With so many enrichment classes out there, how do you know what will benefi t your kid? Child psychologist Daniel Koh tells you how to get the right mix of activities for a well-balanced child. By MADELINE LIN
IF HE LOVES MAKING THINGS
Your kid is a natural artisan, and is both creative and skilled. He has a natural love for beauty and a sense for details, and he can manipulate objects well.
Enhance it:
▪ Get him to experiment with different types of art, like drawing, painting, pottery, cooking and sewing.
▪ Expose him to influences from around the world, like Asian art at the Singapore Art Museum or Indian jewelled arts at the Asian Civilisations Museum.
▪ Besides hands-on crafts, enrol him in classes that allow him to develop his eye for aesthetics, like photography classes.
Balance it:
▪ Making crafts can be a quiet affair, so encourage him to do more vocal activities. Think singing classes, or even the occasional karaoke session for mother-child bonding.
▪ Encourage Junior to join group activities like drama classes. Or start an artrelated group project with other mums and their kids.
▪ Take him out for some exercise, like cycling or go-karting. Check out Kartright (www.kartright.com) or Sentosa’s Luge and Skyride (www.sentosa.com.sg).
SHE LOVES SPORTS
If your child likes physical activity, she’s energetic and outgoing. She seeks stimulation through physical activities and is likely to be extroverted.
Enhance it:
▪ If she’s good at a particular sport, Daniel recommends letting her specialise in it so she can hone her skills.
▪ Expose her to a variety of sports to develop all areas of her body. Improving related skills can enhance her selfconfidence and determination too.
Balance it:
▪ If your child is good at an indoor sport, expose her to nature. Or if she does a solo sport like swimming, sign her up for group classes like martial arts so she can interact with other kids. Try mixed martial arts at Evolve Academy (tel: 6337-0082).
▪ Her brain also needs mental stimulation. Let her engage in activities like listening to music or reading.
IF SHE’S SHY
If your little one has trouble interacting with people, it’s important to first find out what her underlying issues are. Perhaps she’s withdrawing after a bad experience? But if your child’s reticence is natural, she might just have a passive nature and is highly sensitive to the external world.
Balance it:
▪ Improve your child’s verbal confidence by encouraging her to speak up more in familiar company. Work to improve her language skills, as an inability to express herself well might be holding her back.
▪ Let her observe other kids in action, whether in group play, interaction or games, so she can see how other children do things, and practise before participating.
▪ Enrol her in solo and group hobbies, clubs, classes, sports or expressive arts so she can develop her interpersonal skills.
