Afraid to Fail?

Help Your Child Overcome The Fear Of Failure

Even from a young age, failure is often already viewed negatively.

While we want our children to succeed, it is equally important to help them develop resilience to recover from setbacks.

How can we equip our children with a healthy perspective of failure?

READ NOW

ParentEd Podcast (Ep85): Can Parenting be as Easy as ABC?

Does parenting feel like having to multitask on multiple levels?

Our parent-coach and a father of 2 sons, Joe Chan, shares insightful ways about how he discovered to manage himself while taking up different roles and setting boundaries when it comes to family and work.

LISTEN NOW

Talk About Sex: Should I Follow My Feelings?

There are many popular sayings that encourage us to do whatever feels right or to simply, “Follow your heart.”

While feelings can help inform decisions, how can we guide our children in making sound choices, especially when they experience strong emotions?

READ NOW

Date with Dad

Dads, as your daughter is growing up, do you still tell her how much you love her?

A father’s continued affection for his growing daughter not only shows they are precious, but that they are worthy of love, kindness and respect. This November, take your daughter on a special date to affirm and create cherished memories with her that will last a lifetime.

Save the Date!

Sat, 11 Nov 2023

2pm - 5pm

Hilton Singapore Orchard

FIND OUT MORE

Give to the Next Generation

“I volunteered to be a part of FamChamps because I wanted to learn more about how I can play a part in my family. Not only was the Camp relevant and helpful, but the FamChamps Experience also gave me the opportunity to influence my juniors and their families."

- Adele, Recipient of the Outstanding FamChamps Award 2023

Adele was one of the 91 students who went through the FamChamps Camp Experience, a signature experiential 8-month journey for youths to Believe In, Live Out and Champion Family.

The heartbeat of our city thrives on Family. Your gift will support this cause as we reach more youths through FamChamps.

FIND OUT MORE

DGP's Well Wishes for the New Year

As we usher in the new year, our DGP teachers and staff commemorate the first complete year since our conversion to a full-fledged childcare. While we acknowledge the year 2022 was fraught with its own ups and downs, we are more than glad for a new year and a new beginning. The children also transit to a new level and different class teachers, making old friends and meeting some new classmates. Hence, we wish to kick off the year with some of the staff's well wishes for the DGP students.

Principal Mrs Dolly Our doors are always open to people who want to come in and experience the love and care in this preschool.	Chairman Mr Justin Tay My hope for our DGP children is that they grow in character and wisdom and develop a love for parents, siblings and their community.
Teacher Samantha My vision for them is to enjoy their time with us as they grow in knowledge and socialise with friends. That they will know their teachers love them, and that they are secure in Jesus' love.	Teacher Debbie My only hope is that the K2 kids will be prepared and ready for Primary school education.
Mrs Koh I wish a healthy active lifestyle for the children, that they'll mature physically and mentally. That the kids and parents' hearts will be close to God so they will love God more.	Mrs Tham My wish for the DGP children is that they'll enjoy themselves in school, be happy, to grow well, learn and know God for themselves.
Teacher Joanne I wish for each David & Goliath Preschool student to be healthy and happy always.	马老师 (Ma Lao Shi) 我许愿大卫与巨人学前教育中心孩子们会安康喜乐、主恩满益，那么他们会学习听话顺服耶稣。(I wish that the children of our preschool will be healthy and happy, and that they will learn to obey Jesus so that the Lord will bless them.)
武老师 (Wu Lao Shi) 亲爱的大卫与巨人学前教育中心的小朋友们，祝你们新年快乐！愿上帝祝福你们，从岁首到年终平安喜乐，有智慧和聪明能学以致用！阿们！(Dear children, I wish you a happy new year! May God bless you with peace and joy all your years, and wisdom and intelligence to apply what you have learned! Amen!	​蔡老师 (Cai Lao Shi) 祝福小朋友们新年快乐！身体健康！快高长大！学业进步！=D (I wish the children a happy new year, good health and academic progress! =D)
何淑美传道 (Chaplain Ps Shoo Mei) 祝福你们每一天住在神的爱里 💗❤️💗 满有喜乐和平安!✝️ (May you live in God’s love every day and be full of joy and peace!✝)	林老师 (Lin Lao Shi) 希望 DGP 孩子们能很快适应新的朋友和老师、学习更多知识。祝你们兔年快乐! (My hope is that each of you can adjust to new friends and teachers and learn well. I wish you a happy Year of the Rabbit!)

A typical end-of-year affair, DGP teachers sent off 2022 with a spring-cleaning day, to deep clean and intentionally sanitise every surface of their classroom. From each chair and table to each Lego block and library book, everything was wiped down as thoroughly as possible. Even window ledges and the top of cupboards and fans were not spared. Kudos to all our nimble everyday heroes in this arduous task!

Purposeful Parenting - Conclusion (Part 3 of 3)

This is the 3rd and last article condensed from a workshop conducted for young parents over three Saturday afternoons. The topics are:

• Part 1: What you need to know about children

• Part 2: What children really need

• Part 3: Purposeful Parenting

The workshop is based on the book, “A Guide to Purposeful Parenting: harnessing your children’s love for you” written by Dr. Lian-Ding Eliza. She is a child psychologist and had practiced in the West and in Singapore.

---

Nurturing a Secure Base

Let us now look at nurturing a secure base for a child. Nothing or no one else can replace the parents. The parent-child relationship is a primary dyadic and foundational in one's life. No matter how caring another adult can be, he cannot replace a parent or both. Father and mother each play a unique role in a child’s life. No matter how bad external situations may be, home is where a child is most comfortable and secure. This is his/her base which needs to be nurtured. For those with more than 1 child, who do you concentrate on? How will the dynamics change when they start school?

Parenting under Pressure

By divine design, a parent is granted an incredible opportunity for a lasting impact on another human being. However, our high-pressure society places multiple demands on the parents to ensure that their children excel. Do you have examples of such demand? We have great expectations which takes its toll on us and leave very little at the end of each day.

A Mother’s Privilege

By nature, both physically and emotionally, mothers are in a closer relationship with their child until they're about 5 years old. Dr. Eliza promotes that the mother should stay at home. Is this concept deemed to be archaic today? Full-time motherhood has its various challenges from the new-born to school-going phases.

A United Front

Every child finds security in a united home. When both parents cooperate and reinforce each other's action and values, the child is likely to embrace their values. When parents disagree on any matter, the child will exploit it and/or end up confused. One parent may disapprove of the other parent’s action e.g. in discipline. It's best not to contradict in front of the child but things can be discussed later without his/her presence.

Shaping the Will

The father’s word is the law. Can anyone relate to this? ("It's my way or the highway.") In today’s environment with easy access to social media and “western” influence, such an attitude is deemed “old school” and out of touch with reality. But is it? The challenge for parents is being a better listener and respecting your children, beginning from a young age. Of course, when your children are adults, I find it’s easier to respect them as they have developed a will of their own.

---

Effects of Device Usage on Attachment & Development

The prevalence of digital devices and their usage have a profound effect on a child’s attachment and development. Most of you are aware of the ill effects of social and mass media.

• Such media does not allow meaningful two-way interaction with others, and this affects social development in children.

• They are addictive even for adults.

• The fast nature of absorbing online content does not allow pause for intellectual analysis. It also shortens one's attention span.

• It creates a distorted reality and desensitisation. Most content are usually violent, explicit or distorted social and cultural norms. It is concerning when clearly wrong behaviours are depicted as acceptable norms e.g. LGBT lifestyle, promiscuity and divorce etc.

---

Connecting Well

It is important to determine what kind of children we want to raise and what it takes to accomplish that. I am sure most of you would have thought about this and already have an ideal model. To achieve this, the first thing is to connect well with your child so that you can mould and guide them.

All of us as young parents started off in unchartered waters; each child is uniquely made to set sail in their own way. Some of the considerations are:

Perseverance in Raising Gifts of Life

A child is a gift from God - training them with values for a life well lived is every parent’s challenge. We can only persevere with the help of God. Remember we are human and therefore imperfect... only the perfect God can perfectly mould our child. But that does not relieve us of our duty as parents.

Listen First

God gave us two ears but only one mouth, so listen more. That includes listening to our children. Young children often need more time to form their sentences and may even repeat themselves more than once. In our impatience, we may cut them off or try to finish their sentences. How many of you are guilty of this?

Open your Heart

Parenting is about developing relationships with your kids, and the core of it is heart-to-heart talks and moments.

Physical Presence

There is no substitute for time with your child. Do not be fooled that quality time can be substituted with lesser time spent with him/her.

Taking Time to Play

While children are young, it’s easier to have playtime since they play all the time. But when they grow older, it gets difficult with so many other demands on their time. This is even more important for each family to intentionally be together to play, or even to just “waste” time. And this should be done not only during school holidays. Make playtime regular, even during the examination fever seasons.

---

To watch the full Part 3 lecture, you may also view it here:

About the author:

Young Kwang and his wife Iris, both 62, have been married 36 years. They have 3 grown children and 1 grandson. Though they grew up in typical Taoist families, they accepted Christ while overseas, and met each other when studying in Canberra, Australia. They have been members of Jurong Christian Church for almost 30 years and serve in various ministries.