2007/11/24

photos of the old NPCC days

Here are some photos of the old NPCC days brought by our Alumni member during the 24 Nov 2007 NPCC Alumni Annual Dinner (Year-end BBQ party):





Thank you Mr J. P. David for the sharing which brings us the sweet memory of our old times...

2007/11/22

Self-control

Teaching children to practice self-control has life-long benefits
by Gregory Ramey, PhD, child psychologist at Dayton Children's and Dayton Daily News columnist

What would happen if you put a marshmallow in front of your 4-year-old and gave him a choice? He can eat the marshmallow immediately or wait 15 minutes and get two marshmallows. What would he do?

In a series of experiments in the 1970s, researcher Walter Mischel studied self-control in young children. Four-year-olds were left alone in a room with a single marshmallow and told to ring a bell when they wanted the adult to return.

Some youngsters ate the one marshmallow immediately, while others used various distraction techniques and waited 15 minutes so as to get two treats. Researchers studied these two groups of students again when they graduated from high school and found significant differences between the groups.

Preschoolers who demonstrated high levels of self-control at age 4 did significantly better in high school. In comparison with their impulsive counterparts, the self-control students achieved higher levels of academic success, scored 200 points higher on their SATs and were rated higher on social competence and dependability.
The ability to say "no" to something good today for the sake of something better tomorrow is critical to your personal and professional success. [see more results here for consequence adult outcomes of self-control kids]

Why is self-control important?

Psychologists refer to this skill as self-control, the willingness to delay immediate gratification. Musicians practice endless hours to perform a single piece of music. Students study instead of watch TV. Athletes devote years of their lives to prepare for an Olympic event that may last only a few minutes.

The concepts of self-control, delayed gratification and discipline seem so counter to our cultural values. We use our credit cards because we want things right away. We become inpatient if we wait more than a few moments at a drive-through McDonalds. We eat ourselves into obesity and poor health because it feels good, with little consideration of the long-term consequences.

The good news is that self-control is not an inborn trait, but a skill that can be taught and nurtured at an early age.

Helping your child achieve self-control

- Talk about self-control. Don’t be reluctant to talk about the importance of discipline and delayed gratification. Don’t lecture your children on this issue, but teach them strategies they can use to be successful. In the Marshmallow Studies, successful 4-year-olds didn’t focus about the treat, but instead distracted themselves by thinking about other things. Preaching to your child to shut off the TV and go study won’t work. Instead, teach them strategies to organize their time so they finish segments of their work before they reward themselves with TV or video games.

- Reward delayed gratification. It’s hard at times to study, practice piano or do football drills. Acknowledge your child’s efforts and specifically praise their willingness to work hard at something that won’t have immediate positive consequences. For high school students, encourage them to save some of the money they earn. One parent agreed to double whatever money her daughter saved in the bank over one year.

- Model good behavior. Talk about your own strategies to achieve self-control. “I really feel like some ice cream right now, but…I want to lose some weight so let’s not keep any ice cream in the freezer.” Talk about what strategies you use to be successful. “I’m trying to watch less TV, so I plan one 15-minute activity I want to accomplish every night before I turn on the TV.”

Let your child see the human side of you. From childhood through adulthood, we all grapple with issues of self-control and discipline, and sometimes fail more often than we’d like. Talking about the importance of this skill and effective strategies are key in helping your children achieve the freedom of self-control.

Related Articles:
Teaching Your Child Self-Control
A few suggestions on how you can help your child learn to control his or her behavior.

SHARED PARENTING – GREAT DADDY

Here’s an educational talk by Mr Wong Suen Kwong, who kindly volunteered his own time to educate the public. Feel free to bring your family and as many friends as you wish to attend.

This Saturday, 24 Nov at 7.30pm-9pm

VENUE: Seminar Hall
#02-04 Haw Par Technocentre (use Lift at Lobby A)
401 Commonwealth Drive Singapore 149598
[click here for map]

ADMISSION: FREE & all parents and teenagers are welcome

CAR PARK: Within Haw Par Technocentre – lot of lots!

MRT: Commonwealth MRT (3min walk to Haw Par Technocentre)

Mr Wong Suen Kwong, or simply Suen, is one of 3 co-founders of Centre For Fathering and the key man championing responsible fatherhood in Singapore since 1999. He has developed so many fun and innovative programs that allow fathers and their children to bond together strongly like cement. Suen uses all kinds of adventures, games and creative activities to not only enhance relationship between fathers and children, but also inject new interests and shared experiences. In this talk, Suen will share new age insights on fun fathering and tips on shared parenthood.

There are simple tricks, FREE ones, to learn that fathers will appreciate for a lifetime, because these tricks are effective, performance guaranteed and absolutely fun!

This talk is FREE and are purely educational in nature, and the takeaways are simply invaluable!

[The Centre For Fathering won the Outstanding New Initiative Award from National Volunteer Centre during the Inaugural National Volunteerism awards presented by the then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong on 5th Dec 2001.]

2007/11/10

Tan Ching Yam

Dr Tan Ching Yam (陈清业博士), a life member of NPCC Alumni, is a talented and multi-skilled artist who has won many awards for his Calligraphy and Chinese finger paintings. A regular participant in Singapore and overseas exhibitions, Dr Tan has received many commendations and was awarded Gold medals in 1995 and 1996 by “Henan Research Institute of Chinese Painting and Calligraphy”.

Being an Honorary Academician,he is an active Writer cum Art Educator, especially for his excellence in Finger Painting. He learned finger painting from the famous finger painter, Mr. Wu Tsai Yen. For the past 25 years, Dr Tan has participated in many Group Art Exhibition in Seoul (Korea), Japan, Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou, Luoyang, Anhui, Anyang, Hangzhou, etc.

In the last 15 years, Dr Tan has put up 4 Solo Art Exhibitions on Finger Painting, each with one theme:
1. New Zealand scene – Maori Culture
2. Historical Buildings in Singapore;
3. Portraits on Great People in Singapore;
4. Love for Animals.

Dr Tan was invited by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) to demonstrate Finger Painting in New Zealand for three times (1992,1993 & 1997) and had won International Award for Excellence in Finger Painting from several countries:
  • Netaji Award, India, 2003

  • Albert Schweitzer (International Foundation - England, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain) Gold Medal Award, 2006

  • Achievement of art and works selected by Publishing House of Almanac of Global Media in Chinese, Beijing, 2006,

  • Reference Asia (1995)

  • Asia Pacific Who’s Who (1998)

  • Asian America –Who’s Who (2002)

  • Awarded Overseas Art Consultant, China (2006)

  • Awarded Art Consultant in Hospital / Chairman for Senior Citizen Calligraphy & Painting Society, Singapore, 2006
Dr Tan is also the Secretary for Bt Timah Community Club Literary Centre and a Committee Member for the Federation of Art Societies, Singapore. He has conducted a Solo Art Exhibition and participated in various groups Art Exhibition locally and overseas. His paintings have been collected by the University Library Curator and by Museums locally & Overseas.

Dr Tan was appointed a Research Fellow of ABI in 2006.

Academic Background
  • Nanyang University - BA,1966

  • Jordanhill College - MOE scholarship, Overseas Post Graduate Course

  • Certificate of Edn,1978-1979

  • Curtin University (WA) - Certificate of Art Edn, 2001

  • NAFA - Advanced Chinese Painting Course, 1992-1993

  • Teachers’ Training College, Singapore (Certificate of Edn, 1968)

  • Cultural Doctorate (Literature),World University, California, USA, 2005
Honour, Prizes, Awards
  • Long Service Award (38 years of dedicated service in education) by MOE, Singapore , 2004

  • Calligraphy awarded by Dr Tan Tsze Chor Art Award (2002)

  • Painting Awarded Gold Medal by The Research Inst.of Zhongyuan for Chinese Painting & Calligraphy (2002)
Being an award-winning local artist, arts educator, and writer, Dr Tan is also listed in "Singapore Artists", "Database of Singapore Writers", and National Arts Council Arts Education Programme.

Reaching outAs part of Alexandra Hospital’s Art Therapy programme, elderly patients gather for Chinese painting classes taught by volunteer Dr Tan Ching Yam, and aided by a group of student volunteers from the Singapore Chinese Girls’ School (SCGS).

New Zealand Herald, June 1992
New Zealand Herald, June 1992
New Zealand Herald, August 1993
New Zealand Herald, August 1993
Straits Times, September 1994
Straits Times, September 1994
Straits Times, March 1995
Straits Times, March 1995
Shin Min Daily, Jan 2003
Shin Min Daily, Jan 2003
Challenge - Reaching out
随笔南洋
Federation of Art Societies
Art Empire Gallery