Cuti-Cuti Malaysia: Best Places To Visit With Kids In Malaysia

The annual school holidays are coming as we get closer to the end of the year, and with the interstate borders opening up, there are a lot of places to visit within Malaysia with your family. Let’s go on a cuti-cuti Malaysia trip!

While we can’t travel overseas yet due to restrictions brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, here are some places in Malaysia worth visiting with your family!

Places to visit in Malaysia with family

Malaysia has many unique attractions, beaches, culture, destinations, and food you can try out with your family during the holidays. Each state has its own uniqueness and special treasures you can explore with your little ones. Let’s get started!

Places to visit in KL with kids

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Nafis Abman
 from
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If your family loves city life, then visiting Kuala Lumpur will be one of the best options for you. Start your cuti-cuti Malaysia there where you can admire the stunning
Petronas Twin Towers
 while exploring sleek modern stores.

You can also take your kids to their base’s evening light and water show and spend a few hours at the large playground and kids water park, which are both free and only a few meters away.

The
Petrosains Museum
 and the
Kuala Lumpur Aquarium
 are also located nearby.

Additionally, your kids will also enjoy the following attractions in Kuala Lumpur:

Kuala Lumpur Bird Park
: KL Bird Park is a must-see for all kids that love nature, with over 3,000 birds inside and a wide range of park attractions.

Zoo Negara:
 Malaysia’s National Zoo, which spans 110 acres, offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity to observe more than 5137 specimens representing 476 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Your kids can also visit Malaysia’s famous giant pandas here!

Farm in the City
: This small village styled petting zoo in Seri Kembangan, approximately 30 minutes from Kuala Lumpur, is the ideal spot for kids to engage with animals including ponies, parrots and more.

Places to visit in Penang with kids

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motomoto sc
 from
Pexels

Penang’s old-world charm is evident, making it one of Malaysia’s most popular tourist destinations. Here, you can take a stroll around Georgetown’s streets and marvel at the grandeur of the historic homes, then embark on the quest for the city’s rustic murals.

The finest of both worlds is found in this ideal combination of new and ancient. Of course, Penang would be incomplete without its world-famous street cuisine.

If your family is filled with food lovers, Penang is the spot for you to eat your hearts out! You can choose from lip-smacking char kuey teow to spicy asam laksa, refreshing cendol, and more.

Penang is also an amazing place to bring your kids to. There you can have a family picnic at the beaches located in
Batu Ferringhi
, or simply check into one of the beach front hotels. Additionally, there are also fun attractions that your children will adore all over this island; which are:

Upside Down Museum
: This attraction is a must go for kids as everything in this place from the sofa to the tables are hanging from the ceiling. This gives the illusion of things being upside down and will be a fun experience for your child.

Escape Park
: The theme park is home to the world’s longest tube water slide, which holds the Guinness World Record. The one-of-a-kind slide, which reaches a height of 1,111 metres, will most definitely keep your kids busy and excited during your trip.

Dark Mansion Museum
: Dark Mansion is one of the most popular attractions in the area since it is Malaysia’s first and only 3D glow in the dark museum. Your kids will have a blast while interacting with the artwork as they transition from 2D to 3D.

Other places worth mentioning that your kids would love are:

Wonderfood Museum

The Habitat Penang Hill

3D Trick Art Museum

The TOP

Places to visit in Ipoh with kids

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Juan Salamanca
 from
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Ipoh, formerly a tin mining town, is now a popular stopover for day tours on the route up north to Penang.

Today, this city attracts tourists seeking a quick getaway to see the natural hot springs, limestone caverns, outdoor activities and sample the famed Ipoh chicken rice.

The
Lost World of Tambun
 is a must-see cuti-cuti Malaysia for families with little children, including activities like a petting zoo, amusement park, water park, adventure park, and hot springs to keep the little ones entertained.

You can also visit the remains of
Kellie’s Fortress
, a half-finished castle erected by a Scottish landowner in 1915.

If you’re an adventurous family, check out
Gua Tempurung
 for some cave exploration and
Gopeng White Water Rafting
.

Other places you’re kid would love are:

D. R. Seenivasagam Recreational Park

Gunung Lang Recreational Park

Places to visit in Melaka with kids

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T RR
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Children generally decide on family vacations, but Malacca offers something for everyone, allowing parents to relax and enjoy themselves as well.

This busy seaside town offers history, culture, gastronomy, wildlife, and lots of indoor entertainment, making it ideal for a short Malaysia vacation.
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Melaka also has theme parks for those who seek adventures. There are a few attractions you can choose from –
A’Famosa Water Theme Park
 and
A’Famosa Safari Waterland
.

Here are some of the other attractions in Melaka that are kid-friendly:

Mamee Jonker House

Maritime Museum of Melaka

Melaka Wonderland

Places to visit in Cameron Highlands with kids

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Sokmean Nou
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Cameron Highlands, another popular highland getaway in Malaysia, is a great way to cool down from the city’s heat. If you love cottages, you can stay in one of the Tudor-style cottages, eat some fresh strawberries from the farm, and have ice cream while enjoying views of flowering lavenders.

A cuti-cuti Malaysia trip to Cameron Highland isn’t complete without a stop at the stunning
Boh Tea Plantations
. Here, you can enjoy a cup of tea or some delectable scones while seeing the spectacular sea of greens. It’s a terrific family weekend place, with green scenery and cool temps.

Cameron Highlands is a strawberry lover’s paradise. Your kids will have a great time picking out strawberries but you have to be willing to pay a fee to access this feature.

You will be given a pair of scissors as well as a pail or tray in which to lay the strawberries, which will be weighed by the staff afterwards. Some farms include cafes where you may sample handmade jam, milkshakes, and delicious ice cream.

Big Red Strawberry Farm, Raju Hill Strawberry Farm,
and
 S’ Corner Central Market
 are some of the farms where you can do this activity with your children.

Other kid-friendly attractions include:

Cameron Highlands Butterfly Farm

Holiday Park 3D Museum

Ee Feng Gu Honey Bee Farm

Cactus Valley

Mossy Forest

Time Tunnel Museum

Cameron Lavender

Brinchang Night Market

Places to visit in Langkawi with kids

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alex zeng
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Langkawi has always been a favourite destination for cuti-cuti Malaysia, especially for Malaysian families looking for a tropical island break. As a result, kids of all ages will have a good time here.

You may choose from various resorts, ranging from five-star to rustic, and leave the kids to enjoy the clean, safe beaches while you rest on the beach.

Langkawi’s spectacular natural landscape – towering karst hills reflected in the waves of the Andaman Sea or the quiet green waters of the mangroves at
Kilim Geoforest Park
– surpasses even the beautifully painted scenes of Art in Paradise.

Children will enjoy the
Butterfly Garden
and the
Butterfly Farm
. Both venues are close to each other and provide comparable experiences. The kids can witness a variety of butterflies buzzing about freely in the farm area when they visit the Butterfly Garden.

Bunnies, ducks, turkeys, a scorpion and frog pond, reptile displays, and aquariums showcasing stick insects and beetles may all be found here, as well as a little zoo featuring bunnies, ducks, turkeys, a scorpion and frog pond, reptile exhibits, and aquariums displaying stick insects and beetles.

Other places and activities that your kids will enjoy include:

Langkawi SkyCab

Langkawi Skybridge

Oreintal Village

Eagle Square

Langkawi Underwater World

Langkawi Wildlife Park

Crocodile Adventure Land

Langkawi Skytrex Adventure

Langkawi Upside Down House

Places to visit in Taiping with kids

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Danne
 from
Pexels

Taiping has always been overlooked by tourists but is one of Malaysia’s most beautiful places to visit with your kids. Here you can find the
Taiping Lake Gardens
, which was Malaysia’s first park, opening in 1880.

For over 150 years, the park has been kept in superb condition since it first opened.

Another place that is perfect for children on your cuti-cuti Malaysia trip is the
Taiping Zoo
. Unlike other Southeast Asian zoos, the Taiping zoo also serves as a conservation and research centre.

Our orange-haired ape cousins here are part of a massive effort to raise the population of their endangered species.

Streams, ponds, and flowers mimic the animal’s native environment. After nightfall, Taiping Zoo reopens, allowing visitors to see nocturnal creatures. This is the only zoo in Malaysia that provides a night safari.

Perak has a number of museums, one of which is the
Taiping Museum
, located just outside of Taiping’s Old Town. It is said to be Malaysia’s earliest museum, dating back to the 19th century.

There’s a modest but well-done natural history area inside, complete with tiger and Asian elephant bones. It features skeletons or stuffed specimens of several of the region’s natural animals in a kid-friendly manner. This place will be a great attraction to introduce the fauna and flora of Malaysia to your kids.

Other places you can bring your kid in Taiping are as follows:

Antong coffee

Spritzer Park

Burmese Pool

Places to visit in Sabah with kids

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Haydn Golden
 on

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Sabah is another excellent place to visit for cuti-cuti Malaysia, especially if your kids love the outdoors. In Sabah, you can enjoy fun activities while admiring nature. You can visit the
Sepilok Rainforest Education Centre
, which began as a learning centre for local students. It is now available to the public and is still kid-friendly.

The massive canopy walkway is a wobble-free “bridge” that is safe for even little children.

In the trees, orangutans and flying squirrels may be observed, while gardens with pepper, coffee, and vanilla plants explain where food comes from. This is an exciting journey that will captivate both adults and children.

Kota Kinabalu provides an amazing choice of one-of-a-kind activities for a Malaysia family holiday, including orangutan sanctuaries, white-water rafting, zip-lining, jungle hiking, river safaris, and animal parks.

While older kids will love the excitement of exploring the outdoors, families with younger children will appreciate the city’s more sophisticated attractions. There are several things you can do when you visit Sabah, which are:

Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park

Manukan Island

Poring Hot Springs

Sapi Island

Lok Kawi Wildlife Park

Kinabalu Park

Places to visit in Johor with kids

Johor has everything, whether it’s café hopping or shopping. With a thriving scene of hipster cafés and delicious eateries, you’ll undoubtedly experience a food coma. To burn some calories, start your cuti-cuti Malaysia to
Johor Premium Outlet (JPO)
 and take advantage of fantastic offers on branded items. Then, it’s time to go shopping until your heart’s content!

Besides that, hundreds of saltwater crocodiles of all ages and sizes may be seen from a safe distance at
Teluk Sengat Crocodile Farm’s
 covered boardwalk surrounding the lake. You may even hold newborn crocodiles and see crocodile feeding for an additional charge.

If your children are fascinated by animals, this may be a fun excursion to go where you can learn intriguing things about these terrifying beasts.

Moreover, if your kids enjoy nature and lovely views, you won’t want to miss hundreds of fireflies dancing about in their natural home, their glow lighting up the dark night.

To do so, you must first take a boat at
Kota Tinggi Firefly Park
, which will transport you and your family to calm seas where you may gaze at the magnificent scenery.

Here are some other attractions in Johor that your kid might love:

Sri Tanjung Leisure Farm

Hutan Bandar Recreational Park

Fanpekka

Theme parks for some family fun

Going to a theme park during the holiday season is something everyone loves to do. Here are a few places you can check out:

Sunway Lagoon

No matter your age, you’ll have a blast with your family at this vast theme park, which has more than 80 activities. The rides range from gentle for small children to intense for individuals who want their amusement parks wet and wild.

This place offers you the best of both worlds as you can do both swimming and play games.

You can still get your fill of thrills at the
Sunway Lagoon Amusement Park
, which offers an incredible selection of rides for people of all ages and preferences.

Lost World of Tambun

The
Lost World of Tambun
 has been one of Perak’s most successful theme parks over the years. This water and theme park, only 20 minutes outside of Ipoh city, has a resort hotel and a variety of stores and attractions.

The Lost World of Tambun also advertises itself as a hotel, and spa, ideal for the whole family to enjoy.

Legoland

If your kids love building Lego, this amusement park will be a dream come true for them.

The latest addition to Malaysia’s expanding number of amusement parks, located at Johor, is wowing people from near and far with its magnificent displays and activities.

You can also check out the
Legoland
 Water Park or embark on an adventure in one of the park’s mini-worlds.

A Famosa Waterpark

The

A Famosa Waterpark
 features a variety of engaging games, as well as a pool and water slides that will present you with some of the most exhilarating moments of your life.

Relaxing on the white beaches here and enjoying some calm, blissful moments is ideal for individuals tired of water activities.

Inner tube slides, family rafting, high-speed slides, body slides, and splashing are just a few of the activities available.

Escape Park Penang

Escape Park Penang
 is designed for people with limitless energy and a spirit of adventure. The activities are aimed to foster a love of outdoor activities while also providing opportunities for family connection.

When you’ve had your fill of the adrenaline activities on offer, head back into the city and sample some of Penang’s famed hawker booths.

Tips on travelling with kids

Here are some tips on how to travel with kids:

Take early flights if possible as these flights are less crowded, making it easier to manoeuvre around with kids.

If you’re concerned that your child may become separated from you, write your name and phone number on their arm. That way, if they are discovered, you may be readily contacted.

A light stroller is an excellent all-around choice. They’re easy to transport and can be carried anywhere you go.

Don’t overpack. You can always purchase items like diapers or wet tissues anywhere you travel. Just pack the essentials, and you’re good to go.

How to stay safe from Covid while travelling with kids

Every trip carries the danger of contracting or transmitting COVID-19. It will be wise to check and see if COVID-19 is spreading in your region and any of the areas you plan to visit before you go.

Here are some other tips on keeping your kids safe from the coronavirus while travelling:

Avoid congested areas, as well as restricted and enclosed environments with inadequate ventilation.

Frequently wash your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand massage.

Clean and disinfect regularly touched surfaces such as phones, keys, doorknobs, and light switches regularly.

When you’re out in public, try to keep a physical gap of at least 1 metre between you and other people.

When in public locations where COVID-19 is prevalent and physical separation is not practicable, use masks.

Conclusion

With campaigns like cuti-cuti Malaysia, many see our country as a fun place for you and your family to visit. So, give these places a try when you come to Malaysia and see these beautiful places yourself!

Disclaimer: You are not allowed to share this article on any other website or on Facebook without providing proper credit and the original article link on
theAsianparent Malaysia website

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"My husband had sex with a prostitute.... what should I do?"

It was a regular Sunday evening. The kids were at the park. My husband was supposed to reach in some time from an office trip to Europe. The kids had spent the afternoon guessing what gifts daddy would bring them from abroad and I had busied myself in the kitchen making my husband’s favourite dishes.

Nothing seemed amiss, in fact, we were all excited that the man of the house was coming back after two months. Now we could go for movies on Saturdays again and also for late night ice cream jaunts during boring weeknights.

His hormones took over his emotions…

But that night when my husband came he seemed quiet, aloof even nervous. I blamed it on jet lag. But he asked me to tell the kids to sleep early so that we could talk.

Surprised, I ordered the kids to bed and followed him to the bedroom. Maybe he missed me too much; I blushed. But what followed next hit me like a ton of bricks.

My husband told me while on the trip he had sex — with a prostitute. It wasn’t planned or intentional. He explained. His colleagues, some single, some married decided to let their hair down one night and went for a strip show. He tagged along thinking it as harmless fun.

The show was followed by a lap dance till the men began booking prostitutes for the night. He said he was too drunk to be thinking straight and had a sexy looking woman forcing him to come along. His hormones took over his emotions and he gave in. He promised me that it was the one and only time and it was weighing on him that’s why he chose to confess.

I had no words. I got up and went to the kitchen to cry silently. I stared at the dishes I had made
.
 Maybe it was my fault. When I should have been trying to look sexy for him I was toiling in the kitchen.

Why should a woman always compromise?

After a week of discomforting silence, I decided o tell him that maybe we should separate. He scoffed at the idea and said that it was just a physical slip and would never happen again.

I cannot bring myself to sharing the bed with him again. I know I will constantly be thinking of his encounter. And what if, even worse, he too would be thinking about that sexy escort? He has pleaded guilty, has lost his cool that I am not able to get over it and has even tried to woo me with gifts.

But something between us has died. I acknowledge that he chose to tell me when he could have easily hidden it. I am happy (if such an emotion is possible) at his honesty but I am broken inside. My friends’ say that I should forgive him but how can I be ever sure that it won’t happen again?

Why should a woman always compromise? And why should this single emotionally uneventful night ruin my marriage? I am at the crossroads and lost on which path to take. My life has changed because my man could not control himself. Why should I suffer because someone else chose fun over loyalty?

*
Republished with permission from
theIndusparent

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Can Alternative Schooling Foster Greater Resilience? One Mum Shares Her Story

Traditional systems that emphasise learning by memorisation, and characterised by strict homework routines and monthly report cards are certainly not for everyone. If you believe children are born with absorbent minds that are better served with self-directed learning that is both enjoyable and focused on addressing future challenges, then alternative schooling might be the answer.

In her home state of Terengganu, Helena Tan, a mum of three kids (aged seven, five and two and a half), decided to employ alternative schooling for her children, as she believed it would raise them to be more resilient. The five pillars of Resilience are Adaptability, Resourcefulness, Perseverance, Self-Reliance, and Daringness. Helena believes these pillars are important keys to success and will benefit her children throughout their lives.

“I want my children to learn at their own pace and discover their talents and strengths earlier in life so that they can ultimately be more resilient in the future,” she explains.

“When I teach them, I teach based on their strengths which means both student and teacher are constantly reflecting on the lesson, so we can emphasize our good traits while being aware of our weaknesses. Ultimately, I don’t want them to be too stressed but instead, enjoy their learning.”

“I can instill good values in them and control the content they learn. I can control the content according to their individual talents,” she adds.

By taking charge of her children’s education, Helena is able to implement the five pillars of Resilience in all of her teachings to her kids on a daily basis.

For instance, back in her hometown of Terengganu, the community for alternative schooling is small, so Helena ensures her children get to explore the world beyond their locality.

“We travel a lot to Kuantan and KL to expose the kids to more activities,” she adds. In fact, Helena is modelling Self-Reliance to her children by taking control of activities and excursions. This means her children get a front-row seat on learning to make their own decisions for individually and for their immediate family.

Through alternative schooling, Helena has also learned that her kids are surprisingly adaptable and can fit themselves into any foreign situation with ease under the right guidance. They are constantly interacting with new children and new adults who enter their circle, all the while learning to play along and sort out conflicts as they present themselves. Hence, Helena knows she is on the right track with her kids in building resilience, because they will have more experience when dealing with social and emotional conflicts later in life.

How can alternative schooling build a resilient child?

Apart from being able to let her children learn at their own pace with an alternative schooling syllabus, one of the main convictions Helena has for alternative schooling is being able to choose the subjects her children learn. With a fast-changing world we live in, technologies are transforming at lightning speed, so educators and pupils must keep pace by taking on the latest material in preparation to join the workforce for the future.

“We are currently using a US curriculum but we are soon transitioning to another system which will be more robotics and coding based, as humans will interact with computers in even greater ways in the future. Though we don’t expose the kids to much mobile usage or TV, we do believe that they should learn more about the digital world,” Helena says, adding that even if her children decide to progress outside of computer science, coding helps a young mind learn problem-solving, organization, mathematics, story-telling, and designing.

The new system focuses on computer programming languages will allow Helena to slowly expose her children to technology so there is no over-stimulation from technological overload.

“There are a lot of online programmes that promote self-learning. Kids, by nature, know what they want and if they are interested, will pursue learning more than we can teach them in a traditional syllabus,” Helena continues, noting that as much as 60% of the learning is a hands-on process where children learn by doing.

With alternative schooling, the kids are exposed to a lot of experimentation and space to follow their passion. “With a syllabus that includes robotics and coding, the children are given more construction-based toys and learn more hands-on rather than through books alone,” she adds.

Resilient children are those who don’t have to rely on external sources to solve their problems but are able to weather through challenging situations on their own, practising Resourcefulness, Self-Reliance as well as Perseverance.

Not without its challenges

Of course, alternative schooling does come with its fair share of challenges. Though Helena admits, the challenges lean more towards the parents than the children.

When parents give their children the opportunity to learn from an alternative syllabus, they can totally shape their learning experience. However, this requires a great amount of patience and commitment from the parent’s end.

An important tip to note that Helena imparts with parents who want to try alternative schooling their children is this: “You need to know why you are offering a different system to your kids. You will want to give up many times. So, you need to remember the conviction why you want to give your kids an alternative system.”

What do you want to see in your children in the future? Do you want them to strive for academic excellence? Or do you want them to develop a strong and resilient character, a person who doesn’t shy from challenges or obstacles and rises again from initial failure?

Helena believes that raising her children through an alternative schooling system is raising them to be resilient. This means strongly inculcating the
Five Pillars of Resilience
, to enable her children to take on the uncertainties of the future, and to flourish under difficult circumstances.

“We teach them the purpose of their life in this world and we build their confidence. We show them how to be responsible towards themselves for their future growth, and how their actions affect others,” Helena concludes.

*AptaGro™ is not partial to any schooling system. This article aims to emphasize “Resilience” as a crucial component for wholesome academic development. For parents who wish to home-school their children, please consult with the Education Ministry, in line with the Compulsory Education Act implemented in 2003.

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Have You Heard Of This Contagious Disease That Affects Many Children?

Before our baby is even born, we tend to already become strongly protective over them. Mothers, especially, start watching their own food intake while pregnant. Overall, we just want to make sure our babies are safe.

The second they are born, we ensure that they go for all of their check-ups in a timely manner so that doctors can ensure that their development is on track and also meet the appropriate immunisation schedule. But parents, did you know that the National Immunisation Programme doesn’t cover all the vaccines that our babies should receive?

One of the vaccines that we cannot get at government clinics or hospitals is the rotavirus vaccine.

Most first time parents would not even have heard of this before. But this disease is one that
is contagious and could potentially lead to death. In fact, 1 in 61 children may be hospitalised for rotavirus disease
1
, which can be preventable by getting the vaccine!

If that doesn’t convince you, we’re here to tell you why else we think you should include it in
your child’s immunisation schedule.

What Is Rotavirus?

The first thing you need to know is what rotavirus is. Rotavirus is a virus that causes
intestinal problems resulting in diarrhoea, vomiting and fever too. The vomiting and fever
will come first, followed by the diarrhoea
2
.

Sometimes, it is hard for us parents to tell, especially if we’re new parents, the difference
between spit up or vomiting due to overfeeding versus vomiting because the baby is unwell.

If your baby is vomiting frequently and that vomiting is paired with a fever, it is an indication
of something more serious than just a session of overfeeding. It could be gastrointestinal
issues
3
, or rotavirus infection.

Parents may also find it hard to differentiate between newborn poop and diarrhoea.

The rule of thumb to follow here is that a fully breastfed newborn baby should pass a stool
roughly after every feed up to 6 times a day, have a seedy or runny consistency and this is
considered normal. If they are formula fed, they could pass a stool 1-8 times a day for the
first week before the frequency reduces to 1 to 4 times a day afterwards, and have the
consistency of peanut butter. If your baby is passing stools more frequently than that and the
stools are very watery, you can suspect diarrhoea
4
.

If you suspect that your baby is having diarrhoea and this comes after a bout of vomiting and
fever, that is the sequence of symptoms of rotavirus
5
.

How can a baby contract rotavirus?

A baby can get rotavirus from their poop. It is in their poop before symptoms start and can
remain in their poop for another 10 days after the symptoms have lessened
6
.

A caretaker, like a nanny or a parent, could potentially carry the virus when we are cleaning the
baby’s dirty diaper and the virus will contaminate anything we touch after that. A baby could
touch these contaminated surfaces or objects, then as babies do, put their hands in their
mouth, and the virus will infect them
7
.

What to do if a baby has rotavirus?

If you suspect your baby has rotavirus, then the first thing you must do is bring your baby to a
doctor at a clinic or hospital.

Typically, symptoms will show up after 2 days of contracting the virus. With the symptoms of
vomiting or diarrhoea, your baby might also have a loss of appetite. At this age, since their
only nutritional intake comes from milk, this could lead to dehydration
8
.

So how to tell if your child is dehydrated? They could have fewer wet diapers, crying with no
tears, overall fussiness and in more severe cases, sunken eyes too.

In complicated cases, like where dehydration is concerned for infants, it could even lead to
death
9
.

Why is rotavirus so serious?

Besides the fact that it could lead to death, rotavirus is a serious disease because it is not
treatable with any specific medication.

Neither antibiotics nor antiviral drugs available right now can treat it.

Yes, that’s right. There is nothing that can be done to kill the virus immediately.

The only thing doctors can do is let the virus run its course but treat the symptoms of the
disease. They can prescribe fever medication or rehydration fluids to prevent dehydration.
But the virus will need to work its way through a baby’s fragile system over the course of an
entire week
10
!

Of course, you should not ever let it get to this point. In fact, prevention is better than cure.
And the good news, as we’ve said earlier, is that rotavirus is preventable!

How to prevent rotavirus?

One way for parents to protect their babies from rotavirus is to give them the rotavirus
vaccination. Frequent handwashing or sanitising is helpful as it may lessen the likelihood of
spreading or contracting rotavirus, but is not a guarantee.

So for ease of mind, parents should consider adding this vaccine to their immunisation
schedule as soon as possible!

It is important for parents to talk to your paediatrician about the vaccine from as early as the
first appointment all the way up to your baby’s 6-week checkup.

Rotavirus vaccines can be found at many private hospitals or clinics. So all you need to do is
find a private hospital or clinic near you to make an appointment for the vaccine.

Parents, here is a bonus for you!

Recently, the Malaysian government has also announced that parents can enjoy tax relief for
vaccinations. According to Bernama, RM1,000 tax relief for vaccinations includes the
rotavirus vaccine as well as a list of other vaccinations
11
.

For a list of hospitals or clinics that carry this vaccine, you may refer to this list here.

MY-ROT-00113 Aug/2021

Reference:

Hsu, V. P., Rahman, H. bin A., Wong, S. L., Ibrahim, L. H. J., Yusoff, A. F. H. J., Chan, L. G.,
Parashar, U., Glass, R. I., & Bresee, J. (2005, September 1). Estimates of the Burden of Rotavirus Disease in Malaysia. OUP Academic.
https://academic.oup.com/jid/article/192/Supplement_1/S80/2191980
.

WebMD. (n.d.). What Is Rotavirus? Causes, Treatment, and Prevention. WebMD.
www.webmd.com/children/guide/what-is-rotavirus
.

Gastrointestinal Problems. Gastrointestinal Problems – Health Encyclopedia – University of
Rochester Medical Center. (n.d.).
www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=90&ContentID=P02216
.

Diarrhea (0-12 Months). Seattle Children’s Hospital. (2021, March 11).
https://www.seattlechildrens.org/conditions/a-z/diarrhea-0-12-months/#:~:text=Breastfed%20babies%20often%20pass%20more,stools%2C%20the%20baby%20has%20diarrhea

WebMD. (n.d.). What Is Rotavirus? Causes, Treatment, and Prevention. WebMD.
www.webmd.com/children/guide/what-is-rotavirus
.

WebMD. (n.d.). What Is Rotavirus? Causes, Treatment, and Prevention. WebMD.
www.webmd.com/children/guide/what-is-rotavirus
.

WebMD. (n.d.). What Is Rotavirus? Causes, Treatment, and Prevention. WebMD.
www.webmd.com/children/guide/what-is-rotavirus
.

WebMD. (n.d.). What Is Rotavirus? Causes, Treatment, and Prevention. WebMD.
www.webmd.com/children/guide/what-is-rotavirus
.

Lim, B. Y. (2016, May 24). Rotavirus Vaccine. PORTAL MyHEALTH.
www.myhealth.gov.my/en/rotavirus-vaccine/
.

WebMD. (n.d.). What Is Rotavirus? Causes, Treatment, and Prevention. WebMD.
www.webmd.com/children/guide/what-is-rotavirus
.

Bernama. (2020, December 16). Parliament: Tax exemptions for COVID-19 treatment, vaccine – MoF. BERNAMA.
www.bernama.com/en/general/news_covid-19.php?id=1912872
.

Disclaimer: You are not allowed to share this article on any other website or on Facebook without providing proper credit and the original article link on
theAsianparent Malaysia website

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Why Choose Gerber Baby Food?

A long time ago back in 1927, a mum and dad were busy preparing their seven-month-old daughter’s meal. As the mother
—
Dorothy Gerber
—
was straining peas for her
little one’s meal
, she and her husband, Dan Gerber had a brilliant idea: why not start a baby food company? After all, they already had a canning factory. This is how Gerber, a

brand synonymous with high quality baby food
, was born.

Today, Gerber baby foods are a global household name. Mums and dads, here is why you should choose Gerber and trust them when it comes to your little one’s nutrition.

A commitment to quality

When your child starts eating solids at around six months of age, it is natural for you to want to give your little one only the best in nutrition. After all, good nutrition is a significant contributor towards helping
your child develop properly and reach their full potential
.  But it’s not just about the types of food you give your child.

Only the best for baby

As discerning parents, you also want to know where the food comes from; who grows the vegetables, fruits, and grains that go into the food; and what quality control, safety and hygiene measure are in place to make sure your
child is getting the best quality, safest, and most nutritious food.
 Gerber understands exactly where you are coming from, because just like you, their top priority is also your baby’s health and wellbeing.

For decades, Gerber has been committed to their promise of feeding generations of babies the highest quality baby food. You can count on them for the highest quality because:

100% of their products meet all U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) requirements.

There are five different stages of safety and quality checks from farm to spoon.

Every baby food gets over 100 quality checks.

They have over 90 years of experience growing the best quality produce.

Continuous improvement

One way to maintain high standards consistently and continuously, is to engage in constant learning and research about, and quality testing of your product. This is why Gerber is always looking at new ways of growing, testing and making food that is healthy for babies. They  regularly test their ingredients and finished foods are also randomly tested. Also, all their testing is conducted by in-house, ISO-accredited labs where international standards are followed for analytical reliability.

But it’s not just babies’ health that Gerber cares for. They also make sure they look after the earth and environment with a unique model known as Clean Field Farming
™.

What is Clean Field Farming
™
?

The practices followed under

Clean Field Farming
™
 ensure that Gerber’s grains, fruits and vegetables are nutritious, safe, and healthy, even for the littlest bodies.

This is achieved through careful seed and soil selection; sustainable care for the soil; ensuring that all fruits and vegetables grown will always be non-GMO; and the ability to trace all harvested crops to the farms and fields where they were grown. This is also why Gerber only partners with just a few selected farms that meet their strict Clean Field Farming
™ practices.

Additionally, Gerber farmers ensure that
all fruits and vegetables are picked at just the right time, which eliminates the need for the addition of artificial flavours or colour. This means that all baby food is naturally sweet, delicious, and nutritious.

As Gerber can trace 100% of their fruits and veggies not only to the farms where they were grown, but to the very fields, Gerber also makes sure they’re protected from the elements and transported carefully to stay safe and wholesome on their journey from the farm to their kitchen
.

Certified organic by the USDA

Gerber’s strong commitment to quality is further reinforced by the fact that all their Gerber Organic baby foods are certified organic by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This means that everything cultivated by Gerber farmers is grown according to the strict organic regulations and standards set by the USDA, in addition to their Clean Field Farming
™ practices.

Mums and dads, you know that no one looks into quality better than a parent. This is why you can rest assured that Gerber will never let you down on their promise of only the best for baby, when, over 90 years ago, their founders were parents just like you, with sky-high standards in quality.

 It is the legacy of this foundation that holds strong today and and will continue to do so in the future for babies everywhere, including yours.

If you want to learn more about Gerber baby food, including their farming methods, and safety and quality procedures, click
 here
.

Disclaimer: You are not allowed to share this article on any other website or on Facebook without providing proper credit and the original article link on
theAsianparent Malaysia website.

Read more
:
Why Your Child Should Have Breakfast

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Toddler left alone in a locked car while parents go drinking

There was an outcry in the Philippines when a
video recording
 of a child left alone in a locked car went viral on social media.

According to
Asia One
, the crying toddler was found all alone and locked up inside a Toyota Fortuner in the parking lot of Metrowalk in Pasig, a commercial hub famous for bars and live bands. It was around 4am.

Luckily for the toddler, Jasper Pascual’s car was parked right next to the Fortuner. Otherwise, he probably would not have heard the child crying.

Child Left Alone in a Locked Car

In a
post
 that went viral, Pascual wrote that he was about to go home when he heard what sounded like a child crying in the locked Fortuner.

At first, he wasn’t sure if anyone else was inside the car as it was heavily tinted. But just as he was about to get into his own car, he heard the toddler hitting the car window as his cries got even louder.

Throughout the entire video, the crying toddler can be seen peering outside the car’s window. You can clearly hear the frustration in Pascual’s voice as he struggled to think of a way to get the child out. In the video, you can see him trying to widen the gap on the car window by prying it with his fingers.

Pascual was shocked beyond words that there was a child left alone in a locked car. The car’s engine was off, there was no aircon and the child was suffocating.

“(Just) imagine! In the darkness of the parking area of Metrowalk. Would it cross your mind that there’s a baby inside a car with no companion?”

This is saddening. Just think how long the child had been crying prior to Pascual’s discovery. We shudder to think of other possibilities if Pascual did not hear or notice anything amiss that night.

Security Guards Found the Toddler’s Parents

In the end, Pascual managed to call the security guard to help look for the parents of the toddler.

Instead of apologising and being grateful, the mother of the child had the cheek to scold the guard for calling them. We also understand that the mother even tried to justify her actions, saying the door wasn’t locked and that she was only gone for “10 minutes”.

In his post, Pascual praised the guard for standing his ground.

“No ma’am, you’re really in the wrong. We can have you apprehended because this is a child you left right there.”

It took another 10 more minutes before the father of the child showed up. Pascual stepped back and left the guard to handle the situation as he did not want a fight to happen. Even though Pascual did get pictures of the parents of the child left alone in a locked car, he has decided not to shame them publicly.

He ended his post with plea and word of caution to all parents:

“May this be a lesson to everyone, so it won’t happen again. It is not good to have fun while neglecting your child. Let this be a lesson to you! If you have a child, then you should be responsible!”

Updates from
local reports
 say that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) may take temporary custody of the child left alone in a locked car by the couple in Pasig City on Sunday.

“How can you continue to call yourself parents knowing that your baby is in the car? Did you not think it was possible for your baby to die? Can you imagine if a gang were to break into your car to steal your valuables. Did you not think that
your young child could have been sold
?”

You definitely said it for us Pascual. Parents should
never
 leave
children unattended
 in a car, even if the windows are open or the air conditioning is on.

We’re sorry to be blunt here, but this is just lazy parenting at its worst. It is NOT okay to put your child at risk for your own convenience.

Sources:
AsiaOne
,
Philstar

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How to Keep A Healthy Skin? These Are 5 Nutrients for Healthy, Glowing Skin

When you have skin irritations like breakouts or rashes, you may have tried various ointments or beauty treatments. But how to keep healthy skin and what if the root cause is actually your nutrition?

Natural beauty starts from within
, and therefore, it’s not only important what you put on your skin, but also what you put into your body.

How To Keep Healthy Skin: Building a Foundation for Healthier Skin

There are definitely minerals and vitamins you can consume to improve your skin, but before we get to those, we have to establish how to keep healthy skin and how to build a good foundation for healthy, glowing skin.

Water:
 Drink a lot of water. Water not only helps the body to flush out toxins, but it also helps to hydrate the skin from the inside out, giving you a fresh look.

Protein & Omega 3 Fatty Acids:
 Protein is the main building block of healthy skin, hair and nails. Therefore, getting high-quality protein (either from plant-based or animal sources) along with omega-3 fatty acids is crucial to help to protect and repair your skin.

Stress Less & Sleep More:
 Stress only affects your mental state, it also affects your skin and can even aggravate certain skin conditions and rashes. Try to minimise stress and make sure you’re getting at least seven hours of sleep per night.

A Healthy Microbiome:
 We’ve known for a few years that there is a strong gut-skin relationship, meaning if your gut isn’t healthy neither is your skin! You can enhance gut health by incorporating gut-friendly and fermented foods into your diet and restricting processed foods and sugars.

Exercise:
 Movement not only helps to improve the metabolism, but it also helps increase circulation, blood flow and oxygen to skin cells.

5 Nutrients for Healthier Skin

If you have the basics covered, then we can look into vitamins and minerals your skin needs to perform at its best.

Antioxidants

Spending too much time in the sun, poor nutrition, and environmental factors are just a few causes of free radicals (aka “oxidants”) in our bodies. These oxidants are “destroyers” and can increase the signs of ageing. But antioxidants can help! The more antioxidants you have in your body, the less harm the oxidants are able to cause. Antioxidants are literally slowing down the ageing process, so load up on antioxidant-rich superfoods like olive oil, kiwi, berries and green tea.

Additionally, you can supplement with antioxidant-rich superfoods like
Pegaga
. Pegaga is rich in amino and fatty acids, beta carotene and phytonutrients, all great nutrients for calming inflammation, improving skin repair and enhancing collagen production.

Vitamin A/Beta Carotene

These nutrients can be found in vegetables like tomatoes, carrots, sweet potatoes and also animal products such as meat, eggs and dairy. Vitamin A and beta carotene are your “skin protectors.” They not only protect you against UV damage and infection but also stimulate the production of new skin cells.

Vitamin C

Found in citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruit, broccoli and bell peppers, Vitamin C helps to produce collagen, which maintains the elasticity of the skin and makes it appear more youthful.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E helps in protecting you against the sun while also ensuring your cells stay nicely hydrated and your skin moisturized. This is one of the most potent antioxidants and can be found in nuts, avocado and healthy oils like olive oil.

Selenium

This antioxidant-rich nutrient helps to protect against skin inflammation and pigmentation. Selenium also supports our immune system and fights infections.

Keep in mind, you don’t need to run out and order all of the vitamins and minerals above to see results! Following a wholesome, nutritious diet full of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and healthy fats will help you get all of the vitamins and nutrients your body needs. If you’re concerned you’re not getting enough of a certain nutrient, consult with your doctor.

References:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4428712/

https://www.canyonranch.com/blog/beauty/the-skin-benefits-of-selenium/

This article has been republished with permission from
PurelyB

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How To Nurture Your Child’s Knowledge About Money

When your children are young, you teach them so many things. You teach them to learn the alphabet, to read, to write, to count, to clean up after themselves and so much more. But there’s one more thing I added to that list — teaching my 5-year-old about money. Yes, money. And it’s easier than you’d think.

My husband and I are
Nurturers
, which is why we see money parenting as very important. In fact, Nurturers like us believe that it’s the responsibility of parents, and that teaching children about money is something that should be done together, providing guidance and clear advice. (Want to find out your money parenting persona? Take the
quiz here
).

We seek to achieve that our children:

acquire financial knowledge,

learn how to budget and save, and

learn the difference between a want and a need

And we are very disciplined with our finances and have clear goals. This is something that we want to teach our children, so why not start early?

Nurturing Knowledge Starts Early

Jim Brown, a financial expert for over 30 years, puts it quite simply — “Teaching your children about money doesn’t have to be complicated. You either put in the effort and time, or you don’t”
[1]
.

I used to think that money was a big, complicated concept. Then I came to realise that just like everything else, when you break it down to a child’s level, it really is quite simple.

Like what Jayne A. Pearl, the author of ‘Kids and Money: Giving Them the Savvy to Succeed Financially’ says, when children are very young, it’s really easy to work money concepts into their imaginary games
[2]
, like playing pretend store or restaurant. When I started doing this myself, I found there was so much I could teach my son on a daily basis. Trust me when I say they understand more than you’d expect them to.

Also, it helps that children are curious about anything and everything. As a parent, you’d definitely know what it’s like being bombarded by their never-ending questions. This excitement is a huge advantage.

When my husband and I began the money lessons, we started with simple games: imaginary play like tea parties, owning an ice-cream shop and even shopping at a supermarket. We noticed that our son caught on to the ideas rather quickly.

We enforced money lessons in savings by giving him a savings box and letting him deposit coins he’d earned with good behaviour in it. And we also made it a point to bring him along when we ran errands.

He’s since accompanied us to the bank, store, and even the ATM, because everyday experience is important for us as Nurturers — and of course this is always better when complemented with clear, consistent guidance from us parents. We had open discussions with him about money: the basics of how it works, how we earned money, and how we used it.

Over time, he’s started working with us to make grocery lists and to budget for simple things like our weekly supermarket trips, dinner outings or how much we would spend when we went on playdates. He’s even begun to helpfully point out
super saver
 deals when we were shopping — what he can read anyway.

Why It’s Important To Start Young

Now, on to why it is important that you start your money parenting journey sooner rather than later.

According to a 2013 Cambridge University Study, “children are already able to grasp money concepts at age three, and by age seven, their money habits are already set.”
[3]

Thinking about it, teaching children about money is a lot like teaching them table manners, making them understand the importance of telling the truth, or saying “please” and “thank you”. These are habits we strive to build in our child from young with active guidance as Nurturers, and money habits are no different.

You want your child to understand the importance of money, its worth, and the habits they should have when it comes to handling money. What better time to start this than when they are young, impressionable and absorb everything like a sponge?

So don’t be intimidated by the idea of money. Just keep things simple and get on board your money parenting journey. Remember, teaching your 5-year old about money can really be easy and fun!

Looking to further nurture your child’s knowledge on money? Check out our
#MoneyParenting site
 or subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated with our latest content.

[1]

www.cnbc.com/2019/07/19/how-this-finance-expert-teaches-his-kids-about-money.html

[2]

www.parents.com/parenting/money/family-finances/teaching-kids-about-money-an-age-by-age-guide/

[3]

www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/corporate/adult-money-habits-are-set-by-the-age-of-seven-years-old-shows-new-study

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Dad's Horror As Entangled Seat Belt Almost Suffocates Daughter!

This dad had a scary experience recently when his car’s seat belt got entangled around his daughter’s neck. The child started to turn blue. His post highlights the dangers of seat belt entanglement and how we can prevent such accidents in the future.

Scary encounter with seat belt entanglement

According to Mothership, Singapore dad Emir was driving with his family to get some food for a party. While waiting for a parking lot, he noticed that his 7-year-old daughter was trying to call her older sister for help.

To his shock, the seat belt had got entangled on her neck.

He quickly stopped the car, and his wife went to the back seat to save the child.

But, the seat belt seemed to be stuck. Apparently, the seat belt was set on the automatic locking retractor (ALR) mode. The ALR mode is a safety precaution that locks the shoulder belt in place, while tightening it to avoid any slack. In this locking mode, the seat belt will only get tighter, until it is reset.

Both the father and mother were unable to remove the child’s seat belt. And to their horror, she stopped crying and her face turned blue.

“Her face started (to) become blue, she then stopped crying, she passed urine and were having difficulty to breathe and we just couldn’t do anything about it right in front of our eyes sitting on my wife’s lap.”

In utter panic, this dad ran to the nearby hawker stalls, asking for a knife to cut off the seat belt.

A hawker finally lend his knife, and the child was rescued. Thankfully, she regained consciousness, and was rushed to KK Hospital.

She is now recovering well, but still has some marks on her face and neck.

PHOTO: FACEBOOK/TAXI BABY Co.

How to avoid seat belt entanglement: Tips from TaxiBaby

Meanwhile,
Ellise Mawson
, Singapore’s only Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, has explained what really happened. She’s also the founder of
Taxi Baby
, an online marketplace providing travel safety solutions to parents and families.

She has shared some important safety tips in a Facebook post.

“In Mr Emir’s case, his vehicle was equipped with switchable seat belt retractors – these behave like normal seat belts (only locking when jerked or when the vehicle’s brakes are applied) most of the time, but when the belt is fully extended, it will switch into a permanent locking mode – specifically designed to firmly secure the seat belt around a child safety seat.

“In this locking mode, the seat belt will only get tighter until the retractor is reset by feeding the belt all the way back in.

“His daughter accidentally engaged this locking mode by moving around so much that she extended the seat belt to its full length. A booster seat could’ve avoided the seat belt being positioned across her neck.

“As parents, we pray that a day like this never comes, and it strikes fear in our hearts to know it could even be possible. As a certified Child Safety Technician and mother of two young children, it was heartbreaking to put myself in their shoes.

“Here are some tips you can follow to avoid such situations in the future:

1. Don’t leave your kids unattended in the car, even for short periods.

2. By law, children below 1.35 m in height need to use a booster seat or car seat.

3. Use your car seat until your child reaches the seat’s height and weight limits. Don’t graduate them to the next stage just because they’ve reached the minimum age range for the next stage. Some car seats in Singapore allow children to use a 5-point harness (not the seat belt) until 30 kg.

4. Booster seats help position the seat belt over the strongest parts of a child’s body (ie. their collar bone, not their neck; their thighs not their stomach) and reduce the risk of them sliding down under the seat belt (known as submarining).

5. When filling up at a petrol station, undo everyone’s seat belt inside the vehicle in case you need to make a quick exit.

6. Keep a small seat belt cutter tool on your car keys; these usually come as a small 2-in-1 tool with an emergency window break function.

“If you have questions we can help with, please don’t hesitate to contact us: +6590703351,
[email protected]
. Together let’s make our kids safer tomorrow than they were today.”

(Source:
Mothership,
 TaxiBaby
)

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Camera noob? Take better photos with your smart phone with these pro tips

Smart phone’s camera has evolved tremendously. Remember your old Nokia phone? Yeah, that guy. Back then, it gives you decent photos to enjoy but today’s camera phone does miracle works.

With your mobile camera, you can now see your huge pores and your mobile phone, now can zoom in to see the moon.

But, sadly they can’t zoom in to see one’s heart. You have to figure that part out.

The reality is, although a huge number of people in this world owns a smartphone, not everyone knows how to maximize the full potential of their camera.

Some people are bad with the camera, no argument with that.

But nowadays, a mobile camera has everything that you need to take your photography skill to the next level.

So, we are excited to share with you guys some cool tips to help you capture great photos using your smartphone.

Disclaimer: This blog entry can’t turn you into a pro photographer but at the very least, you still can be a good photographer for your friend.

What are friends for?

Shoot using gridlines

If you have no idea, what that is, kindly proceed to your camera settings and find a ‘grid’. So, your camera app will have something that looks like this.

The camera grid is helpful to balance your shot. So you will not end up taking a photo that makes your friend looking fatter than she already is. That’s the power of the grid.

According to the rule of the third, your photo should be divided into three parts and balanced in both horizontally and vertically.

The trick is when you take the photo, do you see the lines that appear on your screen?

You should take your photo according to the line where they intersect or along the line. Still don’t get it? Okay, take a look at the photo below.

See how much difference it will make?

Shoot in natural light

Natural light is a god-given gift to any photographer and you should take it to your full advantage. Have you tried taking a photo using your flash? They look unnatural and look overexposed.

Natural light works best when you want to shoot a flat lay photo because your photo will look natural. Unless you own a photography studio then that’s an entirely different matter.

Don’t zoom too much

Too much zoom can cause your photo to look blur especially if you are shooting from a distance. Don’t be too lazy, just trying to get closer to your subject.

But if you are trying to take a photo of your crush from far, then it is forgivable.

Use focus

Every mobile phone camera has its focus setting. Use that. How to go about it? Simple, all you have to do is to adjust its focus by tapping to your screen in which where you want the focus to be.
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When you don’t hit focus

Because, in general when you open your camera, the focus will be on the foreground of your frame, and not always, your background will have a subject to focus. Get it?

Explore your camera mode and its effects

Your camera has its fabulous mode and effects. You should give it a go. Don’t take boring photos. Explore the effects and enjoy it!

Use HDR mode when you want to shoot to not lose details in bright and dark areas.

Play with your filter a bit. This has dewy look to it. Making your unicorn looks demure.

Try Monochrome

Get a tripod

It sucks to be the one who has to stand in front to take a group selfie photo and have your face looking so big and up-close for everyone to see.

Do yourself some favor, get a tripod.
Pity yourself a bit.
 Or if you are travelling alone, you should really consider this.

Source from Google

This article has been republished with permission from
Printcious.

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The baby who survived the car crash in Brazil is a miracle

When headlines read “baby survives car accident”, we can’t help but think wow, what a miracle that a baby so fragile is still alive! But when a Brazilian baby survives a horrific car crash after she was ripped from her own mother’s womb by the force of the impact – we call that beating all the odds.

Baby Survives Car Accident After Being Ripped Out of the Womb

On the day of the accident, the mum-to-be was traveling in a truck southeast of Brazil. It is unclear what actually happened but at some point, the driver lost control over the vehicle. The truck overturned, and the baby’s heavily pregnant mum was flung out of the vehicle before being crushed by planks of wood that came loose during the accident.

According to local media, it was the force of the wood crashing down on the mother that tore the baby out of her stomach.

When paramedics arrived, they declared the woman dead at the scene. However, they were shocked to hear a newborn baby crying nearby, only a few metres from the woman.

The baby’s
umbilical cord
 was severed during the crash, but other than that she was completely unharmed.

First-Responder Hears Cries of a Newborn Baby

When first-responder Elton Fernando Barbosa received the news, he was told it was a serious accident with one casualty. But nothing prepared him for what he was about to find.

When he arrived at the accident location, the first aid team was already tending to the injured truck driver. So he went looking for the mother-to-be who was crushed underneath the wood when he heard cries of a newborn baby. It caught him off guard because there was no mention of a third victim.

“The fetus was literally expelled by the impact on the mother, the impact was so great that this opened up the mother’s belly and the child was ejected,” said Barbosa to Brazil’s
A Tribuna
 newspaper.

“She was perfect, healthy, without a scratch. We can say that, in those circumstances, it was really a
miracle
 that she survived.”

“By what I saw, I have no idea how she came out alive. I don’t know how this child got out of there with her life.”

An Emotional Moment

Barbosa added that is really was an emotional moment at the scene. On the one hand, they had the death of the mother. But the flipside of this tragedy: baby survives car accident. In the midst of the tragedy, they were able to save a life – the
life of the baby
.

“This event has marked my life. I don’t think there has ever been an accident like this in the history of the motorway. We lost a life, but we were responsible for giving life to a girl.”

Metro
 later reported that the baby girl was taken to Pariquera-Acu hospital where she received treatment at the neonatal intensive care ward there.

The identity of the mother, who was
39 weeks pregnant
 when she died, is still unknown. Authorities are trying to locate the baby’s relatives so that they can take her in. However, if none are found, she would be then be handed over to an orphanage.

The truck driver told authorities that he had only given the pregnant woman a lift, but did not know her. He was released from the hospital without serious injuries but will be charged with manslaughter.

For now, the staff at Pariquera-Acu hospital has given the miracle baby the
name
 Giovanna, which means “protected by God”. Weighing in at 6 pounds 8 ounces, she is a really calm baby and hardly cries, say the nurses.

We really hope they will find your family, little one. You’re beautiful, and you really deserve a loving family.
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Source:
The Sun

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“Miracle” baby survives being shot while still in the womb

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What to Know About Conceiving After the Age of 35, According to a Doctor

We sit down with women’s health expert Dr Michelle Chia of Dr Tan & Partners to get the down-low on conceiving a child after the age of 35.

Q: Is it really harder to conceive after 35?

Unfortunately, the answer is yes. A woman’s fertility declines as her age increases. This is due to the reduction in egg reserves as time passes by. The quality of eggs also decreases, as a woman gets older.

The peak of a woman’s fertility would be in her twenties, with a slight decline once she hits 30 years old. The decline is more significant once a woman hits the age of 35 years old and above.

Women above the age of 40 will have an even harder time conceiving.

Q: How can someone help increase fertility at a later age?

While we cannot delay the process of ageing, the fertility of a woman can be affected by many lifestyle factors as well.

Modifying these lifestyle factors can help to optimize a woman’s health and also her fertility even at a later age, to hopefully increase the chances of conceiving.

Some tips include:

Stop smoking

Reduce your alcohol intake

Eat a well-balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals

Reduce the consumption of fried and processed food

Exercise regularly

Reduce the amount of stress in your life

Q: What if you’re having trouble conceiving at/around 35? What are the options for women looking to conceive and carry?

One important advice for women trying to conceive is to seek help early!

Time is of the essence especially for women around 35 or older who are having difficulty conceiving.

Women 35 years old and above are recommended to go for a fertility check with their partners after actively trying unsuccessfully for 6 months.

If a woman has been diagnosed with fertility issues, then some of the options would include undergoing the appropriate fertility treatment to help them conceive.

Some of these fertility treatments available include Intrauterine insemination (IUI) or In vitro fertilization (IVF).

Age also plays an important factor for such fertility treatments as the success rates of these treatments reduce as a woman’s age increases.

Q: Is getting pregnant after 35 considered high-risk? What are the risks associated with a later age pregnancy?

Women aged 35 or older who get pregnant are referred to as “advanced maternal age”. These pregnancies are generally higher risk compared to younger women who are pregnant.

An advanced maternal age pregnancy can be associated with several increased risks:

An increased risk of chromosomal abnormality especially Down’s Syndrome

A higher risk of miscarriage

Gestational diabetes

Pre-eclampsia or high blood pressure problems during pregnancy which may potentially lead to several other complications

Higher risk of stillbirth

Higher risk of preterm birth

Higher chance of requiring a caesarean section

What are some other things to keep in mind when trying to conceive?

Remember that time is of the essence if you are planning to start a family!

The main advice would be to do a pre-conception screen or a fertility screen early on so that any abnormalities can be treated in a timely manner without unnecessary delay.

A healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet and regular exercise will also go a long way in optimizing a woman’s fertility chances at a later age and slowing down the decline of the quality of eggs.

This article has been republished with permission from
PurelyB

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Keep Your Child’s Health And Safety At Home In Tip Top Order During This Pandemic Season

We are now spending an unprecedented amount of time at home with our kids during this pandemic and one of the things that we need to look out for is our children’s health and safety at home.

This means we need to look at whether our homes are a conducive space for children to carry out their online classes, as well as for parents to conduct their work from home. Even for those who still send their kids to daycare, they must ensure that their children’s health and safety remains a priority at home.

Children’s Health Are Parents Priority

Unfortunately, many accidents do happen at home, despite our best efforts to avoid it. Sometimes, it may be due to the carelessness of caregivers but mostly, it can also be attributed to the curiosity that children have.

That is why, every corner of the house has to be checked to ensure it is safe. For instance, toilet doors should always be closed, windows without grills should be kept locked and so on.

But in making sure that children are kept safe from the commonly found “dangers” at home, do you know that they are still things that could unknowingly harm our children? Especially children’s health!

What are we talking about?

We’re talking about viruses and germs that settle in the home that also need to be kept at bay.

One of the things that can be done is to paint your children’s room with the new anti-virus paint, Nippon Paint VirusGuard, it’s the easiest way to maintain our children’s health.

How To Ensure Children’s Health & Safety At Home

#1. Always lock the toilet door

Bathrooms are the most common place at home where injuries are often reported among children. “Children can drown in just a few inches of water,” says Maryland Pediatric Nurse
, Meghann Wellard.

Wellard added that babies and children love to play in the bathroom, in fact, they are very interested to open drawers in the bathroom where dangerous chemical products are usually kept.

According to reports, in America alone, more than 90 children drown in their own homes every year. That is why, the act of locking the toilet door is something that is very important for parents who have small children.

Speaking of which, did you know that the most germs and viruses are found in the bathroom? So be careful parents, this is where they can potentially catch a virus, especially if they are playing close to the toilet bowl.

#2. Keep your baby’s cot safe

Sadly, 36 infant deaths were reported in 2011-2013 due to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). To avoid this, Wellard warns parents to constantly monitor their baby’s cot.

From the height of the baby’s cot, to the object or fabrics in the baby’s cot, all of these factors have to be considered for children to be kept safe. Avoid placing toys such as dolls, blankets or anything else that could make the baby suffocate.

#3. Keep your kids away from heavy cabinets (or bolt them to the wall)

At 6 months, babies are already learning to roll and scoot around the house, so if you have any dangerous objects lying around, these items must be kept in a high place or in a drawer that cannot be accessed by the child.

You should also be wary of heavy cabinets that are not currently bolted to the walls, which could potentially fall on them. Ensure to keep these cabinets away from the child’s play area.

The best way to check your house for potential dangers is to lie down on your stomach and look for any objects that can be reached in that position.

#4. Cover all electrical sockets

Image: iStock

Nowadays, there are many types of electrical socket covers that you can purchase online – whether they’re a box covering the whole socket or just a plastic cover to close up the holes. This is something you need to get as soon as a baby starts to crawl or move around on their own as they are very attracted to electrical sockets.

#5. Hide small objects that can make a baby choke

Every parent should ensure that there are no small objects lying around the house because babies will put them in their mouth and it could pose as a choking hazard. To prevent such situations from happening, keep all small objects away or in high places. This is especially for parents who have older children who play with toys that have small parts. Make sure that these toys are kept away from their little siblings!

Here’s a good tip. If you want to know if an object is small enough to pose a risk, try fitting the object through an empty toilet roll. If the objects can pass through easily, it could pose as a hazard.

#6. Use safety gates for stairs

Image: iStock

There is no doubt that children love to play on the stairs, around the stairs or even under the stairs, even if they are still crawling. So, safety gates are an essential necessity!

#7. Ensure the windows are equipped with grills or locks

Another thing children are attracted to are windows. Many accidents have happened because children fall out of windows. So, it is important for you to keep your children safe by installing grills or locks on your windows. If possible, safety grills would be your best option, especially if you live in a flat or condominium.

#8. Safer indoor space for your child’s health with Nippon Paint VirusGuard

Now that our children are at home for most of the day, all the more we have to ensure they are safe from any area in the house that contains harmful chemicals or viruses.

Not many know this, but the walls at home are actually the largest part of the house that viruses can survive! It is also a surface that children often touch. So, it is important for parents to ensure the cleanliness of walls too! One of the ways is through painting the walls at home, especially in children’s room, with Nippon Paint VirusGuard.

Nippon Paint VirusGuard is the first anti-virus paint produced and proven to be effective against human coronavirus (strain 229E), H1N1 and HFMD (hand, foot and mouth disease). It is a kids-friendly paint, that comes with low-odour, easy washability and low VOCs.

With its Silver Ion Technology, which is the world’s oldest antimicrobial agent, it is able to inhibit growth and destroy micro-organisms such as virus, bacteria, fungi and fungus. Of course, it is also safe for children and pets!

How does it work?

Its effects set in within 6 hours of the paint being applied. When virus and bacteria touch the wall surface that has been painted, the Silver Ion will act to destroy the cell membrane immediately.

In just 6 hours, the viruses and bacteria will die.

It is scientifically proven that the paint is 99.9% effective against viruses and bacteria.

And it will remain effective if the paint layer is well taken care of.

Though there are many paints claiming to have anti-bacterial formulas, this only combats the bacteria element but does not address viruses.

Nippon Paint VirusGuard has been proven to be effective against both bacteria and viruses!

Don’t miss out!

In conjunction with the Chinese New Year, Nippon Paint is currently having ‘ONG’ VirusGuard Bundle Set that includes VirusGuard Paint, Interior & Painting Accessories. You may purchase it via Nippon Paint Online Store
here
.

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How Much Do You Know About Down Syndrome? Here’s a Fact Sheet

Down Syndrome is a genetic disorder seen in about 1 in 800 births.

Babies normally have 46 chromosomes, but people with Down Syndrome are born with an extra copy of chromosome 21.

Let’s learn more about the condition with some key facts.

1. Types of Down Syndrome

Trisomy 21

The most common type. It happens when there are 3 number 21 chromosomes in every cell of the body. About 95% of people diagnosed fall into this group.

Translocation

The second most common type, where a part of chromosome 21 breaks off and attaches to another chromosome. This happens in about 4% of cases.

Mosaic

The least common type, which occurs in about 1% of the population. Only some cells will have an extra copy of chromosome 21. People with this variant usually have fewer characteristics of Down syndrome.

2. Characteristic Physical Features

People with the condition typically have:

 Flattened face

Eyes that slant upwards

Small white spots on the iris

Protruding tongue

Small ears

A palmar crease (a single line across the palm of the hand)

Small hands and feet

A short neck

Poor muscle tone

Short height relative to others

3. Risks Factors

The chance of a having a baby with Down syndrome increases if:

The mother is 35 years or older when pregnant

The parents have another child with Down syndrome

Mom or dad has the translocation chromosome (which can cause the translocation type of Down syndrome)

4. Developmental Delays

Every person with Down syndrome is different; each having their own abilities and talents.

Although children with the condition often meet age-related milestones, they may be slower at learning. They may also experience: • Delay in speech and language development

Cognitive impairment (ranging from mild to moderate)

Impulsive behaviour

Short attention spans

5. Health Complications

A lot of kids with Down syndrome don’t suffer from any major birth defects, but show the common facial features. Still, some might have medical complications. Here are some of the more common ones:

Gastrointestinal abnormalities

Heart defects

Spinal issues

Sleep apnea (interruption of breathing as one sleeps)

Hearing loss

Poor vision

6. Screening and Testing

It is possible to screen for Down syndrome during pregnancy. It usually involves a blood test from the mother and an ultrasound scan that creates a picture of the baby.

Testing is done after a positive screening test, to confirm a diagnosis for Down syndrome.

There are several tests that can be done, including amniocentesis (where a small amount of amniotic fluid is removed for testing) and chorionic villus sampling (involving a small sampling of cells from the placenta).

7. Treatments

There is no cure for Down syndrome. It is a lifelong condition.

However, there are many different treatments and therapy options that can highly benefit a child with Down syndrome—enabling a better chance at independence and the reaching of one’s potential. These include:

Speech-language therapy

Special education

Early intervention programmes

Occupational therapy

Behavioural therapy

If you have a child with Down syndrome, remember to work with and seek advice from health and education professionals.

For more information on educational resources for children with special needs in Malaysia, click
here
.

This article has been republished with permission from
Kiddy123.

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Is Your Child’s Gut Health Causing Tantrums? Here Is What You Need To Know

Is your child having constant mood swings or outbursts and often without reason? Or maybe he or she lacks the motivation to play or participate in kids activities? Yes, these child tantrums may be common and expected but there is a surprising fact many parents should take note of – your child’s gut germs could be to blame.

According to research by the Ohio State University for Clinical and Translational Science
1
, the microbiome of a child’s gut flora could influence their behaviour, particularly amongst boys. Researchers uncovered this after factoring in several aspects, including their diet.

Now, let’s dive deeper into how to deal with temper tantrums in children by understanding the connection between gut flora and moods, plus what you can do to improve your child’s overall digestive health.

The link between child tantrums and gut flora

The study by

the Ohio State University Center for Clinical and Translational Science further found that intestinal bacteria interacts with stress hormones
2
. From 77 stool samples, children who had a diverse range of gut bacteria were more positive, curious and sociable. In male children specifically, microbes such as
Rikenellaceae
,
Ruminococcaceae
 families, as well as
Dialiste
r and
Parabacteroides
 were associated with the development of extroverted personalities.

Scientists have found that imbalances within gut health can lead to anxiety, decreased energy levels and even, depression
3
. Likewise, other factors such as the quality of parent and child relationships were said to have influenced changes within their gut health
4
.

Additionally, the gut produces mood-regulating chemicals. Roughly 90 per cent of serotonin
5
 – a brain neurotransmitter – is made within the digestive system.

So, will your child be happier with a healthier gut?

Most likely. One of the main and arguably the most crucial role of the gut for children is nutrient absorption as this is where large portions of nutrients reside. What does this mean for parents? Basically, regardless of the amount of healthy, nutrient-dense foods you feed your child, they may not be getting the full benefits if they have a weak gut.

For the gut flora to properly absorb the key nutrients from their meals, the good bacteria (probiotics) within the gut must be nurtured and survived by components such as indigestible fibre known as prebiotics. These good bacteria support vital functions within the body including regulating bowel movements to ensure they are digesting the good nutrients while eliminating the waste.

Moreover, as established from the findings above, gut health is ultimately linked to the brain which can lead to negative behaviour if their intestinal health is not at its prime.

Another perspective is how a leaky gut can cause severe discomfort such as constipation or diarrhoea and this will affect how your child reacts or acts throughout the day – we have all encountered a cranky child in distress.

According to the Mindd Foundation, doctors have found also that without such digestive problems, children are more interactive, less likely to become aggressive and happier
6
. Hence, if children are able to self-regulate, the better their overall health and mood will be!

The role of prebiotics

Now we can conclude that prebiotics is a gut’s best friend – they “serve” and feed the good bacteria within the gut to help them survive. Prebiotics are carbs that are mostly made up of fibre that our bodies cannot digest, instead, they act as food for the good bacteria and help them grow.

Although prebiotics work to serve, it is the key driver in concluding your child’s overall wellbeing – it can influence your child’s ability to digest nutrients, appetite and of course, regulate their mood.

Prebiotics are found in various fruits, vegetables and whole grains. These include our daily cooking ingredients such as onions and garlic.

How can parents deal with child tantrums and improve their child’s gut health?

As children will be children, it can be difficult getting them to give in when you attempt to stuff them with th
ese prebiotic-rich foods.

Luckily, there are products in which prebiotics are added for the sole purpose of improving the gut health such as Mamil D-GestPro+.

Mamil® D-GestPro+ is an affordable solution for parents who want to improve their child’s gut health. It is a sucrose-free formula that contains a prebiotic mix for children up to the ages of nine-years-old.

Mamil® D-GestPro+’s formulation contains:

A unique prebiotic mixture:
 It is formulated with a unique Oligosaccharide mixture GOS/IcFOS (9:1) that increases good bacteria and helps maintain a healthy gut flora.

Milk from grass-fed cows:
 It is sourced from cows that are predominantly grass fed, which means it is high in protein, calcium and vitamin D.

DHA*
: This is a key component that is essential for your child’s growth and brain development.

*Mamil® Step 3 contains 96mg DHA content based 3 servings per day

Need more information on Mamil® D-GestPro+?
 Visit
Dumex Mamil’s website
!

References

1
 (2015, May 27). Toddler temperament could be influenced by different types of …. Retrieved October 1, 2020, from
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/05/150527091438.htm

2
 (2015, May 27). Toddler temperament could be influenced by different types of …. Retrieved October 1, 2020, from
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/05/150527091438.htm

3
(n.d.). Children’s Behavior Connected to Gut Health | Key …. Retrieved October 1, 2020, from
https://www.keycompounding.com/childrens-behavior-connected-gut-health/

4
 (2020, January 23). What your child’s gut health says about their behavior. Retrieved October 1, 2020, from
https://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Article/2020/01/23/What-your-child-s-gut-health-says-about-their-behavior

5
 (2015, April 9). Microbes Help Produce Serotonin in Gut | www.caltech.edu. Retrieved October 1, 2020, from
https://www.caltech.edu/about/news/microbes-help-produce-serotonin-gut-46495

6
(n.d.). How Healthy Gut Flora can Impact Children’s Behaviour. Retrieved October 1, 2020, from
https://mindd.org/healthy-gut-flora-childrens-behaviour/

Disclaimer: You are not allowed to share this article on any other website or on Facebook without providing proper credit and the original article link on
theAsianparent Malaysia website.

Read more:

How to deal with tantrums

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Effect of abuse on a child's brain: These images will shock you!

Look at the above image of 2 brains. They both belong to 3-year-old children. Why then, is the brain on the left much bigger than the one on the right?

If you see, the image on the left also has fewer spots, and far fewer dark “fuzzy” areas.

According to neurologists, the brain on the right lacks some of the most fundamental areas present in the brain on the left.

They interpret that this difference in brain structure means that the child on the right will grow up to be less intelligent, and less empathetic. He is also more likely to be drawn towards crime, and vice like drugs, when compared to the child on the left.

Apparently, he is also likely to develop mental and other serious health problems in the future.

What had possibly happened to the child on the right? Was it disease or physical injury, like an accident?

The truth will shock you.

Effect of abuse on a child’s brain

The images actually come from
a paper
 by Professor Bruce D Perry, Chief of Psychiatry at Texas Children’s Hospital, and they reveal a deeply disturbing truth.

And the truth is, the difference in brain size is largely due to the difference in ways the children were treated by their primary caregivers, that is, their mothers!

The child with the larger, and much more fully developed brain was loved and cared for by his mother, while the child with the smaller, shrivelled brain was neglected and abused.

Source

In Professor Bruce Perry’s words, “The CT scan on the left is an image from a healthy 3-year-old with an average head size. “

“The image on the right is from a 3-year-old child suffering from severe sensory-deprivation neglect. This child’s brain is significantly smaller than average and has enlarged ventricles and cortical atrophy.”

Most of us know that the early childhood years are the most crucial, and that they can profoundly impact the rest of a person’s life. But we had no idea, they would even affect the physical structure and size of your brain!

Effect of abuse on a child’s brain: The Mother’s Role

It does look like, there is a lot of truth in the saying, “Happy mums raise happy babies.”

According to Professor Allan Schore, of UCLA
,, the growth of a baby’s brain “literally requires positive interaction between mother and infant. The development of cerebral circuits depends on it.”

80 % of brain cells that a person will ever have, are manufactured during the first 2 years after birth.

Which mean that, if a baby is not treated properly in the first two years of life, the genes for various aspects of brain function, including intelligence, cannot function properly and may not even be formed!

It should come as no surprise that, the more severe the neglect is, the greater the damage is.

Effect of abuse on a child’s brain: Some studies

Various studies have previously discovered the shocking link between brain development and abuse.

A
2007 study
 found that children who had suffered stress due to trauma (and had high levels of the stress hormone cortisol) were likely to experience a decrease in the size of the hippocampus, a brain region associated with emotions and memory processing.

A study in 2015
 which looked at the brains of 26 children, who had suffered severe neglect in Romania  discovered they had significantly less developed white matter in at least four parts of their brains.

Brain regions responsible for emotion were particularly affected, as were areas associated with maintaining attention, executive function, and sensory processing.

And again, it seems to be a vicious cycle.

Parents who had been abused and neglected by their own parents, neglect their own children in a similar manner.

Their own children’s brains then suffer from the same lack of development that harmed their own lives.

Hence these children too, were likely to do badly at school, end up jobless, and attracted to a world of drugs and crime.

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Effect of abuse on a child’s brain:
Early intervention is key

There is still some hope, however. Early intervention for instance, has proven to be very useful.

It consists of intervening early, and showing mothers who neglect their children how to treat them in a loving, caring way, which will lead their babies’ brains to develop fully. Experts like nurses are usually entrusted with the task of visiting these mums regularly and instructing them.

It has been shown that children whose mothers had received these visits did much better, and grew up to be more emotionally stable and less inclined to a world of crime.

It is one of the reasons we have programmes like
KidSTART in Singapore.

KidSTART is a pilot programme for low-income and vulnerable young children, to enable them to have a good start in life. It brings together the family, community, and pre-school to build a strong ecosystem of support for the child.

Close to 400 families in Singapore have benefited in the last one year alone, and early results have been promising.

Also READ: Emotional abuse in kids, what causes them?

(Source:
Telegraph)

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