Cheers Learning and Assessment Services

15/04/2026

This post on “focusing on solutions, not problems” resonates with me.

A few nights ago, we took out some old ring puzzles I had bought years back… We were laughing, trying, and gently competing to see who could solve more. It wasn’t just about the puzzles—it was one of those simple, meaningful family moments.

It reminded me of something I often tell my boy: focus on the solution, not the problem.

Whenever he forgets something—his water bottle, book, or wallet—I try not to jump in immediately. Instead, I ask him, “What can you do to solve this?”

We even came up with a little system together—2S3W:
Snack box, Story book, Watch, Wallet, Water bottle.

It works… most days.

Yesterday, he forgot his wallet (again) and I knew he might not have lunch before his after-school activity. I could have rushed it to school—but I didn’t. It felt like one of those small but important moments to let him learn.

That night, as we chatted before bed, he shared that he managed with his snack. Then we gently explored what else he could have done—borrow from a friend, approach a teacher, think ahead next time.

These quiet conversations, these little struggles… they’re shaping him in ways that reminders never could.

As parents, it’s not always easy to hold back. But sometimes, growth happens in the space we choose not to fill. 💛

Focus on the solution, not the problem. The more you dwell on what’s wrong, the less energy you have to fix it. Shift your focus, find the way forward, and t...

25/03/2026

In today’s world, it’s easy to turn to AI for answers.
But when it comes to real children in real classrooms, things are often more complex.

This complimentary online session is designed to go beyond theory — and focus on practical strategies grounded in real-life experience.

We’ll be sharing case studies and classroom vignettes from working with children and youths, including how to:
• manage discipline in group settings
• support motivation when students feel like giving up
• navigate emotional highs and lows

📅 30 March (Mon), 7–8pm
🎓 Supporting Diverse Learners in Inclusive Classrooms

👥 Suitable for teachers, therapists, and SEN officers

❤️ This is also a charity event supporting children with cancer
(Donation is optional, but appreciated)
https://www.giving.sg/donate/campaign/learn-share-and-give-back-together-cheers

🎟️ Register here:
https://calendly.com/cheerslearning/cheers-webinar-2026

Feel free to share with anyone who may benefit 🙏

14/03/2026

🚗 Yesterday I saw something that made me pause.

The line of cars at the Causeway heading into Johor was incredibly long.

It seems many families have caught the holiday bug — quick getaways, short trips, and a change of scenery during the March school holidays.

But it made me reflect on something I often observe in my work with children and families.

Children rarely remember the destination.
They remember the time spent with their parents.

You don’t need a passport stamp to create meaningful experiences with your child this March holiday.

If you’re staying in Singapore and wondering “What should we do this week?”, here are a few simple ideas:

🎭 1. Use the $100 Culture Pass

Singaporeans now have a $100 SG Culture Pass to support local arts, heritage and cultural activities.

Instead of letting it sit unused, bring your child to:
• a theatre performance
• a museum exhibition
• a storytelling event
• a book activity

🔗 https://www.sgculturepass.gov.sg/?lang=en

Children exposed to the arts often develop curiosity, empathy and imagination.

🌿 2. Rediscover Singapore’s Nature and Farm Experiences

Sometimes the best “travel experience” is simply exploring what’s already around us.

Try:
• Rail Corridor walk
• Cycling at Coney Island
• Local farm tours

🔗 https://www.sassymamasg.com/urban-farming-singapore-organic-vegetables/

You might be surprised how much children open up when they are simply walking and exploring.

👫 3. Let Children Organise a Playdate

Instead of planning everything for them, let your child co-plan an activity with friends.

Ideas:
• board game day
• movie night
• laser tag outing
• swimming gathering

Children learn social planning, communication and leadership when we step back and let them take ownership.

📚 4. Teach the Skill of Slowing Down

In a fast-paced world, children rarely get to practise stillness.

Try:
• visiting the library
• attending a children’s mindfulness class
• joining a kids yoga session

These quiet moments help children develop focus, patience and emotional regulation.

🎨 5. Create Something Together

Some of the strongest family memories happen at home.

Bake together.
Cook together.
Draw, paint, build, create.

Creativity helps children build confidence and imagination.

✨ After working with children for many years, one observation stands out.

What children remember most is not the activity.

It is the attention.
The laughter.
The conversations.
The feeling that their parents were fully present with them.

Whether you're travelling or staying in Singapore this March holiday, I hope you’ll find moments to slow down and connect with your child.

Because those moments matter more than we think.

💬 Parents in Singapore —
What’s one activity you're planning with your child this school holiday?

Use your Culture Pass credits to enjoy the best of Singapore's arts, culture, and heritage.

06/03/2026

A rare and funny moment happened in Parliament recently.

During the debate, Education Minister Desmond Lee posed a PSLE Math question to the Members of Parliament.

Suddenly, the Parliament chamber looked a little like a classroom — MPs putting their heads together trying to solve a Primary School Leaving Examination question 😄

Many parents probably know this feeling very well.

Your child comes home with a Math question and asks,
“Can you help me with this?”

And you stare at the question thinking…
“Wait… how do I do this again?” 😅

Beyond the humour, the key point highlighted was the structured way PSLE Math questions are solved today. Students are guided to show their thinking step by step, which helps them organise their reasoning and tackle complex problems more confidently.

Learning Math is not just about getting the answer.
It’s about learning how to think.

Curious to hear from parents here:

Have you ever tried solving your child’s PSLE Math question and realised it was harder than expected?

Have fun solving!

Education Minister Desmond Lee tests the House with PSLE math question

03/03/2026

Today is Yuan Xiao Jie (元宵节) — Chinese Valentine’s Day. 💛

Last Saturday reminded me that love comes in different forms.

One child said, “I will miss you,” and gave me a fist bump before he left.

The next session? Screams, whining, dysregulation with kicks and punches. It was hard. But with patience and co-regulation, the child left calmer.

I was exhausted, though.

Then a parent who heard the commotion handed me a drink and offered kind words. A colleague sent encouragement.

Only later did I realise — that was love too.

• Kind words
• Thoughtful gestures
• Quiet support

Love shows up in small, steady ways.

Today, let’s offer one small act of kindness.

Ripples travel further than we think. 💛

Cheers!

23/02/2026

All in a day’s work: Career talks 2026 ✨

Grateful to be invited back to two secondary schools again this year — returning for the second and third year always feels extra meaningful. I truly enjoyed spending time with the students. Having previously taught at the secondary level, engaging with them feels very natural — the sessions were lively, fun, and wonderfully interactive.

The students asked thoughtful, insightful questions, which made the discussions especially rewarding. It is always encouraging to see curiosity, reflection, and genuine interest. I may even have spotted a few budding psychologists in the group 😊

Hoping these conversations will gently inspire and guide those considering pathways in psychology and community service.

Cheers

Thank you to the teachers who took the pictures:
Bukit Panjang Government High School - Bpians
Beatty Secondary School - Beattyians

15/02/2026

“What happens when my child grows up?”

The above is a common question many parents with special kids of substantial needs quietly ask themselves.

School provides structure, support, and intervention — but adulthood is a much longer journey.

This transition is often described as the "post-18 cliff effect".

The reassuring news is that Singapore has been steadily building stronger pathways for adults with special needs 🌱

There are organisations supporting young adults and adults through:

✨ Vocational & employment support
✨ Life skills & independence training
✨ Day activity programmes
✨ Social & community engagement

Some key support systems include:

Eden Centre for Adults
https://www.autismlinks.org.sg/programmes/ecfa

Autism Resource Centre Singapore (E2C)
https://www.autism.org.sg/core-services/e2c

St Andrew’s Adult Autism Services
https://www.saac.org.sg/dignity-of-work/

MINDS
https://www.minds.org.sg/for-adults/open-employment-programmes/

APSN Centre for Adults
https://www.apsn.org.sg/employability-services/

TOUCH Community Services
https://www.touch.org.sg/get-assistance/special-needs/day-activity-centre.html

SG Enable
https://www.enablingguide.sg/im-looking-for-disability-support/training-employment

A visit to the Eden Centre for Adults: https://www.facebook.com/reel/774886152036521

Because developmental differences are lifelong —
support should be lifelong too 💛

06/02/2026

Growth isn’t linear—and that’s okay. 🌱
There are ups, downs, and moments where progress feels slow, but every step still counts. Be kind to yourself, keep going, and trust the process.

We’ll get there. 💛

26/01/2026

I just concluded my very first webinar-cum-charity event, “The Science of Play”, for parents of preschoolers and preschool educators. We had 14 attendees — not bad at all, considering I only started sharing about it actively a week before and was honestly quite apprehensive.

I remember quietly telling myself: If nobody signs up, I’ll just cancel it. Thankfully, it didn’t come to that.

Watching the recording was humbling. I learnt that I need to slow down, make sessions more interactive, give more concrete examples, practise my script, speak with more confidence — and yes, even remove my progressive spectacles so I don’t keep looking down and squinting. There is still so much to learn.

Public speaking has never come naturally to me. I still remember my first speech back in secondary school, standing in front of the entire cohort, not sleeping the night before, imagining everything that could go wrong. Being naturally shy, speaking to a group has always felt intimidating.

Over the years, I didn’t become a teacher, lecturer, or speaker because the fear disappeared — but because I kept choosing to move one step beyond my comfort zone, again and again. It was rarely comfortable, often painful, and always filled with self-doubt.

What kept me going for this webinar was exactly that: choosing growth over comfort. And also, a cause very close to my heart.

A student of mine — despite multiple diagnosed physical health conditions — continues to show remarkable courage. She once told her mother that for every 10 injections she had to endure, she wanted $10 to be donated to charity. That simple act of giving, even while suffering, deeply moved me.

So I thought — why not combine learning and giving back?
This webinar was our small step towards raising funds to support children with cancer.

Our next webinar will be on
📅 Thursday, 26 March 2026, 7pm
🎯 “Supporting Diverse Learners in Inclusive Classrooms”
👥 Suitable for teachers, counsellors, and SEN officers

If you believe in learning and giving back together, we hope to see you there.

🔗 https://calendly.com/cheerslearning/cheers-webinar-2026

19/01/2026

Complimentary Webinar & Charity Event: The Science of Play

Play is more than fun — it shapes the developing brain.
Join us on January 26, Monday from 7pm - 8pm via Zoom for a complimentary webinar cm charity event:

“The Science of Play: How Early Experiences Shape the Brain.”

Designed for preschool educators, early childhood therapists, and parents, this event explores how early play experiences strengthen emotional, cognitive, and language growth.

Speaker's Profile:
Mrs Lee Ming Ying — Registered Educational Psychologist (SPS) & SRP-approved supervisor. She brings over a decade of MOE teaching experience across mainstream and special education settings (Pathlight, SOTA). She previously conducted assessments at DAS, MindChamps Allied Care, and CareCorner ETS, and has served as a lecturer/supervisor at NIE and the College of Allied Educators.

Key Takeaways:
✔ Neuroscience behind play & executive functioning
✔ Play types that build problem-solving & social skills
✔ Guided play strategies for home and classrooms

This webinar is complimentary, and we will also be raising funds for the Children’s Cancer Foundation (CCF) to support children with cancer and their families in Singapore.
Donations are optional, and any contribution is appreciated.

Register here: https://calendly.com/cheerslearning/cheers-webinar-2026?month=2026-01

Learn, share, and give back together.

16/01/2026

27,000 Special Needs Kids in Mainstream School, Some are Undiagnosed

I watched this CNA video on supporting students with special needs in mainstream schools and it made me reflect deeply. Today, we have around 27,000 students with special educational needs in mainstream schools, and many are still undiagnosed. They struggle with school routines, social situations, or behaviour, often without understanding why.

Recently, I met a few young adults who sought assessments on their own. One shared that his parent had hidden an ADHD diagnosis from him. He spent years being punished for impulsive behaviour and received very little support. It was only when he referred himself and started medication that his behaviour and friendships improved significantly.

Many parents fear the “label”. That fear is real. But we also need to consider the cost of waiting. Most families only seek help when something forces it – before national exams (for access arrangements), when gaming becomes a coping mechanism, when school discipline escalates, or even as late as national service or work internship when functioning demands are much higher. By then, precious time is lost.

There is always shock, grief, or hesitation at the start. But denial does not solve challenges. Once families shift towards forward planning and acceptance, things become clearer. Knowing the root cause means knowing how to help.

Assessment is not about defining a child. It is about understanding them so we can support their learning, confidence, and relationships. That, in itself, is a form of love.



https://www.channelnewsasia.com/watch/back-school-supporting-students-special-educational-needs-5827106?

12/01/2026

We are happy to share that CHEERS is renewing our commitment as a Social Enterprise.

Since 2015, our heart has always been in social impact—supporting children and youth with special needs and providing services at highly subsidized rates for families who need them most. We are thankful for the trust from parents, schools, and partners over the years.

As we step into the next phase, we will continue to build an inclusive and supportive community for our clients and their families. Thank you for being part of this journey with us.

Every child deserves support that is accessible, dignified, and meaningful.