beijingkids Magazine online

Kathryn Tonges is everything you'd expect from a parenting expert and dedicated primary school teacher. Though relaxed and friendly, her attention to the intricacies of communication is flawless. Constant eye contact and a persistently calm tone of voice let you know exactly where she stands. No wonder her skills are in high demand. Tonges has spent the past three decades studying the Parent Effectiveness Training (PET) method of communication, using it to not only to advise others but also to raise her own children. We sat down with Tonges to find out why the onus is on parents to change and how listening to your kids is the first step to better behavior. 

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German Christoph Stahlecker is the managing director of Pangio Consulting Ltd. and his wife, Shandong-born Zhang Xinyuan, works as a theater teacher. Together with their 2-year-old daughter Sissi, they have been living in Beijing for almost four years. They are on a mission to unearth as many of Beijing's hidden gems as they can.

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Sanlitun's In and Out is not to be confused with the famed California hamburger joint that goes by a similar name (In-N-Out), but it may conjure the same warm feelings. Conveniently located in the lush tree-lined embassy district, In and Out's spacious three floors are adorned with wide tables, lofty ceilings, and colorful paintings of Lijiang. Owner Li Gang has composed a menu that draws from eight different ethnic cuisines of Yunnan province. Kids will enjoy the fried mashed potato balls (RMB 28), a classic Dai dish; accompanied by a tangy dipping sauce, it makes for a wonderfully fun finger food. Another must-try is the sautéed egg with jasmine flower (RMB 28), a textured and fragrant combination. Those who want to indulge their curiosity for exotic food can try the milk sheet with red bean paste (RMB 45); this Bai specialty, in which cow's milk is fried, mixed with red bean, and rolled around a stick, is surprisingly chewy, sour, and sweet. An expansive picture menu with seasonal specials will delight even the pickiest child.

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Last month, I wrote about gastroenteritis (diarrhea caused by bacteria in food) and how it affects children. This month, I thought I'd elaborate on the topic for expectant mothers. With the dog days of August upon us - and given the propensity of bacteria to thrive in the heat - you can never be too careful about food safety, especially if you're pregnant.

One can easily get "gastro" from street food vendors, but even 5-star restaurants aren't immune. Pregnant women have the same risks of infection as anybody else, but they should be especially choosy about where and what they eat, since a bad bout of gastro, while usually not serious for mom, can sometimes cause serious problems for her baby. Most infectious causes don't directly affect your baby, but certain bacteria such as listeria and salmonella can directly cross the placenta and cause harm. If you begin to experience more severe symptoms such as fever, bloody diarrhea, dehydration, or any changes in fetal movement, you should contact your doctor at once.

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As any newly pregnant woman will tell you, once people find out you are expecting, everything you do, wear and eat suddenly becomes everyone's business. Nowhere is that more true than in China, where as a pregnant mom I was admonished for wearing lipstick, eating curry and choosing to exercise until the 36th week of my pregnancy.

Along with that comes the belief that moms need a lot of extra food to support the growth of the fetus. In many cultures, expectant mothers are encouraged to eat liberally. The more the better, right?

Actually, no.

For a start, just ten percent of a fetus' growth happens during the first half of pregnancy. The remaining 90 percent happens during the second half. In the first half, the fetus is literally modeling itself by creating the human anatomy in its most basic outline. This is the time when the brain is formed, fingers outlined and a rudimentary heart starts to pump for the first time.

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