Development Areas
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- Cognitive Development
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- Gross and Fine Motor Development
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- Social and Emotion Development
Chores and Children: Cultivating Confidence and Connection
Author: Mel WAGENAAREducational Psychologist, Teacher and Mother, South Africa Mention the word “chores” alongside “small children,” and many people express horror and dismay, fearing a return to the dark days of child labour reminiscent of the Industrial Revolution when young children were often forced into harsh labour conditions, such ...
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Empowering Parents: Addressing Learning Delays in Hong Kong
Author: Mel WAGENAAREducational Psychologist, Teacher and Mother, South Africa Years of experience as an educational psychologist have led me to the conclusion that while early intervention is preferable, ALL forms of accredited, positive, professional intervention during your child’s educational journey can be beneficial, even if the results are not immediately ...
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A Smooth Start to Schooling: navigating entrance interviews and parent stress
Author: Mel WAGENAAREducational Psychologist, Teacher and Mother, South Africa Getting your child accepted to study at a desired school or institution can be a stressful process. As an educational psychologist in practice who sees many anxious families, all trying to do the “best” for their child, this is a very ...
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Ready, Steady, Go… to School!
Author: Mel WAGENAAREducational Psychologist, Teacher and Mother, South Africa There is much pressure in the Hong Kong system which highly values strong academic performance; the practice of many extracurricular classes from English to Mathematics and everything in between adds to the parental concern of getting your child into a “good” ...
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Urban Nature: Encouraging Outdoor Play for Toddlers in Hong Kong
Author: Mel WAGENAAREducational Psychologist, Teacher and Mother, South Africa In today’s urbanized world, the benefits of outdoor play for young children cannot be overstated. For parents in Hong Kong, integrating outdoor play into your toddler’s routine presents unique challenges and opportunities. This article explores the many benefits of outdoor play ...
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I AM 3 – PLAY WITH ME!
Author: Mel WAGENAAREducational Psychologist, Teacher and Mother, South Africa This summer, there is no need to plan expensive outings or book specialist lessons and activities for your 3-year-old. You and your family, including your domestic helper, can use nature and recycled or home-accessed materials and objects to promote play-based ...
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Building Brains and Bonds: Essential Activities for Infant-Parent Relationships
Author: Mel WAGENAAREducational Psychologist, Teacher and Mother, South Africa As a psychologist, teacher and parent, I’m excited to share three effective ways you can bond with your baby and support their brain development. The best part is that these methods don’t require any special tools or purchases. In the ...
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Sharpen Their Minds: A Parent’s Guide to boosting memory skills
Author: Mel WAGENAAREducational Psychologist, Teacher and Mother, South Africa Cognitive development includes mastering speech, using the imagination, learning new skills, learning what things are and how they work, and of course, REMEMBERING things. This is a skill essential for future academic success. Memory skills are closely tied to a child’s ...
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Sensory Adventures: Creative Activities for Toddlers to Discover the World
Author: Mel WAGENAAREducational Psychologist, Teacher and Mother, South Africa Sensory activities are some of the most important for the development of your toddler. These stimulating activities support young children’s holistic development, particularly their cognitive, physical, language and social-emotional skills. Young children can also develop their self-help skills and learn ...
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Navigating the Biting Phase: Tips for Parents of Toddlers
Author: Mel WAGENAAREducational Psychologist, Teacher and Mother, South Africa As a parent, witnessing your toddler sink their teeth into another child is an alarming and upsetting experience. Biting is a surprisingly common behaviour during the toddler years, but that doesn’t make it any less concerning when it happens. The ...
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Can I Make my Baby Smarter?
Author: Mel WAGENAAREducational Psychologist, Teacher and Mother, South Africa Let us give some thought here to thinking. So much has been written about cognitive development but often it is presented in a very academic way. The bottom line for most new parents is that they want the answer to ...
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Bright Beginnings: Cognitive Development in Babies and Toddlers
Author: Mel WAGENAAREducational Psychologist, Teacher and Mother, South Africa Cognitive development in the first three years of life lays the foundation for a child’s future development. During this critical period, babies and toddlers rapidly acquire skills and knowledge as they interact with their environment and caregivers. As parents, your ...
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Balancing Bots and Blocks: Integrating AI into Toddler’s Play and Learning
Author: Mel WAGENAAREducational Psychologist, Teacher and Mother, South Africa Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic concept confined to science fiction. It has seamlessly integrated into our daily lives, influencing everything from how we shop to how we communicate. For parents of young children aged 1 to 3 ...
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Stimulating and Socializing – am I doing enough?
Author: Mel WAGENAAREducational Psychologist, Teacher and Mother, South Africa In my practice as an educational psychologist, I am often asked by parents: Did I do enough? What MORE could I have done? Was there anything different I could have done? All these questions relate to parent stress around whether ...
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Safe and Stimulating: Designing Your High-Rise Home for your Baby
Living in high-rise apartments with limited space can present unique challenges for new parents in Hong Kong. However, creating a safe and stimulating environment for your baby is entirely achievable. Here’s how you can adapt your living space to support your infant’s development while maintaining safety and comfort. Safety First: ...
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Cultivating creativity – Outdoor family activities with 0-3 in Hong Kong
Author: Betty YauPrincipal, Fairchild Nursery and Kindergarten Now the weather has cooled down, it’s perfect to get outdoors and spend time as a family enjoying nature. We are fortunate that Hong Kong has great access to both beaches and the hills within easy travelling distance! Great beaches for family time ...
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Cultivating creativity – Indoor family activities with 0-3 in Hong Kong
Author: Betty YauPrincipal, Fairchild Nursery and Kindergarten With the late autumn weather proving to be more windy and rainy than we expect at this time of year, it’s time to share some indoor activities our family has enjoyed when my child was much younger. Aside from playgroups which can promote ...
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Move To Learn or Learn to Move?
Author: Mel WAGENAAREducational Psychologist, Teacher and Mother, South Africa Movement is such an important building block in the development of babies and toddlers. Many children reside in small living spaces in large built-up cities and parents need to actively guard against children being passive rather than active. There has always ...
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Before Reading, While Reading and After Reading
Author: Annie NGSpeech and Language Therapist Reading is one of the things we all know are beneficial for a child to do. So today, let’s talk about some of the ways we can best facilitate this at home. The goal is to make it a well-rounded, interactive learning experience that ...
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自由玩耍與散件遊戲 3 – 啟發可持續的遊戲
Author: Betty YauPrincipal, Fairchild Nursery and Kindergarten Today we are all more conscious of our impact on the world – how do we ensure the efficient use of resources for the future of our children? As the United Nations promotes the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for a better future ...
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Free Play with Loose Parts 2 – Inspiring Play for Infants and Toddlers
Author: Betty YauPrincipal, Fairchild Nursery and Kindergarten Loose parts and young children? You may think that it may not be the safest thing to allow very young children access to loose parts. Of course, adult supervision is still very important when children are playing with loose parts, however, when infants ...
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Free Play with Loose Parts 1 – Inspiring Play for Children
Author: Betty YauPrincipal, Fairchild Nursery and Kindergarten Are you ever surprised at how children love to play with the simplest of materials such as cardboard boxes or paper tubes rather than the contents of a box housing a new toy? Children naturally gravitate towards objects which pique their interest and ...
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The Meaning of Parenthood
Author: Dr. Amelia N.Y. Lee, MHAssociate Dean (Programme Development) and Head of Early Childhood and Elementary Education Earlier, I had a gathering with some university classmates, where we shared updates about our families and showed care for one another, chatting about work, children, and other topics. Suddenly, someone laughed and ...
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Finger Food or Utensils? WHY NOT BOTH?!
Author: Krista Law So ManKindergarten Principal “Sweetie, don’t touch your food. Use your spoon!” If you’re a parent or caregiver, you’ve likely uttered these words countless times during mealtime. As moms, dads, and caregivers, we strive to foster manners and cleanliness in our little ones. We want them to grow ...
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“Baby Puffs Picking Olympics: Training Tiny Fingers for the Pincer Grasp Championship!”
Author: Krista Law So ManKindergarten Principal In a high chair, a chubby 7-month-old baby sits, his tiny plate contained a couple baby puffs. With a mix of determination and curiosity, he extends his hand in an attempt to pick up a puff. However, his inexperienced little palm fails him, and ...
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Nurturing Gross Motor Skills and Health in Babies and Toddlers: The Power of Outdoor Exploration, Rest, and Active Engagement
Author: Krista Law So ManKindergarten Principal As babies and toddlers grow and develop, their gross motor skills play a vital role in their overall health and well-being. Encouraging physical activity, providing opportunities for outdoor exploration, and actively engaging with them are essential for their growth and development. In this article, ...
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The Power of Daily Tasks: Fostering Gross and Fine Motor Skills in Children
Author: Krista Law So ManKindergarten Principal As parents, we have the privilege of witnessing our children’s growth and development every day. However, it’s easy to overlook the small milestones and fail to realize just how much progress they have made. By actively involving children in daily tasks and gradually offering ...
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Embracing Messy Exploration: Nurturing Cognitive Development in Babies and Infants
Author: Krista Law So ManKindergarten Principal Parenting is a remarkable journey filled with joy, challenges, and endless learning opportunities. As parents, we strive to provide the best care and create a safe environment for our children. In this article, we will delve into the fascinating realm of baby and infant ...
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