THE STAR, TUESDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2015

special

CHILDRENS DAY

Lets celebrate!

THE STAR, TUESDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2015

2 childrens day

EVERY year on Nov 20, Universal

Childrens Day is celebrated in
Malaysia as it is in more than 150
countries around the globe.
Malaysian children celebrate this
day as Childrens Day at school,
where song, dance and storytelling
activities are organised to allow
children to have fun and show
their talents.
A bonus for children is that
Childrens Day aptly falls just
before the year-end school holidays
start.
However, the resolve behind the
celebration has always been to
promote international togetherness
among children of the world with
the single focus of creating a sense
of awareness that children too
have rights and that as a society we
need to protect our children from
abuse and neglect of any kind.
Universal Childrens Day came
into fruition when the United
Nations General Assembly took
cognizance of the fact that member
countries had to initiate action to
promote the welfare and wellbeing of the children of the world.
It adopted the Declaration of
the Rights of the Child in 1959
and subsequently signed the
Convention on the Rights of the
Child (CRC) in 1989.
Since then, Universal Childrens
Day has been celebrated and
observed by many countries,
although some countries choose
different dates during the year to
celebrate this day.
For example, Australia celebrates
the day on the fourth Wednesday
in October while India celebrates
it on Nov 14.
The CRC, which spells out
the fundamental human rights
of children, begins with the
all-important fact that people
below the age of 18, without being
Protection, dignity
AT the landmark 2002 UN
General Assembly Special Session
on Children, two child delegates
presented the Childrens Forum
message, which called for adults
to ensure a world fit for
children, because a world fit for
us is a world fit for everyone.
The message included calls for:
l Respect for the rights of
the child by governments and
adults
l An end to exploitation,
abuse and violence and laws
prohibiting such to be
implemented and respected
l An end to war and the use
of child soldiers, and provision
of protection for child refugees
and victims
l The provision of
affordable and accessible
healthcare for children
l The eradication of HIV/
AIDS through education and
healthcare
l The protection of the
environment
l An end to the vicious cycle
of poverty
l The provision of education
and equal opportunities to
access
l Active participation of
children in all levels of
decision-making and planning
of matters affecting the rights
of the child

A world fit for children

The opportunity to go to school and receive an education is a fundamental right of every child.

discriminated on gender, religion,

race and other factors, are entitled
to the same rights and freedoms as
all people.
This is apt since children do not
have the right to vote and their
protection is largely provided for
by their parents, guardians and
society at large.

Eliminating poverty,
enabling education
Education is the great leveller
and hence is a fundamental right
of every child. It ensures that the
child is not held back and has
the opportunity to develop
intellectually.
This is a major reason basic
education is provided for free in
Malaysia in the formative years of
between six and 17.
While the provision of education
may not be an issue in itself, the
opportunity of being educated is
oftentimes a challenge for
marginalised children in poor
urban areas and in rural
communities in most developing
countries.
In Malaysia, more emphasis
needs to be placed on improving
the educational opportunities
made available to children in
indigenous, poor and remote
communities.
In August this year, seven orang
asli children aged between seven
and 11 ran away from their
boarding school located some
60km from the town of Gua
Musang in Kelantan into the
jungles of Gua Musang for fear of
being punished by their teachers
for breaking the rules by
swimming in a nearby river.
The children disappeared for
almost a month and only two of
them were found alive while four
others were found dead and
another is still reported missing.
This disturbing incident calls to
question many issues, not least that
these children were at boarding

school because of the dearth of

proper education facilities closer to
their homes the school was
perhaps the only decent chance for
them to obtain an education and
the type of environment they had
to endure at the school that led
them to take such drastic steps to
avoid punishment.
This underlines the point that
proper school facilities are sorely
needed within more remote
communities.
This is what Malaysia has to
work towards in enabling it to
achieve its goal of developed
nation status.
In Prime Minister Datuk Seri
Najib Razaks recent Budget 2016
speech, he identified the education
sector as one of the areas in which
domestic investment would be
intensified next year in view of
strengthening the countrys
economic resilience.
Accordingly, the Budget 2016
allocates funds to build 57 new
primary and secondary schools
around Malaysia.
Another concern is ensuring the
majority of the marginalised poor
or underprivileged receive
education and do not lag behind at
all stages of education.
Although the level of poverty in
Malaysia is relatively low, there are
still instances where children are
required to work to supplement
family income.
When this becomes a primary
matter of concern in a childs life,
education stands a little or, very
often, no chance of pursuance.
Poverty and the inability to
access a meaningful education are
inextricably linked. Poverty hits
the root of childhood development
because it targets a childs physical
and mental health as well as
educational achievement.
It limits the expectations of the
childs ability to perform well in
school, constantly reminding him
of the miniscule chance he has to
overcome adversity and poverty.

Malaysia has to move forward

as a nation to ensure that access
to universal education continues
to be available, especially to the
poor and those in remote and
sparsely populated areas.
Though measures such as the
building of schools and assistance
to poor students are being taken
to alleviate this problem the
Budget 2016 has set aside funds
for bursaries and school meals to
enable children to continue
schooling these are small steps
in a long journey towards a level
education playing field.

Reducing child
marriages
Child marriage is a real and
current issue in Malaysia and still
very much prevalent in the
country, says Sumithra V.
Ananthan, executive director of
Voice of the Children Malaysia
(VoC), a non-profit organisation
that advocates law and policy
reform for the protection and
welfare of children.
According to her, this is
because while non-Muslim
citizens can only be legally
married when they turn 18,
under syariah law, Muslims girls
are allowed to be married at 16
or even younger provided there
is consent from parents and the
syariah court.
Despite what the Prime
Ministers wife Datin Seri Rosmah
Mansor said at an event in
September that child marriages
are rare thanks to a good
education system and low
poverty rate statistics show that
this is not the case.
A 2000 census in Malaysia
revealed that 6,800 girls and 4,600
boys below the age of 15 were
married.
A 2010 United Nations report
showed that more than 82,000
married females in the country
were between the ages of 15 and

19. These numbers have certainly

grown since.
Sumithra reveals that there has
been an increase in the number
of applications for underage
marriages to the syariah courts in
recent years.
There were more than 1,100
applications last year and as at
May this year, there were 600
applications, out of which 446
have been approved.
Child marriages have a great
impact on communities and the
individual.
Maternal mortality is a huge
concern as a childs body is illequipped to deal with the rigours
of pregnancy.
Also, the young girls risk
delivering low birth weight
babies, infant deaths and face
gender-based violence. We need
to change the mindset and
empower the girls, says
Sumithra.
How then do mindsets change?
Education, or lack thereof,
is also closely linked to higher
incidences of child marriage.
For example, sex education is
sorely lacking in the national
education system and most
parents do not do enough to
educate their children about safe
sex.
Part of the reason for this
mindset is the fact that Malaysian
society is still fairly conservative
sex outside marriage is still
considered taboo in most
Malaysian communities and
culture and religion dictate the
importance of being chaste.
Perhaps the largest impact that
inadequate sex education has on
adolescents is unwanted
pregnancies. Often, these children
are compelled by parents or
communities to get married.
Proper sex education and easy
access to it, then, are keys to
changing the way society looks at
child marriage and reproduction.
More than this, access to
education in general for all
communities will enable children
to reach beyond the fetters that
society and perceptions placed
upon them.

Ensuring a future
Malaysia ratified the CRC in
1995, which means it should
advocate non-discrimination, look
into the best interest of children,
their right to survival and
development as well as consider
the views of children in decisions
that affect them according to the
maturity level of each child.
The Child Act 2001 was a major
step in creating a protective legal
environment for children in the
country, and several initiatives
stemming from this Act have
helped safeguard children from
violence, abuse and neglect.
As a developing nation,
however, Malaysia still has some
way to go in ensuring all
childrens rights are fully realised.
It is only when Malaysias
children are protected, nurtured
and allowed to succeed can the
nation as a whole achieve its
development goals.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2015

KODOMO Lion provides a solution

to parents in helping to repair
dental caries and ensuring that
childrens teeth are free from
cavities, giving them confident and
beautiful smiles.
Early childhood caries is a form
of dental caries that occur in young
children and is the most common
oral disease.
It begins when enamel is
attacked by acids, causing loss of
minerals. If this process continues,
it will weaken the tooth enamel
and white spots will form.
This is a sign of early dental
caries and, if not taken care of, will
form a black hole.
In this case, fluoride toothpaste
is helpful in preventing tooth
decay. It can strengthen tooth
enamel and repair early caries.
However, nowadays parents are
concerned about the safety of
fluoride in toothpaste, which is
why it is advisable to choose
specially formulated toothpaste
that is safe for children to use daily.
Toothpaste with a combination
of fluoride and xylitol can
effectively restore minerals and
repair early dental caries because
it helps reduce the growth of
bacteria that cause cavities and
enhance the absorption of calcium
into tooth enamel.
Kodomo Lion is the children oral
care specialist backed by Lion
Japan, a leading oral care company
in Japan established in 1891.
Its research and development
team from Japan ensures quality

childrens day 3

Choosing the
right toothbrush

For healthy teeth

The Lion Dental Health Program instils the importance of practising good oral hygiene from a young age.

product development and puts

children oral health needs as its
utmost priority.
Kodomo Lion contains 5% xylitol
and fluoride, a formulation that
can repair early childhood caries
in 14 days.
This formulation has been tested
by Lion Japan laboratory and is
proven to be effective in dental
repair.

Oral care programme

The Lion Dental Health Program,
established in 1998 with support
from Lion Japan, aims to educate
parents and children about the
importance of practising good oral
hygiene from a young age.

ENSURING your child uses the

right toothbrush is essential to
dental care. Pick one with:
l Small and round head size that
fits your childs level of dentition
in his or her specific age group.
Children typically have:
Baby teeth from ages six
months to three years
Milk teeth from ages three
to six
Mixed dentition from ages
six to nine
Permanent teeth from
ages nine to 12

l Soft bristles to protect the

gums.

l A handle with thumb lock

for better control.

Kodomo Lion toothpaste can help

repair early childhood caries.

A trained team teaches children

the correct way of brushing their
teeth at kindergartens and primary
schools across Malaysia.
Furthermore, it delivers
important oral health messages
through various interesting and
interactive activities such as

storytelling, brushing
demonstration and question-andanswer sessions.
The education programme Teeth
That Roar by Kodomo Lion will run
this year to engage directly with
more parents and children through
fun activities such as songs, dances,

Kodomo Lion offers two ranges

of toothbrushes for different age
groups:
l Professional children
toothbrush
l Soft and slim toothbrush
(with special bristles for
tender gums)
games, brushing demonstrations
and colouring contests.
Kodomo Lion aims to cultivate
good brushing habits in children
as it believes that every child
deserves a lifetime of healthy
smiles.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2015

4 childrens day

WHEN Michelangelo was 87 years

old, he was asked if he was happy
with the masterpieces he had
produced. He replied, I am still
learning.
Understanding that learning is a
lifelong and never-ending journey,
Cosmotots-iqd International strives
to motivate its students to enjoy
and love the learning process.
Operating based on the maxim
that students will find it hard to
become quality thinkers if they
are not developed first as
involved readers, writers and
communicators, the centre takes
great pride in imparting aboveaverage English skills and
providing a well-rounded
education.
The centre ensures that its
teaching styles guide and motivate
students instead of drilling or
pressuring them.
Patience and humour are also
important elements in avoiding the
counterproductive effects of
negative techniques such as
scolding.
With the aim of nurturing
children in the key aspects of
development often neglected by
the local school system, Cosmotots
teachers not only deliver intensive
English language programmes set
by the school but execute regular
student reviews or appraisals to
determine the progress of each
child.
The teachers, who are university
graduates and have undergone the

Instil love for English

Winners of a Cosmotots-iqd Oratorical event celebrating their victory.

centres unique training

programme, evaluate students
based on the way they converse
and relate to other students in the
class.
The quality of the work
produced by each child is another
determining factor.
If a student progresses slower
than he or she should, teachers try
to identify the problem areas and
then propose ideas and implement
the most appropriate intervention
techniques.

In some cases, parental

consultation is required to rectify
the problem.
Each Cosmotots-iqd centre
conducts a range of programmes
catered to children from preschool
to those in lower secondary school.
The Foundational Readership
Programme is offered to children
below the age of six and introduces
literary works of authors such as
Enid Blyton and Roald Dahl.
The programme helps inculcate
the habit of independent reading

in young individuals.
Designed for children aged six
to 11, the Writership Programme
develops students to a stage where
they can write 300- to 500-word
essays within an hour.
Students are also encouraged to
read more advanced titles by
authors such as James Herriot,
Oscar Wilde, John Steinbeck and
Agatha Christie.
The centre believes that upon
completion of the programme,
students are at least three years

more advanced than other

children their age in terms
of cognitive development.
Children from the ages of
eight and above can also enrol
in the Elocution and Oratorical
Programme that trains students
to deliver speeches and elocution
pieces on stage.
Students are coached on key
presentation aspects such as voice
resonance, stage presence and
memory power.
As students enter lower
secondary, the Critical and
Creative Thinking Programme
allow students to undertake
independent research on any
given subject matter, profess
opinions and debate during
classes.
Students are also encouraged
to engage in internet forums to
exchange ideas and create
dialogue.
Cosmotots-iqd International is
confident in producing students
who are not only eloquent in the
English language but also possess
cognitive skills that surpass their
age.

n For more information,

contact 03-7729 5152 or
visit cosmotots.com

Education beyond four walls

IMAGINE students wading knee-deep in
water to determine its pH level, peering
through microscopes in science laboratories
or spending a week in a foreign country
carrying out on-site assessments and
assignments while getting in touch with the
local culture.
These are just some of the components of
the typical learning environment at Fairview
International School.
Every day is a new day in Fairview as
students see their education go beyond the
four walls of their classroom.
Students at all levels are totally immersed
in the rich well-designed tasks and activities.
Discussions, debates and collaborative
activities take centre stage under the
watchful eye of an experienced facilitator
who moves around tracking individual
progress and keeping detailed records,
understanding that each child learns
differently.
An exhibition held every year by the final
grade in the Primary Years Programme
(Grade 6) features 10-year-old children
telling the story of how children across the
world face conflicts.
To explore this idea, students take a
one-week trip to a chosen destination to
personally experience the conflicts faced by
others and learn how they can make a
difference.
Study areas comprise numeracy, literacy,
science, social studies, dance and music, art
and physical education while the attributes
of the Learner Profile are embedded
succinctly within the curriculum.
Students in the Middle Years Programme
learn through interdisciplinary units.
Culminating at the end of five years, they
acquire a range of skills that allow them to
handle the constantly changing environment
and flow of knowledge.
Expeditions held twice a year allow
children to go on memorable learning
journeys such as to China, Thailand,

Students at Fairview experience fun, hands-on

learning.

Vietnam, Cambodia and Nepal to experience

other cultures and traditions.
This priceless experience hones certain
qualities such as leadership, photography,
research, thinking and reflective skills while
carrying out community work.
Farah Redza, former student of the
International Baccalaureate Diploma
Programme (IBDP) programme, says, The
many activities we experienced inside and
outside of school, especially group projects,
brought us closer as a class and made us a
tight-knit community. We laughed and cried
together, and most importantly, we grew
together. I felt that the IBDP was unique
because of how it brought people together.
Fairview will be having trial classes from
Nov 23 to 27 at its campuses in Kuala
Lumpur, Subang, Penang and Ipoh. The trial
classes in the Johor campus will run from
Dec 9 to 11.
Fairview invites parents to send their
children to these trial classes for them to
experience the quality learning environment
personally.

n For more information, visit

www.fairview.edu.my or call 03-4142 0888.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2015

childrens day 5

Caring for the skin

PUREEN Baby Wipes are made of
soft, thick and moisturised cottony
material that cleans your babys
delicate skin gently and effectively.
The wipes are specially
formulated with mild ingredients
and are alcohol- and paraben-free.
They are gentle and do not irritate
babys skin.
Pureen Baby Wipes are
hypoallergenic and
dermatologically tested. They have
been proven not to induce skin
irritation and allergic reactions
when used on allergic skin.
The Pureen Baby Wipes are
enriched with soothing aloe vera
and moisturising vitamin E that
protect the skin.
The product also leaves the skin
smooth, moisturised and fresh

Pureen Baby Wipes are mild and suitable for sensitive skin.

Learning made fun

Cambridge English For Life offers fun holiday programmes for children.

AS the year is fast approaching

an end and long school holidays
are almost here, Cambridge
English For Life (CEFL) aims to
inspire your child to learn
English the fun way through its
five holiday programmes.

l Little Phonics Explorer (ages

four to six)
Students are exposed to 24 of
42 phonic sounds, where they
experience hands-on learning
with fun activities such as flour
writing, rainbow writing,
blending pegs, phonic collages
and card games.

l Interactive Reading (ages six

to 12)
Using a blend of popular
culture, science and classic
literature, this programme aims
to engage students and nurture a
tangible understanding of the
joys and benefits that reading
can provide.
Students will have the
opportunity to practise the
English language through
comprehension activities, role
plays, vocabulary games, writing
activities as well as a variety of
games, crafts and experiments.

and includes topics such as

reading (students apply
movement and sound to stories
and nursery rhymes), singing
(correct breathing and singing
with movement) and drama
(bringing story book scenes to
life).

l Intensive English
Programme (elementary and
pre-intermediate)
Using motivating, up-to-date
and real-life topics to encourage
learners interest and
participation, each module is
stimulating and engaging.
Learners also have the option
to join the Integrated Skills
Programme, which provides
students with the opportunity to
practise all four language skills
listening, speaking, reading, and
writing.

l Public speaking (ages 12

to 18)
Through the use of audio and
video materials combined with
interactive group work, this
programme covers areas such
as preparation and planning,
confidence, vocalisation, body
language, and facial expressions.

l Speech & Drama (ages four

n For more information,

to 12)
This programme challenges
the creative abilities of students

call 03-7883 0912 or e-mail

info@cambridgeforlife.org or
visit www.cambridgeforlife.org

Pureen Baby Wipes come in handy

packs, making them easier to carry
around.

after each use.

It is ideal for various cleaning
and hygiene purposes such as to
remove make-up, wipe spills
during mealtimes or wipe babys
skin during diaper changing time.
Pureen Baby Wipes are

convenient to store and carry

around on travels or during sports
activities.
The Pureen Baby Wipes are
suitable for babies and the whole
family. For parents who are
looking for unscented baby wipes,
choose Pureen Baby Wipes
Fragrance Free, which is specially
formulated for babies sensitive
skin and now available in regular
and extra large sizes.
Pureen Baby Wipes come in
handy packs and canisters as well.
The Pureen Baby Wipes are
available in leading hypermarkets,
supermarkets, departmental stores,
medical halls and pharmacies.

n For more information,

visit www.pureen.com.my

THE STAR, TUESDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2015

6 childrens day

Amazing children of today

IT is often said that children are
the leaders of tomorrow, but there
are many already doing their part
to change the world for the better
today.
Whether through charity and
social work, activism, innovation
or entrepreneurship, these
youngsters play a role in solving
everyday problems and building a
more progressive society.
History has proven that young
people have the power and
capacity to create big waves that
often travel to foreign shores.
By penning her famous diary,
12-year-old Anne Frank provided
raw insight into the human
experience of the Holocaust,
contributing to the understanding
and perception of children affected
by war.
Through determination to afford
learning opportunities to others
like him, Louis Braille developed a
tactile reading and writing code
system for the blind at the age of
15.
With creativity, passion and a
fresh zest for life, children all over
the world continue to show how
one does not need to meet a
minimum age requirement to be a
contributing, influential member of
society.

Zuriel Oduwole had produced four documentaries by the age of 12.

In conjunction with Childrens

Day, here are a few young movers
and shakers who have impressed
and inspired in the recent past:
Zuriel Oduwole, documentary
filmmaker This child of a
Nigerian father and Mauritian
mother is fuelled by her passion
for education and her homeland of
Africa. At the age of 12, she had
already independently produced
four documentaries.
Oduwole first forayed into
filmmaking when she entered a
documentary competition with a

piece about the Ghanaian

revolution.
The energetic and driven girl
followed up with Educating and
Healing Africa Out of Poverty,
Technology in Educational
Development and, most recently, A
Promising Africa.
As part of her creative process,
Oduwole has interviewed several
world leaders, including premiers
of Ghana, Malawi, Kenya, Liberia
and Jamaica as well as the
presidents of her home countries,
Nigeria and Mauritius.

She was named one of Business

Insiders worlds 100 most powerful
individuals last year, and this
influence stems from more than
her documentaries.
Oduwole also travels to various
African countries to meet and
speak with students under her side
project Dream Up, Speak Up, Stand
Up.
She is an education advocate and
has spoken with particular
emphasis about the importance of
improving access to education for
African girls.
Joe Landolina, medical
inventor and entrepreneur
Young innovators are observant,
looking to solve everyday problems
in their own way.
Such was the case of 17-year-old
Landolina, who invented his first
version of a quick-healing gel in his
grandfathers laboratory when he
was just in secondary school.
The algae-based gel speeds up
blood clotting when applied to
wounds, permanently healing it
within minutes. It does this by
creating a mesh-like structure that
acts as an adhesive and scaffold to
help the body produce reparative
proteins at the wounds surface.
While he was in university,
Landolina began developing a

Joe Landolina invented a quickhealing gel when he was 17.

prototype and turned it into a

business with his long-time project
partner Isaac Miller.
Today, the product is in the early
manufacturing and distribution
stages in the United States and will
soon go to Europe and Asia.
The gel is patented under the
name VetiGel and manufactured
by Landolinas biotechnology
company Suneris.
It is currently only used on
animals, but the 22-year-old is
confident that it will become
available for human use in a few
years. If it does, this medical
invention could play a role in
advancing emergency treatment
and potentially save lives.

> SEE NEXT PAGE

THE STAR, TUESDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2015

childrens day 7

> FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

Malala Yousafzai, education
activist Yousafzai gained
worldwide admiration for her
advocacy of education for girls in
Taliban-ruled Pakistan in her
teenage years, when she began
writing and blogging about the
topic with BBC.
This received backlash from the
Taliban, whose members one day
tracked down and shot the then
15-year-old in the head. Yousafzai
survived the attack, which only
amplified her call for equal
educational opportunity around
the world.
This sparked the United Nations
petition with the slogan I am
Malala, demanding education not
only for Pakistani children and
girls, but for every child left out of
school. Yousafzai also co-authored
a book of the same title.
Besides being a co-recipient of
the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize, the
young woman has garnered
recognition from several influential
groups and individuals both at
home and abroad.
Yousafzai has moved world
leaders and fellow activists with
her words, but the young woman
walks the talk, too.
When she recently turned 18,
she opened a school for Syrian
refugee girls in Lebanon.
The Malala Fund continues
to champion her cause in
impoverished nations.

Malala Yousafzai championed education for girls on Taliban-ruled Pakistan in her early teens and continues to
advocate for equal access to education for all children.

Young, successful, inspiring

Lizzie Marie Likness, chef At
the tender age of six, Likness sold
healthy baked goods at a local
farmers market to raise money for
horseback riding lessons. What
started out as a means to fulfil a
little girls dream led her to
discover a greater passion in the
kitchen.
By the time she was eight years
old, Likness had launched a blog

with healthy recipes called Lizzie

Marie Cuisine. She used this space
to upload videos and recipes to get
children to eat healthier.
As she began gaining attention,
the young girl was featured on the
Rachael Ray Show and several
American news platforms.
This led to a partnership with
WebMD for an online television
show targeted to children called

Healthy Cooking with Chef Lizzie.

She has been dubbed a
foodpreneur, but the 18-yearolds primary aim has been to
make healthy eating exciting.
She believes that young people
will eat better if they learn how to
become involved in preparing
exciting, nutritious meals.
Likness plans on expanding her
culinary career and still blogs

regularly while juggling side

projects and school.
Jaden Wheeler and
Amaya Selmon, food truck
entrepreneurs Wheeler and
Selmon are the youngest food truck
owners and operators in Memphis,
Tennessee.
The brother-and-sister team
were only 12 and 11 respectively
when they turned their home
summer snow cone project into a
food truck business called Kool
Kidz Sno Konez.
The idea first came about when
the children were told they should
make their own money to afford
luxuries instead of badgering their
mother for toys they wanted.
When business started booming,
they began to look into expanding
although they suggested moving
to a shop lot, their mother thought
a food truck may be a more
feasible idea.
While their supportive mother
drives them around, Wheeler
makes the snow cones and Selmon
takes orders and serves at the
window.
What started as a summer
business not only turned them into
the youngest entrepreneurs in the
state, but also chartered a path for
their future.
Wheeler intends to franchise
Kool Kidz Sno Konez so that he can
work smart instead of hard when
he grows up.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2015

8 childrens day

Healthy goodness in a pack

KEEPING children active is good
for their health. However, for
children to grow and maintain an
active lifestyle, they need to receive
adequate nutrients such as protein,
calcium and vitamin D.
Protein helps build and repair
tissues, therefore playing an
important role in childrens growth
and development.
Since milk is a good source of
protein, getting them to drink it
regularly can help them stay
healthy.
Calcium, on the other hand, is
essential to develop strong bones
and teeth. With a calcium-rich diet,
children can continue to grow
strong bones and teeth, which is
essential for the activities that they
do.
Vitamin D is also very important
to promote calcium absorption.
Vitamin D deficiency can lead to
rickets, a disease that weakens
bones in children.
The good news is that Marigold
UHT Milk contains both vitamin D
and the unique BonePlus
Formulation, which enhances
calcium absorption and bone
strength for growing children.
But sometimes, children need
to be encouraged to drink more
milk so they get their daily dose

Recipes
l Strawberry Twist
Make your own milkshake by
mixing strawberries, yoghurt,
and Marigold UHT Strawberry
Milk in a blender. Blend
contents until smooth.

l Chocolate Ice Pop

This is an all-time favourite
among children and it is easy to
prepare. Just freeze the newly

improved Marigold UHT

Chocolate Milk in popsicle
molds for a couple of hours
before serving.

l Mango Crush
Mix mangoes, ice cubes and
Marigold UHT Full Cream Milk
in a blender and blend contents
to get a delicious smoothie for
your children to cool off after
playing outside.

Marigold UHT Milk contains essential vitamins and minerals for growth.

of nutrients.
Marigold UHT Milk comes in
three delicious flavours plain,
strawberry and the newly
improved chocolate flavour for
children to enjoy the goodness of
milk with a delicious taste.
You can also try these recipes for
children to make drinking milk an
even more enjoyable experience.
Now you can easily show your

children that drinking milk can

be fun and enjoyable with these
recipes that are sure to spice up
their milk routine.
Alternatively, give them a
packet of Marigold UHT Milk to
take with them, which is
conveniently packed for your
children to enjoy a delicious and
healthy drink anytime,
anywhere.

Bring imagination to life

KIDZANIA Kuala Lumpur is an awardwinning indoor family edutainment centre
that provides interactive learning and roleplaying opportunities for children.
It is an avenue for children to explore
what it is like to live and work in a
functioning city.
The child-sized city experience targeted at
children aged between four and 14 allows
them to choose from more than 100 jobrelated role-play activities spread across 60
various city establishments.
Here, children perform jobs, can either be
paid in KidZania currency or use it to shop.
Built as a replica of a real functioning childsized city, KidZania comes complete with
buildings, paved streets, vehicles, a
functioning economy and recognisable
destinations in the form of establishments
sponsored by leading multi-national and
local brands.
Through this hands-on experience,
children learn about different professions
and how a city works, gain financial literacy
and understand how to live in a community
while working both independently and as a
team.
Among some of the interesting activities
that children can do during their visit to
KidZania are piloting an aeroplane, putting
out fires, being a paramedic or surgeon,
hosting and supporting the production of a
television programme or enjoying attending
classes at university.
By completing prescribed tasks, children

earn kidZos (KidZania currency), which

can be saved in the bank or spent
purchasing other goods and services.
Learning through role-playing is not
merely fun, it also has positive educational,
psychological and motivational benefits.
By blending reality with entertainment,
KidZania provides an authentic and
powerful developmental experience,
allowing kids to understand and manage
their situations.
Children acquire real-life skills, learn
what it means to work and are introduced
to the fundamentals of financial literacy.
While children have fun at KidZania,
they develop socialisation skills, mutual
cooperation and respect.
Their creativity shines, they learn
independence and develop skills in
decision-making, creativity, critical
thinking, communication and confidence
through participating in the KidZania
community.
KidZania is endorsed by the Education
Ministry as an ideal destination for
students to promote both physical and
intellectual growth.
The scope of activities in each of the 60
establishments at KidZania can be linked
to several areas within the various school
syllabuses, effectively supplementing the
schools curriculum.

n For more information, call 1300 88 KIDZ

(5439) or visit www.kidzania.com.my

THE STAR, TUESDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2015

THE Shichida Method is a

proven child training system
developed by Prof Makoto
Shichida.
The main characteristic of
the Shichida Method is its
concentration on whole-brain
stimulation during the most
critical period of growth in a
child.
Parent-child interaction is
necessary to achieve better
results. In this comprehensive
programme, a stress-free
environment is created for both
parents and children aged three
months and above to enjoy
learning in a small group setting.
According to Prof Shichida,
the Law of Diminishing Ability
reveals that the first three years
of life are critical to brain
growth.
The Shichida Method aims to
bring out the innate abilities
hidden in the structural growth
of the brain.
Children areexposed to high
quantities and varieties of
inputthrough selected and
proprietary materials in
Shichida lessons.Using imaging
methods developed by Prof
Shichida, the development of the
right and left brain memory is
enhanced.
The result of the training

childrens day 9

Growth through love

brings about a balance in the use
of both sides of the brain and
helps to make learning enjoyable
for the child.
The Shichida Methods mission
is to raise children who:
l Are well developed and
balanced in body and mind
l Have sharp sensitivity and
rich creativity as a result of a
strong and positive learning
spirit
l Are able to use their innate
potential to contribute to and
benefit society with a sense of
oneness
l Live on the principle of
universal love and harmony
When parents attend the
course with their child, they will
come to understand their child
well and learn how to recreate
the correct environment for
their child to develop a continual
interest in learning from the
early years.
Parents are guided on how to
give training support through a
series of recommended activities
to complement the childs

Tabletop
hovercraft
HAVE you ever wondered how
hovercrafts work?
Things that lift themselves off
the ground or fly are fascinating
perhaps because of their ability
to defy gravity using principles
of physics.
Hovercrafts have an added
appeal because while they
cannot technically fly, they can
hover across both land and
water.
Perform this simple
demonstration at home to see for
yourself how air pressure and
density are manipulated to
create hovercrafts.
What you need:
l Old CD or DVD
l Nine-inch balloon
l Pin or small nail
l Pop-top cap from a liquid
soap bottle or water bottle
l Hot glue gun (use with adult
supervision)
What to do:
If you are using the cap from a
water bottle, cover the centre
hole of the CD with a piece of
tape and poke about six holes in
the tape with a pin or small nail.
This will slow down the air flow
and allow your hovercraft to
hover longer.
Use the hot glue gun to glue
the cap to the centre of the CD or
DVD. Create a good seal to
prevent air from escaping.
Blow the balloon all the way
and pinch the neck of it. Do not
tie it because you will need to fit
it over the cap.
Make sure the pop-top cap is
closed and fit the neck of the
balloon over the pop-up portion
of the cap. This is more easily
done with two people.

Make a hovercraft at home.

When you are ready to

commence hovering, simply put
the craft on a smooth surface
and pop the top open.
How does it work? The air
flow created by the balloon
causes a cushion of moving air
between the disc and the
surface. This lifts the CD and
reduces friction, which allows
the disc to hover freely.
Think about this
Contemplate on the principle
and mechanism behind
hovercrafts with questions such
as these:
Does the size of the balloon
affect the CDs ability to hover?
You can use balloons of different
sizes to test this out.
Does a helium balloon work
better than one filled with air?
Replace air with helium and see
for yourself.
Do larger discs make better
hovercrafts? You can use plastic
picnic plates or old record
albums to test this out.
Source: www.sciencebob.com

interest at home.
The Shichida Method
programme is intended for
children from three months to
six years old.
Children are assigned to small
age-appropriate classes of not
more than six, with each child
accompanied by one parent.
Classes are weekly, organised
across 12 weeks per term.
This programme is offered in
the Klang Valley in three venues.
The Penang Plaza branch was
opened last year.

n For more information, call

03-7727 8149 or 04-210 6555 or
visit www.shichidamethod.com

Parent-child interaction is essential to the Shichida Method.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2015

10 childrens day

CHILDRENS rights are so widely

championed today, which may
make it hard to believe that prior
to 1989, there were no formal or
legal guidelines that bound nations
across the world for this cause.
Last year marked 25 years
since the United Nations (UN)
Convention on the Rights of the
Child (CRC) was ratified.
In that time, the world has seen
a decline in infant mortality, rising
school enrolment and better
opportunities for girls.
These are definite milestones
that reflect the goals of the CRC and
its preceding Declaration of the
Rights of the Child (DRC) in 1959.
The DRC was the UNs maiden
move in advocating and protecting
the rights of children.
The DRC was adopted by the UN
General Assembly on Nov 20, and
this date has since been recognised
as Universal Childrens Day.

Covering bases
The CRC effectively rejected the
idea that children could be treated
as property of their parents or
helpless objects of charity.
Instead, it pushed for the
opportunity for children to develop
their full potential and be free
from hunger, neglect or abuse.
Every participating country
has to integrate CRC policies into
national laws and practices.
So far, the CRC has been ratified
by 20 countries and is monitored

Worldwide protection

The improvement of all aspects of childrens rights largely depends on all layers of society to accept and practise
them.

by the UN Committee on the Rights

of the Child, which comprises
representatives from participating
countries.
They work within the
framework consisting of four
main categories:
l Guiding principles, which
are built on the tenets of nondiscrimination and represent the
underlying requirements for all
rights to be realised.

l Survival and developmental

rights, including the rights to
resources, skills and contributions
such as food, shelter, clean water,
formal education and primary
healthcare.
l Protection rights against all
forms of child abuse and neglect
(including in the criminal justice
system), as well as the right to
special protection in times of war.
l Participation rights reiterating

childrens entitlement to freedom

of expression especially in matters
affecting their social, economic,
religious, cultural and political life.

Looking forward
There is bound to be unresolved
or new sets of issues that have to
be approached in a timely and
relevant manner.
In the words of United Nations

secretary-general Ban Ki-moon,

We cannot say that the rights of
all children are fulfilled when,
despite our progress, some 6.6
million children under five years
of age died in 2012, mostly from
preventable causes; when 168
million children aged five to 17
were engaged in child labour in
2012; when 11% of girls are
married before they turn 15.
Following Bans call for greater
action, the UN has appropriately
advanced the CRC to include
protocols on emerging and
growing concerns protecting
children in armed conflict and
commercial sexual exploitation.
There have also been increased
efforts to hear the voices of
marginalised children whose
rights have been violated.
The CRC is a means to an end
tangible improvement on all
aspects of childrens rights depends
on acceptance and practice across
all layers of society.
As Unicef, the United Nations
Childrens Fund, stated, the
standards and principles
articulated in CRC can only be
realised when they are respected
by everyone within the family, in
schools, in communities and at all
levels of administration.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2015

GETTING children involved in the

kitchen can not only get them
excited about meal time, but equip
them with basic culinary skills that
are sure to come in handy in the
future.
As long as your child is old
enough to handle kitchen utensils
safely, you can let them try out
simple recipes of small snacks or
clever meals such as these:
Tasty tacos
Ingredients:
l 1 can of beans (such as pinto
beans), rinsed
l 3/4 cup mild salsa
l Lettuce
l 8 taco shells

childrens day 11

Little chefs
l 1 cup shredded cheddar
cheese
Steps:
Microwave beans with 1/2 cup
of salsa until hot. This should take
one to two minutes.
Tear the lettuce into bite-sized
pieces.
Divide the taco shells among
four plates.
Divide the bean mixture
among the taco shells and top with
the lettuce, cheddar cheese and the
remaining 1/4 cup of salsa.
Since tacos are so versatile, you
can get your child to suggest his or

Tasty tacos.

her favourite ingredients. Minced

meat, avocado and onions are just
some other things you can add to
make quick, easy, tasty tacos.
Source: www.realsimple.com

Cheese and ham scrolls.

Cheese and ham scrolls

Ingredients:
l 2 sheet puff pastry, defrosted
l 1 egg, lightly beaten
l 2 cups grated cheese
l 100g deli ham, coarsely
chopped

minutes to 20 minutes or until

pastry turns golden.

Steps:
Preheat oven to 200Cand
line large baking trays with
baking paper.
Lay a sheet of thawed pastry
on chopping board and brush
small amounts of beaten egg
over it.
Evenly sprinkle cheese and
ham over the pastry, leaving a
clear line of pastry on one edge.
From the opposite edge,
tightly roll the pastry, pressing the
clean edge onto the pastry to seal.
Cut the roll into slices about
2cm thick and place face-up on
the trays.
Repeat with the remaining
pastry, cheese and ham.
Brush the tops lightly with the
remaining egg, then transfer the
trays into the oven to bake for 15

Knowledge and discovery

SINCE its inception more than 20 years ago,
Q-dees has grown into one of the foremost
authorities in early childhood education in
Malaysia.
With more than 150 centres
nationwide, it has successfully
prepared more than 200,000
students for private, national and
international schools.
Q-dees preschool programmes
are acclaimed for being fun and
holistic, empowering children with
the foundation they need to
exponentially grow from.
The exclusive interactive
multimedia and materials are
meticulously integrated to ensure
children are constantly engaged.
Q-dees language programmes are geared
to enable children to master English, Bahasa
Malaysia and Mandarin.
Taught thematically and phonetically, the
lessons expand their vocabulary while also
fostering correct contextual usage of the
language.
Encompassing the essential skills of
reading, writing, listening and speaking, the
Q-dees approach nurtures the mastery of
subject matter beyond students age so that
they can confidently express themselves
in these languages regardless of their
environment.
At Q-dees, seemingly complex
mathematics concepts are made simple for
children to understand. Using Hands-on
Mind-on methodology alongside Maths
Board, children explore concepts as they
learn to count efficiently and think logically.
The science programme has been designed
to make science simple and stimulating to
learn. The lessons encourage hands-on
participation in fun and exciting
experiments to ignite childrens curiosity in
how the world around them works.
Q-dees arts and craft programme develops
childrens creativity and imagination in

Q-dees science
programme encourages
hands-on participation.

tandem with the daily theme learnt.

In the programme, children are taught a
wide range of techniques such as perspective
drawing, rendering techniques and threedimensional modelling. These help to
strengthen their photographic memory as
well as logical and reasoning skills.
At Q-dees, the physical well-being of
children is as important as their intellectual
development.
Through the Gymflex programme,
children learn about teamwork, improve
body coordination and further develop their
fine and gross motor skills through fun
exercises, physical activities and team
games.
In line with Q-dees ethos towards holistic
development, the Q-dees Love to Life
programme ensures that its curricula are
infused with good values that teach children
how to love and care for others, be
responsible individuals and be mindful of
preserving the environment.
Q-dees has been awarded The Best
Preschool Brand for the past seven
consecutive years by the BrandLaureate as
well as received recognition through the
Innovation and Brand Excellence by Smera.

n For more information, call 1700 815 077

or visit www.q-dees.com

Source: www.kidspot.com.au
Baked chips
Ingredients:
l 1 large baking potato (such as
Russet potato)
l 1 tablespoon olive oil
l 1/2 teaspoon paprika
l 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
l 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
l 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
Steps:
Preheat oven to 450C.
Cut potato into wedges.

Mix olive oil, paprika, garlic

powder, chili powder and onion
powder.
Coat potatoes with the oil
and spice mixture and place
on a baking sheet.
Bake for 45 minutes.
Not only is baking a healthier
option than deep frying, it is also
safer as children will not have to
handle hot oil. Allowing them to
make their own chips for snacks
or sides could get your child to
replace greasy, processed chips
with this fresh alternative.
Source: www.allrecipes.com

Baked chips.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2015

12 childrens day

Raising a happy child

AS a parent, you aspire to raise
happy children. So what actually
makes a child happy in terms of
them being joyful, vibrant, secure
and contented? There are many
factors that contribute to a childs
happiness. Here are some of the
top secrets to ensuring you raise
a happy child.

Be a good role model

Children easily pick up
behaviours and emotions from
their environment. Not only will
they model their parents
behaviour, they are sensitive to
moods.
For example, parents and
children affect each other when
they become anxious. So, when
your children get anxious, it is
important for you to stay calm,
think clearly and portray
confidence. Make an effort to be
genuinely positive around your
children and create calmness
through your words, voice and
facial expressions.

Create family routines and

community
Daily rituals and routines are
some of the most basic ways to
instil a sense of security and
pleasure in a child.

A review of 50 years of research

on family routines in the Journal of
Family Psychology found that
rituals such as family meals, bath
times and bedtime routines help
children feel secure, strengthen
family ties and lead to greater
productivity.
They may even help improve
childrens health by maintaining
good habits, such as brushing
teeth, exercising and washing
hands.

Build self-belief and

confidence in your child
Childrens self-esteem influences
their social behaviour and
learning. Children with low selfesteem are less likely to step out of
their comfort zone to take risks or
try new experiences.
Conversely, those with a healthy
level of self-esteem will most likely
make more friends at school.
The way you interact with your
children on a daily basis greatly
influences the positive perception
that they construct of themselves.
Hence, it is important that you
use positive language and
behaviour that communicates to
your children that they are capable
and important.
Build on your childrens

strengths and learn how to point

out their areas of expertise as well
as give realistic responsibilities.
Help them learn from their
mistakes and celebrate
achievements.

Cultivate healthy eating

habits
Being healthy physically helps
to create positive emotions.
Encourage healthy eating habits by
feeding your children wholesome
and balanced meals that include
essential components such as milk
that is rich in protein, minerals
and vitamins as well as generous
portions of fresh vegetables and
fruits.

Foster an attitude of
gratitude
Feelings of gratitude are linked
to ones emotional well-being. One
way to instil gratitude in your
children is to ask them to name
something they are thankful for
every day.
Identifying the things we are
grateful for and expressing that
feeling of thankfulness fosters
optimism, compassion and hope.
Keep a chart on the wall or
fridge and have markers and pens
available for your children to

A happy child will grow up emotionally healthy.

document the things they are

thankful for.
These are just some of the
effective ways you can promote
happiness in your children and
ensure that they grow up to be
joyful, confident, emotionally

healthy and successful adults.

This article is brought to you by
Novalac Grow.

n For more information, contact

Novalac Grow.

Benefits of play
WHEN are children really just
being children? Often enough, they
are seen playing games, drawing
or role-playing with either other
children or toys.
Play is a very natural action for
children. While it may seem
disorganised and pointless to
adults, there are many underlying
complexities to play, many of
which bring educational and
developmental benefits.
However, in society where rotelearning is the norm, there are
often not enough opportunities
given to children to learn through
play, especially as they progress in
their education.
Play time should not be
underestimated as it can provide
meaningful learning experiences
for children, which help children
effectively retain information that
they learn in classes.
Play sessions should involve a
variety of skills, such as cognitive
and motor skills. They can be
tailored to lessons to strengthen
childrens learning experience.
In the spirit of Childrens Day,
here is the opportunity to learn
more about children and how play
benefits them.

Educational benefits
l Meaningful experiences
Play gives children meaningful
contexts to gain new concepts and
skills, which allow them to
understand what they have learnt
and put their knowledge into
practical use.
Hands-on activities give children
the opportunities to not only use

new-found skills but also efficiently

find solutions to problems they
encounter in real life.
l Motivation to learn When
children enjoy the learning
process, they become motivated
to learn and thus pick up new
information quickly.
Furthermore, a fun and relaxed
learning environment encourages
their curiosity and creativity, which
drives them to explore and learn
more about the world around
them.

Developmental benefits
l Language development
Children engage in varied language
use during play and so develop
greater mastery of receptive
language (what a child
understands) and expressive
language (the words a child
speaks).
They learn how to use a wider
range of vocabulary to express
their thoughts and actions during
play sessions, thus helping develop
their communication skills.
Activities such as storytelling
encourage language learning as
children encounter many new
words in books.
l Social development As
children progress into preschool,
interactions, with other children
teach them to negotiate, cooperate,
share and be aware of other
peoples feelings, which are
important social skills for life.
Parents can help by introducing
games or activities as well as
scheduling play dates with
other children.

Playing sports helps children develop their fine and gross motor skills.

By observing your childs

behaviour during this time, you can
learn what social skills you child
has mastered and those that still
need to be worked on.
l Cognitive development
When children do arts and crafts,
they learn how to put different
items and colours together to create
something new.
In storytelling, children learn
how to empathise with characters
emotions and translate text
descriptions into images.
In these instances, children are
expanding their imagination,
gaining new perspectives and
participating in abstract thinking,
all of which are crucial for their
brain development.

Having the ability to think,

reason and imagine is important
for success in their future studies,
career and life.
l Physical development
While activities such as watching
the television or playing games on
a tablet involve limited or no motor
actions, play activities such as arts
and crafts and sports involve the
use of fine and gross motor skills.
The latter is important in
facilitating childrens physical
development as they learn about
the function of their anatomy and
their physical capabilities.
This leads to children developing
healthy bodies, which in turn helps
develop healthy minds. You can
help your child engage in physical

activities by involving yourself in

the process.
Set aside an hour or more each
day for a few days a week for
physical activities that involve
gross motor skills, such as jogging,
swimming, playing games in the
garden or those that involve fine
motor skills such as painting or
making crafts.
Ultimately, play is fun and
encourages a positive and
motivated attitude to learn,
making it a natural process
for children.
Play can be a great addition
to lessons and a great way for
children to learn new information
through meaningful experiences.