June is one of my favourite time of the year! The Great Singapore Sale (GSS) is on and the malls are packed with shows and activities for the kids. It’s a win-win for the families.

 1. Let’s Celebrate with Barney & Friends – City Square Mall

The ever popular purple dinosaur returns to our tropical shores for more song and dance. Join Barney and his best pals Baby Bop & BJ as they sing and dance their way into your hearts in a live show.

Barney & Friends at City Square Mall.

When: 7 – 16 June (except 10 June)
Where: L1 Atrium
Showtime: 4pm & 7pm (Tue to Fri), 1pm, 4pm & 7pm (Sat & Sun)

Note: Redeem a Meet & Greet Pass 45 mins prior to a show with $50 spent (50 passes available each show).

2. Meet The Trashies (Trash Pack) – Downtown East

Meet The Trashies from Australia who will make you squirm, buzz and wriggle with the trashiest and grossest fun in town!

The Trash Pack

When: 7 – 23 June 
Where: Downtown East, Event Square and The Alley
Showtime: 2pm to 8pm (except Mondays)
Bring your camera and meet The Trashies at the Event Square at 7pm (weekday), 3pm & 7pm (weekends).

3) Discover and Win A World of Riches – Parkway Parade

Play Indiana Jones at the mall’s Treasure Hunt Playground. First 20 PP Junior Club Members are entitled to FREE admissions daily. EAch member have to present their PP Junior Club lanyard (terms and conditions apply.) Uncover hidden treasures at the end of the adventure and win mystery prizes. Parents! You stand to win $50 Parkway Parade Shopping vouchers daily!

When: 31 May  - 16 June 
Where: Basement Atrium

This playground is limited to children aged 3 and above or minimum height of 0.9m. Participants are required to wear socks at all times.

4) Forever Friends – Sembawang Shopping Centre

Meet the Forever Friends at Sembawang Shopping Centre

When: 7 – 9 June and 14 – 16 June (Fri to Sun)
Where: Level 1, Atrium, Sembawang Shopping Centre 
Showtime: 1pm, 4pm, and 7pm 

Spend $30 for a chance to get up close and personal with the Forever Friends Bear. Limited to 30 passes per session.

5) The Justice League – I12 Katong

When: 17 – 23 June 
Where: Level 1,  I12 Katong
Showtime: 1pm, 4pm, and 7pm (daily)

Check out the Super Heroes Peg Magnet Workshop! 

Terms and conditions apply:

♦ Redeem with a min spend of $30 in 1 single receipt, on the same day of purchase
♦ Registration of each workshop to be made at 112 Katong Concierge Counter, level 2 from 1 – 16 June 2013
♦ Limited to 30 kids per session ONLY

Check in regularly with us as we update you with more events and activities at the malls.

I am usually allergic to anything that remotely hints of physical exertion, namely exercise. But I have been feeling unusually tiredly lately and suspect my fitness, or lack thereof, may be the culprit. A friend had recently opened a local gym in my neighbourhood – Gym n Tonic, so I decided to check it out.

With a name that resembles one of my favourite party drinks, how hard could the workout be?

As it turns out, not hard at all. Let me show you around.

Gym n Tonic is the brainchild of former banker Ray McGregor who envisioned a boutique gym where fitness enthusiasts like him could work out in peace whenever they want to. With that in mind, he installed a finger print security system so that gym members can treat it as their personal gym and use it even AFTER gym hours.

Let me take you on a quick tour of this boutique gym.

Hard to miss the bright blue sign of Gym n Tonic.

Gym n Tonic’s friendly staff greeted me at the reception area and immediately puts me at ease among the “machines”.  The warm colours of the interior welcomed me into the folds of the gym, and the cleverly designed zones lured me deeper into the gym without any apprehension.

A View from the Front – despite its proximity to the reception, the machines are easy to use and pose no threat at all to the user. Also, because it is a boutique gym, it was nice not to feel like a lab rat running along with ten others in a row.

Core and Cardio Training Zone - I was told that the large space in the foreground of the photo is to allow the comfort of gym-goers to stretch before their physical routine.

Strength Training Zone – nestled inside the womb of the gym, it offers privacy to those serious about maintaining their muscle strength.

Friendly weights for the ladies who want to tone their muscles.

Clean and cheery changing rooms.

Nice clean showers thoughtfully designed to bring you comfort and ease, not like the dirty, dinky ones at some gyms.

Owner and fitness enthusiast Ray McGregor shows me how to do crunches on the gym ball.

Gym trainer Sarah demonstrates how to use a bosu ball to tone your muscles.

Sarah helping me to find my balance on the bosu ball – not as easy as it seems.

Sarah helping me testing my physical strength – the dreaded push-up.

Before my workout, I was given a fitness assessment. The verdict? I passed my fitness assessment but needed to work out to increase my energy levels. No surprise there.

What did surprised me was the lack of aggressive sales pitch to join the gym. When I enquired, Ray just smiled and said, “This is just a good and friendly place to work out.” 

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the best motivator to join a gym.

Gym n Tonic is located at 188-9 Tanjong Katong Road.

Also check out the range of fun classes – Zumba, Yoga, Pilates, Body Fit and K-Pop offered at its newly opened class studio located at 326 Tanjong Katong Road.

For more information about the classes, schedules, training memberships, please call 6346-4818 or check out their website.

While the English language may be an easy A for some students, those who come from a Chinese-speaking background may be confounded by the grammar rules and challenged by the comprehension passages.

English is one of Singapore’s four official language. The Ministry of Education (MOE) recognises that it is “the medium by which most Singaporeans gain access to information and knowledge from around the world.”

The ability to speak and write English effectively has become an essential skill in the workplace, therefore, MOE places high regard to help the Singapore’s pupils gain mastery over this language.

However, the common use of Singlish both at home and in school do not help our young ones acquire good English skills. Neither does the recent influx of accents from the Philippines, India, China and European countries other than England contribute to the learning of English.

Composition writing, understanding comprehension passages and answering the questions are two areas that constantly challenge our students. Here are some simple tips that parents can do to help their kids improve their English.

→ Encourage your child to read books or newspaper articles

→ Watch English language programs like Discovery Kids or OKTO

→ Use the words in conversation 

If all else fails, we have scoured popular online parenting forums like Kiasuparents.com, Singpaoremotherhood.com, mummysg.com and theAsianParent.com where parents vouch for these enrichment centres for English as the tops in the country.

1. British Council

2. Creative Horizon – creative writing 

3. Eagle Wings

4. I Can Read

5. Jan & Elly English Language School

6. Julia Gabriel

7. LCentral - 

8. Lorna Whiston

9. Morris Allen English

10. The Write Connection

Other Tools to help your child learn …

- ABC Reading Eggs

Mandarin Enrichment

1. Berries 
2. Han Language Centre
3. Hua Language Centre
4. Hua Yi
5. Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan
6. Jiang Education Centre
7. Molin Tutorial Centre
8. Skylace Language School
9. Tien Hsia Language School - has a reputation as more academic,
10. Wang Learning Centre

School Is OUT. Holidays are IN.

Finally, school exams are over and the end-of-semester parent-teacher conference are done. Now is the time to relax and enjoy the school holidays. Fortunately, in Singapore, there are always plenty to do during the school holiday season. Check out this list of kid-friendly activities in June!

1) NTUC Income Kite Festival Singapore

courtesy of littledayout.com

Back for the fifth year with the theme “Winds the Bind”, this popular festival by ACT 3 International host many flying events across the island between June – September.

What: Kite Giants – Big and Wondrous — a community kite-flying fiesta where some of the world’s largest kites, even bigger than houses take flight. A must watch are the highly-lauded stunt kite showcases from USA, Japan, Indonesia and Singapore!
Where: Tampines Fields along Tampines Industrial Avenue 3 
When: 1 and 2 June, 4 – 7pm

What: Children’s Kite Carnivale
Where: West Coast Park
When: 29 & 30 June

Look out for more details on the Indoor Kite Flying Show on 21 & 21 July and the Grand Flying Days on August 31 and September 1 at Marina Bay.

2) Live Shows and Activities at the Shopping Malls

Apart from great deals offered during the Great Singapore Sale (GSS), the malls also serve up a fantastic array of performances that are FREE for all to watch. And since it is the GSS, and you’ll be shopping anyway, why not get more mileage out the experience. With a small token amount, you will get to participate in workshops or meet and greet the characters. Check with the individual mall for details.

Click here for more Live Shows and activities for kids at the local malls.

3) Summer Camps & Workshops 

Faust Singapore  - Faust’s Summer Programmes run from 10 June to 16 August with summer theatre and creative writing for ages 4 to 14 at venues across Singapore. Click here for FREE Trial Workshops on Friday 7 June for kids aged 4 to 16.

Creative Writing and Holiday Theatre programmes are available.

The Young Entrepreneur’s Camp – Kids aged 7 to 15  are encouraged to be innovative and think out of the box at this camp from 4 – 7 June. Your kids will learn to design, build and create your own prototype toy and prepare a viable business action plan to present to prospective investors at the Inventors Fair! Click here for more info.

Sportball June Summer Holiday Camps - Sportball camps (from 5 – 21 June) focus on the eight core Sportball sports, arts and crafts, snack time, stories, music, co-operative games and theme days. Camps are run outdoors and indoors, depending on the location and weather.  Click here to register. 

4) Storytelling Comes Alive!

Sentosa brings back their award-winning storytelling programmes presented through play, pupperty and musical, Storytelling Comes Alive!

This June holidays, set foot into the larger-than-live Playmobil Western House imported from Germany and let your kids be the first to play with the latest, yet-to-be-launched Playmobil series.

Where: Imbiah Lookout, Sentosa
When: 1 – 30 June

The activities and workshops are all FREE. Click here for the Schedule of activities and workshop. PLUS, redeem a FREE exclusive Playmobil Premium Figurine when you spend a minimum of $100 ($80 for Islanders) on the island.

5) Plays and Performances

Free

What: Children’s Season 2013
When: 18 May to 30 June
Where: all museums
Click here for the FREE events.

What:  Bubble Lengendary 
When: 6 – 9 June 
Where: Resorts World Sentosa

What: Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf – A Chinese Stage Show for Children
When: 28 – 30 June 2013
Where: Festive Grand Theatre, Resorts World Sentosa

6) Shell Family Road Safety Carnival

Teach your little ones about traffic rules and road safety at Shell Family Road Safety Carnival.

Where: Road Safety Community Park (East Coast Park)
When: 19 – 22 June (Wed to Sat), 8am to noon

[UPDATED ON 31 May: Registration is closed as of today due to overwhelming response. Do check out the video below on What would you do to make our roads safer.]

7) Wildlife Reserve

Join Dora and Diego as they learn and discover at Jurong Bird Park.

Jurong Bird Park has a line of holiday programmes lined up for you. Come down to meet Dora and Diego, explore the five continents and become a Junior Avian Keeper. You can also meet Dr. Squawk (of Bird Park Flies To Schools fame), and travel with her to all the continents in search of her feathery friends.

Also, try your hand at being a rescue ranger at the Singapore Zoo.
What: Be a Zoolympix Rescue Ranger 
Where: Singapore Zoo ( 80 Mandai Lake Road, Singapore 729826)
When: 1 to 9 June (daily), 10am – 4pm

Fee: $3 per Zoolympix passport (Available at the registration tent at the start of Treetops Trail – in front of the bird photography area)
Notes: Normal admission rates of $22.00 (adult) and $14.00 (child 3 to 12 years) apply

Happy Summer!!

Let Jurong Bird Park take your curious little minds on a flight around the world this June Holidays!

From 1 to 23 June 2013, there is no better time to take a flap and a flight out west to the Bird Park, to participate in six special programmes which have been exclusively tailored for children to go on an interactive and fun edu-taining journey.

1. Dora and Diego: Join Dora and Diego from the well-known Nickelodeon’s cartoon series, Dora the Explorer and Go, Diego, Go!, as they take on Jurong Bird Park as their new destination for learning and discovery. There will be a chance for photo opportunities with Dora and Diego at the Pools Amphitheatre at 12.30pm during the weekends in June.

Join Dora and Diego as they learn and discover at Jurong Bird Park

2. Explorer of the 5 Continents: Let your child become an ‘Explorer of the 5 Continents’, and nurture their adventurous spirit! Every child will be handed a customised Jurong Bird Park kid’s explorer kit which contains a ‘passport’. With it, children can navigate around the park to collect stamps in their very own Jurong Bird Park explorer passport. Be sure to check in at the exhibits showcasing birds from Australia, South America, Antarctica, Asia and Africa to collect all 5 stamps!

3. Dr Squawk’s Expedition: Meet Dr Squawk, the popular host of Bird Park Flies to Schools, who teaches children all about birds in an engaging and fun manner. Children between the ages of 5 to 12 years old can sign up for Dr. Squawk’s Expedition in the Bird Park, as she travels to different continents in search of her flightless feathery friends. This will be held at 2.30pm and 4.30pm at the Breeding and Research Centre. Pre-registration is required online, or at the venue at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the programme.

4. Meet the Bird Stars: Seize the opportunity to get up close to Jurong Bird Park’s most egg-xotic birds at a meet-and-greet session featuring unique-looking birds like Harriet the bar pouched wreathed hornbill and learn interesting facts about them at 1.45pm at Penguin Coast!

5. Be a Junior Avian Keeper: Children who are deeply passionate about wildlife conservation should sign up for two specially organised immersive experiences to learn more about birds. The Junior Avian Keeper Programme for older children on 7 June aims to provide a hands-on experience with tasks such as preparing feed and enrichment for the birds.

6. Holiday Camps: Children between the ages of 6 to 12 can sign up with like-minded friends for the 3-Day Bird Quest Camp from 12 – 14 June, to embark on an expedition where they can experience up-close encounters with feathered friends, unearth the secrets of nest making and learn about how feathers help flight.

Visit http://www.birdpark.com.sg/ for more information on Jurong Bird Park and the June holiday activities.

Step up as a Zoolympix Rescue Ranger this June Holidays and learn how to help our animal friends. Back for the ninth year, this wildly popular Zoolympix event is highly recommended for children between 5 and 12 years old.

Challenge yourself as a Zoolympix Rescue Ranger

Zoolympix will feature six exhibits in the zoo that will double up as interactive game stations. This series of challenging “rescue missions” will test young rangers’ memory, accuracy and agility.

Rescue Ranger Stations include:

1. On Thin Ice (venue: Frozen Tundra) — Climate change is causing the Arctic ice to melt! Help a polar bear find its lunch by hopping between fragmented “ice” pieces to pick up as many seals as possible within 30 seconds.

2. Seed Seekers (venue: Tropical Crops at Pavilion opposite Cat Country)  — In a world where deforestation is rampant, Rescue Rangers must collect and save the seeds of tropical plants which could be in danger of extinction. Track down plants in the Tropical Crops exhibit and “collect” their seeds by making a shading from the embossed plaques next to them.

3. Forest Storeys(venue: Fragile Forest) — The first step in wildlife conservation is to understand it better. Test your memory and learn more about animals and their rainforest homes by placing the creatures in the correct layer of their rainforest habitat in 30 seconds.

4. Rubbish Raft (venue: Rainforest Kidzworld -Tugboat area) — Make a difference for the many fish, birds, frogs, and other wildlife friends by helping to keep rivers clean. In 30 seconds, scoop out floating rubbish in the water while standing on a raft and do your bit to reclaim the habitat for these river dwellers!

5. Penguin Eggs-pedition (venue: African penguin exhibit) — African penguins have nowhere to lay their eggs, now that the guano they use as nesting material has been harvested for fertiliser! In 30 seconds, sort penguins’ eggs into colour-coded “igloos” that ingenious scientists have provided as shelter for the eggs.

6. Stop Those Smugglers! (venue: Sun Bear exhibit) — The smallest bear in the world needs to be saved from poachers! Stop sun bear smuggling by ringing in the pesky poachers. Toss rings over as many cone ‘smugglers’ as possible in 30 seconds.

Date: 1 – 9 June 2013 (Daily)
Time: 10am – 4pm
Venue: Singapore Zoo - 80 Mandai Lake Road, Singapore 729826
Fee: $3 per Zoolympix passport (Available at the registration tent at the start of Treetops Trail – in front of the bird photography area)
Notes: Normal admission rates of $22.00 (adult) and $14.00 (child 3 to 12 years) apply

Why You Should Attend

1) Learn entertaining and educational nuggets of historical facts about the zoo in celebration of its 40th anniversary this year. Zoolympix Rescue Rangers will learn little-known trivia about the zoo’s landmark moments since its opening in 1973.

2) Win attractive lucky draw prizes that include popular zoo experiences:

First Prize — one-year Friends of the Zoo Family membership and 2D1N Sleep with the Beasts Camp, worth over $800 for a family of two adults and two children

Second Prize — a 4-in-1 Park Hopper family package for two adults and two children and a 3-day Zoo Explorer Camp for one child worth over $600

Third Prize — a 3-in-1 Park Hopper and Jungle Breakfast package for two adults and two children worth over $300.

All winners will also win a year’s subscription to Wildlife Wonders, Wildlife Reserves Singapore’s in-house magazine.

All parents love their children. There is no refuting this fact. What is sad is that this love is often lost in translation as individuals miscommunicate and misrepresent the love they have for each other.

Do our children truly know we love them?

Children blame parents for not loving them, while parents gripe about their ingrate children despite their best efforts to provide and care for them. Sometimes after a scolding, one child will complain about feeling unloved, while the other seems unaffected and believes that I still love the child. While I know it’s not true, I can’t help but alternate between panicking and bristling inwardly (how can my child doubt my love in spite of my million tender loving gestures).

Then, I came across The Five Love Language for Children by Dr. Gary Chapman, author of best-selling Five Love Languages series and the director of Family Life Consultants Inc., and wondered if that has anything to do with my child’s doubts about my love.

I learnt that every child under five requires demonstrations of the Five Love Languages, but at age seven, their primary love language becomes more prominent. The book was a page turner and I had a lot of fun discovering the primary love language of each member of our family. It has also been an eye-opener to “see” the emotional tank being filled as we conveyed our love in the child’s primary love language. And a child who feels loved is a cooperating child – a joy to have around!

I’ll leave you to read and enjoy the book, but I have extracted the following definition and tips on the Five Love Languages to as a quick reminder and easy reference of the ways I can effectively communicate my love to my child.

1. Physical Touch

Physical touch is the easiest love language to use unconditionally because parents need no special occasion or excuse to make physical contact. Even though the contact is physical, make eye contact to help communicate your love. All children need to be touched in loving, appropriate ways, but respect your child’s age needs. Try the following practical tips.

• - Pick up your young child or give her a piggyback ride.
• - Give your child a high five.
• - Give your child a quick kiss on the head or ruffle her hair.
• - Give your child a hug.
• - Give your child a back rub or scratch her back.
• - Give your child a pat on the back.
• - Play a physical sport.
• - Snuggle together and read.
• - Tuck your child into bed.
• - Hold hands during prayer time.

2. Words of Affirmation

In communicating love, words are powerful. Praise for a child should be both true and justified. Affirmation can be spoken, written, or nonverbal. You may have to do so at a time that will not embarrass your child. Try the following.

• - Say “good morning” and “thank you” in a pleasant voice.
• - Say “I love you” anytime.
• - Use a nickname.
• - Compliment how your child looks.
• - Always praise successes.
• - Place an encouraging note in her lunch.
• - Maintain a calm voice.
• - Give your child a thumbs-up or high five.
• - At bedtime, tell your child something specific she did well that day.

3. Quality Time

Quality time is a parent’s gift of presence. It should be focused attention. Eye contact is essential. Your child must feel your undivided attention. Listen actively to your child without interruption. Try the following.

• - Ask your child an open-ended question about her day.
• - Sit with your child at breakfast.
• - Ask follow-up questions about what your child is telling you.
• - Maintain a conversation while driving in the car.
• - Look your child in the eye when talking.
• - Attend special events. •Make a special one-on-one date.
• - Check homework with your child.
• - Read a book together and talk about it.
• - Pray together before bed.

4. Gifts

A true gift is not payment for services rendered; rather, it is an expression of love. Gifts may be bought, found, or made. Celebrate the ordinary! It is the thought that counts. Try the following.

• Purchase a new shampoo, soap, or even toothpaste and give it as a surprise.
• Fix a favorite breakfast at an unexpected time.
• Give your child a vase of flowers.
• Buy a special birthday or holiday gift.
• Hide a treat under your child’s pillow.
• Give your child a devotion book or new Bible.
• Hide treats in every place your child goes as part of a morning or evening routine.
• Go shopping to buy a special item.

5. Acts of Service

As your child observes your serving attitude, she will begin to pattern it herself. The primary motivation is not to please your child but to do what is best for her. Do not use acts of service to manipulate your child. Attitude is everything. Try the following.

• - Pack your child’s lunch.
• - Make breakfast and serve your child.
• - Gather your child’s backpack for her.
• - Iron something for your child.
• - Help your child clean up a mess she has made.
• - Make your child’s favorite dish for supper.
• - Repair something that is broken.
• - Take time off from work to do something special for your child.

Sign your kids up for The Young Entrepreneurs Camp this June school holiday. This American-based program is highly recommended for kids aged between 7 to 15 years old to learn about self-discovery and creative exploration.  

Last year, my son attended the “Super Spies” – Innovation and Entrepreneurship Camp conducted by the same organizers and he LOVED IT!

Here’s a snippet of what they did at the camp.

What I liked about the camp was that it encouraged to kids to think “out-of-the-box”, challenged them to communicate and collaborate with one another and really helped to strengthen their interpersonal skills. I was also very impressed by the presentation that the boys had to make at the end of the workshop and the enthusiasm they exhibited throughout the 5-days period.

The young trio of entrepreneurs learnt to design and create a toy (Star Wars Space Station) from recycled materials, then compile a business plan and pitch their business idea to potential investors (parents) who will invest with “real” money.

Who are the organizers?

The Joyful Learning Path (JLPC) was founded by Lorraine Paul, an advocate for life-long learning. Having spent most of her corporate time in advertising, Lorraine took time out to pursue her passion for education by teaching in Ngee Ann Polytechni’s School of Film and Media Studies (FMS). It was her love for education that led her to become a certified trainer with the Kids Invent! program, developed by The Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Fresno California.

Her goal is to “nurture the young into life-long learners and to fill them with the fire of an entrepreneurial spirit and the passion to live life to the fullest.”

What will your kids do at the camp?

This year, JLPC is teaming up with student leaders from Victoria Junior College who will no doubt inject a lot of energy and different perspectives to the challenges set in the camp program.

Your kids will interact with these student leaders who are tasked to mentor their younger counterparts as they learn to design, build and create their own gravity cars, water rockets and straw shooters on the first two days.

On day 3 and 4, the kids will produce a prototype of their toy idea and learn the basics of marketing in order to prepare a viable action plan and present their toy invention at the Inventors Fair.

Date: 4 to 7 June (Tues to Fri)

Time: 9.30am to 5.30pm daily (lunch and refreshments included daily)

Venue: Victoria Junior College, 20 Marine Vista, Singapore 449035

Fees: S$450 (single child), $410 per child (for groups of 3 or more kids)

I am registering both my kids for this camp as it is extremely FUN and a huge learning experience for them.

Especially for Universal Scribbles Readers – enjoy the special rate of $410 per child.  

Registration closes on 24th May 2013.

If you are interested in sign your kids up for The Young Entrepreneurs Camp, please contact Lorraine Paul at 96349396 or email her at lapaul232@gmail.com for more information.

Being independent and resilient are two essential life-skills most parents aim to pass on to their children.

Well, I’m starting my kids on that path by teaching them the most basic life-skill – feeding themselves.

You may laugh, but with our kids growing up in a culture of having maids or helpers doing their bidding – from fetching them glasses of water, tying their shoelaces, carrying their school bags, showering them etc., (I have even seen nine or ten year old kids being fed by their helpers!), sometimes the simplest task may be too onerous for them.

Even when some well-meaning moms instruct these maids or helpers not to do everything  (and by everything, we mean the basic skills mentioned earlier) for the kids, these instructions are thrown out the window when the mothers are not around. Simply because it is easier for these helpers to finish the task themselves than getting the kids to do it. (Also because some helpers care so much about their charges that they cannot NOT help them.)

So on a Sunday morning, we asked our kiddos what they want for breakfast – sandwiches and scramble eggs, and told them they had to make it themselves (with our guidance, of course).

Nothing empowers a child more than the ability to be self-sufficient.

A simple Ham and Cheese Sandwich is easy enough to make – just spread some mayonnaise or butter on the bread (toasted or not) and slap on a slice of ham and cheese.

Enjoying the sandwich he made by himself.

Beating the eggs and adding some milk…

Pouring the eggs into the heated pan and teaching her to stir the eggs around. NOTE: a little help should be given and supervision is required, especially around the stove.

Watching Daddy put the finish touches to the scrambled eggs.

And voila! A simple and nutritious breakfast or snack they can make themselves.

Linking Up With Jennifer’s

Food Review: Southwest Tavern is a fantastic find not only because it is great value for your money, but the food is unbelievably DELICIOUS!!

Located in the Western part of Singapore, this Wild-West themed restaurant serves a unique blend of cowboy food – steak, burgers, lamb, chicken, fries and fish & chips.

There is an Old-West-kampong style feel to this place. A cow’s skull greets you as you entered the spacious restaurant. The veranda doors are kept open to give the illusion of open space (even though you are indoors).

Like any good old Western tavern, an open bar is parked to the left of the entrance. People look up to see who has just entered the tavern. You can almost expect to see cowboys tipping their cowboy hats at you or toasting you with their beer glasses as you walk by familiar faces.

The staffs are friendly and accommodating. The lighting is comfortably dimmed and the wooden benches, tables and chairs provide ample seating for dining or just drinks with friends. The entire atmosphere is one where you chill and relax with your friends and family over a nice, friendly and mouth-watering meal. A pool table inside an enclosed enclave provide privacy for serious pool players or for kids to play and make as much noise as they want while their parents eat.

But back to the Bar. The bar is a testimonial that the owners know their drinks and how to have a good time. It is a full bar with a wide variety of beer and alcohol. My hubby was immediately attracted to the display of rare whisky like Yamazaki which are not readily available in many local bars. And here at Southwest Tavern, you get a wide variety of beer AND the beer is always served ultra chilled.

What About The Food?

First of all, I have to quantify that I’m not a big fan of American food simply because they are usually fried, too oily or too bland and the portions are too big for one person but not enough for two to share. Hence, I wasn’t too excited when hubby announced that we were heading out West for our usual weekend family dinner.

But my scepticism was squelched at my first bite of Southwest Tavern’s American Western fare.

OH MY GOD!!! The food here is DELICIOUS! Why haven’t we discovered this earlier?

Southwest Tavern serves a unique blend of good hardy food with a creative twist. For example, we tried these appetizers Bloomin’ Onion ($) and their mini Jalapeno Poppers ($8). I promise you won’t get enough of the home-made Range Dressing that compliments the Bloomin’ Onion dish. And who would have thought that deep fried jalapeno with cheese will taste soooo heavenly?! The prices for their appetizers or Finger Lickin’ Grub range from $8 -$18.

MUST TRY: Bloomin’ Onions and Jalapeño Poppers!

Next came the kiddie meals. While the restaurant serves the staple kids’ menu, they’ve upgraded it to ensure that your child is well-fed. Our kids ordered the Pink Spaghetti with Chicken Sausage ($8) and the Fish and Fries ($6) which they promptly polished off in one seating – that’s how good the food was even to the kiddos. Other great kiddie dishes to try are the mini fish/chicken burger ($6) and the mini chicken hotdog ($6).

Kids dishes were delicious!

Another MUST-TRY dish is the Beer Butt Sakura Chicken ($32)! Served on a chop board platter, the chicken is draped on two skewer-like poles ready for you to slice into its tender juicy beer-infused meat. Eat it with the juicy grilled baby tomatoes and allow the fusion from the juices of the fruit and meat to blend in symphony in your mouth. Truly luscious!

MUST TRY: Beer Butt Sakura Chicken

My hubby is a steak man. So, of course the Tenderloin Steak - 200gm bacon-wrapped tenderloin with 2 sides ($28) had to be ordered. And it was cooked to perfection. Hubby was “mmm-hmmm-ing” with every mouthful of steak! The owner, Adrian Neo, told us that Southwest Tavern does not stinge on its meat and made sure that their customers eat only the finest quality of meat. Sayonara Morten’s I’m going to Southwest Tavern for my steak!

Tenderloin Steak with grilled corn and potatoes.

I prefer the Braised Lamb Shank ($22) and again, OMG! It was so moist, so tender so scrumptious that not a dollop of sauce, meat or salad was left on my plate. I gobbled it all up and I’m usually a small eater!

To Die For: Braised Lamb Shank

Without doubt, this was one of the BEST meals I’ve had in a long time! We will definitely head West again for great American Southwest Tavern food.

(One more thing, the pictures does not do justice to the food. You have to eat it, try it to believe how unbelievably OMG  good it is!)

Southwest Tavern is located at 8 Boon Lay Way, #01-33 8@TradeHub 21, Singapore 609964. Call 6515 4303 to make reservations.

Opening hours: 11am – midnight (Mon – Fri), 3pm – midnight (Sat, Sun & Public Holiday). Parking is free for first hour and after 7pm daily; totally free parking on weekends and PH.

All prices quoted above are in Singapore dollars. Recommended for family dinners and great hang-out place for girls/boys-night out.

This restaurant was also featured here:

1. Hungry Go Where
2. Danny Love To Eat
3. Open Rice
4. Four Square

Tired of our children and their incessant obsession with technological gadgets like the iPad or iPhone and their being glued to the computer screen to play Minecraft, we decided to take them to the Mint Museum of Toys to introduce them to the toys that gave us so much pleasure as kids.

A Life-size Astro Boy welcomes us to the Mint Museum of Toys.

The boys inking their autograph of their visit to the museum.

After paying for our tickets, we were ushered to the elevator area where we were told to go to the fifth level and work our way down. The lift ride up was interesting with familiar characters like Batman, Mickey Mouse and Sean Connery as the original James Bond.

Having an adult explain or point out to them the history of these toys from the past really help make the experience more interesting for the kids.

The girls were excited to see Snoopy as well as all the Disney Characters – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

A first prototype of spaceship from the past.

Here are some toys and characters that our children will not know or be exposed to if not for the museum. 

The children were not the only ones who got excited by these toys.

Popeye the Sailor Man! Everyone in my generation knows him and his spinach-popping habit and his needy girlfriend, Olive!

Anyone remember the Daleks from Dr. Who? It sure brought back tons of memories for hubby.

And what about these lunch boxes? Did you take them to school?

Check out the Mint Shop on your way out – lots of great finds at very reasonable prices!

Lots of goodies to buy for the kids. Prices range from $1 to $5 (Singapore dollars).

Happy with their purchase from the Mint Shop.

How lucky are we!! Fancy meeting Darth Vader and a Storm Trooper on our way out!! My son (wearing the red Darth Vader shirt) was ecstatic!!

All in all, it was a lovely day out and the kids had fun NOT being in front of a screen for a change. As for the adults, we had tremendous fun reminiscing about childhood games and toys that kept us company and gave us so much pleasure as kids. Definitely a fun experience to visit the Mint Museum of Toys. Save this outing for one of those hot summer days in Singapore!

Mint Museum of Toys is located at 26 Seah Street, Singapore 188382. Admission charges are S$15 (adult), S$7.50 (child or senior citizen). Check out the website for periodic promotion on credit cards.

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