Wednesday, May 28, 2014

June Holiday Workshop Giveaway #1 - Pointillism at Heart Studio

:: Pointillism
[Noun]: the theory or practice in art of applying small strokes or dots of color to a surface so that from a distance they blend together. Source

Ever since Dumpling and I did an artist study on Vincent Van Gogh some years back, she has been very fascinated with the idea of Pointillism. The ability to form a picture using dots (a 'blurred' view at a near distance) to create a picture which is ‘clear’ from a distance intrigued her. At the Heart Studio’s Holiday Workshop last December, when she saw the technique being taught and explored in Little Picasso class (her level), she was very excited and wanted to try it out.

And this was what she finished up with after the workshop:


In this workshop, children will learn not only about the style but also composition: 

and the technique of forming objects / painting using a dotting approach.

What I really like about it is that it not only enhances fine motor skills (it requires hard work!) but also focus and perseverance. For the June holiday, Heart Studio is organising a Pointillism camp again! This camp stretches over a period of 3 days and details are as below:

:: Landscape Pointillism 
1.30-4pm
16 - 18th June 2014

I am pleased to share that I have one holiday pass for this 3-day workshop worth more than $200 to give away!

Enter the Rafflecopter below! Good luck!


:: Terms and Conditions:
- Entries that do not fulfill the requirements stated will be disqualified without notice.
- The child has to be 5 years and above, based on the month and year of birth.
No repeat winners are allowed.
- Winners will be notified by email, through the email address provided.
Winners must confirm by reply email or phone call, within three days. Otherwise, a new winner will be picked.
- No changing of date or time is allowed.
- No Existing Customer allowed.
- This giveaway is open to Singapore residents only. 

If you have enjoyed this post, please follow me on my Facebook Page where I share my parenting thoughts, food photos (be prepared for tons of them!), early shout outs for giveaways and interact with you, my readers! You can also follow me on Pinterest and Instagram

Monday, May 26, 2014

June Holiday Fun!

This June Holiday will be a mad fun period for us. As I needed to also clear my leave at work, so I took the opportunity to register for various workshops for the kiddo. Not sure what to do or where to go during this month long period?

Here's sharing some ideas for your kiddo this June holiday!

:: Outdoor Fun

Singapore Botanical Gardens Workshops and Tours
Instead of getting the child all cooped up at home, why not have some hands-on Science fun at the Gardens?

How does observing and catching dragonflies with your kiddo sound? Or if you prefer a more relaxed approach, you can opt for one of their Investigative Biodiversity workshop on Rainforest or meeting some Jungle Friends (a night walk) or learning more about the Grassland.


We have signed up for the Jungle Friends workshop which sounds pretty interesting! Here's the synopsis:


"Walk on the wild side in one of Singapore's oldest rainforest patches at night! The Singapore Botanic Gardens’ Rainforest boardwalk trail is home to beetles and bugs, the Whip Scorpion, Short-nosed Fruit Bat, Common Palm Civet, Collared Scops-owl and Long-tailed Nightjar. This wildlife lesson will start with a slide-talk on nocturnal wildlife of the Gardens’ rainforest, followed by a guided night walk in the rainforest. Children will also have fun planting their own potted plants to bring home!" (photo credit: nparks)


Sounds interesting? Click on the links above for more information and to register. 

:: Holiday Art Workshop
If outdoor is not your thing and your kiddo is more artistically inclined, Heart Studio is running some holiday programmes too. Targeted at children from 3YO right up to above 7YO, you are spoilt for choices.


If you wish to know more about what goes on in their regular classes, you can read about it herehere and here


Here's a piece of good news! I have signed Dumpling up for their Pointillism workshop which is from 16 - 18 June and Heart Studio has kindly sponsored a spot for that workshop for a give away! So stay tuned for the shout out later this week!



Heart Studio LLP
1 Charlton Lane #01-04 , Singapore 539631
Tel: (65) 6554 7563
Fax: (65) 6554 7562
Email: info@heartstudiosg.com

:: Writers Workshops

1) British Council
British Council is running some holiday programmes this June. These are some workshops which look to be quite fun and caught my eye!

For P1 and P2:

Roald Dahl Magic - Matilda 
Matilda is one of our favorite Roald Dahl tales (along with many others I must say) and I was really keen to explore this option. The class aims to develop grammar accuracy, writing skills, reading skills, enlarging the child's vocabulary and building up his / her confidence. 

(PS: There is also one on Dogs and Villains and yes, it is also for Primary school level. These workshop will be something that I will look into again next year. :))

Location varies according to dates. Please click on header for more information. Fees: $640 incl of GST, 5 mornings from 9am - 1pm. 


2) Monsters Under the Bed (MUTB)

I have always been intrigued by the organisation's name as well as its fun writing workshops! Come June,
MUTB is running a 3-day workshop - Monsters HuntINK also targeted at the Primary School students who are"raring to take a trip on the wild side! Monsters have long dominated the human imagination, from huge dragons to secret werewolves, and they are powerful metaphors for our fears and hopes."


Venue: Living Room
Event Timing: 10am-1pm
Date: 5 - 7 June 2014
Fees: $280

3) Lorna Whiston
Carousel - K1 and K2
This was something that I soooooo wanted to go but I did not sign Dumpling up for it because it is a full-day event. For the K1 / K2 programme, this will be on the theme of Prince and Princess dress up. Here's an excerpt of the overview:

Dress up as Snow White! Transform yourself into Prince Charming!

Our enchanting new drama programme will capture the imagination of every child, and will boost their creativity, and their ability to speak and perform with confidence! This programme will cultivate your child to love the power of the written word, to speak confidently in drama and create and express himself/herself in art.


Period: 9 - 13 June 2014



United Square
101 Thomson Road
#03-18 / #04-22 United Square
Singapore 307591

Level 3 Tel: 6253 7688

:: Sporty Fun
Intensive Camp at The Rink


As you may be aware, the kiddo and I both signed up for ice skating classes and what a better way to beat the heat this June than to head out to The Rink. The Rink offers weekly as well as an intensive camp during the holiday season. 

The usual 5-weekly lessons (30mins) have been condensed into 4 lessons of 45 mins each. Here's a look at their schedule


The RinkLevel 3, JCube
Singapore 609731
Email: info@therink.sg
2 Jurong East Central 1
Tel: +65 6684 2374/5 (hotline) or 6684 2379

Opening Hours:
Monday: 10.00 am - 9.30 pm (until the first week of Aug 2013)
Tuesday to Thursday & Sunday: 10.00 am - 9.30 pm
Friday & Saturday, eve of PH & PH: 10.00 am - 11.45 pm

:: Frozen Fun
The Science League - Frozen cupcake chemistry workshop

This came up in my search and looking at how fast the seats have filled up, it goes to show that Singapore has definitely NOT gotten over the Frozen phase yet. 


Picture
















Details:
Dates: 25 June (Wed) 
Time: 1 to 4 pm ( 3 hours)
Venue: The Science League at 221 Bishan St 23
Special Price: NOW $36 per child (incl. baking materials, age-appro science notes, and a special rhinestone tiara) (USUAL $56)
Suitable for: Ages 5 - 9 years old

Call: 6451 0433 or sign up below. (limited vacancies per session)


:: Science Fun @ The Science Centre

From Story Telling to Fun Science workshops, Science Centre seems to have the younger children in mind his season. 

Details:

Dates: 24 May – 29 June 2014
Opening Hours: 10am – 6pm (Mon to Sun) 
Science Centre admission charges apply




:: Theatrical Fun

And of course, not forgetting the Performing Arts scene - ACE Festival. ACE Festival is one festival that Dumpling and I certainly look forward to yearly. This year, the festival features 5 plays with 2 spilling into June: Dotty the Dragon and Starbird. In addition, there are also a series of workshops included too - Writer's workhop, Craft, etc.  We will be reviewing Dotty the Dragon so stay tuned! 

Here's an excerpt of the ACE Festival from the website

ACE!-014
ACE! 2014 is a most exciting collection of performances, workshops and activities for 3-14 year olds, and their grown-ups.
The theme for ACE! Festival 2014 is Long Ago and Far Away. We will explore not just stories, music, and performance but experiences, environments, cultures, sights and sounds that will excite all senses. Let your imagination travel through time and space as you create your own adventures from long ago and far away, or maybe right up-to-date and close to home!
As part of our 5th Anniversary celebration, we have chosen 5 special local and international productions of world-class standards. These productions embrace family learning through a colourful and stimulating environment where stories are told in a sensory and visual way.
Click on the header to buy your tickets! 

 If you have enjoyed this post, please follow me on my Facebook Page where I share my parenting thoughts, food photos (be prepared for tons of them!), early shout outs for giveaways and interact with you, my readers! You can also follow me on Pinterest and Instagram

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Book Talk Tuesday - REVIEW + GIVEAWAY! Purple Paw Prints & Paw Prints on the Magic Sofa

:: Purple Paw Prints
Being a dog lover, I was captivated by the illustration of the purple dog when I received copies of Sarah Mounsey's Paw Prints books to review. 

 

The main character, Eddie (possibly out of boredom) decided to paint Oscar one day and in PURPLE too! What ensues is a hilarious tale of how Eddie tried to rectify his mistake. From baths to heading for a car dog wash, Oscar remained purple throughout.




In desperation, Eddie and his sister, Mia, even asked the local fire fighters for help! How will Eddie be able to fix this before his mum and dad return home?

:: Paw Prints on the Magic Sofa
In this second installment of Paw Print series, Sarah brings us on a magical ride as Eddie and his friend, William, travel around the world on Eddie's sofa! Not forgetting Oscar, the boys visited a jungle, rainforest and even a desert!

'Passengers' such as a lion, turtle and even a camel joined them on this magical journey in this highly imaginative tale. A fun and exciting story which had Dumpling and I clambering onto the sofa on a rainy afternoon when we read this; this title provided us with many giggles and a 'flat' torchlight at the end of our pretend play. LOL



:: About the Author
Sarah Mounsey is an Australian author who has been residing in Singapore for more than 12 years with her husband and three sons. She pens the Purple Paws series which won the bronze award in the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards.

As a primary school teacher, Sarah loves engaging young children and has a passion for children’s literature and in trying to help young readers become lifelong lovers of books. 

:: About the Illustrator
Jade Fang started doodling at a very young age and developed a great interest in drawing and painting as a child. She earned both her Bachelor and Masters of Fine Arts in Illustration from The Academy of Art University, San Franciso. She now lives in Singapore, spending most of her peaceful days doodling and making art.

Highly imaginative with a lovely prose, I am excited to share that Closetful of Books is sponsoring NOT ONE, BUT TWO SETS of AUTOGRAPHED titles (2 books each set) in a giveaway.

Earn credits using Rafflecopter below 
(Please share on what is yours and your child(ren)'s favourite pretend play activity / theme in the comment section below. Giveaway is for Singapore Residents ONLY). 


Disclaimer: We received the 2 titles so that we can share our reviews of the books. All opinions, sofa, torchlight, pretend play fun and imagination are 100% our own. 

 If you have enjoyed this post, please follow me on my Facebook Page where I share my parenting thoughts, food photos (be prepared for tons of them!), early shout outs for giveaways and interact with you, my readers! You can also follow me on Pinterest and Instagram

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Rise & Shine Live Great Carnival 2014 + GIVEAWAY!

Rise & Shine Live Great Carnival is back! 


In celebration of the International Year of the Family (IYF), Rise & Shine is proud to present the largest breakfast carnival in Singapore. 

:: What is it about?
Rise & Shine Live Great Carnival is breakfast carnival which celebrates family moments through bonding time and fun activities that are targeted at children of all ages. This year, the organiser is also attempting to break the Singapore Book of Records, for the largest number of families making sandwiches together. Guest-of-honor Minister, Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for the Environment and Water Resources and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ms Grace Fu will also officiate and join 2,000 families at the carnival.

:: Where is it?
Held at The Lawn@Marina Bay, this one day event will brighten everyone’s holiday morning with exciting line-up of kids and family performances and activities.

:: What can we expect / do there?
LOADS! Fun-filled activities that children can look forward to include mini sports trial (soccer, floorball, tennis), bike circuit race, bouncy castle, obstacle course, road safety park, etc. Here's the activities highlight:
  • Kids bike circuit by The Little Bike Shop
  • Rugby, Soccer, Basketball sports try out by Ready Steady Go Kids
  • Bouncy Castle
  • Obstacle Course by JELIC Brain Power Train
  • Road Safety Park by Volkswagen
  • Disney Activity Booth by Disney
  • Foam Party by Port of Lost Wonder
  • Meet & Greet with mascots
  • Cupcake decorating by The Icing Room
  • Balloon sculpting
  • Egg Hunting around The Lawn by Sanofi
  • Face painting

We are definitely looking forward to participating in some of the activities! Now that we have got you excited, here's the event details! :)

:: When is it?
Date: 14 June 2014
Time: 8.00am to 12.30pm

Tickets are on early bird rate now at SGD13 per adult that includes a SGD20 worth of Nutella Breakfast Kit. In addition, first 1,000 sign ups will receive a Rise & Shine limited edition goodie bag worth SGD50. Tickets purchase can be made at www.carnival.riseandshine-expo.com. Early bird registration closes on 13th June, 12pm.

On site registration is welcomed, ticket prices at SGD16.
Best of all: admission for this event is free for all children below 12 years.

I have 3 pairs of tickets to giveaway! Good Luck!


 

Disclaimer: No monetary compensation was received for this post but the family is invited for the event to try out the various activities. Please do not give me the *evil eye* when you see me hogging the Disney booth as I try to relive my 2nd childhood. :)

If you have enjoyed this post, please follow me on my Facebook Page where I share my parenting thoughts, food photos (be prepared for tons of them!), early shout outs for giveaways and interact with you, my readers! You can also follow me on Pinterest and Instagram

Monday, May 12, 2014

Review: Original Sprout

Dumpling and I both have long wavy hair. Hers, in fact, goes way past her waist; we've trimmed her hair 7 times so far (yes, I am counting!) but her hair grows out pretty fast. So looking for a good range of hair and body care products is especially important to us.

I received a set of hair and body care products from Original Sprout (which includes the Natural Shampoo, Hair & Body Baby Wash, Miracle Detangler and Deep Conditioner) and put them to test over a month.


:: About Original Sprout
Original Sprout is a California based family brand and is founded by Inga Tritt, a master stylist. It has set foot in Singapore with its top five products. With a large following by Hollywood celebrity moms, this eco-friendly range of products promotes an environmentally-friendly lifestyle with the utilization of ingredients that are:

· Free from synthetic hormone disruptor
· Free from oestrogen disrupting ingredients
· Free from Sulphate
· Paraben-free
· Does not use Lavender and Tea Tree Oils, Phthalates, Clove or Musk
· 100% vegan; No Soy, Gluten, Honey, Peanut or Dairy
· Parfum with natural extracts
· Environmentally responsible; bio-degradable
· Eco-friendly and not tested on animals

:: Scent
If you are a person who is very sensitive to strong scents, I'd say this range may be for you. Though Dumpling likes fruity scents but personally, I have an issue with my hair smelling like a crate of mangoes. For all the 4 products (as above) that I have tried, I find none of the scents over-powering. Instead, it has a nice and clean finish to it. I especially like the light crisp scent of the Miracle Detangler but more on that product later.

:: Ease of Use
Both the Shampoo and the Hair and Body Baby Wash have pump dispensers that dispense easily and the amount dispensed is generous which works for me due to our hair length. The miracle detangler uses a 'spray release' dispenser and I really like the nozzle used for this. I have used many other products where the nozzle is too fine and I need to give the product many pumps before I can get the amount that I need. But with this detangler, I have no such issues.

:: Cleansing Power
Dumpling and I have different 'cleansing' needs when it comes to shampoos. For her, I like mild shampoos while for me, I have a very sensitive scalp which itches if the shampoo is not suitable. The irony is some anti dandruff actually makes my scalp itch too. When I used the Natural Shampoo, to my pleasant surprise, I have no such issues. However, this shampoo lathers very lightly so it will not be suitable for those who likes tons of foam as they shampoo. If you prefer for a shampoo that lathers more, the Hair and Body Babywash could be an alternative. I have also tried this as a body wash and I like the slight silky feeling even after rinsing; my skin does not feel like its natural oil has been stripped off.

Because I have wavy hair, I use some styling products regularly. When I wash my hair with the Natural Shampoo, I found it a tad mild in removing the styling products totally. So this shampoo will be great for those of you who sport a "wash-and-wear" hairstyle without the usage of any styling product.

:: Favorite Product in the Range


For me, it is a tie between the Miracle Detangler and the Hair and Body Babywash. The Miracle Detangler works like a dream as I rub it into our hair. Light and easily absorbed with no greasy after feel, this is one product which I will definitely be using loads of.

As for the Hair and Body Babywash, I like that the skin is smooth and soft without the 'drying' feel. A quick look at the bottle and I see why: it has a gentle pH for Skin & Hair of 6.0 - 7.0!

:: Price Point
Eco-friendly products are known to be costly especially in Singapore where everything is imported. So I was pleasantly surprised to know that the price point is pretty friendly on the pockets - in fact, it may cost less than some salon brands! Check out the price range below:

  • Natural Shampoo 354ml – SGD$25
  • Deep Conditioner 118ml – SGD$16.90
  • Miracle Detangler 118ml, SGD$16.90
  • Hair & Body Babywash 354ml, SGD$25.00 (Also available in 975ml which retails at SGD$59.00)
Interested to try them out? Original Sprout is available at 48 selected Watsons outlets island wide. For 
more information, visit www.originalsprout.com

Disclosure: I received a set of Original Sprout products to review in order to share my experience of us using the products. No monetary compensation was received. All views (and hair!) are 100% ours. 

If you have enjoyed this post, please follow me on my Facebook Page where I share my parenting thoughts, food photos (be prepared for tons of them!), early shout outs for giveaways and interact with you, my readers! You can also follow me on Pinterest and Instagram

Friday, May 9, 2014

Heart Studio - Little Picasso - Review + Giveaway!

Sponsored Review

Dumpling has been progressing along in her Art journey with Heart Studio for more than a year. She 'graduated' from Little Dali almost a year ago (which you can read more about here, here and here) and is now with Teacher Elma in Little Picasso. With the coming of age (ha!), comes a tad more technical skills and the little one has been exposed to different mediums and themes - Water Lilies (with water colour) to Pointillism on canvas.

For this term, we have been blessed to be invited for a term review of Dumpling's progression in Little Picasso. In a strange twist of 'fate', this module introduces Dumpling to Vegetables, which is one of her least favorite food items. :p LOL

:: The Class
Regardless of level, each term spans across 10 weeks and for Little Picasso, each term yields 2 artwork. While Little Dali focuses on smaller projects, at this level, there is more details given to the shape, form, composition and techniques.

What struck me immediately as we entered the class for our first lesson was that teacher Elma brought in 'live specimens' - as in real vegetables were brought to the class where the children had a chance to be introduced to the various vegetables, touch them, observe them (seeds and all!), feel the texture, etc. I really like it as I feel that it provided much more depth and perception for the children before they chose the vegetables they wanted and proceeded to paint.


:: The Progression
For the first 2 lessons, the sketch was done on the usual draw blocking where the children were given chances to explore with the shapes and sizes of the vegetables they chose.


Here, Dumpling started with carrot, mushrooms, potatoes, avocados and...


even chili padi! (otherwise known as bird's eye chili). Check out how 'decent' her artwork was after lesson 2. :) 

Once the students got the 'hang' of painting the vegetables from the sketched version during lesson 1 & 2, they then went on to paint on a larger piece of brown paper. 

The children had the chance to 'change' the items and were not at all confined to those they had selected initially. In fact, half of what Dumpling chose to do for this piece were vegetables which she did not paint during the earlier lessons. 

With some experience garnered from the previous sessions, Dumpling knows that the very first thing she needed to do was to do the outline of the vegetables she chose. Once that was done, she painted the background of the table the vegetables were sitting on.  


Lessons 4 & 5 were spent on colouring in the vegetables and of course the detailing. I am often very fascinated at this stage of their art pieces because this is where I feel the pieces come to 'life'.

Here, Dumpling was taught how to sketch out the outline of the shadow before filling in the dark grey colour.

Thereafter, she was taught to use various hues to add on the details.

The final art piece!


Now, here's the exciting news! Keen to let your kiddo try out Heart Studio's Art classes? You may unearth a Little Picasso too! 

GIVEAWAY ALERT!
 Holiday Programme - Toy Story & Let's Go to the Beach!
(Giveaway is not valid for existing customers/students)
     

:: Painting
The children will learn how to draw forms using shapes and lines and at the same, they are taught using the techniques of painting, mixing of colors and color harmony and contrast. This painting programme will open a window of experience for the student to try out canvas painting to the many different interesting subject matters that have been chosen for the class.

:: Lets go to the Beach
10am-12.30pm
10th June 2014
2 passes to be won -  WORTH $150 IN TOTAL

:: Toy Story
4.30-7pm
17th June 2014
2 passes to be won -  WORTH $150 IN TOTAL

:: Terms and Conditions:
- Entries that do not fulfill the requirements stated will be disqualified without notice.
- The child has to be 5 years and above, based on the month and year of birth.
- No repeat winners are allowed.
- Winners will be notified by email, through the email address provided.
- Winners must confirm by reply email or phone call, within three days. Otherwise, a new winner will be picked.
- No changing of date or time is allowed.
- No Existing Customer allowed.
- This giveaway is open to Singapore residents only. 

Enter the Rafflecopter below! Good luck!
Disclosure: Dumpling was invited to review Little Picasso for a term to give our opinions and experience of the classes. No monetary compensation was received. All opinions and views are entirely ours. 

If you have enjoyed this post, please follow me on my Facebook Page where I share my parenting thoughts, food photos (be prepared for tons of them!), early shout outs for giveaways and interact with you, my readers! You can also follow me on Pinterest and Instagram

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Her Ice Princess Dream - Ice Skating in Singapore!

Dumpling has been asking for ice skating lessons for some time because of a homeschool topic on Winter Olympics (thank goodness she did not ask for skiing!) She was enthralled with the whole idea of being able to skate so gracefully on ice and that it was cool (she does not like the heat) and that we have a rink in Singapore. 

After a few calls and some emails, I finally locked in the class dates with The Rink over at Jcube (level 3). 

Truthfully I did not expect myself to freak out while at the rink. It only occurred to me at the moment that she will have to go in on her own and (gasp) I am entrusting my kid to the instructors there who looked like they are younger than me by more than a decade (yes, I know, they probably ARE). But because she has been so looking forward to it, I had to bite my tongue from being too paranoid and put up a brave and encouraging front. In the event if you are keen, here's sharing some information. 

:: Some basic info
At The Rink, the Learn to Skate Programme is split into 4 levels - Core 1 to 4. Unless you have prior skating experience (not just balancing but able to glide, stop, etc.) most would need to start from Core 1. 

:: Fees and what it covers
The fees is $171.50 for 5 lessons of each level where it includes group lesson time of 30 mins plus 2 hour open practice time. The fees also include boots rental. You will need to fill up a form and pay / register prior to the class. (Preferably not the morning of the lesson 'cos that was what I did which was really not the best morning to do so with the long queues and hordes of people registering)

:: What you will need to bring & wear
  1. Long socks (this is because the skates cover past the angle and hence you will need socks to go past that) *see the photo below*
  2. $1 Coins (this is for the locker which is at $2 per usage - non refundable, though there is coin changing machine at the rink)
  3. Long pants / thick leggings Cardigan / jacket to layer over - though technically exercising does warm the body up a bit, when you are moving a tad faster, the cold air does get chilly)
  4. Gloves (not compulsory but I prefer them on because the fingers do get pretty cold) 
  5. And because we are both food machines, we brought along small snacks / buns. After her lesson time, there is a break as the Zamboni will be out to smoothen the surface. So we usually make use of this time to have a morning snack with Dumpling and HAVE A CUP OF HOT MILO TOO! This is Dumpling's highlight of the morning as the hot drink does warm us up a bit
Now, regarding the service experience, it's a mix bag of nuts for me. 

The good thing is that GM of the rink is a very hands-on person and is pretty good with the kids. About a week prior to the lesson, yours truly, lost my footing on a step and I basically injure my left foot and bruised my knee. When Richard saw me struggling with trying to kneel and put on the skates for the kiddo, he came over and offered his help (above pic). After putting the skates on for the kiddo, he even offered to lead her to the gate.  


And well, Dumpling was all too ready to let go of my hand and though apprehensive about her first lesson, she was really excited and raring to start!

I was informed by Richard that the students are segregated according to their age groups - each group then goes through a different gate.

As this is a beginner's class, some of the things the children were exposed to were more of getting them to have a feel for the ice floor, to get a sense of balance, to know now to fall and get up safely, basic 'footsteps', etc.

Now the minus point for me is that I do not really agree to the student : teacher ratio. When the class first started (and there about about 9 - 10 students), there was only one instructor (as seen below - there are more students on the left side). I felt that ratio was way too high for 2 reasons - (1) the tender age of this group  and (2) because they are all beginners where many, if not all, would have very little experience on ice. If one student were to fall and coming from my EC experience (seeing and interacting with preschoolers at the centres daily) I am not sure how the instructor is able to manage the class.


Having said that, I think Richard saw the class dynamics and about 10 mins into the class, I saw 2 other coaches being assigned to the group. I am not sure if this is a once-off arrangement (at the time of writing, we have only attended one lesson so far) so let's see what the arrangement is for the next lesson.

How did the rest of the lesson go? Here's some of the things the kids did at the first lesson.

Dumpling learning to move correctly while holding onto a "wall" - they need to be comfortable in lifting up their legs as that will help them to glide for future lessons as opposed to shuffling.


The kids learning how to fall and get up safely

The kids venturing out and 'gliding' over a small area 

I was pleasantly surprised to see that at the end of the 30 mins session, she emerged more confident and was able to shuffle along (for a start) and made it out to the ice on her own (above pic). :) 

In fact, the skating class looked so much fun that yours truly also signed up for the course. LOL. Let's see if that I can get some photos taken of me so that I can share more on our course by then :)

The Rink
Level 3, JCube
Singapore 609731
Email: info@therink.sg
2 Jurong East Central 1
Tel: +65 6684 2374/5 (hotline) or 6684 2379

Opening Hours:
Monday: 10.00 am - 9.30 pm (until the first week of Aug 2013)
Tuesday to Thursday & Sunday: 10.00 am - 9.30 pm
Friday & Saturday, eve of PH & PH: 10.00 am - 11.45 pm

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If you have enjoyed this post, please follow me on my Facebook Page where I share my parenting thoughts, food photos (be prepared for tons of them!), early shout outs for giveaways and interact with you, my readers! You can also follow me on Pinterest and Instagram
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