A nice place to bond with your kids - The Explorer Kid

School holiday is approaching. Parents who are thinking of bringing your kids out for fun can consider Explorer Kid @ Ehub located at Downtown East.

Brought Little Vance there after having dinner at Different Taste. We came across Explorer Kid a few times when we went Downtown East (a spot which we frequent visit on weekend) but never have the intention to bring Little Vance in as we were afraid that he was still too young for it then. So straight after he turned 2. We brought him there as we know he will have a good time playing and overcoming the hurdles at the playground and we know he can do it.

After spending a wonderful evening at Explorer Kid, three of us were super tired playing and shouting away. Little Vance really enjoyed himself and he kept wanting to go through the hurdles again and again. As a parent, we took turns to accompany Little Vance through every single station. Trust me, it's really tiring!

Besides a tiring workout for the 3 of us, Hubby and I realised that Little Vance was given the chance to develop his motor skills and self esteem. When we were in the tunnel, it was Little Vance who led us to the other end. As a mummy, I'm very happy for Vance. It's like.. "Dear, he did it himself!" shouting happily away to my dearest Hubby.

Not only that, it allowed us to be bonded together - AS A FAMILY!

Do check out their website and my advice is sign up the membership for your little one as it will be cheaper in that way. I will not go into details as there are different charges if you are a member of NTUC.

Have fun!

A collage of us... where's mummy? Mummy is busy taking pictures! :)

Learning resources for your little one

Little Vance has just turned 2 years old in September. Has enrolled him for the playgroup 2010 by Tots House. Anxious and excited Mummy is wondering how to prepare Little Vance for the new start.

Has went to bookstores to check out the enrichment books for Junior to practice on. However, there are tons and tons of books on preschool learning. They are either Thinking Skills, Mix and Match, Phonics or Colouring, etc.

Such resources can be found on the Internet too. So I began my online search and came across this wonderful website with lots of learning resources.

Kizclub has lots of wonderful learning resources for kids. From ABCs, phonics, Crafts, Story and Props, Nursery Rhymes to Flash Cards. the resources from Kizclub are free and it's download-able. They are either in PDF format or in interactive format. Mummies can just play then over the computer and let your little one listen to the stories.

I feel that getting resources from the Internet are worthwhile especially when they are free. Of course, we need to let Junior get in touch with books first but at times, resources from the Internet cannot be found on books.

Enjoy Junior's learning! :)

Do check out Learning Resources For Your Little One Part 2.

Who says owning a car need lots of $$$$?

Came across this article sharing tips on how to save money for drivers out there.

1. THE OUTSIDE LANE
Patronising a reputable "outside" workshop instead of the official service centre could slash your car's servicing bills. Using cheap and good but "unbranded" lubricants and fluids would save you even more money.

2. BOOT CAMP
Unless you're a door-to-door salesman, there shouldn't be much junk in your trunk. Save fuel, and save money, by ditching that deadweight, which includes the spare tyre. Replace it with a puncture repair kit.

3. TRUMP CARDS
Sign up for a credit card that offers additional petrol discounts at a partnering station chain. Use your loyalty points to redeem fuel vouchers, which tend to be the best deal in redemption programmes.

4. OUT OF THIN AIR
Keeping your tyres properly inflated works like magic when it comes to your car's fuel efficiency, a major part of your running costs. A recent Shell survey showed that nearly 30 per cent of motorists don't know this.

5. PUMP ACTION
If your car can run perfectly on 95 or 92 octane petrol, pumping a higher and costlier grade is a waste of cash. If you refuel half-tank twice instead of a full tank at one go, your car's mileage is usually a bit better.

6. ELECTRONIC TIDBIT
Some EPS (Electronic Parking System) carparks charge in 15-minute or half-hour blocks. So drive out of these places at the "correct" times to avoid paying more than necessary. Per-entry flat fees are generally fair.

7. FREE THINKER
Free parking is the best parking so look out for those URA public carpark lots that are free after 5pm and those roads with single yellow lines where you can park for free between 7pm and 7am on weekdays.

8. IT ALL "ADS" UP
Did you know that you can sell your car's sheet metal as a mobile advertising space? A local company called Renvertising specialises in this unique business and has over 130 cars on its payroll.READ MORE

9. TAB DANCING
"Eat" at least 15 minutes every time you tear those tabs on a parking coupon and "earn money" from your "time deposit." The omnipresence of carpark wardens is probably an urban legend, in case you're wondering.

10. ROUTE WARRIOR
Electronic Road Pricing is potentially expensive if you don't plan your journey. Avoid, or minimise passing under lit-up ERP gantries and drive into town on weekdays during ERP's "happy hour" (10am to 12pm).

11. WASHING THE MACHINE
Every time you wash your car yourself, you save a few bucks that would otherwise go to that neighbourhood car wash. The going rate is $6, so if you wash your car weekly, you're saving over $300 a year. That's a lot of polish. 

12. FLOOR PLAN
Always park at the lowest possible level in a multi-storey carpark. Every extra ramp you drive up (and down again later) is extra time spent and extra fuel burnt. In a basement carpark, always take the "highest" deck.

13. POOLING POWER
Car pools allow motorists on the same commute to share costs and also let them sell "taxi rides" to pre-arranged passengers. Making this possible are websites like www.carpoolking.com and www.carpool.sg

Article from AsiaOne: Stretch your motoring dollar, Free parking is the best parking, Don't do this...

Papercraft activity for your little one

Besides getting toys for Junior, we can always search for DIY activities to engage them. Internet has dons to activities for Junior.

Searching for free resources has become one of my favourite past time now. After my discovery of this new toy for Junior, I have began to develop a strong interest in papercraft. It's not only for adults, children can create papercraft models as well.

Image from paper-replika

There are lots of papercraft models on the Internet. Just google it and you will be able to find lots of them. Some of the websites which I frequent visit are Papercraftparadise, Cubeecraft and Macula. Do check them out and have find with your little ones. :)

Image from Macula