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  I have fond memories of writing many letters to many people in my youth. In fact, cherished relationships were built and strengthened through letters. In Year 10, a friend wrote a one-page Arthurian story with characters that mirrored our circle of friends and passed it to me to read. I continued the story by […]

In her personal story published in SCMP, Gwen reminds us that “Good things come to those who wait”… This article appeared on Tuesday 4 November in the South China Morning Post print edition as “Patience works best for kids who are slow to start reading”. When parents lament that their children are not yet reading […]

Parents play a critical role during the early stages of reading acquisition – how the child learns to read can affect their lifelong reading habits. By using some simple, fun and effective strategies, children can happily transition from listening to stories to reading on their own. Best books for your beginning reader available to purchase! […]

What we read to our children changes through the generations, as does how we dress them. When it comes to classic picture books, other than the date of publication, I have firm notions about how they differ from modern works. In my mind, the old classics use soft watercolours and gentle prose to tell stories […]

Most families in Hong Kong live in apartments and have very limited access to outdoor space.   Add to that crowds and an air pollution index (API) that is currently at the maximum measurable level, and taking children outside to connect with nature and to move has its own challenges and dangers.  In urban areas […]

    My daughter and her kindergarten buddies are adjusting well to Grade One and life in a “big kids’ school”. They are learning new skills to develop their independence and self-reliance. The most conspicuous changes from kindergarten are that these children no longer have teachers to remind them to wash their hands before lunch, or […]

This article appeared on Tuesday 9 September 2014 in the South China Morning Post print edition as “Screen time for youngsters: how much is too much?”. Is it OK to give my three-year-old daughter an educational phone app when she starts to cry at a restaurant to calm her down and avoid causing a scene? […]

Meet the Author  Christina Matula-Häkli: Originally from Canada, Christina has lived in Hong Kong since 2007. Keen to explore her Chinese heritage (her mother is Taiwanese), Christina was inspired to adapt Chinese legends and fables to share with her own children and hope that her book will spark an interest in and passion for Chinese […]

This article appeared on Wednesday 10 September 2014 in the South China Morning Post print edition as “Taking care of busyness”. For me, the period between the start of the school year and the end of the calendar year is traditionally even more hectic than usual. Earlier this year, I made a resolution to simplify […]

Oscar nominees gather for annual luncheon Beverly hills more than 150 oscar nominees gathered at a beverly hills hotel on monday to celebrate the joy of just being nominated. Honorees in all 24 of this year’s oscar categories from hairstylists to a listers turned out for the academy of motion picture arts and sciences annual […]