head out to Medini mall which adjoins the hotel. They have KFC, Burger King, The Manhattan fish market, a Chinese restaurant and a Thai restaurant. There is also a convenience store there.

9.30pm: They were all exhausted after a full day of fun in the sun and promptly fell asleep.

The hubs has to concede that Legoland Hotel is much more than just a place to sleep in for the night. It certainly adds to the whole LEGOLAND experience and turns it into a memorable ‘mini-vacation’ for the kids. It is such a great way to bond as a family and I’m sure we will be back!

Read on for DAY 2 of our splendid weekend away.

BRICKS Family Restaurant Buffet Dinner
During this month of February 2015, to usher in the Year of the Goat, the Hotel has lined up daily activities which include building of LEGO Mandarin / LEGO Goat / LEGO Pineapple, Building of Chinese Characters with LEGO bricks, Lion Dance Performance on 21 February at 10am, and special appearance by the God of Wealth.


Check out my previous review of LEGOLAND Water Park.

  • Toddlers under 3 do not need an admission ticket, but you have to pay RM10 which includes 2 swim diapers. (I guess it’s their way of ensuring all babies don appropriate diapers, which is good to know!)
  • Do note that only combo tickets allow for multiple re-entry into the Parks.

Getting there:

By Car: Use the Tuas Second link and exit at Nusajara Exit 312. Look out for the LEGOLAND signage on the Left. That’s it!

By Bus: Coach service is available from the Singapore Flyer at $20 per person. Click here for more details.

Disclaimer: We were sponsored our stay at LEGOLAND Malaysia Hotel inclusive of admission tickets to the Parks and meal vouchers. All opinions are my own.

~ www.mummyweeblog.com – a blog on parenting 6 kids in Singapore ~
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Stickerkid: Cute name labels

Kate is starting school in January and we were delighted to receive the perfect early Christmas present from the good people at stickerkid. A whole bunch of name labels for her belongings. There were so many adorable icons to choose from, and different permutations of colours that it was pretty hard to decide.

What struck me immediately was the quality of the labels, which was no surprise, as they are Swiss made. Much better than the cheap ones we used to buy. I love that they stuck on really firmly, even on her bags and the straps.

Large stickers

The small labels are perfect for labelling their school books. I really liked that they were able to be removed cleanly, which is great as we pass down the books from one sibling to the next. I chose black as it goes with most colours.

Small stickers
The shoe stickers are very useful especially when they enter primary school as the kids have to remove their shoes during music and computer lessons, and it is hard to find your shoes in a whole pile of similar looking designs!
Shoe stickers

They have 2 different versions of iron-on labels for clothes. The bigger ones are permanent, and you can add an icon. I found these to be highly useful as some of my kids go to the same school and their uniforms are 1 size apart, and our poor helper has a hard time differentiating them. The smaller labels don’t come with icons, but these can be removed by applying heat with an iron.

Iron-on labels for clothes
I got carried away labelling Kate’s little snack boxes and I wanted to label everthing in sight. Now she’s all ready for school. Not sure who’s more excited!
Heart stickers $13.50

Sane tip: Name labels are a kid’s (or rather, a mum’s) best friend once they start school.

Save tip: Here’s a discount code to take 10% off all your stickerkid purchases from now till 14 December 2014. Discount applies to the value packs as well.

10% DISCOUNT CODE: Wee1324

Not only that, I also have an exclusive {GIVEAWAY}: 

ONE set of 14 Round Stickers for you to try their stickers for yourself. These are the right size and hold the right amount of information!
{GIVEAWAY} Round stickers

All you have to do is:

  •  Like Mummy Wee’s Facebook page
  • Like this post on Facebook
  •  Leave a comment on Mummy Wee’s Facebook post stating your email address
Details:

  • 1 winner will be chosen at random
  • Open to Singapore residents only
  • Ends 9 December 2014
  • Winners will be announced on Mummy Wee’s Facebook page on 11 December 2014
  • Winners will be contacted by Stickerkid

Disclaimer: We have been sponsored the labels by stickerkid. All opinions are my own.


~ www.mummyweeblog.com – a blog on parenting 6 kids in Singapore ~
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My Gym – Kate loves the different activities!

We have come to the end of our term at My Gym which our sponsors have so kindly extended to Kate. She really enjoyed the classes and keeps asking to go back to ‘gym school’. What I really liked about their sessions is the wide variety of physical activities Kate was exposed to which I couldn’t possibly carry out myself. They change their activities weekly which was perfect for her, as she figures things out much quicker than before and gets bored with the same activities. My post at the beginning of our term showcased the different segments of the 1 hour session, so here I shall give you a glimpse of the different physical activites she enjoyed over the 10 weeks.

Stilt walking

She must be thinking, “What’s this strange contraption? Feels like a swing, but it isn’t.”

Swinging Disc
The teachers said Kate had strong arms and is able to pull herself up. Very soon she can join her older siblings at rock climbing!

Baby mountain climbing

They have cool stuff which the older siblings were envious of, like swinging on the trapeze.

Trapeze artiste in the making?

Even though she’s usually the youngest in the class, she is quicker than the others, thanks to her daily training at the playground by her gor gor. She didn’t even need her teacher to hold on to her. Real monkey.

2 little monkeys climbing up the wall

This ‘hanging hoops’ activity looks deceptively easy, but it takes a lot of coordination to hold onto one of the coils without letting go, while grabbing the other swinging coil. Concentrating so hard…

Nearer, nearer…

The older kids love doing this ‘flying fox’ thing which they sometimes find at big park playgrounds. Kate finally has a chance to try it out for herself.

Space Flight

Kate thought it was easy peasy walking up this little slope, but then it started to tip.

Lots of leg work and body awareness involved to steady herself. After gaining her balance, she managed to walk down slowly unassisted.

Sometimes they have a game at the end of the session instead of the toy box. When the teacher announced that they were going to play “What’s the time, Mr Wolf?”, I was thinking to myself, “They’re only 2, no one’s going to follow your instructions.” I was really surprised they could get the hang of the game (although many were happy to run towards the wolf to get caught). Kate had watched her siblings play it before, so she was wary of the wolf.

Who’s for dinner?

There is also ample opportunity to socialise with the other children.

Playing peek a boo

Someone’s cheating

It is without a doubt that Kate thoroughly enjoyed her time at My Gym. The teachers are very encouraging, and they are patient even with those kids who keep crying and are reluctant to try the new activities.

Her first certificate!

She especially liked teacher Javier, who made it so much fun for her! 

Some of my friends think that they should only send their child for gym classes if they are clumsy. Personally, I feel that physical activity is so important to kids from a young age, irregardless if the child is ‘active’ or ‘clumsy’. If you can afford it, it is good to send your child for such lessons. For kids who are very active, it is a great way to let off the excess energy in a safe environment. For those who seem to have ‘two left feet’, they can work on their physical abilities and learn some exercises which you can follow through at home. And for kids who are already quite physically competent, this would stretch them further.

MY GYM is a U.S. program with 30 years of experience in children’s fitness. Their classes are suitable for children from 4 months to 10 years. Classes are 1 hour long and fees are $468+GST for a 10-week term + $60 one time registration fee. If you are thinking of what to do for your child’s birthday, why not give them a call and find out more. Their Birthday Bash looks really exciting, and are specially catered to kids all the way from 1 month to 10 years old.


Disclaimer: My Gym sponsored Kate a term of lessons. All opinions are my own.


~ www.mummyweeblog.com – a blog on parenting 6 kids in Singapore ~
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GROHE: Our gift to you

One thing the kids won’t ever get sick of is receiving surprise parcels. This time, they were enthralled with such a classy yet fun and functional gift courtesy of GROHE, the world’s leading provider of sanitary fittings.

Photo credit: GROHE

The all new GROHE Rainshower Flower hand shower is sure to inject colour and fun into any bathroom. More importantly, the innovative petal-shaped bumper surrounding the shower head will be immensely useful to take the knocks from kids learning to shower independently. We’ve broken shower heads before, when the kids dropped them one too many times (when you have 6 kids plus water, it’s not that surprising). In addition, this Flower Collection will pamper the skin with the same soft raindrops as all other Rainshower variants with the GROHE DreamSpray technology.


The kids couldn’t wait to use it and remarked that Kate would be delighted to have such an adorable shower head to bathe with. I reminded them how lucky they are to be living in a beautiful new house, already fitted with GROHE accessories, thanks to the toil of their ah gong all these years. We were also grappling with some unfortunate news the past few days and I was trying to teach them that we don’t need to accumulate material things to be happy. I asked if they were willing to give up this beautiful shower head to another child to bring joy to him or her. They all agreed to give it up. #3 was really cute, she asked if we could keep the flower pot. Sure my dear, sure.

 So on this day which we dedicate to all children, may we have the honour of giving this gift to one of you, and with this gesture, we offer up all our wishes and prayers for children everywhere, especially those most in need of our prayers.

“Lily Rainshower” $177

Be the first to be showered with this lovely flower as it is only available in stores at the end of the year, retailing at $177. It will definitely brighten up any child’s day and may even entice reluctant kids to get clean. The colour you will be receiving is the “Lily Rainshower” (pictured above) which has a white bumper and purple spray face.

 All you have to do is to enter the {GIVEAWAY} below, Like Mummy Wee’s Facebook page, and leave us a comment on this Facebook post, either Why you would like to win it for your child or a friend’s child, or your child’s showering story! (For us, Kate loves showering or rather playing with water, and will shower several times if we allow her to, while #5 has to be reminded daily to shower, if not he will conveniently forget to do so!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Details:
  • 1 winner will be chosen at random
  • Open to Singapore residents only
  • Ends 6 October 2014
  • Winner will be announced on Mummy Wee’s Facebook page on 7 October 2014
  • Winner will be contacted by Mummy Wee

Here’s wishing all the dear little people out there a

Happy Children’s Day!



Disclaimer: GROHE sponsored us the Rainflower Shower head. All opinions are my own. Thank you, GROHE, not only for your generous sponsorship, but for your support in allowing me to go ahead with this GIVEAWAY, especially after you made the effort to accede to my request of colour choice.

~ www.mummyweeblog.com – a blog on parenting 6 kids in Singapore ~

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Learn Well Store: Good educational games

After having many kids and going through all sorts of toys, I am now more discerning about the toys I allow them to play with. With the first few kids, I didn’t know very much. Toys were toys, right? Just something to keep them occupied. But as any parent (especially those with many kids) will find out, very quickly the house becomes over-run with toys. So I started to limit the amount of toys we bought and kept. Simultaneously, I started learning that there were good toys and lousy toys. Basically, the more the toy can do, the less benefit it has for your child. I’m sure you would have observed with some chagrin how junior would rather play with the box the toy came in than the actual mechanised toy. So out went all those silly battery operated toys which my parents loved to buy for them, along with those cheap brightly coloured china-made toys where the lead content was suspect. In it’s place, I started acquiring good, durable, open-ended play things such as blocks, puzzles and pretend play toys.

 So when I discovered Learn Well Store which sells wooden educational toys, I was very interested. This online store is the retail platform of Learn Well International, the leading provider of educational materials for the early childhood industry in Singapore for more than 20 years. They are now bringing their quality products not only to schools but to individuals like us! They have a wide variety of toys and the thing I like best is that most of their toys are open-ended. This allows for many ways of playing which promotes different skill sets, and can be used by the child for several years. Needless to say, I was stoked when they agreed to sponsor us some of their toys and it was difficult to choose as I wanted them all. Finally I settled on Bears & Patterns and 4 Colours Per Square.

 Bears & Patterns is appealing to little children and Kate immediately picked up the cute little pieces and started lining them up. The bears come in 4 colours and 3 sizes (small, medium, large). This set is so versatile that the kids can benefit from it for a long time as they move on to more complex ways of playing. It can be played independently or up to 6 kids together.

“Hmm.. doesn’t look quite right”

1) Sorting & Grouping

 This is the most basic level of thinking skills which 2-3 year olds can acquire by placing the bears in groups according to Size and Colour.

 2) Replication & Patterning

 Using the pattern cards provided, children can copy the pattern on the cards. Not only will they learn the higher order thinking skills of forming patterns but as they progress to more difficult skill cards (they are numbered), they can learn to predict what comes next in the sequence.

3) Pair game

 Each player has his own pattern grid facing them so that their opponent is unable to see it. Through a series of questions and taking turns (e.g. “Do you have a small green bear?”), they have to guess the pattern that the other has. This improves memory, verbal, visual as well as social skills.

 4) Group game

 Players each have a pattern grid facing them such that no one else can see it. An opaque bag is used to contain the bears. Players take turns drawing out a bear and describing it to the other players. If another player identifies that the bear is needed to complete their own pattern grid, they must be the first to claim it. The winner is the first person who manages to complete his pattern grid.

 The game promotes the use of Oral and Tactile skills so the possibilities are endless with this versatile toy.

4 Colours Per Square $160

The other game we received is 4 Colours Per Square. This game looks deceptively fun, but it actually provides them the opportunity to sort, plan, count, measure, compare, match, put together and take apart, aspects which make up the essential foundation of number sense and quantity preservation. It also encourages them to think out of the box to get the pieces to fit into the square. A myriad of games can be played with this one set.

 1) Independent play

The most basic way of playing is for the child to fill up the square with the different coloured parts. A variation would be to ask the child to fill one square with the coloured parts and then asked to fill another square in a different way. This promotes higher order thinking skills such as spatial awareness and creative thinking.

 2) Unit measurement

 This Math concept is taught in lower primary and you can expose your child to this concept by asking them to fill up the square using unit measurements (e.g. Fill them up using only 1 square unit pieces, thus how many units do you need to fill in the whole square. Next, fill them up using only 2 square unit pieces). To make it more challenging for older kids, ask them to fill in the squares using 4 different colours and 4 different sizes and discuss the different ways this task can be done.

Kate is oblivious to the rules of the game

3) Group game

 Using the spinner, the children take turns to spin the arrow and fill in their square as they pick up the coloured pieces which has been randomly chosen by the spinner. The challenging and fun part starts when their square is almost filled up but they are not getting the right pieces thanks to the luck of the draw!

 This versatile game is only bound by your own creativity. You can even introduce fractions through this set, or use it as a memory game by placing the pieces faced down and guessing the colours. 

{GIVEAWAY} Choice of ONE game


Sane tip: I really like multi-faceted toys as they grow with the child while maintaining age appropriateness. It saves space too, instead of buying multiple sets of toys. Another plus is that these games are also good for the elderly to maintain their mental agility, so the whole family can play and bond together!

 Save tip: {GIVEAWAY} Here’s a chance for ONE lucky reader to win either Bears & Patterns OR 4 Colours Per Square (valued at $160), generously sponsored by Learn Well Store.

All you have to do is:

  •  Enter the GIVEAWAY below
  •  Like Mummy Wee’s Facebook page
  • Like Learn Well Store Facebook page
  • Like and Share this post on Facebook with the caption “Educational toys are great!” and tag Mummy Wee
  •  Leave a comment on Mummy Wee’s Facebook post stating which set you would like to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Details:
  • 1 winner will be chosen at random
  • Open to Singapore residents only
  • Ends 30 September 2014
  • Winner will be announced on Mummy Wee’s Facebook page on 3 October 2014
  • Winner will be contacted by Learn Well Store for delivery

Disclaimer: Learn Well Store sponsored us the 2 sets and the giveaway. All opinions are my own.


~ www.mummyweeblog.com – a blog on parenting 6 kids in Singapore ~