Breast milk is best for your baby

Breastfeeding is the best nutrition for healthy growth and development of babies. Exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months is the optimal way of feeding infants. Thereafter infants should receive complementary foods with continued breastfeeding up to two years or beyond. Good maternal nutrition helps sustain an adequate supply and quality of breast milk. Unnecessary introduction of bottle feeding, partially or fully, or of other complementary foods and drinks may have a negative impact on breastfeeding, which may be irreversible. Consult your doctor and consider the social and financial implications before deciding to use breast milk substitutes or if you have difficulty breastfeeding. Follow usage, preparation and storage instructions of breast milk substitutes or of other complementary foods and drinks carefully as improper or unnecessary use may pose a health hazard.

A young child feeding geese and exploring nature

Growing Up Together Naturally

Sense And Abilities Activities for Children

“Nature’s diversity is such a rich resource for exploration and sensory learning, offering stimuli for our 5 senses and allowing our brain to give these sensations meaningful interpretations. Symbolic learning, for example, from the television or books would never equal to the experience of being there in the midst of nature! Watching a documentary about a camping trip to the jungle or forest would not be the same as actually being on the trip and feasting the senses on all the sights and sounds. When our children spend time with nature, they learn to respect and appreciate it. They are much healthier, developing gross and fine motor coordination, enjoying their outdoor activities and learning skills. They learn to socialise and interact, sharing and building relationships.” – Dr Aw Tui Lar, Consultant Psychiatrist

The outdoor book of senses

Divide an empty notebook into 5 sections – one for each sense – and create your own nature logbook. Play the “I spy” game outdoors and let your child record his observations in the different sections of the logbook as he explores all 5 senses.

Logbook for children to record their observations on nature and environment

A child using his sense of sight to observe a ladybug with a magnifying glass

See: I spy with my little eye

Walk around your nearest park and get your child to guess an item that you see. For example, “I spy with my little eye, something that’s red and has wings!”.

A child using his sense of smell to pick up on the scent of a flower

Smell: I smell with my little nose

Take a deep breath at the beach. What do you smell? Using the same idea, get your child to guess what you’re smelling. Is it the salty scent of the seawater?

A child placing his hand next to his ear to pick out sounds using his auditory sense

Hear: I hear with my little ear

Bring your child out for a walk around the neighbourhood and pick out interesting sounds. Prompt your child to listen out for the melody of chirping birds or the breeze.