Sheffield Kidsworld

  Many parents feel the pressure building as their child approaches Primary 1. The temptation is to stock up on assessment books, sign up for preparation classes, and start drilling letters and numbers. But here is something worth considering: what if the best preparation has nothing to do with worksheets at all? Educators remind us that the early weeks of Primary 1 are not about heavy academics. They focus on adapting to new routines, managing emotions, and learning to get along with peers. A child who can wait their turn, ask for help politely, and bounce back after a disappointment is already ahead of the game. These skills do not come from workbooks. They come from everyday moments like role-playing as a shopkeeper, reading stories together, or simply letting your child figure out how to handle a small problem on their own. Think of a child learning through pretend play at home, perhaps selling food items to a parent and handling play money. This simple activity quietly teaches...

Every parent knows that sinking feeling when your child trips, spills, or gets something wrong in front of others. Our first instinct is to rush in and fix it. But here is a gentle thought worth sitting with: what if those small stumbles are exactly what our children need? The best start-ups do not begin with a perfect product. They begin with a simple idea, test it out, learn fast from mistakes, and adjust. Parenting can work the same way. We do not need to expect perfection from our little ones right from the start. We just need to give them room to try, slip up, and try again in safe and small ways. Think of a child learning to pour water into a cup. The first few tries might end with puddles on the table. A start-up founder would call this useful feedback. For a child, it is the same. Each spill teaches something new about grip, aim, and patience. When we step back and let them figure it out, we help them build courage, problem solving skills, and trust in themselves. Our job as ad...

A recent article in The Straits Times warns about children becoming addicted to mobile devices. It calls for new rules to limit access to phones and social media. In Singapore, many parents send their children for extra tuition to achieve good grades. However, they often allow free use of devices to keep children occupied. This happens in places like food courts, where children scroll on phones during meals. It also occurs on buses, where young ones watch videos alone. Such habits can cause serious issues later on. At our preschool, we manage screen time responsibly. We limit it to short sessions focused on learning. Our teachers choose educational apps that teach letters and numbers. We avoid endless games or videos. This approach ensures screens benefit our children without causing harm.

  Start with daily life, not the school name. A nearby school means short rides, more sleep, warm breakfasts, and time to play. Children learn better when mornings are calm and afternoons are not spent on buses. A good fit for your family rhythm beats a famous address. Visit and feel the place. Do teachers smile and call children by name. Are classrooms tidy and cheerful. Are there safe spaces to run and quiet corners to read. Ask about learning support, language help, and after school care. Look at co curricular activities that match your child’s interests. A good primary school is one your child can walk into each day feeling safe, seen, and ready. Think long term skills over shiny labels. Curiosity, kindness, and steady routines travel with your child to any school. Choose a team that will partner with you, share updates, and listen. If something does not work, you can always adjust. Pick the school that feels right for your child and for your home life, and you will set them up...

Parenting is not a perfect app launch. It is more like a start-up in beta. Try small things, see what works, and keep what helps your child grow. Think minimum viable parenting. Fewer grand plans, more tiny experiments. New breakfast routine? Test it for a week. Tidy-up game? Ship version 1 and improve later. When we drop the pressure for perfection, home becomes lighter and kids feel brave to try.   Let them fail safely. A wobble on the scooter, a messy craft, a puzzle left half-done are not disasters, they are data. Praise effort and thinking, not just the final mark. Set simple guardrails, then step back so they can explore, get bored, and invent their own fun. Risk is not the enemy. Unmanaged risk is. Choose age-appropriate risks and let experience do the teaching.   And when Plan A fizzles, pivot. Music class tears every week? Maybe it is time for gardening. Homework routine stuck? Change the time, change the space, or change the steps. Founders learn fast and move on, an...

  A small sea of blue-and-orange uniforms brightened Rivervale Mall as our St Anne and Sengkang children set off on their supermarket adventure. Guided by teachers and eager parent volunteers, the children paused for a group photo beneath the “Welcome to Rivervale Mall” sign before filing into the produce section, reusable bags swinging by their sides. Inside, they compared the vibrant colours of dragon fruit, oranges, and leafy greens, hunting for the Healthy Choice symbols and chatting excitedly about what makes a food “good for our bodies.” Laden with their carefully chosen items, the class later walked back through the neighbourhood in neat pairs. Organising real-world excursions like this nurtures far more than curiosity about groceries. A hands-on setting sparks children’s natural drive to observe, question, and categorise, boosting cognitive growth and vocabulary as they name fruits, weigh prices, and link symbols to healthy eating. Navigating store aisles together strengthe...