Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) is a recurring scourge which is prevalent in this part of the world. In Singapore alone, more than 3,000 children have been infected over the past 4 months.

We share your concern and worries about the health and well-being of your children. Our studio is treated with EnviroCare M1-S and K1 Titanium Dioxide (Ti02) PhotoCompound, an environmentally friendly process which work with any form of light ( artificial & natural ) to continuously destroy bacteria, odours and other microbial. This treatment, which is extensively used in public buildings and hospitals in USA, Japan and Singapore ( Changi, Kandang Kerbau KK and Tan Tock Seng hospitals, National Dental Centre, and Health Science Authorities Building ), keeps the air quality extremely high with minimal bacterial, fungal / mould spores, odours and other micro-organisms multiplication.

To maintain the very highest level of hygiene possible at the studio, we also place hand sanitizers at our reception counter as well as in the classrooms. We strongly encourage all parents to use the disinfectant for themselves and their children at every visit to the studio. All our musical instruments and toys are disinfected by our staff or educators after every classroom session.

You can help us prevent the spread of HFMD and protect your child by:

• Keeping your child at home if he/she is unwell
• Refraining from taking your child to class and consult a doctor immediately if your child has any of the following symptoms:
• fever
• sore throat and runny nose
• mouth ulcers
• rash ( usually blister-like ) on hands, feet and diaper areas
• vomiting, diarrhoea, tiredness and weakness.
• Observing good personal hygiene at all times
  

More New Partners Coming Onboard

We welcome the following new partners to our Kindermusik community:

Spread out a blanket and give baby a massage for a bit, take a break and quietly play a cabasa or other gentle shaker instrument. You can make a simple shaker by using an empty oatmeal box with a few beans or pasta pieces placed inside. Explore other soft sounds - hum and make other soothing noises with your voice.

The exploration should focus baby's attention on you which then allows you to slow the tempo and hum baby to sleep.

The benefits of infant massage have been enjoyed in other cultures for centuries and now Australian and New Zealand parents can learn the techniques to help their babies make the most of the miracle of touch.

Infant massage must be experienced to fully appreciate the benefits for parent and baby. However current research has clearly shown tangible benefits as listed below:

• Improves quality of sleep - by soothing the nervous system.
• Tones digestive system - special techniques relieve wind, constipation and colic.
• Strengthens the immune system through relaxation - stress weakens the immune system.
• Stimulates the circulatory and lymphatic systems.
• Facilitates an infant's handling sensory input with relaxation.
• Raises an infant's stimulation threshold - gradually builds tolerance.
• Touch Relaxation - a conditioned relaxation response, is of immense benefit in situations where the child is anxious.

Fathers can especially benefit from infant massage. It gives them time to connect and interact with their child on a deeper level than day to day contact sometimes provides.

The show's at your house!

Add a new twist to your family's bedtime ritual. Read a favorite story - it can be a classic fairy tale such as Goldilocks and the Three Bears or pick one of your own favorites.

Act out this story with finger puppets that you have, or improvise and draw a quick face on your fingers with a washable marker.

Add a new twist to your family's bedtime ritual. Read a favorite story - it can be a classic fairy tale such as Goldilocks and the Three Bears or pick one of your own favorites. Act out this story with finger puppets that you have, or improvise and draw a quick face on your fingers with a washable marker. Make part of the story a song and you'll have a mini-musical! Ask your child for ideas about how to add sound effects. Add stuffed animals to the mix, too!

Change the names of the characters to your child's name or other familiar family members or friends. Change the ending of a familiar story to keep them on their toes. Encourage the child to guess what happens next or point out familiar shapes, colours, animals or items.

Reading aloud to children is an enjoyable experience for many families. However, storytelling represents an even more powerful, though diminishing, experience in homes across the country. Children love it when adults can summon from within themselves a good story and tell it with verve and gusto. If storytelling is a scary thought for you, follow these simple steps.

First, read the story over to yourself thoroughly, or, if you are making it up, go over each of the details in your mind, so that you know it before you start.  

Second, practice telling the story in front of a mirror or use a tape recorder. If you can get feedback from another adult, do that as well.  

Finally, tell the story to your kids. Use gestures, facial expressions, and as much dramatic flair as you can muster in delivering the story line. If possible, engage the kids in the story as well, providing dialogue they can repeat or gestures they can imitate that are important to the plot.

Scared of the dark?

Bedtime can be a challenge if your child is afraid of the dark. Going on a fun family night time adventure can be the perfect way to help your child feel comfortable.

Go for a moonlight swing at the park, sing songs that are calm and relaxing, or make shadow puppets with her while sitting in her bed.

De-mystify the dark!

Bedtime can be a challenge if your child is afraid of the dark. Going on a fun family nighttime adventure can be the perfect way to help her feel comfortable. Go for a moonlight swing at the park, a stroll on the beach at dusk, sing songs that are calm and relaxing, or make shadow puppets with her while sitting in her bed. Show your child that you enjoy the dark, and she will too.

On a warm night, have a picnic in your backyard and watch the sun set. Take a walk to a familiar corner store for a small treat - somehow, your neighbourhood places become more mysterious and magical at night!

Play a game of spot light in the back yard. Go on a night bush walk and look for all the animals that come out at night.

Closer to home, do some star gazing from your back porch or yard, with a telescope - real or a pretend one using a used up toilet roll or tissue roll.

Count stars or point out star constellations. Even if you don't know them, enjoy making up together what you can see and giving them fun names!

Talk about all the planets, comets, shooting stars and anything you know about space. 

Back inside, turn out the light and turn on the torch as you read the last few pages of a bedtime story.

To ease bedtime fears, give your child an empty spray bottle to use as Monster Repellent - but warn them they only need a little. It can be strong stuff!

A regular routine which gears your child into understanding that bed time is near should help them to feel settled (i.e. teeth, toilet, book, bed). 

Some drops of lavendar on the pillow is another soothing idea.

Discover the night sky

The Moon can be a magical nightlight for a child, but it's also fun to learn more about the moon and the night sky. Did you know that the places on the Moon have names just like places on Earth? The next time the moon is full, look up at the Man in the Moon with your child to see if you can find some of these places with him.

The Moon can be a magical nightlight for a child, but it's also fun to learn more about the moon and the night sky. Did you know that the places on the Moon have names just like places on Earth? The next time the moon is full, look up at the Man in the Moon with your child to see if you can find some of these places with him.

Remind him that, although many of them are called "seas," there's no water on the moon (at least we haven't found it yet!) Use a telescope or a pair of binoculars if you have them.

The Sea of Cold—the top of his head

The Sea of Rains—the eye we see to the left

The Sea of Serenity—the eye we see to the right

The Sea of Tranquility—the bag under the eye we see to the right (The Sea of Tranquility is where the very first moon landing took place on July 20, 1969.)

The craters Copernicus and Brother Maura—his nose

The Sea of Clouds—his mouth

The Sea of Storms—the big bruise next to the eye on the left

Find moonwatching tips at: http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=4741  

Visit your local library to learn more!

Buy or make some glow in the dark star shapes to add to your child's bedroom ceiling as a special "night sky" project.

Visit your local planeterium to learn more about astronomy.

What songs can you sing that have the word "night," "moon," or "star" in them? Add them to your nightly ritual as a way of welcoming the night sky.