Think of an activity or an exercise that you have tried before in order to try to increase your well-being. Did it work? Or an activity you have initiated with or for your child(ren) to try to cultivate positive emotions, thoughts or behaviors? How was the outcome?
Tuesday, June 30, 2026
Monday, June 29, 2026
Reflection : Meaning and Purpose that matters to me (MPM2M)
What is something 'larger than yourself' to which you feel connected and that provides you with meaning and purpose in your life?
Heard of Dr. Duckworth's research on "Positive Psychology – Character, Grit & Research Methods"?
Think of an example of something for which you feel/felt or an everyday sort of significant achievement, accomplishment or mastery that you experience, e.g. checking off most of the items on your daily to-do list. In your opinion, how do these compare in how they contribute to your well-being?
Saturday, June 27, 2026
PERMA to understand one's well-being
At different stages in life, we require different parenting styles. Yesterday was the start of registration for our child. We didn't use PERMA but based on our own style of expression which was not well received and not welcoming and appreciated. No manual for parenting or marriage. Similarly, no manual on which is the best subject combination or institution/school to enrol.
There are many different routes to a flourishing life. People will derive well-being from each of these five building blocks to varying degrees. What is a good life for one person is not necessarily a good life for another because positive Psychology is descriptive, not prescriptive.
Hence, we are not telling people what choices to make or what to value, but research on the factors that enable flourishing can help people make more informed choices to live a more fulfilling life that is aligned with their values and interests. The following is a brief description of each of the five building blocks of well-being:
Positive Emotion: This route to well-being is hedonic – increasing positive emotion. Within limits, we can increase our positive emotion about the past (e.g., by cultivating gratitude and forgiveness), our positive emotion about the present (e.g., by savoring physical pleasures and mindfulness) and our positive emotion about the future (e.g., by building hope and optimism).Unlike the other routes to well-being described below, this route is limited by how much an individual can experience positive emotions. In other words, the experience of positive emotion is partly heritable and each individual's emotions tend to fluctuate within a range. Some people are, by disposition, low in the extent to which they experience positive emotion. Traditional conceptions of happiness tend to focus on positive emotion, so it can be liberating to know that there are other routes to well-being, described below.
Engagement: Engagement is an experience in which someone fully deploys their skills, strengths, and attention for a challenging task. According to Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, this produces an experience called “flow” that is so gratifying that people are willing to do it for its own sake, rather than for what they will get out of it. The activity is its own reward. Flow is experienced when one’s skills are just sufficient for a challenging activity, in the pursuit of a clear goal, with immediate feedback on progress toward the goal. In such an activity, concentration is fully absorbed in the moment, self-awareness disappears, and the perception of time is distorted in retrospect, e.g., time stops. Flow can be experienced in a wide variety of activities, e.g., a good conversation, a work task, playing a musical instrument, reading a book, writing, building furniture, fixing a bike, gardening, sports training or performance, to name just a few.
Relationships: Relationships are fundamental to well-being. The experiences that contribute to well-being are often amplified through our relationships, for example, great joy, meaning, laughter, a feeling of belonging, and pride in accomplishment. Connections to others can give life purpose and meaning. Support from and connection with others is one of the best antidotes to “the downs” of life and a good way to bounce back. Research shows that doing acts of kindness for others produces an increase in well-being.From an evolutionary perspective, we are social beings because the drive to connect with and help others promotes our survival. Developing strong relationships is central to adaptation and is enabled by our capacity for love, compassion, kindness, empathy, self-sacrifice, teamwork, and cooperation.
Meaning and Mattering: A sense of meaning and purpose can be derived from belonging to and serving something bigger than the self. There are various societal institutions that enable a sense of meaning, such as family, religion, science, politics, work organizations, justice, the community, social causes, among others.
Mattering is a basic human need, that people need to be needed in their relationships or work. It is the belief that you are valued and important to other people and to the broader community, that you make a difference. Research links mattering to life satisfaction, job satisfaction, mental health (e.g., depression and anxiety), engagement at school and work, job retention, among other outcomes.
Accomplishment: People pursue achievement, competence, success, and mastery for its own sake, in a variety of domains, including the workplace, sports, games, hobbies, among others. People pursue accomplishment even when it does not necessarily lead to positive emotion, meaning, or relationships.
Saturday, October 30, 2021
A wonderful juice for my babies
Found a wonderful juice for my babies.
It's a superfood. Immune boosters and many benefits. No fuss.
Must share this fantastic lobang.
And best of all, it doesn't need any preparation or waiting time.
It's instant and convenient. And we practically can take it for free!
Comment here or PM to find out more.
Wednesday, October 6, 2021
This is well-received by all at home!
Description
Morinda Citrifolia
USDA Organic
Dietary Supplement
Gluten Free
Vegetarian
Kosher
Halal
Where Health & Flavor Meet!
Certified Organic by Organic Certifiers, Inc.
Certified Organic Noni Juice Morinda citrifolia
The fruit of the Noni (Morinda citrifolia) plant has been treasured for hundreds of years by inhabitants of the exotic islands of Tahiti, the South Pacific and other tropical regions. The warm climate and nutrient rich soil create ideal conditions for these plants to blossom. It has been traditionally used to help promote healthy living.
Noni contains trace amounts of naturally occurring minerals, enzymes, antioxidant vitamins, phytonutrients and bioflavonoids. It is a natural source of proxeronine and scopoletin.
Suggested use
Use only as directed. Take 2 tbsp (30 ml) daily or as directed by your health care practitioner.
Uniquely formulated. Enjoy sipping it pure, adding it to water or your favorite beverage.
Shake well before using.
Refrigerate after opening.
Other ingredients
Certified organic noni juice (filtered water sufficient to reconstitute organic noni fruit puree).
Contains no added sugar, artificial color or preservatives. Due to the pure, natural ingredients in this product, taste, color and consistency may vary.
Warnings
Do not use if safety seal is broken or missing. Keep out of reach of children. Keep your licensed health care practitioner informed when using this product.
Store in a cool, dry, dark place. Stated levels valid only while product is unopened and properly stored.
https://iherb.co/2ZQWra5
Thursday, September 30, 2021
Today is another day you showed courage,
just like 2 days ago
when you first experienced something
Daddy and Mummy would never want to do onto you.
We know you are well and healthy.
But they don't.
We are concerned that the swab may be painful and discomfort.
But they don't.
We feel that there's not necessary for the swabs.
But they don't.
We care for your well-being and health.
But they don't.
Many calls. Many officers. Many departments.
Different tests. Different swabs. Different days.
Same results. Same discomfort. Same issue.
This C-19. Is C-21. Going C-25?
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Forgetful? Try eating memory-boosting foods
In another study, the phytochemicals, anthocyanin and quercetin, actually reversed some of the age-related memory deficits in laboratory animals. Some of the memory-boosting foods are:
- Some of the best cruciferous vegetables: Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, and bok choy.
- Some of the best leafy green vegetables: spinach, collard and mustard greens, kale and Swiss chard.
- Some of the best foods for anthocyanin: Berries (all varieties), cherries, black currents, eggplant, red, black, and purple grapes, plums, rhubarb, red onion, red apples, red/purple cabbage, and red beets.
- Some of the best foods for quercetin: Onions (red, yellow, white), kale, leeks, cherry tomato, broccoli, blueberries, black currants, elderberries, apricots, apple with skin (Red Delicious), and red, purple, and black grapes.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
82nd week of motherhood
- went to enrol TK in a newly established Xiyao Childcare for playgroup class
- provide veg meals to all on Tues and Thurs
- has 22 children in all currently
- hubby went to TCM for 2nd time before flying overseas for work
- sending TK to playgroup class tomorrow
-
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Infant stimulation
- 70-85% of all the previously set down brain cells will be completely developed.
- 45% of your baby's brain growth takes place during the first year!
- this crucial time from conception to 1 year old of age as the period of the "brain growth spurt".
- introduce a form of play that challenges your baby's mind and satisfies his/her newly discovered preferences
- best that your baby is presented with experiences that foster learning and growth, not by force-feeding knowledge but rather through an interactive loving relationship that pleases your baby.
* Your child's environment has the strongest impact on his brain during the growth spurt period
* Interaction is more valuable than observation
* Curiosity: stimulation begets stimulation
* Baby's attentiveness is vital
* Baby learns through repetition
* Baby's position makes a difference in stimulation
* Baby needs to experience warmth and love
* Being sensitive to baby's cues is important
(adapted from Dr Ludington's studies, 1985)
Infant Care Centre_My First Skool
- currently offer more than 4,000 childcare places through our chain of over 40 centres island-wide.
- programme subscribes to experiential learning and a process-oriented approach that supports the natural curiosity of the child
- help them to develop positive dispositions desirable for life-long learning.
- offers childcare, infant care, student care and flexi-care programmes.
- nurture confident and happy children who are ready for life and prepare them to achieve their best in school, through a balanced curriculum that lays a strong foundation for life-long learning.
Contact:General hotline: 6509 7888
Mail me at info@myfirstskool.com
Address:
229 Mountbatten Road
#02-08 Mountbatten Square
Singapore 398007
Opening Hours:
7.00am to 7.00pm (Monday to Friday); 7.00am to 2.00pm (Saturday)
Closed on Sundays and Public holidays
Blk 192 #02-672 (Infant Care)
Toa Payoh Lor 4 S(310192)
Tel 6355 0641
Register Now
Email: heeon@myfirstskool.com
Childcare and Infant care services available! Call 6509 7887 or email us at info@myfirstskool.com for more information.
Rosy Hearts Babies
- Infants develop at an amazing pace during their first 36 months.
- 3 stages of growth represented by our 3 creches:
* Rosy Infants
(2 - 10 months)
* Rosy Explorers
(11 - 18 months)
* Rosy Toddlers
(19 - 36 months)
The Montessori method
The Rosy Hearts Babies’ environment and curriculum integrate the Montessori Method. It comprises the following curriculum areas:
* Practical life
* Sensorial
* Language
* Mathematics
* Cultural
12 Lorong Pisang Batu
(Upper Bukit Timah Road)
Singapore 597925
Tel: 6464 6618
Email: mail@rosyhearts.com
Student Care Centre_Whispering Hearts (WHSCC)
- our caring teachers look after school going children of ages 7 to 14 while their parents are at work.
- besides basic before and after school care programmes, we organise ad hoc activities
- aim at the total development of their children, including their physical, intellectual, social and emotional needs and development.
- Students from Secondary Schools and Junior Colleges help us in our enrichment programmes for our students.
Admission Criteria
- caters to children from 7 to 14 years old.
- subsidy is available for lower income families
Fees
Registration fee : $50 (non-refundable)
Deposit : $260 (refundable)
Monthly Fee : $260 /month
Address:
Blk 617 Jurong West St. 65
#01-488 S(640617)
Tel: 6795 8967
Fax: 6795 9423
Email: whscc@viriya.org.sg
Whispering Hearts Student Care Centre
Tai Pei Child Care Centre
- 3 branches and open to all members of the public regardless of race, language or religion
- curriculum designed to promote the overall development of the child physically, intellectually, emotionally and socially in a funfilled and stimulating environment
Services provided:
- conducive learning environment
- qualified and dedicated teachers
- nursery and kindergarten classes
- enrichment programmes such as computer and dance classes
- outdoor activities such as excursions and field trips
- balanced and nutritional meals
- from age 24mth - 7 & below
Tai Pei Child Care Centre
Address:
2 Lavender Street
S(338823)
Tel: 6298 6255
Fax: 6255 2401
Student Care Centre_TLC
- Although under the compassionate patronage of a Buddhist organisation, we reach out to children and parents of all race and religion.
- conduct activities that emphasise on the nurturing of the child’s self-esteem, mental attitude and ethical conduct.
- the centre provides a holistic approach to modern-day education, enabling your child to face the world with the confidence to meet any challenges.
- A Half Day Programme is available for children between 7 to 14 years old during the school term
- a Full Day Programme is available during school holidays.
- From $240 – $310 a month
Before School Care
Morning Tea Break and Lunch will be provided.
After School Care
Lunch and Afternoon Tea Break will be provided.
Full Day Programme
Morning Tea Break, Lunch and Afternoon
Tea Break will be provided.
Please note that all meals provided will be
nutritious vegetarian food.
Branches:
Ang Mo Kio
Blk 621 Ang Mo Kio Ave 9 #01-68
Singapore 560621
Tel: 6454 6686 Fax: 6454 6696
Choa Chu Kang
Blk 684A Choa Chu Kang Crescent
#01-308 Singapore 681684
Tel: 6310 6410 Fax: 6219 0068
email: tlcscc@kmspks.org
Infant Care Centre_Learning Vision
- infant programmes cater to babies from 2 to 17 months’ old.
- with trained and caring professionals specialising in infant care, development and/or state-registered nursing qualifications, we are well-equipped to look after infants’ growing & developmental needs.
- aesthetically designed and specially-fitted to ensure optimal safety and protection of infants while maximising their development and learning capabilities.
Find out more about our infant care centres:
# Republic Polytechnic
# The Grassroots' Club
# Cecil Street
# Novena
# Tan Tock Seng Hospital
# Alpha at Science Park II
# KK Women's and Children's Hospital
# Temasek Life Sciences
# Nanyang Polytechnic (for staff only)
Infant Curriculum
- The infant program is holistic and focused on optimum periods for learning characteristics of infant development in the first three years of life.
- Holistic development emphasizes the development of infants’ emerging physical, sensory-motor, perceptual, cognitive, language and social-emotional skills.
- The framework that determines the pedagogy and key practices of the infant program is guided by three distinctive features: caregiving, attachment and play.
Infant Wheel
- presents the infant curriculum experiences and activities which are designed to meet the developmental goals of promoting early learning in cognition and language skills, sensory and motor development as well as social-emotional development.
- these goals are effectively promoted through the 8 key learning experiences of the infant program
# Baby Read
# Baby Touch
# Baby Sensory Play
# Baby Art
# Baby Chef
# Baby Gym
# Sunshine Baby
# Baby Music
At NYP: For Staff only (Before MCYS subsidy and prevailing GST)
Service Fee (S$)
Fees are correct as at published time
Full Day Care for Public
$850 (Toddler-Kindergarten 2)
Centre Principal: Grace Sin
Nanyang Polytechnic
180, Ang Mo Kio Ave 8
Blk F, Level 2, Unit 1
Singapore 569830
Telephone: +65 6455 7784/ +65 6454 5485
Fax: 6455 6702
For general enquiries and feedback, please call our hotline at 65017557
Learning Vision
Whispering Hearts infant and child care centre (WHICC)
- officially opened in 2006 by Mr. Cedric Foo, MP for West Coast GRC (Pioneer) and Patron of Whispering Hearts Family Service Centre
- provide a safe, well-supervised, stimulating and enjoyable environment for the total development of young children of different ages.
- to develop to their fullest potential and parents will have the peace of mind leaving their children in our care while they go to work.
Fees (Before subsidy)
Half Day
Monday-Friday 7am-1pm or 1pm-7pm; Saturday 7am-1pm
Infant Half-Day : S$825
Child Half-Day : S$412.50
Full Day
Monday-Friday 7am-7pm; Saturday 7am-2pm
Infant Full-Day : S$1100
Child Full-Day : S$ 550
Other Fees:
Registration fee(non-refundable) $50.00
Deposit: Equivalent to one month’s fee
Child’s Insurance per calendar year $ 10.00
Mattress $ 45.00
Mattress Cover per piece $ 10.00
Uniform per set $ 14.00
Monday to Friday - 7.00am to 7.00pm; Saturday - 7.00am to 2.00pm
Blk 688 Jurong West Central 1
#01-237 Singapore 640688
Tel: 6792 2321 Fax: 6791 3231
Email: kamal@viriya.org.sg
Viriya
Friday, July 30, 2010
Respect for others
- mindfulness helps us to be at peace, eg when we don't own a hi-tech dig cam or iphone
- most of the time, when we see something newer, more expensive and we may want to upgrade to this better camera
- this is one of the reasons manufacturers continue to produce more and more and in the end, we produce more castoffs
- we'll be kept busy working all the more, leaving no time to love, to build our relationships
- a simple life can bring a lot of happiness
~Thich Nhat Hanh
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Healthy TV habits for toddlers
- it's like an electric babysitter
- US survey reveals that the average toddler now spends more than 4.5h daily watching TV
- some channels to look for are okto Day, Playhouse Disney, Nickelodeon or CBeebies
- experts from American Association of Pediatrics advises that children below 2yrs old should not watch any TV at all
- older tots take in no more than an hour of TV daily
- from age 2-5, 'active' TV viewing is linked to comprehension
- TV should not be children's main entertainment tool
- the time spent watching TV takes a child away from activities such as active play and interaction
- these activities contribute most to their all-rounded development
- too much TV may cause the young tots less physically active, greater risk of obesity in later life, aggressive, nightmares and speech delays
- the context in the TV a child watches matters more than the amount of time he spends watching TV
- important to strike the right balance and the boundaries to watch TV
- try not to make TV watching a daily routine
- survey shows that a children who watch TV moderately with a parent score higher grades in school
- parents should supervise TV watching but not be a major distraction
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Q&A on co-sleeping
Recently she'd cry very sadly before falling asleep when I started to train her to sleep on her own. However, the routine was disrupted and she cries before she falls asleep or suddenly wake up crying hysterically just after 15min of sleep. Should we continue training her to sleep on her own?
A:
- depends on how the family's sleep arrangements have been as well as the child's temperament and preferences
- letting children sleep on their own allows them to become more independent
- advisable to use the same method before to re-establish child's sleep routine
- ensure that the child's room is conducive
- talking to child about the need and providing positive reinforcement may work
Teach your child to have a compassionate heart
- use real life stories to touch their hearts and to discuss with them issues in the society
- news article dated in Zaobao 21 Jul 2010 has an interview with Wu Qing, youngest daughter of modern chinese literature writer Bing Xin
- her mother taught her to have compassionate heart by letting go the bird she captured using a simple story
- Bing Xin asked her youngest daughter 'Wu Qing', "It's dark now, and what would you like to do if you're outside?" and she replied, "I'd like to go home."
- "Then who would you like to see when you reach home?"
- "I'd like to see my mother."
- "It's late now and the little bird would also like to go home to see its mother. Let it free, my dear."
- and she did with the understanding of her wrongdoing instead of 'obeying orders' without understanding why
- the incident in the abovementioned article can also be found in my 34th week pregnancy journal