We all want our children to learn the right skills in order to become successful in their later lives, but all books and no play is definitely not the way to go. Studies have shown that organised sports and being a part of a team translate into boardroom success. Why? It’s simple; they will learn invaluable qualities of Excellence, Respect and Friendship, and these will take them a long, long way.

To achieve Excellence, students need to get familiar with a well-balanced routine that encompasses sports and work. Sports instils the importance of discipline and self-confidence through the physical, mental and emotional training that they undergo. We also know that from the FORBES 500 lists, there is a high correlation between sporting ability and academic achievement, with many top CEOs and business leaders being part of their school sports teams from a young age. For those with young children, it is also proven that children involved in sports obtain better grades and have a higher probability of graduating from school.

As the saying goes, there is no “I” in team, and participating in sports has a unique way of fostering long-standing friendships and great intercommunication skills;—soft skills that are essential for future success. With increased opportunities for social interaction and bonding, children will learn superior verbal and non-verbal skills, and the intricacies of respecting others values and beliefs. Working with team mates toward a common goal (winning)allows sportsmen to truly hone this “language” while understanding the true meaning of teamwork.

Sports is a vital part of our DNA at the Australian International School (AIS). To help contribute to our students physical well-being, we have in place a well-developed physical activities program that is complemented by the student team, the Sharks. No matter which field of sport your kid has an interest in, from badminton to volleyball, AIS Sharks team coaches are part of the dedicated sports department will support athletic development. The focus they place is on the journey of learning, and not winning itself.

Our students also have the chance to participate in one of the most comprehensive international sports programs in Singapore, which will see the Sharks teams across all sports participate in global tournaments. Successful tours have seen our teams travel to the UK and Thailand and in the coming year Spain and South America. These tournaments promote cultural learning and interaction with the players not only playing competitive sports, but also participating in classrooms at the host schools to maintain academic as well as athletic performance.

Sporty kids make for happier kids, and happy kids in turn create happy parents! As we prepare our children to enter the increasingly competitive global circuit, it is important to balance mental, physical and psychological health, apart from focusing on the accomplishments of your child. Justin Teves, Sports Director at AIS says “Our sports program is dedicated to bringing out the potential in our players. Our dedicated team of coaches are specialists in their fields and we are constantly evolving our approach to give our students a truly global perspective on sports and athletics with the training and opportunities to match. This helps them achieve more both in the classroom and on the pitch, giving them an advantage as they progress through school and beyond.”

To learn more head to Australian International School’s next Open House event on Thursday, 14 August 2014. To RSVP call +65 6517 0247 or email admissions@ais.com.sg.

Australian International School
1 Lorong Chuan, Singapore 556818
Tel: (+65) 6883 5155
www.ais.com.sg

Read more about AIS.

Avondale Grammar School’s Assistant Principal and Head of Preschool and Junior School, Maria Lindblom, shares some tips to keep your child fit and alert at school.

The importance of sleep and exercise for children
As most parents are aware sleep and exercise both play an important part in the well-being of growing children. Physically active children tend to be better organised and more motivated, and well-rested children are better equipped to learn and therefore achieve more academically. Maria Lindblom, Assistant Principal and Head of Preschool and Junior School at Avondale Grammar School, shares what impact sleep and exercise can have in the classroom.

Why is sleep important?
Children have busy days at school, attending afterschool activities, completing homework and playing with friends. By the end of the day, their growing bodies need a break. Sleep allows them to rest and get ready for the next day.

Not only is sleep necessary for your body, but it is important for the brain too. Sleep is vital for brain development and function as it affects behavior, memory, mood and learning. Not enough sleep can lead to behavior problems, decreased attentiveness and short-term memory and inconsistent performance. Children who are tired during the school day may have difficulties to stay focused, listen to and follow instructions, think and therefore learn.

How much sleep do children need?
All children are different and some children need more sleep than others. As a guide the University of Michigan Health System recommends infants require between 13 and 16 hours of sleep. While toddlers need about 12 to 13 hours and children between 5 and 11 years of age require 10 to 11 hours.
Researchers have found that children who have a regular bedtime performed better at languages, reading and maths than those who went to bed at different times. Scientists at SRI International, a research institute based in California, found the earlier a child went to bed, the better they performed at school.

Why is exercise important?
Children who get plenty of exercise have a better immune system which keeps them from getting sick. Physically active children tend to have stronger bones and muscles compared children who have an inactive lifestyle.

Encouraging your child to be physically active will provide them many benefits including:

Emotional well-being meaning that they feel happy, relaxed and sleep better
Improved concentration skills and ability to manage stress
Developing gross motor and fine motor skills and coordination
Building social skills and making new friends as they participate in team sports.
According to the National Association for Sports and Physical Activity School age children need at least one hour of moderate to vigorous exercise daily, as well as several periods of physical activity of 15 minutes or more throughout the day.

To help keep your child fit and alert for school here are some simple tips that parents can follow:
Eat a variety of healthy foods

• Drink milk and plenty of water
• Exercise and stay active
• Get plenty of sleep
• Limit screen time (such as television and other digital devices)

For more information please visit www.avondale.edu.sg

“It is widely agreed that children should be taught how to think, not what to think, in order to be successful twenty-first century learners and citizens. Avondale Grammar School’s Assistant Principal and Head of Primary and Middle School, Charlotte Humphrey, shares with parents useful tips to help teach children how to think?”

1. Encourage patience and persistence, with so much information and misinformation available online, student’s need to understand the importance of ‘fact’ checking. As a parent, model the habit of asking questions such as “How do we know this is true?” and “Why should I agree with this opinion?”
2. Check the reliability of a website or reference book. Ask: Does the URL have an official suffix such as .govt, .org or .edu? When was the information posted or published? Are the sources stated? Is the spelling and grammar correct? Is the author an expert? How can you tell? Is the information the same or different on other trusted sites?
3. Copying and pasting information is not thinking, and students need to know that they will never gain good grades by doing this. They must be able to demonstrate understanding, ask them: Can you summarise what you’ve just read (i.e. break it down into the main ideas and a few simple examples)? Can you explain it in your own words? Get them to practise this skill aloud.
4. Ask a mixture of factual and inferential questions. Watch, read or listen to a news report with your child, or read a thought-provoking story together. (Before you start, think about the child’s prior knowledge of the topic and choose something that is neither too hard nor too easy, because the brain is stimulated by challenge, but inhibited by threat.) Talk about what you’ve read. Start with the facts: Who did what? Where? When? How? Then move to higher order thinking skills and ask Why? How can you tell? On other occasions, try asking the inferential questions before the factual ones. Some children prefer to start with ‘the big picture’. Beware of asking leading questions, such as “He shouldn’t have done that, should he?”
5. Encourage your child to wonder, and to ask more questions, for example, What if…? Find out whether they can make connectionsbetween the text and people, places and events from other stories or real life. Ask: Did this remind you of anything else you’ve seen, heard or read? Why?
6. Some children demonstrate their thinking best through creative activities. Active, artistic children can be encouraged to share their knowledge and ideas with you through drawings, models, dance and role play. Any opportunity for enthusiastic review and reflection is worthwhile. Ask: Can you draw that? Can you show me? Can you act it out? Always include plenty of talk.
7. Children who become good thinkers learn to look at information from different perspectives. Try using the strategy of ‘Thinking like a/the…’ this can open minds, develop empathy and discourage children from generalising or rushing to judgement about others. For example, in the fairy tale Cinderella, suggest your child tries thinking like the sisters, rather than thinking like Cinderella. Might there be reasons why the sisters behave the way they do? Your child may still reach the conclusion that the sisters are ‘the baddies’, but along the way you are likely to have a very worthwhile discussion about the wider issue of how people should treat each other.

For more information please visit www.avondale.edu.sg/thinking-thinking

Eighty-eight children from White Lodge Kindergartens descended upon Jamie’s Italian VivoCity on Friday 16 May to celebrate Food Revolution Day. For those unfamiliar with the campaign, Food Revolution Day is celebrity chef Jamie Oliver’s day of global action to keep cooking skills alive – this year the focus is getting kids excited about food.

Children today are the first generation predicted to live shorter lives than their parents, with obesity and diet-related illnesses rising at an alarming rate, often due to overreliance on unhealthy convenience foods. There’s never a better time to make our kids more food smart! By educating children about fresh food in an engaging way on Food Revolution Day, Jamie and his team hope that they will have a better understanding of where food comes from, how to cook it and how it affects their bodies – thus more likely to make better choices and lead healthier lives.

The kids, all aged between five and six years old, had a fun-filled, educational morning as the team at Jamie’s Italian VivoCity led them in food-related activities. They explored the beautiful textures, aromas and taste of fresh herbs at the restaurant’s terrace, guided by Rob, an urban farmer from Edible Gardens. They played games and discovered fresh vegetables of the most vibrant colours, with varieties ranging from red and yellow beetroots to fennel and celeriac. They learnt what goes into making a classic Pomodoro sauce, tasting gorgeous heirloom tomatoes, freshly grated parmesan and homemade focaccia. Jamie’s Italian’s Head Chef even demonstrated how easy it is to make fresh pasta!

At the end of the day the children brought home a pack of fresh pasta, together with a Jamie recipe card, so they can cook with their parents. After all, the aim for the day is to get kids around the world enthusiastic about cooking good food from scratch. Jamie himself broke the record for the biggest ever cooking lesson, streamed live to classrooms around the world. A total of 119 countries took part in Food Revolution Day this year, and Singapore is proud to be a part of it.

Iswandy Amir, General Manager of Jamie’s Italian VivoCity, said: “We had so much fun celebrating Food Revolution Day with the kids from White Lodge Kindergartens, and we hope that this is the start of bigger things to come for the campaign in Singapore.” Jamie’s Italian Singapore also hopes to continue working with kids and the community – the team has also worked with Tanglin Trust School, donated their time for a charity dinner at Assumption Pathway School, and has upcoming events with Nanyang Polytechnic and Westview Primary School.