Sany Woo's Blog

After more than 2 months of holidays… the new school session for 2010 began yesterday.

A new school year and new schooling hours for the students in pre-schools. I only found out about this when I read an article in the papers on December 31, 2009. It seems that the minimum number of schooling hours has been increased from 3 to 4.

Why is there a need to do so, I wonder? The only word that played in my mind then is ‘kiasu’ (fear of loss). What else can you cramp into the young minds in that extra hour?

My son is an intelligent and articulate boy for his age, though he can be quite a handful with his endless questions and chattering sometimes. His teachers say that sometimes they do not know how to answer his questions?! He can count quite well and I am in no hurry to ask him to sit still for hours to improve his writing skills, unless he’s ready for it.

I prefer my son to learn and build his creativity through play. I let him absorb the wonders of nature and science first hand by bringing him for nature walks, trips to the beach, zoo, parks and science center.

We build his love for books and learning by subscribing for a library membership for him and encouraging him to read (or rather look at) picture books whenever he wishes (which is quite often).

I prepare lots of papers for him to draw his interpretation of the wonders he sees around him and stuck the first picture he has drawn of our family (plus our car and home) on our fridge.

He has many sets of bricks and Lego’s to ‘build’ whatever he fancies. Lots of board games and educational toys to keep him busy for hours.

He loves to zoom around the house on his bicycle and mini-car (he can even drift with it). When you think he’s going to hit a table or wall, he suddenly performs a quick maneuver and rides safely away. He gave my mom and mother-in-law quite a number of frights!

That’s what he’s been doing during the holidays and he enjoyed every moment of it. Some of my friends sent their children for extra tuition classes… unbelievable… tuition classes at 4 years old?! A nightmare if you ask me.

Last year we sent him to playschool because we wanted him to learn how to socialise with children his age. He is surrounded by adults as he’s an only child and it’s healthier for him to start learning to mix with young friends. It took him a while to adjust because he still prefers the company of adults, especially the elderly. I think it’s because they have more patience with him and loves to chat with him. Just ask my grandmothers!

Now he is in his 1st year of kindergarten. Ah! How time flies!

Luckily for me my son is an early riser because now his preschool starts at 8am and ends at 12pm. To prepare the young scholars for the longer schooling hours, his preschool planned a short adjustment period whereby on the 1st to 3rd day, they gradually increase the number of hours to the full 4 hours.

So far he’s happy to be with his friends from playschool.

How was your childrens’ first day of school?

Leave a comment below and share your views with the readers of this blog!

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Are you guilty of spending more time watching the television than on trying to connect with your kids? If your answer is ‘yes’, you are not alone. Parenting children is not an easy task as sometimes parents find it hard to understand their kids, thus many parents resort to trying to connect with their children through watching a show on television with their kids. There are even others who give in to the easier solution of letting their children watch the programs rather than try to figure out a way to connect with them. These parents might end up spending only quantity time, rather than quality time with their children. The best way to actually bond with your children is to first turn off that television! This article will look at some ways in which parents can bond with their kids and how to make parenting their children an enjoyable task.

As mentioned, parenting children involves bonding and dinner time is actually the best time for parents to bond with their children but sad to say, this has been overlooked by many families. Even if you are unable to have dinner together every night of the week, you should try to do so for at least two or three times each week. However, regardless of how many times you might try to have dinner together, it is most important to remember that the television must be turned off during these special family times.

Another important point to take note of is that you should not eat in silence during these special family times. It will be a very awkward mealtime if nobody makes any attempts to talk! Parents can make use of these mealtimes to find out about each other’s days. You can start by telling your kids about your next grocery trip or ask your children what they have eaten or learnt at school that day. Parenting children does not only mean ensuring that your kids are healthy and that they do well at school, finding out about their emotional and social aspects are equally essential. So, in between mouthfuls, you can encourage your children to talk about what they had enjoyed most or about the friends that they had made at school.

Another way in which you can bond with your children is through playing board games. Parenting children also requires that you should know what your children’s strong and weak points are. Playing board games together is a useful activity where you can find out about your kids’ personality or nature. Observe your children during these games period. Do they make use of strategic planning before making their moves or are they just having some fun together as a family? Board games are not expensive items and most families will have no problem affording them, so do consider investing in a fun board game or two that the whole family can play together. This will greatly help to promote family bonding as family members team up to play the games. However, it is essential to remember to stay away from those games that require the use of television as the temptation will be there for you to switch back to watching those shows on TV!

One other fun activity that you can do together which will also encourage bonding is going to the parks or playgrounds. If time does not allow you to do this everyday, set aside at least the weekends to bring the children out for some outdoor activities. Parenting children should not mean that you only focus on disciplining the kids, it is also important to enjoy outdoor activities together. Playing together at the playground is one good way to spend quality time with your children too. You can also spend time talking while taking a stroll around the park. Even exercising together can help in bonding.

Although it is true that you can learn a lot about the rest of the world from television, it does not help much in bonding within the home. Parenting children is definitely not an easy task but having the television turned on is not going to help you understand your kids. Parents should be more proactive in getting to know more about their children and doing activities together is a better way of spending quality time with your kids. Whether you prefer outdoor activities or board games depends largely on your family situation but you can try different ones until you find the right one and you’ll discover that parenting children can actually be fun and without stress after all!

Author: Stella Mak
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Wordpress plugin expert

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Who says parenting is easy? Most likely it’s someone who has never had children. Children can bring the most wonderful joy in your life and the most tragic of sorrows. Most often people have said if they only had a parent guide to show us what to say, when to say it and what to do at the time I would be the best parent in the world. Wouldn’t we all? Parenting is one of the most difficult jobs in the world. Whether you are a first time parent of have several children. Parenting is underpaid, which it never makes any money. Over worked, and sometimes seems under appreciated.

It is also the most rewarding job, with laughter, hugs and kisses. Being a parent requires walking a fine line. Sometimes the line is wide and straight. Knowing what you need to do when the time comes. Sometimes as thin as a strand of hair, one wrong move and you fall off or it breaks. Raising children to be adults takes a life long commitment on our part. When your child turns eighteen means in the worlds eye’s they are adults, in some cases however that’s not always true. Just because they are tall than you does not necessarily mean they are mature.

Parenting is a never-ending job, even with grown children they may come to you for advice on life matters. Young children need a lot of attention and guidance while they grow older. They need to learn responsibilities of their actions and the consequences of making the wrong decision’s sometimes. Whether you realize it or not parenting never stops. We all want our children to have happier and better lives then ours were. If we were to just sit back and let what ever happens what kind of lessons are we teaching our children? Most children wouldn’t survive out of the baby stage let along make it to be full-grown adults.

If your child comes to you and asks mom, dad I need help are you going to say to them sorry but I am too busy right now. I don’t think so! The first thing we ask is what the problem is then we go about trying to find a solution to help with the problem. Children now matter what age need help and guidance from their parents. Parents want what’s best for their children. Watching your child become an adult and strike out on his or her own, becoming independent and self-aware is a wonderful thing. Parenting that child takes a lifetime to do. Think before you become a parent. It’s never as easy as you think it’s going to be.

Author: Jamie Hargis
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Cellphone news

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Childwise by Ruth Liew

Nature provides an abundance of opportunities for children to learn and explore.

MY nephew celebrated his seventh birthday in a park two weeks ago. I gave him a “wonder box” for a present. He is a great collector of things that fascinate him. From a young age, he would collect insects, leaves, stones and twigs.

His “wonder box” was intended to enhance his curiosity of the world around him. I included “tools” that will help him in his discovery of the world when he goes out exploring – useful things like a magnifying glass, string, pencil and notebook, rubber bands and a pair of scissors.

Learning experience: Children playing with fish at the Pulau Payar Marine Park in Kedah. Children use their five senses to discover the world.

A child’s sense of wonder is an integral part of his life. Children are curious about their world and the things around them. They are patient with small creatures around them. They often wonder what clouds are made of.

Many adults have been amazed by how intent and patient a two-year-old can be when he follows an ant trail. You may even have seen a three-year-old chasing after a dragonfly in the garden.

Through the child’s eyes, adults can take delight in sharing the wonder and awe that nature inspires in each of us, regardless of our age or the environment we live in.

To nurture this keen appreciation of nature, children need a significant adult in their lives to share their interest. Parents and teachers can even rediscover the wonders around us if they allow the child to be their guide.

As children’s eagerness to learn increases, adults can help by providing resources for them to work with. They can offer guidebooks or help them to do a search in the Internet.

Don’t worry if you know nothing about the rhinoceros beetle or coniferous plants. You can learn alongside your child as he explores nature. You don’t have to have all the answers; just show enough enthusiasm to spur your child’s interest.

Children are spontaneous when they explore. They do not think about what they know or what they do not know. They just pick up ideas as they go along. They use their five senses to discover the world. They listen, look, smell and touch to find the answers to their questions

Observation is a powerful tool for children to gain knowledge and skills.

Young children watch and listen to those older and more skilled than them. They pick up language better when they hear it being used in conversations.

Children learn a lot when they watch people at work. These days, when machines perform most work, children hardly see fine craftsmen in action. It will benefit them greatly if their parents can show them how tailors sew clothes, how carpenters make furniture or how bakers bake cakes.

Young children absorb what goes on around them. They need a stimulating environment. You can provide this by allowing your your child to explore and experiment. Make a mess and find out what it feels like. Talk about everything. Read aloud to your child so that he can hear the wonderful sounds you make.

Some may say that children need to be taught and trained by adults to gain important lessons in life. They insist that children cannot learn much from their observations.

Critics have always considered child’s play as frivolous and time wasting. Contrary to their ideas, children gain greater knowledge and skills from play. The over-zealous adult who intervenes with children’s learning may do more harm than good.

Take time to observe your young child at play with other children. You will probably hear them negotiating and making up rules as they go along. Children learn to communicate and cooperate with one another. They also learn to solve problems and think critically.

One child might say: “You start running and I will follow.” When they are playing with children of mixed ages and abilities, they will have to adapt their play to fit everyone’s needs.

These play experiences help promote children’s social, cognitive, language and physical development.

Instead of allowing your child to sit for hours watching “educational” television programmes, take him out to the garden or the park. Talk about the living organisms that exist in the outdoors. Compare the different plants and listen to your child tell you what he observes.

Your child needs concrete experiences to learn about living and non-living things.

Children should be allowed to climb over, crawl under, and come into contact with dirt, sand, mud and just about anything there is in nature that is meant for them to experience and enjoy.

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TheStar Online (July 26, 2009)

Reports by FOONG PEK YEE, YUEN MEIKENG, R.S.N. MURALI, MARTIN CARVALHO, ROSLINA MOHAMAD, C.S NATHAN, TAN SIN CHOW and FARIK ZOLKEPLI

KUALA LUMPUR: Uncle Chen (not his real name) was brought to Ampang Hospital after suffering a fall. He has never seen home since then and is now living at the Kim Loo Ting Hong Ying Old Folks Home in Setapak here.

Chen, 74, recalls seeing a man whom he recognised as his son while he was in the hospital. He had happily thought that he was going to be taken home to his son’s house, only to watch helplessly as the man disappeared from sight.

When a social welfare volunteer confronted the man after Chen had pointed him out, the man denied knowing him or having any family ties to him.

That was five months ago, and even though he knows he has been abandoned by his children – he also has a daughter – Chen refused to be angry with them.

“As a parent, we never bear grudges against our children,” he said, wiping away tears.

Bereft and alone: Ng looking daze as he is interviewed by Lim at the Penang Hospital recently.

Attempts to locate Chen’s son and his next of kin by the welfare home and the hospital staff failed as the home where Chen’s family members lived is no longer there.

He is one of several parents who were abandoned in public hospitals at a time when they should be spending their “golden years” with their family.

Children who could or would no longer bear the cost of taking care of their aged and infirm parents are treating hospitals like a “dumping ground” because food, shelter and medication are provided by the Government.

And it saves them the hassle of applying for places for their parents in government-run welfare homes.

Another senior citizen, Ng Ah Kow, who was left at the Penang Hospital, kept saying “Wa ai tui chu, tapi bor lui” (Hokkien for “I want to go home but I have no money”) during an interview.

According to the hospital’s medical social services department head Lim Bee Ean, Ng, 68, was ready to go home after being discharged on May 13 but no one has come to pick him up.

Ng said only his older sister Kam Looi had visited him once in the hospital, about a week after he was warded for fainting during a routine check-up on April 14.

“She said she wanted to take me home but did not have money for the bus fare and to settle my medical bills. I have not seen her since then,” recalled Ng.

In Kajang, Mahmud Rahmad, 58, cuts a lone figure as he tends the garden in the compound of the Nur Hasanah Welfare Centre.

“I am sad about being left alone but I understand that my children have their own lives to lead,” said Mahmud, a former security guard who has been living on his own. He was sent to the hospital by a taxi driver after he collapsed.

Mahmud, a diabetic with a heart ailment, was sent to the welfare home last June after hospital authorities failed to contact his two children.

It is the same sad story for Ramu, 72, who has been stranded at the Tuanku Jaafar Hospital in Seremban for months now following the authorities’ failure to contact his family members.

The address given by his relatives when they admitted him at the hospital does not exist and Ramu is now waiting to be placed in an old folks home.

Hospital director Dr Jaafar Che Mat said most of the senior citizens abandoned at the facility were either cancer, stroke or mentally ill patients.

In Malacca, wheelchair-bound widow Asmah Hassan, 80, has given up hope of living with any of her seven daughters after her husband passed away.

“Three years ago, I was kicked out from the house of one of my daughters in Kuala Lumpur after staying there for a month.

“When I sought shelter in another daughter’s house in Johor Baru, she did not allow me,” confided Asmah, who said she tapped rubber to bring up her children.

It was only after her neighbours reported her case to the hospital that she was finally placed in a home.

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I would like to dedicate the following video to all the beautiful mothers out there!

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Homemade Baby Food and Toddler Recipes!

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