Tag: Children of Today

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How Can Adults Guide Children in an AI-Powered World?

Today’s students use AI more than we think.  The most commonly used tools include ChatGPT, Gemini (by Google), Microsoft Copilot, Grammarly, and Quillbot. These platforms can help students write, brainstorm, summarise, and learn faster. When used properly, AI can support thinking, spark creativity, and make learning more engaging.  But like any tool, it depends on how it’s used.  This is where we adults come in.  We must teach our children how to use AI wisely, not blindly.  

So what skills and habits do they need?

First, children must learn to be inquisitive.  Teach them to ask questions, and then ask follow-up questions.  If they get an answer, tell them to ask, “Why is this the answer?” or “Can I look at it another way?”  AI often gives answers confidently, but that doesn’t always mean the answer is correct.

Second, fact-checking is a must.  Students should learn to cross-check answers with trusted sources, especially websites ending in .gov, .edu, or .org.  These are more likely to offer accurate and reliable information.

Third, teach students not to rely on just one source.  One AI answer is not enough.  Encourage children to read from multiple sources, watch interviews with real experts, and even talk to real people when possible.  AI is helpful, but it should not replace human judgment or experience.

Fourth, stop students from being lazy.  A recent study suggests that relying too much on tools like ChatGPT can reduce brain activity linked to critical thinking and memory.  If students let AI do all the thinking, their own thinking muscles weaken.  We must remind them that learning still requires effort.

And finally, remind students to use AI to their advantage – not as a shortcut, but as a support.  Let AI help you get started, give ideas, or explain difficult topics.  But always add your own thoughts, understanding, and voice.

In conclusion, AI is not something we should fear.  It’s something we should learn to manage.  As adults, we need to model curiosity, critical thinking, and responsibility.  With the right guidance, our children can thrive in this AI-powered world, not by following AI blindly, but by thinking smarter, deeper, and more independently.

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How to Guide Children Through Decision-Making Processes

Teaching children how to make decisions is important. It helps them become confident and independent. As they grow older, they will face more choices in life. If they do not learn how to decide wisely, they may rely too much on others. This can lead to poor decisions that may affect their future.

From Small Choices to Big Decisions: How Children Learn to Decide

We can start teaching decision-making even at a young age. For children aged 1 to 3, give them limited choices. For example, ask if they want an apple or a banana. Let them choose between a doll or a bear. Allow them to pick clothes from two or three options. These simple choices help them feel in control. You can also explain things in a simple way, like, “If you don’t wear your jacket, you will feel cold.”

Raising Confident Thinkers: Teaching Kids to Make Good Choices

As they reach school age, children begin to understand reasoning. Now you can explain why one option is better than another. For example, “If you don’t do your homework, you may get low grades.” At this stage, it’s important to praise their thinking, not just the result. Say things like, “That was a smart choice,” or “You thought it through well.” Involve them in small family choices too—what to eat, where to go, or what movie to watch. This gives them practice and builds their decision-making skills.

Building Independence: The Power of Decision-Making in Childhood

Teenagers are ready for bigger decisions. Let them choose their hobbies or school courses. Ask them to think about pros and cons. Guide them to reflect after making a choice. What worked well? What didn’t? What can they do better next time? Help them connect their decisions to their personal values and family values. This helps them stay true to themselves.

Here in MILCHEL, we teach MILCHELians how to make decisions through their daily activities. For example, in Indulge, they plan games and activities together. They start with many suggestions, then discuss and choose what works best for their group’s needs and goals. After the event, they reflect on what decisions worked and what didn’t. Sometimes, they need to make quick choices on the spot—this is even more challenging than when they have time to plan. These experiences help them grow more confident, as they see the results of their decisions. The lessons they learn stay with them as they continue their journey in MILCHEL and in life.

In summary, children can learn how to make good decisions at every age. Start with small choices and grow from there. Use simple cause and effect with young kids. Teach reasoning and involve school-aged children in everyday decisions. With teens, allow bigger choices and deeper thinking. Support them with questions, praise, and reflection. This way, they grow into thoughtful and responsible adults.

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How to Inspire Children to Pursue Their Passions and Interests

While academics are essential in a child’s life, their world should not revolve around school alone. From toddlerhood, children show early signs of interest—whether in sports, music, arts, or other activities beyond books. Others may discover their passions later. No matter when these interests appear, it’s important for us as parents to notice them and offer support in any way we can.

So, what kind of support can we give to inspire them? If your child loves sports, enrol them in lessons. Buy them the proper gear. Watch games together. Introduce them to other kids who share the same passion. This not only boosts their motivation but also builds early connections.

If your child leans toward the arts, find them a good teacher. Provide quality art materials. Bring them to galleries or art fairs. Encourage them to express themselves freely.

For children who love music, hire a vocal coach or music teacher. Let them join singing groups or bands. Play music at home. Let them explore different genres. Talent alone isn’t enough. Children need training, guidance, and exposure to grow.

If their interests are in science, computers, or other fields, do your research. Look for workshops, online courses, clubs, or mentors. There are many ways to nurture their curiosity.

Even if their interests differ from ours, we must accept that our children are not our clones. It’s okay if they choose a different path. What matters is that they show passion and potential. Our job is to encourage and support them.

In summary, supporting children’s passions means being present, investing time, and providing the right tools and exposure. School and personal interests can go hand in hand. Both can help build a more balanced, confident, and well-rounded individual. As they grow, guide them in managing their time and setting priorities. With our support, they can pursue their dreams without losing sight of their education—and become the best versions of themselves.

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The Impact of Extracurricular Activities on Children’s Growth

Extracurricular activities play a vital role in shaping children’s development. These activities encompass various pursuits that extend beyond the classroom, offering opportunities for growth in multiple areas of life.

While there is a distinction between co-curricular and extracurricular activities, for simplicity, we will refer to both as extracurricular activities in this article. Co-curricular activities are closely tied to academic subjects, such as a robotics club that applies STEM concepts. On the other hand, extracurricular activities, like a badminton club, focus on recreation and personal development, independent of academics.

Some students may find extracurricular activities tiring and time-consuming. While this is true, the benefits far outweigh the challenges. In fact, these activities offer numerous advantages that contribute to a child’s overall growth. Below are five key benefits of participating in extracurricular activities:

1. Skill Development

First and foremost, students gain practical skills that are directly related to the activity. For instance, a robotics club teaches coding, problem-solving, and teamwork. Similarly, a music club helps students learn to play instruments and develop discipline through regular practice. These acquired skills often translate to real-world applications, boosting both confidence and competence.

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2. Exploration of Interests

Furthermore, extracurricular activities allow children to explore and discover new hobbies or passions. A child who joins an art club, for example, may uncover a love for painting, while one who participates in a drama club might develop an interest in acting. These interests can evolve into lifelong hobbies, or even future career paths, providing both personal fulfilment and potential opportunities.

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3. Social and Emotional Growth

Additionally, by interacting with peers in group settings, students learn essential social skills such as teamwork, empathy, and communication. For instance, participating in a sports team not only teaches collaboration but also fosters lasting friendships. These social connections are invaluable, helping children develop emotional intelligence and resilience that will serve them throughout their lives.

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4. Time Management

Moreover, balancing schoolwork and extracurricular activities teaches students how to prioritize tasks and manage their time effectively. A student juggling homework and preparing for a debate competition, for example, learns to allocate time wisely. This ability to manage multiple responsibilities is a critical skill that will benefit them in both their academic and professional futures.

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5. Leadership Opportunities

Finally, many extracurricular activities offer valuable leadership roles. A student who serves as the president of a club or the captain of a sports team learns how to guide others, make decisions, and take responsibility. These experiences help to build leadership qualities and foster confidence, preparing students for roles of leadership in adulthood.

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In conclusion, extracurricular activities are absolutely worth the time and effort. They extend beyond academic learning, shaping well-rounded, confident, and capable individuals who are ready to face life’s challenges. So, next time your child expresses reluctance about their extracurricular commitments, you’ll have a deeper understanding of the long-term benefits these activities provide, allowing you to respond with more insight and encouragement.

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Nurturing Young Minds: Tips for Fostering a Love for Reading in Children

A love for reading is one of the greatest gifts you can give a child.  It opens the doors to creativity and empathy.  It also serves as a meaningful way for children to spend their time. It offers an alternative to the lure of social media and online games.  However, it is a challenge to encourage kids to develop a reading habit if they are not inclined to read.

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Here are some tips to help your children discover the joy of reading:

1. Set a Good Example

Children learn best through imitation.  If they see you enjoying books, they’re more likely to do the same.  If you don’t read regularly, now is the perfect time to start.  Let your children see that reading is not just a chore but an enjoyable part of life.

2. Make Books Accessible

Ensure that books and reading materials are within easy reach.  When you go out, make it a point to visit bookstores. Pick up a few simple books that match your child’s current interests or reading level.  Avoid making reading feel unattainable by starting with materials that are easy and engaging for them.

3. Go Beyond the Book

Reading doesn’t end with closing the book. Discuss what your children are reading in a friendly, non-confrontational way.  Talk about the characters, the plot, or any favourite moments.  This helps children process what they read and connects reading with meaningful family conversations.

4. For Milchelian Parents: Leverage the English Reading Program (ERP)

At Milchel, our English Reading Program (ERP) creates the perfect environment to nurture a love for reading.  It incorporates all three tips above – exposure to books, encouraging discussion, and setting a positive example of reading.  Moreover, ERP helps children expand their vocabulary and improve comprehension, giving them a stronger foundation in English. Without ERP, many Milchelians might miss out on the opportunity to engage with diverse reading materials.

Closing Thoughts

Even if your child doesn’t like to read, there are ways to introduce them to the world of reading.  It may take some patience and effort, but the rewards are immeasurable.

As Dr. Seuss said, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

So, start today and guide your child on a journey to become a lifelong reader. It’s a gift they will cherish forever.

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Teaching Perseverance: A Key to Lifelong Success for Children

Perseverance is the ability to keep trying and not give up, even when things are difficult or take a long time to achieve.  It is one of Milchel’s 5 Key traits that we endeavour to teach Milchelians.  Perseverance can be trained in kids, and parents play a crucial role in doing this.  This trait is useful to kids as they study, and later on in their adult life as productive members of the society.

Firstly, parents should model perseverance.  Children learn a lot from what they see from their parents.  You can show perseverance by setting goals and working toward them consistently.  You can also share your experiences to your children and highlight those instances when you overcame a difficulty by being perseverant.   

Secondly, guide your child to set challenging but attainable goals.  This need not be only school-related.  This can be in the chores they do at home, or in their other sports or hobbies.  Help them to break their major tasks into smaller steps so that when they experience satisfaction, they will be more motivated to continue towards their goal. 

Finally, you can teach a child perseverance by providing them with opportunities to face challenges. As parents, it is our automatic response to shelter our kids and protect them from difficulties.  However, allowing them to face some difficulties could be helpful.  When they realise that they can overcome challenges by themselves, they learn to be persistent and their confidence grows.

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It’s important to realise, too, that perseverance is not only applicable to studies.  There are many other areas where a child can learn and practise perseverance.  When kids learn perseverance through these non-academic areas, it will naturally transfer to their academic attitude.

Sports, music, and arts are areas that require consistent practice and effort. Skills develop gradually too, instead of instantly.  The perseverance learned through activities in these areas can easily translate to perseverance in academics.

Household chores are also a good training for kids to learn perseverance.  Tasks involved in the household teach kids the importance of finishing a task, no matter how tedious it may be.  It helps them develop a work ethic that is very similar to what they can apply in their academic work. 

When parents consistently encourage perseverance in multiple aspects of their child’s life, they equip the young with the resilience they need to handle academic challenges. They’ll learn that the process of sticking with something, even when it’s hard, is what ultimately leads to success.

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Managing Kids’ Screen Time

In today’s digital age, screen time has become an integral part of children’s lives. While technology offers valuable learning opportunities, too much screen exposure can have negative consequences. Excessive screen time has been linked to issues like poor sleep, decreased physical activity, and impaired social skills. To ensure children grow up healthy and well-rounded, it is crucial to maintain a balanced approach to screen time and other activities.  Here are some simple strategies to manage kids’ screen time: 

Set Clear Screen Time Limits

When kids think they can use their devices for an unlimited period of time, they will happily do so.  It is important that parents set clear screen time limits for them.   As a general guide, 7 to 8-year-olds may get 1 to 1.5 hours screen time per day.  9 to 10-year-olds may get 1.5 to 2 hours per day.  11 to 12-year-olds may get 2 to 2.5 hours screen time per day.  13 to 14-year-olds may get 2.5 to 3 hours screen time per day.  15-16-year-olds may get 3 to 4 hours per day. 

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Encourage Outdoor Activities

Kids need to get outdoors, get some fresh air, and be exposed to some sun.  Get them away from their gadgets by engaging in outdoor activities.  This can be as simple as walking around or playing sports.  These activities need not be competitive.  You don’t even need to get a sports coach if you don’t want to.  Put on your shoes and spend some outdoor time with your kids.  This will be good not only for them, but also for you. 

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Designate Tech-Free Zones

There are times when outdoor activities are not possible, so there’s no choice but to stay indoors.  When this happens, you can assign tech-free zones at home.  Tech-free zones are places where kids and adults are not allowed to use gadgets.  A common tech-free zone at home is the dining area and the bed.  During meal times, discourage phone usage and encourage healthy conversations among family members.  During bedtime, try not to let kids use their gadgets so they can be ready for a good night’s rest. 

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Maintaining a healthy balance between screen time and other activities is essential for children’s physical, emotional, and social development. By setting clear limits and encouraging outdoor activities parents can help their kids cultivate a well-rounded lifestyle. Creating screen-free spaces will further reinforce the importance of balance. With these strategies in place, children can enjoy the benefits of technology without sacrificing their health and well-being.

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How Doing Charity Work Shapes a Child’s Character?

Here in Milchel, all our activities and programs are anchored on our 7 Milchel Core Values and 5 Key Traits.  One of the major activities we have every year, sometimes even multiple times a year, is doing charity work.  This is guided by our core value COMPASSION. 

We believe that doing charity work does not only help the beneficiaries, but also helps develop our children’s character. 

First of all, when children participate in planning and executing a charity work, they learn empathy.  They get exposed to different life situations and struggles.  Because of that, they understand the challenges that other people face.  They also develop a caring attitude as they see the positive impact of their effort on those in need. 

Next, children who participate in charity learn responsibility and accountability.  In a charity event, children are assigned tasks.  Then, they learn to be responsible for their roles in order to contribute to the project at hand.  They learn to be dependable when they realize that their contributions are crucial to the success of a charity event. 

Finally,  children learn gratitude and appreciation when they participate in a charity event.  Witnessing the challenges faced by others fosters a sense of gratitude for one’s own circumstances and resources.  They also learn to appreciate the efforts of others, as well as see the value of community support and generosity. 

Throughout the years, Milchelians have extended help to different beneficiaries.  They have helped elderly individuals, orphans, and troubled teens.  They’ve also helped animals, impoverished communities, and religious group, among others.  Their contributions have gone beyond financial support to include their time, effort, and energy for worthy causes. We are proud of all Milchelians and hope they continue to embrace this compassionate attitude as they grow and mature.

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Overcoming Communication Barriers with Your Teen

There are times when a child, especially a teen, stops talking to their parents.  Such withdrawal is concerning and very challenging.  Possible reasons for such behaviour are: the teen is seeking independence; the teen is experiencing emotional changes; the teen is experiencing stress and anxiety and could not express it well; there are conflicts and misunderstandings at home; and the teen may be feeling unsupported or judged and thus shuts other people down. 

When this happens, it is understandable for a parent to be worried.  Still, you have to step back and analyse the situation.  There is no one single solution to this problem, so we’ll talk about a three-pronged approach that could possibly work. 

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First, reflect on your communication style.  We always talk about teens needing to have self-awareness, but parents need to have high self-awareness too. Are you harsh and judgmental when you speak to your teen?  Do you focus too much on the negatives and downplay their achievements?  Are you impatient?  There are times when a child’s actions are just their response to their parents’ actions.  Reflect on your communication style and see if you could be part of the problem. 

Next, after reflecting on your communication style, create a safe and open environment for your child.  Ensure that your home is a safe and judgement-free space where your teen will feel comfortable to talk.  Truly allot time listening to your child.  Keep your gadgets away and give your teen your full attention.  Try not to aim so solve the issue immediately.  Sometimes, it may take a while for your child to really open up.  Patience is key. 

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Finally, if all else fails, it may be time to involve a trusted third party.  It could be your parents or your siblings.  Sometimes, teens may find it easier to open up to someone outside the family.  You can get help from your pastor, a therapist, or a counsellor.  Sometimes, a third party can be like a coach who can see your family issues from a different, unbiased perspective.  They may be able to facilitate you and your child patching up your relationship since they will not be taking anyone’s side. 

Remember, the goal is to reconnect with your teenager and create an environment where they feel safe and valued. While the journey may be challenging, patience, self-reflection, and the willingness to seek external support can make a significant difference. By understanding the underlying reasons for their withdrawal and taking proactive steps, you can rebuild your relationship and foster a more open communication with your teen.

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Strengthening English Foundations Through Parental Support

The importance of a strong command of English in a student’s tool kit cannot be overstated.  This is especially so for foreign students studying in Singapore, like Milchelians.  Many parents want to send their children to study overseas to learn English, but the child will face difficulties if they are unready to live in an English speaking society. 

Whether or not the child is already in Singapore, parents can effectively support their children in building a strong English foundation.  Here are some practical tips that parents can try out. 

Create an English-Rich Environment.  Like what we do in Milchel’s English Reading Programme (ERP), we immerse Milchelians in as much English language as possible.  Constant exposure through texts, videos, and music helps students become familiar with the language’s sounds, vocabulary and sentence structure.  Consequently, thus will make learning English more natural and less forced. 

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Encourage Reading.  With as little as 20 minutes a day, students who read gain a competitive advantage over students who do not read at all.  Reading consistently for shorter periods of time (e.g. 20-30 minutes a day) has been found to be better than a once-a-week reading session of 2 hours each.  Space out your child’s reading schedule throughout the week.  It is also very important that you discuss the books with your child.  This practice will help improve their vocabulary and comprehension.  Moreover, this stimulates their imagination and critical thinking.  Remember:  Quality is more important than quantity when it comes to reading. 

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Practice Writing.  Encourage your child to write regularly.  Though it’s no longer popular among children and teens nowadays, keeping a journal is a good practice for students who want to improve their command of the English language.  Slowly, they will become comfortable and gain confidence in their daily journal writing.  Later on, this comfort and confidence will translate in writing more complex texts like essays and reports. 

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It is important to start small when building an environment for your child aimed at building strong English foundation.  “Small and steady, slow and incremental” is the formula you could follow.  It would be unrealistic to expect immense improvement in your child’s English standard in a short amount of time.  Like in any other goals, consistent effort and patience will pay off in helping your child achieve their goals to achieve a good command of the English language.