Family

Placenta, as defined by Wikipedia is “an organ that connects the developing fetus to the uterine wall to allow nutrient uptake, waste elimination, and gas exchange via the mother's blood supply.” And in China, it is also something to be sold.

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Auntie Wang Liping has rescued 150 strays, looking after them for over the past ten years. Under her care and in her “super family,” they now lead happy lives, rebuilding their affection for people.

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Do you worry about your carbon footprint? Have you been putting off getting in touch with that organic farm? Are you looking for eco-friendly products? Well, look no further. This month’s issue of beijingkids explains just how easy it is to go green, or greener, in Beijing.
 
Read our top 20 ways you can help save the planet; find out how to cut back on chemicals in the home; get to know your local organic farmer and use our guide to locate organic and eco-friendly produce and products.
 
Elsewhere in the magazine, Kara Chin ventures into the deep blue with SinoScuba, and takes a trip to Tianjin. We explore Ditan Park and find out what’s beyond the Lama Temple. Our new Notice Board section lets you know what going on in your community. Jennifer McClelland introduces kid-friendly raw food cuisine, serving-up bite sized mushroom sushi rolls and a choc shake so delicious you’d swear it was bad for you.                             
                                              

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If you have a sweet tooth, you may want to head down to Fisheye Café in the Sanlitun Village this weekend. Lollipop Bakery will be offering a free mini cupcake with every hot drink purchased. If one mini dessert isn't enough, cupcakes will be available to purchase in more grown-up sizes.

Find Fisheye Café nestled between The Sanlitun Village and Yashow Market, just north of Coldstone Creamery.

“How many of you have to do chores now, or had chores when they were younger?” my teacher asked in discussion of a book the class was reading.

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The Global Times and other Chinese media outlets have announced free measles (ma(2) zhen(3), 痲疹) shots for kids from September 11-20 for "children from 8 months old to 14 years old at 535 vaccination sites and 178 hospitals" due to an anticipated outbreak this fall.

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Exercise doesn’t just keep you in shape or help you shed those extra pounds. A multitude of other benefits that can motivate you to keep up a regular exercise regime remain under the radar.
 
Studies have repeatedly shown exercise as a key to strengthening immune systems and even fighting off viruses and bacteria. Now, it has been proven to lower the risk of stroke by 27% and reduce the occurrence of diabetes and high blood pressure by 50% and 40% respectively. The risk of recurrent breast cancer is reduced by 50%, and the risk of colon cancer is slashed by over 60%. Exercise also cuts the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease by 40%. In addition, it has been shown to be just as effective as Prozac or behavioral therapy in decreasing depression.

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Always trying to find an activity that combines the perfect mix of fun and education for your child? Now you have with simple step-by-step science experiments that can be completed in the vicinity of your kitchen!  

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After all the ever-growing suspense about its future, Beijing Water Cube has officially opened to the public as a water park, or “Happy Magic Water Cube,” as translated by a CNN reporter.

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It seems we've just gotten over the melamine milk scandal that killed six infants and caused serious illness to 300,000 more, when we stumble upon another piece of disturbing news. 

The Daily Mailreported that a number of female babies in Hubei have developed premature puberty. The babies, ages 4 to 15 months, have hormone levels comparable to an adult woman and have formed breasts. At present, the only thing linking each case is the use of infant formula produced by Chinese company Synutra. Synutra maintains their formula has nothing to do with the defects and thus far authorities have refused to run tests on the formula.

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