February, 2010

In addition to new spring courses beginning on March 20th, ClubFootball will be offering FREE trial soccer classes given by professionally qualified coaches. Classes will be offered at Chaoyang Park (March 20), Wangjing/Lido (March 28), Zhongguancun (28th March), as well as at several schools. To register, call ClubFootball call 5130 6893/4/5/6 or email coaching@wanguoqunxing.com. For details, visit www.clubfootball.com.cn or http://www.wanguoqunxing.com/cms8/index.php

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Parents and babies beware of the milk! Despite the scandal of deadly melamine milk powder in 2008, 170 tons of milk powder are being recalled. Although China made efforts to punish those responsible, including the execution of two workers (a dairy farmer and a salesman), government officials were only moved around, most to the same position if not a higher one, and tainted milk products went back into circulation after being repackaged and resold. Read more from Business Week and BBC News.

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If your kids loves the limelight, sings in the bathroom, or can't get enough of High School Musical, then check out this email we got from the Rainbow VIP Party Center:

"Can YOUR child make people laugh, cry, or smile? Do they have a special look that grabs attention? We are hosting a 2 hour party for international kids ages 5 to 8 so our talent scouts can passively observe and photograph new faces in Beijing for upcoming TV commercials and catalog advertisements. This is NOT a posing session nor audition. It is a preliminary screening, and if the scouts see someone special they will contact you for private auditions. For the kids it is just one big fun party with 90 other international kids with clowns, magic, games, pizza, drinks, and cake. One of our rising stars (Nui Nui) is now in Hong Kong shooting a TV Commercial. Will your child be next?"

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"A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down," but then again, maybe not a spoonful. A recent article on MyHealthBeijing suggests that children are receiving incorrect doses of medicine due to different shapes and sizes of kitchen spoons.

The article states: “In the study, first printed in the Annals of Internal Medicine and reviewed in Pediatrics JournalWatch, patients tried to pour 5ml into a series of spoons. They found a 20% error in under/overdosing.”

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beijingkids is sad to announce that long-term columnist and beijingkids contributor, Sarah Cooper, will be leaving to seek out new adventures in the UK.

We are currently looking for talented mom who thinks they have what it takes to write a bi-monthly column. Applicants should be able to meet the following criteria:

- be a talented writer (a writing/journalism background is a bonus)
- consistently meet deadlines
- able to write fresh new content every column
- be actively involved in the international community
- love Beijing

If this sounds like you, e-mail 2 writing samples (max. 600 words each) and a cover letter explaining why you think you'd be perfect for the job to: imogenkandel@beijing-kids.com

Good news: The H1N1 flu virus is on the decline.
Bad news: The virus is not completely gone, patients have stopped asking for the vaccine, and doctors are worried about another outbreak.

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Shane O'Shea, Head of Music at Dulwich College Beijing, has been madly busy organizing the International Schools Choral Music Society's performance of Mozart’s Requiem in the Forbidden City Concert Hall on February 26th. The event will involve 250 singers from 20 International Schools from ten countries, a 90-piece orchestra, and four of Chinas top vocal soloists. Mr. O’Shea explains what we can expect of this truly unique collaboration.

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The Apple iTouch is a particularly entertaining and resourceful gadget. Useful apps like the Chinese-English dictionary and Beijing subway guide map make daily living easier. Its main function as an mp3 player is overshadowed by its other functions.

But when the six year old I tutor expressed disappointment after not receiving an iTouch for Chinese New Year, I was shocked. For a child so young, the iTouch is apparently on her list of must-have items.

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Have you ever stuck your hand out of a moving car? Gever Tulley, author of Fifty Dangerous Things (You Should Let Your Children Do), encourages children to do so (with adult supervision).

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McAfee’s new report reveals that China has the highest incidents of computer hacking. An Inc. article cites statistics from the report:

“In the last three months of 2009, about 1,095,000 computers in China were hacked, and 1,057,000 in the United States.”

Don't point your finger at Chinese cyber-cafe junkies yet. Gideon Lenkey, founder of protection company Ra Security, told Internetevolution.com."Just because the attacks originate from China doesn't mean the people behind the attacks are Chinese or even physically in China. China's Internet is very closed off from the rest of the Internet so it's a great position to attack from."

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The Internet is such a big part of our lives, but how big is too big? Check out this article from the China Daily:

"Many Chinese teens feel most happy when they are surfing the Internet rather than spending time with family or friends, latest research on the country's post-90s generation has found.

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A recent study concerning child obesity will be published in the March issue of Pediatrics. While cause and effect is unclear, the study confirmed a correlation between obesity and amount of time spent watching TV, sleeping and having family dinners.

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We stumbled across this disturbing article in the Shanghai Daily:

"THERE has been a 10-fold increase in the number of children in the city hospitalized for cancer in the past decade, local medical experts said yesterday ..."

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On the eve of Chinese New Year and in the days to follow, expect to hear firecrackers go off well into the middle of the night. No, your fortress is not being attacked, although it certainly sounds that way. Coming from a long line of tradition, the loud bangs from firecrackers are thought to fend off evil spirits and ghosts. Although, the noise will probably be more successful at frightening the the uninitiated than warding off bad luck. If this is your first time spending Chinese New Year in China, brace yourself for a week of uneasy living.

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With Spring Festival on our doorstep, it's time to get into the spirit of things. Check out any one of these great temple fairs for a full day of fun -- lao Beijing-style.

1) Ditan Temple Fair 地坛春节庙会 (地坛公园内)
Tel: 64214657
Feb. 13th – Feb. 20th

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Add a little pink and gold to your otherwise very red Chinese New Year. While Beijingers ring in the new year with their usual bang (fireworks and firecrackers), gather the kids and break out the crafts to make delectable Valentine Day presents for loved ones.

Ever-so-crafty Martha Stewart gives you Valentine Treat Cups, a simple, elegant and delicious gift. All that is needed is plastic cups, crepe paper (or improvise with tissue paper), and gold trim (try any color ribbon). Use the cups to decorate your table or pass them on to friends and family.

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Chinese New Year is almost here - a perfect time for spring cleaning!

Read about these three simple solutions to keep your home organized.

For more ideas and inspiration, check out organizational guru Julie Morgenstern's Get Organized Boot Camp.

Photo from flickr.

UPDATE: An interesting discussion about this article has opened up on the UK Times Online's Alpha Mummy blog.

"The picture of the little Chinese boy chained to a post while his father worked has been everywhere today. And at first it is a bit shocking. I don't want to go all Sue Sylvester from Glee on this, but actually as the story unfolds, it begins to seem a not-so-unreasonable childcare solution." ... To read more or have your say, click here.

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Although we may not follow it, many of us are aware of the “8 x 8 rule,” of having eight 8oz (237ml) glasses of water a day. But what is an acceptable amount of cheese? While I wish the answer were a complete brick, it's apparently only 8-12 dice-sized cubes a day. Check out more photos at Parenting to visualize portion and serving sizes for meat, pasta, pudding and other food staples. Sometimes eating healthy isn't just what we eat, but how much of it.

This time of year can be extremely busy, with many people putting in over time and losing sleep in rush to meet Spring Festival deadlines. Tension and anxiety can begin to take their toll. Stress management techniques can help maintain productivity, keep you grounded and prevent burn outs. Here are some suggestions to help manage the mayhem:

1. Breathing exercises: Most of us tend to take shallow breaths, especially when we are under stress. Deep breathing not only tells or bodies to relax, but it also oxygenates the tissues. Try this exercise.

2. Exercise: Exercise releases endorphins which are the natural “feel good” chemicals in our body. It also helps us release tension, anger, and frustrations.

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When altruism, fashion and fun collide, you've got a guaranteed crowd pleaser. ISB students and teachers have teamed up with major sponsors (including Crumpler, Vera Moda, Grand Hyatt Beijing, C de. France, and Only) to host a charity fashion show.

Alongside various items for auction will be clothing collections designed by ISB students. People will get the chance to bid, buy, and donate money; with funds raised going towards Zhong Xin Elementary School in Sichuan whose students are the beneficiaries of the One-Child-One-Egg program.

“Last year the ISB community, our PTA, and Caterpillar corporation partnered to rebuild Zhong Xin elementary school in Mianyang City and in the process made a relationship with the egg-a-day program to provide protein to needy rural students. This year, a student led charity is picking up the torch for support of this program. At ISB we are proud of our students and their efforts to make a difference in the lives of others,” said Mr. Hillman, communications director at ISB and the project’s supervisor.

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