Like most Kiasu Parents, I started reading to my boy when he was 4 months old, but as he grow older (now 4 years old), I found it harder and harder to get him to sit still and listen to me. At a point I just gave up, he has loads and loads of book in the bookshelves but he just doesn't seems interested in it. Eventhough I still make sure I have storybook time with him, but he will just flip through the pages, look at the pictures and be done in 5 minutes.
Recently, I decided to try a different approach. I decided to bring him to the library and let him choose his own book. SMALL FAN loves going to the library, initially, he just runs around the library but nowadays, he will go and pick up books and flip through it, looking at the pictures. So what I did, was I actually pick out some books about CARS and BUSES (his favourite objects) and let him look at it, then I ask him if we should borrow it home and read it. He agreed. This seems to works as the next day, he will excitedly take his library books of cars and asked me to read it to him.
Another thing that I did was, while at the library I also pick up some books on Nursery Rhymes for my baby girl (now 2 years old) as she loves necessary rhymes. Initially, like all Kiasu parents, I pick up Nursery Rhymes book that contain as many different nursery rhymes as possible, this capture my baby girl's attention. But recently, I started picking out Nursery Rhymes book that just have one rhyme in each book. And I started reading and singing to both the kids. To my surprise, my boy got really interested and he was singing the rhymes as he flip through the book himself. Recently, he even started reading the words in the book. Nursery Rhymes was really helpful as they tend to be repetative such as Hickory Dickory Dock, also as there is only one NR per book, each page only contain a few words. So my boy started to learn to recognised these words and read it himself. He will ask me what are the words if he is not sure. Hey...I have unconsciously get my boy to read....not bad right?
Here's 2 nursery rhymes book that I really loves, borrow it and read it to your kids, it's really fun.
For those of you not to sure how to sing the tune for this 2 books, here's the songs from youtube.com
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Teaching a Kid to Draw
SMALL FAN is now in K1 and suddenly there is lots and lots of writing for him to do. Recently, his chinese teacher told us that SMALL FAN seems to be 'slower to mature" in terms of his ability to sit still and write, she suggested that we get him to do more drawing to cultivate his patient and ability to focus. I was contemplating sending him for art classes but yet, I don't think he is interested in going for yet another 'enrichment" class, so I thought I plough through the net for some drawing activities that I could do with him at home instead. SMALL FAN loves cars,trucks, bus and all the transportation vehicles, so I thought I look around the web for a site that teaches drawing such vehicles step by step and stumble upon these sites.
Monday, January 11, 2010
A day at Lower Pierce Reservior
This was a really fun trips, the kids enjoy themselves looking at fishes and seeing other kids fishing. However, what was really enjoyable was the playground there, they have the really old type, those that we played in our younger days. Still felt that the old playground are more fun, the newer one somehow not as exciting.
Kids catching fishes at the reservior.
Baby FAN taking a peep at the catch of the day.
SMALL FAN trying to fish with a stick.
Ang Mo fishing with his kid.
The 3 FAN enjoying themselves at the merry go round.
Baby FAN taking a peep at the catch of the day.
SMALL FAN trying to fish with a stick.
Ang Mo fishing with his kid.
A day at the Upper Pierce Reservior
SMALL FAN was on MC for a full 2 weeks due to lung infection. So, instead of our usual marketing at the supermarket on Sunday, we decided to bring him to the Upper Pierce Reservior to look for monkeys. It was a nice leisure walk. And we saw lots and lots of Monkeys, the kids were really excited.
Monkeys eating MacDonald Pancakes that they steal from the visitor having a picnic there.
Monkeys eating MacDonald Pancakes that they steal from the visitor having a picnic there.
Kids taking a water break.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
SSO Babies' Prom
Manage to get the last 3 tickets available for the SSO Babies' Prom and was full of enthusiam when we brought the kids there today. The place was indeed crowded with kids. Before the show starts, the compere was entertaining the kids by engaging them in some dancing and singing...so I thought this looks promising.
Then the conductor came and the performance started. The first few songs was quite entertaining and my Baby FAN was dancing and clapping to the tune. But as we were sitting really far behind we can't really hear what the conductor is saying and the music sounds reallly far away. I think they notice it and the usherers started asking us (all the parents sitting behind) to bring our kids to the front to sit so they can hear and see better. SMALL FAN refuse to go, so I brought Baby FAN to the front. As I sit her down, the usherer asked me to leave as the front was reserved for the kids only, no parents allowed. As Baby FAN was too small to stay there alone, I have to squeeze my way all the way back. Luckily, I'm not the only one, a lot of the parents have to drag their kids back to their seats as well. This is so poorly organised. At the end of the event, I even hear a woman scolding the usherers who were suppose to look after the kids that are sitting near the stage (since the probid the parents to be there) as the mother can't find her kid after the event.
After the 2nd songs, they started slowing down the pace of the music and the conductor started focusing and engaging the kids sitting near the stage only. So both the kids started to get really bored. Baby FAN fell asleep while SMALL FAN kept asking to go home.
All in all, a very disappointing event as I was expecting more from them due to the high price and the popular demand. Both hubby and I felt that is money wasted...Still prefer The Hungry Caterpillar by ACT3.
Then the conductor came and the performance started. The first few songs was quite entertaining and my Baby FAN was dancing and clapping to the tune. But as we were sitting really far behind we can't really hear what the conductor is saying and the music sounds reallly far away. I think they notice it and the usherers started asking us (all the parents sitting behind) to bring our kids to the front to sit so they can hear and see better. SMALL FAN refuse to go, so I brought Baby FAN to the front. As I sit her down, the usherer asked me to leave as the front was reserved for the kids only, no parents allowed. As Baby FAN was too small to stay there alone, I have to squeeze my way all the way back. Luckily, I'm not the only one, a lot of the parents have to drag their kids back to their seats as well. This is so poorly organised. At the end of the event, I even hear a woman scolding the usherers who were suppose to look after the kids that are sitting near the stage (since the probid the parents to be there) as the mother can't find her kid after the event.
All in all, a very disappointing event as I was expecting more from them due to the high price and the popular demand. Both hubby and I felt that is money wasted...Still prefer The Hungry Caterpillar by ACT3.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Penang Holiday with Kids - Part III
Day Three
We called back the same taxi driver that took us to Penang Hill and book him for 3 hours, it cost RM$30/hr. He brought us to some places of interest in George Town like the Reclining Buddha, Fort Cornwallis, Clock Tower. He also recommended us some street hawker food, we had Chendol at the side walk of a street, it was really really tasty...yum yum...We also bought some biscuits from their famous biscuit shop Ghee Hiang and tabao Penang Fried Kway Teow and Hokkein Mee back to the hotel to eat. The Penang Fried Kway Teow tasted quite good, so is the Hokkien Mee although it tasted more like our Prawn Noodle here.
Chinatown
Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion
Ghee Hiang
After a nice lunch at the hotel and a dip in the swimming pool again. We took a taxi to the Batu Ferringhi night market and see if we can find a place for dinner. We decided to eat dinner at The Ship restaurant before making our way back to the hotel by foot so that we can that a look at the different stalls along the street.
Night Market at Batu Ferringhi
Day Four
Took the afternoon flight back to the hotel after another dip in the pool as we headed back to home sweet home.
All in all, a great maiden trip for us. Not too taxing but I think we do miss out a lot of places of interest like the Spice Garden, National Park, the various places of worships as we don't think the kids will appreciate it at such a small age. For those of you planning to go Penang for a holidays, here are some great websites to help in your planning. Enjoy!
We called back the same taxi driver that took us to Penang Hill and book him for 3 hours, it cost RM$30/hr. He brought us to some places of interest in George Town like the Reclining Buddha, Fort Cornwallis, Clock Tower. He also recommended us some street hawker food, we had Chendol at the side walk of a street, it was really really tasty...yum yum...We also bought some biscuits from their famous biscuit shop Ghee Hiang and tabao Penang Fried Kway Teow and Hokkein Mee back to the hotel to eat. The Penang Fried Kway Teow tasted quite good, so is the Hokkien Mee although it tasted more like our Prawn Noodle here.
Reclining Buddha
Fort Cornwallis
Clock Tower
Chinatown
Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion
Ghee Hiang
After a nice lunch at the hotel and a dip in the swimming pool again. We took a taxi to the Batu Ferringhi night market and see if we can find a place for dinner. We decided to eat dinner at The Ship restaurant before making our way back to the hotel by foot so that we can that a look at the different stalls along the street.
Night Market at Batu Ferringhi
Day Four
Took the afternoon flight back to the hotel after another dip in the pool as we headed back to home sweet home.
All in all, a great maiden trip for us. Not too taxing but I think we do miss out a lot of places of interest like the Spice Garden, National Park, the various places of worships as we don't think the kids will appreciate it at such a small age. For those of you planning to go Penang for a holidays, here are some great websites to help in your planning. Enjoy!
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