CULTIVATING HEALTHY EATING HABITS

As parents, our minds are preoccupied with plenty of thoughts daily.  For one, we worry about providing for our family and saving for our kids’ future.  At other times, we focus on their academics and other achievements. We also worry about their character development and how they interact socially with their peers. However, no matter how we try, we may still overlook something in our children’s lives.   One area that is most often overlooked by parents is that of healthy eating. 

Consequences of Poor Eating Habits

If we fail to instill in our kids the habit of eating healthy, they may develop poor eating habits.  These poor eating habits will be very difficult to unlearn as they grow up.  Moreover, they may carry this habit into adulthood.  Problems in nutritional deficiency, obesity, and over-all poor physical health may stem for their poor eating habits.  

Now, how can parents cultivate healthy eating habits in their children?  There are a variety of ways to do it, but we’ll just list down the ones that we think are most doable and will yield best results. 

Educating Children About Nutrition

First, instead of outright controlling our children in what they eat, we can teach them about nutrition by involving them in meal preparation.  If children understand how different food affects their bodies, they may be more willing to eat their greens and skip their fast food.  On the other hand, if we ban them from eating chocolates and burgers, they will still find ways to get their hands of them even if we try to stop them from doing so. 

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Limiting Their Access To Junk Food

Next, for younger kids who only have access to whatever you get for them, it will work if you limit their access to junk food.  When you do your grocery shopping, you may still take some snacks but do this in moderation.  If a child grows up not being used to eating junk food, they may still eat them as they grow up, but they will still prefer healthy food if given the choice. 

Offering Healthy Alternatives

This is where alternatives come in.  Does your child enjoy eating chips?  Opt to buy the unsalted dried vegetable chips,  instead of the salty, oily potato chips. Do they like chocolates?  Go for the dark chocolate with stevia.  Do they like cakes and pastries?  Skip that donut and bake a good carrot cake at home.  Yes, the healthier options may be more expensive, but in this case, it is worth the price tag. 

veggies and carbs
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Creating A Positive Eating Environment

Furthermore, it helps to create a positive eating environment at home.  Make your mealtimes enjoyable by sitting together as a family and having good conversations.  Educate your kids instead of shaming them for their food choices. 

Leading By Example

Finally, like in many instances when we teach our children, leading by example is our best strategy.  Our children copy our behaviour, so whatever their eating habits are, they learned from us.  If they see us eating healthily and enjoying a balanced diet, they are more likely to do the same. 

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Educating children about nutrition by involving them in meal preparation, limiting their access to junk food, offering them healthy alternatives, creating a positive eating environment, and leading by example are just some of the ways how we can cultivate healthy eating habits in our kids.  It’s not yet too late.  You can start guiding them to eat healthily today. 

Instilling Responsible Spending Habits

Responsible spending habits are an essential skill that everyone must have.  As we have observed in Milchel, children have different spending habits.  Some as responsible, but others are excessive in their spending.  One this is for sure – they learned their spending habits from their parents.  Directly or indirectly, it’s the parents who have taught them whatever they know about money and spending. 

If you have young children who are just beginning to understand the concept of money and spending, now’s the good time to teach them responsibly spending.  As they say, it’s best to start them early.  At an early age, children must learn to distinguish between needs and wants.  Do they really need that new toy?  Or do they just want it?  Do they really need that insanely expensive bag?  Or do they just want it?

While we teach our children to think about their needs and wants before making a purchase, we also encourage them to think critically.  Do they really need that top of the line gadget?  Or will a mid-level one do the job?  Is it really wise to spend their pocket money for the month in just one weekend?  The more they practice critical thinking, they easier they will develop a good judgement when it comes so spending their money. 

Finally, let me circle back to the start of this article.  We said that whatever spending habits your children have, they definitely learned it from you.  So the best tip to remember in instilling responsible spending habits is to lead by example.  Whatever our children see from us are incredibly influential in our children’s attitudes towards money and spending.  That being said, reflect on your own spending habits and what your children are learning from you.  If there’s still a room for improvement, enter that room with your child and change your spending habits together. 

Over-all, it all boils down to your family’s values that you pass on to your children.  Once they know the difference between needs and wants and the importance of being reasonable in spending, they can then think critically about their spending habits.  Later, they can make good decisions about the hard-earned money that their parents regularly top-up in their pockets. 

adorable little ethnic children watching funny video on laptop with mother
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What can Milchelians gain from participating in Indulge activities? 

What is Indulge

Indulge is one of the core features of Milchel’s Character Department.  Indulge activities are a venue where Milchelians have fun playing with their friends and at the same time learn the 7 Milchel Core Values and 5 Key Traits.  Aside from these, they also learn other important soft skills that they learn while playing. 

The Committee

At the start of the year,  Milchelians are placed in groups.  Then, the groups are assigned a specific month when they become the committee.  As the committee, they prepare the games for the other Indulge members.  All Indulge members get to be part of the committee that prepares the games.  Games in Indulge can be sports, relay, fun challenges, and the like.  It’s up to the committee what they want to offer the whole Indulge group.

At this stage of Indulge, they learn to communicate with other committee members in planning the games.  They also get to exercise their creativity for they’d have to plan not only a fun activity for all Indulge members but also something where they can all learn from.  They also learn time management because they usually follow a timeline when they have to finish the games planning.  They also learn leadership and followership because they are assigned specific tasks to complete. 

Indulge Day

On the actual Indulge day, the committee and all other Indulge members get together to play the games that was planned by the committee.  Prior to this, they attend a short teaching session to raise their awareness on the 7 Milchel Core Values and 5 Key Traits that they will learn and practice on that specific Indulge Day.  Milchelians learn a different Core Value and Key Trait from each Indulge Day. 

While participating in the games itself, Milchelians get to learn teamwork, problem solving, and adaptability.  They also learn to become a good sport.  They also learn decision making, good communication skills, and getting along with others.

Over-all, Indulge is a great venue for Milchelians to bond with their friends through the games.  At the same time, the learn plenty of soft skills and values that will be beneficial for them as they mature.  

The Importance of Spending Special Occasions for Foreign Students in Singapore

Being away from home can be both an exciting adventure and a stressful experience for international students studying in Singapore.  Getting to celebrate important events with their family back home is one factor that is vital to their general well-being and academic achievement.  For many Milchelians, going home for holidays like Chinese New Year is especially significant.  This post discusses the various reasons why spending special occasions with family is essential for foreign students in Singapore.  Here, we emphasize the positive impact it can have on students’ mental, emotional, and academic well-being.

Cultural Connection

On special occasions, Milchelians especially those from China and Thailand, among others, like to return to their home countries.  For them, it is a way to keep a strong bond with their cultural roots.  Chinese New Year is rooted in cultural traditions, and being home during CNY connects them to their tradition.  This connection provides a sense of identity and belonging, contributing to a more enriching cultural experience.

Emotional Well-being

It might be challenging and isolating to study abroad.  Celebrating joyous occasions with family provides foreign students a much-needed emotional lift.  The comfort and warmth of family gatherings during festivities create a supportive environment that helps reduce stress.  This emotional recharge is crucial for maintaining mental well-being, promoting a healthier mindset, and enhancing the overall study abroad experience.

Motivation and Energy Boost

Special occasions offer a break from the students’ demanding academic schedule.  These let students to recharge and return to their studies with renewed motivation.  The upcoming celebrations serves as a motivational factor, providing students with a goal to strive towards during their studies.  Knowing that a reunion with family is coming can serve as a powerful source of energy.  It helps students overcome academic challenges and navigate the stresses of studying overseas.

Family Support

An important factor in a student’s academic career is family support.  Having special events spent with family promotes encouragement and support.  With the knowledge that their family is at their side, students resume their studies with a stronger support system.  Students who get this support may perform better academically because they feel more safe and confident in pursuing their academic goals.

Creating Lasting Memories

Special occasions are opportunities to create lasting memories with family.  These memories become a source of comfort during challenging times and contribute to a well-rounded overseas-studying experience.  Having shared experiences with family adds a layer of depth to the overall narrative of a student’s time abroad, making it a more fulfilling and memorable chapter in their life.

The importance of Milchelians and other foreign students spending special occasions with their families, for example during Chinese New Year, cannot be overstated.  Beyond the cultural connection, it provides emotional well-being, motivation, family support, and the creation of lasting memories.  These factors contribute to a more positive and enriching study abroad experience.  They also help students navigate the challenges of being in a foreign land and empower them to succeed. 

Of course, we have activities planned for Milchelians who are staying in Singapore during the Chinese New Year period.  Our dear kids will not be missing out on the festivities.  From gatherings, snacks, and games, we make sure that they feel the festive spirit here in Milchel, their second home. 

Beyond Goal Setting: Nurturing Continued Success in Your Child’s Education

As Milchelians set their academic goals, the journey doesn’t end there; it’s just the beginning.  We – parents, guardians, and coordinators – play a crucial role in the follow-up.  This is to ensure that the energy gained from goal setting translates into on-going success.

The Importance of Follow-Up

After the initial excitement of goal setting, it’s important to maintain a constant and supportive role in Milchelians’ educational journey.  Regular check-ins and discussions about progress create an environment where goals aren’t just set but are actively pursued.

Celebrating Achievements

Recognizing and celebrating small victories is key to maintaining motivation.  Whether it’s improved grades, completion of a challenging project, or personal growth, acknowledging achievements promotes a positive mindset in children.  This also reinforces the value of setting and attaining goals.

Adjusting Goals

As Milchelians progress, goals may need adjustment.  We must encourage open communication about challenges and aspirations.  Furthermore, we must be ready to listen to what our children say.  More importantly, we must be willing to let our children adjust their goals to align with their interests and capabilities.  This flexibility ensures that goal setting remains a dynamic and meaningful process.

Identifying Challenges

Regular follow-up allows us, guiding adults, to identify any challenges Milchelian learners may be facing.  Whether it’s difficulties with specific subjects, time management issues, or personal struggles, addressing challenges promptly ensures timely support and intervention.

Encouraging Reflection

Engaging Milchelians in reflective talks about their goals is also crucial.  Encouraging them to assess what worked well and what could be improved is a helpful strategy.  Moreover, guiding our children and teens how they can apply these insights to future goals is key.  This reflective process instils a habit of self-awareness and continuous improvement.

The Consequences of Neglecting Follow-Up

While goal setting is a powerful tool, neglecting follow-up can lessen its impact.  Without on-going support and encouragement, goals may lose their significance, and Milchelians’ initial energy may decline.  This could result in a lack of motivation, direction, and a missed opportunity for continuous growth.

Conclusion: A Lifelong Journey of Success

In conclusion, goal setting is not a one-time event, but a continuous journey.  By actively following up, parents, guardians, and coordinators contribute to the development of skills such as awareness, perseverance, adaptability, and self-reflection.  This on-going support ensures that the benefits of goal setting extend beyond the initial stage.  By doing so, we are guiding Milchelians towards a lifelong journey of academic success and personal growth.

Nurturing Success: The Role of Goal Setting in Your Child’s Education

As Milchelians start their academic journey this year, goal setting will be a valuable tool to ease their ride.  Some of them will be navigating primary school, facing challenges in secondary education, or stepping into tertiary studies.  Either way, guiding them to set goals can greatly affect their educational experience.

Why Goals Matter

First, consider goals as the roadmap guiding every Milchelian’s academic journey.  They provide direction, purpose, and a sense of achievement.  By breaking down tasks into smaller, manageable steps, goals teach effective time management—an important skill for academic success.  They also contribute to personal growth by teaching self-awareness, perseverance, confidence, and a positive mindset.

For Primary Schoolers

While young, Milchelians can benefit from simple goals such as completing homework or reading a specific number of pages.  These initial experiences lay the foundation for discipline and responsibility.  Parents, guardians, and coordinators play a crucial role in guiding Milchelians set achievable yet challenging goals.  Additionally, we offer gentle but firm guidance as they learn to balance academics and play.

Navigating High School Challenges

Furthermore, as Milchelians transition to secondary school, the complexity of goals changes.  Academic achievements, participation in CCAs, and personal development become key areas for goal setting.  Moreover, it is essential to assist teenagers in identifying realistic goals and encouraging them to explore interests and passions.  Goals act as motivators, empowering adolescents to face the sometimes-overwhelming journey of secondary school with purpose and determination.

Preparing for Tertiary Education

Finally, even as Milchelians approach tertiary level, goal setting remains relevant.  Academic and career-oriented goals become crucial.  The parental role shifts to that of a mentor, guiding them in articulating aspirations, planning for the future, and making informed decisions about their educational and professional paths.

The Consequences of Goal Neglect

The absence of the habit of goal setting has serious consequences.  Milchelians may face challenges such as a lack of direction, procrastination, and difficulty managing time effectively.  We, parents, guardians, and coordinators, must understand and avoid these potential outcomes.  This understanding empowers us to guide our children towards a more purposeful and fulfilling educational experience.

Conclusion: A Collaborative Journey

In essence, goal setting is a collaborative effort between parents and children.  It’s about developing a mindset that embraces challenges, values personal growth, and strives for success.  For Milchelians, this collaborative journey includes parents, guardians, and coordinators.  Actively engaging in the goal-setting process occurs not only at the beginning of the year.   What’s more, it also happens at the start of every term when we also review past-term student performance.  By being actively involved, parents and guardians not only support academic goals but also equip Milchelians with essential life skills for the future.  Let’s empower the next generation for a journey filled with achievements and meaningful growth.

Tips for Parents on Supporting Children in the Digital Era

In our previous article, we talked about the importance of educating children about responsible and ethical online behaviour.  In the current one, we will talk about how parents can support their children in this vastly digital era. 

As parents navigate the challenges of raising children in the digital era, there are several strategies they can employ to support their children in developing responsible online behaviour.

Strategies in developing responsible online behaviour

First and foremost, teach your kids about cybersecurity.  Instruct your kids on the value of having strong, one-of-a-kind passwords and the possible dangers of communicating with strangers online. Establish the practice of changing passwords on a regular basis and spotting phishing attempts.

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Second, parents should lead by example at all times. Children learn up knowledge from seeing their parents. Act responsibly when using technology by keeping yourself clean online, being considerate of others’ privacy, and using it mindfully.

Maintaining open communication channels is another useful strategy.  It’s essential to have open channels of communication with your kids.  Urge them to open up about their experiences—both good and bad—on the internet without worrying about being judged.  By doing this, you can build their trust and effectively lead them.

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Additionally, establish boundaries for internet usage.  Provide explicit rules about acceptable websites, screen time, and sharing personal information.  Setting clear limits enables kids to learn the value of moderation and responsible use of technology. 

Lastly, parents need to be informed at all times.  The digital world is ever-changing, with new platforms and trends appearing all the time. To effectively guide your children, stay up to date on the most recent advancements in technology, social media, and online safety.

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Of course, above is not an exhaustive list.  It is just a set of simple steps that you can take to help your child. Continuous and consistent guidance to your children strongly anchored on the family’s shared values will be crucial in raising responsible digital citizens out of them.  Ultimately, responsible and ethical online behaviour that they will learn from us will benefit them throughout their lives.  

Educating Children About Responsible and Ethical Online Behaviour

Children are growing up surrounded by technology.  In the quickly changing digital age, they incorporate the virtual world into their everyday lives.  As they navigate the world of the internet, parents now have a crucial job.  Parents should work on establishing in children a foundation of responsible and ethical online behaviour.  Moreover, they should aim to cultivate online behaviours that prioritise empathy, respect, and critical thinking.  This is on top of imparting them with basic technological abilities.

Teaching children about responsible online behaviour is crucial for several reasons. 

First of all, it gives children the means to defend against internet dangers.  This includes misinformation, scams, and cyberbullying.  It is crucial to educate kids to be critical online content consumers when knowledge and unwanted behaviours are plenty online.

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Children must be aware of the repercussions of sharing personal information online.  This is so that they can make informed judgments about their online presence.  Critical thinking skills are just as important as those taught in regular classrooms.  They allow one to separate facts from false information and assess material critically. Children can also identify trustworthy and questionable sources through critical thinking.  We protect kids from the dangers of false information through digital literacy.

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Furthermore, fostering a culture of compassion and inclusivity combats online negativity by promoting ethical principles.  Nowadays, hate spreads so easily behind the computer screens.  Raising a generation of kind and compassionate digital citizens is crucial to building a society that values truthfulness and responsible online and offline.

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It is crucial to encourage ethical online behaviour in today’s connected world, even beyond matters of personal well-being.  It helps to build a worldwide online community in which people value one another’s rights, privacy, and viewpoints.  Teaching kids about responsible online behaviour is an investment.  Truly, good digital citizenship is the key to building a safer and more morally-responsible digital environment. 

Bridging Distances, Building Bonds: The Vital Role of Parental Connection in a Students’ Study-Abroad Journey

The journey of studying overseas is an exciting adventure for children and teens alike.  With this excitement comes some worries and fears over not having their parents within arms’ reach.  In the traditional setting, a healthy, constant communication is important between parents and children.  This becomes even more essential when the children are studying overseas. 

Throughout the years, we in MILCHEL have seen the positive impacts of constant communication between parents and children.  Time and again, we have also witnessed the devastating impacts on children and teens of unhealthy communication habits with parents. 

In this article, we will share some of the significance of a constant, healthy interaction between parents and children.

Emotional Support

A regular interaction between parents and children gives the latter a sense of comfort knowing that their parents are only a call away.  Especially in the early days of the move overseas, parents must provide emotional support to their children through regular messaging and calls.  This does not mean, however, that parents should be on the phone with their children 24/7.  It just means that children must know that they can reach their parents in case they need them.  Knowing that their parents are just a click away helps children face the emotional challenges of studying in a foreign country. 

Building Trust

Trust is a crucial component of the parent-child relationship.  With healthy and quality interactions between parents and children, a supportive environment can be nurtured.  With a supportive environment, children will be more comfortable sharing their thoughts and experiences with their parents.  Conversely, parents will be more confident that their children are living by the teachings and guidance they have imparted to them.  This mutual sense of comfort further strengthens trust and makes the parent-child relationship thrive despite the distance between them.

 

Celebrating Achievements

Finally, interactions between parents and children not only revolve around supporting and guiding.  Many times, when children share their successes with their parents, this celebration of achievements increases the parents’ pride of their children.  At the same time, when children feel their parents’ pride, they become even more motivated to strive in their overseas studies journey. 

In conclusion, there’s no doubt that healthy communication between parents and children during the latter’s overseas journey is crucial.  This is beneficial to the children who are striving for their academic dreams overseas.  At the same time, this has positive impacts on the parents who are left at home and supporting their children from the side lines.  The emotional support, building of trust, and celebrating victories, though done from a distance, make the whole journey more fulfilling. 

Fostering a Strong Partnership with Hostel Caregivers and Guardians

When a child resides away from home under the care of guardians, it’s essential that parents and guardians establish a harmonious and aligned partnership. As guardians responsible for the children in our hostel, we actively collaborate with parents. We trust that parents can equally engage in this collaborative journey. Here, we provide parents with practical tips for effectively working with guardians to support their child’s well-being.

Shared Goals and Expectations

To begin, parents and guardians should jointly establish shared goals for the child. At the outset of the child’s stay, parents should communicate their goals for their child’s development to the guardians. While the child is under the guardians’ care, they must guide the child to fulfil these mutually agreed-upon goals and expectations. Additionally, it’s crucial to prioritize the prevention of conflicts and misunderstandings among all parties.  Working together toward a common objective must be the norm. Parents should select guardians whose values align with their own. It’s important to remember that parents entrust their child’s well-being and future to the guardians.  Thus, they must place trust in the guardians’ judgment and principles to nurture their child.

Open and Regular Communication

Secondly, in addition to defining shared goals and expectations, parents should maintain ongoing communication with the guardians. In Milchel, we provide biannual reports on the child’s well-being and progress to parents. These reports supplement the insights gained from Parent-Teacher meetings, which we participate in on their behalf. Therefore, we expect parents to dedicate time to review these reports and respond with their comments. Communication channels should remain open through email, phone calls, and messaging apps. This ensures transparency among all parties and keeps parents well-informed about the developments in their child’s life.

Feedback and Constructive Conflict Resolution

Lastly, parents should be open to feedback from guardians, and vice versa. All communications and decisions should be guided by a shared objective: the child’s well-being. Parents should adopt a constructive approach to conflict resolution should disagreements arise. We emphasise the value of maintaining mutual respect and professionalism throughout these interactions.

The saying goes, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Milchel is honoured to be a part of the village that nurtures and shapes your child. We are deeply appreciative of the trust parents place in us, and we look forward to continuing this partnership with parents and families. Our collective efforts are dedicated to the betterment of every Milchelian.