News / Press

The Consumer Council has put 20 different types of thermal wear to test, turns out the cheaper options can be more give you more warmth! Before delving into Consumer Council's report, let's take a look at how thermals work.

💦Thermals Explained - the STEM Way

How heat functions? Our bodies lose heat in a few ways: 1) conduction (heat is transferred from a warmer solid object to a cooler solid object; this is the second law of thermodynamics), 2) convection (heat is transferred from your body to a liquid or gas) and 3) evaporative cooling (the process of a liquid changing state into a gas takes energy, in the form of heat, from its surroundings).

Although thermal wears provide some insulation (conduction and convection), their main job is to fight evaporative cooling. A quick example of evaporative cooling: blow across the back of your hand, lick it, and blow again. The wet feels much cooler🥶. As the water evaporates, it draws energy in the form of heat away from the skin. Thermals draw moisture / sweat away from the skin, minimising evaporative cooling.

💸$99 Baleno performs better than $599 Columbia | Thermal retention value varies greatly

The Consumer Council has tested 20 men and women long-sleeved thermal underwear from $99 to $559. Among them, 15 are for daily wear (including Uniqlo, Giordano, Baleno, Martha, Chicken Mark) and 5 are for sports / outdoor activities wear (including The North Face, Columbia). The test focus on: heat retention, water vapour permeability, perspiration and quick-dry performance and durability. 

 (Source: Consumer Council)

The report stated that the thermal retention value of the test samples varies greatly. Among the 15 daily wear samples, Baleno Thermal Extra has the highest thermal retention value, with an average of 0.23 clo (ranking at #3 among all samples), while Uniqlo Heattech Extra Warm scored 0.17 clo (ranking at #9 among all samples) only.

Among the 5 sportswear samples, the better performances include Wed’ze Fresh Warm Women’s and mont-bell Zeo-line Middle Weight Round Neck Tee Women’s (ranking at top 2 among all samples). Surprisingly, Columbia Omni-heat Midweight Stretch Baselayer and Thermowave have the lowest thermal retention value, measured at only 0.10 clo (ranking at the bottom among all samples). The difference between the test samples of the highest and lowest thermal retention values (from 0.1 clo to 0.32 clo) is more than twofold.

(Source: Baleno)

 (Source: Uniqlo)

 (Source: Marks & Spencer, M&S)

📝Final Thoughts

• Baleno Thermal Extra and Uniqlo Heattech Extra Warm are affordable and good at thermal retention at the same time
• Marks & Spencer Everyday Warmth Thermal Heatgen Long Sleeve Women's has one of the best averaged score
• Bossini Ztay Warm and Giordano G-warmer are the best when it comes to quick-dry performance

The report regarding the thermal retention value contained herein comes from the Consumer Council's issue 495 of Choice monthly magazine. Content is for reference only.

#保暖內衣 #保暖原理 #消委會 #到校體驗 #到校工作坊 #STEM #STEAM #EDB

 

Stay connected and get our latest class schedule via our WhatsApp group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/Ef2NmcdlO5PLpa4MtD5n6y

Let's join hands to inspire young minds, share resources, and shape the future of STEM🚀!

Resilience isn’t a birthright, it’s a skill that can be learnt and practiced with your help.

In today's complex society, the American Psychological Association (APA) has underscored a crucial aspect for our children's well-being - building resilience. Developing resilience in children is more than just throwing them into the deep end of a pool to see whether they can swim; it is about the consistent support you provide them daily. In this blog article, we delve into how you can empower your child to thrive in the face of adversity.

1. Create a safe foundation.

Strong relationships are the foundation of children’s resilience. Your child’s most important relationships are with you and their other main carers, like helpers. Strong relationships with you and their carers help your child feel loved and safe. This sense of security gives your child the confidence to discover their world and to bounce back from setbacks.

“Having a relationship with a caring parent is far and away the most powerful protective factor for children,” said Ann Masten, a psychology professor at the University of Minnesota and a pioneer in the study of children resiliency. Thus, if a youngster skins her elbow while falling off a bike, the best method to assist her get back on is to tell her that she is loved regardless of what happens.

What’s more, pay attention to your level of anxiousness, and try to be at ease with witnessing your child experience sadness and frustration.

2. Quality time over quantity.

I'll never forget what my 5-year-old daughter said to me. We were doing a puzzle, but I kept going to the bedroom to check my phone. "Mommy, you're not really here, are you?" she correctly remarked after I rejoined her for the fourth time.

So quality is more important than quantity. 10 minutes of fully concentrated concentration is preferable than an hour of multitasking. You can also use phrases like "tell me how you thought of that" to have more meaningful conversations and discover more about your child's cognitive process and creativity.

3. Give proper praise that encourages a growth mindset.

Growth mindset: It is a belief that intelligence and abilities can be enhanced through hard work and practice. Children with growth mindset believe that they can learn and improve despite their inborn talent, which encourages perseverance.

Fixed mindset: Contrarily, it is a belief that abilities are fixed. Children with fixed mindset believes that they are either smart or not smart, with not much room of improvement.

Proper praise is important in helping children develop a growth mindset with self-belief. When you praise your child:

       
(Fig Src: https://www.icscareergps.com/blog/latest-education-and-career-buzz/key-differences-between-a-growth-mindset-versus-a-fixed-mindset/)

 

4. Ask ‘how’ to promote problem-solving skills.

Every parent would like to protect their children from hardships in life. Excessive care, however, acts as a barrier, preventing children from learning how to be strong and effectively handle life's problems. In fact, one of the most effective methods for our children to learn is via trial and error. This is unpleasant yet necessary.

        

5. Be a positive, resilient role model.

Your child will learn and mimic anything you do, part of educating your child to be robust is modeling resilience for them.

You cannot demand a child to manage their emotions when they are acting out. Instead, demonstrate consistent resilient habits. Stamford American School Hong Kong suggested that being honest in accepting your faults, expressing disappointment, then moving that past disappointment will assist your children to be more resilient.

Why not discuss with your child what you learned or how you can do better next time? You might also talk about how renowned people built their way to success by making errors and failing!


Thanks for reading! Read our blog (or join our WhatsApp group) for more parenting tips and STEM / STEAM resources.


References:
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/jan/05/six-ways-to-raise-a-resilient-child
[2] https://time.com/5943404/how-to-raise-resilient-kids
[3] https://biglifejournal.com/blogs/blog/how-to-raise-resilient-kids-who-never-give-up
[4] https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/01/parenting/raising-resilient-kids.html
[5] https://www.mother.ly/parenting/how-to-raise-kids-resilience
[6] Seligman, M. (2018). The optimistic child: A revolutionary approach to raising resilient children. Hachette UK
[7] https://www.sais.edu.hk/blog/five-tips-to-help-your-child-build-confidence

This summer, go on a STEAM- and sightseeing-packed city break at Grand Hyatt Hong Kong with your kids while venturing out to explore Wan Chai! Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, together with leading STEAM-education provider Mochy Group, presents an exclusive “Time Machine STEAM Scavenger Hunt” staycation package for families to bond, relax and learn at the same time.

Available from 1 July to 20 August on Saturdays and Sundays only, this fun-filled scavenger hunt specially curated by the professional team at Mochy will take families on an excursion exploring the unique neighbourhood of Wan Chai and its cultural heritage and modern development, while also enjoying an educational experience focusing on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) through intriguing missions.

Starting from the hotel, families will embark on a journey around Wan Chai, with pit stops including the iconic Wan Chai Star Ferry Pier, HarbourChill Promenade, Jardine Noonday Gun and more. After the scavenger hunt, each child will receive a certificate of participation and the winning team will also receive a special prize.

Apart from the outdoor tasks, kiddies can also learn to become a little engineer and chemist with two sets of special kits for them to conduct their own chemical experiments and build a self-propelled paddle boat.

 

FAMILY SCAVENGER HUNT STAYCATION PACKAGE

Package is available for stays on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 1 July to 20 August. Priced from HK$2,988+10% per room per night, the package includes:

• Complimentary upgrade to a harbour view guestroom
• A 2-hour “Time Machine STEAM Scavenger Hunt”*
• One Tiffin takeaway afternoon tea set on the day of departure OR upgrade to Poolside BBQ dinner buffet at The Grill on the day of arrival
• Daily breakfast for registered guests
• An ice-cream voucher per child upon check-in
• A specially curated “Discover Wan Chai” tour map
• A voucher for one trial session of child fencing at Elite Academy of Fencing
• Enjoy a special rate of HK$450 per vehicle per night for valet parking during the hotel stay period (maximum 1 vehicle per room)

*Scavenger Hunt is available at 2:00 – 4:00 PM on Saturdays and Sundays only, from 1 July to 20 August 2023. Guests checking in on Saturdays can choose to participate on either the day of arrival or departure. Guests checking in on Fridays and Sundays will join the Saturday and Sunday sessions respectively.

Inclusions above are for 2 adults and 1 child (age 6-12); each additional child (aged 4 or above) joining the scavenger hunt activity will be subject to a HK$350 nett participation fee. Scavenger Hunt will be conducted in English.

Each guestroom can accommodate up to 2 adults and 1 child (age 6 or above). For families of 4, connecting room offer is available upon request, please contact the hotel at 2588 1234 or hongkong.grand@hyatt.com for more details.

BOOK NOW!

 

Source: https://www.hongkong.grand.hyattrestaurants.com/offers-and-news/discover-wan-chai/

STEM: STEM, stands for – science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Add an “A” for arts, and the acronym becomes STEAM.

Team Mochy is teaming up with Residence Bel-Air (貝沙灣) to host a series of STEM classes at Club Peak Wing Billiard Room and Club Bay Wing STEAM Room. Next ones are on Apr 23, 2023 (Sun):
1️⃣ 9-11am: Vroom, rumble! Make a remote-controlled car (for age 8+), $750 /kid
2️⃣ 11:30am-1pm: Build a wooden ukulele (for age 6+), $620 /kid

For who & how to enrol? Exclusive for Residence Bel-Air's residents & guests only. Call the club's Arts & Sports Division at 29896516. (deadline: Apr 18, 2023, Tue)

Plants let out secret high-pitch screams when stressed

They sound a bit like bubble wrap being popped, apparently.

It’s the stuff of nightmares: you sit down to tuck into a tasty salad when, suddenly, one of the tomatoes starts to scream as you cut into it.

While the above scenario is a gross exaggeration, biologists from Tel Aviv University have found that plants emit sounds comparable in volume to normal human conversation when they are stressed.

Thankfully, they’re too high pitched for humans to hear but it is likely they can be heard by insects and other mammals, the researchers say.

“Even in a quiet field, there are actually sounds that we don't hear, and those sounds carry information,” said senior author Prof Lilach Hadany, an evolutionary biologist based at Tel Aviv University.

“There are animals that can hear these sounds, so there is the possibility that a lot of acoustic interaction is occurring.

“Plants interact with insects and other animals all the time, and many of these organisms use sound for communication, so it would be very suboptimal for plants to not use sound at all.”

 © Ohad Lewin-Epstein

The researchers recorded the sounds of the tomato plants using regular microphones.The researchers placed tomato and tobacco plants in a soundproofed acoustic chamber and then later in a noisy greenhouse environment. In both situations they stressed them first by not watering them for several days and then by cutting off their stems.

After recording the plants, the researchers trained a machine-learning algorithm to analyse the difference in the sounds produced by unstressed plants, thirsty plants, and cut plants.

They found that stressed plants produced around 30 to 50 high-pitched clicks or pops per hour at random intervals, while unstressed produced far fewer.

What’s more, the machine-learning algorithm was able to identify the different types of sounds produced depending on the cause of stress and also which plant they came from.

It’s not yet clear exactly how the plants are producing these sounds, though the researchers suggest that it might be due to the formation and bursting of air bubbles inside the plants.

Similarly, it’s unclear what the purpose of the sounds is. However, it’s likely that other plants and animals are ‘listening in’ to gain some sort of benefit, the researchers say.

“It’s possible that other organisms could have evolved to hear and respond to these sounds,” said Hadany.

“For example, a moth that intends to lay eggs on a plant or an animal that intends to eat a plant could use the sounds to help guide their decision.”

“If other plants have information about stress before it actually occurs, they could prepare.”

 

Source: Jason Goodyer, BBC Science Focus Magazine

Quote: "Flex your creative muscles – or delight your children with a fun experience to remember – at this workshop hosted by leading educational toy designer Mochy Kid. Learn to make artificial snow and create one-of-a-kind Christmas ornaments, baubles natural pinecones and other festive decorations sure to give your Christmas tree a home a touch of personalised flair.

December 7; K11 Musea, Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui; k11musea.com "

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Press Release

Straight-A student meets athlete: How does a sailboat go forward against the wind? Why is a golf ball not as smooth as a ping pong ball? Brainpower and physical power can go hand in hand – in support of the Education Bureau’s renewed school curriculum, Mochy debuts a sport-linked STEM pilot program that connects the sports children play and compete in with the STEM skills they learn in classroom.

HONG KONG, October 20, 2022 – Mochy, a leading STEM/STEAM education provider in Hong Kong, today teams up with a group of certified sport professionals to pilot a sport-linked STEAM program, spicing up STEM learning for children aged 5-14 through the lens of their favorite sports as real-world application. The program comprises two parts: (1) sport training and (2) sport-related STEAM classroom learning.

In favor of the Education Bureau’s latest renewal of primary curriculum where reinforcing STEAM education is one of the seven major emphases, a recent research by the Legislative Council showed that over 90% of school-aged children did not participate in sufficient physical activity. Mochy wants to help change that by enhancing STEAM to promote sport. The pilot program, namely ‘Stomper’ (with letters of ‘STEM’ and ‘sport’), gives children access to sports that are less accessible at school. For starters, 3 types of sport are available under the STEM Sport Stomper Program: 1) STEAM x Sailing; 2) STEAM x Horse Riding; or 3) STEAM x Golfing.

• How? Each type of sport has its own 4-class beginner curriculum (1 class /week), including 2 sport classes and 2 STEAM classroom lessons
• Requirement? No experience needed
• Price? From $1,380 /program (view all packages on Mochy’s website here)
• Signup? Enrol online / WhatsApp 5295 3765 / email hello@mochygroup.com

"As a momtrepreneur, I’m thrilled that my passion for these 3 sports can be share with more kids through Mochy. Mochy is opening doors for children to see the STEM applications behind niche sports that they do not usually associate with science.”

Natalie Lau, Managing Director and STEM Lead at Mochy

"It's an exciting release from our team as we have spent so much effort in putting this program together. We've been on field trips visiting the sites, experiencing the sports, ensuring our curricula and lesson plans are aligned to the standards, like the EBD's Key Learning Area (KLA) Curriculum Guides (General Studies, Science, Technology, Mathematics, etc.) and Physical Education Key Learning Area Curriculum Guide. We are certain that this program can inspire more Hong Kong students to become active learners in STEM."

Arnold Davis, Director at Mochy

Mochy will release Christmas taster camp that includes multiple sports next month. Beyond this pilot program, Mochy will work with Hong Kong school leaders and teachers to further promote STEAM education, by sharing a unique perspective on STEAM subjects that are traditionally seen to be classroom-style in a new light through sports.

Mochy also recently announced The Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel Hong Kong as one of its newly authorized retailers. Visit the hotel’s retail outlets to purchase Mochy’s latest series of STEM toy kits.

⬇️ Download all program images here bit.ly/imgpack.

 

About Mochy: Mochy’s vision is to inspire the next generation of innovators, with a mission to bridge the gap between life skill building and exam-based education. Upholding the ‘Next Generation Science Standards’ (NGSS), Mochy designs STEM & STEAM curriculum and delivers teaching programs to children aged 3-14 (Grades K-8) for schools, membership clubs, hotels, malls and more. Mochy designs STEM learning kits which are available at authorized retailers. Learn more at mochygroup.com and follow us Instagram and Facebook.

About STEM/STEAM: The Education Bureau has officially renamed STEM education as STEAM education in 2022. STEAM is the acronym for ‘Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics’ and is the evolution of STEM.

Media Contact: Morgan Liu, +852 5295 3765, press@mochygroup.com

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請即發放 | 新聞稿

當學霸遇上運動健將：帆船如何逆風前進？為什麼高爾夫球不像乒乓球般光滑？腦力和肌力其實是摯友 —— 配合教育局最新《小學指引》，Mochy試行推出STEAM運動先導課程，將兒童在課堂上所學的STEM技能與體育連線。

 

香港，2022年10月20日 – Mochy，香港的龍頭STEM/STEAM教育公司，今日與多位國際認可教練攜手設計推出STEAM運動先導課程計劃，借助孩子熱愛的運動作為日常生活應用，為5-14歲學童帶來嶄新的 STEM 學習體驗。該計劃內容涵蓋兩重點：（一）運動實戰練習和（二）融入運動原理的STEAM教室學習。

教育局最新《小學教育課程指引》（2022年9月）中強調STEAM教育乃七個學習宗旨之一。立法會最近一項研究顯示逾90%的中小學生缺乏充足體能活動，Mochy希望出一分力改善這狀況，將利用STEAM去提高運動參與度。該先導計劃名為「Stomper」（包含了英文字STEM及sport），提供機會給孩子參與在學校層面較難觸及的運動。STEAM Sport Stomper計劃首推出三種運動為選項：一) STEAM x帆船、二) STEAM x馬術、或 三) STEAM x高爾夫球。

• 模式？每項運動均有四節的初級課程（每週一節課），其中包括兩節運動課堂及兩節STEAM課堂
• 要求？ 無需經驗
• 價格？每個運動課程 $1,380起 (歡迎瀏覽Mochy網站獲取更多課程資料)
• 報名？ 網上報名 / WhatsApp 5295 3765／電郵hello@mochygroup.com

「身為媽媽創業家，我很慶幸能透過Mochy與更多孩子分享我對這三項運動的熱愛。 Mochy 正為孩子們打開「貴族運動」之大門，讓他們親身感受平常看似與科學無關的STEM 應用。」

Natalie Lau，Mochy的執行董事兼STEM總監

"Mochy團隊花了很多精力來整合這項目，對此發布感到非常欣喜。我們去年不斷實地考察和親身體驗運動，來確保我們的課程教案符合香港教育局的學習領域課程指引（常識、科學、科技、數學等）和體育學習領域課程指引。我們知道這課程可激發更多香港學生成為積極的STEM學習者。"

Arnold Davis, Director at Mochy

Mochy下月將推出跨運動聖誕訓練營，兒童可於訓練營中嚐遍所有運動。展望未來，完成首輪先導計劃後， Mochy將與香港學校領導人員和教師合作，以體育新視角分享對STEAM學科的到校方案，進一步推展STEAM教育。此外，香港富麗敦海洋公園酒店最近成為Mochy的授權零售商之一。如欲購買Mochy之STEM教學玩具系列，歡迎前往酒店的零售店瀏覽產品。

⬇️下載所有文章內的圖片bit.ly/imgpack.

 

關於Mochy：激發下一代創造者是Mochy的願景，拉近考試制度和生活技能之距離是Mochy的使命。跟隨美國新世代科學標準（Next Generation Science Standards，NGSS），專注於STEM/STEAM課程研發及教學，為3-14 歲（K-8）兒童於學校、會員俱樂部、酒店、商場等提供大量創新STEM教材和課程。Mochy自家設計的STEM教學玩具套裝於各大授權零售商有售。歡迎瀏覽 mochygroup.com，並關注我們的 Instagram and Facebook.。

關於STEM/STEAM：教育局正式於2022年將 STEM 教育易名為 STEAM 教育。STEAM是科學（Science）、技術（Technology） 、工程（Engineering）、藝術（Arts）、數學（Mathematics）的縮寫。

媒體聯絡人: Morgan Liu, +852 5295 3765, press@mochygroup.com

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After years of hard work to make a difference in the STEM industry, we are delighted to announce that we have been awarded the title 'Leading ECA/CCA Providers for Children' in 2022 by LUXlife (an England and Wales based company).

The biggest honors go to our fellow team in the Mochy family as this is what got us this far. Thank you all!

Source: https://www.lux-review.com/winners/mochy-group/ 

Source: Toy Swap Services and Activity Box Subscriptions - Playtimes

#education #stem #event #family #activity #trending #2022 #2023

Source: https://www.sassymamahk.com/activity-boxes-in-hong-kong-learn/