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What are the best sport stores in Singapore? Where do you go when you have the adrenalin of the athlete pumping through your brains and you don’t have the proper equipment to rule the world with your prowess? No need to look to the trees and fashion a shoe out of bark and angsana leaves but simply head down into town and be sucked into the velocity of hundreds of sporting outlets all over the island that will leave you and soon, your competition dizzy.

Well the first thing that hits your mind are brand names like Adidas and Nike, which have striped this country and checked every possible location where any sort of human traffic will be passing through. Let’s face it, many of us have been hit by the fitness bug but no regime is complete without some sort of rubber air cooled spring shoe or ceramicool outfit to keep us fast, give us grip and windy and cool – even when the situation heats up. These famous brand names are everywhere, from old shopping centres to new fangled multi plexes like VivoCity. Their boutiques are usually quite huge and they are the ones who are on top of technology when it comes to the latest science of making you run faster than the wind and jump higher than the clouds.

There isn’t much left for me to say here because the quality of the products and the uses are pretty well spelled out in the hundreds of advertising campaigns all over T.V. Impossible is nothing and just do it are two answers you should be looking for when you think there is no way you can find the right shoe for you or if you are still contemplating whether you should join that marathon – at age 51.

But if you are looking for a wider variety and a chance to bargain, stores like World of Sports are the one stop center for every brand imaginable, from the famous to the mediocre and prices ranging to the wallet tearing to the extremely cheap and reasonable. Brands from umbro, puma, reebok are just some you can expect to come across. The good thing here is they have everything, from track pants to tennis shoes, from golf balls to latex tank tops. Everything you need to play 6 different types of sports at once is available in abundance – even to tiny details like sweat bands and caps.

Just a note to the thrifty shopper, try to head down to places like Peninsula Plaza or wholesome sporting stores in Queensway shopping centre. The prices are much cheaper and you can haggle your way to a 2 for 1 deal – if you are good enough. There isn’t enough space for me to list all the shops that are available in these margin malls but they are plenty and they are reliable, lower rent means lower prices and the deal you will be getting in some of these places are well worth the journey there.

PROBLEM SOLVING . . . it sounds like math homework. In this instance, it’s a lot more important than finding a solution to an addition equation. We’re discussing techniques to bring a solution to an issue that is running interference between two or more people. More specifically, problem solving is a simple strategy children can learn and use to find solutions to the daily problems they encounter as they go about their business of being children while growing into responsible, happy adults. When children implement problem solving skills with the peers and adults in their lives they are equipping themselves with techniques which will benefit them throughout every dimension of their present and future lives. It is our responsibility, as adults, to teach and model problem solving skills to children. It is definitely an investment in time, but the ROI (return on investment) is off the charts. Start
investing now!

Before problem solving can be taught to children, it must be understood by both parties that problem solving is a process. The process is a journey which, when finished, finds both parties happy. The key words here are process and happy. Let’s take a look at the steps to problem solving with an example of an adult and a child working through to a solution which makes both happy.

1. Assure the child that you are not saying “no” to what they want, rather you are saying there is a problem and let’s see if we can find a solution that makes you happy and me happy. “I am not saying that you cannot take your doll with you to the supermarket.”

2. State the problem; preferably the child should state the problem. It can also be important to state both views of the problem. Child’s view: “I want to take my dolly to the store so I can push her in her stroller all by myself.” Adult’s view: “It’s very busy at the store right now and I’m worried that I will lose you and your dolly.”

3. Brainstorm solutions and after each idea, ask each party if that solution makes them happy. Remember in order for a problem to be solved, both parties must be happy. Adult -”Do you have a suggestion that would make you happy and me happy?” Child – “I want to take my dolly.” Adult – “Do you have any ideas about taking your dolly so I wouldn’t worry about you getting lost?” Child – “I could hold her in the shopping cart and you could push both of us.” Adult – “Would that make you happy?” Child – “Yes!” Adult – “I like that idea. It makes me happy too.”

4. Restate the solution to verify both parties are in agreement. Child – “I’m going to take my dolly and put her in the shopping cart with me and you are going to push both of us.” Adult – “We are both happy and we have solved our problem.”

The same four steps are used in child to child problem solving. When children are new to the process, and just learning the strategies for problem solving, adults should be available to model the steps and help out with the ideas for possible solutions. As children become more experienced, they will problem solve on their own without need for adult guidance.

1. Assurance “We’re not saying that you can’t have the ball.”

2. State the Problem “There is one ball and two children that want the ball. That is a problem. Let’s think together to find a solution that makes both of you happy.”

3. Brainstorm Solutions “John’s idea is that he can have the ball first and play for five minutes and then
he’ll give you the ball. John, does that idea make you happy?” “Clair, does that idea make you happy?”
“Clair is not happy with John getting the ball first. Do either of you have another idea?” At some point the children’s list of possible solutions may run dry. The adult then can ask the children, “I have an idea. Would you like to hear it?” The parties involved should continue brainstorming until they have found an idea that makes both parties happy. This can sometimes be a lengthy process.

4. Restate the Solution “You have decided that you want to play a game of two square and both of you are happy with that idea.” It is significant to note, there are times when problem solving strategies are not plausible or possible. In such events, it is best to delay the problem solving session until later. That might mean postponing an event, putting up a toy or letting the child know this is an instance when it’s best the adult make the decision.

Through the problem solving process, children may also learn the value in time well spent. Sometimes children (and adults) get themselves into an argument they really don’t want to be in and the process of problem solving often helps them realize the silliness of their actions.

Frequently, children will tire of the process and decide they want to do something else entirely. They will agree to let the other child do whatever it was they wanted to do. That’s okay. A solution has been found and both children are happy. Even though the outcome may not have been fair to both parties, the process was completed and both parties are happy. Adults should not interfere and remember it’s the “process” that’s important for the children to learn. Children are not dumb. When there’s a problem that’s important to them, they will not give up until they reach a solution or compromise that makes them happy.

Never try to problem solve with a child (or an adult) that is angry. Thinking ceases (the thinking and reasoning part of the brain literally turns off) when the emotion of anger takes over. Give the child space and time to diffuse his/her anger. Come back to the process of problem solving once the child is calm.

It is our role as parents, educators, mentors and care-givers to equip our children with tools and techniques to empower them to live and work among others in a peaceful environment. Learning the strategies of problem solving is a key foundational element to all relationships at home, in the community and in the work place. Empower the children in your world to be the problem solvers of today and tomorrow!

Holidays are happy times…for criminals. Your property is far more vulnerable to theft than you realize during the holiday season. Let me show you some ways you can get ripped off, and how you can prevent it.

1. Christmas shopping. Many people go to malls and other shopping centers, and park their cars in the expansive parking lots. Shoppers take their packages back to their cars so they can shop more. Criminals watch this behavior and target those cars. If you leave your packages inside the car…even if it’s locked…you’re only a quick smashed window away from stolen packages. Put your packages in the trunk. I’m not saying that your packages are completely safe in the trunk. I’ve seen motivated criminals pop a trunk and get the loot within seconds. But you have a better chance if your stuff is in your trunk.

2. And while you were Christmas shopping….other criminals are stalking your neighborhoods looking for houses that look like nobody’s home. When you spend all day at a mall on the weekend, you might get a surprise when you arrive home. So, make sure that you have a monitored security system at home, and make sure it’s armed while you’re gone.

3. And when you went to Grandma’s house for a couple of days…the criminals might notice that your home is dark. Make sure you have the mail held at the Post Office, and tell your paperboy to stop delivery while you’re gone. Ask your neighbors to check on your home each day while you’re gone. Finally, call your local police and tell them the dates you will be out of town.

4. Remember that personal items stolen from your car are NOT COVERED by your auto insurance. You’ll have to submit any claim through your Homeowners or Renters insurance.

The year-end holidays can be wonderful times of family closeness, joy and deep religious meaning. Be careful and vigilant, and you stand a much better chance that your holiday won’t be spoiled by theft or burglary.

If you have experienced a property theft loss, you need to know winning insurance claim strategies. The insurance company will not tell you the claims process, but I will. I will show you how to take control of your insurance claim, and add hundreds or even thousands more dollars to your claim settlement. For more information, go to the website listed below.