On Saturday, we went to Paragon to do a bit of shopping. While Adrian walked around, the kids and I went to try out the MindChamps child-minding service at level 6 of Paragon. This child-minding service is available every weekend from 11am to 5pm and is for children aged 2-7 years old. For children below 4, an accompanying adult is required so I hung around to watch Adam.
What I really like about the child-minding service is that the kids don’t just sit around and play randomly with toys. They get to take part in Narrative Intelligence storytelling, Junior Chef food preparation or Neuro-Mooves gym! Each 30-minute session is $9 and you choose a minimum of 2 sessions for a one-hour slot.
First, the children listened to a story about a fruit basket that gets picked by various animals with a surprising ending. It was an entertaining story and the kids were able to recognise the familiar fruits and animals in the story. Adam kept trying to ‘pick’ fruits off the pages to feed to the people around him. After listening to the story, the kids picked matching pairs of animal and fruit from a basket and the activity helped them to understand and remember the story.
Adam actually paying attention
trying to ‘pick’ some fruits from the book
the kids putting the matching fruit and animal into the basket
After the storytelling session, the children trooped off to the toilet to wash their hands thoroughly before coming back to the room to make a fruit salad! I like how the food activity tied in very nicely with the story. The children cut up strawberries, grapes and bananas and mixed the fruit with yoghurt to make a yummy fruit salad which they then gobbled up.
I think it gave Anya a sense of accomplishment to be able to prepare a simple dish for herself! Adam needed some help with the cutting and was more busy eating than preparing but he had a good time too.
ready to make a fruit salad
watching the demonstration intently
Anya cutting independently
Adam needed a bit more help
nom nom nom
Our last session for the morning was a Neuro-Mooves gym session. The kids had so much fun! They danced to music and listened out for instructions to ‘freeze’. Simple enough for Adam to follow along. Then, they went through a series of movements (walk, run, skate, gallop, hop) according to the type of music being played. Finally, they went through an obstacle course. Adam wasn’t so sure about going through the tunnel at first but after some encouragement, he was climbing in and out very happily.
The kids enjoyed themselves so much and went through the obstacle course so many times that they were completely wiped out by the end and napped very well that afternoon. I think the MindChamps child-minding service is a great way of keeping the kids engaged while one or both parents run errands. More importantly, the children get to spend their time in a meaningful and safe manner.
playing with hula hoops
dancing to a song
the song says ‘freeze!’
running to the music
obstacle course
sliding
through the tunnel
and out the other end
obviously having fun
Giveaway! :)
I’m giving away 5 sets of 2 coupons for the MindChamps child-minding service. Each coupon entitles you to a complimentary 60-minute child-minding service at MindChamps at Paragon (worth $18). To qualify, simply do the following by 7 August 2013, 2359H:
1. Like the ‘In the Wee Hours’ Facebook page.
2. Leave a comment here telling me why you want to try out the MindChamps child-minding service!
Disclaimer: We were invited to review the MindChamps Child-Minding Service at Paragon. All opinions are my own.
RESULTS! :)
Congrats to comments number 6, 10, 11, 13 and 15! Winners will be contacted by email shortly.
