Playtimes magazine 2021 Spring

Spring 2021

Spring 2021

★ G lamping in

Hong Kong

★ T ips to diffuse

any fight with your child

★ K indergarten

in times of COVID-19

★ L et’s have fun!

Best places for indoor play

★ C ovid

vaccinations explained

Fun things to do in Hong Kong, even from the comfort of your own home

contents

Spring 2021

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FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD

38

MANNERS MAKETH THE CHILD news 8 COMING SOON Highlights of events to look forward to

22 SCHOOL TOUR

Fairchild Canadian Academy

9 FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD Mouth-watering food news

24 ED TECH SAVES THE DAY Technology has been indispensible over the last year. Check out our favourites

10 A LOVE OF LEARNING Educational inspired events

education Model: Otto B, age 5 Photography: Simon J Nicol www.chocolateandcheesestudio.com

12 EDUCATION MATTERS School and education news 14 BOOKSHELF Books created by Hong Kong authors 16 KINDERGARTENS IN A TIME OF COVID-19 20 SCHOOL TOUR Malvern College Hong Kong

Best Baby Monitors pg 43

32 SCHOOL TOUR Invictus Secondary School

parenting 34 SCREEN TIME AND THE SLEEP CYCLE Advice on how to improve your sleep

36 KEEPING THE PEACE

Three steps to defuse any fight with your child 38 MANNERS MAKETH THE CHILD How to teach your child manners

Bookshelf pg 14

Shopping pg 59

Spring 2021

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contents

Spring 2021

68

GLAMPING IN HONG KONG

46

MENSTRUATION MATTERS maternity and health 42 BUMPS & BABES News for expectant and new parents.

54 DISAGREEMENTS ON CHILD VACCINATIONS What happens when you and your ex don’t agree on vaccinations?

43 BEST: BABY MONITORS

Playtimes investigates the best baby monitors currently on the market.

56 WILLS AND GUARDIANSHIP IN HONG KONG Everything you need to know

44 ANTENATAL AND POSTNATAL CLASSES IN HONG KONG 46 MENSTRUATION MATTERS Expert advice on how to prepare your tween daughter to navigate the start of her period.

48 PERIOD PIECES Are you looking for more environmentally-friendly sanitary products? We explore the options.

52 COVID-19 VACCINATIONS Everything you need to know in 10 easy questions.

lifestyle 58 STYLE AROUND TOWN Helping you to look and feel your best 59 IT’S RAINING, IT’S POURING Fashion and accessories to make April showers fun 60 CBD FOR THE SKIN What is CBD and should you add it to your beauty regime?

62 MATTRESS MATTERS What should you look for in a mattress?

63 BRIGHT IDEAS Hot pink and teal? Yes please!

64 BACK IN THE SWING Advice on overcoming the impact of COVID-19 on sport, and particularly golf.

travel 65 TRAVEL BUG Looking for ideas for when we can travel?

66 TOP PLACES TO PLAY INSIDE These indoor activity centres and playgrounds in Hong Kong will have you jumping for joy.

68 GLAMPING IN HONG KONG Tents, ropes and goats in Saiyuen Camping Adventure Park' 72 LAST WORD Nury Vittachi on why parents can't have secrets.

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contributors

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Louise Drake e: louise@ppp.com.hk

EDITOR

Roopal Thanki e: roopal@ppp.com.hk

EDITOR

Tiffany Beeson t: 2201 9721 e: tiffany@ppp.com.hk ADVERTISING ACCOUNT MANAGER

Rizwana Mussa t: 2201 9713 e: rizwana@ppp.com.hk

ADVERTISING ACCOUNT MANAGER

Shalini Melwani t: 2201 9715 e: shalini@ppp.com.hk ART DIRECTOR

Sharon Chong t: 2201 9707 e: sharon@ppp.com.hk

Dr. Natalie Hutchins

Dr Natalie Hutchins gained her medical degree from Imperial College, London, in 2006 and completed rotations in hospitals including St Mary’s Paddington, The Chelsea and Westminster and Charing Cross.She then spent 4 years as a specialist trainee in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Oxford, providing antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care for hundreds of women in the busy maternity units at the Royal Berkshire and John Radcliffe Hospitals. She became a member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 2011.

After having children, she changed specialty to General Practice, developing her general medical and surgical skills in rotations including ENT, Care for Older People and Urgent care for children and adults at St George’s Hospital in South West London. She became a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners in 2017.

She has continued her keen interest in women’s health, and now enjoys being able to provide holistic care to her patients throughout their lives, as well as to other members of the family unit. In addition, she has developed interests in mental and child health. She has written articles for both medical and popular literature, and appeared as a medical commentator on various topical issues on television.

CEO

David Tait t: 2201 9727 e: david@ppp.com.hk

We are not only a print magazine, Playtimes is ONLINE Playtimes is on Facebook Playtimes is on Instagram Playtimes is on Twitter

www.playtimes.com.hk @playtimeshk @playtimeshk @playtimesHK

Contributors Kajal Aswani, Dr Natalie Hutchins, Irene Lee, Dr David Owens, Roopal Poppat, Katherine Winter-Sellery, Nury Vittachi, Katherine Bond-Webster FOR SUBSCRIPTIONS & DISTRIBUTION t: 2201 9716 PUBLISHED BY: PPP Company Ltd, Unit 713, Level 7, Core E, Cyberport 3, 100 Cyberport Road, Cyberport, Hong Kong Tel: +852 2201 9716 PRINTED by: Apex Print Limited.

Published by PPP Company Limited. The publication is sold on the understanding that the publisher, advertisers, contributors and their employees are not responsible for the results of any actions, errors or omissions taken on the basis of information contained in this publication. The publisher, advertisers, contributors and their employees expressly disclaim all and any liability to any person, whether a purchaser of the publication or not, in respect of any action or omission or the consequences of any action or omission by any such person, whether whole or partial, upon the whole or part of the contents of this publication. All rights reserved, 2017 PPP Company Limited. No part of this work, covered by the publisher’s copyright may be reproduced in any form by any means, graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or information storage and retrieval, without the written permission of the publisher. Any unauthorised use of this publication will result in immediate legal proceedings. All images are shutterstock.com unless otherwise indicated.

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welcome

to this glorious Spring Issue of Playtimes.

With a bit of grit and determination we’ve made it through two school terms — sometimes online and occasionally at school

in person. We’ve adopted a go-with-the-flow attitude and have had to ride the waves — but now spring is upon us, and it’s looking glorious. The weather is perfect for outdoor camping (see Glamping

in Hong Kong, p68) and we all have the hang of using Zoom, and the many other apps and tools for online learning (but if you’re on the lookout for more, check out Ed Tech Saves the Day, p24). One thing we have explored in this issue is the impact of online learning on kindergartens and their students. How has your toddler coped online? We look at the things that have worked, and those

that didn’t. In many cases mutliple family members have been working from home in a small space, which isn’t easy. If you’ve had some heated moments in your household, check out any argument with your child.

Keeping the Peace, p36, which features three tips to diffuse

Spring is often considered a time for renewal, and I think we all look forward to that. In this issue we delve into manners

for children (it’s not too late to teach these), the start of menstruation and products now available that are more ecoconscious. We’ve got COVID-19 vaccines covered in 10 simple questions, plus an article for divorced parents who don’t agree on the vaccination strategy.

We often experience April showers in Hong Kong, so check out our style layout, full of rainy-day essentials. Speaking of rain, it might be time to think about indoor play and our pick of top indoor play places will have you jumping for joy.

Should your skin need a boost, why not try something new? CBD for the skin is all the rage and we have rounded up

the best.

"One good thing about this world... There are always sure to be more springs." L.M. Montgomery Oh, and don’t forget to follow Playtimes online through our website www.playtimes.com.hk, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Happy reading,

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news T H E

Coming Soon

H O T T E S T

H A P P E N I N G S

A R O U N D

T O W N

24 April 21April

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in Concert Enjoy Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire as you’ve never seen it before as the City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong performs the magical score live while the entire film plays in highdefinition on a 40-foot screen. https://premier.hkticketing.com

How to Help the Pandemic Generation Thrive

During this one-hour zoom meet, organised by Bring Me A Book HK, internationally renowned educator, award-winning author and parenting child expert Michele Borba will explain why empathy and resiliance are core when educators and parents consider how to help their children.

30 April

Harry’s Magical Symphony

See the China Hong Kong Youth Symphony Orchestra and MC Harry Wong perform in Magic Lamp's Fantasy of the Arabian Prince & Princess at Hong Kong City Hall. Storytelling is in Cantonese. Suitable for kids, and adults. www.youthorchestra.hk

29 May

21-23 May Hong Kong Ballet Balanchine’s Jewels

The Hong Kong International Education and Careers Expo

During a chance visit to iconic Maison Van Cleef & Arpels on Fifth Avenue NY, George Balanchine met Claude Arpels. Their shared passion for gems blossomed into an artistic bond that eventually produced Jewels.

Performed live by City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong, at the Lyric Theatre. The show is suitable for ages six and above. Tickets will be available from www.hkticketing.com

The HKIECE offers students, HKDSE candidates and job seekers a wide range of information on further studies, continuous education and job opportunities. It is divided into four zones: Overseas Education, Local Education, Taiwan Education District and Professional Square. www.hkiee.com.hk

23 June

21-23 May Art Basel Hong Kong Held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Art Basel Hong Kong features premier galleries from Asia and beyond. Underlining Art Basel's commitment to the region, half of the participating galleries once again have exhibition spaces in Asia and Asia-Pacific. The show provides an in-depth overview of the region’s diversity through both historical material and cutting-edge works by established and emerging artists.

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12-13 June

Baby Shark Live

Baby Shark is (hopefully!) returning to the live stage with a 65-minute fin-tastic adventure!

Also, joining the line-up will be Mummy and Daddy Shark, Hettie the Hermit Crab, Shimmer the Octopus and many more of colourful Fishy Friends all buzzing with excitement for Reefville’s first annual treasure hunt. https://premier.hkticketing.com

7TH Annual (Virtual) Harry Potter Book Night 2021

Harry Potter Book Night takes place each year and is a chance for everyone to join and celebrate J.K. Rowling’s wonderful series. The global event is open to everyone, from schools, libraries, bookshops to friends and family. The theme this year is Diagon Alley. Download your event kit and start planning. https://harrypotter. bloomsbury.com/uk/

For more events go to www.playtimes.com.hk

news Cabana Breeze

Located at the waterfront retail space next to the Sheraton Tung Chung Hotel, a short walk from Citygate. Cabana Breeze offers guests a chance to sit back and dream of past vacation days. Pick a cabana, order a drink from the custom-built gin and rum trolleys, dine on fresh seafood, or fill your belly with pizza and pasta.

Shop G12-G15, T-Bay, No 9 Yi Tung Road www.facebook. com/cabanabreezehk/

The Last Resort

The newly opened Last Resort by Black Sheep Restaurants joins the Soho scene, promising to be ‘wallet friendly’ and fuss-free. The bar is inspired by the gritty, no-nonsense dive bars characteristic of rural small-town drinking, cheap and cheery roadside pit stops and informal back alley pubs.

Guests will be transported to carefree college days with plenty of nostalgic food and drink.

52b Peel Street www.thelastresort.com.hk

OBP

Masa Hong Kong

With its beautiful and minimalistic interior design, Masa promises to be “a new omakase experience like no other”. Seated behind the bar made from Hinoki wood, the menu compromises of the highest quality, authentic and seasonal Japanese ingredients, purchased mainly from Tokyo’s Toyosu, and a full sake bar to boot!

5/F, CCB Tower, 3 Connaught Road Central www.masa-hk.com

OBP is a new Korean venture from the minds behind 11 Westside. Reminiscent of South Korean Sool-jip’s (alcohol house), inside you will find an extensive food menu, alongside plenty of Korean spirits like soju, makgeolli and baeksaeju. Located in an alleyway behind old Bailey Street, this is a trendy new addition to the Hong Kong drinking scene. 3-5 Old Bailey Street www.instagram.com/obp.hk

Cultivate

Cultivate is a new restaurant from Executive Chef and co-owner Leonard Cheung, who has worked in Michelin-starred restaurants 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana and Bo Innovation. The concept is fine-casual dining with an interactive experience. Every night, Chef Cheung aims to provide diners with a highly seasonal set menu, elevating seasonally appropriate ingredients to new heights. Cultivate promises to be whimsical, spontaneous and eloquent. Shop A, 27-29 Elgin Street, Central, Hong Kong www.cultivate.hk Spring 2021

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news Calling all book lovers!

Croucher Science Week

Running until 30 April, Croucher Science Week brings together the greatest talents in science from around the world. The event’s goal is to raise science literacy within the society through various school and public programmes inclusive of science live shows, interactive explorations, hands-on demonstrations, outdoor tours and talks. All events are free and available for registration via the www.croucherscienceweek.hk

Bookazine has just launched a great new service that’s ideal for avid readers, both young and old. Bookspoke is a book subscription service. Every month, subscribers will receive a book curated by Bookazine’s book experts according to their age and preferences. There are four plans to choose from: The Budding Bookworm, for children age two to four years; BeTween, for ages eight to 12; Books to Die For, for crime and mystery novel fans and The Page Turner, for fiction enthusiasts.

Each book will be nicely wrapped and will be sent along with a personalised message, a bookmark and a form to enter review notes. More information about BOOKSPOKE can be found on www.bookazine.com.hk/bookspoke

Welcome to Casita The word casita means ‘little house’

g n i n r L ea Young Readers Festival, 19-30 April

Every spring the Hong Kong International Literary Festival (HKILF) brings writers from around the world to Hong Kong schools for the Young Readers Festival. To celebrate ten years of the YRF, this year boasts an expanded, flexible programme of events featuring a hybrid programme of virtual school visits by international authors and live events with local speakers. There is also a new partnership with Bring Me a Book Hong Kong, which will make the programme more accessible to local students by including more Chinese language authors and events. By connecting excellent writers of international renown with young readers, organisers hope to promote higher levels of literacy in Hong Kong and to nurture a generation of outward-looking, globally engaged citizens. www.festival.org.hk

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and Casita is a very nurturing place, like home. The idea is for parents, educators and organizations to act as one community working together to preserve the essence of childhood and build strong foundations for the holistic growth of our little world changers of tomorrow.

Offering thoughtfully curated essentials and experiences that allow the remarkable child to explore the world through meaningful and joyful play – Casita has beautiful, high quality handcrafted toys, Wunder Kits, Play-Oriented Discovery Sessions (PODS), Village Talks and nature parties. To shop online or enroll in any upcoming events check out: www.casita.com.hk/about

Oh My Class Launches

OhMyClass is an online marketplace dedicated to last-minute learning experiences, connecting teachers to students.

Anyone can create, find, enrol in and review classes that help foster a more efficient learning community. OhMyClass covers a range of courses, from virtual classes to offline lessons, from lastminute courses starting tomorrow to classes starting next month, from fun-based to professional-focused, and from hour-long to year-long programmes. It is a subscriptionbased platform available to all teachers. Ohmyclass.org

education

S N N P R E SE N T S :

CEO OF THE BRAIN: Understanding Executive Function in Children

Understanding Executive Thursday 29 April 2021 Function of7:00pm the Brain - 8:30pm French English Academy

French English Academy (FEA), a new bilingual kindergarten, welcomes applications for 2021/22.

Situated in Repulse Bay, FEA teaches native French and English in 50/50 balance – the only kindergarten in Hong Kong that adopts this teaching method.

With bright and airy classrooms, large indoor space and outdoor playground, FEA has been designed for learning through fun! www.feahk.com

During this free online event, Psychologist Ann Online Webinar Bridgewater of Central Health Medical Partners Child Development Team will explain what Executive Function Find out more to andachieve register > is and how it helps channel a child's abilities certain goals. She will also provide strategies parents can use to help their children if they have difficulty with Speaker: goal-directed behaviour or self-regulation at home or at school. 29 April, 7:00-8:30pm. ToAnn pre-register visit Bridgewater, Psychologist Central Health Medical Partners www.snnhk.org

n o i t a c Edu ers t t a M Dates for the Diary — Take a Tour

• German Swiss International School (GSIS) Virtual Open Day for the Bilingual Kindergarten - 19 April, 2:00pm • Stamford American School Weekly campus tours are available. www.sais.edu.hk

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Child Development Team

The Standard International Schools Fair

C O N N E C T

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S U P P O R T

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E M P O W E R

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S H A R E

This event gathers together experts from Hong Kong’s education sector to offer advice and to answer questions to help you find the best school for your child. 10 April, 10:00am-4:00pm at the JW Marriott Hotel.

Stamford American School Campus Upgrade The fourth academic year at Stamford American School Hong brings plenty of excitement as the school celebrates significant developmental milestones. Including receipt of the internationallyrecognised Council of International Schools (CIS) accreditation and a large-scale campus expansion.

The campus has almost doubled in size, with various inspiring new spaces tailor-made to fit the school’s broad and balanced curriculum. The newly-built range of learning spaces includes: Design technology workshop (DT Workshop); Art studios; Science laboratories; Outdoor activity facilities; A library that spans an entire floor of the extension.

education

Over 1,400 Solar Panels Installed in ESF schools

Zoom Fatigue

The English Schools Foundation (ESF) and CLPe Solutions Limited have completed a large-scale solar project with the installation of over 1,400 solar panels across eight ESF school campuses. It was a group of ESF students who came up with the concept and engaged CLPe Solutions in the design, construction, operations and maintenance. The project is one of the largest solar projects in the primary and secondary school sectors in Hong Kong. The eight schools are: ESF Bradbury School; ESF Clearwater Bay School; ESF King George V School; ESF Kowloon Junior School; ESF Renaissance College; ESF Sha Tin College; ESF South Island School; and ESF West Island School.

Yes, Zoom fatigue is real and Stanford University researchers have identified four causes for it, along with some suggestions to help.

1. Excessive amounts of close-up eye contact is highly intense. Both the amount of eye contact we engage in on video chats, as well as the size of faces on screens is unnatural.

Solution: Take Zoom out of the full-screen option and reduce the size of the Zoom window relative to the monitor to minimise face size. Use an external keyboard to allow an increase in the personal space bubble between oneself and the grid.

2. Seeing yourself during video chats constantly in realtime is fatiguing. Most video platforms show a square of what you look like on camera during a chat. But that’s unnatural.

Solution: Users should use the “hide self-view” button, which one can access by right-clicking their own photo, once they see their face is framed properly in the video.

3. Video chats dramatically reduce our usual mobility.

In-person and audio phone conversations allow humans to walk around and move. But with videoconferencing, most cameras have a set field of view, meaning a person has to generally stay in the same spot.

Solution: Think about the room you’re videoconferencing in, where the camera is positioned and whether things like an external keyboard can help create distance or flexibility.

4. The cognitive load is much higher in video chats. In regular face-to-face interaction, nonverbal communication is quite natural and each of us naturally makes and interprets gestures and nonverbal cues subconsciously. But in video chats, we have to work harder to send and receive signals.

Solution: During long stretches of meetings, give yourself an “audio only” break. “This is not simply you turning off your camera to take a break from having to be nonverbally active, but also turning your body away from the screen.”

Source: Stanford News

Accessing Free Education in the UK

If you are moving to the UK and looking for your child to join a UK state school, this webinar by Top Schools will share a brief overview of the British curriculum along with tips and strategies for getting into a good state school. www.facebook.com/topschoolshk

Box Hill International Kindergarten & Preschool Open Days

If you are interested to find out more about Box Hill, join one of the small group open days to experience a demo class, arts and crafts, a school tour and an information session. Open days run 8 May at Ma On Shan Campus (Vista Paradiso) and Tseung Kwan O Campus (Mount Verdant) and on 15 May at Fo Tan Campus (Jubilee Square) and Kwai Chung Campus (Wonderland Villas). For more information visit boxhill.edu.hk

Spring 2021

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education Hong Kong ABC

by Diana Wu-David, illustrated by Margaret Jung

In this rendition of the ABCs, A is for Aberdeen, B is for bao and C is for chopsticks. Each letter is complemented by cheerful illustrations and a short rhyme. This durable book is suitable for babies and early learners, as well as children keen to know a little Hong Kong culture. Available from Bookazine, $98

Amma Tell Me Series (10 book set) by Bhakti Mathur

The Amma Tell Me Series is a charming and informative series of children’s books written in rhyme with vivid, captivating illustrations. This box set contains ten books covering Holi, Diwali, Ramayana, Ganesha, Krishna, How Krishna Fought The Demons, How Krishna Destroyed Kansa, Hanuman, How Hanuman Crossed The Ocean and Hanuman's Adventures In Sri Lanka. Available from Bookazine, $900.

Emi Takes Hong Kong

by Jane Karen Ho

Take an adventurous and magical journey around the sights of Hong Kong. In a story highlighting the creativity within us all, Emi has to come up with a birthday gift for his mum so looks far and wide in interesting places around Hong Kong. This interactive book includes search-and-find activities, a colourful map, picture glossary and quiz.

Available from Bimbo Concept, $108.

Lulu the Hong Kong Cat by author and illustrator Ellen WY Leou

A children's picture book series inspired by a real little cat named Lulu, takes you on her adventures through the amazing city of Hong Kong. Lulu the Hong Kong Cat – Or the Adventures of Lulu the Hong Kong Cat on the Day She Snuck Out is the first book in the Lulu series. This book tells of the adventures of Lulu when she gets lost in the city. Available from Bookazine, $186.

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bookshelf The Last Garden

by Rachel Ip, Illustrated

by Anneli Bray

Inspired by true events in Syria and war gardens around the world and throughout history, The Last Garden is a thoughtful, tender story of hope. In a war-torn city, a little girl tends to the last garden. But everyone is leaving and soon the girl has to leave too. The garden is all alone now but soon the seeds scatter throughout the city and the roots take hold.

Available from Bookazine, $180

Lost in Hong Kong

by Matthew Cooper, illustrated by Fiona Lai

Follow Tim on a dog-chasing journey from Hong Kong Park all the way to Sai Kung. Full of Hong Kong’s diversity and our awesome transportation system, this story demonstrates the kindness of strangers in helping Tim find his dog.

This fast-paced book is full of vibrant illustrations. This Hong Kong based author has other fabulous children’s books about Hong Kong life. Available from Bookazine, $120.

sponsored feature

Opportunities To Grow With the BNO Visa Irene Lee, originally from Hong Kong and now a UK-based education expert, serial entrepreneur, and a columnist in UK schooling, property, and investments, shares how families can embrace the opportunities a BNO Visa may bring

M

other of two and a co-founder of James-Lee Consultancy, Irene helps Hong Kong parents navigate relocating to the UK with the new BNO visa, which allows families to live, work and study

in the UK. Her consultancy offers relocation advice to Hong Kong families, along with comprehensive information about different towns, including employment opportunities, living environment, transportation, amenities, cost of properties, and demographics.

In terms of selecting a school for your children, Irene advises families to consider why a particular school might be the most suitable. There are approximately 2,600 independent schools in the UK with over 500 providing full boarding. Whilst 93 per cent of the local students attend (over 20,000) statefunded schools everyday, only 163 schools are state-funded grammar schools and 40 state-boarding schools. “Social learners” will benefit from a school ethos emphasising selfdirected and group learning while “kinesthetic learners”, who tend to favour primary experiences and hands-on approaches such as field trips and entering competitions, might be better off in a more dynamic learning environment.

Some Hong Kong families who have reached out to the James-Lee team explain, “one-hour-plus commuting time to school is fine as long as the school is the best”! This type of sacrifice is ill advised because schooling is best not to be entirely separated from family and community living.

Education in the UK is about belonging to a place and being part of the community. Hence, state-funded schools are mostly attended by children in the catchment area.

While preparing for 11+, 13+, 16+ and grammar school examinations, Irene remarks that rote learning, a strategy that Hong Kong families tend to be quite familiar with as an explicit approach, does not get your children the scores to a competitive grammar or day school. Since reasoning type tests involve verbal analogy, spatial awareness, decoding anagrams, and lexicon-building strategies, a more comprehensive approach is best.

For parents considering relocation, it’s important to consider their lives as individuals and answer the questions of where they will work and what type of community they want to be part of. Knowing the answer to these questions will likely help resolve other questions such as where to live and which schools are you most interested in for your children.

Irene and her team recently worked with a family who moved to Sutton. Initially, she helped identify the academic needs of the children by going through baseline assessments to find that the focus was on mathematics and reasoning in CAT4 (a reasoning test required by the school). With help from James-Lee, the girls were offered a place at the school of their choice. They were also equipped with some knowhow about the UK and the local area.

The next challenge was to find the family a property that could house four adults and two children located close to the school, recreational and retail facilities nearby, as well as healthcare workplaces to enable the parents to continue their mental health professions. With Irene’s well-connected network, she was able to find a house for them in less than six weeks. www.jamesleeconsultancy.com Spring 2021

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education

Kindergarten and COVID-19

How has COVID-19 impacted kindergartens and their pupils?

I

n 2019, when Hong Kong parents first experienced school closures due to safety concerns arising from the protests, who would have imagined it to be a pre-curser to a year of online learning?

During the first wave of COVID 19-enforced closures, it initially seemed a bit of a novelty. We were optimistic that it wouldn’t be for long. But as time stretched, many families - those lucky enough to have the option - decided to head to alternative countries so that their children could attend ‘real’ school, in person.

As the situation intensified and COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic, it became clear that Hong Kong was not only one of the safer places to be, but a good place to undertake remote learning (queue lots of people trying to return to Hong Kong). Generally speaking, schools and teachers in Hong Kong have shown great resilience coping with the challenges of teaching remotely.

Students and parents too.

Some may argue that Hong Kong schools have (at times) been closed unnecessarily but, according to UNICEF, 168 million children globally have had their school completely closed for almost a full year. So we’re not alone in facing this challenge. And anyway, that’s not the question we’re addressing in this article. For this article we are specificially looking at the youngest generation of learners and asking how COVID-19 and online learning has been for them.

It’s hard to hold the attention of a kindergarten-aged child at the best of times. They aren’t going to log themselves into an online lesson and focus for two hours of remote learning (watching annoying cartoons for two hours, however, is apparently not a problem…).

Willow Hewitt, who works for i-Learner Education Centre, a company that provides supplementary pedagogical support using small-group tutorials, explains, “Kindergarten parents were more resistant than those with older children so we offered a few alternatives, Spring 2021

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education such as shorter classes or more speaking focus to make them comfortable online”.

“In the end, we found the best option was to keep our lessons as similar to our face-to-face classes as possible since the kids have thrived on familiarity. We even created craft and activity kits to keep at home and replicate what's available in our classrooms.”

One parent with a child in K1 at Ashville International Kindergarten in Lantau was impressed with the more hands-on activities sent home by the school; activity packs with pre-cut art and craft items were “a Godsend” as both parent and helper were able to work on tasks with the child. The twice-weekly 15-minute singalongs were also a hit.

“Zoom fatigue is real,” stressed one English Schools Foundation kindergarten teacher- let’s call her Sarah. “Trying to keep online classes fun and interesting so the children are engaged is 10 times as hard as when you are in the classroom with them.

It is so difficult to replicate (actually impossible) the real kindergarten classroom atmosphere”. And a message for parents, “A few of my parents were demanding two hours plus on Zoom for three to four year olds, which is too much!”

Kitty Ho, Head of School at Parkview International Pre-school (PIPS), found that the increase in screen time was a concern for many parents. “At PIPS, we

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provide a variety of hands-on activity and storybook packs to reduce the use of electronic devices and facilitate home learning”. PIPS online sessions are a combination of learning videos produced by teachers supplemented with Zoom classes for the upper levels.

Videos and Zoom meets incorporate a series of play-based teaching strategies like storytelling and active games such as treasure hunts, as well as class discussions and 'Show-n-Tell' sessions.

According to Allan, of i-Learner Education Centre, “One thing we’re very aware of is the uneven impact school closures have had on children from different backgrounds. Those with parents who work full time are often taken care of by grandparents or domestic helpers who may be less able to solve tech issues or give learning support. These children were slower to take up online learning, and some are still struggling with it.”

For preschoolers, online learning does usually require assistance from an adult, but parents shouldn’t get too involved, stressed teacher Sarah. “No matter how many times I would say ‘please can you let Sophie answer,’ the caregiver would more often than not just feed the child the correct answer.”

So, if you have a three or four year old child, is online kindergarten really worth it? Would you; should you; did you; pull your child out of pre-school/

kindergarten during online lessons?

For ‘Sarah’, online kindergertan lessons are definitely worthwhile for maintaining a sense of community. “The daily contact made a difference in that when the children made it back into the class it minimised the separation anxiety as they were used to seeing us everyday. It allowed us to see the children that had been quieter in the classroom speak up a bit more on Zoom. I still felt it was valuable. I still saw them learn. I saw them become more adaptable, resilient and learn new tech skills. Of course there were days when some children didn't want to participate but even just having the Zoom on in the background was good enough.”

Kindergarten education is not compulsory in Hong Kong and Ruth Benny, founder of Top Schools, is certain that many families with younger children decided to withdraw, or not to apply for kindergarten due to it being online and the uncertainty about when children would return to physical lessons. “It is a rare toddler/parent combo that has managed online learning well enough to justify the cost,” she explains.

Monthly fees for an international kindergarten in Hong Kong range between $4,500 for a half day to $19,000 for a full day. While many parents hoped for a reduction in fees, this often wasn’t feasible; kindergartens still have expenses, including staff

education salaries, and most of us agree that teachers have worked even harder during these unprecedented times.

Jane has a daughter at Yew Chung Kindergarten. “To be honest, it never occurred to me to take my four-yearold out of pre-school because I could see that though far from ideal to miss out on the socialisation, my daughter did look forward to going online to see her teachers and classmates even if for shortened durations. It also meant daily exposure to the two languages that she was in the process of acquiring in the classroom — English and Cantonese (with a little Mandarin). Though clearly expensive, it has been worth it to enrich her days. We have had to complement this with lots of outdoor free play and efforts to maintain a social life — safely — for her.” While Jane questions whether the level of fees that we have paid have been justified from a pure parental and student point of view, “We did opt for private school and maintaining our payments helped the school get through an unprecedented crisis.”

Another mother, Claire, made the decision to withdraw her son from pre-school during the period of online learning. During normal times the fouryear-old would have been attending international kindergarten for 15 hours per week, but after face-to-face learning stopped, the “lack of impactful classes and the cost” were a deciding factor in pulling him out. “There were Zoom meets and pre-recorded YouTube videos, but as the school is tri-lingual and my son’s spoken language is English he struggled with the live Zoom.

He didn't understand what was going on, and with any pre-recorded videos he would only watch the ones in English.”

Allan agrees that this side of school being shut has been detrimental, “It’s not uncommon to see a much slower, or even negative, progress in terms of English proficiency (for a native Cantonese speaking family) — or Cantonese/ Mandarin (for a native English speaking family).”

Ruth Benny also picks up on the impact online learning may have on

language acquisition and the knock-on effect on some students securing a spot at their Primary school of choice. “All interviewing teachers are aware that the children have missed a lot of schooling.

Yet, this is where the home language becomes so relevant. If English is not native at home, online learning has not been able to provide an authentic English language immersion experience and these children face difficulties in the interview process.”

Kitty Ho expresses, “We are all aware the pandemic has affected schooling on an unprecedented level and, in my opinion, schools have taken this into account during the admissions process.”

“Where children are enrolled into a kindergarten program leading into primary school, withdrawing becomes a more difficult decision. We have had some parents contact us seeking readmission into a school they have withdrawn from. Parents should be very careful if they are thinking of withdrawing,” advises Ruth Benny.

Ruth also offers a reminder to parents that places at through train schools are often more plentiful in the earlier years. “If a child is enrolled in a through school, they cannot withdraw from the early years program and expect to re-join the primary program as this may not be an option.”

Kindergarten teacher Sarah also stressed that often a kindergarten spot ensures a place in Primary 1 and this

is something to strongly bear in mind when considering withdrawal.

According to Catherine Snow, a professor of education at Harvard, the biggest worries about missing in-person kindergarten are about socio-emotional development and learning to work in groups. “Although, we believe that online learning is not ideal compared to face-to-face learning, especially for our early years learners, our teachers work hard to provide interactive online learning engagements. The main benefit is maintaining a connection with teachers and classmates in the social context during this challenging time,” explains Kitty Ho. As it turns out, mum Claire became very concerned about her son missing out on social interaction since pulling him out of kindergarten. She also worried about a lack of independence and made the decision to enrol him into back into kindergarten, even though it was still online. She and her son are both happy to have some structure back in their days.

Some kindergartens have been able to operate an EDB mandated emergency care programme enabling them to keep the campus open to care for children who are in need.

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Alongside Tradition is Innovation

– Malvern College Hong Kong

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hen you consider that Malvern College UK was founded in 1865, it’s easy to imagine the rich history, strong traditions and impressive legacy that come with such an established institute of education. Malvern’s academic rigour, scientific heritage and the pursuit of holistic education, has given it an enviable reputation for being one of the most established IB schools in the UK. The founders of Malvern College Hong Kong drew upon this heritage as well as the ethos of Malvern College UK when creating the campuses in Hong Kong.

Playtimes had the opportunity to speak with the founders of Malvern College Hong Kong to gain a better understanding of what’s known as Malvern DNA, their Five Centres of Excellence as well as a recent expansion of the Malvern family of schools. We spoke with Ms Jacqueline So, Co-founder and Chief Executive of Malvern College International (Asia Pacific), Mrs Jacqueline McNalty, Founding Principal of Malvern College Pre-School Hong Kong, and Dr Robin Lister, Founding Headmaster of Malvern College Hong Kong.

Malvern College Hong Kong Malvern College Hong Kong (MCHK) operates in authentic partnership with its parent school, Malvern College UK, and takes pride in delivering the same quality education.

Opening its doors in 2018, MCHK intends to provide around 1,200 places for both Primary and Secondary pupils. In 2017, Malvern College Hong Kong Pre-School started with a new campus added in 2019. The pre-school features one of the first Forest-Beach-School programmes in Hong Kong, managed by Level 3 certified Forest School leaders.

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Nature, the Environment and Entrepreneurial Thinking The environment in which we live has an impact on business, economics and our general existence. In the wise words of Mrs Jacqueline McNalty, “Children connected to nature care for nature now and in the future”.

Through its unique outdoor Forest-Beach-School environment, pre-school aged children learn with the Entrepreneurial approach in mind. They learn and care about world problems like pollution and come up with ideas, goals and actions in innovative solutions and value-added ways of handling such issues. Children are encouraged to take risks in adding to the ideas, play a part on a team and this enhances their well-being and learning capabilities simultaneously.

Why Choose Malvern While each Malvern campus has its own unique identity, all Malvern schools share the same DNA and have an ethos built around their 'Five Centres of Excellence', namely, British-style pastoral care; Enhanced Learning; Entrepreneurial Education; Outdoor and Environmental Education and a Global Network. Of the five, Entrepreneurial Education is considered to be the most valuable due to the ability of this type of thinking to equip students with the skills necessary to become responsible leaders of tomorrow.

Pastoral care is another important aspect of the Malvern system and is at the crux of students’ mental health and stability, which “once established allows for academics to flourish”, says Dr. Lister. The students in MCHK are in excellent hands as Dr. Lister was previously Senior Deputy

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Head at Malvern UK. He is acutely aware of how keen his students at MCHK are to learn and mentioned that he has to be careful to keep them from working too hard at the expense of their mental health. He emphasised, “pastoral care is at the heart of a good education”.

What’s New at Malvern With a recent expansion, Malvern College Switzerland will be added to the Malvern network of schools in September 2021 in the Alpine town of Leysin. The new Swiss campus will offer places for a maximum 150 students, with entry in Year 10 or Year 12 and additional options for students seeking a pre­IGCSE course in Year 9 or pre A-level course in Year 11. The campus's picturesque location, at the east end of Lake Geneva, will offer year-round mountain sports and recreational facilities together with the exceptional education for which the Malvern family of schools is renowned throughout the world.

Additionally, Malvern College UK will open a new dedicated boarding house in the coming academic year, “Malvern College International Academy”, for Malvern pupils around the world. The new academy will provide Malvern students from any of the other campuses the opportunity for a short-term, fully immersed, boarding experience for up to one term in length.

According to Ms Jacqueline So, "These two new additions to the Malvern Family are a further realisation of our concept of a global campus. They allow us to significantly broaden the positive experiences gained from multi-cultural, shared learning, for both our pupils and our staff. This multi-cultural capability with an international outlook, is critical in supporting our pupils to become responsible leaders, able to cope with the constantly evolving environment of their future."

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Nature is Key at Fairchild Canadian Academy

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ulling open the front door to the school, I was greeted by a beautifully constructed wooden treehouse. It was hard not to smile. The interior of Fairchild Junior Academy gives me a sense of calm with its natural light, timber toys and furniture and the plants growing at the entrance to the classrooms. This is all by design. Nature is key at Fairchild Canadian Academy. The concept behind Fairchild Canadian Academy, encompassing a Junior Academy (ages 8 months – 4 years) in Tin Hau and a Kindergarten (age 2 – 6 years) in Sai Ying Pun, is one of natural wonder. The aim is to bring the outdoors inside and play to learn.

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Establishing Fairchild Canadian Academy Established in 2016 by Joseph Fung, Fairchild Canadian Academy (FCA) aims to “cultivate curiosity, creativity and confidence” in every child through a unique inquiry-based approach called Reggio-Emilia methodology. The programme is guided by Ontario Early Learning Framework. Essentially, the learning environment is fundamental; children, as individual and naturally curious knowledge-makers, learn through play.

I sat down with Joseph Fung to understand more about his motivation to create the Academy and how he, as a father, views the nurturing process.

Joseph found his inspiration in the great outdoors of Canada, where he grew up from the age of 3. His environment – one of wide-open spaces, wild nature, and an amazing school in Vancouver – inspired him to create a setting that is enriching and natural with hands-on experiences for children in Hong Kong.

Giving Back Joseph’s grandfather and father created financial success in Hong Kong and Canada. Their charitable foundation supports education in both regions as a way to give back to society. In fact, the first business school in Hong Kong was established

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by his grandfather, a founding member of the Sun Hung Kai Company.

Joseph followed his family’s footsteps and continued his family values of contributing to Hong Kong in the form of high-quality education.

Joseph views education as being crucial to community. Though he has a background in finance, Joseph admits this was a practical way for him to eventually fulfill his dreams of being involved and giving the best start for the next generation.

The Way Forward Hong Kong has local and international schools based upon the legacy from the UK, but the education system here hasn’t evolved as rapid as it has in the UK and elsewhere. Joseph saw this as an opportunity. There is certainly a niche for play-based and progressive learning in Hong Kong. He wanted to have a school enabling students to explore natural settings, interact with the environment and at an individual pace. He chose the Reggio Emilia framework to accomplish this.

Fairchild Junior Academy and Fairchild Kindergarten employ a “play to learn” philosophy and are set in a specifically nature-based environment.

This approach to early childhood education was developed in Italy over 70 years ago. It is inquiry-based and views the child as strong, capable and resilient with a deep curiosity for learning. Playing and interacting with the environment are considered to be elemental to learning and development.

Using this methodology, the FCA fosters the 3 pillars of education – the

school and its teachers, parents as supportive guides along the education journey, and the school environment/physical space. Teachers are there to empower the children.

The school environment makes use of natural lighting, places few restrictions in a safe space and includes some green space. Fairchild actively encourages parents to be engaged by accompanying children on community school trips, sharing their country’s cultures and supporting each family as a community member.

All of this makes FCA a popular school choice for families with young children. Another reason for FCA’s appeal is inclusiveness. The Academy is welcoming to all and simply aims to offer a good education valuing playbased learning.

Coping With Online Learning During the course of the pandemic, FCA was able to quickly transition to online learning in creative ways. They recognized the value of making things more personal and brought their class designs online. The mindset was already established so it wasn’t difficult for them to transition via Zoom and other tools. Joseph expressed his view that the need for education and structure still exists during a crisis such as this. He strongly felt continuity and flexibility were crucial and in this way, FCA succeeded in offering the best solution possible.

Nurturing Father With his own 2 daughters, Eleanore (aged 3 years) and Charlotte (aged 4

months), Joseph aims to give them as much outdoor experience and self-led discovery as he can. He often takes them on hikes which Eleanore enjoys a lot. Hiking provides both physical exercise and a way to engage with new things while learning actively and happily. She will pick up a leaf, identify colours, count items, and make up songs and stories along the way. Joseph aspires to look at his girls as individuals and let them lead the course of their learning process. I personally observed this when I saw him climb the little treehouse with Eleanore and he followed her lead, all the while continuing our interview.

I left with a couple of important messages. When trying to survive all the online learning and working from home, it’s helpful to explain to children the individual needs of all family members. It’s also good to remind ourselves that our children are individuals with their own desires and interests. Children are capable of understanding and some level of reasoning may help avoid battles. Just a few minutes of discussion could save you a few headaches along the way. While we’re all at home more than usual, take the opportunity to play, make up games and enjoy things like cooking together and explaining things as you go. You can make anything fun!

If you have an interest in checking out FCA, book your child for a trial class any time. Alternatively, sign up for one of their camps or school extension classes and find out for yourself what they are all about. Bring the outdoors inside and play to learn.

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SAVES THE DAY

School closures due to COVID-19 have been hard – hard for teachers, hard for children and hard for parents.

But just think how much harder it would have been without the help of technology. Imagine trying to do this without the help of a laptop, the Internet, Zoom and Google. Education Technology has helped saved the day

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education What is Education Technology, or Ed Tech?

Ed Tech encompasses everything from the use of computers to teach a subject, to the use of the Internet to submit homework. It includes learning platforms and apps. And if it was big before the pandemic, it’s now absolutely HUGE! Basically, Ed Tech uses digital technology in order to deliver a new way of learning.

When it comes to technology to help with our children’s education, we are spoilt for choice. Your child’s school will no doubt have its favourite technology, but as a parent wanting to help their child, which apps or websites are best?

We’ve picked some of our favourites.

From ABCs to complex math and science problems, there’s an app or website for every learner. Some are totally free of charge while others require a subscription.

Help for Mathematics: Maths is a hot topic in our house and I hear many parents fretting over how best to support their children.

PhotoMath app If your child asks for your help solving a maths problem, one that you don’t know right off the top of your head, try the PhotoMath app. Simply use the app to scan the problem and the app outputs a step-by-step solution.

Used with some parental guidance, this app can really help kids who might be struggling. The app is free but if you opt for the paid upgrade, you will be able to access more detailed explanations.

Quick Math Jr For younger children looking to gain number sense, try Quick Math Jr, an app that uses math games to encourage children to practice using fundamental math skills and concepts. It includes the essential foundations of mathematics, including counting, addition and subtraction, place value, and writing numbers. The difficulty of the questions

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education adapts to the level of each individual player, while the interactive buildable characters provide a fun way to develop mathematics skills and confidence.

Number Run An app developed by graduate students by Stanford University and the University of Southern California, Number Run helps kids from age six master math drills – from single-digit addition to division – by playing a fun, 52 level game. Baron von Count has stolen the four Mathemagical crystals of the land. Chase him down and bring him to justice or humanity will be forced to count on their fingers forever!

Moose Math With Moose Math kids aged three to seven years can go on five mathematical adventures where they learn about counting, addition, subtraction, sorting, geometry and more. Check out the Moose Juice Store, Puck’s Pet Shop and Lost & Found, where kids earn rewards to help build a city and decorate the buildings.

Join The Dust Funnies – characters designed to help master math skills – in some math skill-building fun.

First Numbers and Counting Elmo Loves 123s This app motivates toddlers and young children to get excited about learning their first numbers. The app has songs, videos, games, and drawing to help kids identify number shapes and learn how to count. Kids can trace numbers to unlock surprises, like classic Sesame Street clips, colouring pages, hide-and-seek games, jigsaw puzzles, counting games and more. There’s also a 123s tracker for parents to see what their child is learning.

Trouble Telling Time?

Tic Toc Time Telling the time is a tricky task. The Tic Toc Time app is here to help, making it easier for kids to understand how to read an analogue clock. It’s the world’s first time-telling app to teach young children how to read a clock face using the sun,

shadow, night and day. While not free ($US 3.99), it’s a helpful app with no ads, external links, in-app purchases, social media access and no personal information request.

ABCs, Spelling and Reading Skills Starfall ABCs The app and website are a good place to start with young ones learning the letters of the alphabet and moving up to phonics and reading skills. Children can explore and play while receiving positive reinforcement along the way. They will see, hear, and interact with letters and sounds in words, sentences, and games, helping them to develop the skills they need to become confident readers.

Reading Eggs An interactive learning app that teaches phonics, spelling, vocabulary, sight words and more to children age two to thirteen years. Created by a team of educators, animators and writers, this award-winning app covers a range of educational areas. There is also a website and you can get a monthly subscription. The subscription offers access to: • Reading Eggs Junior (ages two to four): pre-reading skills such as phonemic awareness and alphabet knowledge with fun activities, games, videos, and read-aloud books.

• Reading Eggs (ages three to seven): first steps in learning to read, covering phonics, sight words, spelling, vocabulary, and comprehension.

• Fast Phonics (ages five to ten): a systematic, synthetic phonics program to help emergent and struggling readers build key phonics skills.

• Reading Eggspress (ages seven to thirteen): continues the learning journey by helping children learn to read for meaning and enjoyment.

• Mathseeds (ages three to nine): develops essential early numeracy skills, covering numbers, shapes, measurement, patterns, and more.

• Printable teaching materials: printable worksheets reinforce essential skills and concepts covered in the programs.

Read Along by Google This is a learn-to-read app, currently still under development. It uses speech recognition to help identify which words kids are stumbling over as they read one of over 500 stories. The app underlines a word that’s skipped and awards stars for correctly read words. Kids can click on a word they don’t know and a “reading buddy” will help. It works best for children who already have some basic knowledge of the alphabet.

After the initial download, the app works securely offline, so you don’t have to worry about kids having unsupervised Internet access. Each child using the app has a unique profile, advancing on their own reading journey with recommended stories based on their reading level. Children can read a variety of engaging stories in different languages.

Wordscapes A super fun spelling game, the Wordscapes app keeps your mind sharp with new challenges. There’s a daily puzzle with letters to spell with and a grid to complete. It’s a spelling and word game in one fun app. The aim is to connect letters and find as many hidden words as you can. It’s not just for kids!

My eight-year-old daughter loves this app and we often play together.

Language Resources DuoLingo For a little extra help with a second or foreign language, check out the DuoLingo website or app. Older kids can practice through audio, word identification, and oral exercises for over 30 languages. Some parents use this app, too!

Mandarin Matrix If your child is learning Mandarin at school, chances are they are already Spring 2021

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using Mandarin Matrix. The online learning platform is designed to support learners from kindergarten through middle school. Full of fun videos and games, the online classroom is a great way to keep up on Mandarin learning skills from any device. The materials have been designed by teachers, language specialists and examination boards to ensure the best possible way to learn Mandarin. Parents can view their child’s proficiency progress through the Parent Portal which was developed to help parents gain greater insight into their child’s learning journey.

Comprehensive, Mulitple Skills Khan Academy Sal Khan, Khan Academy founder and CEO, was quoted telling parents to look to online resources when they can't replicate the expertise of a classroom teacher; good advice these days while so many schools are doing distance learning. In addition to the well-known Khan Academy website, the app makes lessons easily accessible, offering a wide range of resources for students to tap into while learning from home. There are sample schedules, tips for parents and livestreams with teachers, alongside free online courses and test prep materials.

Khan Academy's free personalised learning library is an amazing resource for students, teachers, home-schoolers, principals, and even adults returning to the classroom after 20 years.

There are thousands of interactive exercises, videos, and articles on topics including math, science, economics, finance, grammar, history, government,

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politics, and much, much more. Kids can follow along with what they're learning in school, or practice at their own pace. With a free account, you can track progress and recommendations will be made according to the current learning levels.

The Khan Academy Kids app Is full of early learning lessons for ages two to seven years. Children have access to early literacy, reading, writing, language, math, social-emotional development, and problem-solving skills.

The program is designed to focus on whole child learning.

The app features tools to support teachers, new activities award-winning content, and a personalised learning experience. This free app has no ads or subscriptions to manage which is another big plus for parents.

Learn With BBC Education Everything from design & technology to geography, maths, music, food tech, cooking, health, PE, and more are covered through various BBC avenues.

While nothing beats real-time, interactive, in-class activities to engage children in their learning, BBC has developed some great lessons to do outside the classroom. BBC Teach hosts a number of 30 to 40-minute interactive programmes called Live Lessons, originally designed for use in the classroom, featuring leading experts and some of the BBC’s biggest brands and talent, including Doctor Who, Blue Planet Live and CBeebies.

With accompanying printable

resources covering a range of subjects, you can ensure your kids are learning something with all that screen time.

BBC Teach has thousands of free, short curriculum-linked video resources designed for ages five to 16 years. BBC Bitesize and the accompanying app are designed for student use and cover every topic under the sun. Content, for children from age three to 16+ years.

GCSC study materials and quizzes are available to GCSE students, charting progress and adapting to learning as they go. The fun, educational games designed for primary-aged children come with built-in rewards and levels so kids will want to keep coming back for more.

Is it snack time yet? BBC Food has a brilliant guide on how to teach children through cooking – including conveying concepts from fractions to adjectives and even foreign languages.

Early Learning Skills The Hungry Caterpillar Play School Featuring colourful characters from Eric Carle’s books, this learning app for toddlers to kindergarten-age kids is a decent introduction to online learning.

From mathematics to language and literacy, science and nature, plus creative arts, there’s something for every child to learn.

There are even relaxation techniques using Brown Bear to encourage mindful breathing. The maths section includes some coding and there are puzzles to help with reasoning techniques. All subjects have songs and videos to enhance and support the earning process.

education ABCMouse If you’re after a full set of online curricula for your young children, check out ABCmouse, which is suitable for children age two to eight years. The app covers reading, maths, art, music, and more. It was created by teachers and education experts and includes thousands of learning activities for children at all academic levels.

• The reading curriculum includes letter recognition, phonics, rhyming words and word families, sentence structure and the parts of speech. Once children learn the names of each letter and the sounds they represent, they can move on to eventually being able to read books.

Over 450 books are available online from beginning readers (a few words per page) and advancing to books with paragraphs.

• For maths Children will learn addition and subtraction, shapes, patterns, measurements, and more. The goals include recognizing and counting numbers 1–120, understanding place value, plus learning length, time, and money measurements.

• Science and Social Studies lessons cover the topics of the body, health, plants, animals, weather, climate, and the seasons, the solar system and so much more.

• The arts curriculum Covers primary and secondary colours, paint-by-number activities and number and letter dot-to-dots.

Throughout the 10 different levels of learning (with over 850 lessons), there are rewards and tickets to help motivate children in a fun and engaging way.

Along with animations, games, books, songs, puzzles, and printables for coloring in, there is also an interactive zoo, farm, and aquarium. Kids can create their own avatar, making lessons and activities more personalized.

Primary School Subjects On BrainPOP Many schools in Hong Kong use BrainPOP to teach a wide variety

of subjects. There are hundreds of videos covering a dizzying number of topics and they are done in quite an entertaining way with a funny robot as the cohost. So if you find yourself homeschooling and need some back-up, peruse the topics on the BrainPOP website or app and you will likely find the perfect video and follow up quiz. The topics are explained well and at the appropriate level for young children. The quizzes at the end of each video are helpful in gauging comprehension and reinforcing the newly acquired knowledge.

On the app, a free Featured Movie topic rotates daily and ties in to current events, historical milestones and figures, holidays, and more. BrainPOP is full of entertaining and informative animations and is recognised internationally as a unique and engaging learning resource. All videos/movies are close captioned, making it easy to read along. With the award-winning BrainPop website, you can explore hundreds of topics including Science, Math, Social Studies, English, Engineering & Tech, Arts & Music, Health, and many others.

BrainPOP Jr. For younger children there’s BrainPOP Jr. Like the original BrainPOP, there are

many topics and subjects to choose from and they are done in the same fun format. The BrainPOP Jr. app has a Movie of the Week featuring a new animated movie every week along with related quizzes and educational activities. You’ll find Science, Social Studies, Reading, Writing, Math, Health, Arts, and Technology all covered. Like BrainPOP, the characters Annie and Moby are the guides of each topic.

PBS Parents Play & Learn PBS Parents Play & Learn app is designed to help parents of young children make every day experiences into important learning opportunities.

The app is full of games centred around relatable daily activities such as grocery shopping, bath time, going to the park, or eating in a restaurant.

Games include notes for parents providing information about the maths and literacy skills woven into each game. You’ll also find ideas for how best to maximize the learning experience with your child. The games automatically adjust to a child’s level and there are easy hands-on activities and game-related resources which get updated regularly.

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Delivering Excellence in Online Mandarin Language Learning

The Mandarin Matrix Online Classroom is an online learning platform specifically designed for children learning Mandarin as a second language from kindergarten through high school.

It strengthens and supports the four aspects of literacy (reading, writing, speaking, and listening) in a fun, easy-to-use, and interactive interface.

• •

• • •

reading

writing

Access to hundreds of readers and 10,000 offline supporting materials Discover fun topics: games, books, self-paced activities and tests to help children learn more than 1,750 Chinese characters Explore a user-friendly platform that can be used anytime and anywhere Enjoy teacher-guided and supported learning Work independently: at home the students can achieve their goals at their own pace, which is of key importance with the rise in online home learning

Many Hong Kong schools are already using Mandarin Matrix products. If you would like to get a trial for your school, or your child, please contact:

enquiries@mandarinmatrix.com sales@mandarinmatrix.com

listening

speaking

+852 2201 9716 www.mandarinmatrix.org

For over 10 years, we have been working closely with teachers, students and their families in Asia, the US and the UK. Learning Mandarin can make a real difference to students’ lives – opening doors to develop real-life skills and creating lifelong advantages in the workplace and beyond.

You can see a demonstration of our product by scanning the QR code or by checking this link: https://bit.ly/32DdDMF Mandarin Matrix: An overview

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Student Choice – The Invictus Way

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ven just hearing the word Principal; I immediately sit up straighter, mind all my p’s and q’s, and feel some slight apprehension like I did when I was in school. However, meeting Lee Harvey, Principal at the newly opened Invictus Secondary School, I am instantly put at ease. With a warm demeanour and clear passion for education, Principal Harvey talks me through why Invictus deserves to be considered by all parents looking at Secondary schools right now.

Their Mission statement ‘To provide accessible quality education that nurtures individuals in innovative and

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inspiring ways to be lifelong learners who contribute positively for a better tomorrow’ is reflected in their secondary school campus in Chai Wan. Relatively new to Hong Kong, Invictus Secondary School offers the well-established Cambridge Curriculum focusing on student choice at both IGCSE and A-Level age groups (year 7 to year 13).

‘Student choice’ is a term that comes up frequently as we talk and underpins a key aspect of what Invictus is all about. Student choice extends to all levels of how the school operates, and I learn with some delight that their librarian is a Year 8 student.

Her passion for the library and desire

to someday become a librarian has flourished in this environment. Principal Harvey is passionate about seeing children succeed. Invictus is also very supportive of local communities and charities. Additionally, the school has a PE leadership programme and will be taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh awards.

Invictus uses the Cambridge A-Level programme to support student choice in preparing for their next step in their life-long learning journey. A-Levels provide students either a wide ranging education programme or a more focused programme in an area of their choice. Furthermore, Invictus students

school tour are supported with any additional needs being highlighted from an early stage. In most cases these are identified during the entrance test.

As part of their admission procedure, Invictus School uses the GL Assessment CAT 4 test, which provides a report to both parents and the school detailing a student’s strengths and weaknesses. This aids the school in providing a support structure for students who may have additional educational needs or require additional English language support.

Using the GL Assessment CAT 4 test also means that children coming from different curriculum backgrounds within Hong Kong (such as PYP, IB, or American to name a few) can have their learning tailored based on their individual needs. As Principal Harvey likes to say, the curriculum is like a “pizza base, just add different toppings”.

Invictus’ Vision statement: ‘To be a leading educational institution where each and every learner is developed holistically and given opportunities to flourish successfully’, is realised in the support programmes being developed on the campus and through the extensive iGCSE and A-Level options being offered. Support programmes include ‘Additional Educational Needs’ and ‘English as an Additional Language’.

Additional Educational Needs is a programme for any student requiring extra support (filtered through the CAT 4 entrance test). There is a three-tier system put in place which encompasses 1) In classroom support, 2) Additional classroom support with a dedicated teaching assistant, and 3) An individual plan (IP) fully in place, with outside agencies if necessary.

The school is accessible and affordable, however that does not mean that the level of education offered is compromised in any way. The teaching is of high quality, and costs are minimised by using local facilities.

“There are no hidden costs at Invictus,” Lee tells me, “for example, textbooks are used to support and are optional buy-ins for parents”.

With the environment in Hong Kong somewhat turbulent these days, I am meeting Principal Harvey via Zoom, which prompts me to ask how the school has coped with moving to a virtual classroom. Online lessons have simply been adjusted to the school’s normal timetable, keeping things as ‘normal’ as possible during very uncertain times. Teachers have done live demonstrations for the school’s Additional Curriculum Time (ACT) for activities such as baking, singing and programming.

With student choice as one of it’s key elements Invictus prides itself on offering “a safe, caring and secure school where every person matters.”

Open Day Date: April 24 Time: 9 AM-1 PM Venue: Invictus School (Chai Wan) Level 4, 5, & 6, 188 Tai Tam Road The program will include: Principal's talk, mini classes for visiting students offered by the teachers featuring Cambridge International Curriculum (English, Math, Geography, Science, French, Drama, Music).

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parenting starts feeling worse due to the body's inability to properly heal itself at night.

The most common symptoms of prolonged screen use, other than sleep disruptions, include eye strains, headaches, neck and lower back pain.

This is often due to poor ergonomics and posture which puts excessive pressure on joints and muscles, particularly when maintained in the same position for many hours.

Screen Time And The Sleep Cycle

Katherine Bond-Webster offers advice on how you can improve your families sleep

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hether it’s working from home, school via Zoom or the use of game apps or fitness tracking apps – we are all spending far more time on screens these days. Time spent on devices often carries on into the evening when our bodies are in need of rest. The information overload and the type of lights from all these screens can impact the body’s ability to fall asleep, stay asleep and the overall sleep-wake cycle.

The way screens disrupt the natural sleep-wake cycle, or circadian rhythm, is that the blue light given off screens mimics that of sunlight. When it’s bright and sunny outside, we feel more alert but at night when it’s dark, the body produces a hormone (melatonin) that prepares us for sleep. Mobile phones, computers, iPads, television screens, and some e-readers give off blue light that is similar to sunlight. This type of light tricks the body into thinking it’s still daytime, causing a decrease in melatonin production and affecting your sleep cycle.

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Research has shown that young adults and kids now average a massive nine hours of daily screen time. A good portion of this time is spent on schooling from home at the moment which is somewhat unavoidable.

Unfortunately, this increase in screen time can have a negative impact on sleep, which in turn impacts all aspects of our health, including immunity, digestion and mood disorders. Studies have shown a direct correlation of poor sleep on attention disorders in children and teenagers.

Watching just one more Netflix episode, playing one more game, or five more minutes of surfing the web stimulates the brain during a period when the body should be winding down. Not only does this affect sleep, it impacts us mentally and can also result in physical pain and discomfort including headaches, neck stiffness, back pain and digestive problems.

Additionally, poor sleep can make us more sensitive to pain, which means that the little ache or niggle you have

What can I do for myself and my kids at home?

1. Reduce blue light exposure as much as possible. Many devices now have settings where you can eliminate the blue light. Anti-blue light glasses are also available.

2. Create a night time routine for the whole family that eliminates electronics at least 1-2 hours before bedtime.

3. Take a warm shower, read a book, meditate or stretch before bed.

4. Make the bedroom a technologyfree sanctuary to avoid the temptation to send that last email or message!

5. See an Osteopath. From an osteopathic perspective, taking an individualistic and holistic approach is essential. The musculoskeletal, nervous and even visceral systems are often areas that an osteopath will assess and treat. This can be done through both structural and cranial work, and then supported with supplementary advice to utilise at home. Mindfulness, mediation and exercise can all be beneficial in restoring sleep, and will be recommended appropriately by your osteopath. Providing your body with the tools to function as well as possible is important during stressful and difficult times. Do not hesitate to see what an osteopath can do to help you.

Katherine Bond Webster is an osteopath available through Central Wellness and Stanley Wellness www.stanleywellnesscentre.com

parenting

Keeping The Peace Parenting coach and mum of two Katherine Winter-Sellery shares three steps to defuse any fight with your child

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as your home turned into a warzone? For many parents, after long months of being stuck indoors – sharing the same space for work, school, home, and recreation – the pressure might be building to a boiling point.

When a disagreement hits the boiling point, things get ugly. There’s

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screaming, crying, swearing... and that’s just the parents. And after it’s all over, we often feel ashamed and regretful. It’s only then that we remember we’re supposed to be the adults in the room.

That “out of control” feeling isn’t your fault. In the moment, when your child’s just done something that drives you nuts, your emotions get the best of you. But when you’re running hot, you don’t act like the parent you want to be. And that’s because you may not have the right tools to be able to respond instead of react.

First, take a breath. Find some compassion for yourself, and forgive

yourself for that behaviour you’re not proud of. None of us are perfect.

When you show kindness to yourself, you model that kindness for your children, too.

Then, follow this Three-Step ACTion Plan next time you find a discussion going south. It can help you prevent a difficult situation from accelerating into a full-fledged meltdown.

1. Acknowledge your kid’s feelings and needs.

Children often have a hard time naming the emotions that they’re feeling. Ask them leading and compassionate questions. If your kids are fighting over a toy, for example, ask: “Are you feeling angry that your sister took your toy without permission?” Their answer will help you understand their response and give clues about how to remedy the situation.

parenting 2. Communicate.

Once you validate their feelings and identify the unmet needs that drive the feeling, check in with them to be sure they feel understood before switching to wanting to share your perspective and expecting them to hear you. Failing to do this may result in them tuning you out.

We all want to turn it into a teachable moment and explain why certain behaviours are not acceptable with more depth than “Because I said so.” Knowing that the teachable moment is NOT at the time of the issue is very important. It is okay to explain to your child that hitting their sibling is hurtful and doesn’t fix the problem of the swiped toy - or resolve the anger they’re feeling. And you get that it would really help them to practice some skills before these kinds of flashpoints occur so that there is more choice for them to respond differently.

My experience is that the key is to teach the skills for self-regulation in heated situations more than lecturing them; most kids know already that hitting isn't okay.

The issue is more about tools for impulse control when they are experiencing high emotion.

that the two of you are on the same team. Solo problem-solving is rarely effective. Collaboration sets the tone for your child to feel that you’re invested in them meeting their needs and want to find a solution that meets your needs too – but not at their expense of getting to meet theirs.

Learning to defuse disagreements is challenging, and it requires commitment and effort to overcome your own emotional response. But the 3-Step ACTion plan can help both parents and children learn to treat each other with love and respect.

First, take a breath. Find some compassion for yourself, and forgive yourself for that behaviour you’re not proud of. None of us are perfect.

Katherine Winter – Sellery has been helping families through a guidance approach to parenting for over 20 years. www.consciousparentingrevolution. com

3. Target another option.

Ask your child to help identify a solution to the problem at hand. Maybe your children can agree to take turns sharing a favourite toy. If you catch your teenager sneaking out to meet their friends, maybe you help them find a safe space for a socially distant hangout instead of sending them straight to their room. The goal is to build your child’s ability to objectively problemsolve and to let them know

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Manners Maketh The Child Are we just too busy these days to teach our children proper manners like when and how to say ‘yes please’, ‘pardon me’, ‘thank you’ and ‘no thank you’?

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hild development and etiquette experts certainly think so and now claim that today’s busy lifestyles are leaving manners behind. If you’re like the rest of us – exhausted, busy parents who wildly underestimated how much of parenting involves drill sergeant-like tactics to train young children how to behave – breathe a sigh of relief. It’s not too late to teach manners that give children the road map to be able to interact thoughtfully, respectfully and empathetically with others in almost every situation they will encounter.

We all have days when we wonder if they will “get it” and are tempted by the idea of relaxing our standards after nagging for the gazillionth time. And when we are all stretched and stressed with overscheduled children, who has the energy and time to keep instilling manners? Keeping in mind – this being Hong Kong – it appears that teaching manners can be outsourced, too.

Manners in Education Integrating manners into educational curricula has become a hot topic in educational circles over the past few years, with feisty arguments about whether parents or teachers are responsible.

The Australian Institute of Manners supports teachers and parents of pre-school and primary school children with a manners education programme. In the UK, there has been a recent debate over whether secondary schools should mandate lessons in good manners, punctuality and tidiness amid concerns that pupils are failing to develop “character”.

Anita Kulick, president and CEO of Educating Communities for Parenting in the US, believes children should be learning manners alongside reading, writing, maths and all the other subjects required for living a productive lifestyle and satisfying life.

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External Coaching Alice Kaushal, etiquette coach and managing director of Refine Consulting in Hong Kong, has a truly global grasp of manners. Alice grew up in Uganda with parents originally from India and has lived and worked in the US, Canada, Germany, Malawi, Singapore, Australia, mainland China and Hong Kong. Alice feels that the contrast between Western and Asian cultures means parents must make an extra effort to ensure their values are reflected by everyone involved in raising their children. “It is customary in Asia to indulge and spoil small children, so it’s important to teach all the caregivers, not just parents but helpers too, which manners you wish to instil in your children and the reasons why you are doing so”.

Alice asserts that if manners are not taught to children during their formative years, they may face challenges when they grow up and start applying for their first job. “Before the economic fallout a few years ago, ‘talented terrors’ were permitted. But today, even the most exceptional job-seekers need to be able to fit into a team, and you cannot do that unless you have the skills to make people like you,” Alice says. “Manners are an external expression of how we show consideration of other people.

Situational awareness, or the ability to read and respond to other people, as well as respecting others, are essential qualities for the top jobs.”

Top three manners The top three manners children should learn by primary school,according to Alice, are: 1) the ability to say thank you properly and with a spirit of gratitude, 2) the ability to greet and say goodbye to others with significance and 3) the art of conversation by displaying an interest in other people.

“The most difficult aspect of teaching basic manners to children for parents is to divorce themselves from their own technology so that they can

parenting

demonstrate situational awareness to their children,” she says. “The only way parents can guarantee their child’s success is to help them develop the ability to form relationships, and they cannot do that if they are constantly checking gadgets in social situations.”

Manners in real life A mother of three children (aged seven, eight and ten) who recently relocated to Hong Kong from France, having lived in Australia before that and originally hailing from England strongly believes that manners have been the fundamental playground survival skill that facilitated her children’s adjustment to new schools and friends with each move.

“My advice to the children whenever we moved was to smile, look people in the eye and be polite,” she says. “That was all they had when we moved from Australia to France because they didn’t speak the language. People read their behaviour in the absence of an ability to converse, and this resulted in positive reactions from their teachers and fellow students. I later learned that when my children found out one of their old friends in Sydney was nervous about moving and making new friends, our children advised him not to worry because if he smiled and was polite, everything would be fine.”

A mother of two boys in Hong Kong, aged three and five, hopes that treating her two helpers with clear respect demonstrates to her children that manners should be consistently applied to everyone in any situation.

“Hong Kong can be a bubble with such privileged lifestyles, so we try to focus on teaching the boys that whoever they are speaking with, they have to mind their manners, because if children think they can act differently with different people, that’s when the trouble starts,” she says. “Having helpers in the house can provide teachable moments that allow children to observe how adults interact in different situations. It’s also important for helpers to enforce the disciplinary approach of parents; otherwise the children will not understand what is consistently acceptable.”

Manners are a worthy investment While it’s an incessant, thankless task, the effort we make to teach manners now will have a long-term impact on our children. As Patsy Rowe writes in her book, Manners Magic for Children, “Without adults to guide them, ill-behaved, inconsiderate children will grow into ill-behaved, inconsiderate adults.”

Top Tips • "Please," "thank you," "May I, "Excuse me," and "No thank you," go a long way.

• If you want your child to have good manners, you must lead by example.

• Set the rules at home, explain them clearly and create fun etiquette activities to reinforce the rules.

• Once you've taught manners at home, take your children out to casual restaurants where they • Children love praise so encourage them when they are polite.

• Start teaching your children basic table manners from an early age.

• Be patient.

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Morning Sickness More Twins than Ever

According to a study recently published in the journal Human Reproduction, twin births have risen by a third worldwide since the 1980s. About 1.6 million twins are born each year and one in every 42 babies is a twin. A big reason for all those twins is an increase in medically assisted reproduction, including in vitro fertilisation, ovarian stimulation and artificial insemination. Another reason is that women in many countries are having babies at older ages and the chances of having twins increases with age.

For the study, researchers analysed 2010-2015 data from 165 countries with 99 per cent of the world's population.

They also looked at 1980-1985 data from 112 countries.

They found substantial increases in twinning in many European countries, North America and in Asia.

If you’re one of the many expectant mums suffering from morning sickness, here are a few natural remedies that may help your symptoms safely subside. If you’ve tried all the tricks with no relief, try acupuncture, homeopathy, a Vitamin B6 supplement, or tea made from fresh ginger, raspberry leaf, peppermint or anise. Read more online here www. playtimes.com.hk/natural-remedies-morningsickness-nausea/

s p m u B & s e b Ba The Round Clinic

The Round Clinic has moved to a bigger space! Located in the same building but on a different floor, they will be now be able to provide a broader scope of services to better suit clients' needs. One Island South, 6/F, Suite 602-3, 2 Heung Yip Road, Wong Chuk Hang. www.theroundclinic.com

Paediatrics Evening Clinic Gleneagles Hospital is now offering Paediatrics Evening Clinics daily at the 24-hour Outpatient and Emergency Department, ensuring that children receive prompt care from specialists in Paediatrics.

Fees start from $640.

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maternity Arlo Baby Monitor The Arlo Baby 1080p HD camera allows you to keep an eye on your baby from anywhere using the Arlo app through your smartphone, tablet, or computer.

It also has advanced night vison, a two-way communication feature, motion and sound alerts, and a smart music player. The camera comes with a cute bunny cover which can also be interchanged with a puppy or kitten, helping it to blend into your nursery setting. Available on Amazon.com from US$187.

Baby Monitors Nanit Plus Considered to be ‘the Tesla of baby monitors,’ The Nanit Plus* is like a baby surveillance system. A smart baby monitor with a HD camera, video and audio. It tracks your baby’s sleep, analyses the data and even promises to offer insights into how you can improve the quality of sleep. It also has night vision, temperature and humidity sensors, and a two-way audio. Available on Amazon.com from US$250. *The Nanit Pro launched in March 2021 and can be pre-ordered, with the main difference being 1080p resolution vs 960p.

Infant Optics DXR‑8 Video Baby Monitor The DXR is super lightweight, portable and has been designed for flexible mobility around the house. The camera can pan, tilt, zoom and comes with an interchangeable lens. Features also include two-way audio, temperature control, clear picture quality and private 2.4 GHz FHSS wireless transmission. Available on Amazon from USD$166.

Motorola MBP855 Connect Portable Video Baby Monitor The Motorola 5-inch portable video baby monitor has an elegant design and is easy to set up, giving parents the ideal option to keep an eye on things while at home and away. Compatible with smartphones, tablets, and computers; with video streaming, sound, motion, and temperature notifications, the camera is portable, rechargeable and can pan, tilt and zoom. Available to buy from Mothercare HK priced at $2,399.

Google Nest Cam Although not technically a baby monitor, this all-around home protection device can do more than just one job. The indoor WiFi camera comes with a 24/7 live video and night vision, with high definition 1080p. Mobile alerts and notifications let you know when your indoor camera spots any activity, and you can view past footage. The Nest app is easy to install and download. This is a device you can continue to use long after your little ones have grown up. Available on Amazon.com from US$124.

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THE BEST

Antenatal and Postnatal Classes

IN HONG KONG

Looking for antenatal or postnatal classes in the city?

We’ve got you covered. Here’s our pick of the very best antenatal and postnatal classes in Hong Kong

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A

maternity ntenatal and postnatal classes help you and your partner prepare for the birth of your baby, whilst providing an important network of support during those first few months as new parents.

Annerley Midwives Clinic (OT&P Family Clinic) Guiding pregnant women in Hong Kong for over 20 years, Annerley is your comprehensive aide to all things pregnancy and baby related. Check-ups, scans, blood tests, birth planning consultations, hypnotherapy, antenatal classes and postnatal home visits; both private and public packages are available. Having your first baby? Annerley offers a free ‘Just Pregnant’ workshop.

The Family Zone Offers a crash course in delivery, pain relief, breastfeeding and bonding with the baby, as well as prevention and awareness of post-natal depression in three 2-hour weeknight sessions. Private classes are also available and totally flexible. Post-birth consultation packages of one, five, or 10 visits provide breastfeeding support, sleep advice, and emotional support for mothers. They also offer a Baby Basics course to help you through the first few months after birth and a Helper’s Childcare, First Aid and CPR course.

Central Health The course at Central Health aims to walk you through the stages of labour, birth and what to expect after delivery. To ensure your place, book early as classes run on a first-come, first-served basis.

Gleneagles All classes are hosted by different professionals (Obstetricians, Anaesthetists, Midwives, Physiotherapists, Chiropractor, Lactation consultants, Nursery Nurses, Infant Massage instructors and Dietitians). They are interactive and unique, supporting you and your partner with newborn care after delivery. The courses are free however they are currently only available in Cantonese.

Urban Hatch This online resource offers expecting mother’s pre- and post-birth support. Go through the courses and informational videos at your own pace. Enjoy the benefit of joining a support network of experts and other expecting couples.

Videos cover everything from birth to breastfeeding, and there is the option for one-on-one consultations and events covering parenthood essentials, advice for dads, and how to recharge after baby is born.

Wellness and Birth Care of all kinds is on offer here, from routine antenatal checkups to nutritional advice from trained dietitians and nutritionists, as well as private birth classes covering everything from breathing techniques and birthing positions to a partner’s role and baby care. Massages, physical exercise and yoga are also offered to look after expectant mothers’ emotional and physical well-being. Enjoy the convenience of consultations through calls, WhatsApp, Skype or FaceTime or opt for in-person visits.

Matilda International Hospital Offers a course which includes practical information and useful suggestions for pregnancy, the birthing process and caring for newborns. The course is suitable for expectant mothers and partners who have reached at least 28 weeks of pregnancy. The friendly sessions include a discussion time. Classes are available in English or Japanese.

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health

Menstruation Matters Dr Natalie Hutchins offers advice on helping your tween daughter to navigate the start of her period

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uberty can be a tumultuous time for any tween navigating fluctuating hormones, changing bodies and unpredictable social dynamics, so it is no wonder periods can be an unwelcome addition for many girls and their parents. It is, of course, an inevitable part of growing up and when approached calmly and practically, it is a transition that many girls will make with ease.

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1. Reassure Bleeding is usually associated with danger and harm, so it is understandable that girls may be fearful and hesitant about the idea of a monthly bleed. Rather than the haemorrhaging they may be imagining, the average amount of blood lost during a period is similar to one to two egg cups in total (although it can look much more when seen on a pad or in the toilet). This level

of bleeding is entirely harmless as long as she is eating a well-balanced diet and it is helpful to reassure her of that (vegetarians may need additional iron and b12 support).

Many girls will have heard negative stories surrounding periods, particularly if their mum or older sisters have had bad experiences, and so they may start off with a negative perception of how life will be impacted. It is important for her

health to know that most women do not have problem periods and when they do, it is more common for it to occur later on in life, so she is likely to be absolutely fine and be able to carry on with all her normal activities, sport and school in just the same way.

2. Get practical • There are a wealth of options out there for girls and women to manage periods from pads to tampons to period pants and menstrual cups.

Whichever she chooses is a matter of personal choice and comfort.

• Pads are often the easy go to option when girls first start their periods.

Try different brands to find one that balances absorbancy with not being too bulky to achieve a comfortable fit and always pick a higher absorbancy for night use.

• Whilst there may be cultural reasons for avoiding tampons, there is no medical reason she can’t try this option if she feels comfortable to do so. Sporty girls, in particular, may find this a more attractive option. It is worth looking at the instructions and some female anatomy diagrams together so that she knows where the vaginal opening is. You can also use a small mirror so that she can see for herself. Remember the vagina slopes gently backwards so the tampon needs to be directed up and slightly back. She might find starting off with tampons with applicators easiest. It is important she remembers to change her tampons regularly; it isn’t uncommon for one to be forgotten and whilst this doesn’t usually pose a health risk, there is a small risk of toxic shock syndrome. Less mature girls may find grappling with all of this a bit much. If so, she can always try again at a later date.

• Menstrual cups require practice to get used to even for adults and may be an ambitious starting choice for most young girls. Having said that,

there is no reason why a mature, motivated girl can’t try them.

• Having to deal with leaking or periods starting unexpectedly is also something that every woman will have to deal with and being well prepared can help prevent any embarrassing episodes. It might be helpful to have a small “period pack” kept in her school or sports bag that has a spare pair of underwear, a few sanitary pads or tampons and perhaps some wipes or tissues for these occasions. Teaching her how to fashion a temporary “pad” from tissue paper is also worth doing in case she is caught out completely.

3. When to worry • The average age for periods starting is around 12 but it is not uncommon for it to follow a familial pattern; girls of mothers that started their periods late often follow a similar pattern but do see a doctor if her periods haven’t started by 15 (or 13 if there are no signs of puberty at all). Periods starting before the age of 8 should always prompt a doctor’s visit.

• It is completely normal for periods to be irregular and less frequent for the first few years after they start, as the body’s hormonal control mechanisms are not fully mature.

They usually become more regular over time. However, if her period does not come for six months (or three if they have previously been regular), seeing a doctor is advisable.

• Every girl will have different perceptions of what constitutes a heavy flow, but if she experiences significant leaking and or needs to change an average absorbancy pad or tampon more than once every one to two hours, then she may have genuinely heavy periods that may require further action. In addition, and especially for the non-meat eaters, if you notice her becoming more lethargic and fatigued, she should be checked for iron deficiency.

• It isn’t uncommon to experience cramping pains in the first day or two of the period. She may also experience bloating, a change in her stools, fatigue and mood changes. I would usually expect simple pain relief (paracetamol and anti-inflammatory medication) during this time to help with the physical symptoms and allow her to be relatively normal in terms of her activities. Anything more than this warrants a doctor’s visit.

Key take aways: • Don’t be scared; this is a normal part of growing up and most girls manage perfectly well.

• Be prepared; start having the chat about periods before they start, and once they do, make sure she is armed with everything she needs with spares in every bag.

• Each girl and woman are different and so periods will also vary in lengths, timings, intervals and flows.

But if something doesn’t seem right, do seek advice from her doctor.

Dr Natalie Hutchins gained her medical degree from Imperial College, London and completed rotations in hospitals including St Mary’s Paddington, The Chelsea and Westminster and Charing Cross. She then spent four years as a specialist trainee in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and became a member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. After having children, Dr Hutchins changed specialty to General Practice and became a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners. She has written articles for both medical and popular literature, and appeared as a medical commentator on various topical issues on television. Dr Hutchins now practices at Central Health.

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Did you know that disposable sanitary pads and plastic tampon applicators typically end up in landfill and can take 25 years to break down? Fortunately there are now more environmentally friendly items available. Roopal Popat discovers what’s on the market

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I

was equal parts shocked and impressed that menstrual cups have been around since the 1860’s. I mean why was I not aware of this? Why had this information fallen wayside?

Growing up, I don’t recall any adverts on TV or any sort of literature shared in school or outside of school pointing me in this direction. Why had I been duped into thinking that my only options were sanitary towels and tampons?

What are menstrual cups?

A menstrual cup is a type of reusable, eco-friendly feminine hygiene product that is an alternative to tampons or pads.

It is a small, flexible funnel-shaped cup made of silicone that you insert to catch and collect period fluid. The bell-shaped cup seals against the vaginal wall just below the cervix to collect menstrual fluid and prevent leakage. Approximately every 4–12 hours the cup is removed, emptied, rinsed, and reinserted.

When was the menstrual cup invented?

An American actor called Leona Chalmers was the first person to invent and patent her latex rubber cup in 1937.

Due to the concern over inserting the cups and also the discomfort (and possible allergies) of the material, the cups were not widely used or popular.

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It wasn’t until 2002 that the first reusable silicone menstrual cup was invented in the UK called the Mooncup. The Mooncup was the first menstrual cup to be manufactured using medical grade silicone rather than latex rubber because of its durability and hypoallergenic properties. The new cups were more comfortable and easier to clean.

Today, there are loads of choices on the market and menstrual cups are becoming more widely used and advertised into our collective awareness.

There are so many more options to choose from, and so many resources at our fingerprints to help get over any previous taboos, you can now even check YouTube for videos with clear instructions on how to use these cups.

Benefits of using a cup • They don’t dry the vaginal area and preserve the healthy bacteria that protects from infections • They do not contain harmful chemicals, which can be found in some tampons and pads, for example bleach and dioxin • As the cup contains the fluid inside the body, there is less odour • When inserted correctly you cannot feel the cup • Menstrual cups can contain more

fluid therefore they do not need to be cleaned for a longer period of time, unlike pads and tampons • They are reusable and therefore more environmentally friendly • You cannot get Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) which is linked to the usage of tampons Are menstrual cups more environmentally friendly?

The environmental benefits of using cups are undeniable. Disposable pads and plastic tampon applicators typically end up in landfills or are incinerated.

They can take 25 years or more to break down and cause a significant environmental impact. Most of the pads and tampons are made of cotton and/ or plastic. Plastic can take 50 or more years and cotton starts degrading after 90 days if it’s composted.

Biodegradable sanitary options are now available, and these decompose quicker, but they must be composted, and not disposed of in a landfill. Given that the menstrual cup is reusable, it decreases the amount of waste generated from menstrual products and also creates less discarded packaging.

Another option is investing in period underwear which can be washed and then reused. These are also environmentally friendly.

health Did You Know more than 400 million pounds of sanitary pads, tampons, and tampon applicators end up in landfills.

Where to buy in Hong Kong There is a range of alternative sanitary products available in Hong Kong, from Diva International, The Lily, Luuna Naturals and the Lunette. Check out the following to help get you started.

• Lunna Naturals https://luuna-naturals.com • Mcup www.mcup.hk • Plastic Free HK www.plasticfreehk.com • The Store HK www.thestore.com.hk • iHerb HK www.hk.iherb.com • Delightfully Green www.delightfullygreen.net • Live Zero www.livezero.hk

1st Period Kits for Young Teens Why not be ahead of the game and create a 1st period kit for you child.

Educating the next generation on what products are on offer could go a long way to reducing waste, being more environmentally friendly, and ensuring our girls are not using harmfu materials.

Some ideas for the kit: • Period underwear • Spare underwear • Period swimwear • Menstrual Cup • Organic pads/tampons • Reusable pads • Hot water bottle • Chocolates • Discreet pouch to carry items • Guide and information on periods • Mild pain relief (age appropriate)

So what it is like using a cup?

Kate Cunich answers some FAQ How do I remove the cup if there is no string to pull like with a tampon?

Taking your cup out is much like having a baby…or a poo! You squeeze it down until you can reach the tip and then you pull, easy peasy!

Will my cup get lost?

No. The vaginal canal is an elastic, muscular tube only about four to five inches long which means that the vagina does not connect to other parts of the body, meaning that your cup literally has nowhere else to go!

Can anyone use a cup?

Yes. Luckily there are all sizes, shapes, brands and styles of cups. Everyone can succeed with a cup as long as they find the right one.

Is using a cup messy?

Not at all! Even when removing the cup it is a very neat and tidy process, over the toilet or in the shower.

Should I wear a backup liner or pad?

Most users wear no back up at all (that’s part of what makes these cups so convenient) however, when you first start wearing a cup for peace of mind and extra protection you can use a liner.

Can I have sex with the cup in?

The short answer to this is no, but obviously people have tried. Penetrative sex is not recommended while wearing a cup as it does take up most of the space.

Can I go to the bathroom with my cup in?

Of course. Cups do not stop you from performing any normal functions (with exception to sex as seen above). If you find that your cup moves down, it can be nudged back up into place. Cups with a firmer base are great for this.

Can I use a cup with a tilted cervix/ uterus?

Yes. So long as the cup can sit below the cervical opening to catch the flow, you are good to go.

Can I use a cup if I have an IUD? Yes, but it is very important that you are aware of your strings and pinch the base of the cup when removing to break the suction. This should be done when removing a cup in general but is especially important for those with an IUD. Can I use a cup if I have a latex allergy?

Yes. Silicone is not a form of rubber or latex and is safe to use for those with a latex allergy. Avoid rubber and latex cups.

How do I change my cup in public?

If you find yourself in a public stall without access to your own personal sink, you can remove your cup, dispose of the contents, and wipe the cup with toilet paper and then wash as usual when you get home. There are also single use cup wipes available. If you have access to a sink in the public bathroom use only water and not the public soap.

Are there any other alternatives?

If you’re not quite ready to make the move to using menstrual cups, there are other environmentally friendly options to try.

For example, why not switch to using reusable sanitary pads? Or try organic sanitary pads and tampons. Traditional pads and tampons often contain harmful materials, like bleached rayon and dioxin and/or are made from synthetic fibers.

Organic options are typically made from organic cotton, so they do contain pesticides or harmful chemicals. Reusable pads are also zero waste and can be used many times, washing after each use.

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health

COVID-19 Vaccinations

in Easy Questions

With the roll out of the COVID-19 vaccinations now underway in Hong Kong, it’s likely you’ve got some questions around the vaccine. Dr David Owens helps answer the most common ones Are the COVID-19 vaccines effective?

Answer: YES It is easy to get lost in debates around the percentage efficacy of the different vaccines for Covid-19. Ultimately all vaccinations have their impact in one of two ways: • Direct immunity: This deals with the question: If I am immunised, how less likely am I to die or become seriously ill from a disease?

This is about benefit to the individual.

• Indirect (Herd) immunity: This deals with the question: If lots of people in the population are vaccinated will people who have not been vaccinated also be protected? This is a measure of benefit to the population.

Fortunately, all of the vaccines seem to be very good at reducing the risk of serious illness and death in vaccinated individuals. Here is some data from Israel which now has a very large data set.

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7 days from dose 2

14 days from dose 2

Preventing SARS-COV-2 infection

91.9 %

95.8%

Preventing disease with fever or respiratory symptoms

96.9%

98%

Preventing COVID-19 hospital admission

95.8%

98.9%

Preventing serious disease from COVID-19

96.4%

99.2%

Preventing COVID-19 death

94.6%

98.9%

Effectiveness

Table 1: Effectiveness of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine compared to unvaccinated population.

Israel Health Ministry data to 13 Feb 2021, data corrected for age.

We also have increasing evidence that the vaccines reduce milder cases and transmission to some degree. The issue of herd immunity is a little more complex Are the COVID-19 vaccines safe?

Answer: YES We now have data from many millions of vaccine doses and the side effect profile

seems to be comparable to many other vaccines which are given routinely. Some mild side effects are relatively common.

The RNA vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech in Hong Kong) generally have slightly more mild side effects and a higher incidence of severe allergic reaction then the more traditional vaccines (Sinovac). It is estimated that severe allergic reaction occurs in between 4–11 cases per

health million doses in Pfizer-BioNTech in comparison to 1 per million in Sinovac although there is significantly more published data for Pfizer-BioNTech and this may change over time.

The side effect data provided by the CHP and Department of Health is described in more detail in the following leaflets: Pfizer-BioNTech and Sinovac.

Will the vaccines be effective against the new mutations?

Some of the mutations are showing evidence of early escape from current vaccinations. It seems likely from current evidence that vaccines will continue to be effective, although possibly not to the same degree. As in the original question about effectiveness, they still seem to be good at preventing severe disease, but lower effectiveness may negatively impact population immunity.

The good news here is that widespread genetic tracing of the virus allows early identification of potentially important variants and it will be possible to modify RNA vaccines against these variants, if and when they become clinically relevant. We are now able to predict, at least to some degree, the likely impact of the genetic mutations on immunity by understanding which components of the DNA structure are impacted. Research is ongoing in this area internationally.

Hong Kong has so few infections, do we really need to vaccinate so many people?

The majority of experts in virology believe it is unlikely that the SARS-COV2 virus will now simply disappear. It is not impossible, but the ability of the virus to hide in symptomless individuals and also in animal reservoirs mean it is most likely to stay with us. That being the case, we really have only two options. The first is to stay locked down for ever with border controls and intermittent social distancing measures. The second is to develop immunity within the population.

The acquisition of immunity can only be achieved by natural infection or

immunisation. Experience from other populations has shown that allowing the infection to spread has the potential to rapidly overwhelm health systems leading to high population mortality.

Characteristics of our densely populated city make this option a nonstarter from a public health perspective.

High levels of population immunity via vaccination represents the best chance to protect the health system whilst removing existing public-health controls.

Can I pay privately for vaccination?

Answer: No The vaccination program will be run by the government and all vaccinations will be free. In the first instance private clinics will ONLY have access to Sinovac vaccine and vaccinations will commence in the next couple of weeks. Patients who wish to take Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines should book online via a government centre here. The process is simple and very efficient.

Should children be vaccinated?

Answer: No There is currently no evidence for any COVID-19 vaccinations in children under 16 years (18 years for Sinovac).

There is also good evidence that risks of COVID-19 are very low in young people.

They are not zero, but any public health intervention must involve a risk-benefit analysis. It is unlikely that there will be widespread vaccination of young people until we have greater evidence of the effectiveness and safety of the vaccinations, and a better understanding of the real risks of the disease process in children.

Is the vaccine safe in pregnancy and breast feeding?

We do not yet have adequate evidence of the safety of the vaccines in pregnancy and during breast feeding.

As with children it is unlikely that vaccination will be advised in these

situations until we have much more data available. Every public health intervention involves a risk benefit analysis and this is especially the case when community infections remain so low. Pregnant or nursing mothers who are in higher risk groups or in situations of higher community transmission should discuss the risk benefits of vaccination with their doctor.

I have had COVID, should I still be vaccinated?

Answer: YES It is generally advised to delay vaccination until at least one month after COVID-19 infection but previous infection is not a contraindication to vaccination. Indeed, subsequent immunisation appears to effectively boost natural immunity.

Can I take more than one type of COVID-19 vaccination?

Immunisation should be completed with a single vaccination type so that the first and second dose will be the same brand of vaccine. In the first instance the government will provide one series of vaccination for every eligible individual in Hong Kong. It may be that in the future we give subsequent boosters with different vaccines but this will be dependent on further research. As previously discussed the RNA vaccines may be used to cover new or evolving variants in the future.

Is it possible to choose which vaccine to take?

Answer: YES The Hong Kong Government has indicated that individuals can choose which vaccine they wish to take. Both Sinovac and the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine are available in government vaccination centres. Information about the government program and vaccination booking is available here. AstraZeneca vaccination should be available around the Summer.

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health

Disagreements on Child Vaccination

Kajal Aswani asks what happens when you and your ex-partner don’t agree on vaccinating your children

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health

T

here is no law in Hong Kong requiring children to be vaccinated, but many schools will not admit children if they are not fully vaccinated. For now, the Covid-19 vaccine can only be administered on adults and older teens but not on children. However, if and when Covid-19 vaccinations are rolled out for children, we may expect to see increasing concerns and disagreements between divorced parents on whether their children should receive it.

Who gets to decide?

The question of whether a child can be vaccinated is a custodial issue. When parents divorce, the Courts in Hong Kong will grant either joint or sole custody of a child to the parents. The parent with the custodial rights will be empowered to make major decisions to safeguard and promote the child’s health, development and general welfare. These include decisions such as medical care, religion and education. If parents are granted joint custody of a child, they are required to make joint decisions regarding the child’s upbringing. If a parent is granted sole custody of a child, the decision-making power vests in that parent, but the non-custodial parent still has the right to be consulted on all on major decisions regarding the child’s upbringing. Therefore, regardless of the parents’ custodial rights, if there is a disagreement over child-related matters including medical

decisions such as vaccinations, an application can be made to the Court to determine such matters. In doing so, the Court will have regard to the welfare of the child as first and paramount consideration and will make a decision in the child’s best interests.

Recent cases Although we are yet to see cases in Hong Kong relating to parents’ disagreement over Covid-19 vaccinations, in a recent English decision Re H (A Child: Parental Responsibility: Vaccination) [2020] EWCA Civ 664, the Court of Appeal undertook a careful review of the issues relating to vaccination and explained that the only reason for a vaccine to not be in a child’s best interests is: 1. There is credible development in medical science or new peerreviewed research indicating significant concerns of the safety of the vaccines; and 2. The parent objecting to the vaccination can show evidence confirming medical contraindication specific to the child receiving the vaccine.

In the absence of the above, the Court is very likely to conclude that it is in the child’s best interests to receive vaccinations if recommended by the UK’s Public Health Authority.

In another case of M v H, P, T [2020] EWFC 93, the UK Court also addressed the issue of the Covid-19 vaccine. In that case, the mother objected to the children

being given NHS routine-childhood vaccinations. The father applied initially for the children to receive routine immunisation vaccines but widened his application to include the future Covid-19 vaccine. In this case, both parents had parental responsibility of the children. The mother raised several objections, for example, relating to the efficacy of vaccinations, and the fact that they’re not compulsory in England, however the Court dismissed these objections and concluded that it was in the children’s best interests to have childhood vaccines per the NHS vaccination schedule. The Judge declined to rule on the Covid-19 vaccination as this is yet to be included on the NHS childhood vaccination but he went on to state that “it is very difficult to foresee a situation in which a vaccination against Covid-19 approved for use in children would not be endorsed by the Court as being in a child’s best interests, absent peerreviewed research evidence indicating significant concern for the efficacy and/or safety of one or more of the Covid-19 vaccines or a well-evidenced contraindication specific to that subject child”.

If faced with a similar situation, the Courts in Hong Kong are very likely to endorse the UK Court’s approach in determining disagreements over Covid-19 vaccines.

Kajal Aswani is a Partner at Gall, a leading Hong Kong dispute resolution law firm. www.gallhk.com Spring 2021

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sponsored feature

Wi ll s a nd Guard iansh ip in Ho ng Ko ng

Play t im at Ta es spea n you n ner De W ks to the s arran eed to kn it t to find pecialist gin g la o o guar w about ut ever y w yers di a n s t g hip in et ting a hing w ill a H o ng Kong nd

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sponsored feature 1. What is a will and why do I need one?

A will is a legal document that states your wishes regarding who should manage your estate and the distribution of your assets after death. With a will, you can ensure that your estate will be managed by someone you trust and your loved ones will receive your intended gifts. Otherwise, your estate will be managed and distributed according to the Hong Kong statutory intestacy regime.

2. What is the benefit of a will over a trust?

You will continue to have ownership and control of your assets even after setting up a will as a will only takes effect upon death. Whereas you will no longer have ownership or control of your assets after they are transferred into the trust.

3. What happens if I don’t have a will in Hong Kong?

If you die in Hong Kong without a will, your beneficiaries and the extent to which such beneficiaries will receive gifts will be determined by the Hong Kong intestacy regime.

For instance, if you have a lifetime partner and are not married, that person will not be entitled to receive any part of your estate in the event of death. Furthermore, the person who is entitled to manage your estate under law may not be a person who you trust or consider able to manage your estate.

4. I live in Hong Kong but have property in another country; does a Hong Kong will cover this?

Yes, a Hong Kong will can cover overseas assets. However, if assets are located in a jurisdiction where the inheritance regime is substantially different (such as Switzerland where there is forced heirship), it is recommended to prepare a separate will for such jurisdiction.

5. Do I need a will even if I’m relatively young and in good health?

If you have loved ones whom you wish to benefit from your estate, you should start considering having a will even if you are relatively young and in good health. Life events happen unexpectedly and death does not wait for you to be ready.

6. What does a will protect?

A properly drafted will can protect your loved ones and entitle them to receive your intended gifts. Further, it can in many cases minimise disputes regarding the distribution of your estate.

7. Do partners/spouses need separate wills? Should they collaborate on writing a will?

Partners/spouses should have separate wills and not a mutual will. Although a mutual will appears attractive, it is binding on both partners/spouses even after one partner/spouse becomes mentally incapacitated or passes away. In such cases, the mutual will cannot be amended by the remaining partner/ spouse, even if that may be the intention of both partners/spouses.

8. How does a will handle the health and well-being of my children?

You may appoint guardians and provide guidelines in relation to the caring and well-being of your children under your will.

10. Do I really need to set up a temporary guardianship?

If the permanent guardians are not based in the same jurisdiction as your minor children, we would recommend setting up a temporary guardianship.

11. What’s the difference if I am an expat vs. local HK resident?

If, in the not uncommon scenario where an expat does not have any close relatives in Hong Kong with whom the Social Welfare Department would feel comfortable leaving the care of such expat’s children, the Social Welfare Department may have no choice but to take custody of such children. Having a Deed of Guardianship would assist in these circumstances.

12. Who should I appoint as the legal temporary guardian?

The temporary guardian should be someone who is based in the same jurisdiction as your minor children and is available to care for your children within a short timeframe if and when needed.

For more information or to speak to a lawyer please visit our website www.tannerdewitt.com or call +852 2573 5000.

9. What is a Deed of Guardianship and is this part of a will?

If you wish the arrangements in your will to remain confidential, instead of providing guardianship provisions under your will, you may prepare a separate document known as a Deed of Guardianship to appoint such guardians of your children and provide guidelines in relation to the caring and well-being of your children.

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lifestyle

Peter Rabbit at Cath Kidston

Hop on over to Cath Kidston to check out the Peter Rabbit collection, which covers a wide range of products including bags, pyjamas, flasks, clothing, notebooks, tea towels and a very cute four pack baby started set. www.cathkidston.hk

Zara Home

Fans of Zara Home will be happy to learn that the Queen’s Road Central store will soon stock the brand’s home decor products. And, in even more good news, the Zara Home Online store has just launched, making it even easier to purchase stylish, well-priced items. www.zarahome.com

Style

around Town

Sagiri Dayal Jewellery

HULA on Hollywood

HULA, the sustainable fashion community where members can consign the items they no longer need, and purchase pre-owned designer products for a fraction of the cost, has opened a new boutique on Hollywood Road. The new HULA store features a highly curated selection of 500+ unique designer womenswear pieces — including ready-to-wear, handbags, shoes and accessories. The store also offers a Click & Collect option and shoppers may also reserve pieces they see online to try in the store. https://thehula.com

Hong Kong based jewellery designer Sagiri Daya’s latest eye-catching jewellery collection features red for good luck and jade for prosperity. Something we could all do with! The former photographer turned her interest in Jade and Chinese knotting into a jewellery business 15 years ago, creating one of a kind pieces which bring together global influences with elements from India, Bali, Thailand, Istanbul and China. The unique items are both bold and eclectic and often feature jade. www.instagram.com/ sagiridayalijewellery

Christian Louboutin Manicure Experience

Looking to add a touch of glamour to your nails? Look no further than the Christain Louboutin Exclusive Manicure treatment at The Mandarin Salon. The one-of-a-kind collaboration boasts three nail treatments for beauty enthusiasts to enjoy a selection of lustrous nail colours, ranging from an ultra-glossy to a full matte finish. All three services incorporate a Christian Louboutin Beauty fragrance consultation into the ritual where guests will wear the delicate scent to elevate the experience. The treatments are available until 30 April and can be booked through The Mandarin Salon on Tel: 2825 4800 or email mohkg-salon@mohg.com.

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(1) Raindrop bath toy $85, Petit Bazaar; (2) Plastic umbrella $100, Franc Franc; (3) Rainbow globe $299, Homeless; (4) Just a Drop rain sticker $117, Smallable; (5) Louise Misha Rain hat $396, Smallable; (6) Cloud wall hanger with rain stickers $391, Petit Bazaar; (7) Mobile rainbow $480, Petit Bazaar; (8) Happy Clouds umbrella, $117, Smallable; (9) Crocodile print rain coat $517, Bambini Fashion; (10) Blue leopard rain coat, Molo; (11) Lightweight dinosaur Mac $369, M&S; (12) Shark rain boots $210, Baby Central; (13) Shower resistant floral jacket $233, Next Direct; (14) Terry Top, $99 H&M; (15) Colour change pansy rain coat $488, colour change umbrella $175, both Kyle & Vivian; (16) Rubberised neon raincoat $259, Zara; (17) Children’s Rubber Boots, $350 Aigle; (18) Peppa Pig rain boots $299, M&S; (19) Suck UK Butterfly Umbrella $265, Homelesss

Spring 2021

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lifestyle

for the Skin

What is CBD and how can it help your skin?

What is CBD? The Cannabis sativa plant is made up of more than 120 components which are known as cannabinoids.

Two very common components are cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-9tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

THC is known to be the psychoactive ingredient giving users the feeling of being ‘high’ when consumed. CBD on the other hand is not psychoactive and has been known to have therapeutic uses for things like pain management, anxiety, and depression, to name a few. Some research has also shown that it can benefit patients suffering from Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, epilepsy, and cancer.

In more recent times, CBD is being widely used in other healthcare products like oils, edibles, creams, and balms.

There are three types of CBD: • Full Spectrum CBD contains all cannabinoids naturally found in the

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cannabis plant, including trace amount of THC (less than 0.3 per cent) • Broad Spectrum CBD contains no THC but does contain other cannabinoids • CBD Isolate contains only CBD, meaning just the single compound Is CBD legal in Hong Kong?

Yes, CBD is legal in Hong Kong. THC and its derivatives are not, and only licensed companies can import and distribute through the appropriate channels. CBD products in Hong Kong cannot contain any traces of THC, and therefore you will not find any full spectrum products on the market.

Why is CBD good for the Skin?

CBD has anti-inflammatory benefits when applied to the skin, therefore making it a desirable ingredient for its potentially calming benefits. It also has the potential to decrease excess sebum (oil) production therefore having a balancing effect on the skin.

lifestyle It is important to note, however, that research on using CBD is still in the early stages. There is little proven data that CBD skin products can treat conditions like acne, rosacea, or psoriasis. Whilst only small studies have shown that it may have some beneficial effects, more studies and research need to be conducted. With that said, it is generally considered safe to use topically.

If you are looking to use CBD products for specific skin treatments it is advisable to consult with a dermatologist first. Be sure to check: • What is the proper dosage of CBD for treating each condition?

• How does CBD interact with other medications you may be taking?

• What are the possible side effects of applying CBD to the skin?

How to find the right CBD beauty product for you?

With so many different products on the market, from oil, serums, creams to balms, it can be difficult to choose. Here are some tips: • Consider the brand and company – Whilst this is often trial and error, go with a brand you trust. In some instances, a company whose primary focus is CBD may be of better quality as opposed to a beauty brand that only focuses on a handful of CBD products.

• Check the ingredients list! This may sound simple but it is a good place to start. Make sure the product contains cannabidiol (CBD).

• Some brands list the total cannabidiol content in milligrams, which is a good indicator that the CBD product is legitimate.

• Ask for third-party certification on the purity of the product.

• Check where the CBD was sourced.

Different regions have varying growing conditions based on climate and soil.

• Check what other ingredients are included for example coconut oil and aloe, shea etc. What else do you want this product to do for you? To help with dry skin, or moisturize perhaps?

• Ensure the packaging is suitable. Clear bottles are generally a no as they can expose the plant ingredient to light and air which can make it less effective.

• Look at the texture, feel, smell of the products. What is your sensory experience of it?

• Ask for a trial size and or sample.

• Look for customer reviews online and in store.

Where to buy CBD beauty products in Hong Kong • Gentle Bro CBD carries their own brand of US-made organic CBD products that include gummies, balms, creams, and oil drops. www.gentlebro.com.hk • Grassyard has a good range of CBD balms and creams available to buy in store. M Floor, 8 Rednaxela Terrace, Central, Hong Kong. www.grassyard.co • Heavens Please offers CBD products from a range of brands, from serums, body wax, oils and creams. www.heavensplease.com • Found HK is Hong Kong's first CBDfocused cafe and carries products from Felix & Co, Life and Flow. Unit A, G/F, 8 Tai On Terrace, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong. www.found.hk • Cubed CBD – Carries skin creams, lotions, oils and body spray for psoriasis and eczema, spot treatments. www.cubedcbdhk.com • Felix & Company offers an organic body balm which promises relief from muscle pains, menstrual cramps, and everyday aches. www.felixandco.com • Both Joyce Beauty and Lane Crawford carry luxe CBD brands like Saint Jane, Treaty, and Natureofthings. www.joyce.com; www.lanecrawford.com.hk Is Hemp Seed Oil the same as CBD? CBD oil is not the same thing as hemp seed oil, which is another ingredient for skin. The two are often marketed interchangeably, but CBD oil is richly concentrated in cannabidiol, whereas hemp seed oil only contains trace amounts of cannabidiol, if any.

Spring 2021

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sponsored feature

Mattress Matters

I

t’s a well-known fact that quality sleep is essential for our overall well-being. But how to ensure you reap the benefits of a good night's sleep and what role does your mattress play in this? Thijs Veyfeyken, general manager of Okooko by European Bedding, answers some questions on what can help you sleep better.

What materials should I look for in a mattress and bedding?

It’s important to remove harmful chemicals and artificial materials from your sleep zone. Look for mattresses and bedding made of natural materials and certified to be safe from toxins.

In fact, this is especially important for children to avoid allergens sensitivity developed early in life. That's why Okooko carries mattresses and pillows made of 100 per cent organic latex. The rubber trees we source our latex from are free of pesticides and fertilisers, and we also make our mattresses without any springs, synthetic foams or glue. For those with allergies, our latex mattresses are naturally mould- and dust mite-resistant; and they come with removable covers for easy cleaning

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anytime you need. Without allergens and chemicals in your bedding, your body is better able to properly rest because you are not fighting off toxins while trying to sleep.

My partner and I have a different preference on firmness. How can we resolve this?

We all sleep differently and so what you consider as a comfortable mattress may not be the case for your partner.

At Okooko, we carry latex mattresses in different combinations of thickness and densities to cater to individual preferences. Try a king or queen size mattress with different firmness on each side, so you are both comfortable.

No more compromising on the ideal mattress firmness between partners!

My kids like to co-sleep with us. Do you have custom size mattresses?

If you have a particularly tall partner, or even kids who like to jump into bed with you, a custom-sized mattress can help to accommodate everyone. Different bed frames and linen from around the world can also be slightly different to standard Hong Kong sizes. At Okooko,

we can customise a latex mattress to any shape and size, depending on your needs even for a baby cot, yacht or extra large family bed. Just let us know what you need and our sleep consultant can help you.

Interested to check out the Okoooko

by European Bedding mattresses and bedding products? Go to their website make an appointment or visit their showroom in Central. Wishing you a better sleep!

Okooko by European Bedding 13F The Plaza LKF, 21 D'Aguilar Street, Central. Hong Kong. www.europeanbedding.hk

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(1) Halter Neck Top $129, joggers $199, both Zara; (2) Desigual Sequin Butterfly T-Shirt $606, Bambini Fashion.com; (3) We Love Hong Kong from $2,500, Louise Hill; (4) Swirly Embossed Cup $99, Mirth; (5) Hong Kong Skyline Placemat $180, Paper-Rose; (6) Ullkaktus cushion $30, IKEA; (7)Jewellery Wrap $300, Bookazine; (8) Teal Wave Vase (medium) $400, Qurious.Life; (9) Lotus Personal Chair $1,680, Franc Franc; (10) Miffy Sitting Velvet $189, Petit Bazaar; (11) Indoor/Outdoor Pouffe $450, IKEA; (12) Wild & Wolf Globe $799, Petit Bazaar; (13) Sunrise Vase (medium) $400, Qurious.Life; (14) Remsta Armchair $1,690, IKEA; (15) Patterned Jug $130, IKEA; (16) Scented Candle $30, IKEA; (17) Swim shorts $80, H&M; (18) Flawless Complexion Sponge $80, Sephora; (19) Cleansing Face Wipes $30, Sephora; (20) Fizzing Star Bath Soak $15, Sephora; (21) Type-C Cable $168, Lane Crawford; (22)Bikini $1,729, BambiniFashion.com Spring 2021

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sponsored feature

Back In The Swing

The coaches at Hong Kong Golf & Tennis Academy offer advice on developing youth talent in sports and overcoming the impact of COVID-19 Q: If a student doesn’t initially present with “talent”, are you as a coach able to bring about a decent level of sports competence through practice?

A: Of course, we can develop additional skills and better techniques over time with drills and practice. Of utmost importance is for the student to actually practice what they have been taught.

I

f you have a budding sports star in your family, the last 12 months have likely been very frustrating. With so many facilities closed practice has been difficult and sometimes impossible, even for a socially distanced sport like golf. Will your child be able to make up for lost time? Has COVID-19 reduced your child’s chance of “making it”?

Playtimes asks the golf coaches at Hong Kong Golf & Tennis Academy (HKGTA) to share their insights on youth sport talent and how to overcome the challenges of the last year.

Q: What are the most important factors in youth sports talent?

A: Multi Sport activity from a young age.

Through participating in multiple sports, children will be able to identify their talents in different sports.

Q: Do you look for particular predictors of sports talent when coaching your players or do these naturally emerge over time?

A: There will always be a little bit of both.

We are constantly looking out for certain talents during lessons, but of course talents can be built over time.

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Q: Are there “natural” athletes who don’t have to work very hard to succeed… or do they all require practice, practice, and practice?

A: There are some players who are natural athletes, but even at the highest level, it takes practice, practice, and practice!

Q: What will get an athlete further, natural talent vs hard work?

A: That’s almost impossible to answer.

It really has to be a combination of both.

Talent and lots of practice together is the best.

Q: What have you advised your students to do when they can’t have in-person coaching due to COVID restrictions?

A: During lockdown we asked our students to keep practicing certain set-up positions and basic swing movements at home with the help of a mirror. Also we gave some exercises to do at home to keep the golfing muscles working and ready for return.

Q: Have students managed to keep their skills up while facilities have been shut?

A: With great difficulty - golf is a game that you ABSOLUTELY need to keep hitting balls to maintain levels. So upon return, we saw a lot of very rusty swings.

Q: What have you observed in terms of focus, ability and motivation in times of not being able to play sports?

A: A lot of people were very frustrated with the closures and it certainly made everyone more appreciative of the facilities upon re-opening. Also, many felt like they needed to work harder to get back to where they were before the lockdowns.

Q: Do you think COVID-19 and the closure of sports facilities will have a lasting impact on the next generation of professional athletes?

A: I think it’s obviously slowed down progress temporarily, but hopefully we stay open for a while now and the kids can get back on track.

Q: Will they be able to make up for lost time?

A: Everyone is working harder to try to achieve their goals and get back to where they were before and excel further again.

Q: Do many of your students aspire to play professionally?

A: It seems that most of the parents of the children I’ve coached want their child to go into a certain profession rather than trying to become a tour player. A lot of my students will move on to college golf teams in the U.S. though.

David Freeman, Mareli Joubert, Aaron Sy and Sharon Li are PGA of America Learning & Performance golf instructors at Hong Kong Golf & Tennis Academy (HKGTA). HKGTA offers patrons exclusive access to an outstanding sporting community in Sai Kung. In partnership with two world-class golf and tennis training institutes, and toptier coaches for swimming, fitness and wellness, patrons and their families benefit from year-round programming and state-of-the-art facilities.

Hong Kong Golf & Tennis Academy 81 Tai Chung Hau, Sai Kung, Hong Kong Email: enquiry@hkgta.com website: www.hkgta.com

travel A New Chedi to Open in Qatar

Hotel chain GHM has announced plans to open a new luxury resort, composed of 59 rooms and suites as well as 32 chalets and villas, at Katara Cultural Village in Qatar’s capital city, Doha.

The Chedi Katara Hotel & Resort, Doha will occupy a beachfront setting within the landmark 100-hectare Katara Cultural Village district that includes theatres, concert halls, exhibition galleries, mosques, restaurants, shops, a park and an open amphitheatre.

The resort is expected to open in July 2022, ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2022.

Hyatt in Cambodian Capital

A 247-room Hyatt Regency hotel in Phnom Penh debuts as the largest international hotel in the city. Open since January 2021, the new hotel is walking distance to the Royal Palace, National Museum and the riverside. Spacious, beautifully appointed rooms encompass Khmer architectural accents, French colonial influences, and specially-commissioned artworks. Be sure to check out the 22-meter outdoor infinity pool surrounded by lush greenery, poolside bar, Himalayan salt room, steam room and fully equipped gym. Rates start at USD$180 per night. hyattregencyphnompenh.com

g u B l e Trav Raffles Comes to Macau

Visit Thailand?

Thailand has already welcomed tourists as part of a golf travel bubble, whereby visitors could quarantine in their room - at specified golf resorts - for five days and then spend the remainder of the 14 days playing golf. But now a panel of officials have backed proposals to issue vaccine certificates to travellers who have completed their COVID-19 vaccinations, which would be a major step towards allowing the tourism-reliant nation to fully reopen to foreign visitors. Thailand also plans to reduce the mandatory quarantine period for vaccinated foreign visitors from 14 days to seven.

Exciting news! Plans are fully underway for a Raffles at Galaxy Macau.

Opening in the second half of 2021, the exclusive all-suite resort will feature approximately 450 suites, each drawing inspiration from a modern palazzo and with some featuring their own pool and garden. The famed Raffles butlers personally deliver a level of hospitality that is both gracious and intuitive for every guest. Raffles Singapore is renowned for its iconic Singapore Sling, so let’s hope we can travel to Macau soon to enjoy the new Sling tailored for Macau.

"Bee" Together

The Bee Together package at The Sheraton Hong Kong Tung Chung Hotel offers the perfect opportunity to re-connect with your family in the natural environment of Tung Chung. The package includes: One night stay in connecting Deluxe Ocean View Rooms; daily breakfast for two adults and two children; a visit to the local bee farm at Mui Wo; one-way transfer from the hotel to the bee farm. Guests will also receive a $400 dining credit. The package is valid until 30 June 21. www.marriott.com

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TOP PLACES to Play Inside

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Looking for somewhere to take the children on a rainy day?

Check out Playtimes favourites

www.playtimes.com.hk

LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre The recently opened LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Hong Kong features a beautiful miniature replica of Hong Kong’s landmarks including The Star Ferry Central Pier, Peak Tram, Temple Street, and Big Buddha. Promising to be ‘the ultimate indoor playground for families with children’, the facility provides a two to three hour interactive and educational experience for children age three to 10 years. Visitors can enjoy 10 LEGO® themed play areas including; Kingdom Quest, MINILAND®, LEGO® Friends, Master Builder Classroom, DUPLO Farm, Café, Magic Bikes, Build & Test, 4D Studio and a LEGO® shop.

Single Day Admission and Annual Passes are be available online. www.legolanddiscoverycentre.com

Ryze There’s never a dull moment at Ryze trampoline park. With two jumping areas to choose from, this is a guaranteed workout for both parents and kids. From classic trampolines, to more adventurous zip lines, swings and jumping pits. Prices vary depending on the day and time, and start from $95.

Open Mon-Thurs 10am-7pm and 9am9pm over the weekend. www.ryzehongkong.com Docodoco The Japanese game centre operator NAMCO has opened its first overseas DOCODOCO indoor digital adventure playground in Hong Kong. Located in the Lohas Mall, DOCODOCO is 5,000sq of digital and interactive fantasy adventure for parents and children. A playroom with many different activities, including climbing equipment, a digital slide, Brio train sections, cooking stations, a ball pit, and a digital lily pond to name a few.

Sessions start from $200 for one child and two adults for one hour. www.facebook.com/docodoco.hk

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Epic Land Located in Discovery Bay North Plaza, this fun indoor play area has something for everyone. Purchase an online ticket to visit this ultimate playroom where children can climb, bounce, slide, play laser tag and generally have an epic time. www.epiclandhk.com Tikitiki Bowling Get down to Tikitiki bowling for a fun day out with the family. Kids will love the neon lights, over the top decor, and fun music. Drinks, and food can be bought directly to your bowling lane while you practice your aim! www.tikitiki.hk/en

The Big Things Located at The Mills in Tseun Wan NT, this unique nature themed playground is inspired by Finnish design and features models of rare animals, insects, volcanoes and swamps. The playground is a place for children to learn about nature through sensory play, designed to encourage the development of motor skills and stimulate imagination and creativity. Sixty-minute sessions start from $140 for one child and one adult.

Sessions can be booked online. www.thebigthings.com/en-us/home

Kidztech Located in Whampao Hung Hom, Kidztech is a spacious indoor playroom, with plenty of open spaces, sensory play, sand pit, vacuum powered ball pit, lots of wooden toys and more. Sessions are limited in numbers, so it doesn’t feel overcrowded and pre-booking is required. Prices start from $180 for one child and one adult on weekdays.

And $220 on weekends. www.facebook.com/kidztechhk

VIVELAND Located in Dpark in Tseun Wan, VIVELAND is an experiential center in Hong Kong. With powerful VR device integration technology and brand new VR experience content, it creates a real interactive environment, guaranteed to stimulate the senses. Experiences include, walking the plank, walking amongst dinosaurs, playing archery and baseball to name a few. Prices start from $480 for 75 minutes. www.vive.com/hk/viveland

18 Challenge Karting Head on over to Hong Kong's largest indoor go-karting venue, located in Ho Man Tin. 18 Challenge Karting spans across 50,000 square feet with a Formula Circuit adult race track, a child-friendly track with mini electric ride-on cars (twofour years) or drift karts (five-12 years).

They also have a themed restaurant, party room, and several F1 simulation games, and more. Check out their Facebook page for more information and pricing. www.facebook.com/ official18challengehk Verm City Reach for the sky at Verm City with climbing options for all ages and levels.

Whether you choose to ‘Clip N Climb’ or to tackle one of the more complex rock climbing walls, it’ll be a fun challenge.

Bookings can be made online or walk in and masks are required at all times.

Check the website for age restrictions. www.vermcity.com Spring 2021

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Glamping in Hong Kong

Louise Drake enjoys a night under the stars and breakfast with goats

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’ve never been completely sold on the idea of camping. To be honest I’d rather stay in a hotel than in a tent. So when I suggest visiting a campsite for two nights (two nights?!) my family and friends are understandably surprised.

I’ve set my sights on Saiyuen Camping Adventure Park, located on the island of Cheung Chau and probably the closest thing to ‘glamping’ I can find in Hong Kong. This is no ordinary stickyour-tent–up-in-a-field campsite.

There’s something about taking off on a ferry that makes it feel like we are really going on holiday (or maybe that’s just the ridiculous amount of luggage, and the fact that we’ve not been overseas for what feels like years). When we arrive in Cheung Chau there’s a different vibe compared to other parts of Hong Kong; bicycles take the place of cars, making the pace of life seem slower, and stalls sell dried fish along the seafront. All of this helps enhance that holiday feeling.

After a spot of lunch at one of the seafood restaurants (the squid is generally very good in Cheung Chau) we take the short sampan trip and 10-minute walk to reach the campsite.

Saiyuen is hidden behind high walls and a big red gate; but the expanse of green grass that welcomes us has the kids whooping with delight. There is space. There is real grass. There are trees to climb. And there are activities to enjoy.

Saiyuen has a range of tents inspired by different parts of the world and to

suit different group sizes. There’s the African Safari Tents which come in three sizes; the Mongolian Ger; the Native American Tee Pee, the Star Gazing Geodesic Dome and the Sunset Vista – which appears in lots of photo shoots but seems to always be booked. You can also pitch your own tent in specific areas within the grounds.

We stay in a large African Safari Tent; after all, it’s the closest I’ll get to an African Safari anytime soon. The tent is set up with two double and two single camp beds, complete with bed linen and pillows. There are two ceiling fans, lights and there’s even an air conditioning unit. There’s a sink outside and a picnic bench. It surpasses all expectations. The XL Safari Tents have a bathroom, like a portacabin, attached to the rear of the tent. Guests of the Medium and Large Safari Tents, and American Tee Pees use the shower and toilet cubicles located nearby, but they are clean and work well. It’s not too much of a challenge to use them. The shower block is clearly the place to be for the local mosquitoes, though, so be ready to swat!

Each of the three Mongolian Ger have their own small garden with fairy lights and a BBQ, but for the African Safari, Tee Pees or pitch your own tents you’ll need to rent a BBQ. Arguably this should be part of the overnight accommodation package. It’s also worth noting that the BBQ won’t be Spring 2021

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placed near your tent; all BBQs are located in a covered BBQ area with seating, which you will be allocated once you’ve reserved the BBQ. Meat and vegetables can be pre-ordered and collected at reception to save you lugging them with you (leaving more capacity to bring specialised items or a bottle of nice wine). You can also rent an esky and buy ice. There is a shop at reception, but it sells mostly crisps and sweets, ice cream and drinks etc.

As well as being a campsite, Saiyuen is also an adventure park. Day passes are available, dependant on COVID-19 restrictions. Recently only staying guests have been able to enter the park and enjoy the activities. Activities available include Bubble Soccer, Disk Golf (which looks fun, but seems expensive for what it is), Bubble Waffle Workshop, Beggars Chicken, Archery, Climbing Monkeys, Junior Abseiling and Tree Top Canopy Walk.

As we are here for two nights we have time for the kids to try the climbing package, which consists of several of the climbing activities and costs $780 per person. This activity is suitable for

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children age 12+. For our older children the Tree Top Canopy Walk is a hit while the younger ones like the Monkey Climb.

Both are smaller than they appear in the pictures so manage your expectations.

The cost of the activities soon add up, but it’s all part of the fun and if it’s your first visit to the camp, I recommend getting stuck in.

We also sign up for Beggars Chicken, which has the benefit of being a fun activity as well as providing dinner. It’s actually pretty strenuous to prepare, covering the chicken in clay takes some effort, but is very rewarding when we get to enjoy the fruits of our labour in an open air BBQ area later that evening.

Saiyuen has lots of places to sit outside, and it is just a few minutes walk to a small ungazetted beach, so families are well entertained even without booking any activities. There is a wooden climbing frame with a small zip line that has no charge. Plus plenty of trees to climb, places to explore and space to kick a ball around. And there are goats.

Younger children love seeing the goats, which are released to roam around the grounds several times during the day.

Be warned, though, they do like to join you for breakfast and will eat whatever is within their reach! And I mean Whatever!

Cheung Chau itself has lots of great cycling and walking paths and plenty to see and do. Take a stroll to Cheung Po Tsai Cave, or try some watersports at Cheung Chau beach. If you find yourself craving food that you didn’t bring, there is a lovely little French restaurant called Pirate Bay within walking distance. It’s pretty small so best to book during peak times. The crepes are delicious.

All in all, our group thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Saiyuen. While it may not be cheap, and arguably we could have booked a hotel package for less (given current promotions) it is an unforgettable experience and one that I’m very happy we tried. Visiting with a few families works especially well and will ensure your children, and you, have a blast. *As a disclaimer, when we visited the weather was perfect. Blue skies; warm enough to swim at the beach, but cool enough not to need the air conditioning. I still consider myself a fair weather camper, or should I say “glamper”. I’m not so sure I’d brave it in hotter and wetter climes.

Tales from China’s

Magical Mountains All of us at the Young Writers Awards have been thrilled at the number and quality of entries we’ve had this year!

We’re grateful to the teachers who encouraged the students, and of course to the young writers themselves.

Our usual grand prize-giving event will happen before June, subject to the advice of the health authorities. We’d love to celebrate the children at our usual live event if at all possible, but we will simultaneously make arrangements to hold it online in case that becomes necessary. We will share the date and other details as soon as we have it.

Huge thanks to everyone involved.

— Hong Kong Young Writers Awards Team

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Max and Mei Organiser

last word

High Achievers Start Early

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If you are a parent, it means you have no secrets, shares Nury Vittachi

O WHERE WERE YOU? "Sorry, I'm late." A friend who missed a social occasion explained that she had to support her daughter, who was being grilled by a panel of people in suits.

“It’s a second interview, so it’s really important,” Sylvia said. I replied: “But your daughter’s two years old.”

It's true. In my day, you only had two layers of interviews if your job was pretty important, like being head of the United Nations.

Today, in Hong Kong, you need two interviews to get into a kindergarten.

I was shaking my head over that conversation when a reader forwarded me a resume sent to a school in China. It was filled with professional achievements, although it belonged to a very small boy. This was getting ridiculous. What next? “My fetus is studying trigonometry and will start jazz dance immediately after birth.” Or maybe immediately before birth. “Left leg kick two-three, right leg kick twothree…”

I’ve been there myself. When this columnist adopted a Chinese baby, he and his wife were placed in chairs in a room, and then presented with a five-month-old infant for 20 minutes to interview it. What to ask? “So, what

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do you think you’re going to be doing in five years? How would you describe your strengths and weaknesses?” His answers weren’t exactly textbook (he basically just dribbled a bit and then fell asleep), but we gave him a passing grade for general charm and for not pooping on us very much.

How do you judge infants anyway? I once had to interview a large number of randomly chosen mothers for a survey. It quickly became evident that every mother in the world had given birth to children of way above average intelligence.

I realised that this could only work mathematically if there existed entire cities in which every individual was dumb as a rock. Having travelled a great deal in recent years, I can now confirm this is true.

Judging older children is even tougher. Every year or two I get to be a judge at junior talent contests. This is how they go.

1. Child screeches off-key for three minutes.

Judges: Well done!

2. Child prances around in dance clothes and falls over.

Judges: Well done!

3. Child creates hideous sounds from instrument.

Judges: Well done!

4. Foul-tempered child refuses to do anything except pee on the stage, and sometimes on the judges.

Judges: Well done!

Now before anyone accuses me of being grumpy and cynical, a charge I will deny because it is so obviously true, I will admit that children can sometimes be very admirable indeed. A case in point concerns an incident I was told about by a reader from Japan. A group of children from that country went on a Shinkansen train as part of a school trip. Before arriving at Tokyo Station, they cleaned their carriage. They left it so spotless that the cleaner was stunned. She tracked down the youngsters to the Kawakado Middle School in Tachikawa and wrote a twopage letter thanking them. “I was deeply moved,” the cleaner wrote, according to press reports. “And I cleaned the rest of the train in a state of happiness.”

The cleaner’s response didn’t surprise me at all. Clearly she’s a parent.

If my kids ever cleaned their rooms, I would fall to my knees, stunned, and happily write them a two-page thank you letter. I’d be so grateful I might even feed and clothe them. Well done!

Nury welcomes your comments and ideas at his Facebook page: www.facebook.com/nury.vittachi