Family Supplement: Children’s Pages

Mama & Baby Session @Green Massage

Massage helps strengthen the growing bond between mother and baby and it’s a marvelous way of enhancing natural connection. The Mama and Baby sessions are suitable for infants from 0 – 12 months and are naturally very gentle as, at this stage, their bodies are developing rapidly. Babies can benefit from these massages by developing muscle tone and bone alignment. Massage strokes towards the heart will boost baby’s blood circulation, while gentle clockwise abdominal strokes will stimulate the digestive system. The simple action of gently stroking baby will enhance their sensitivity to being caressed and cuddled. Massage has shown to help calm difficult and colicky babies and alleviate wind and other digestive problems. It also builds up the immune system’s resistance to coughs, colds and sensitive skin. Furthermore, Baby Bath Therapy provides baby with a continuation from the mother’s belly due to the feelings of buoyancy, balancing and security which enables them to grow stronger, healthier and more intelligent.

A 30-minute therapy session by a Green Massage trained Baby Therapist is RMB 280. Purchase five sessions at RMB 1,400 and receive one free session. Prenatal massages also available.

Green Massage has six convenient locations around the city in the K11 Art Mall, Lujiazui, Shanghai Centre, Xuijiahui and two venues in Xintiandi. Tel: 5386 0222 Web: www.greenmassage.com.cn

Fields Farmer’s Market @Kerry Parkside, Pudong

‘Tis the season of farmer’s markets... Fields, China’s premier online grocery store, brings you an action-packed weekend full of exciting activities for kids, families and grown-ups. Kids can spend the whole day absorbed in an educational farming workshop (RMB 20 per child) or simply participate in the ongoing activities such as cooking classes, yoga and dancing classes and a watermelon eating contest; parents may find the recycling tips and Traditional Chinese Medicine nutrition classes more enlightening. There will also be live performances throughout the day including international school bands. Fields Grocery Store will also be present, with special promotions on Fields products. There are no entry fees or participation fees at the event (apart from the whole day farming workshop for kids, the proceeds of which will go to the charity, Mifan Mama).

26 April until 27 April. 10am until 6pm. FIELDS Farmer’s Market @ Kerry Parkside, Pudong. 1,388 Huamu Lu, near Fangdian Lu. Web: www.fieldschina.com

Shanghai Family Fun Fair @Shanghai Centre

This is the second annual edition of Shanghai Centre’s signature event for families across the city, which focuses on the healthy and happy lifestyle needs of Shanghai’s families. The Family Fun Fair will have ample activities for the entire family and will use the large, open spaces at Shanghai Centre broken down into three major areas. There will be a Farmer’s Market filled with healthy food and beverage vendors along with performances from international school student bands. There will also be a playground and a Cardboard Shanghai area – a playground for kids from three to ten year olds including a gymnastics play area, technology workshops, dancing and sports activities along with Cardboard Shanghai, built out of pre-made buildings from participants in the Cardboard Shanghai Award Competition at Awesome Kid's Club. Families will be encouraged to dig into the pile of materials and tools anytime during the day and build their version of a Shanghai landmark to add to the Cardboard City! And finally, laser tag in the performance theatre! This is guaranteed to be a day full of fun, excitement and learning for all of the family.

13 April. 10am until 4pm. Shanghai Centre. 1,376 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Xikang Lu. Tel: 6279 8600. Web: www.shanghaicentre.com