Browse: Home / Post Page

Kids Numbers and Math

By learningmum on March 23, 2012

Kids Numbers and Math by Intellijoy makes learning numbers and basic addition and subtraction fun for preschoolers to 7 year old. This mobile app is really a combination of 8 mini math games : Learn Numbers, Now, You Count, Find Largest Number, Find Smallest Number , Practice Addition, Practice Subtraction, Advance Exercise and Find a Match.

Kids Numbers and Math Menu

The colours are bright and happy and there are plenty of sounds effects and words of encouragement to provide the positive reinforcements to the kids. After completing a number of correct answers, the kid will be rewarded with a cute  image. Kids can shake the screen for some entertaining animation or swipe their finger across the game to switch between games.

The mini games are arrange according to the kid’s math know how. The first mini game starts from the basic, with the friendly voice reading each number as it is  shown on screen. Kids need to press the arrow keys to navigate among the numbers.

Learn Numbers

You can shake the phone and change the screen to a night view image where stars are used to represent the number instead. Shake it again and you get the roman numeral shown on the top right of the screen.

Learn Numbers

Now that the kid have learn the numbers, it is time to proceed to learning how to count.  The friendly voice instructs the kid to count the flowers and recite the number as  the kid count. If the kid choose the wrong answer, he will be given some feedback/encouragement like “Not quite”, “You will get it”. When he gets it right, he gets praise and encouragement like “You did it! ” “Perfect!”

Now, You Count.

When you shake the phone the flowers changes.

Now, You Count.

Find Largest Number and Find Smallest Number share the same interface. The balloons slowly descent and the kid choose the correct answer to get the next set of balloons.

Find Largest Number and Find Smallest Number

For the android version,  the cute android mascot will appear to ask you to shake the phone at certain intervals,just for fun.

Find Largest Number and Find Smallest Number

The sound of wind blowing together with a screen change comes next.

Find Largest Number and Find Smallest Number

Practice Addition can be quite challenging for the younger kids but for older ones, it is good practice. Shake the phone when you are bored with adding the numbers and the fruits on the trees will fall.

Practice Addition

Practice Subtraction uses a blackboard and apple metaphor.

Practice Subtraction

Advance exercise makes good math practice. Shake the phone and the numbers move about to change places with the others.

Advance exercise

Find a match is a nice matching game with thunder and rain sound effect.

Find a Match and the reward picture at the end of each game.


Available on: iPad, iPhone / iPod Touch and Android phones and devices.

 

Posted in , | Tagged , , , | Leave a response

Hokey Pokey at Suntec City

By scoutiemama on March 16, 2012

Hokey Pokey is the newest kid in the block in the indoor play scene in Singapore. This space is targeted at kids 6 mths – 6 years old and aimed to provide a place where kids can learn through play while the adults relax.

Hokey Pokey

The owners kindly invited us to check it out, so off we go even though we had thought it might not be our cup of tea initially.

Unlike the indoor playgrounds that have only have structures for kids to work out physically, this play space offers lots of toys and props to encourage kids to explore and learn.

There is a wide variety of toys here.

There are slides and ball pools which the kids love but we can see lot of thoughts and research have been done from the toy selections and how the space is divided to space where kids can play pretend, explore with music and learn. The boys were immediately attracted to the wooden train set in front of the toy shelf.

The train set and castle playhouse

Toys sets are not too cramp but still at close proximity to each other. The castle theme play house stands just between the train set and slide.

No indoor play space will be complete without a ball pool. This one have 3. The big one with steps and slides for the bigger kids, a medium one and an inflatable one with detachable mini inflatable donuts. The babies love the inflatable one and the couple of 7 year olds in our group were happy making their rounds for each of the ball pool.

The ball pools are the kids favorite items.

The sensory mat and tubes with different materials in it.

The pretend play section is offers lots props for kids to explore. We were especially impress with the stock of kitchenettes and play food available. We counted at least 5 kitchenettes, at least one which comes with stove that will light up. There is a mini cafe too and the kids were busy playing cooks, waiters and customers, taking orders and serving up food.

State of the art kitchen with lots of food here for aspiring chefs.

Mini cafe

There are also other pretend play props like shopping cart, baby dolls, tubs, mop and iron. The older kids like the work station that comes with a “drill” that actually spins.

Work bench and the music shelf.

The music corner is another interesting gem. After the kids have enough action at the ball pool, they start to explore the drums and percussion. There is also a music table with bells and cymbals and a number of little pianos/keyboards/musical tables. We spotted LeapFrog Learn & Groove™ Musical Table, a favorite with my boy when he was between 1-3 years old.

The music table

There are also plenty of activities for the active kids …like the roller coaster.

Roller coaster time!

There are also many variety of cars, fire engines and scooters for those who like to be on wheels.

Lots of little cars and carts

Overall, the kids have plenty of fun during our 2 hours there. We thought such a space is great for play dates where you don’t want the kids to just run wild but play with more educational stuff. The space is especially good for the younger ones as there are plenty more things to keep them busy and learning.

The owners provide complementary lockers and even a changing table for the care givers. A good range of drinks were available at a reasonable price. The price point is a little high at $25 for non members (unlimited play for weekdays and 2 hours for weekend), which include entrance for one accompanying adult. Members cost is $15 with a membership fee of 50 bucks. They throw free entries and other perks with other perks though, so it could be quite worth while for frequent visitors.

Where: 3 Temasek Boulevard #03-027E/F Suntec City Mall Singapore 038983 (Near the Cinema)
Hokey Pokey’s website | Facebook page

Posted in , , , | Tagged , , | Leave a response

Holiday Programs and Things to do for kids March 2012

By scoutiemama on March 6, 2012

March holidays!  A one week of fun and rest or time to get on with preparation with the year ahead?  How about making plans to do a little of both? Here are some things that looks interesting to us.

Kidz at Play 2012 @ Marina Barrage

This event at Marina Barrage sounds like lots of fun with activities like a Eco Themed Environmental Trail, Dare Devil and Kiddy Inflatables Fun and The Giant Bubble Land allows children to blow up giant bubbles. The mobile library is going to be there with story telling sessions. In addition, there is a   ice cream demonstration by Asia’s First Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream Maker and parenting talks by HPB targeted at children 3-6 years old. More info on Kidz at Play 2012 @ Marina Barrage

When: 10th and 11th of March 2012, from 11am to 6pm,
Where: Marina Barrage, 8 Marina Gardens Drive Singapore 018951
$$$: Entrance is Free. The Daily PLAY PASS cost just $10

Sentosa KidZ Flea

Learn to be ‘Playtrepreneurs’, kids can put on their business suit apron, set up their booths and learn the ropes of selling while having some good playtime. More info on Sentosa KidZ Flea

For: Kids aged between 7 and 12 accompanied by an adult
When:10 to 18 March 2012 2.30pm – 7.30pm daily
Where: Merlion Plaza, Sentosa
$$$: Free (Exclude Entrance and transport cost to island )

Music, Dance, Speech and Drama Holiday Camp by Happy Kids Club

A camp with music, dance and role playing all roll into one.  More info on Happy Kids March Holiday Programs

For: Kids aged between 2 to 6
When:15 to 16 March 2012 10.30am-12pm
Where: Far East Shopping Centre, 545 Orchard Road, #05-08, Singapore, Singapore 238882
$$$: 78

Work on your grammar at “Grammar for Wiz Kids “

This program helps kids learn to identify and correct the common mistakes made by students.Good time to work on grammar, sentence structures and tenses. More on “Grammar for Wiz Kids”

For: Kids P2-P4
When:12th,13th,15th & 16th March 2012, 3.30pm – 5.30pm
Where: The Writer’s Place Pte Ltd, No. 1 Woodlands Street 81. Woodlands Community Club #02-01 S(738526) (Near Causeway Point Shopping Centre)

 

Posted in , , | Tagged | Leave a response

Avillion Hotel at Port Dickson

By scoutiemama on February 28, 2012

This resort which is about 2 hours drive from Malacca or Kuala Lumpur has a kampong (Malay village) theme that we fall in love with during our two nights stay during a short get away trip.

The water chalet.

Staying in water chalet is quite an unique experience. The rooms are pretty big with a private but open air bathroom and a day bed and balcony. The water chalet is built with stilts in the water so we can hear the sound of the waves in the room. During low tide, we could observe the patterns on the sand created by the water. Perfect opportunity to talk about stuff like high tides and low tides to junior.

Comfy bed with a day bed and lots of cushions.

The night view of the hotel balcony

The hotel has went out of it way to make the resort fun for the family, incorporating a mini petting zoo, a nature garden, water playground for kids, a kids cabin (a play room for kids) and fun activities like free pizza making sessions.

There are also lots of traditional Malay kampong features that is incorporated to the hotel grounds, such as the Minangkabau bullock kart.

The kids love to climb on the bullock cart.

Scenic lookouts can be found at many spotsat the hotel’s grounds, as well as the traditional Malay foot wash that is super useful after a walk on the beach.

The interesting foot wash actually make cleaning sand away from the shoes fun.

Peacocks and peahens can be seen freely roaming the grounds. They hop over the fence back to the mini zoo when it is time to eat.

Peacocks and peahens are a common sight here.

The mini zoo have many little rabbits, chickens, tortoises and pigeons in addition to the peacocks. It open at a fix time each day so the kids get a chance to feed and interact with the animals. It is a big hit with the kids.

There ia also a playroom water playground and many activities tailored for the kids. Our favorite is a complimentary pizza making session by the pool.

Kids cabin offer some toys and activities ina cozy setting.

Baking fun at the pizza making session

The kids enjoy the slide so much they did not want to leave even when it started to rain.

Beautiful beach where you can enjoy the waves or pick some seashells.

Where: 3rd mile, jalan pantai port dickson, Port Dickson, Port Dickson, Malaysia 71000
More about Avillion Hotel at Port Dickson

Posted in , , | Tagged , , | Leave a response

West Coast Park playground revisited

By scoutiemama on February 17, 2012

We returned to West Coast Park a year from our first visit and were pleasantly surprised  with quite a number of additional playgrounds and features. Here is an update on the stuff we see at West Coast Park Adventure playground.

We spotted several new play areas that seems to be tailored for the younger ones. Our group of 5-8 year old boys enjoyed the new playground, taking their time to explore the new play features.

Brightly colored play area with a fire-engine for kids 2-12 years old

Make music with drums or pretend to be firemen. The kids zoom in and out of the cute fire-engine, similar to the one at Pasir Ris Adventure Playground. There seems to be more toddler friendly features over here though.

The boys love the panel with the steering wheel.

More play equipment for kids 2-12

Play feature that spins and any thing with racing tracks equals fun for the boys.

The giant spinning wheel.

Buggy for rent and more spinning play features.

The section at the park for the older kids have some interesting add-ons as well. The pyramid for climbing have two cool looking slides added to it. The flying fox, obstacle course, a play structure that look is like an atom, together with many balancing beams and climbing features make this look like an ideal training ground for future adventurers-in-making.

New slides are added to the already fun pyramid with safety nets.

Obstacle that looks fun and challenging to balance on.

Cool looking feature with nets for climbing.

Four rows of flying fox…sure cut down on the waiting time for this popular feature in playgrounds.

The ultimate flying fox.

The balancing beams, tunnels, rock climbing walls and ladders sure looks like fun for kids who need to expand their energy and train up their motor-skills.

A playground for kids age 7 and above

Almost all the old stuff are still there except for some changes to the signs and instructions for play. The boys still love the ship playground the most, settling for good old fashion sand play and pretending to be pirates after exploring the new stuff.

The ship playground is still the favorite.

The boys love climbing to where they can steer the ship, the fort and dig for "treasure".

The upgrade to this already awesome outdoor playground makes coming here double the fun. Upgrades and more pavilions seems to be in the works which is great to mitigate the heat in the afternoon.

Where: Parallel to West Coast Highway (Right behind the McDonald – 71 West Coast Highway Singapore 126844 )
$$$: Free

Posted in , , , | Tagged , | Leave a response

Peranakan Museum for Kids

By scoutiemama on February 11, 2012

I have wanted to visit the Peranakan Museum for some time as our family is a quarter Peranakan/Straits Chinese/Ba Ba/Noya* and I have been wanting to let my six year old have a little more exposure to this aspect of his heritage for some time.

The kids friendly Peranakan Museum

I am worried that the museum will not interest the kids, but they have quite a bit of fun and excitement or the two hours we spent there, thanks to the efforts from the museum to integrate kids friendly and interactive features to their exhibition space.

These exhibits at the museum depicts a marriage ceremony for olden days Babas.

There are many stations in the museum where kids can interact with.

Stop and Touch Wedding Gifts

Our boy is quite excited to put his hands in the stop and touch station where he can see, touch and feel the the exhibits. There are also audio visual to learn more and little assignments to explore all the places

Engaging multimedia stations and fun stamping stations

The boys love collecting the stamps on the colorful activity sheet provided by the museum. Each stamping station is located at different sections of the museum and introduces a symbol related to the theme of the section. The symbols are those frequently found on the motifs used by the Peranakans.

A stamping station featuring the Qilin, a symbol for pace and happiness

We found a clear multimedia presentation on how certain items are created. The boys were immediately captivated.

A multimedia presentation on how a piece of ornament is created

I love how the museum recreate a scene or living space for us to have a better idea on how the people live in the past.

A traditional Peranakan kitchen

Elaborate jewelery and culinary set up on the dinning table

Beautiful purses that have symbols and patterns sewed from beads.

The boys love playing pretend the olden day phones and touching the beaded slippers and accessories in the pull out drawers

More interactive features for the kids to touch and learn

*Peranakan/Straits Chinese and Baba-Nyonya are terms used for the descendants of late 15th and 16th-century Chinese immigrants to Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei.

Where: 39 Armenian Street  Singapore 179941
Hours: Monday: 1pm to 7pm  Tuesday to Sunday: 9am – 7pm (to 9 pm on Fridays)
$$$: $6 for adults. Free for kids below 6 and Singaporean Students
(Tip it’s half price on Friday and there are open house days from time to time)

More On Peranakan Musem on the website

 

 

Posted in , | Tagged , , | Leave a response

Senkang Swimming Pool -Slides and fun

By scoutiemama on February 5, 2012

With a Competition Pool, sheltered teaching pool, a kids fun pool a jacuzzi and 8 slides, Seng Kang Swimming Pool is one water play place that offers loads of fun for those who love slides with their water play.

The 8 slides for the adventurous

The slides are only for those who are above 1.2m  though, which is good as they look kind of high for the younger ones.  The young ones are happy to stay at the fun pool thought with 2 slides of their own and tunnels and water features to play with.

The water fun pool for kids

The kids pool get water splashes for extra fun

The water splash features at the fun pool

Part of the larger Senkang Sports Complex, with a community club and Mc Donalds located right beside it, there are a few places for food and drinks for the hungry kids right after their water fun time.

$: Entrance fee at $2 for adult and $1 for each child on weekends
Where: 57 Anchorvale Road, S(544964)
Hours: 8.00am-9.30pm daily. Close on Mondays

 

Posted in , , | Tagged , | Leave a response

Tools and Books to help kids learn about managing money.

By scoutiemama on January 29, 2012

Good money habits can be an invaluable life skill. Ultimately, we are the ones to cultivate these by having money conversations and setting a good example to our kids, it never hurts to have a few props to help us along the way.

Money Savvy Pig

This piggy bank introduces the concept of making money management choices to kids.

This piggy bank is divided into four sections. “Save”, “Spend”, “Donate” and “Invest” basically helps reinforce to the child the choices they need to maker to manage one’s money. The bank comes with a set of stickers so that the kid can personalize their bank.  Some of the stickers come with pictures on it while some are blank so that the kid can draw their own. He can then place the stickers on the bank so to remind himself of the goal he is working on. This piggy bank also comes in red, pink and green as well as a non see through version.

Money Savvy Pig has also received a number of awards/accolades, including USA Today’s “One of the Best Products of the Year” and Parents’ Choice Foundation’s “Educational Toy of the Year”.

The Allowance® Game

The Allowance® Game is similar to monopoly but teaches money in ways kids can understand through everyday real life situations, such as buying ice creams, buying houses, taking out mortgages. The kids get to learn about money management and counting money through the game. Recommended for age 4 and above.

This game is great for teaching kids to identify money values, add & subtract money

Raising Financially Fit Kids

This book is for adults who want to raise financially sercure kids

Designed for adults concerned about raising children ages 5 to 18, Raising Financially Fit Kids is centered around a developmental map covering ten specific money skills each child can master by the age of 18 to become a financially secure adult. It gives parents a step-by-step approach to helping their kids become habitual savers, smart money mangers, and responsible decision makers. Some of the values this book  are certainly valuable, bringing across points such as  “Money is a tool for achieving and maintaining independence”, “Saving is good; accumulation for its own sake is not”, “Spending is best done wisely and within one’s means”, “Greed is not good.”

The book is divided into age-appropriate sections, so advice for parents of 5 year olds is different from that of parents of 9 or 13 or 18 year olds.

 

 

Posted in , , | Tagged | Leave a response

« PreviousNext »