Parenting

Winter is slowly but surely coming to an end. As the days get longer and the mercury creeps up there’s something that will disappear off the streets of Beijing. No, I’m not referring to the snow! I’m talking about sweet potato. But just because the temperature is getting warmer, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t enjoy this delectable treat. This root vegetable packs a nutritional punch, and kids love it too!

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Check out this interesting article published in the UK Times Online. Time to swap to a more natural remedy?

"The risk of children suffering from flu can be halved if they take vitamin D, doctors in Japan have found. The finding has implications for flu epidemics since vitamin D, which is naturally produced by the human body when exposed to direct sunlight, has no significant side effects, costs little and can be several times more effective than anti-viral drugs or vaccine.

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In a recent article, the Guardian reveals that a South Korean couple left their daughter to starve to death while gaming online. Addicted to Internet games, the couple spent most of their time on a role-playing game called Prius Online, in which they raised a virtual daughter. After spending a reported 12 hours at a Seoul Internet café, they returned to find their newborn daughter dead. An autopsy confirmed the infant’s cause of death to be malnourishment.

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The 3rd edition of the Expat Show Beijing will take place on 26-28th March 2010 at the China World Trade Center. Around 150 exhibitors will present their services and products during the three day exhibition.

For this third edition we will set up 4 new animations to enjoy your visit:
• Food Festival
• Travel in Asia
• Live Performance
• The Kid Show

The Entrance is FREE to all the visitors. So be sure to note the dates in your calendar and register directly on the website to win great prizes, including: vouchers for famous Beijing restaurants, a weekend in Sanya, Beijing Guide, massages at Dragonfly and Spa de Feng, hotels rooms and much more.

Check www.expatshowbeijing.com or call us at 5869 9752 for more information.

The ice is thawing, the trees are sprouting tiny flower buds, and spring is on it's way. As we come out of hibernation, it’s time to reconnect with the roots of this fair city. That’s why the March issue is all about what makes Beijing a great place to live.

See what goes on in a week in the life of a local Chinese family. Find a new Chinese restaurant, museum, or hidden market. Read what parents have to say about sending their kids to local Chinese schools. While Kara Chin tracks down the best Mandarin teachers and discovers their top tips for perfecting Putonghua. If it’s time to say goodbye to Beijing, Kaatje Schreurs Harrison’s got you covered with advice from families who’ve done it before.

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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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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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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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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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