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Straits Times
13-07-2025
- Straits Times
Fun With Kids: SG60 Changi Airport charity walk, The Smurfs books, Lego sets for girls
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Walk for a cause at the SG60 Changi Airport Charity Walk and also get a Mr Merlion or Buddy Bear mini plush keychain. SINGAPORE – Make family time all the more special with these ideas and activities. SG60 Changi Airport Charity Walk Walk for a cause at the SG60 Changi Airport Charity Walk on July 27. This 2km family-friendly evening stroll begins at Terminal 2's Race Village, winds along the Changi Airport Connector and concludes at the Finisher Carnival at Terminal 4. Along the route, enjoy interactive trivia stations and local treats such as ice-cream sandwiches and gem biscuits. All event proceeds will go to Community Chest Singapore's programmes for children with special needs and youth-at-risk. Changi Foundation will match the sum raised dollar for dollar, up to $60,000. Registration fees are $60 a person, $110 for two or $180 for four. Each sign-up includes an event T-shirt and a bag, and finishers will receive a medallion and a Mr Merlion or Buddy Bear mini plush keychain. Can't make it on July 27? Sign up for the free 60km virtual challenge and complete your walk or run anywhere, any time by Aug 31 to show your support for the initiative. Go to for more details. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Government looking at enhancing laws around vaping to tackle issue of drug-laced vapes in Singapore Singapore Why the vape scourge in Singapore concerns everyone Singapore I lost my daughter to Kpod addiction: Father of 19-year-old shares heartbreak and lessons Singapore Organised crime groups pushing drug-laced vapes in Asia including Singapore: UN Asia Why China's high-end hotels are setting up food stalls outside their doors Business MOM, tripartite body, employment tribunals helping 29 Jollibean workers recover unpaid salaries Singapore Geothermal energy present in S'pore, but greater study on costs, stability needed, say experts Singapore Driver arrested after 66-year-old woman dies in car crash at Geylang pasar malam The Smurfs picture book series Singapore author Ruth Wan-Lau (second from right) translated 12 Smurfs stories from French into English. She is seen here with Mr Max Phua (far right), managing director of World Scientific Publishing, and staff members from Peyo Company at the 2024 Frankfurt Book Fair. PHOTO: WS EDUCATION Computer-animated musical Smurfs opens in cinemas on July 17. It stars American pop star Rihanna as the voice of Smurfette, who leads the little blue creatures on a quest to save Papa Smurf (John Goodman). Beyond the big screen, your kids can continue their adventures with the Smurfs through a series of picture books, which have a unique Singapore connection. The Smurfs were originally conceived as French comic characters by Belgian cartoonist Pierre Culliford, known as Peyo, in 1958, with further development by his studio. Now, 12 of these stories have been translated into English for the first time by Singaporean Ruth Wan-Lau. Wan-Lau, a publisher at World Scientific Education and author of the Timmy & Tammy picture book series (2014 to present), met the Peyo Company at the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2023 and 2024. She told The Straits Times that she enjoyed translating the 'very funny and interesting' stories and ensured that the English versions were suitable for kids aged three to eight. Six titles, including The Smurfs Turn Black, are now available and another six are slated for release in 2026. PHOTO: WS EDUCATION Six titles, including The Smurfs Turn Black and The Attack Of The Howling Bird, are now available at $9.90 each or $25 for a set of three at major bookstores and via its e-shop on Shopee ( ). These books will also be sold in Malaysia and Indonesia. Another six titles are slated for release in 2026. Lego sets for girls Disney fans will adore new building sets like the Lucky and Penny 101 Dalmatians Puppies, suitable for children aged six and up. Findings from Lego's research show that girls and mums often undervalue their building skills compared with boys and dads. PHOTO: THE LEGO GROUP Findings from The Lego Group's recent research show that girls and mums often undervalue their building skills compared with boys and dads. The survey of 32,605 parents and children in 21 countries reveals gender stereotypes around building. This disparity stems from perception that 'builders' are heavily associated with men (39 per cent) and boys playing with blocks (36 per cent). Some 80 per cent of adults believe boys are inherently better builders, leading to 70 per cent of girls struggling to see themselves as good at building. To foster creative confidence in girls, the Lego Group has released a new range of building sets designed to appeal to varied interests. The Lego Creator Typewriter with Flowers is a versatile set which can be reassembled into a keytar or a flowerpot. PHOTO: THE LEGO GROUP Among the collection is the Lego Creator Typewriter with Flowers ($47.90), a versatile set for kids aged eight and above. It can be reassembled into a keytar or a flower pot. Disney fans will adore sets such as the Lucky and Penny 101 Dalmatians Puppies ($34.90), suitable for children aged six and up. Find these sets at Lego-certified stores, official stores on Lazada, Shopee and Amazon, and at major retailers and department stores.
BBC News
06-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Celebral palsy: Headteacher who gives families 'hope,' gets special medal
The head of a unique County Tyrone school for children with cerebral palsy has been awarded one of Hungary's highest state Veres, from the Buddy Bear School, has received the Silver Cross of Merit of from Hungary, Ms Veres has lived in Dungannon for more than 30 Buddy Bear Trust School is the only one of its kind in Northern Ireland. First opened in 1993, the independent school relies on grants, fundraising and donations in order to palsy is a condition caused by a problem in the parts of a baby's brain used to control the can lead to symptoms like difficulty in walking or controlling movement, or speech Bear is the only school in Northern Ireland to offer an approach called conductive education, which aims to teach children greater control over their Veres was presented with her award at a ceremony in Parliament Buildings, Stormont by the Hungarian Ambassador in London, Dr Ferenc received the Silver Cross of Merit for her dedication to helping children with cerebral palsy. 'Very few facilities for these children' It is the first time the award has been given to someone in Northern and pupils, as well as Claire Sugden MLA and Baroness Foster, attended the Veres told BBC News NI receiving the Silver Cross of Merit was "a very humbling experience"."The school is important to the parents and the children," she said."From the early years there is very little facilities for these children, very few and far between therapies."At the Buddy Bear school we can work with those children from three months on."She said the school gave families "hope".And that is how parents Joanne and Neville Reid from Banbridge 13-year-old son Jack has cerebral palsy and has attended Buddy Bear since he was six months old."Jack wouldn't be here without that support and help that the school has given him throughout his difficult start in life and throughout his journey," Neville Reid said."We would be lost without the school and the intervention that they provide."The daily intervention is critical for children with cerebral palsy like Jack." No words to describe her impact Joanne Reid said she did not "have enough words to describe the impact" Ms Veres and the school had on Jack and the family."From the very first day we visited the school she was able to tell us the things that would help Jack," she said."She has tried everything with him."Ms Reid said the school, which does not receive core funding from the Education Authority (EA), needed "all the support that they can get.""We had to go through a tribunal to get Jack into the school," she said."It's vital for the other parents coming along after us that the school is still there." Mary Frances Loughran, whose son Finn attends the school, said it is a "lifeline for parents"."It's just the best place – it has so much for him," she told BBC News NI."My wee boy has come on so much in the short time he has been there. It's incredible – he's physically coming on leaps and bounds and it is such a positive mindset from when you walk through the front door," she said."It gives you so much hope for everything he is going to achieve," she added. Ms Veres first studied at the Pető Institute in Budapest where Dr Andras Pető pioneered a development programme for children and adults with cerebral she came to Dungannon, she brought that method to Buddy Hungarian Ambassador Dr Ferenc Kumin said the day was "really special"."It is a state honour that is uniquely given to those who provide a very special perfomance in the country and outside the country," he told BBC News Silver Cross of Merit is formally awarded by the President of Hungary, Dr Tamas Sulyok, but Dr Kumin travelled to Stormont to present it to Ms Veres."It is not easy to get a state honour like that," Dr Kumin said. He had previously visited Buddy Bear to meet pupils and parents and said the school had changed lives."By having this institution here, this hope started to emerge for many of these families," he said."For me it was a very revealing experience just to hear the very enthusiastic accounts of the parents, of how their lives have changed."We can point at Buddy Bear and tell the rest of the world 'look, if it is possible here, it is possible everywhere.'"
