parenting

Nurture Your Child’s Talent at the Promil Four iShine Talent Camp 7

January 21, 2019 / Filed Under: kiddie activity, parenting

One of the highlights of my week last week was attending the Grand launch of Promil 4 iShine Talent Camp 7 at the Maybank Theatre in BGC. The launch was hosted by seasoned actress Dimples Romana, who has been hosting the i-Shine Talent Camp ever since its beginning.

You might ask what is Promil 4 iShine Talent Camp 7 ?

Well, it’s a summer talent development program in partnership with experts to help kids 6-11 years old become their very best.

As Promil Four stays true to its mission of nurturing the gift, the next generation of awe-inspiring kids will be guided to reach their full potential in the fields of performing and visual arts through mental, physical and social stimulation workshops.

This year, there will be four locations for the talent camp: Metro Manila, Batangas, Cebu, and Davao

The launch started with a talk by Dra. Leticia Penano-Ho, the President of the Philippine Center for Gifted Education. Dra. Ho talked about the importance of documenting the child’s journey to further help them develop their skills.

It was followed by self-taught freelance photographer and “Promil kid” Shaira Luna who shared some photography tips during her Creative Documenting & Scrapbook Making Workshop. She also shared how her mom documented everything that happened in her life through photos, cut-out magazines, and even things they used like key cards and tickets. It was amazing!

Then we were introduced to the six mentors for this year’s talent camp…

If you’re looking into enrolling your child to Promil 4 iShine Talent Camp 7, you maybe wondering what’s in store for them in each camp. Well, here are a few details about each camp, who’s heading what camp, where it’s gonna be held, how long it’s gonna be, and how much it’s gonna cost.

Theatre Camp

Stage veteran Audie Gemora heads the Theatre Camp. Let your child learn the value of versatility in as he/she immerses himself/herself in acting on-stage.

WHERE: TRUMPETS PLAYSHOP inPARC FOUNDATION, SAN JUAN, MANILA

WHEN: MAY 2-8 | SAN JUAN
9:30AM – 11:30AM
2:00PM – 4:00PM

RATE: ₱6,500

Ballet Camp

Lisa Macuja-Elizalde guides the Ballet Camp. Your child will learn the value of discipline while demonstrating steps and gestures that express emotions.

WHERE: BALLET MANILA FISHER MALL, QUEZON CITY

WHEN: APR 22-26 | QUEZON CITY
10AM – 12NN, 2PM – 4PM
MAY 2-8 | QUEZON CITY
10AM – 12NN, 2PM – 4PM

RATE: ₱5,000

Music Camp

Maestro Ryan Cayabyab returns as the camp master for the Music Camp. If your child has an interest in music, let him/her join the Music Camp as he/she will learn new songs, explore instruments, and understand the value of harmony.

WHERE: THE MUSIC SCHOOL OF RYAN CAYABYAB ROBINSON’S GALLERIA

WHEN: APR 8-12 | QUEZON CITY
10:00AM – 12:00AM
1:00PM – 3:00PM

RATE: ₱7,000

Art Camp

Teachers Robert Alejandro and Kara Escay from Papemelroti will coach the Art Camp. Your child will learn the techniques for drawing, painting, and crafting while creatively bringing to life their imagination.

WHEN & WHERE: APR 22-26 | 8 ROCKWELL, MAKATI
9:30AM – 12NN, 1:00-3:30PM
MAY 2-8 | PAPEMELROTI, QC
9:30AM – 12NN, 1:00-3:30PM

RATE: ₱5,000

I was actually able to experience learning to draw easily during the program ha. Imagine from iShine, I was able to draw this little girl and her pet!

Dance Camp

Teacher Georcelle Dapat-Sy of the G-Force Dance School leads the Dance Camp. Your child will learn the value of unity by coordinating and collaborating with other kids and their dance teachers.

WHEN & WHERE: APR 22 -27 | G-FORCE QC
6-8 Y/O JUNIOR CLASS: 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM
9-11 Y/O SENIOR CLASS: 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM
9-11 Y/O SENIOR CLASS: 6:00 PM – 7:30PM

APR 29 – MAY 4 | G-FORCE ALABANG
6-8 Y/O JUNIOR CLASS: 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM
9-11 Y/O SENIOR CLASS: 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM
9-11 Y/O SENIOR CLASS: 6:00 PM – 7:30PM

RATE: ₱ 8,500.00
EARLY BIRD: ₱ 7500.00
*VALID UNTIL 1 WEEK BEFORE YOUR CLASS SCHEDULE”

Promil’s philosophy is to instill the importance of not only proper nutrition, but also proper parenting and guidance to fully support a child’s proper growth and mental development. This is in line with the brand’s advocacy of actively involving parents in helping nurture the gift of their child.

Know more about i-Shine and reserve a camp slot for your child now! Visit www.promilnurturethegift.com.ph/ for more details.

How to Handle the Teen Vaping Crisis

December 23, 2018 / Filed Under: parenting

Vaping has become something of a moral panic in recent years. It’s certainly something in the national discourse, at lease, with concerned parents everywhere wringing their hands and wondering what needs to be done about this latest trend. While there are certainly very good arguments for and against vaping in general, the focus on teen vaping has been perhaps a bit distorted. If something is to be done about this current crisis, it’s best to take a realistic look at what’s going on and to determine useful, rational methods of discussing vaping with those young adults who have taken up the habit.

A Rational Look

First and foremost, one must separate the panic from the reality. While it is true that many teens vape, this is hardly the existential crisis that some consider it to be. Teens vape and there is certainly some evidence to suggest that certain vaping products are targeted towards teens. In a generation that has largely seen its proclivity to smoke traditional cigarettes go down, the trend is certainly disconcerting. It is, however, very difficult to take this crisis any more seriously than those that have come before, especially in relation to the overall epidemic of teen smoking. Rationality will be the key to making any headway with this issue.

Education First

Rather than decrying the use of vaping materials as some kind of moral failing, it’s better to combat the rise in teen vaping with real information. Parents need to learn how vaping works, the difference between a vape pen and vaping pods, and the general mechanics of how the process works. Once parents have real information, they can begin to talk to their teens. Rather than framing vaping as a dangerous sort of new fad, it’s best to frame it as another form of smoking – one that may not necessarily share exactly the same kinds of risk, but a type of smoking that is nonetheless a potential health issue that should be addressed. With better education, teens can assess the risks better on their own.

A Dialog, Not a Lecture

No matter how the subject is addressed, though, there must be a conversation about vaping. Teens are not terribly susceptible to heavy-handed moralizing, so any attempts to paint vaping as more dangerous or insidious than it really is will have little impact. Any parent or adult who wishes to talk about the topic needs to be open to answering questions honestly and to addressing the concerns actually held by teens. If the air of rebellion and taboo is removed from vaping, so too will the motivation be removed from many teens.

The unfortunate truth is that treating teen vaping like a moral crisis does more harm than good. It makes it harder for parents to address the issue with teens and harder for teens to take adults seriously when they speak on the topic. Only by addressing the matter in a level-headed manner can any headway be made, and only by treating the current trend of teen vaping with a degree of sobriety can concerned adults help guide teens to the best long-term choices.

Taking The Leap: Buying Their First Smartphone

October 19, 2017 / Filed Under: parenting, tech talk

Sometime in between carolling, watching It’s a Wonderful Life, and decorating the tree, the moment you’ve been dreading finally arrived. Your child figured out what they want for the holidays, and their Christmas wish-list has just the one thing on it: an iPhone. The question of the season is now whether you should splurge on the device or not.

When you were a child, you spent your time running outdoors and climbing trees. The only screen time you had was on a TV screen. But a lot has changed since the Stone Age. The average child gets their very first phone by the age of 10, and they’re growing up increasingly online. Your kid argues rightly they need it if they expect to have an active social life, but as their parent your only concern is their safety online. Their iPhone is a tool that can access almost any content from anywhere in the world. One wrong swipe can expose them to terrible things.

Adult content, cyberbullying, and even sexting are now things you have to worry about. Your knee-jerk reaction may be to refuse them this gift, but denying them an iPhone won’t lock the door for good. With their peers using phones in and out of the class room, they’ll be able to access social media, apps, and the Internet away from your watchful eye.

An iPhone can expose your children to things you’d rather shield them from, but they’re also invaluable tools that can help them exceed in class and in the life. The number of children using smartphones will only continue to increase. Denying them an iPhone now only delays the inevitable to a time when you won’t be able to control what they see.

So a brand-new iPhone is on the shopping list year, but that’s not the end of your responsibilities. If you expect to help them with their very first smartphone, use the following guide to make sure you’re doing it right.

Be Open With Your Concerns

There’s no harm in explaining why you hesitated over fulfilling their wish this year. Be honest without patronizing them. Explain that you worry about who they talk to online or what type of content they access. Bring up online sexuality and cyberbullying. These subjects may be difficult to talk about, but as cases of cyberbullying and sexting are on the rise, it’s important they understand their rights and their responsibilities. Brainstorm together proper phone usage and outline online etiquette. The next social media app to blow up is still a mystery, but make sure they know what they should and shouldn’t share on Snapchat, Instagram, or Facebook.

Use Parental Controls Carefully

Kanye West provides a good example of what not to do with your child. When North was still a baby, Kanye let his son play around with his phone. Without any parental locks, North spent hundreds of dollars on the App Store. Even though he filed for personal bankruptcy, Kanye is better prepared for this shocking bill than you are. Enable parental controls to make sure your child can’t charge things without your permission.

You’ll want to straddle the line between reasonable limitations and constant monitoring. Their phone is personal, and some of the things they’ll Google, text, or record aren’t meant for you to see. Respect their privacy and only engage those controls that will protect them or your wallet. Depending on your provider, you’ll be able to disable inappropriate apps, control data usage, and lock their phone after a certain amount of time to make sure they aren’t glued to their screens when they should be sleeping.

Protect the phone

If you do it right, they won’t be glued to their phone all hours of the day. That means their iPhone will be along for the ride as they climb the jungle gym or do cart wheels in the backyard. iPhones aren’t cheap, even if you ignore the latest 8 series for an older generation like the 6s.

You won’t always be there to remind them to be careful, but a protective vinyl covering is the next best thing. An iPhone skin covers the device with a scratch- and grime-free, water resistant layer that can stand up to whatever your kid puts it through. Don’t worry about it falling off in the middle of a game of tag. When you order skins from dbrand, they come with 3M technology to provide the best fit possible. You can order iPhone 6 skins at dbrand.com using their skin builder and cash in on their free worldwide delivery.

Be Prepared To Lay Down The Law

Your understanding of appropriate screen time is probably a lot different than theirs, so don’t be surprised if it becomes a common argument between the two of you. Ultimately, you paid for the phone and you’re paying the bills, so you have the final say. Make sure they understand your expectations by outlining when, where, and how often they’re allowed to use it. Most importantly, make sure you lead by example. If the rule is no phone at dinner, then don’t leave yours by your plate.

An iPhone is just the start of the long list of “grown-up” things your child will want in the future. Don’t freak out and try to shelter them from this next step. This kind of behaviour only works against you as it forces your child to explore the online world away from your protection. See it as an opportunity to get closer with your kid. Once they’re primed with the rules of the phone, you can challenge them to a dual on Candy Crush Soda Saga and bond over shared selfies with the dog.