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Ya, ya, only the BEST for our kids

I am looking at the 'At Your Leisure' section of the Classifieds because the boy has finally agreed to go to a kids' bake class (encouraged by me, sis-in-law, male cousin, female cousin). But only baking chocolate things, he said. Well, there isn't anything in today's that would be suitable.

And I'd say that some of the courses in 'At Your Leisure' are surely not suitable for anyone's leisure. It says:
Most of us are so caught up in the rat race that making time for leisure pursuits is increasingly difficult. However, a little time out really helps us recharge.

Here are some courses that will give you a little 'time out' from the rat race and help you recharge:
J A centre for 'inspiring confidence' in your children (4-14 years old)
Courses available: Total Brain Development Training, Mental Arithmetic

Ya, sure, 4-year-olds need total brain development training and mental arithmetic!!

J The Education Doctor
Courses available: Gifted Education Prep Programme (K2-P3 -- training to get into the GEP!), Maths/Science Champion Prog (training to be top in maths/science), Re-shape Prog (for turning under-performing kids into star performers)
Followed by a list of students' achievements, e.g. PM Book Prize winner, PSLE scores, position in level for a whole string of schools (e.g. P2 top in class in so-&-so school)

Great for leisure, won't you say? Okay, the re-shape thing sounds like it would be useful for children who are having problems in school, but I still wouldn't call it a time-out programme.

J Singapore Brain Development Centre
Programme: 5-day thinking and motivational holiday camp -- develop your child's brain fitness and mental strength

Useful skills indeed. But 5 days would be the WHOLE holiday.

J Brilliant Minds
Programmes: English, Maths & Science holiday workshops -- to see 'improvement of 2 grades within a term', for 'detailed notes... for key concepts', among other things

Another very useful way of spending the HOLIDAYS.

J ASEAN Chess Academy
One could argue that playing chess can be considered a leisure activity but it is no secret that chess is highly intellectual. And just look at the course they have:
Weekly beginners for young children, holiday intensive beginners

ASEAN some more.

But there are some rather cool courses:
m Celviano Music - School of Rock!
Wow, courses include pop and jazz piano, drums, vocal training, etc.

Our teachers are themselves professional musicians and celebrities in the Singapore pop/rock music scene.

m Singapore inline rollerblading school
(Self-explanatory)

m Musictec - music learning through TECHNOLOGY
Programmes: piano/keyboard, guitar, MIDI production, home recordidng, etc

sWhat about this -- Superstar kids, dazzling future
Courses: pageantry for children, nurturing talented and charismatic children (4-15 years), modelling and image consulting, etiquette and grooming

Some people would find these really cool but I'm completely against 'nurturing' kids to be vain and full of themselves. And what's this 'nurturing talented and charismatic children' thing? For 4-year-olds?? Etiquette and grooming - yes, important, but maybe when they are 12 and older?


Well, it is quite exciting, though, to read of 'More choices on offer for sec school students' (Today's ST headlines). Game design, electronic product design, entrepreneurship, food innovation, etc - cool!!

Maybe we should all rush to send our kids to that Musictec place...

And don't forget to make them finish all their HOLIDAY homework.

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