THE STAR, TUESDAY 7 MAY 2019

BRIGHT KIDS
2 Bright Kids
By SRIMAYEE SEN SARMA
MOVIES about teacher-student
relationships never fail to touch
our hearts, be it the classic To Sir,
with Love or inspirational ones
such as Dead Poets Society and
Mona Lisa Smile. Each movie may
vary plotwise, but they all have a
common theme – the passion
teachers have in helping their
students learn.
As these movies illustrate,
passionate teachers not only
educate students academically, but
also encourage them to be better
people and show them a path
towards a better future. It is these
teachers who recognise that
education is as much about
preparing students to lead
meaningful, fulfilling lives as it is
getting top grades.
There are numerous stories
about people who have had their
lives made better by dedicated
teachers. In 2016, a picture of a
professor holding her student’s
baby while teaching went viral on
social media. Dr Josie Ryan, who
teaches mathematics at Lander
University in the United States,
held her student’s baby while
teaching so the student could
better concentrate on her lecture.
In another instance that went
viral, Richard Appiah Akoto, a
schoolteacher in Ghana, drew a
detailed representation of
Microsoft Word features on a
blackboard during an information
and communications technology
class because the school did not
have computers.
Teachers like these, who put
their students before themselves,
reinforce people’s faith in this
selfless profession. Teaching is not
so much a profession as it is a
calling. To become a good teacher,
one needs to focus not only on
imparting knowledge, but also on
doing it in a way that ignites a
desire in the students to learn.
Motivating learners
Anyone can find information
online and convey that knowledge
to others. Teaching is not a one-
way street, however, and a true
teacher cannot just transfer
information to their students and
hope they understand.
Effective teaching involves
getting to know your students by
communicating with them,
understanding their needs and
modifying your teaching methods
accordingly, because every student
is different. For instance, some
students are fast learners and need
minimal explanation to understand
a subject, while some need more
detailed explanations to
understand the same material.
One way to get through to
children in a more constructive
way is to involve them in practical
challenges related to the
curriculum, since it has been
proved time and again that
children learn better through
actions. For example, Raee Yoh, an
English teacher from Sarawak,
turned his classroom into a murder
scene and his students into
detectives to help them learn how
to draw inferences and encourage
them to communicate in English.
These are the types of innovative
ideas that will kindle a love and
passion for learning in students.
Influencing young lives
What is more important in
educating children? Is it
technology, the classroom
environment, proper study
materials or teachers? Instead of
spending millions on teaching
infrastructure, would it help more
if we lowered the teacher-to-child
Fuelling the desire to learn
Teaching is not so
much a profession as it
is a calling. To become
a good teacher, one
needs to focus not
only on imparting
knowledge, but also on
doing it in a way that
ignites a desire in the
students to learn.
ratio by hiring more enthusiastic,
passionate teachers? Because the
truth remains that technology and
infrastructure do not teach,
teachers do.
Romizal Amir Rosdi, a
mathematics teacher at SMK Seri
Setia in Kuantan, uses green
technology and visualisers as
teaching aids to spark interest in
numbers and mathematics in his
students. He is also known as the
YouTube teacher because he
uploads lessons on YouTube for
reference outside classroom.
Romizal’s efforts were
recognised when he won last year’s
Anugerah Guru Inspirasi, an
initiative by McDonald’s Malaysia
and the Education Ministry to
highlight educators who go above
and beyond the call of duty.
For S. Sivasamy Sundara Morthi,
another winner and a teacher at
SMK Pantai Sepang Putra in
Selangor, teaching comes before
his family and he spends most of
his time with his students. He
offers free tuition and pays their
tuition fees for the subjects he
cannot teach.
“I don’t think I am doing
anything extra since it is the duty
of a teacher to see that all his
students are learning and help if a
student is facing difficulty,” he
emphasises.
Sivasamy also teaches dance and
kabaddi to his students and takes
them for international shows and
games, all paid for from his own
pocket.
These and other examples prove
that a teacher’s educational
qualifications and experience
should be taken into account, but
passion and dedication are equally
important.
Passion vs profession
In his book The Passionate
Teacher: A Practical Guide, Robert
Fried says, “To be a passionate
teacher is to be someone in love
with a field of knowledge, deeply
stirred by issues and ideas that
challenge our world, drawn to the
dilemmas and potentials of the
young people who come into class
each day – or captivated by these.”
So, do we have a substantial
number of such passionate
teachers in Malaysia?
Azmir Jaafar, managing director
and local operating partner of
McDonald’s Malaysia says, “This is
the third year running for the
Anugerah Guru Inspirasi award.
The first two editions of this award
have brought to light the fact that
there are many teachers in
Malaysia who go the extra mile in
facilitating the learning process for
our future generation and are
working relentlessly to make a
lasting positive impact on their
students’ lives every single day.”
Unfortunately, not all teachers go
the extra mile to ensure every
student gets equal opportunity to
thrive, but the blame cannot be
placed entirely on teachers. The
pressure of completing the syllabus
within a set time frame and
managing written examinations, a
common requirement in not only
public schools but international
elementary programmes, have
transformed learning into a
competition.
According to Fried, the subject
matter covered by most schools is
vast, allowing students only a
superficial glimpse into the
discipline instead of in-depth
knowledge. It would be better for
the children if teachers emphasised
more on the depth than the
breadth of the subject.
Nevertheless, against all odds, if
someone is driven by the passion
of teaching, she would find a way
to ensure that none of her students
are left behind in their quest to
acquire knowledge.
Teachers can start by identifying
the strengths and weaknesses of
each student, listing them down
and planning their teaching
THE STAR, TUESDAY 7 MAY 2019
materials and methodology
accordingly.
With that said, we too must
acknowledge the work of
teachers and teach our children
to do the same because this is one
profession that deserves respect.
Azmir believes teachers play
an important role in the
community, not only by
imparting knowledge but by
shaping the minds of our future
generations, and their
commitment has an enormous
ripple effect on society.
“Teachers are at the centre of
children’s education, most times
the source of our lifelong
knowledge as well as the people
responsible for the ways we
respond to learning. This is also
something that we want to
remind our fellow Malaysians of
with Anugerah Guru Inspirasi,”
says Azmir.
Such initiatives will hopefully
inspire more teachers to take the
responsibility of not just teaching
the syllabus but actively
participating in a child’s well-
being. It will also bring to light
the big impact this profession can
have on the lives of children and
hopefully make everyone
appreciate teachers more.
THE STAR, TUESDAY 7 MAY 2019
EDUCATOR'S DESK
Sculpting leaders of the future
IN 1501, the sculptor Michelangelo was
confronted with a mighty block of Carrara
marble just over five metres in height,
abandoned in the courtyard of the Duomo di
Firenze. The huge stone lay supine, bearing
the chisel marks of two previous sculptors
who had tried and failed to cut a figure from
it. Unlike his predecessors, Michelangelo was
able to infuse this inanimate block with life
and, in the process, produced David, one of
the greatest statues of all time.
A child’s journey through education could
be equated to this block of Carrara marble.
Children are raw materials who require a
skilled educator to bring out the best in
them. Of course, children are not inanimate
objects; they are brimming with life and
should play a central part in chiselling out
their own future. The role of the educator is
to nurture and guide, not to cut away or
reduce.
Good educators provide rich and wide-
ranging experiences as part of this process.
They help children work out what they are
passionate about and ensure the children are
fully equipped to achieve their dreams. I
believe this is best achieved through a
holistic approach to education.
At the core of holistic education sits the
integration of multiple layers of purposeful
experiences that help children break away
from single-track thought. It encourages
students to explore beyond their comfort
zones and instils a sense of inquisitiveness,
creating students who are versatile and able
to dabble in different areas and fields. It also
helps the children better understand their
passions and eventually make informed
decisions on the kind of life they want to
lead.
Of course, academic success is important.
But on its own, it is limiting. We live in an
The holistic approach provided at KTJ helps develop students who possess a sense of social
responsibility and global mindedness.
age where so many students have good
grades. What will set students apart is what
else they can offer. What experiences have
they had beyond the classroom? What soft
skills have they developed? Are they
emotionally intelligent? At Kolej Tuanku
Ja’afar (KTJ), we aim to always ask: “What
else?”
It is encouraging to see the Malaysian
education landscape shifting with the tide of
holistic education alongside other developing
nations. Its education system now fulfils the
requirement of helping students to develop
in the intellectual, spiritual, emotional and
physical spheres, as prescribed by the
Malaysian Education Blueprint 2013-2025.
As a British international school rooted in
Malaysia since 1991, KTJ is aligned with this
vision and committed to ensuring its
students are well equipped for the
challenges of the 21st century and beyond.
All our students are expected to take part in
extracurricular activities and sports and
encouraged to take a lead and play an active
role in our community as well.
A good example of this is one of our Upper
Sixth students, Natalie. Last year, Natalie
approached me about supporting a local
charity that was running a soup kitchen.
Since then, a number of our staff have
worked with Natalie and other students to
develop her ideas. This has led to the school
Bright Kids 3
Dr Glenn Moodie
Principal of KTJ
forming a firm link with the charity and
supporting it in various manners. Our
students have taken the lead in this, raising
funds and contributing to the running of
the charity. Among other things, they have
given up their time on weekends to chop
vegetables for the soup kitchen and teach
English to refugees from Myanmar.
I think this is a great example of the sort
of education we should provide. This
project has done so much to develop the
soft skills of our students and help them
understand their responsibilities as global
citizens.
Natalie is off to University of Michigan
in September to continue her education.
However, I have no doubt that she will
eventually return to Malaysia and be
among those who make a significant and
positive impact on the future of Malaysia.
It is our holistic approach to education that
has made this possible.
n For more information on KTJ, call 06-758
2995 or email registrar@ktj.edu.my
4 Bright Kids THE STAR, TUESDAY 7 MAY 2019

Growing importance of the arts

ALTHOUGH the study and involvement of
the arts in the Malaysian education system is
evident, it is not an area that is emphasised
as much as mathematics, science and
technology.
However, there is plenty of research that
suggests the arts can be beneficial for child
and youth development, and that children
can grow in many areas when exposed to
activities such as drama, music, poetry and
visual arts.
There are three main benefits from having
the arts incorporated into children’s lives.

Improve information absorption

There are certain skills that allow a person
to gather knowledge more effectively. Once
gained, these skills can be applied to a range
of different academic subjects.
Student engagement in art-related subjects
has shown to help sharpen these skills,
which can then be used in the study of other
subjects in school and in the continuous
learning journey as children progress into
adulthood.
A popular learning skill associated with
the study of the arts is creativity. This skill is
central to the arts when it comes to activities
such as painting from imagination or
improvising on the piano, but it is also an
asset that can be applied in scientific or
technological experimentation.
Creativity allows one to consider
alternative ways of approaching a problem,
which also leads to the development of
another skill: problem-solving.
Problems crop up in art subjects as much
as in mathematics, but the point is that the
arts can help students explore possibilities
that are not always straightforward.
Just think of a student who is asked to
compose a piece of art, but can only produce
one that is made of recyclable materials.
How many ways can the student approach
this problem?
Another skill that children can improve
from studying the arts is motor
development. Young children are still
developing gross and fine motor skills, and
can benefit from activities that involve lots
of movement.
Sketching with a pencil, playing the guitar
and sculpting a ball of play dough are all
tasks that call for the use of one’s fingers,
which in turn can hone a child’s fine motor
skills. On the other hand, activities such as
dance and drama that involve full-body
motions can develop children’s gross motor
skills.
Besides that, the arts can help teach
children the all-important art of
communication. The ability to communicate
with other people is core to almost all
learning and is fundamental to daily life.
If a child cannot communicate, she will
have trouble understanding the knowledge
that is being exchanged.
When dealing with the arts, children are
usually engaged in working with one
another and trying to express their ideas or
Art programmes usually involve teamwork, so rest assured that your child will gain communication skills and learn to navigate social
interactions appropriately.
Kids get to explore endless possibilities when exposed to the arts. In addition, activities such as painting can help them develop patience and
perseverance.
feelings through different mediums.
Art is a highly collaborative process. Just
think of plays on a stage where everyone has
her own role, or how a marching band is
made up of people playing various
instruments.
During the collaborative process, one must
constantly engage in discussion with others
to achieve a common goal.
This ongoing discussion is a social process
that encourages students to find better ways
to communicate their thoughts.
Of course, the art that is produced is also a
form of expression – one that is presented to
others so they may find some meaning
behind it.
Therefore, the creator of the artwork will
have to know how to reach out or
communicate with others to appropriately
express their artistic intentions.
Build character
It is believed that personality is moulded
and defined in our youth. The saying “old
habits die hard” comes from this notion.
By allowing students to take part in artistic
pursuits, several positive personality traits
can be developed. These attributes are not
only admirable, but are also immensely
useful in achieving daily goals.
When a student is devoted to artistic tasks,
he or she can learn the value of dedication.
One may forget that art can be challenging
and is not done with carelessness and lack of
thought. It can be an arduous challenge to
complete a piece of art because there is no
real right or wrong in the world of the arts.
This lack of explicit direction can be
mentally and emotionally taxing on students,
who may lose motivation and inspiration in
the middle of their projects.
In a 2005 report titled Critical Evidence:
How the Arts Benefit Student Achievement, it
was found that students develop patience
and perseverance when completing artistic
projects.
Once the project is completed, the student
can then fully embrace the value of their
hard work and determination.
Student engagement in art-
related subjects has been
shown to help sharpen these
skills, which can then be
used in the study of other
subjects in school and in the
continuous learning journey
as children progress into
adulthood.
The realisation that great rewards come
through effort is a solid mindset that can
influence a student’s approach to difficult
tasks in future. That is the kind of personality
that sets the stage for lifelong success.
Widen perspectives
Besides the development of learning skills
and the building of valuable personality
traits, students can gain another useful
quality when participating in the arts – the
widening of perspective.
Students who view the artistic creations of
others will get to study and be exposed to
different perspectives while students who
create their own art can share their history
or inner selves with the world.
These actions benefit both creator and
viewer, as knowledge is mutually exchanged
and respected in the context of an
increasingly globalised world.
Of course, this exposure leads to students
becoming more culturally aware and
sensitive, which is crucial when living in a
multiracial society such as Malaysia.
Through the widening of perspectives, a
student can learn to empathise with others
and communicate more effectively.
The arts help shine a light on these areas
by providing a platform for people to share
their own stories, beliefs and feelings with
those around them.
THE STAR, TUESDAY 7 MAY 2019 Bright Kids 5

Developing bright sparks

BEACONHOUSE Newlands Early Years
(BNEY), a premium early years education
based on the best international practices, is
spreading its wings. The first BNEY school in
Lorong Bukit Pantai 7, Bangsar, headed by
Kelly Robb, has been celebrating the
successes of children for the past two years.
With future expansion plans in place,
Beaconhouse will soon be offering this pre-
school programme in more locations within
the Klang Valley. As a first step, BNEY in SS2
is now open for admissions while BNEY
Ampang will open its doors in June.

Expanding young minds

Each child’s mind is like a precious uncut
gem. Our goal is to polish them to be creative
and innovative in designing, exploring and
discovering the world. Our programme
provides each child with an opportunity for
hands-on learning experiences in a safe and
challenging environment, nurtured and
guided by dedicated experienced teachers.

The curriculum promotes a holistic

learning approach that addresses children’s
intellectual, emotional and physical
development, preparing them to become
passionate lifelong learners. It is further
supported with Cambridge materials to
better prepare children for their journey into
international schools.
BNEY also provides gymnastic lessons,
speech and drama and swimming classes. Its
Enhanced Lesson Environment (ELE), such
as lessons with the aid of interactive Smart
Boards, is another unique teaching and
learning tool to make lessons fun and
interesting and provides experiential
learning beyond the four walls of the
classroom.
BNEY Little Tots provides a stimulating environment for your child's first foray into learning.
New milestones
BNEY is proud to introduce a new
programme called BNEY Little Tots, catered
specially for children aged 18 months. This
programme is based on Beaconhouse’s firm
belief that young children are natural
learners and are born with an innate drive
to learn from the world around them. They
show a desire to learn new things through
curiosity, interest and enthusiasm.
Beaconhouse strongly agrees that young
children are competent learners, and
optimum brain development can be
stimulated through appropriate experiences
based on play, language and fun. This
exploratory curriculum focuses on
developing children’s communication and
language skills, creative expressions,
physical abilities and well-being and
personal and social development, including
helping children make sense of things and
people around them, investigate the world,
form relationships and interact with others.
In the Little Tots classroom, BNEY provides
rich sensorial and aesthetic experiences that
are enjoyable and will provide children with
valuable opportunities for children to
explore and learn through sights, sounds,
smells, tastes and textures. As they observe,
do and imitate, see and experience, they gain
abundant knowledge and develop a love for
learning.
n For more information, call 03-5631 2100 or
email us at marketing@beaconhouse.edu.my
6 Bright Kids
Excellence
with core
values
GEMS International School Tropicana
Metropark, Subang Jaya and GEMS
International School Pearl City, Penang are
part of GEMS Education, an established
global force in international early years,
primary and secondary education. GEMS
Education was founded more than 55 years
ago on one modest goal – to make quality
education available to everyone. Today,
GEMS Education manages schools across a
few continents.
GEMS Education schools adopt similar
core values: leading through innovation,
pursuing excellence, growing by learning
and global citizenship. GEMS staff and
students are encouraged to fully embrace
these values and live the GEMS way.
Both the school buildings in Tropicana
Metropark, Subang Jaya and Pearl City,
Penang are purpose-built to house fully air-
conditioned classrooms, laboratories, music
rooms and art rooms, as well as facilities
that cater to a variety of extracurricular
activities such as a swimming pool,
multipurpose hall, sports hall and
basketball court.
A diverse faculty of well-qualified
teachers deliver this high standard of
holistic education. These teachers, from
expatriate and local backgrounds, have
rich experience in the new British National
Curriculum and worked in various
international school environments all over
the world.
GEMS students benefit from a balanced
programme that emphasises academic,
sports, arts and music education equally.
One unique offering is the GEMS
Peripatetic Music Programme, which allows
children to attend music classes during
regular school hours and offers a wide
range of classical and contemporary
musical instruments to choose from.
This removes the need for children to
participate in external music classes
outside of school hours.
GEMS Education focuses on providing all
children with a learning environment that
is happy and safe. Visit either location on a
regular school day and you will find a place
filled with beaming children who are busy
playing and exploring.
GEMS schools are proud to be members
of the Council of British International
Schools (COBIS). COBIS represents and
provides quality assurance in more than
290 British international schools in 80
countries worldwide. COBIS member
schools operate within specific guidelines
of ethical practice and good governance,
which reflect the high standards and ethos
expected of a first-class, British-style
educational system.
n For more information, visit www.gems.
edu.my
THE STAR, TUESDAY 7 MAY 2019
Nurturing the future’s
movers and shakers
THE rise of technology has brought on a need
for parents to equip their young ones with
tech skills. However, while technology is
Personal Development principle ensures
students’ development in cognitive, physical,
emotional, social and artistic aspects.
great for stimulating the left hemisphere of For more than 25 years, Da Vinci’s
the brain, otherwise known as the control Effective Learning Method has transformed
centre for logical and linear thinking, raw talent into award-winning creativity in
mathematics and facts, it does little to help youth through its programmes – Little Da
develop the child’s right brain. Vinci Creative Kids Art (ages four to six),
Right brain development is a key Junior Da Vinci Creative Kids Art (ages five
component in ensuring your children grasp to 11), Intermediate Da Vinci Creative Kids
holistic thinking, intuition, non-verbal cues Art (ages seven to 12), Advanced Da Vinci
and feeling visualisation. These aid children Creative Kids Art (ages 13 to 15), Da Vinci
in expressing themselves well by fully using Kids Fun Craft (ages five to 15), Da Vinci
their essential thinking and hands-on skills. International Glass Painting (ages 13 and
The importance of activities and programmes above) and Da Vinci Fine Art (ages 16 and
that develop both the left and right sides of above).
the brain is something that has been
emphasised for many years. n To enrol your child in a trial lesson, call
At Da Vinci Creative Kids (Da Vinci), 03-5621 0198, e-mail enquiry@davinci.com.
children are taught to create art. This my or visit www.dvckid.com. For licensing
expands their ability to interact with the and business opportunities, call Erica Kaw at
world around them through new skill sets for 03-7875 5510 (ext. 198).
self-expression and communication. Well-
designed art programmes that comprise
painting, crafting, cooking and music build
skills necessary for school activities and have
a positive influence on their lives.
Da Vinci programmes also help prepare
children for future endeavours. Creative
individuals are being increasingly touted as
important and able to drive improvement
across industries. These people are capable of
devising new solutions to old problems and
looking at things with a fresh perspective. By
introducing your children to programmes
such as Da Vinci’s early on, you will be one
step closer in ensuring their future is both
creative and successful.
These programmes are designed by
professionals and have structured syllabi that
are based on new research findings as well as
children’s needs, promising lessons that are
meaningful and fulfilling. Da Vinci’s Holistic
THE STAR, TUESDAY 7 MAY 2019
Celebrating Teachers Day
TEACHING is a noble and influential
profession. Through sacrifice and
immeasurable effort, teachers shape a child’s
mind while also instilling in her good values.
A teacher is a friend, mentor and adviser
who guides children through a specific point
in their lives by gently holding their hands
and opening their minds. They are often
deemed a child’s parent in school and
without their contribution, many of us will
not be where we are today.
More than 400,000 teachers nationwide
spend their days broadening the horizons of
millions of children, nurturing them to be
future generation of our country’s leaders.
Mark your calendars
World Teachers Day is celebrated globally
on Oct 5, but in Malaysia, Teachers Day is
celebrated on May 16 instead. On May 16,
1956, the Razak Report was formally
endorsed by the Federal Legislative Assembly
of the Federation of Malaya.
The report is named after our country’s
first education minister and second prime
minister Tun Abdul Razak, who played a role
in providing the framework for the education
system in our multicultural country.
Starting from scratch
The report recognised education as a
crucial element in the process of developing a
country and looked at various ways to
achieve it.
The report forwarded the use of Bahasa
Malaysia as the main medium of instruction,
and all students were required to study the
national language.
However, knowing the multicultural reality
of the federation and to bring about unity in
diversity, the report also recommended the
establishment of standard and standard-type
Teachers are arguably the key pillar in your child's education, so give them your
understanding and support when dealing with them regarding your child's progress.
schools at the primary level. Standard
schools will use Bahasa Malaysia as its
medium of instruction, while standard-type
schools will use Chinese and Tamil for theirs.
However, all schools were taught the same
curriculum.
As children advanced to secondary school,
they will be united under a single system, as
recommended by the report.
Acknowledging their efforts
In this day and age, teachers are too often
put under the microscope by the public, and
parents are increasingly demanding the
absolute best out of their child’s teachers.
Modern parents are highly educated and
will not hesitate to question the school’s
management if they have doubts.
While some parents may be quick to judge
and jump to conclusions without fully
understanding a situation, other parents give
ample space, trust and support with respect
to the schools and teachers.
After all, a teacher will always and only
want the best for their students. Try and
walk a mile in the shoes of a teacher and
people will know that it is a work from the
heart.
It is definitely not easy to teach hundreds
of youth per term, each of them with a
distinct personality and approach.
Bright Kids 7
A teacher is a friend, mentor
and adviser who guides
children through a specific
point in their lives by gently
holding their hands and
opening their minds. They
are often deemed a child’s
parent in school and without
their contribution, many of
us will not be where we are
today.
Honour and remember
This Teachers Day, make sure to honour
your teachers for all that they have done
for you, both academically or personally.
As we celebrate and honour individual
teachers who continuously pour their heart
and soul into their job to educate our
country’s youth, we also ought to
remember that building our nation is a
process, as was foreseen in the Razak
Report.
The road to a developed country is long,
but slowly and surely, we are getting there,
especially with the help of passionate
teachers.
To all the dedicated, amazing individuals
who are involved in the education industry
one way or another, you may not have
changed the whole world, but you have
changed the world for so many and
kindled the fires of passion in them. For
that alone, you should be honoured.
8 Bright Kids
Weight
management
through goals
WHAT can you do if your child is
tipping into unhealthy weight
territory? In cases where weight
is related to medical conditions,
the best weight management
advice must come from an expert.
If surplus weight is a result of a
poor diet and sedentary lifestyle,
consider the following to draft a
sustainable weight management
plan for your child.
Have clear objectives
So, you have decided that
weight loss is your objective. But
what’s next? If you find yourself
confused over where to start or
find that efforts to get your child
to lose weight is not bearing fruit,
it might be because you are biting
more than you can chew.
Take a step back. Think of your
objective as a puzzle. The pieces
making up the big picture are
short-term goals which, when
combined, will solve the puzzle.
Define how much weight should
be lost and set a timeframe.
The key is to make it realistic.
There is no point in setting high
goals that can’t be met. Focusing
on small steps instead of the end
goal makes the weight loss
journey less daunting.
Be all ears
In order to set goals, you must
first find the reason(s) behind
your child’s weight gain.
Encourage your child to be vocal
so that they will reveal the root
of their weight problem and how
to combat it.
An overweight child may be
victims of mockery from their
peers. This stigmatisation can
trigger feelings of vulnerability
and shame, which can damage
their self-esteem. It can lead to a
vicious cycle of overeating and
isolation to compensate for the
negative emotions. In this case,
the child will be more responsive
to goals set towards improving
their body image alongside
weight loss.
Parents must be open to
listening to their children’s daily
experience and help their child
discover their motivation to lose
weight. What motivates a child
to lose weight can differ from
their parents’. A child may want
to lose weight to run faster, for
instance, while the parents’
motivation may be to shield
them from social stigma.
Monkey see, monkey do
Getting a child to lose weight
is not necessarily imposing on
them a special diet, but rather a
change of approach to
alimentation. Many studies have
shown that children pick up
dietary habits from their
parents. If you show exemplary
eating habits, your child is likely
to follow suit. Similarly, it is
difficult to get a child to eat his
greens when you yourself don’t
swallow your own advice.
In contemporary society,
where both parents work, there
is little time to spare in the
kitchen. Downing some sugar-
loaded cereal in the guise of
breakfast or ordering take-out
for dinner is convenient, but it
sets a bad precedent for your
child’s future dietary choices.
THE STAR, TUESDAY 7 MAY 2019
The key is to make
it realistic. There is
no point in setting
high goals that can’t
be met. Focusing on
small steps instead
of the end goal
makes the weight
loss journey less
daunting.
That being said, going on a
weight loss journey will require
certain sacrifices from your part.
As a family, set goals to slowly
incorporate better food choices
wherever possible. For instance,
a starting goal can be to take
some extra time to prepare a
well-proportioned and balanced
menu and to eat at a reasonable
time and pace for at least one
meal per day.
The weight loss equation is
simple: calories consumed <
calories burnt = weight loss. A
great way to create this deficit is
through sports.
The modern lifestyle of a child
can easily turn sedentary as
gadgets become their favourite
play toy and playgrounds get
scarcer. Encourage your child to
take up physical activities they
enjoy. For example, if your child
shows interest in swimming, set
the goal of accompanying them
to the pool once a week.
Motivation is temporary,
discipline is for life
At the end of the day, goal-
setting is merely a step in the
right direction. When the focus
and momentum brought by
goal-setting dies down, setbacks
are bound to occur and your
child risks relapsing into old
habits.
Discipline and the good sense
to make the right food choices
that the child has developed
during the goal-setting period
will remain their allies when
choosing what they eat and how
much they eat.
THE STAR, TUESDAY 7 MAY 2019
IT is widely believed by parents
and child development experts that
learning to play music gives
children an advantage in
developing intellectual, perceptual
and cognitive skills.
However, the benefits do not just
stop at a child’s learning and
development stage. A growing
number of studies have shown that
learning music from a young age
will benefit a child in the long run.
The longer you play, the
better
Benefits of music training
include developing an improved
ability to recognise consonants and
spoken words as well as providing
defence against memory loss and
cognitive decline.
A 2011 study titled The relation
between instrumental musical
activity and cognitive aging
published in Neuropsychology
showed that active musicians aged
between 60 and 80 who have
played music for at least 10 years
performed best in non-verbal
memory and naming and executive
processes compared with former
musician or non-musician
participants.
The study also showed that even
after not playing music for years,
the benefits of prior musical
learning still stood true.
Participants who used to play
musical instruments for one to
nine years performed better than
non-musicians in evaluated areas.
Heighten your senses
Playing a musical instrument
does not just help with maintaining
a person’s cognitive and motor
skills, it also plays a part in
Music for the brain
Simply enrolling your child in a music class can confer a host of long-term benefits on her.
maintaining the hearing quality of
ageing people.
A 2017 article titled Music Keeps
the Hearing Brain Young published
in Hearing Journal states that older
musicians pick up speech sound
details as quickly as younger, non-
musician adults.
Moreover, older musically
trained adults pick up speech
better in noisy environments
compared with their non-
musician counterparts.
Grasping the ideal timing
As parents want the best for
their child, the long-term benefits
of music training should serve as
a motivation to send the child for
music lessons.
The best time to start learning a
musical instrument is before a
child is nine years old, to make the
most of the child’s critical
development period, according to a
2012 study titled Recent and past
musical activity predicts cognitive
aging variability: direct comparison
with general lifestyle activities
Bright Kids 9
published in Frontiers in Human
Neuroscience.
The study suggests that
persisting in playing musical
instruments for at least 10 years
resulted in preserved cognitive
functions at an advanced age.
This long-term benefit was not
affected by other types of
education one receives.
Never too late
Armed with these facts, it is
now time for you to consider
signing your child (or even
yourself) up for music lessons to
ensure long-term benefits for
both of you. Even if your child is
already in his teens, it is never
too late to start learning a musical
instrument.
A 2018 article titled Piano
training on executive functions
and psychosocial outcomes in
older adults published in
Innovation in Aging studied how
individual piano lessons
improved the memory, verbal
fluency, information processing
speed, planning ability and other
functions in participants aged
between 60 and 80 compared
with those who did not receive
any lessons.
While some, especially
teenagers, may feel self-conscious
about learning a musical
instrument at an older age, the
benefits outweigh the cost. Go
ahead and sign your child up for
some music lessons. No matter
his age, the benefits will stick
with him for the rest of his life.
10 Bright Kids
Cultivating 21st
century skills
THE youth of today face challenges that are
quite different from those encountered 20
years ago. They are our leaders of
tomorrow and must be equipped with the
right leadership skills and mindsets so they
can lead and make the world a better place.
The challenges they face today can
significantly impact their decisions and
actions tomorrow. Youth today have to be
aware of who they are, what potential they
possess and the unlimited possibilities they
can explore.
For these reasons, Sunway International
School (SIS) and Centre for Asia Leadership
(CAL) are proud organisers of the 5th Asia
Leadership Youth (ALY) Camp in Malaysia.
This year’s ALY Camp will run from Jul 1 to
5 at SIS Sunway City campus. The camp
offers a five-day residential programme
designed for youth aged 15 to 19 who aspire
to be leaders and influencers in their
schools and communities.
The ALY Camp is known to past delegates
as an opportunity to experience Harvard,
because it is designed and led by teaching
fellows from Harvard University and other
world-renowned universities.
The teaching fellows are experienced and
passionate individuals who look forward to
imparting their knowledge and
perspectives to camp delegates using
multifaceted delivery methods. This year’s
Harvard fellows include Codi Caton, Haley
Burns, Karishma Mhapadi and Sarah
Osborn from Harvard Graduate School of
Education, and Stefano Zordan from
Harvard Divinity School.
The ALY Camp has several highlights,
The youth of today face
challenges that are quite
different from those
encountered 20 years
ago. They are our leaders
of tomorrow and must be
equipped with the right
leadership skills and mindsets
so they can lead and make the
world a better place.
including personal career mentoring and
professional development sessions with the
fellows. These sessions give camp delegates
the opportunity to learn directly from the
fellows, who will share their personal
experiences and academic or professional
perspectives.
Workshops will be held to spur delegates
into building or inventing their academic
and career plans and developing greater
confidence that augurs with their personal
and interpersonal growth and passion and
compassion for global issues.
Camp delegates will be guided on the use
of different approaches to overcome
challenges and move forward to achieve
their dreams. The ALY Camp develops
delegates’ attitudes, knowledge and skill sets
The ALY Camp takes the camp experience one step further through its integration with
Harvard University to provide the best guidance for the leaders of tomorrow.
and helps them plan and act towards success
in their future education and careers.
The theme for this year’s ALY Camp is
“21st century global talent” as defined by
Harvard University. Workshops will be
modelled after Harvard University’s
programmes in design thinking, negotiation,
leadership, communication and many more.
Delegates will learn problem-solving
through an approach promoted by Harvard
University, known as the Problem Driven
Iterative Adaptation. They will find out how
this approach is used in countries such as
Colombia (to prevent youth from being
recruited into illegal activities) and Nigeria
(to improve female representation in
governance).
The ALY Camp involves youth from
different countries. They will engage, share
experiences and learn from each other
through fun-filled activities, which range
from classes and workshops to sports,
outdoor events and community service.
The great uniform debate
ARGUMENTS for and against school
uniforms have probably gone on ever since
they were first introduced. While there are
many pros of having just one specific type of
clothing that serves to identify a child as a
school student, there are just as many cons,
too.
The great leveller
The biggest advantage of school uniforms
is just what the name suggests – promoting
uniformity. As pointed out in an article titled
Should We Get Rid of the School Uniform?
published in The Telegraph in 2016 by Keith
Metcalfe, deputy head master-elect at United
Kingdom’s Harrow School, he said, “Like so
many things at Harrow, our uniform is a
great leveller. No two Harrovians are the
same: some live in London, others much
further afield in the UK or overseas; a
number come from established Harrow
families, others have no experience of public
schooling; many excel in sport or the arts,
THE STAR, TUESDAY 7 MAY 2019
Camp activities focus on enabling delegates
to apply what they have learnt and
challenging them to think and collaborate in
new ways.
The camp organisers welcome
applications until Jun 1. All applicants are
required to respond to three questions.
Successful applicants will be informed by the
ALY Camp selection committee. Those who
apply before next Wednesday (May 15) will
enjoy an early-bird rate of RM3,850.
SIS is a K-12 school that is fully owned and
governed by the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation. It
offers the world-renowned Canadian and
International Baccalaureate curricula, and
its campus infrastructure and facilities
provide an environment that is vibrant and
conducive to students’ learning and
development.
n For more information on the ALY Camp,
call 03-7491 8070 or visit sis.sunway.edu.my/
ALYCamp
while others are incredibly strong
academically.
“Whatever they bring to (the school), they
all come together on equal footing, to be
identified and judged by their character and
contribution alone.”
Another strong argument for school
uniforms is that it allows students to
concentrate on learning, instead of focusing
on making fashion statements.
Not having a uniform in school would also
put financial pressure on parents who are
not well to do and cannot afford stylish
designer clothes for their children.
Something as simple as clothes can lead to
bullying and discord among students.
Celebrating individuality
On the other hand, there are those who
believe that uniforms can bring long-
standing negative effects.
> SEE NEXT PAGE
THE STAR, TUESDAY 7 MAY 2019
Vote of
confidence
from parents
R.E.A.L Kids was recently conferred the
Best Preschool Programme and Best
Trilingual Curriculum awards at
Parenthood Magazine’s Parents’ Choice
Awards 2019. R.E.A.L Education Group
chief executive officer Dr Goh Chee Leong
says, “These awards are testimony to the
exceptional people we have at R.E.A.L Kids,
their passion for education and their
absolute dedication to the welfare and
development of the children under their
care.”
Established in 1988 with 34 centres
around Malaysia, R.E.A.L Kids is the largest
owner-operated kindergarten chain in
Malaysia. Despite its immense success, it
does not rest on its laurels. This year, it
launched several exciting new initiatives,
including an enhanced Literacy
Development Programme.
Sabreena, a R.E.A.L Kids student’s parent,
says, “My son’s English has improved
tremendously. He used to be extremely
timid and shy, but is now more vocal,
confident and able to speak up. His
vocabulary has also improved a lot since
joining R.E.A.L Kids.”
Another parent, Mrs Yang adds that her
son has learnt to share and be independent,
and his language skills have improved by
leaps and bounds after joining the R.E.A.L
Kids full-day programme.
More harm
than good?
> FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
According to author and activist Nancy E.
Bailey in Misguided Education Reform:
Debating the Impact on Students, “Students
should learn to make informed decisions
about the clothes they wear. Bullying occurs
whether or not students wear uniforms. The
root cause of bullying should be addressed.
Teens should be able to develop self-
expression and their personal identity.
Instead, they might resort to unconventional
piercings and tattoos. School uniforms
encourage followers, not leaders. The
practice discourages independent thinkers.
This follower mentality could extend into
adulthood.”
Another argument against school
uniforms is that it promotes gender division.
For instance, some girls much prefer
wearing trousers over skirts, but in most
schools, the uniform for girls is a skirt or
pinafore.
Irish Second-Level Students’ Union
president Rob O’Donnell, in an article by
Peter McGuire titled No Skirting the School
Uniform Debate, said, “In any other walk of
life, we wouldn't dream of telling girls that
they have to wear a skirt. So why is it
acceptable to inflict it on them at school?”
Bright Kids 11
(From left) R.E.A.L Kids
centre manager
Malarini Vemalarajah,
R.E.A.L Education
Group chief operating
officer Kenny Sim and
R.E.A.L Kids operations
manager Ng Ming-Yan.
The R.E.A.L Kids full-day programme
includes a myriad of enrichment activities
such as the Junior Leadership Programme,
where children develop self esteem,
teamwork and communication skills
through assuming leadership roles, Coding
is Fun!, where children are able to design,
create and express themselves using
technology in a fun and playful way, and a
host of fun learning programmes such as
Lego Robotics, Culinary Arts, Financial
Literacy and Taekwondo.
“As a developmental psychologist, I am
incredibly proud and excited about the
enrichment curriculum R.E.A.L Kids has
introduced, which in my mind will give
children the strong foundation that will
enable them to succeed when they start
primary school,” says Dr Goh. work peacefully and come home to spend enjoy exclusive waivers and special Faber-
With more than 30 years of experience some quality time with him.” Castell merchandise.
and award-winning expertise in preschool Parent of a R.E.A.L Kids student Tee Ling All R.E.A.L Kids centres provide full-day
education, the R.E.A.L Kids full-day Ling says, “I like the R.E.A.L Kids full-day programmes (from 8am to 6pm), which
programme was crafted to meet the needs programme because it benefits my child by include a host of enrichment lessons and
and demands of today’s busy working enabling him to learn many things. His extracurricular activities. These activities
parents. Mandarin writing has improved and he is complement a fully developed and holistic
Gogulakannan, parent of a R.E.A.L Kids able to speak English better now. Besides curriculum, which offers both national
USJ 9 centre student, says, “Since both my that, the programme is flexible and allows and international syllabi.
wife and I are working parents, R.E.A.L me to pick him up later in the day.”
Kids full-day programme is highly Explore this and more of what R.E.A.L n For details or queries, email enquiry@
convenient for us. Our son Elijah is fully Kids has to offer during its upcoming Open realkids.edu.my or visit www.realkids.edu.
occupied doing productive things Day this Saturday at all 34 centres my or www.facebook.com/REAL.Kids.
throughout the day. Both of us can go to nationwide. Sign up on Open Day and Malaysia
Students should learn to
make informed decisions
about the clothes they wear.
Bullying occurs whether
students wear uniforms
or not. The root cause of
bullying should be addressed.
Teens should be able to
develop self-expression and
their personal identity.
The long-standing debate
The debate on school uniforms is ever
ongoing. While it is matter of pride for some
students to don their school uniforms, to
other it might represent restrictions on their
individuality.
Since either way can be a financial strain
for parents of schoolgoing children, one fact
cannot be denied: students with school
uniforms do look more polished.
12 Bright Kids THE STAR, TUESDAY 7 MAY 2019

Instilling a new way of thinking

IN most cases, there is only one
correct answer for mathematics
and calculation problems in
elementary school. For example,
the answer to 15 – 7 will always be
8. No matter what method of
calculation is used, if your answer
is 8, you will be correct.
However, Gakken Classroom not
only instructs children on how to
“find the correct answer”, it also
emphasises the process of how to
reach the answer 8. Is it by
subtracting one by one from 15,
14, 13 and so on? Or is it by
calculating 10 – 7 + 5, or 15 – 5 – 2?
To children, this chain of
thought is what’s important.
Children who can calculate with
three numbers are more able to
learn to reduce any calculation
mistakes by finding the many
ways to put calculations together,
much like a puzzle. Gakken
Classroom believes that in many
cases where children subtract
numbers one by one, too many
mistakes come up in their
calculations. These children might
also stumble in more advanced
maths lessons.
Gakken Classroom’s goal is not
to instruct children how to find the
correct answers, but to be logical
when confronted with problems,
both in their way of thinking and
in the process of solving said
problem. Gakken Classroom instructs children not just how to find the correct answer, but also how to reach that correct answer.
Problem-solving abilities can be
nurtured by emphasising the way Instead, children are thought focuses on maths and science for will soon open another branch in classes (RM80, which includes four
and process of thinking. By important skills, such as thinking children aged between five and Nusa Bestari, Johor Baru. classes and a science kit). Children
instructing children on these and self-learning. 12. Gakken Classrooms can Gakken Classroom has a limited will also get a stationery set, clear
thinking methods starting from Gakken Classroom is a Japanese currently be found in Mont Kiara, school holiday promotion only in file, Gakken Classroom bag and
early childhood or lower grades, learning centre with more than 70 Setapak, Cheras, Sungai Buloh, May and ends at the end of the free registration.
Gakken Classroom not only leads years of history. It has 15,000 Shah Alam, USJ9, Ara Damansara, month. Children aged between five
them to find correct answers, but Gakken Classrooms in Japan, with Bukit Tinggi, Kota Kumuning, and nine are eligible for n For more information, call
also makes them aware of why it more than 420,000 children Lorong Salim, Sibu, Lorong promotional prices for maths 03-6419 3247, WhatsApp
is the correct answer. The correct enrolled. Pahlawan (Sibu) and Kuala classes (RM95, which includes eight 014-4662 1823 or visit www.
answer is not the only goal. In Malaysia, Gakken Classroom Terengganu. Gakken Classroom classes plus homework) and science gakkenclassroom.com.my

High-strength, clinically proven probiotics supplement

THE human gut consists of a
complex community of
microorganisms known as gut
microbiota. A kid’s gut microbiota
is more susceptible to disease
compared with adults, because
kids are born with sterile
intestinal tracts and their gut
microbiota only start to develop
after birth when the kids interact
with the environment.
This early establishment of gut
microbiota may be disrupted by
factors such as caesarean delivery,
formula feeding and use of
antibiotics. This disruption may
cause weakened immunity,
diarrhoea, constipation or upset
stomach.
Probiotics, as defined by the
World Health Organization
(WHO), are live microorganisms
that, when administered in
adequate amounts, confer a
health benefit on the host. Clinical
studies have shown that
introducing probiotics to growing
kids can help improve their
intestinal function and restore the
balance of gut microbiota.
However, WHO confirms that
health benefits from probiotics
are strain specific. In other words,
the probiotics used in a
supplement must be clinically
proven and well studied to ensure
the safety and efficacy of the
product.
Biogrow Probiotics Kids Powder
is formulated for growing kids,
especially ones with poor gut
health, digestion and appetite, as
well as kids who fall sick easily. It
Biogrow Probiotics Kids Powder is formulated for growing kids, especially ones with poor gut health, digestion
and appetite, as well as kids who fall sick easily.
is made in Denmark, containing
six billion colony-forming units
(CFUs) per 1g sachet with three
clinically proven probiotics
strains with backgrounds of
extensive, strain-specific clinical
trials in young children.
These three probiotic strains
have been clinically proven to
promote the growth of beneficial
gut bacteria, improve bowel
function and support child
growth and development.
Biogrow Probiotics Kids
Powder is suitable for kids above
one year old, including
vegetarians. One sachet taken
orally or mixed in a small amount
of room-temperature water or
milk can confer clinically proven
gut health benefits to your kids.
Biogrow Probiotics Kids
Powder:
l Can restore a kid’s gut
microbiota balance with one
sachet daily
l Has six billion CFUs per 1g
sachet
l Contains three clinically
proven probiotics strains:
A kid’s gut microbiota
is more susceptible to
disease compared with
adults, because kids
are born with sterile
intestinal tracts and
their gut microbiota
only start to develop
after birth when the
kids interact with the
environment.
– Bifidobacterium lactis, BB-12
– Streptococcus thermophilus,
TH-4
– Lactobacillus paracasei, L.
Casei 431
l Contains 500mg of inulin
(prebiotic) to support the growth
of probiotics in the gut
l Comes in orange flavour
l Is sugar-free
l Doesn’t require refrigeration
n For more information, call
03-7956 2220 (Monday to Friday,
9am to 5pm), email info@
biogrow.com.my or like the
official Facebook page www.
facebook.com/BiogrowKIDS
This is a supplement product
advertisement.
KKLIU No.2920/2018