September 2024

Does your child cry if you are away for a short period of time? Separation anxiety is a normal part of young children’s development between the ages of 6 months and 3 years. However, it can be difficult when dropping off your child at a nursery or a new environment.

In an exclusive interview, Ms. Carol Cheung, a registered music therapist from Humansa, shared how music therapy can help in parenting:

1. What is music therapy?
   Music therapy refers to the use of music, including melody, rhythm, lyrics and musical instruments, to achieve therapeutic goals such as easing anxiety and depression.

2. How does music help ease children’s separation anxiety?
   Music can be combined with role-play to help children practise how to say goodbye and welcome their parents back. For example, singing familiar kids’ songs with a known structure and rewritten lyrics (e.g. mummy is going to work/coming home) repeatedly can help children be aware of why parents are leaving and when they will come back. Including words like ‘goodbye’ in the lyrics can also help desensitise the sadness or unpleasantness of departure.

3. How can we use songs at home to empower our children?
   Parents can rewrite the lyrics with positive words (e.g. I am brave) and sing it with their children every day. This can raise their self-confidence and resilience.

(The opinions expressed by the interviewee do not necessarily reflect the views of the organiser.)

VPP parents and students recently participated in a parent-child workshop at the dental clinic, where they received valuable advice from dentists on keeping children’s teeth healthy! There are some frequently asked questions:

1.  At what age should children start visiting the dentist?
   Children should start visiting the dentist as soon as they learn to talk and develop memory. Early visits prevent negative first impressions associated with dental problems.
2.  How should we help children brush their teeth? Should we use toothpaste?
   Let children brush their teeth on their own first, then assist them if needed. Typically, children need help until around age 6. Use fluoride-free toothpaste for young children to avoid accidental swallowing.
3.  Must children’s decayed teeth be removed?
   Generally, cavities are treated with filling materials rather than removing the decayed tooth. Keeping milk teeth is crucial for the proper eruption of permanent teeth.

(The opinions expressed by the interviewee do not necessarily reflect the views of the organiser.)