Mar / apr 2017 - The · PDF fileMar / apr 2017 Happy and safe Breastfeeding roles tHe ligHt dragon Winnie tHe pooH. Andy Ng Features Editor ... It is ESF’s fifth kindergarten with

Mar / apr 2017

Happy and safe

Breastfeeding roles

tHe ligHt dragon

Winnie tHe pooH

Andy NgFeatures Editor

We are increasingly hearing comments these days about Hong Kong entering a new economic order. In addition to the so-called pillar industries, we shall have to leverage on the talents of our young entrepreneurs, the capability of our scientific researchers, and the application of innovation and technology in driving our re-industrialization, and diversifying our economy.

But are we nurturing these people with our out-of-whack education system that seems to be forever plodding along the same old tired track with no target or vision for the future? Hong Kong has often prided itself on producing students that excel in examinations, but weak in reasoning and creativity. What’s the point, for instance, in being able to complete 30 books in a month, if you can’t apply the knowledge in the real world with innovative ideas and problem-solving skills?

While liberal-thinking countries like Finland and Israel have notched up outstanding results with their unique blend of education, our bureaucrats in Hong

Kong are still toying with acronyms – replacing the much maligned TSA with a BCA derivative.

It is crystal clear that we are in dire need of some fresh thinking, bold initiatives and a totally new approach in revamping our education system, if we want to avoid slipping further behind in competitiveness on the world stage.

The Chief Executive-elect, Carrie Lam, is to be congratulated for her insight and commitment in according a high priority to education policies. And she has already pledged spending an extra HK$5 billion every year in raising the quality of our educational output. She will need all the help and advice she can get in this complex but ultra-important job.

Let’s give our kids a break, and a better education that they deserve.

A ray of hope

1Kids WorldMarch 2017

Editor’s Message

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"Kids World" is published byDisplay Advertising Department,10/F., Sing Tao News Corporation Building3 Tung Wong Road, Shau Kei Wan Hong Kong

Features Editor: Andy Ng Reporters: Raine Tang, Cindy Wan, Allen Jim Designer: Manman Chan

Business Director: Irene Chan Advertising Hotline: 3181 3311 Fax: 2758 3579Website: www.thestandard.com.hk Email: [email protected] rights reserved.

March / April 2017

04 Minifeeds Latest updates

08 Education Back to class

18 Indoor adventure Let your kids have fun

while keeping them safe

22 Feature Exploring a series of shows

and charity events in town

30 Exhibition Hangin' with

Winnie the Pooh

32 Easter fun “Eggs”tra special events

36 Fashion Up-to-date boys and

girls fashion

2 Kids World March 2017

Luxe travel in a different way.

Celebrating five years of dedication In 2017, CLARINS Hong Kong marks its 5th year of commitment

to feeding children around the world with their ‘CLARINS x FEED 5th Anniversary Booster Charity Set’.

The charity set includes the newly designed blue-colored 2017 FEED 10 pouch and a perfect combination of a newly launched CLARINS Booster and signature moisturizing product HydraQuench mask & cream gel for different skin needs.

With the purchase of a Clarins X FEED 10 Charity Set, ten school meals are provided to children in need worldwide. Not only are you

able to change the future of a child, but you can take good care of

your skin with Clarins’ signature products while doing it.Also, upon any purchase of a serum product at any CLARINS counters/outlets in

April, customers will receive a complimentary FEED10 pouch and ten school meals will be donated. Likewise, any purchase of a day/night cream will get a complimentary travel set valued over HK$300. (www.clarins.com.hk)

Pure icy treats Established in 2013, Happy Cow is a Hong

Kong-based manufacturer of dairy-free ice cream. Their mission is to produce the finest quality plant-based ice cream in Asia, with a commitment to creating a healthier alternative for people and the planet. The ice cream maker strives to create a worry-free ice cream, so consumers can enjoy their favorite dessert.

The ice cream is made from a delicious blend of coconut cream and organic coconut sugar, mixed with handmade jams and fresh fruits. Artificial flavors, colorings and preservatives are never used and all products

are vegan, kosher and halal certified.

Happy Cow has recently been given an opportunity by the Student Union of Hong Kong University to open their first ice cream scoop shop on campus to serve the students and the community.

Their new retail shop will serve at least ten f lavors, including their best sellers: pure coconut, salted caramel, mango and cherry almond fudge. Packaged ice cream, scoops in waffle cones and ice cream cookie sandwiches will also be available. (2252 7773)

Heralding a year of happiness Even though Chinese New Year is behind us, that doesn’t mean we can’t

continue to usher in the blissful season. Designed for babies, the ‘Good Fortune and Luck’ Pure Gold Baby

Bracelet is engraved with an intricate motif inspired by the Chinese character representing ‘Good Fortune’, bringing good health and happiness.

In the same vein, the ‘Best of Luck’ Pure Gold Baby Bracelet represents every loving parent’s heartfelt wishes for their children’s well-being and happiness.

Chow Tai Fook is also featuring an exquisite selection of pure gold charms and pendants featuring Mickey, Minnie and Disney “Tsum Tsum” friends. Stacked and arranged in a unique way, these popular characters are featured in impeccably crafted earrings, charms, pendants and bracelets, highlighting the united strength and team spirit of Disney Tsum Tsum. (www.chowtaifook.com)


Mini feeds

Babysitting tips for grandparents ‘Natures purest’, a renowned naturally coloured cotton specialist

from the United Kingdom, would like to give grandparents some babysitting tips for today’s children.

Grandparents should understand that time has changed, so the ways that they did things might not be relevant or realistic today. In addition, they have to learn new technology, for instance, the latest security system devices for emergency or baby monitors.

Besides new technology, they should also learn how to dress their grandchild. Instead of bundling them up, they have to dress in layers for different temperature options as babies are not always good at regulating their own body temperature. The essential clothes for a newborn baby include onesies, sleeping bags, wrap blanket, hats, baby booties or socks.

Natures purest specializes in naturally coloured cotton, the most natural and ethically manufactured and grown textile. It is considered to be the better choice

for baby apparel as the cotton it uses has no dyes, no bleach, no harmful pesticides, no heavy metals, no formaldehyde, and is certified by

Oeko-Tex 100 and GOTS. (www.naturespurest.com.hk)

Celebrating an Organic Mother’s Day Cherub Rubs reminds us that Mother’s Day is the day when we

honor the person who has given us unselfish and unconditional love. At the same time, Mother Nature has been personified for thousands of years representing the giving of life, sustenance and nurturing. This year, let’s honor mothers everywhere and Mother Nature by giving a green gift by Cherub Rubs.

All Cherub Rubs skin care products are made of the finest quality organic substances that meet extremely high and regulated standards. The entire skin care range of Cherub Rubs has no chemicals, no artificial colors nor fragrances, and is certified by OFC and Australian Certified Toxic-Free.

For expectant mothers who worry about having stretch marks after giving birth, there are Cherub Rubs’ Tummy Oil and Tummy

Ba l m. Che r ub Rubs offers 100% natural and organic skin care

products, and Tummy Oil is made of Jojoba oil, Saff lower oil, Wheatgerm oil and Rosehips oil, and is recommended for use in the morning and evening. As for Tummy Balm, it is made of cocoa butter, Jojoba oil, Rosehips oil and Wheatgerm oil, and can be applied liberally and frequently as desired.

To pamper working mothers, why not give them the Moisturizing Lotion of Cherub Rubs, which contains 100% natural and organic ingredients, including aloe vera, coconut oil, macadamia oil, glycerine and cocoa butter. This Moisturizing Lotion is infused with different essential oils that suit different skin needs:

Geranium Rose moisturizes and calms you down; Neroli and Fragonia moisturizes and relieve your stress; Cucumber moisturizes and hydrates your skin.

O t he r p roduc t s i nclude Che r ub Rubs’s 3 i n 1 ou t do or p ro t e c t ion , Scat terscreen and Bubbles for Bub. (www.cherubrubs.com.hk)


Mini feeds

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ESF guiding young learnersto greater heightsThe newest ESF kindergarten was opened in Tung Chung last August. It is ESF’s fifth kindergarten with over 300 students currently enrolled. The school seeks to nurture every student to be the best that they can be.

B uilding on the experience and success of the four existing ESF kindergartens, the new school provides a quality, English medium

early years education for children aged 3 to 5. It is now a candidate school for the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) and shares a common philosophy with other IB schools — a commitment to quality, challenging, international education — that is believed to be important for students.

The school’s learning environment is highly interactive and aims to provide an inquiry-based curriculum where students learn through exploration, hands-on experiences and play-based activities. Through lessons taught, children are encouraged and motivated to learn through experiences of discovery, experimentation and reflection by working individually or in groups.

Lessons are organised under units of inquiry for children to acquire key skills and attitudes. Each child is considered individually in their learning journey as they may be at a different stage in their understanding and development to their peers. The school’s curriculum is based on the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) and takes a ‘whole child’ view where all aspects of learning and development are given equal emphasis. It includes a range of subjects such as Languages, Social studies, Mathematics, Arts, Science and Personal, Social and Physical Education.

“We believe the early years are a critical stage in a child’s development and in their education,” said Sandra Hite, Principal of ESF Tung Chung International Kindergarten. “Everything we do is intended to provide the best outcomes for our young learners, and to provide them with a fun and stimulating place to learn.”

Each class session lasts three hours, with two sessions per day. The school day is a balance between whole class

circle time, ref lection and learning engagements that are play-based and planned by the staff. Children spend almost an hour and a half playing with other children to develop their cognition, as well as their physical, social and emotional skills.

The Tung Chung campus is very spacious with over 11,000 square feet for up to 352 students, with 176 per session. The school is beautifully designed with large leaves that provide unique lighting in the ceiling. The front classroom walls are foldable so they can open up into the large shared space where children play.

The library is equipped with a loft for group story telling and under it is a small theatre for puppet shows and other performances. Large area for dancing and drama is available. The outside podium provides ample space for messy play, gardening and other outdoor activities.

“The school ref lects our aspiration for each of our children to f lourish,” said Hite. “We strive to provide children with strong foundational skills for future academic success and also to equip them to participate as flexible, creative thinkers and engaged citizens in an increasingly complex and interdependent world.”

Children who attend the school will receive priority for interview at ESF primary and ESF private independent schools. Student places at K1 and K2 for 2017-18 are still available. Interested parents should submit their online application as soon as possible.

ESF TUNG CHUNG INTERNATIONAL KINDERGARTEN

1/F, Commercial Accommodation, The Visionary, 1 Ying Hong Street, Tung Chung, Lantau, N.T.

3742 3500 [email protected] www.esfkindergartens.org.hk/schools/tung-chung

Education


STARTERS SCHOOL 1B, 1/F Tung Hey Building,

12-22 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai 2527 8676 [email protected] www.starters.edu.hk

Located in the District of Wan Chai on Hong Kong Island, Starters School has,

for over 38 years, offered a joyful and secure teaching environment that encourages its pupils to flourish through its “learn through play” and “theme-based” teaching methods.

Seeing children as unique individuals at all times, the school is committed to maximizing students’ potential – both intellectually and socially – in order to build their confidence and independence, and to ensure a smooth transition to junior school.

The school adopts the UK Early Years Programme curriculum, where guidelines are used by Starters School staff with the general purpose to review, develop and promote effective learning and teaching through fun activities.

The school places significant emphasis on developing various skills in young children, including social and personal skills, language

and literacy skills, physical and manipulative skills, mathematical and cognitive skills, as well as science and technology skills.

Employing a team of caring staff, teachers at Starters School are pre-school qualified, experienced and registered with the Hong Kong Education Bureau. Each class teacher has the help of one or two assistants.

The school provides English medium classes in the morning and afternoon sessions for children from 2.8 to 5 years old. Their Primary One class caters to children from 5 to 6 years. They also offer an extracurricular “learn through play phonics” class from Monday to Friday (1:30pm to 4:00pm) for children from 3 to 6 years old.

For school visits, contact the school office at 2527 8676 or 2529 5838 to make an appointment.

Established in 1977, Starters School international kindergarten has been providing a safe, loving and welcoming environment for its pupils, while nurturing their academic, social and emotional growth.

Gaining a head start

Education


While most students in Hong Kong are burdened with loads of homework and stressed by endless exams, Rightmind Kindergarten offers its students a cheerful childhood based on music education.

Faced with keen competition, parents and students usually consider music merely as a bonus qualification to gain entry into a reputable

school. By contrast, children in Rightmind International Nursery & Kindergarten grow up having fun with music and a sense of achievement from the multiple awards they have obtained.

To discover students’ innate music talents, Rightmind adopts a variety of teaching methods to immerse them in melodies and rhythms. By creating a tradition of staging musical productions, the school helps your little ones develop sound awareness skills that are critical to reading and recognizing words.

Besides offering private and group lessons on piano, violin, cello and music theory with the professional Kinder Suzuki Music Academy, the school has established a Rightmind Family Choir in its Ap Lei Chau and Shum Wan schools in 2012 to induce children to explore their in-born singing talents.

The 60 members of the choirs rehearse regularly in their leisure time as an extra-curricular activity. Singing in English and Putonghua, they have mastered a vast repertoire of music, ranging from classical music to jazz, and perform regularly with professional groups in Hong Kong.

In just a few years since inception, the choirs have already been invited to many large-scale musical events, including performing for the Hong Kong United Youth Association for three consecutive years.

Rightmind places heavy emphasis on moral education, and urges its students to love, respect and help people in need. Leveraging on their young but powerful singing, they make contributions to society in their own unique way. Over the years, the choirs have teamed up with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, Children’s Heart Foundation, Heep Hong Society and UNESCO to perform for charity.

Adopting an uncompromising attitude to quality education, Rightmind has invested on its teaching resources. For instance, the school specially invited veteran jazz musician and Grammy nominee Mr. Howard McCrary to teach music classes in 2013, helping students unlock their full potentials under his professional guidance.

In an attempt to expose their students to more musical genres and broaden their horizons, Rightmind has arranged for them to travel abroad for their annual Easter Music Experience Tour. They have been to cities like Shanghai, Beijing, Vienna, Oxford and Helsinki where local music masters have inspired them with some fresh ideas and techniques.

About Rightmind KindergartenEstablished in the 1980s, Rightmind International

Nursery & Kindergarten offers a unique total immersion curriculum in Putonghua and English by adopting right-brain education methods for children aged two and above. The kindergarten also places emphasis on moral education and has traditionally celebrated qualities such as filial piety, love for siblings and self-discipline.

Growing up in

a music-inspired environment RIGHTmIND INTERNATIONAL NURSERy & KINDERGARTEN

Ap Lei Chau School UG/F, Tower 26-28, South Horizons,

Phase 4, Ap Lei Chau 852 2875 0452 I Fax: 852 2875 0454 [email protected] I Website: www.kinderu.org

Shum Wan Road11 Shum Wan Road, Shum Wan852 2795 1018 I Fax: 852 2785 1238

Education

12 Kids World March 2017 13Kids WorldMarch 2017

Education

Nature’s playgroundChildren are naturally curious, have great potential and innate interest in developing relationships to learn about the world. Passionate and dedicated, Fairchild Kindergarten offers families in Hong Kong an alternative to traditional playgroup experiences.

With the mission, “Cultivating Curiosity, Creativity and Confidence”, Fairchild Kindergarten encourages students to be curious, creative and inquisitive, building

their confidence to become lifelong learners through play. The playgroup opens doors to all children regardless of their language, ethnicity, gender, culture and ability.

“Our educators are guided by the British Columbia and Ontario (Canada) Early Learning Framework, and the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) from the United Kingdom,” says Kathy Nutting, Head of Early Childhood Education of Fairchild Kindergarten. “We collaborate on best practice in early childhood education, creating quality learning environments, and helping children make connections with their natural environment.”

The center offers various classes: for infant (12-18 months); toddler (18-28 months); transition classes (for 24-36 months); and playgroup (for three to four years).

The classes provide children and their caregivers a unique experience learning and playing together, in settings created by a Canadian company, Natural Pod, which selects only natural materials. “What’s more important than the health of your child?’ Nutting asks. “Here at Fairchild Kindergarten, all the furniture and shelving products are made of natural materials like wood, beewax, silk and wool, to create a safe environment for your little ones.”

Betty Yau, Vice Principal of Fairchild Kindergarten, says there are no specific restrictions and rules in the playgroup. “Our enthusiastic educators let children investigate, discover, inquire, solve problems and, therefore, learn in their own way,” she explains.

“One of the amazing things here is we bring the ‘outdoors’ in by adding natural elements such as wood, straw, water, sand and soil in our learning environment,” she concludes. (www.fairchild.academy)

Education


Education

Kids Change makers Award

Date: Saturday, April 29, 2017 Time: 2:00pm – 5:00pm, Registration starts at 1:30pmVenue: The Hong Kong Jockey Club Hall Asia Society Hong Kong Center, 9 Justice Drive, Admiralty, Hong KongAdmission: Open for Public Registration

As an inaugural community initiative, Kids4Kids is recognizing all the passionate groups and individuals that dedicate their time to helping and being involved with children.

To be held on 29th April 2017, the first annual "Kids Change Makers Awards"

hosted by Kids4Kids will see more than 350 educators, parents and students coming together to celebrate the creativity and devotion of different schools, learning centers and individual volunteers for making a difference.

Taking place at the Asia Society Hong Kong Center, the ceremony will reward the winners of Writing for a Cause (WFAC) competition 2016, and express its appreciation for the community partners and young teenagers devoted to Kids4Kids volunteer services.

The competition aims to promote literacy in primary school children and inspire kids from a wide range of social, economic and cultural backgrounds to write creative stories. Kids4Kids values and celebrates these young writers and illustrators that have made impressive creative accomplishments.

This year, more awards have been added to recognize the achievements of these outstanding future writers and artists. The winning stories will be published in colorful bilingual English and Pinyin storybooks - Kids4Kids Treasury.

B e t t y C h e u n g , o w n e r o f Artjamming and one of the judges of this year’s WFAC competition, said, “The best part about the judging is, after reading countless stories, there are always a few unsuspecting moments when one little story takes you by utter surprise and leaves an indelible impression, or when you are overwhelmed by some simply charming characters, a refreshing sense of humor, or a subtle yet real bittersweet ending.”

Megan, one of the participants of the WFAC Competition 2016, shared her insights into finishing a story as the author and the illustrator, “Writing and drawing a book on my own is more difficult than imagined. This makes me realize that persistence is an important key to success. I would like to thank my parents and teacher for their unfailing support.”

Over the past 9 years, Kids4Kids has offered different opportunities for kids of all ages to help other less-fortunate kids through the WFAC competition, the Buddy Reading Program, and Action for a Cause.

Recognizing those who make a difference to child welfare

Megan Mak

As one of the leading e d u c a t i o n s u p p o r t programmes in the world, ‘K id s Read ’ p rov ide s read ing ma t e r i a l s t o children everywhere.

Launched in the Middle East and North Africa in 2011 and sponsored exclusively by HSBC, ‘Kids Read’ was developed

by the British Council to provide engaging and child-friendly reading for pleasure resources and materials in primary schools supported by the English for Education Systems team at the British Council Hong Kong.

The programme has reached over 50,000 schoolchildren currently, with an additional 15,000 children and parents participating in community events around the world. Recently, the programme was renewed in Asia in 2016 in Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

‘Kids Read’ will continue until December 2017 and include a children’s fiction book collection and materials, professional development sessions for teachers, community events for parents and children with the support of school teachers and HSBC volunteers, and competitions to engage the participating communities of children.

The British Council has been working with education institutions and partners to provide high-quality interactive workshops, creative events and consultancy to meet the professional development needs of Hong Kong teachers and students for over 25 years.

Any schools interested in joining the programme should visit www.britishcouncil.hk/en/teach/kids-read-programme or contact: [email protected]

Promoting reading

across the world


EducationEducation


Programmes

Born to move!Boasting the largest private gymnastics centre in Hong Kong, Kidnetic helps kids shed the cocoons and grow into elegant adults through gymnastics and other sports.

Nurturing little ladies and gentlemenPowerful and elegant as it is, gymnastics is like no other

conventional sports. Its movements aim not only to train physical abilities, but also to demonstrate the beauty of the human body. In coping with children who seem to have unlimited, unspent energy, parents can either give up and let them mess up the house, or channel their energy into this healthy and exquisite sport.

Gymnastics is a spor t that trains up the balance, strength, f lexibility, agility, endurance and control of the body. It helps improve gesture by training the muscles of arms, legs, shoulders, chest and abdominal muscle group. Important mental traits, such as alertness, precision, self-confidence and self-discipline, can also be trained through

gymnastics practices. In v iew of the proven

contributions gymnastics make to the physical and mental development of a growing child, parents can expect their little one to avoid becoming a couch-potato, and grow into an all-round adult that exudes a natural charisma and elegance.

Safety comes firstSafety always comes first in taking up sports. Kidnetic, Hong Kong’s

largest private gymnasium, offers safe training grounds in its 7,000-sq.ft. venue in Kowloon Bay. All certified by Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG), Kidnetic has a full range of Europe-imported gymnastics equipments including the only Aerobic Floor in H.K. to guarantee a safe environment to train your little darlings. It also boasts leisure facilities, such as Hong Kong’s first private Foam Pit and the Spieth kids’ playground, for parties and other activities.

Professional trainingAdopting an uncompromising attitude to quality training, Kidnetic

hires only top-tier coaches with professional qualification. Tiffany Tai, Programme Director of Kidnetic, is a former member of the Hong Kong Gymnastics Team and coach of the Hong Kong Aerobic Gymnastics Elite Team. In addition to qualifications such as FIG Level 1 Academy, coach and judge FIG certificate of Aerobic, Artistic and Rhythmic Gymnastics, Tiffany is well-qualified to coach and lead competitions. Aiming at sharing gymnastics with everyone in the society, Tiffany created the first Parent-Child Team in the Hong Kong Gymnastics For All Festival in 2012 and the first 3-Generations Team performing in 2016 which involved toddlers and grandparents from under 2 to over 90!

“Besides teaching experience and professional qualifications, the ability of understanding children’s needs is always the major prerequisite when we look for coaches. Our coaching team is dedicated to bringing the joy of gymnastics to children of all ages,” says Tiffany. Besides Tiffany, all Kidnetic coaches are all qualified and experienced, including former China Gymnastics National Team members and coach trainers in Hong Kong.

Most of the programmes are integrated with the British Gymnastics Funfit Rewards & Proficiency Awards Scheme. Certificates and badges will be awarded upon completion of each level. Trial class is available for all programmes.

Kidsgym – for toddlersSports, Music and Games are the best

par tners to develop children’s multiple intelligence. Toddlers aged from 1 to 4.5 will be divided into 3 classes according to their age to learn different physical and social skills. Parents are required to participate if their children are 1 to 2 years old.

SynergymSynergym offers professional training programmes

in gymnastics and cheerleading for older children. Students of Synergym have participated in numerous overseas activities since 2002, such as “13th World Gymnaestrada” (Austria, 2007/Finland, 2015), “Prime International Invitational Gymnastics Competition” (Singapore, since 2008), “3rd Cheerleading Asia International Open Championships” (Japan, 2009), “5th Asian Gymnaestrada” (Qingdao, 2016).

Private Coaching

Private Coaching is available for participants who are looking for intensive training, coaching of specific techniques (e.g. competitive athletes in gymnastics, martial art, ice-skating) or coaching for kids with special learning needs.

Linksgym – tailored designed for special learning needs

Gymnastics has been proven to be beneficial to children with special learning needs. Through systematic training, children can strengthen their vestibular and proprioceptive systems and improve body coordination and balancing.

Age: 3 +Class Size: 6Class Duration: 45 mins

Age: 3 +Class Size: 6Class Duration: 45 mins / 60 mins

Age: 4.5 +Class Size: 10Class Duration: 1.5 hour +

Age Range: 1 - 4.5Class Size: 8Class Duration: 1 hourAged 1-2: Adult & ChildAged 2-3: Independent ChildAged 3-4.5: Action Balance Coordination

Kidnetic also provides venues and services to host parties for your little princes and princesses.

Kidnetic Birthday Parties

KidneticTel: 2153 1033 | 2153 1028 Fax: 2153 1035 Email: [email protected] Facebook: Kidnetic YouTube: KidneticsportsAddress: Unit 4, Level 7, MegaBox, 38 Wang Chiu Rd, Kowloon Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Our summer programs is

now open for registration

Indoor adventure


iKea L4, MegaBox, 38 Wang Chiu Road, Kowloon Bay 3125 0888 Store: 10:30am – 10:30pm;

Restaurant and Café: 8:00am – 10:00pm www.ikea.com

TEXT: RAINE TANG

Shop and

Looking for a place for your kids to stay while you go off shopping? Drop them off at Småland—the dynamic and safe children’s playroom!

Småland in Ikea is an adventurous indoor play area with a swamp forest setting, where children can feel

the Swedish forest atmosphere. While they are playing in this free-of-charge playroom, you can enjoy your shopping experience knowing your children will be safe and cared for.

Located in MegaBox, Kowloon Bay, this forest-themed play area is now four times bigger with an expanded ball pit. Besides, the playroom offers a wide range of games and facilities to develop the hand-eye coordination for kids.

The playroom caters to children who are between four and 10 years old (90cm to 120cm tall). Each session lasts 45 minutes.

Featuring blue and red balls, the ball pit is the best place for kids to have a blast throwing, crawling and burning energy in a sea full of balls.

Various worksheets, toys and drawing materials are provided at the corner.

IKEA Restaurant & CafeComplete your IKEA journey with refreshment offered

by the IKEA Restaurant & Cafe! Pop in the restaurant for a quick snack or stay for a

leisurely breakfast, lunch or dinner in Swedish style. It also serves organic children’s meal, houses a nursery room plus complimentary baby food with any purchase.

play

Ball pit Art and craft corner

Climb a spider web

Secret pier tunnel

Virtual playground

The 10 -foot long s p i d e r w e b l e t s kids get a work-out while developing t h e i r h a n d - e y e coordination. A s e c r e t t u n n e l

under the pier is another great place to hide while playing hide-and-seek.

The virtual playground is set outside of the controlled area. A motion-activated game lets kids play with their entire body all day long.

Indoor adventure


Indoor adventure

TEXT: RAINE TANG

All Aboard!

Set sail on a family-friendly cruise and discover a series of kids, teens and family cruise activities.

Princess Cruises, the global cruise line and tour company, is expanding its Discovery at Sea partnership with reimagined youth centers, including

new experiences and center designs to help young Princess explorers learn, play and create fun memorable memories while on a cruise vacation.

Dedicated facilitiesCatering to specific age groups, three core facilities are built-in to let

your little ones make new friends and participate in activities specially designed for them.

• The Treehouse, ages 3-7: A bright, whimsical forest and animal-themed center including captivating creatures and hands-on activities for kids to focus on play time, creativity and the world around them.

• The Lodge, ages 8-12: Inspired by the great outdoors, this cozy center is filled with sports activities and fun places for kids to explore, hang out and lounge.

• The Beach House, for ages 13-17, offers a contemporary surf-themed lounge, featuring a cool place for teens to hang out and socialize. The teen activities include Rock the Boat Party, Movies, Teen makeovers and glitter tattoos, Dance Classes and Competitions.

Camp Discovery destination-themed programs

Focusing on the Caribbean, Alaska and Europe, the new children programs (for ages 3-12) will immerse young cruisers into the culture, nature and customs of these regions. Core

experiences include:

Play— indoor and outdoor gaming, sports and physical activities like Shark Hunters, Alaskan Explorers and various sports activities.

Discover— places, animals and hands-on experiments like MythBusters Science Activities, Survive Alaska.

Huddle— fun interactive activities like Extreme Sea Carnival, Wild Alaska Festival, Talent shows and Theme nights with peers.

Create— arts, crafts and science exploration like making Animal Planet puppets, masks and paintings that are inspired by regional wildlife, creating a solar system or building a “stomp rocket”.

In addition, your whole family can enjoy a family fair in the Piazza featuring carnival-like booths and activities, family trivia, Stargazing with Discovery at Sea, family game night and new soon-to-be announced family-themed programs. (www.princess.com)


FeatureFeature


The Light Dragon

Director: Joshua Wolper Show Genre: Multimedia Venue: Auditorium, Yuen Long Theatre Date: April 28 -30, 2017 Enquiry: 2520 6232Email: [email protected] Special: April 28, 2:30pm, 4:30pm (Book by March 31 to get 10% for purchase 50 student tickets or more)Public Show: April 28, 7:30pm, April 29, 2:30pm, April 30, 2:30pmTicket Prices: HK$160 Discount: • 50% discount for Student / Senior Citizen aged 60 or above / Disabled & Minder • 10% discount for purchase of 4-9 standard price tickets • 15% discount for purchase of 10-19 standard price tickets • 20% discount for purchase of 20-40 standard price tickets

A multimedia boundary busting theatre production for youthsExploring his fascination with the old Kowloon Walled City and its history, Joshua Wolper’s latest play—The Light Dragon—brings together the past and the present; fantasy and reality; and theatre and motion pictures.

TEXT: RAINE TANG

Produced by Shakespeare4All, the Light Dragon is a fun and heart-warming story that explores a piece of Hong Kong’s history, and the power of storytelling. Joshua Wolper,

resident actor and director at Shakespeare4All, will direct and assist in the production. The production will be staged at the Yuen Long Theatre from April 28 to 30, 2017, and will incorporate multimedia into the production.

Joshua Wolper, resident actor and director at Shakespeare4All

Through a chance encounter in the Kowloon Walled City Memorial Park, a local teenaged school student and a middle-aged foreign visitor share their connection to the neighborhood, and embark on an adventure that bends time and space, enabling them to explore the history and mythology around the Kowloon Walled City.

This story explores friendship, perseverance, and the power of storytelling – all the while honoring the significance of our cultural

heritage, and reminding us that the past is not always as distant as it seems.

This production incorporates video, archival footage, and motion graphics to help convey the story, blending live action and cinema on stage, and history and fantasy in the story.

The play will be staged in English with Chinese subtitles.

The Story

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Attention, parents! Be aware of “lazy eye” disorder

Visionary parents should be aware of the risk of “lazy eye” disorder as an official study shows that up to 4% of Hong Kong students suffer from this ailment.

Don’t overlook amblyopia Commonly known as ‘lazy eye’, amblyopia causes poor vision, and usually

affects just one eye (unilateral amblyopia). Inadequate visual stimulation to the brain during a child’s development can result in partial or even permanent vision

loss. Affecting roughly one to four per cent of children worldwide, amblyopia remains a major cause of poor vision among minors.

According to Student Health Service, about 2 to 4% of children (under eight years old) suffer from some form of amblyopia, with most of the cases being of the unilateral type. The most common causes are unequal refraction in the two eyes (anisometropia), and misalignment of the eyes (strabismus).

Orbis Volunteer Ophthalmologist Dr. Flora Lau points out that amblyopia problems are primarily related to the development of the brain’s

visual cortex during childhood. What makes unilateral amblyopia especially worrying is that there are no observable symptoms on the affected eye, and

people with the disorder can still see properly with their good eye. Hence, visual screening test helps parents discover their young children’s visual problems, especially for those who are too small to tell their parents about amblyopia.

Don’t miss early diagnosisThe best treatment comes with early diagnosis and intervention.

“From birth to eight years old is the critical period for visual development,” Dr. Lau explains. “It is important for children to see with clear images during this developmental period in order to stimulate the visual area of the brains.”

As children who receive treatment after this period will suffer from lower vision in the amblyopic eye for the rest of their lives, Dr Lau underlines the importance of regular visual screening tests. “Try a simple ‘Pirate Game’ with your children to check their eye sight,” she suggests.

Parents can occlude each eye of the child alternatively and ask him/her to look at a picture or a word. If the child appears to tilt the head or squeeze the eye, parents should seek an ophthalmologist’s advice with their child.

Orbis Blindfold Lunch

In join ing hands to raise the public awareness of amblyopia, Orbis Hong Kong, AXA Hong Kong and Sanrio recently hosted the ‘Orbis Blindfold Lunch’ at Rosaryhill School on March 16. Through having lunch and listening to seminars with eyes blindfolded, hundreds of primary students acquired knowledge about amblyopia and first-hand experience of the enormous difficulties of poor vision.

2017 is the sixth year Orbis has organized the Blindfold Lunch event. To date, around 40,000 primary students have taken part in the activity, raising over HK$2,400,000 to support visually impaired people around the world.

Learn more about amblyopia and Orbis at www.orbis.org

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Be Supportive and CaringBreastfeeding can be emotionally and

physica l ly r a t t l i ng. Bet ween hor mones regulating and sleep deprivation, simple words of encouragement and support from you can go a long way. A supportive and caring father plays an important role to make the breastfeeding mother more confident when feeding the baby.

Give Your Wife a Break and Respect her Break

Every time when your little baby cries, help your wife by trying to comfort the baby before passing him off. You can also take up the responsibility of changing his diapers or burp your baby when he is done feeding to make your wife feel that you two are a team.

Be Breastfeeding AssistantGetting the position right to latch on is the

key to breastfeeding. Since you can watch your breastfeeding wife and baby from a different angle than she is, you may be able to offer suggestions about positions since men have a natural sensitivity to visual angles.

Bottle-feed Your Baby After breastfeeding for three to four weeks,

introduce your baby to a bottle and start taking over at feeding times. Philips AVENT offers a range of breast pumps to make breastfeeding easier and more comfortable. The Philips AVENT Natural range, it is designed to combine breast and bottle feeding. After pumping your breast milk, it can be stored with Philips AVENT Natural bottles. (www.philips.com.hk)

TEXT: RAINE TANG

What role can fathers play in breastfeeding?

Bringing health to underprivileged children

Eating healthy comes as an expensive luxury as most underprivileged families in Hong Kong cannot afford for their children. This

is why VEA Restaurant & Lounge’s Executive Chef Vicky Cheng launches the “Elizabeth Nutrition Fund”, in collaboration with

ChickenSoup Foundation, to support healthier diets for Hong Kong’s underprivileged children. For every generous donation made, Chef Vicky will gift the donor his Japanese White Strawberry & Bird’s Nest Jam created exclusively for the campaign.

To create the exclusive batches, VEA’s Kitchen Team flew in 200 packs of top-quality “White Diamond” Japanese white strawberries that retail at US$10 a piece. Chef Vicky’s own parents chipped in the bird’s nest ingredient, a traditional Chinese delicacy best known for its immense skincare benefits.

For every malnourished young child, HK$600 is enough to secure a 3-month supply of fruits, HK$1,200 for 6 months, and HK$2,400 for a year. A tax-deductible receipt will be issued upon request, and can be used to redeem the special jam gift at VEA Restaurant & Lounge. Every single cent from the jam purchases will be 100% channeled to the charity fund for a good cause.

a) Credit card - www.simplygiving.com/event/ ElizabethNutritionFund

b) Direct bank transfer to HSBC 023-379936-838

c) Mail check payable to "ChickenSoup Foundation Limited" at Shop 3, 32 Oi Kwan Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong

HOW TO DONATE

Yeah, we know there are a lot of breastfeeding articles for the mothers, how about the fathers? Fathers are obliged to extend their support to breastfeeding mothers as well as to build a bonding with their bab ies. Here are some tips for the new dads.

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Walt Disney Archives presents “Winnie the Pooh: Be My Friend” Exhibition & Photo Area

Date: Today – April 23, 2017Time: 10am to 10pm, dailyLocation: Times Square Hong Kong G/F Open Piazza: Exhibition and photo area

TEXT: RAINE TANG

Hangin’ With Winnie the PoohTimes Square is housing an enduring collection of Winnie the Pooh art and artifacts.

From today to April 23, 2017, Winnie the Pooh and his friends have travelled across the world to meet their Hong Kong friends at “Winnie the Pooh: Be My Friend” exhibition,

at Times Square.

Ground Level Open Piazza“Winnie the Pooh: Be My Friend” exhibition includes 92 pieces of rare artifacts such

as storybooks, sketches, original animated cels and toys from the Walt Disney Archives collection, based at The Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California, U.S.A. Over half of these historical items that have long been kept under lock and key are going on public display

for the very first time for fans of all ages. “We are thrilled to bring to life and share the world of Winnie the Pooh and the Hundred Acre Wood in Hong Kong. Pooh's appeal spans generations, and the exhibition will give fans a look into the artistry behind one of the world's most beloved characters. It will be a

celebration of Winnie the Pooh's heritage, where guests can immerse themselves in the storytelling adventure,” says Rebecca Cline, Director of Walt Disney Archives.

The beautiful and magical Hundred Acre Wood, where Winnie the Pooh and his friends live, will be given a

new look and brought to life outside of the exhibition hall. Hong Kong fans will be greeted by 19 figures including gigantic 3-meter tall Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, Rabbit, Owl,

Kanga, Roo, Gopher and more. (2118 8900)

Rebecca Cline joined The Walt Disney Company in 1989, and became a member of the

staff of the Walt Disney Archives in 1993. Today, as Director of the Archives, She is charged with

collecting and preserving all aspects of Disney history and making the material available to researchers from all

areas of the Walt Disney Company as well as to historians, writers, documentarians and fans around the world. Her many responsibilities include maintaining and conserving the Archives’ collections of historical documents, artwork, character merchandise, costumes, props and memorabilia.

Rebecca Cline, Director, Walt Disney Archives


ExhibitionExhibition

Spring is in the air as more congenial weather greets the arrival of April. In order to take advantage

of the change in season, many educational and fun- f i l l ed programmes are

scheduled around town.

New prep course for French learners

Alliance Française de Hong Kong (AFHK), the premier French language institute, is offering a new workshop to prepare secondary school students for the official French exam. Preparation for DELF Junior

Suitable for secondary school students (11-17 years old), this new workshop is an all-round practice towards the DELF Junior official d iploma issued by the French Ministry of National Education.

DELF and DALF are French language qualifications recognized all over the world, which attest to a level of competence and mastery of the French language for those with French as a second language.

DELF Junior has the same basic structure as the standard DELF, but with interesting topics for young people. The diploma awarded is identical to the standard DELF diploma.

Learners who obtain B2 level are able to apply for public universities in France. À petits pas courses

‘À petits pas’ is a first step for child ren aged

four to five to discover the French language and culture in AFHK’s three centers.

Through a series of stimulating and playful classroom activities, such as graphic creations, active and imitative games and nursery rhymes, children are able to learn French through a story book, and will work on their own graphic creations of what they have learnt in class. Children Courses

Specially designed for children aged six to seven, they will learn French through a story book and a large variety of fun activities in a small class.

ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE DE HONG KONG

2017 Spring Term: April 10 – June 26 Wan Chai | Jordan | Sha Tin 2730 3257 | WhatsApp: 6153 8466 www.afhongkong.org

Drama timeFor 18 years, Faust International has brought the

wonderful world of theatre and performing arts to the young people of Hong Kong. Since then the group has been

holding sought-after holiday programmes in both Theatre and Creative Writing. This year, the theme will be woodland adventures. Faust will be exploring

stories such as ‘The Gruffalo’, ‘Robin Hood’ and many more exciting tales for all ages. The Easter Theatre workshops are for ages four through to 13 (different age groups are available at different times) and take place at their studio in Sheung Wan.

For more information, please contact [email protected].

Stage front jubilee

Springtime campersFollowing the success of their summer

camps, Rumple and Friends has put together two weeks of fun and exciting Easter camp activities for students.

With a different theme for each week, the first week (from April 3rd to 6th) features their signature ‘Circus and Magic’ course. Students get to take home their own magic kit at the end

of the week. The second week (from April 10th to 13th)

is titled ‘Play in a week!’, and is a brand new course that sees all budding actors, puppeteers and adventurers put on an awesome play in a week complete with loads of fun costumes and props.

For more information, please contact [email protected].

Easter Holiday treatsThe season of growth and rebirth is back once again, and the best way to celebrate it is a hearty meal with your little ones.

Refreshing feastOver the four-day holiday Easter weekend, DiVino Patio is offering a variety

of meal options throughout the day, providing extra flexibility for families and adults looking for a place to relax and people-gaze the lazy hours away.

During lunch and dinner times, Patio serves a full a la carte selection, including black

board specialties of spring and Easter dishes such as white asparagus

and eggs. For diners who prefer something a little lighter, there is the new ‘ Easter Weekend Power Lunch’ available across all four days, offering light, spring inspired dishes with an Easter twist.

From 3pm through 5:30pm, banana and Nutella pizzas are

thrown, fired and served creating a mouthwatering teatime indulgence.

(2877 3552)

Sweet temptationsKITCHEN at W Hong Kong

is taking desserts and chocolate up a notch with beautiful confections for Easter. Guest will be able to get their fill on the freshest seafood, mouth-watering sweets and plenty of traditional holiday fare with its signature Wonderland twist.

There is a wide array of quirky desserts, including the legendary Rainbow Cake, rabbit macaroons, coconut mousse and mango cream eggs and chocolate rabbits.

Patrons will experience an explosion of flavors as they discover the f lame-grilled sea scallop sushi with yuzu-sesame soy sauce, Boston lobster sushi rolls and Thai marinated baby spring chicken with asparagus, peas, French beans, baby carrots and black pepper coconut truffle sauce.

Easter is all about spending time with friends and family, and the restaurant will be celebrating with a special ‘Kids Eat For Free’ promotion for the entire month of April for both the lunch and dinner buffet. One child eats for free per paying adult. (3717 2299)

5% discount forEarly Bird registration(1 - 26 March 2017)

Easter fun


Easter fun

The Arcade x Wonderland “Kids GT Racing Carnival”

Date: 14th April to 17th April, 2017 (4 Days)Time: 10:00a.m. to 7:00p.m.Venue: The Arcade and The Podium, L4, Cyberport 2

Ticket fee: Game Ticket - $200 (With 15 Game Point)Enquiry: 2376 4978Website: www.wonderland4kiz.com

Reving up for some ecstatic Easter fun!

In celebration of the Easter holidays, The Arcade and Wonderland has joined forces to bring a multitude of games and events that will ensure a joyous long weekend for family and friends alike.

The Arcade x Wonderland ‘Kids GT Racing Carnival’ will take place from April 14th

to the 17th, and play host to eight main-featured attractions and over ten classic game booths.

The main attraction and namesake event of the festival is the ‘Outdoor GT Racing Challenge’. It will provide a safe haven for kids to experience the full throttle of a mini GT racecar. Surrounded with inflatable fence, the outdoor race track welcomes kids to rev up the engines, where parents can show their support by cheering them on at the sidelines. The carnival will feature two separate race tracks, suitable for kids between 90 cm and 120cm. Participation in this racing game requires pre-registration.

For those who would rather bump tires than be speed stars, the mini Bumper Cars game will give kids some action-packed entertainment knocking into one another. The game also has a parent-seat bumper car, allowing families to chase one another and have a really good time.

A mainstay of all Easter celebrations is the Easter egg hunt, and this carnival is no different. The game will take place on the lawn outside of the Arcade, where families can enjoy the open air, and be in touch with nature. Specially designed Easter eggs will be spread around the area, and it’s up to those with keen eyes to locate them with the clues at hand. Spell out the alphabets hidden in the eggs and have a chance to win something monumental.

The Digital Zone will feature two interactive projection games, a creative aquarium and a touch-sensory based floor game. Through image sketching, the aquarium turns a simple piece of drawing into an interactive 3D creation. Young artists will only need to doodle on the magic paper, and their visions

of fishes will immediately be projected to the wall as a 3D sea creature swimming in the

aquarium. The floor game on the other hand pairs with projected image with

somatosensory sensors to enable kids to jump around and dance along to the electronic beats provided.

To f u r t h e r e n h a n c e t h e atmosphere, the Arcade will feature two Bouncy Obstacle Castles with built-in courses, suitable for kids’ height range 90 to 140cm.

The children will be able to explore their adventurous side while jumping

around without a care in the world. There is also the“STRIKE” Bowling Fun

with four bowling lanes suitable for kids and let them feel the joy of hitting a strike.

On top of the main attractions, the ten classic game booths will give players a chance to win cute and lovely plush toys from ‘Little Adventures’, a collaborative design series by Hong Kong and Canadian artists.

Easter fun


Easter fun

Boys need

fashion too!

TEXT: Cindy WAn

The taste of a gentleman does not pop up

from nowhere, but nurtured all along in his

childhood by discerning parents and, of

course, fashionable outfits. Check out these

spring/summer items and dress your little

one into prince charming.

A. Gusella 2833 8338 www.gusella.comB. H&M 3973 7123 www.hm.com/hkC. Tommy Hilfiger global.tommy.com

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B

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Fashion


Fashion

The spring princess

TEXT: Cindy WAn

As the weather warms up, it’s time for your little girls to clear out the wardrobe and fill in new

dresses. See if these spring/summer items below can bring some new looks to your precious princesses.

B

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B

A

A

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A. A Bonpoint www.bonpoint.comB. Cath Kidston 2310 6073 www.cathkidston.hkC. Gusella 2833 8338 www.gusella.com


Fashion


Fashion

Alliance Française de Hong Kong1 & 2/F, 123 Hennessy Road Wan Chai2527 [email protected]

Bumps To Babes21/F Floor Horizon Plaza, 2 Lee Wing Street, Ap Lei Chau2552 [email protected]

ESF International Kindergartens● Abacus - 2719 5712 [email protected]● Hillside - 2540 0066 [email protected]● Tsing Yi - 2436 3355 [email protected]● Wu Kai Sha - 2435 5291 [email protected]● Tung Chung - 3742 3500 [email protected]

Face Productions● Hong Kong Address: 21/F Coda Plaza, 51 Garden Road, Central● Kowloon Address: 28 Cumberland Road, Kowloon Tong 2103 5255 [email protected]

KidneticUnit 4, Level 7, MegaBox, 38 Wang Chiu Rd, Kowloon Bay2153 1033/ 2153 [email protected]

Starters School International Kindergarten1B, 1/F, Queen’s Road East, Wanchai2527 [email protected]

YWCA Centre of Learning and Life Enhancement3/F, 1 Macdonnell Road, Central3476 [email protected]

DirecTory


Documents

Mar / apr 2017 - The · PDF fileMar / apr 2017 Happy and safe Breastfeeding roles tHe ligHt dragon Winnie tHe pooH. Andy Ng Features Editor ... It is ESF’s fifth kindergarten with