December, 2009

There's no better way to warm up in this freezing weather than getting in some good, wholesome exercise, especially indoors, buffeted from the elements. If the crowds and chaos at Houhai are too much and the outdoor rink at The Village is too small, then check out Shunyi's Ice Zone - an indoor rink where your youngsters can skate, twirl and shred to their heart's content. Admission costs RMB 30 on weekdays and RMB 50 on weekends, and the entry ticket includes unlimited skating and skate rentals. Free lockers are available (RMB 1 coin deposit) and if you require anything else, just ask the friendly English-speaking staff.  

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We're all worried about the air we breathe, especially living in Beijing, but the good news is you can actually improve air quality at home simply with only three basic plants that can easily be found in local flower markets.

According to a report from the TED Talks 2009 conference, Kamal Meattle used research by NASA to find plants that produce enough fresh air even in an enclosed space with no windows. He tested this theory on a building in New Delhi, which he claims has subsequently been rated the healthiest building in Delhi by the Government of India.

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 Don’t miss this week’s four excellent events that are fun for the whole family. E-mail newsletter@beijing-kids.com to get each issue sent to your inbox. Check the beijingkids website for full event listings, www.beijing-kids.com.

Thurs 31: Countdown 2010 at The Westin Beijing Financial Street

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Richard Saint Cyr (better known in Beijing as Dr Richard) has gained a large following for his blog about medical and health issues in the capital – a subject of no small concern to locals and foreigners alike. We often refer to the good doctor's posts here on this site, so we though it was about time we sat down and talked with Dr Richard about about his background, life in Beijing and dealing with air pollution and the H1N1 virus.

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Ever wonder if your child is getting enough calcium? Kids need plenty of calcium to sustain the rapid growth of bones and teeth. It’s also important for muscle and brain function. Between the ages of 1 to 12 kids need between 800- 1300mg of calcium a day. A cup of milk contains about 300mg of the good stuff.
 
Calcium can be found in dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt, but these aren’t the only sources – or the best sources for that matter. Lactose intolerance and the possible hormones in milk might be a deterrent for some. Vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts and seeds all contain calcium. Dark-green leafy vegetables like broccoli and kale are good sources, as well as asparagus and sea vegetables such as kelp. Dried fruits like figs, dates and raisins are also high in calcium. Unlike leafy greens, kids are usually quite happy eating almonds and raisins as a snack. High concentrations can also be found in sesame seeds. Hummus (a spread made with tahini and chickpeas) is very easy to prepare and packed with calcium. It makes a great dip that kids love.

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The LA Times has an interesting article describing how families with adopted children from China go to great pains to help their children find their biological parents.

Some excerpts:

"The number of Chinese adoptees looking for their birth parents is expected to rise as the girls, most of them still very young, reach adolescence and then adulthood. But in China, the families often confront an entrenched culture of secrecy that clashes with Americans' presumed right to know."

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 As the temperature drops and the moisture levels plummet, we can do things to breathe easier and keep our skin hydrated.

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As an Australian, I have always associated Christmas with hot weather, salads, and fresh seafood. Though my mum would slave to make us a beautiful roast chicken with all the trimmings, our traditional lunch always kicked off with mid-morning platters of giant prawns, Mediterranean dips, and lots and lots of avocado. Our northern neighbors scoff and claim the only Christmas is a white Christmas, but what can I say - once you've experienced the festive season in a T-shirt and shorts, you never go back.

This is my third Christmas in the Capital and one would think that by now I'd just let go and accept my icy holiday state. But no, my insistence on living the Australian dream won't die. Last year I wore a sun dress to my friend's Christmas lunch, thanking all that is goodly that Beijing apartments are heated to a very Australian 27 degrees C. This year I'll be kicking back with a selection of sushi, bucking the hot roast trend and giving a nod to my mother, who this year will be enjoying her Christmas lunch at a Japanese restaurant overlooking a tropical beach.

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Selecting the right Christmas tree remains an important tradition in my family. Now, I do not mean my family and I embark on a Chevy Chase-esque adventure, slogging through fields of snow with axes in hand in search of the perfect tree, but it is a special part of Christmas nonetheless.

Having strapped the “Chosen” tree to the roof of the car, trawled it through the house, hacked at the trunk so that it will fit into the base and made sure that the tree is standing straight, we cannot bear to look at the thing any longer. “Why didn’t we just buy one of those already decorated, perfect looking plastic trees?” my sister would shout while unknotting the fairly lights. I always struggle to understand how the Christmas tree lights manage to knot themselves while they are in a sealed box, shoved away in the attic. They do though, without fail.

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Don’t miss this week’s four excellent events that are fun for the whole family. E-mail newsletter@beijing-kids.com to get each issue sent to your inbox. Check the beijingkids website for full event listings, www.beijing-kids.com.

Thurs 24: Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

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The holidays usually bring an upsurge in charitable giving, but Beijing has many charity groups that are in need of volunteers and resources over the holiday season and beyond. The following are some Beijing organizations worth supporting:

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Dr Richard over at MyHealthBeijing has a couple of recent posts pertinent to families in Beijing:

The first includes a look back at an article Will Chickering wrote about indoor air pollution for Beijing Kids' (now defunct) sister magazine Urbane and subsequently posted on Beijingcafe. "Basically, I learned that the worst component of air pollution from the point of health effects is traffic-related, i.e., within 150-200m of four-lane streets/highways (which can be easily identified on a Google Map of Beijing), and that the worst of the worst are fine and ultra-fine particles, which seep indoors with such efficiency that their concentration is almost the same indoors as out. HEPA air purifiers can help, but only in closed rooms where the machines need to be set at a rate to clean a room’s volume TWICE in one hour (to keep ahead of the seepage). Unless the rooms are very small, this rate is very loud." Read more here.

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The coldest weekend of the year (thus far) looms and with it, the daunting prospect of spending a few days inside with your little ones. Here are a few ideas and snippets of text taken from around the net to help you keep the kids entertained indoors and your own sanity intact.

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 Don’t miss this week’s four excellent events that are fun for the whole family. E-mail newsletter@beijing-kids.com to get each issue sent to your inbox. Check the beijingkids website for full event listings, www.beijing-kids.com.

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With so many foreigners and Chinese getting married and having children in China, understanding the rules and reality of their children's citizenship can be incredibly confusing.

China officially does not allow dual citizenships. This seemingly straightforward policy applies relatively neatly to native-born Chinese citizens. Chinatravelguide.com cites Article 9 of the China Nationality Law, which states “as soon as a Chinese takes a foreign citizenship, he will automatically lose his Chinese citizenship.”

However, things get confusing when you consider this law: “China considers a child born within its borders to hold Chinese citizenship if one parent is a Chinese national, even if the child applies for and receives a U.S. [or other foreign] passport while in China.”

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Thu 10: Basically Beethoven Christmas Special

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Santa on Ice 2009

Ice Skate with Santa Claus to kick start the Winter Holidays HO HO HO…   on Saturday, December 12!

Time:
Option A
11am-12:30pm: Ice skating at Champion Rink (The Village at Sanlitun)
12:30-2pm: Lunch at The Orient Kitchen

Option B
12:30-2pm: Lunch at The Orient Kitchen
2-3:30pm: Ice skating at Champion Rink (The Village at Sanlitun)
Reserve before Friday, Dec 11!
 

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It’s beginning to look a lot like winter! – and if you and your family are spending the holidays in Beijing and don’t know where to buy a Christmas tree, find holiday decorations, or skate on the best ice rinks (and lakes!), flip to our Holiday Guide for ten must-know essentials this holiday season.

Chilly temperatures and a break from school mean the kids will be spending time indoors – make easy Christmas crafts with Rebecca Kanthor. And tis the season for giving – we spotlight Beijing-based charities that need your help – giving back can be as simple as filling a backpack with items, donating household supplies or volunteering on the weekends.

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It's always nice to hear a rags to riches story, and it's especially nice to hear a rags to clown-costume-wearing-florist story.

Song Feifan recently opened a clown-themed flower store on Guanghua Lu near Guomao and it seems business is booming. Next time you're in the area and feel the need to pick up some blooms and a few laughs, you should stop-by. 

To read about Song's rise to flower fame, check out this Global Times article.

As a child – reasonably well-behaved child, I might add – my parents would often lie, fib or manipulate the truth in an attempt to tame my sporadic, but memorable outbursts. Their “white lies” did not leave a lasting effect on me, nor were they used on a daily basis, but the result of their ability to deceive saw an improvement in my behavior.

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Don’t miss this week’s four excellent events that are fun for the whole family. E-mail newsletter@beijing-kids.com to get each issue sent to your inbox. Check the beijingkids website for full event listings, www.beijing-kids.com.
Thu 3: Sounds and Senses
O Come All Ye Faithful – embrace the early Christmas cheer at the British School of Beijing’s choir concert. They will be performing renditions of your favorite Christmas carols at The Hilton Beijing, Wangfujing. Fuel your festive desires with a glass of eggnog or gluhwein while the kids set forth in their attempt to devour an entire gingerbread house. An event guaranteed to start your Christmas celebrations on the right track. Be warned – it won’t be a “Silent Night.”
Free. 5.30-7pm. Hilton Beijing, Wangfujing (5812 8888)

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