https://www.scmp.com/rss/306320/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com I keep hearing about the importance of "critical thinking skills". What are they and how can I help my son develop them? Probably the best way of understanding critical thinking skills is to start with the idea of not taking things at face value. We are in a period of rapid change, bombarded with vast quantities of data and critical thinking skills are vital as they help us sift through information and produce intelligent responses. I teach students from both local and international schools and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/1858054/how-critical-thinking-skills-can-prepare-your-child-wider-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/1858054/how-critical-thinking-skills-can-prepare-your-child-wider-world?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 14 Sep 2015 16:58:10 +0000 We have recently noticed an outbreak in bad language from some of our younger students. Boys we have known for years and who attend a respected local school have suddenly started using language that would make a sailor blush. One of my teachers managed to find the source of the problem: the children had seen the film Ted 2. For anyone unfamiliar with the Ted series, the main characters are a foul-mouthed living teddy bear and his hapless sidekick. Together they spend their lives smoking... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/1854085/class-action-why-ted-movies-are-bad-influence-speech-and-values-children?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/1854085/class-action-why-ted-movies-are-bad-influence-speech-and-values-children?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 31 Aug 2015 12:00:15 +0000 My wife and I are different nationalities, and we would like our children to to grow up with an appreciation for both our cultures. Is this going to be possible? Children of bicultural expat families growing up in Hong Kong are not just experiencing two cultures; they are also part of a third culture. The term third-culture kids was coined by John and Ruth Hill Useem to describe children growing up, often within an expat or missionary world, in a culture which is not their own. These children... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-education/article/1576096/class-action-how-help-your-child-appreciate-different?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-education/article/1576096/class-action-how-help-your-child-appreciate-different?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Aug 2014 09:15:30 +0000 How can I help my young son develop better social skills? He is often awkward in company and can appear to be rude. I don't want him to develop bad habits. Children are extremely adaptable. Some will observe their environment and work out the best behaviour, and others will try different approaches and adapt based on the reaction they receive. The problem is that sometimes first impressions count, so rather than having to deal with the consequences of poor first impressions, it is easier to... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-education/article/1566286/class-action-importance-teaching-children-good-social?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-education/article/1566286/class-action-importance-teaching-children-good-social?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 Aug 2014 01:45:15 +0000 Unbelievably, my four-year-old son is about to have a school interview. And I have no idea how to prepare him Unlike Abu Dhabi, which recently banned kindergarten interviews on the grounds that they increased pressure on parents, the junior interview practice is still thriving in Hong Kong. Interviews can cause an inordinate amount of stress to parents, and it is vital that your concerns are not transmitted to your son. When I speak to schools and kindergartens, they explain that the purpose of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-education/article/1554109/kindergarten-interviews-can-be-stressful-parents-children?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-education/article/1554109/kindergarten-interviews-can-be-stressful-parents-children?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Jul 2014 01:21:22 +0000 My son is taking literature exams soon and doesn't seem to be familiar with the texts. He has never been a big reader and is in a real panic To excel in literature-based exams, you need to be familiar with the set texts and the themes they explore. Some students cling to the belief that reading the literary works is unnecessary and potted summaries contain all the information they will ever need. There is a place for these summaries in the bigger study plan, but a sole reliance on them is... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-education/article/1534126/class-action-theres-no-shortcut-success-literature-exams?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-education/article/1534126/class-action-theres-no-shortcut-success-literature-exams?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Jun 2014 02:01:38 +0000 I am taking public exams this year. I have piles of revision notes and don't know where to start. Any advice? In a previous article, I wrote about creating a revision timetable based on breaking down your courses into topics. Once this process has been completed, you need to assemble your course notes, study guides and textbooks. Traditional note taking consists of creating pages of liner summaries of your work. There is a value to this technique, but we are going to enhance it. Unless you are... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-education/article/1482166/class-action-organising-your-revision-notes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-education/article/1482166/class-action-organising-your-revision-notes?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Apr 2014 02:25:55 +0000 My children have school interviews next year, and I want to start planning now. What can I do? An interview is a brief opportunity to display a lifetime of learning. Students are expected to be able to interact with strangers and present themselves in a positive light. This is challenging at any age but is particularly daunting for a young child. Without focusing on either interviews or schools, you can start to build up your children's social and cultural skills so that they are prepared for... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-education/article/1252612/how-help-your-child-succeed-school-interview?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-education/article/1252612/how-help-your-child-succeed-school-interview?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Jun 2013 16:00:00 +0000