Our 2 elder kids are in Primary 4 and 5 this year. Their workload is certainly more intense as compared to their lower primary days. We began prepping our kids for their exams more than one month in advance.
Sharing some of our tips here that I hope you will find useful.
Start Early, Revise In Bite Size
The Upper Primary syllabus is content-heavy. There is a great deal to remember and master.
Learning from my past mistakes, I conscientiously started them with their revisions from Week 3 of Term 2 this April. The revisions were in bite-size, chapter by chapter.
No matter what, they are still kids who prioritize play over work. Compelling them to sit at their desk for long hours every day to complete school assignments and parent-assigned homework does no good to their mental health.
Furthermore, some kids, like one of mine, cannot even focus for more than one hour because they are born with short attention span. Thus I have learnt to keep every learning session short but focused and compact.
We first read through the content-heavy textbooks, especially for Science, to ensure that they have grasped the basis understanding of each chapter. For Chinese, I prefer to go straight into their Chinese characters flashcards. This is to test them on their understanding and ability to recognise and write the words they have learned in school.
To ensure that they have a good understanding of the various topics, we work through the assessment books and the e-learning platforms powered with AI capabilities that highlight the kids’ weakness to parents.
2 weeks before the exams, we commenced on past years’ exams paper. This will get them accustomed to the assessment formats and requirements.
Balance Work and Play
We don’t work all day because all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
If you follow my blog regularly, you can probably tell we play a lot, especially in the outdoors. I love to set aside time over the weekends to give the kids some time in the greenery, whether it is a round of playground or a hike in the forest. As the exam dates approach, we go for a quick dip in the pool to chill out instead.
Let the Kids Have a Say in the Study Plan
I have also realized that as kids mature, they want a say in their life. Giving them choices works better as motivation as compared to the top-down approach that we parents typically use when the kids were much younger.
Thus this year, I sat down with the two big kids to work out their study plan. This method went especially well with my P5 boy who lined up his revision schedule with some thought. He even made an effort to set aside more time for his weaker areas.
As a result, I had an easier time getting the kids off their butts to start their revision.
Serving Them Nutritious Food
Other than ensuring that they have at least 9 hours of sleep every day for healthy brain development, I serve them balanced meals every day.
But kids are picky eater! I am pretty sure that mine need more nutrients simply because some of them love more carbohydrates while a rare one loves vegetables more than meat. So are they having sufficient protein intake?
Protein is one of the essential nutrients required for the body to function and maintain optimal health. This is more so for growing kids.
Proteins are made of up amino acids, and it acts as the building blocks of the body and support a healthy immune system. It combats fatigue and boosts energy level, and is essential for bone health, and brain health!
Amino acids are categorized into 2 groups, essential and non-essential. Essential amino acids cannot be produced by the body and are only obtainable through food. Thus, it is important that we consume sufficient proteins to ensure our overall well-being.
I slow-cook bone broth for the family almost every day. According to the TCM perspective, the traditional slow-boiling method is more effective in bringing out the nutritional properties of the ingredients.
But most families do not have the luxury of time to slow cook every day! Thus another sure-win method to ensure the kids’ sufficient protein intake is to serve them chicken essence that is loaded with a ton of protein!
We tried out Lao Xie Zhen Premium Boiled Essence of Chicken recently and to my surprise, the kids love it! I did not expect such a positive response from them. For as long as I can remember, I did not have a good impression of the bottles of chicken essence that my mum forced me to drink when I was young.
In fact, Lao Xie Zhen Premium Boiled Essence of Chicken tasted so good that the brand has been voted the Best Chicken Essence for Nourishment for 4 years consecutively in Singapore.
Lao Xie Zhen Premium Boiled Essence of Chicken
With over 90 years of experience, Lao Xie Zhen developed its own unique slow-boiling method (熬工法). This allows a more comprehensive extraction of nutrients, making every drop of essence truly precious!
Lao Xie Zhen Premium Boiled Essence of Chicken undergoes 8 hours of traditional slow-boiling method accompanied with advanced hydration technology for a more comprehensive extraction of nutrients. I slow boil my soup too. But I have no doubt that Lao Xie Zhen has the technology which is not available in my home kitchen to extract and retain most of the nutrients.
I am pretty particular about the source of food. Hence, I am also happy to know that Lao Xie Zhen uses only the second generation free-range hens (老母鸡) that are at least 12 months old. These type of chickens have the highest nutritional value.
Furthermore, Lao Xie Zhen Chicken Essence does not contain preservatives, additives, artificial flavourings, antibiotics and plasticizer residue. It is 100% natural, zero fats and cholesterol.
As the chickens are paired with a small amount of premium pork ribs, the taste and nutritional content of the chicken essence is further enhanced. No wonder my kids love the drink so much. Indeed, it does not taste like the other brands which I have tried before.
Lao Xie Zhen Premium Boiled Essence of Chicken – Easy to Prepare
I love Lao Xie Zhen’s fuss-free and top-grade package. It is so easy that my big kids can access the product easily on their own every morning too.
Lao Xie Zhen uses Japan’s patented four-layer opaque packaging and advanced sterilization sealing method to ensure the nutrients are well preserved naturally. There is no preservatives in the product despite of its long shelf life of 18 months!
To enjoy the benefits of the chicken essences, simply put a sachet into a cup of hot water for 3 minutes to warm up the drink. Pour the contents into a cup and enjoy! I should probably start taking the product regularly to compensate for the lack of sleep and aging body!
Want to know more about Lao Xie Zhen Premium Boiled Essence of Chicken? Check out the links below!
Website: https://haoyikang.sg/
Apply coupon code MEL5 for a $5 discount for chicken essence purchase before 30 June 2021.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/haoyikang.SG
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/haoyikang/
Disclosure: The post is written in collaboration with Hao Yi Kang, but opinions are entirely my own.
