reading Archives | MoneyDigest.sg

Should you read to your toddler if they’re not paying attention?

You’re not sure if you should keep reading to your toddler because it seems they’re not paying attention when you do.

Well, the answer to that question is a little tricky as it depends on why your child isn’t concentrating while you’re reading to them.

If they’re just fidgeting or looking around the room, then it’s probably okay to continue reading but maybe at a slower pace or using a different animated tone. But if your child is displaying other signs of not being interested, like dozing off, then it might be time to find new ways to engage them in reading.

Don’t force your toddler to pay attention to the story

Think about it this way: reading to your toddler is more than just teaching them about letters and words. It’s also about acquainting them with knowledge about communication and relationships. It’s about showing them that you love them and want to spend time with them. So it’s alright if your toddler isn’t paying 100% attention.

It’s normal for toddlers to have a short attention span

It can be frustrating when you read to your toddler and they don’t seem to be paying attention. But don’t worry, it’s not unusual for them to have a short attention span at this age. They’re just starting to develop their cognitive skills, and their brains are working overtime as they learn new things.

So keep reading to them, even if they don’t seem to be listening. The more stories you read to them, the more words they will grasp. And eventually, they will start to pay more attention and enjoy the plots, even more, when words they know start recurring and making sense.

Try different types of books to see what are their interests

Image Credits: unsplash.com

One thing you can do is try different types of books to see what interests your toddler. Maybe they’re more interested in specific-themed books than others. The critical thing is to keep trying new genres and never give up on reading together. It’s a bonding experience you and your child will treasure for years to come.

Reading consistently can help advance their language skills

Even if your toddler doesn’t seem to be concentrating on the stories, they’re still absorbing the language. Studies have found that reading aloud to children helps them develop language skills. And the more stories they hear, the better they do.

So don’t give up on reading to your toddler just because it seems like they’re not listening. The benefits are there, even if they don’t demonstrate it immediately. Keep reading and you will be helping them develop strong foundations that will last a lifetime.

Toddlers learn best through repetition, so reading the same story multiple times can help them remember words and the storyline. Reading also helps stimulate your child’s brain and develops skills such as vocabulary and comprehension. If your child is not interested in sitting down and listening to a story, try reading while they’re moving around. Eventually, they may start to pay attention – and even get excited – when a particular story is being read aloud.

Books to add to your to-read list as recommended by CEOs like that of PayPal’s

It’s about that time of the year where we review our 2021 resolutions and set new ones for 2022. Did you manage to keep up with your to-read list?

It’s wonderful if you have been and we have more books for you to consider. Well, technically not us but from the CEOs like that of PayPal’s. Here are some of their favorite reads we think you would love to get your hands on.

#1: On the Shortness of Life: Life Is Long if You Know How to Use It by Seneca

Recommended by: Alexi Robichaux, CEO and Co-founder of BetterUp

The Stoic writings of the philosopher Seneca provide significant advice to many via his fluency, clarity, and ageless brilliance. This book offers valuable insights into the significance of reason, morality, and the beauty of humanity.

#2: Something Deeply Hidden: Quantum Worlds and the Emergence of Spacetime by Sean Carroll

Recommended by: Dan Schulman, CEO of PayPal

Something Deeply Hidden demonstrates how confronting quantum physics’ fundamental problem completely alters our understanding of space and time. Carroll, risking his good name with this bold but sensible book, claims that all we have to do is acknowledge that there is more than one of us in the cosmos. Yes, we know it sounds absurd.

This means that multiple copies of you are created every second. According to the Many Worlds Theory of quantum behavior, whenever a quantum event occurs, a world splits off with all of it remaining the same, except that the quantum event did not occur in that other world. Carroll takes on the key arguments to this strange revelation one by one, in his distinctive clarity, until his claim is unmistakably proved.

#3: Speed & Scale: An Action Plan for Solving Our Climate Crisis Now by John Doerr

Recommended by: Tim Murphy, CEO of Branch Basics

Speed & Scale offers an unparalleled global strategy supported by a powerful instrument called Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions before it becomes too late. OKRs have escalated concepts into outcomes that have transformed the world, and they are used by Google and hundreds of entrepreneurs worldwide. Doerr specifies the quantifiable OKRs we need to cut emissions and reach net zero by 2050 using an engineer’s accuracy.

This book serves as a springboard for individuals who are prepared to act right now, and it is aimed at leaders from all walks of life. We can still achieve net-zero if we have a clear initiative, the most up-to-date data, and growing climate activism support. But, as Doerr points out, there is no time to squander any longer.

#4: The Long Game: How to Be a Long-Term Thinker in a Short-Term World by Dorie Clark

Recommended by: Lindsay Kaplan, Co-founder of Chief

Individuals nowadays are overworked, stressed, and often behind schedule. CEOs who aim for financial results frequently struggle to understand the strategic investments required for long-term success. Can we ever escape from the loop and live the exciting, fulfilling lives that we all desire?

Dorie Clark, a Duke University professor, pushes us to do the little things over time to attain our goals. She urges us to be willing to stick with them even when they seem futile, difficult, or uninteresting. In her book The Long Game, Clark offers her experiences, as well as distinct theories and concepts, to explain how you may delve into the same 24 hours that everyone has – but utilize them in more effective ways to break free from the frenzied day-to-day regimen and revolutionize your present and future.

#5: Drop the Ball: Achieving More by Doing Less by Tiffany Dufu

Recommended by: DeNora Getachew, CEO of DoSomething.org

Women are starting families at the same time they are reaching middle management in the workplace. As their duties at work and home grow, they don’t have the extra time or energy to focus on the things that will help them succeed.

Dufu describes how she came to rethink standards, reduce her to-do pile, and genuinely enlist the help of others in this book, allowing her to prosper at work and establish richer, stronger bonds at home. She encourages other women to embrace flaws and to lower their self-expectations to concentrate on what they sincerely value, dedicate the energy required to accomplish their true goals, and establish the satisfying lifestyle they all seek.

#6: Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It by Chris Voss with Tahl Raz

Recommended by: Joe Spector, CEO of Dutch & Co-founder of Hims & Hers

This book brings you behind the scenes of high-stakes conversations and into the mind of an ex-FBI lead international kidnapping negotiator, showing the techniques that enabled him and his teammates to save lives. Voss outlines counterintuitive methods and strategies that you can adopt to be much more convincing in both your career and private life in this handy book.

Purchasing a car, negotiating a wage, saving for a house, and conversing with your spouse are all examples of talks you should be geared for in life. Let this read take your sensitivity and emotional intelligence to an elevated dimension, giving you competitiveness in every conversation to come.

Useful Tips To Pass Your IELTS Test

Singaporeans who are applying for a job overseas or are keen on taking on an opportunity to study in United Kingdom or Australia will have to pass the IELTS exam. IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System. It is one of the top examinations used to measure one’s English language proficiency. To be considered competent in the English language, the applicant must earn a score of 6 or above in each component.

The International English Language Testing System or IELTS is an international standardized examination that measures one’s English language proficiency, especially for non-native English speakers. Its results are accepted by numerous organizations and institutions worldwide. Institutions include universities, immigration departments, government agencies, and so on. Kick-start your career by taking this test.

While you are in the Circuit Breaker period, you may use the luxury of time to study for your IELTS exam. Here are some practical tips that you may start with.

#1: PRACTICE READING EFFICIENTLY

The reading assessment component typically lasts for 60 minutes. The more you read, the faster you become. To reach this point, you must practice diligently. Moreover, you must not forget the comprehension aspect of reading. Reading fast does not mean that you will be able to digest everything you read. Start with a small chunk of material at a given amount of time. Then, shorten that time-frame.

Allot time for both academic reading and leisure reading. You do not need to focus on IELTS review notes entirely. You may opt to read materials that are heavy by day and light by night. Do not overwork your brain.

#2: READ THE SUBTITLES

Practice reading fast and efficiently by activating the subtitles of the Korean dramas or the movies that you watch. According to a 2010 research entitled “The Cognitive Effectiveness of Subtitle Processing”, subtitles can enhance a child’s reading and literacy skills. Read the subtitles on Netflix as you binge watch. You get to indulge in your favorite pastime too!

#3: LEARN TO SKIM AND SCAN

Skimming is the manner of quickly moving your eyes over the material. This will give you a general overview of the entire content. Scanning, on the other hand, lets you go over a specific material to locate data. This will enable you to scan for the answers in an essay. Both reading techniques will help you save time.

#4: SPOT PARALLEL PHRASES

Many IELTS questions will assess your ability to match similar phrases or parallel phrases. These phrases have the same meaning, but are worded differently. A phrase such as “love to cook” and “cooking is my hobby” are parallel phrases.

#5: GROUND YOUR EXPECTATIONS

Gain confidence by knowing what to expect. This way, you will be able to take the exam without getting caught by surprise. For instance, you will have to take the oral component too whereby you have to speak out loud. Learn the exam’s format by searching free resources online or by purchasing practice materials from the bookstore.

#6: MANAGE YOUR TIME

Take practice tests before your IELTS exam. You need to pace yourself. To mimic the nature of the exam, you must be strict when it comes to the instructions and the time. Allow yourself to finish the reading practice tests in an hour, as officially stated.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

During the examination, you may skip the difficult questions first and move on to the easy ones. Tackle the gaps before proceeding to the next component or the next part of the exam. Good luck!

6 Ways to get Cheaper Books

If you’re a booklover and a voracious reader, chances are that you spend way too much money on books, with an average paperback book going for about $15 in the local big bookstores. It can be difficult to read as much as you would like with the costs involved, so here are some ways to save money while reading books!

1) Online retailers

Often, you can save a good deal of money simply by buying the books online, where prices can be up to 50% cheaper than the retail price in Singapore bookstores.

Some popular options are:
Bookdepository.com, an international site that offers free shipping to your doorstep, and carries a very wide range of all books;
local online retailer, OpenTrolley, which allows local pickup at a retail location, or shipping for a fee.

Other common options are eBay and Amazon, however, beware of shipping costs for these options.

When buying books online, be sure to also check out oo.sg, which searches all these online retailers and more, including Kinokuniya and Popular online, for your specific book and allows you to comparison shop for the cheapest price.

Generally, my go-to book retailer is BookDepository as they usually offer the most competitive prices with a large range of options.

Be sure also to check out the different editions of the book, as the softcover is usually cheaper than the hardcover.

2) Book Sales

The popular bookstore chains in Singapore, such as Times and MPH, regularly have warehouse sales a few times a year, either at the Singapore Expo or other locations. Be sure to keep updated on when the next sale will be so as to be able to grab books for really low prices, like $5 each new, or even lower!

3) Secondhand books online

There are a few options I would recommend for buying secondhand books online. Sites like secondhandbooks.com.sg or bookfishing.com.sg are frequently updated and have a good number of books listed by sellers.

Recently, the Carousell application has also seen quite a lot of use for buying and selling books, which is another option you may want to consider.

4) Secondhand bookstores

There are a few secondhand bookstores currently operating in Singapore, although they are a dying breed, and a few have closed their shutters. Bras Basah Complex is one place where you may go to find secondhand books and textbooks.

5) Book exchanges

If you’re looking to clear some of the unwanted books lying around your house, why not try to swap them?

For instance, the NLB has an annual book exchange where we can exchange our unwanted books for other donated books. You may also have some luck trying to swap books online.

6) Ebooks

Buying an eBook may not necessarily require you to purchase an expensive eReader! There are many eBook readers available for free to download on your smartphone or your computer. Ebooks are also significantly cheaper than physical books, and usually cost you a couple of dollars at most. Just be sure to convert your eBook into the desired file format for your downloaded eReader (ePub is generally able to be read by most eReaders).

Reading doesn’t have to burn a hole in your pocket, but with these tips, books may start to take up way more space than availabe in your house!

Don’t force your toddler to pay attention to the story

It’s normal for toddlers to have a short attention span

Try different types of books to see what are their interests

Reading consistently can help advance their language skills

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