Bright Kids Feb2014

8/13/2019 Bright Kids Feb2014

1/8

StarSpecialTHE STARTuesday 4 February 2014

Knowing your body weight status > 3 Quality, affordable international education > 5

Unlocking

your potential

BRIGHT KIDS


2/8

2BRIGHT KIDSStarSpecial, Tuesday 4 February 2014

The wide reach of IGCSEsBy ANUSHIA KANDASIVAM

B

ESIDES the national

education and examinationsystem, the next mostpopular education system

vailable in Malaysia is theGCSE system. These Britishxaminations, the International

General Certificate of SecondaryEducation, are the internationalversion of the United Kingdomsnational General Certificate of

econdary Education (GCSEs).The IGCSEs are offered

by Cambridge InternationalExaminations (CIE), whichs part of the University of

Cambridge and is the worldsargest provider of internationalducation programmes. It can bextrapolated that the CambridgeGCSE is the most popularnternational education system inhe world because of the vastnessf the Commonwealth, but it is

more than this that makes theprogramme so popular.

In the last few years, thenternational Baccalaureate (IB),nother international education

programme, has been gainingpopularity around the world, but

the IGCSE continues to maintaina good hold in Malaysia and isthe most-offered international

programme in the country.

Different approaches

As part of its bid to become aregional education hub, Malaysiahas an abundance of internationalschools currently there are about90 campuses throughout thecountry and only 12 of them donot offer the IGCSE programme.

Why its continuing popularity?Basically, the Cambridge

IGCSE programme remains sopopular in Malaysia is becausethe system has been proven tobe comprehensive, holistic and agood indicator of academic andthinking skills.

One way this is achieved isthrough a curriculum that allowsstudents to choose from a variety

of learning routes that will enablethem to explore and develop awide range of abilities and skills.This is perhaps the programmesbiggest draw, and its maindifference from the Malaysiannational curriculum, which iscomparatively limited.

While the majority of nationalschools stream SPM students intotwo distinct categories scienceand arts according to CIE, theIGCSE curriculum emphasisesbuilding breadth of knowledgeand cross-curricular perspectives.This means that students areencouraged to study a variety ofsubjects and explore connectionsbetween them.

The SPM programme doesoffer a variety of subjects, fromthe usual arts and literature, and

science and mathematics, tolanguages, social sciences,

and vocational andtechnical subjects.

However, the majorityof schools offer onlythe conventional arts,literature, scienceand mathematicssubjects, limitingthe studentschoices in higherstudy andeventually career.

This is notto say that allinternational

schools offer everyIGCSE subjectavailable as withnational schools,the subjectsoffered dependson the schoolscapacity andavailabilityof qualifiedteachers. Butstudents do havemore choices inwhat they wantto study, subjects

that are offeredare wider in scope,and teaching andlearning methods

are throughdiscussion,interaction,understandingand application.

CIE liststhe followingas areas

of development and intendedoutcomes of the IGCSEprogramme:l

Subject contentlApplying knowledge andunderstanding to new as well asunfamiliar situationslIntellectual enquirylFlexibility and responsivenessto changelWorking and communicating inEnglishlInfluencing outcomeslCultural awareness

Evolution

For an education systemto be truly effective, it has tochange with the times. Malaysiaseducation system has remainedfundamentally unchanged sincethe countrys independence, butsystematic changes are currentlybeing implemented in order toreach the goals set by the MalaysiaEducation Blueprint 2013-2025.

Teaching and learning is set tochange to a less exam-orientedsystem, and testing will, ideally,be no longer just for the objectiveof achieving high grades, butto ensure understanding andapplication of knowledge. Thenew de-centralised examinationsystem, which will slowly be putinto place starting end of this yearwith the national third form PMRexams, is aimed at eliminating theneed for content recall and insteadensure students are trained tothink critically.

The very fact that the nationalsystem is being changed toaccommodate these elementsshows how important they are tochildrens education and future, aswell as the future of the nation.

The GCSE, the UK nationalsystem, will also be undergoingsome changes from next year.According to the UKs Departmentof Education, the system isbeing reformed to offer morechallenging subject content andrigorous assessment structuresin order to provide properpreparation of the A-Levelsexamination, the next stepbetween secondary school anduniversity.

No changes to the IGCSEshave been announced, buteducationalists have observedthat the GCSE reforms may bean attempt to bring the systemup to the higher standards of theIGCSEs. The IGCSEs are a linearexamination system one big

exam is taken at the end ofthe year, and there is no

coursework, as comparedto the modular GCSEs,where a few exams stilloffer multiple choicequestions.

In fact, thereis a current trendin the UK for local

students to take some

IGCSE exams insteadof GCSEs, and even of

double entries studentstaking both exams for a

few subjects, probablywith the intentioneither using thehigher grade or theperceived prestige ofthe IGCSE for college

or university entry.On the other side of

the coin, there are observers whocomment that the IGCSEs areactually easier than the GCSEs and

so it is easier for students to obtainhigher scores.Either way, there seems to be

a beginning of a shift in focustowards a more exam-orientedsystem with emphasis on highscores. Interestingly, this is theopposite of what is happening inMalaysia.

Looking inwards andoutwards

In Malaysia, there arearguments that a national systemof education turns out nationbuilders while an internationalcurriculum may not beappropriate or relevant to the lifeof the student or to his country.

But while the IGCSEs havean international outlook, theprogramme has been specificallydeveloped in each of the morethan 120 countries it is offeredin to retain local relevance. TheCIE states that the programmewas created for an internationalstudent body and to avoid anycultural bias.

This essentially means thatstudents graduate as globalcitizens with both local andinternational understanding.

In Malaysia, giving the sciencespriority over the arts in educationhas been a national policy thathas been in place since the 1970s.The objective of this is to produce

sufficient graduates for thescience, technology, engineeringand mathematics (STEM)-driveneconomy that is part of Vision2020.

To any layman, the observableresults of this policy are a largepercentage of science-streamgraduates, a neglect towardsthe development of the artsstream which has perhaps ledto a retardation in the growth ofthe Malaysian arts scene andgenerations of young peoplewho were unable to pursuetheir true interests because theywere encouraged or even forced,for various reasons, to take upsciences instead of the arts.

The Education Blueprinthas outlined steps to raise thepercentage of science graduates,including by raising studentinterest through new learningapproaches and an enhancedcurriculum.

For Malaysians then, theIGCSEs may seem a more openand comprehensive alternativeto education than the nationalsystem.

As an internationallyrecognised qualification and anexamination system that feedsdirectly into the A-Levels system,it certainly is a good choice.

There is no doubt that Malaysiarequires nation builders, but

as the country moves towardsbecoming a developed nation, italso needs people with the abilityto conceive and actualise world-encompassing ideas, no mattertheir area of study.

Until the national educationsystem is able to mould studentsinto these global leaders, it seemsthat international systems such asthe IGCSE will remain attractivealternatives.

Critical thinkers are neededto grow the nation.


3/8

StarSpecial, Tuesday 4 February 2014 BRIGHT KIDS 3

About the Nestl HealthyKids Programme

PARENTS should alwaysprovide their children withoptimal nutrition and ensure

hat they are physically fit. Buthow can parents determine ifheir children are eating right androwing well? Here are some tipso help parents out.

Energy balance concept

Are energy and calories theame? Energy is released fromood and beverage components

known as carbohydrate, proteinnd fat and it is measured in unitsalled calories.

Energy balance is a relationshipbetween Energy In (from food

nd beverage that we ingest) andEnergy Out (through physicalctivities, basal metabolic rateBMR), digestion and absorptionf nutrients in our body). The first

mportant principle of energyntake must be estimated on the

basis of energy out rather thannergy in.

Why balance it up?

Healthy eating and regularphysical activities (accumulation

f 60 minutes of moderatentensity physical activity daily)re important components foreducing the risk of obesity andelated non-communicable

diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes,high-blood pressure and highholesterol.

When the amount of your

childs Energy In and Energy Outare the same, then his weight willstay the same.

But, if the amount of yourchilds Energy In is greater than hisEnergy Out, he will gain weight.This, if left untreated, can lead toobesity. On the other hand, if theamount of your childs Energy Inis less than his Energy Out, he willlose weight.

Health risks related tounhealthy body weight

Childhood obesity is associatedwith a higher chance of prematuredeath and disability in adulthood.Overweight and obese children

are more likely to stay obese intoadulthood and develop NCDs suchas diabetes and cardiovasculardiseases at a younger age.

In addition to increasedfuture risks, obese childrenexperience breathing difficulties,increased risks of bone fractures,hypertension and insulinresistance.

The BMI calculator

The Body Mass Index (BMI)calculator is a simple and effectiveway to monitor your childsgrowth. The BMI calculatorensures that he is at the rightweight and height for his age.

Parents often compare their childsgrowth with other children. Thisshould not be done as childrengrow at different rates.

Knowingyour bodyweight status

2007 WHO Reference

BMI-for-age BOYS5 to 19 years (z-scores)

Obesity

Overweight

Normal

Thinness

Severe thinness

BMI(kg/m)

Age (completed months and years)

-3

-2

0

1

2

3 6 9 3 6 9 3 6 9 3 6 9 3 6 9 3 6 9 3 6 9 3 6 9 3 6 9 3 6 9 3 6 9 3 6 9 3 6 9 3 6 9Months

Years 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

10

12

14

16

18

20

22

24

26

28

30

32

10

12

14

16

18

20

22

24

26

28

30

32

Obesity

Overweight

Normal

Thinness

Severe thinness

BMI(kg/m)

Age (completed months and years)

-3

-2

0

1

2

3 6 9 3 6 9 3 6 9 3 6 9 3 6 9 3 6 9 3 6 9 3 6 9 3 6 9 3 6 9 3 6 9 3 6 9 3 6 9 3 6 9Months

Years 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

10

12

14

16

18

20

22

24

26

28

30

32

10

12

14

16

18

20

22

24

26

28

30

32

2007 WHO Reference

BMI-for-age GIRLS5 to 19 years (z-scores)

Here is how you measure your childs BMI:1. Measure you childs height and weight2. Use the formula to calculate his BMI3. Compare your childs BMI to the standard growth chart from

the World Health Organization. Boys and girls have different chartsso remember to use the appropriate one.

4. Using a pencil, find your childs age on the horizontal axis of the chart and move vertically up.5. Find your childs BMI on the vertical axis and move horizontally across to the right of the chart.6. At the point where these two lines meet, draw a small cross or dot. The region where the small cross or

dot falls on indicates your childs growth status.

THE Nestl Healthy Kids Programme is aimed at improvingnutrition knowledge and promoting active lifestyles amongschool students between the ages of seven and 17. It consistsof two modules a Primary School Module called the NestlHealthy Kids Programme and the Secondary School Modulecalled Program Cara Hidup Sihat(Healthy Lifestyle Programme).Both programmes are based on a multi-partnership approach,with collaborations with national health and educationalauthorities such as Ministry of Education, Nutrition Society ofMalaysia and Universiti Putra Malaysia.

BMI (kg/m2) =weight (kg)

height (m) x height (m)

BMI FORMULA


4/8


FROM the outset, the guidingprinciple at UCSI InternationalSchool, Subang, has been to

provide its students with a holisticxperience in developing theircademic, creative, social and

professional skills.In order to realise this

mbition, the school followsn internationally recognisedcademic programme, the ICGSEs,nd has gathered expert facultyrom around the globe and usestate-of-the-art facilities andaboratories.

In essence, UCSI has establishedmicrocosm in which its studentsre able to arm themselves withhe knowledge and training theyequire to be critical thinkers andndependent learners. They areffered the chance to explore the

world at a smaller scale beforehey venture into the real world.

To further its mission,ccommodate the needs of itsurrent and new students, and

pave their way to top-notchuniversities and careers in some ofhe worlds most highly demandednd prestigious fields, UCSInternational School will launchhe Cambridge GCE A-Levels in

March this year.

IN light of this year being the Year of theHorse, ALFA College organised a specialRide to the Occasion exhibition at itspremises in Subang Square. The exhibition,which kicked off on Jan 15, will continue torun until Feb 28, featuring a range of artisticand creative expressions that depict thehorse as its main focus.

Under its main Postcard Design category,which was open to participation from all

ALFA students, staff, alumni and friends,the college received submissions fromas far as Japan, the UK, the US, Germany,Iran, Pakistan, Vietnam, Indonesia, thePhilippines, Singapore, Australia, Macau,Hong Kong and Taiwan. In total, 1,258 carddesigns were received, all of which are ondisplay at the college. Besides postcarddesign, there are various creative activitiesand categories such as Paper Cutting, 3DHorse design and Chinese calligraphy.

The aim of compiling these horse-related

designs is for ALFA College to enter intothe Malaysia Book of Recordsby achievinga collection of at least 1,000 different horsedesigns. The college also aims to create ananimated presentation of all the designs asa culmination to the event. The exhibition isopen to the public.

Details of the Ride to the Occasionevent are:

Date : Jan 15 to Feb 28Time : 9am - 5pmVenue : ALFA International College SdnBhd, Subang Jaya

The official launch of this horse eventis on Feb 14 (Friday) at 10am. Please callto confirm your attendance.

nFor more information, call 03-5631 9208or e-mail [email protected] or [email protected]

Ushering in theYear of the Horse

Paving the way totop-notch universities

A-Levels scholarships on offerUCSI International School offers the UCSI University Trust A-LevelScholarship Award to new intake students pursuing the GCEA-Levels programme. The scholarship is open to students whoobtain 5 As (A+ or A only) at SPM or O-Levels examinations takenlast year.

Achievement Scholarships amount

10 A+ and above (min 9A+) RM25,020

10 A+/As (min 8 A+) RM15,000

10 A+/As RM10,000

9 A+/As RM9,000

8 A+/As RM8,000

7 A+/As RM5,000

6 A+/As RM4,000

5 A+/As RM3,000

The 18-month tailoredprogramme targets Year 11 and 12students and offers two streams:science and business.

The science stream, which willlead the students to engineeringor medicine degree programmes,among others, offers:lfurther mathematicslphysicslbiologylchemistry

The business stream, which

leads students to business degreeand ICT degree programmes,among others, offers:lmathematicslbusiness studiesleconomicslpsychology

To maintain the schools highstandards and ensure that theA-Levels students enjoy the bestquality education and guidancefrom its qualified native-English-speaking educators, only one

classroom will be offered in eachstream, with a maximum of 25students.

Due to the limited numberof seats in each stream, theenrolment will be on a first-come,first-served basis. The Cambridge

GCE A-Levels fees range betweenRM36,000 and RM38,000depending on the stream.

nFor more information, visitwww.ucsiinternationalschool.edu.my/sj/

Successful scholarship recipients from the A-Levels programme of UCSI University.From left: Angela Lim Wern Huey, Tiong Nee and Felix Wong.

Some of the card designs on display at the exhibition.


5/8


PARENTS who are keen onenrolling their children ininternational schools today

re spoilt for choice. However,before choosing the right schoolor their child, there are a numberf factors that they shouldonsider price, syllabus, locations well as the facilities of thenstitution.

Nilai International School (NIS)pened its doors in 2010 andhough it is among one of the

more affordable internationalchools in Malaysia, it is notacking in facilities. NIS providesll the teaching and learningmenities of a world-classnternational school, with its

purpose-built campus on 6.01haampus.ocated in the green suburb of

Putra Nilai, it is wholly owned byNilai Education Sdn Bhd, whichlso operates Nilai University.

Both institutions sit side-by-ide in a quiet cul-de-sac in this

picturesque town.Easily accessible by a number ofhighways, NIS is just 35 minutesrom the Kuala Lumpur cityentre and a mere 15 minutesrom Seremban and the Kualaumpur International Airport.chool bus services are available

from a number of designatedspots, making the commute toNIS relatively stress free.The campus features round-the-clock security and it also hasboarding facilities. Each classroomfeatures a state-of-the-art smartboard, which encourages aninteractive learning experience.Its library is well-stocked withbooks for all age groups toencourage the reading habitamong students.Extra-curricular activities arehighly encouraged with a rangeof sporting facilities available oncampus, including outdoor courts,a football field and a swimmingpool. The teaching staff memberscomprise both expatriates andMalaysians who have been hand-picked by the administratorsto deliver the internationallyrecognised CambridgeInternational Examinations (CIE)syllabus. Intakes for NIS are inJanuary, April and September forPrimary 1 to Secondary (O-Levels).The Early Years Foundation stagefor children aged between threeand five is scheduled to start soon.

nParents who are interested cancontact 06-850 2188 or visitwww.nis.edu.my

Quality, affordableinternational education

Nilai International School provides the teaching and learning amenities of a world-class school.


6/8


Let Your Light ShineGlobally Recognised CambridgeInternational ExaminationsCurriculum

Early Years FoundationStage to Start Soon

For Information & registration,please contact 06 850 2188

NILAI INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL NO7 E244

No.3, Persiaran Universiti, Putra Nilai, 71800 Nilai, Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus, Malaysiawww.nis.edu.my Email: [email protected]

AmemberofNilaiResourcesGroupSdnBhd

APRILINTAKE

EYE Level (formerly knownas E.nopi), one of theleading child enrichment

programmes in Malaysia, recentlyheld the Eye Level TestimonialContest to encourage parentsto share their thoughts on theirchildrens journey with Eye Level.

Whatever life you are livingnow, it is essential to give yourselfa chance to perform at your topcapacity. And that chance derivesfrom learning, says Young JoongKang, chairman of Eye Level. EyeLevel is proud to share testimoniesfrom its students and theirparents.

Parents name: Dalilah IsmailStudents names: Asyraff,Zhafran and Nur ElyshaPeriod of study: one year 10months

My first son went to EyeLevel in 2010 as he was weak inmathematics. We were impressedby the Eye Level mathematicsprogramme and we made thedecision to enrol him.

It made a great difference asthe learning environment is cosyand comfortable. The teachers arevery caring and responsible andalways go the extra mile in givingme feedback on my sons progressand how he could improve further.Discipline is also high on their list,which I think is very valuable formy childrens development.

My son has improved greatly

in mathematics and English sincehe started classes at Eye Level.He is more confident when he

speaks English compared to hisschoolmates. Seeing my sonsachievement, I have enrolled mysecond son and daughter too. Mychildren always look forward totheir Eye Level classes every day.I am grateful to Eye Level for thewonderful experience it has givento my children.

Students name: Aditya GuptaPeriod of study: two years fourmonths

Eye Level is different comparedto other learning centres. I loveEye Level because it is a perfecteducational base for my future.It helps me in school and its fastmethods for calculation help everychild in different ways.

The bright colours in the EyeLevel centre are very stimulatingbut what I really like about EyeLevel is the guidance that ourteachers provide when we arehaving difficulties with ourexercises. The teachers areextremely understanding andhelpful. They do not provide theanswers directly but encourageus to figure out the right answers.Eye Level is very different becauseit is fun and most of the time, weforget that we are studying. I enjoyreading the concept comics inthe worksheest and the cartoonstrips, which bring out the maths

concepts behind the stories, inreally amusing ways.

Parents name: Ho Lee HongStudents name: Jeffrey Tong KaiPeriod of study: two years 10months

Jeffrey, my eight-year-old son,has been a student of the EyeLevel mathematics and Englishprogramme since June 2010.Jeffrey was recently diagnosedwith ADHD and will begin a six-month treatment programme inMay.

In the beginning, it was reallydifficult guiding him when hewas learning the alphabet andnumbers due to his ADHD. I amvery grateful to the teachers at EyeLevel for their effort and patiencewith him at all times.

Without their help andguidance, he would not be asconfident in mathematics andEnglish as he is now.

Jeffrey always completes thehomework assigned to him ontime. He finds the design of theworksheets very eye-catching andthe repetition of the worksheetsis good in helping him buildhis mathematics skills andunderstanding its concepts.

Eye Level did not give up on myson. Thank you, Eye Level.

nFor more information about theEye Level programme, visitwww.myeyelevel.com

Key to enriching young lives

WHEN recalling their early experiences atschool, many parents have memories ofvery formal classrooms, tables and chairsin rows and an expectation of silence.Curriculums were rigid, facts needed to bememorised, there was little time for askingquestions and play was for outside only.

Times have changed and followingextensive research, there is a well-established consensus among early

childhood professionals that play is anessential element of developmentallyappropriate, high-quality early educationprogrammes.

IGB International School (IGBIS) is anInternational Baccalaureate World Schoolthat will be offering education to studentsfrom three years of age to Grade 11 startingthis year, and Grade 12 from August nextyear. The Primary Years Programme (PYP)for Early Years will be for children agedthree to five and it will be set in bright,

stimulating, open-planned classrooms.There will be opportunities for indoorand outdoor learning, a large coveredplayground with a bike track, sandpit anda pool.

The programme will be delivered byhighly experienced, knowledgeable andcaring early childhood PYP educatorswho are skilled in creating a play-basedenvironment that will be relevant,

engaging and challenging. Teachers willcollaboratively plan units of inquiry thatwill fascinate and inspire the minds of theiryoung learners.

Through the IB Learner Profile, teacherswill help students develop the knowledge,concepts, skills, attitudes and actionrequired for future learning.

Parent participation will be encouragedand teachers will work in partnership withparents to optimise each childs own uniquelearning path.

Stimulating play-basedlearning at new school

Dalilah Ismail is grateful to Eye Level for the wonderful experience it has given herhildren.

IB system helps students develop knowledge and concepts.


7/8


EPSOM College has long beenknown as a prestigiousboarding and day school and

leader in British education since855. The schools vast expertise in

quality education over the last 150years will come to fruition in theirnew sister school in Malaysia.Epsom College in Malaysia (ECiM)will open its doors to its firstohort of students aged three to

8 in September this year.The modern boardingxperience at Epsom is part of

what makes the school uniquend distinct from other regionalstablishments. Epsom has aong history of offering flexible

boarding options, as well asweekly boarding; in fact EpsomUK started and developed weeklyboarding very significantly in theUnited Kingdom.

We are going to take the fullnd weekly boarding concept tohe next level in Malaysia andffer flexi-boarding, said deputy

head (head of Prep School) of ECiMane Smith at the schools media

briefing last month.We have also hand-

picked housemasters andhousemistresses with very clearriteria in mind as to the typef people we want influencinghe emotional, physical and

Great British educationon Malaysian shores

(619106-W)

educational development of thechildren in our care, she said.

Having an extension ofEpsom College here in Malaysiawill mean that parents herewill be able to spend morepurposeful quality time withtheir children.

The curriculum is based onthe fact that there are also daystudents and weekly boarderswho will go home during theweekend.

An interesting conceptto consider is that there mayeven be parents from Europewho may choose to send theirchildren to ECiM. Asia is goingto drive the next generationforward and Malaysia is verymuch becoming an educationhub, said Tan Sri TonyFernandes, chair of the board ofgovernors of ECiM, at the mediabriefing.

For Malaysians andMalaysia, having this school isalso a wonderful opportunity toprovide information on differentways of doing things and tospur on other international andlocal schools to drive educationforward, he said.

Epsom College has alwayshad strong links to themedical profession in the UK,

which goes hand-in-handwith its outstanding scienceprogramme.

Historically, Epsom Collegehas its roots in the Victorian-era school built for the childrenof doctors who had died fromthe diseases they were hopingto cure. Today, Epsom Collegesstudents are still equipped

with the skills, attitudes andknowledge needed to get intotop medical schools in the UKas well as other challengingprofessions globally.

Students are still coming toECiM with similar aspirationsbut just as in the UK, ECiMsfocus will be broader andmore developed in other areas.We provide opportunities forchildren to develop in all sortsof ways. They may come to uswith a deep love of science,which we will continue todevelop. But at the same timewe will ensure they haveopportunities to try differentthings and figure out what theirother passions in life might be,and give them the opportunityto develop them through theirteenage years and into theiradult life, said Smith.

The link between EpsomCollege in the UK and inMalaysia is very strong. It isnot a franchised school; ECiM isvery much an extension of theUK school, said Martin George,headmaster of ECiM. There willbe opportunities for studentsand staff to collaborate onprojects, compete in sports, andeven have video conferencing oflessons. We will work to ensure

that the link between theschools continues to develop.

nTo book a campus tour, tomeet the heads or for moreinformation about ECiM, contactthe registrar, Nicola Harris, [email protected] 03-6211 4488 or visitwww.epsomcollege.edu.my

Epsom College in the United Kingdom.

The boarding experience at EPSOM is one of the things that makes the schoolunique.


8/8


Treating the antisocial childH

ENDRY and Lisa (not theirreal names) found it difficultto handle their 10-year-old

daughter, May.She had had antisocialproblems since her preschoolyears.

Hendry and Lisa neveronsidered their daughters

problem serious until she startedYear 4 in primary school.

May could not distinguish rightrom wrong.

She would sometimespurposely break her siblings

nd friends stationery and wasunfriendly and aggressive towards

thers.She was also unaware of social

r cultural contexts, causing hero disrespect others, including her

parents, teachers and elders.The situation became worse

when May got older.By then, the number of calls

Hendry and Lisa were receivingrom the school regarding Mays

behavioural issues were increasingday by day.

Her school results were alsodeteriorating although she

ttended tuition classes.Her parents sought information

rom the Internet and socialmedia on how and who could dealwith their daughters antisocialproblem.

They found ChildPsych,he Centre for Children and

Adolescence Psychology, which

was able to help with theirdaughters problem.

The psychologist found thatMay could be suffering from adevelopmental disorder calledantisocial behaviour.

It is a psychological disorder orneuro-developmental behaviouraldisorder characterised bysignificant violation of the rightsof others.

Covert antisocial behavioursinclude dishonesty, non-compliance, sneaking or secretlydestroying the property of otherpeople.

Overt antisocial behavioursinclude destructive actions againstother people such as harassment,verbal or non-verbal abuse anddestructive actions againstproperty.

A child with antisocialbehaviour may also abuse drugand alcohol and be involved indangerous activities if untreated.

Principal consultant childpsychologist of the InternationalPsychology Centre Dr WengLok Chan said most antisocialbehaviour disorders can betreated, especially if patients are

brought to the psychologist whenthey are young.

Psycho-educational therapiesbased on the results of theirpsychological assessment aredeveloped to help them overcometheir antisocial behaviours.

Psycho-nutritional therapyis also tailored to a patients labresults.

This includes balancingdeficient neurotransmitterswith natural psycho nutritionalsupplements.

Mays behaviour improvedwithin six to 12 sessions.

nThis article is contributed byChildPsych, the Child PsychologyDivision of the InternationalPsychology Centres team ofpsychologists, educationalpsychologist and psycho-nutritional therapists.

They can be contacted at theInternational Psychology CentreSdn Bhd, 11-1 Wisma Laxton, JalanDesa, Taman Desa, Kuala Lumpur.

Call 03-2727 7434, [email protected] [email protected] log on to www.psychology.com.my

Antisocial behaviour should be addressed as early as possible. Bullying is a form of antisocial behaviour.

Bright Kids Feb2014

Documents

Transcript of Bright Kids Feb2014