June 2013 What he wants Think beyond the tie Balancing act Keep in touch when duty calls Building blocks A trip to Legoland Celebrity spotlight: Annabel Karmel dishes with us about her newest book! editor-iN-ChieF Tracey Starr t: 2201 9710 e: [email protected] PUBLIcations diRector Jo Allum t: 2201 9719 e: [email protected] AdVertiSing ACCOuNT MANAGeR Brian Tang: Florence Choy Wan Travel-writing contest finalist t: 2201 9721 Brian was born on a tropical island just north of the e: [email protected] equator and grew up both there as well as in the suburbs on the edge of a desert of red sand. Trained as a lawyer to combine words AdVertiSing ACCOuNT MANAGeR and deeds, Brian has lived and worked in the heart of (arguably) the world’s Vanessa Leuenberger financial capital, as well as the perennial hotbed of high-tech innovation, t: 2201 9711 e: [email protected] before moving to our fragrant harbour. Now a father of two boys, Brian is a hands-on dad who is on his son’s PTA board and hopes to help children better appreciate our wonderful world and want to make it better. AdVertiSing ACCOuNT MANAGeR Narelle edwards e: [email protected] AdVertiSing ACCOuNT MANAGeR Vanisha Khem t: 2201 9724 e: [email protected] Art diRector Timmy ho Nic Parker Nic grew up in Clear Water Bay and attended Boundary Junior School and King George V School. It was in secondary school that she decided to strive GraphiC deSigneR eman Lam for a career as a speech and language therapist because the “speechies” she met at a career fair talked passionately about their profession. So, after high school, it was off to London for university to see what those ladies had been talking about. Thirteen years on, Nic herself is LAyOuT Artist still as passionate about speech therapy as those ladies she met when she Tania ho was 16, and thinks of her job as the chance to play all day and call it work. After working in London, Auckland and Sydney, she returned to Sai Kung with her young family and started her own speech, language and literacy CeO practice – True Communication – which provides therapy services to the david Tait local community. t: 2201 9727 e: [email protected] FOR Subscriptions & distribuTion t: 2201 9716 CONTRIBUTORS: Melanie Adamson; Orla breeze; Aquin dennison- Mathew; Rennie Fensham; Gillian Johnston; ingird Keneally; Rachel Kenney; elle Kwan; Katie McGregor; Jill Mortensen; Nic Parker; Priscilla Soligo; brian Tang; Nury Vittachi PubLiShed by: PPP Company Ltd, unit 713, Level 7, Core e Cyberport 3, 100 Cyberport Road Cyberport, hong Kong Tel: +852 2201 9716 PRiNTED by: Paramount Printing Company Ltd. in hong Kong iSSN 1726-183X Published by PPP Company Limited. The publication is sold on the understanding that the publisher, advertisers, contributors and their employees are not responsible for the results of any actions, errors or omissions taken on the basis of information contained in this publication. The publisher, advertisers, contributors and their employees expressly disclaim all and any liability to any person, whether a purchaser of the publication or not, in respect of any action or omission or the consequences of any action or omission by any such person, whether whole or partial, upon the whole or part of the contents of this publication. All rights reserved, 2012 PPP Company Limited. No part of this work, covered by the publisher’s copyright may be reproduced in any form by any means, graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or information storage and retrieval, without the written permission of the publisher. Any unauthorised use of this publication will result in immediate legal proceedings. June 2013 1 welcome Tracey and her awesome dad, 1976 ey, dads – this month we’re talking especially to you. We know that many of you are out there, reading faithfully each month, and that sometimes we get a bit focused on the mum- H stuff. We’re delighted to have you aboard, though, and this month we’re celebrating your special day with lots of articles that we hope will appeal to you. Does your work require frequent travel? Read on for tips on helping your kids cope with your absences. Are you expecting your first baby soon? If you’re struggling a bit to find a new role in your growing family, we’ve got expert advice inside. Have you received one too many ties for past Father’s Day gifts? We’ve got a feature inside that you can show to your wife and kids to lead them down the road to a better, more meaningful gift – one that doesn’t cost a thing. One feature this month that’s for you, but not directed at you, hit particularly close to home for me. In her light-hearted, but always insightful way, Orla Breeze calls mums out on the need to apologise. In my home, I’ve got a pesky habit of assuming my hubby needs my input on every little thing. Now, my husband is both smart and competent: so confident am I about his abilities that I entrusted both of our futures to him when we up and moved to Shanghai ten years ago. And yet, with a dish towel in his hand, or a tip to contemplate at a restaurant, I’m continually sure he needs me to tell him what to do. Yes, this is as unnecessary as it is overbearing. Luckily, he doesn’t bother complaining, but rather goes about tackling those daily tasks with the same skill and competence with which he manages multi-million dollar deals at the office. I think I’m going to pin Orla’s piece up on the fridge, for all those times I need a little reminder. Today and every day, we’re glad for the husbands and dads in our lives, and the whole team at Playtimes wishes all of you a very happy Father’s Day! Thanks for reading, Tracey Starr, Editor-in-Chief 2 Playtimes June 2013 FROM70 DUDE TO DAD 82 NETWORK SUPPORT 60 WHAT A DAD WANts news 26 OOPS, I DID IT AGAIN! Although sorry seems to be the hardest 8 WHAT’S ON word to say, it’s time we mums gave it a go. A look at what’s going on this month 28 IN YOUR OPINION 10 HOT OFF THE PRESS Readers’ thoughts on timely topics Hip new shops, services and products resources 20 FINGER ON THE PULSE Relevant news from around the world 30 TOY BOX Toys that teach and amuse 22 ECO HERO Ideas and products for greener living 32 BOOKSHELF Perfect picks for reading together advice 34 HAPPY CAMPERS Oodles of options for kids’ summer camps Photography 24 BEAUTY 101 Top tips for dads Melanie Adamson 118 STOCKISTS See something you like? We’ll tell you where Model to get it. Tommy Clothes Tommy wears striped collared shirt, $955, grey cardigan with detail, $1,350, grey thin tie, $900, and check shorts, $1,175, all Bookshelf from Bonpoint. pg 32 Toy Box Eco Hero pg 30 pg 22 June 2013 5 June 2013 SNACK 111 ATTACK! 100 OLD SCHOOL’S GOING THE NEW 64 DISTANCE features 54 IN HER OWN WORDS: 78 RAINBOW CONNECTION 94 TRAVEL-WRITING CONTEST FINALIST: ANNABEL KARMEL How do you help multicultural children BUILT FOR FUN Celebrity chef Annabel Karmel dishes identify with both parents’ cultures? If you’ve got a Lego fan in your family, to editor-in-chief Tracey Starr about Asia’s first Legoland is well worth a trip. her newest cookbook and her ideas for 82 NETWORK SUPPORT encouraging your mini chefs. Visual aids and apps on your 100 OLD SCHOOL’S NEW smartphones, tablets and gadgets We take inspiration from the 1960s 60 WHAT A DAD WANTS can help you handle your young child’s and style up the classic silhouette of Take the faff out of Father’s Day. behaviour difficulties. shirts, ties and shorts. 64 GOING THE DISTANCE 86 YOUNG AT HEART 111 SNACK ATTACK! With business trips now a normal Can we protect our little girls from Whip up some healthy snacks, with requirement for many parents, how can growing up too fast? recipes from gourmet raw food chef families keep their bonds intact? and mum Priscilla Soligo. 92 BLIND FAITH 70 FROM DUDE TO DAD Hong Kong’s Ebenezer School and Home 128 LAST WORD Finding a role in the new family unit isn’t for the Visually Impaired has grown into a Being a dad gives us superpowers, always easy for Dad. lifesaver for thousands of families. writes father-of-three Nury Vittachi. 6 Playtimes June THE HOttEST HAPPENINGS AROUND TOWN until 16 6 Faust Festival Catch young and talented actors as they perform on stage and share SHK Private and Top Schools host a The children of KinderU Suzuki Music their passion. Learn more about the seminar on education planning, including Academy play Bach and Beethoven at performances at www.faustworld.com. finding a place and paying for it. Email their Grand Concert at Hong Kong Baptist Buy tickets at www.urbtix.hk. [email protected] to book. University. Click www.suzukihk.org. 9 15 Experienced international school headmaster Neil Richards MBE presents “Educating Children in the 21st Century” at the SMART Investment & International Property Expo. Visit www.smartexpos.com. Learn about the effects of pregnancy on joints, muscular and neural systems, and posture, and what you can do to mitigate them. Click www.geckoyoga.com.