Recently have been seeing this "handicapped ready" sign at a lot of our Singapore buses. So, last week, I decided to give this new facility a try. I brought my baby girl in a stroller for a medical appointment at a clinic which is 2 bus-stop away. After visiting the clinic, we took a bus home. As the bus we took indicated that it's handicapped ready, I decided that instead of keeping the stroller and carrying my girl, I will just push the stroller up the bus. Here's my experience with it:
As I tried pushing my stroller up the bus, I realised that the gap between the bus and the pavement was too wide, so I have to carry the stroller up the bus together with my baby girl. According to the bus guide, I think the bus driver is suppose to come down and help me with it, but I waited for a while and the bus driver just look at me and smile and show no indication that he is getting up. Well, managed to get myself through one hurdle. Then I tried pushing the stroller to the designated handicapped lot and realised that a group of Filipino maids was standing there talking and ignoring me. So I have no choice but to parked my stroller at the middle of the bus. Luckily, the journey is only 2 bus-stops away and the bus was not very crowded, otherwise, I will have a hard time keeping the stroller steady and making space for people to walk pass me so that they can get to their seats. Finally, I reached my destination and again, the gap between the bus and the pavement was too wide again for me to push the stroller down, so I have to carry the whole stroller again.
Here's my verdict on the whole experience. Basically Singapore is building more and more facilities to accomodate people who are less abled but our people is not ready to support them. Just like this trip, I think the bus driver is not probably trained or they have not get the right attitude yet to help the less abled people. I recalled when I last visited Australia, we took a bus and the bus driver was ever so ready to get out of their seat and help who ever in need, an old lady carrying lots of baggages, a man with a stroller etc. Secondly, our citizens or rather maybe our foreign friends (in my case the Filipino maids), I think Singaporean are generally well educated about the need to give up our seats for the elderly, to help out our fellow citizens in need but I don't think our government has yet to reach out in educating our foreign friends like the maids, construction workers etc about these basic courtesy.
Well, I think we have yet a long way to go in being a nation that is really handicapped friendly or elderly friendly.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Getting your child interested in Reading
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
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
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
