All About Your Child

One week after our first visit on 26th March to the NTUC FoodFare at Clementi Mall, we were pleasantly surprised by the big change in empty play area.

NEW ‘donut’ swings were added….

Its so obvious from the photos who is more ‘daring’ and adventurous, isn’t? *giggle*

Well, I was happy and so were my boys.

But there were parents complaining about safety issues and that kids would end up vomiting all that was taken in, if they were to play on the swings right after finishing their food. Especially when the walking distance from the eating place to the play area is just a few seconds.

In my mind, I was going, “Well, its how you lay down the rules and instructions for your kids to follow, isn’t? If you think they would vomit after their meal by playing on the swings, then let them play before food then.

If you are sooooooooooooooooooooo worried about your child falling off the swings, then be his or her guardian angel and stand beside the swing. Instead, you choose to rest your bum by sitting on the chair to watch and kept complaining that its dangerous and STILL allow your child to play.

They are your children, its your choice. If you choose to let them play on their own, then don’t complain that the swings are dangerous. If you feel so insecure letting them play, then DON’T let them play! Bring them to other ‘safer’ playgrounds then.”

Yes, a few kids fell.
Some cried.
Some didn’t.
But those who cried, insist on climbing back up the swing again.

See?! In kids’ world, it is natural in them that after a fall, they must pick themselves up, learn from their mistake, get a better grip and try again!

It is often the parents who are being too protective and hence the child never go beyond and accomplish greater achievements.

Anyway, I was not surprise when the swings were soon removed after our second visit and it became ‘Stationary Lollipops with a hanging TV showing cartoon.

Birthday Gift Ideas are not that difficult a thing when it comes to children birthday. It is so often that I hear people complain that they do not know what they should buy for children during their birthdays. My reply is always the same, “Ask Them!”

And these adults would usually reply ~

“No, I want to give the child a surprise.”
“No, what if the thing that the child asks for is way above my budget.”
“No, what if they want something that I cannot find or buy, example, someone else’s things.”

Well, give choices!
Ask the child to give you a list of birthday wishes and from the list, just pick one. Its that simple.
Have done it for so many years on my nieces and nephews and not forgetting my two boys as well, and this have never failed to bring a BIG GRIN on the child’s face.

Simply because they get what they wanted.

Seriously, its ADULTS that are seeking for surprises, not kids. Adults have lived ‘long (boringly) enough’ and often want something extraordinary to happen to them.
But kids are simple, they want what they do not have.
Nothing imaginary, but something that they can hold in their hands.

There are many times, I feel that children are more realistic than adults. Kids are more practical and work within their limits. It is often adults that ask for the stars in the sky and the needle in the haystack.

If you still choose not to ask the child, here’s what my child’s wish list was on his 6th birthday and was fulfilled by all his loving Aunties, Uncles, Cousins and Family members. Maybe it might help to give you some Birthday Gift Ideas.