Parenting »

Exploring Our Children’s Potentials

14 July 2022 – 3:34 pm |

“Thanks” to today’s gadgets, more and more kids tend to say, “I don’t know what I’m good at. I don’t know what I like. I’m not interested in anything actually.” (But somehow they are interested …

Read the full story »
Parenting

From the ups and downs of parenthood, to practical tips on enjoying and managing life with children.

Inspirational

Where inspiring thoughts and treasured life lessons are learned and shared.

Places to Visit

From Hong Kong to Bali, from Universal Studios Singapore to farmstays and beaches in Perth, we share photos, info and tips with you!

Crafts & Activity Ideas for Kids

How many different things can we do with our little ones at home and outside? Too many.

Photography

Where precious daily moments are captured and seen through the lens. Sharing with you tips, iphone apps, and ideas too.

Video: Mommy asks, Vai shows

3 March 2008 | Posted in: Daily, Video | No Comment

Toddlers, though not yet able to say lots of words loud and clear, are most likely able to identify some of their body parts, when asked.

And there are actually quite a few fun ways to introduce these new words to them. Through songs, movements, art, books, colouring pages. You name them.

Here are a few useful links:

>> Teaching your toddler body parts through play

>> Teach baby parts of their body with this reflective game

>> Yahoo answers : how did you teach your toddlers their body parts?

>> Milestone charts : 19 to 24 months

Anyway, just earlier today Vai did a little ‘body-parts-identification-demo’.

Click here to see the clip!

Sunday’s Food for Thought – God’s privileges

2 March 2008 | Posted in: Inspirational | No Comment

Life is a privilege. And to live is a privilege.

If we’re still given life today, God – the Giver of life – will surely give us the strength and grace to live out our life.

The same goes with children.

If God has given (read: entrusted) us a child or two (or more), that in itself is a privilege. It’s a blessing.

God gives us children so that we can love, train, teach and raise them in ways that they themselves can later be a blessing for others, reflecting God’s glory through their lives.

Parenting. It’s a huge responsibility, honour and joy.

Video: Seesaw rocks

1 March 2008 | Posted in: Daily, Video | No Comment

With Vai’s increased mobility, he does explore the playground with his sister rather freely nowadays.

And this is them, enjoying a bit of seesaw fun together earlier today!

Click here to watch the clip!

Teaching kids below 12

29 February 2008 | Posted in: Inspirational, Parenting | 3 Comments

One excellent book on building the character of a child that I’ve read (and re-read from time to time) is ‘Architect of the Soul II’ by Rev. Dr. Stephen Tong.

[Unfortunately, it’s not written in English, but in Indonesian. The actual book title is ‘Arsitek Jiwa II’]

Here’s one small part of the book that I’d like to share with you today.

Do not assume that children below 12 are too ‘small’ to understand anything. At 12 years old, the child’s mind is still fresh and ready to absorb new information.

After the age of 12, someone’s IQ doesn’t quite ‘develop’ much anymore. People may continually acquire more knowledge and information, but their IQ development basically stops at around the age of 12.

The IQ of a 12 year old child will not be much different 18 years down the road, ie. when he’s 30 years old.

What’s more important is whether he sharpens and exercises his mind well before he turns 30, because if he does, the ‘sharpness’ of his mind will most likely be double by the time he turns 60.

On the other hand, if someone hardly uses / exercises his mind before he turns 30, he will find his own mind growing less and less sharp by the time he’s 60.

The Bible says that it’s good for young people to carry ‘a heavy burden’.

Do not be afraid if our kids face challenges in their lives.

If we tend to always help our kids with everything – not letting them fight through a challenge and find their own solution – we’re unconsciously training them to be passive, and to not use their mind to solve a problem.

If they’re trying to do something and are struggling, we shouldn’t quickly help and do the task for them.

When we let them face a challenge (like, when they find it hard to pedal their tricycle), they may cry and complain at first. But in the end, with us guiding and encouraging them, when they themselves finally manage to complete a challenging task, they will feel the sheer joy and sense of achievement!

Let’s not douse our kids’ fighting spirit by over-protecting them.

Toys on the go!

28 February 2008 | Posted in: Daily | No Comment

Nowadays whenever I take the kids out, I’d bring along a few toys (mostly cars) and little books with me.

I put them into a little bag or at times, I just throw them into my own bag.

Though it’s a pretty obvious thing to do (ie. to bring along toys your kids like whenever you go out with them), I somehow haven’t been doing so.

Perhaps it’s because since Anya was much younger she can find ways to ‘entertain’ herself ? (and thus there’s no need for me to bring along any toys with me).

And so when I noticed the little bags filled with toys my friends bring along for their sons to play, I started thinking of bringing one of my own too.

And. Things work out really well! For Vai especially.

He – who often keeps ME busy when we’re on the go – now keeps himself busy playing with his toys on the bus, on the train, and even when he’s just waiting and sitting on his pram.

And if he used to want to get down and walk around the restaurant after he finishes his meal, he can now stay quite a bit longer at the table, and on the baby chair! Simply playing with his cars or creating imaginary stories with them.

Really. It’s been such a big help and I’d recommend this toy-bag idea to any parents I know.

Things with siblings

27 February 2008 | Posted in: Parenting | No Comment

There are many positive things I can share about having two kids, but if I have to just name one right now, it’d be the fact that the little one often gets so interested in what the older one is doing that I can nowadays let them do stuff together, while I go about doing other things around the house.

They’d laugh, tumble and tickle each other silly.

They’ll play follow the leader, where one does something and the other tries to copy it (and yes, our home does get pretty noisy quite often!)

They’d drag my bolsters out to the living room and play horsie around the house (while I occasionally take a quick glance from the kitchen and roll my eyes knowing that they’re actually SWEEPING the floor too at the same time!)

When it comes to arts and crafts time, Anya prefers to do stuff by herself though (for obvious reasons).

Vai, being younger by 2.5 years, is still into very simple crafting and Anya doesn’t quite welcome his frequent distractions.

And so during such sessions I’d usually be hearing ”Mommmyy… Vai took away my glue without saying please!!!’ or ‘Vaiiiii … don’t scribble on my drawing!!!’ rather often.

Then usually seconds later they’d see me coming casually, neutralising the situation, telling everyone to play and not snatch nor scream at each other, to always say please when asking for someone else’s things, to appreciate someone’s work, to share what they have … blah blah blah.

[Yes, with two kids around, Mommy talks, explains and repeats herself a lot. It’s pretty scary!]

Well.

Things sure are less simple now that we have two kids. There are good days and tough days, and yes, I do get grumpy and impatient too.

But really, if I have to weigh the good and the tough aspects of having two, the good still outweighs the bad, by a lot!

Well, at least that’s how we feel anyway.

Experiment: Dust Collector

26 February 2008 | Posted in: Crafts & Activity Ideas for Kids | One Comment

Here is one simple way to find out how much dust particles actually fly through the windows and into our home.

[Well obviously it won’t measure exactly how much, but at least it can give us a rough idea]

What you need:

>> Paper

>> Scissors, a piece of string, and a very STICKY transparent sticky tape

Cut out the paper into whatever shape you and your kid likes, and cut out the inside part of it.

Then place the sticky tape across the hollow bit in the middle. It should all be covered, with the sticky part facing the other way.

Make a hole at the top of the paper and tie a string to it.

Now simply choose a spot where you’d like to ‘catch and measure’ the amount of dust coming in (remember to let the sticky side face out).

For our case, Anya chose our bedroom window (and she said she’d want to make more and hang them on all our other windows!)

Anyway. The next thing we do : wait and observe..

It’d be interesting to see how much dust it can collect in a few days. Or even a week or more.

It’s so easy to make, have a go at this yourself

PS: If you happen to make these too for your home, I’d LOVE to see how this experiment turns out for you too! If you live in a different country, better still!

Please email me your photos! Might post them here some time.

Purpose of this experiment: to observe the interesting differences in ‘air quality’ (read: flying dust, basically) in different local regions and countries!

Cool!

Interviewed, for a TV Programme on Channel NewsAsia

5 October 2011 | Posted in: In the Media, Parenting | 4 Comments

Here’s one good news I’d like to share with you =)
I was interviewed last week for a programme that’s scheduled to air sometime in January / February next year (2012).
It will be featured in episode …

Food for Thought : Staying REAL though on Social Media

18 June 2015 | Posted in: Parenting | No Comment

 
Most people today have a Facebook account.
And Twitter, Instagram, Path, etc.
(Mmmm, … I choose to not have a Path account though. Just to many for me to manage =)

Now the thing is, I feel, one …

Happy Father’s Day

19 June 2011 | Posted in: Marriage & Relationships, Parenting | No Comment

If you ask me,
I’d say there’s no such thing as a perfect Dad or a perfect Husband.
But there is a Dad
who gives his best for his family
who makes time to play Lego bricks, tell bedtime stories …

Habits that Potentially Create Gaps in Marriage

14 December 2017 | Posted in: Inspirational, Marriage & Relationships | No Comment

 
Parents,
Let’s remember how we are ‘husband and wife’, too, not just ‘Daddy and Mommy’.
Too often, we unintentionally create habits at home where we do our ‘Daddy-Mommy’ duties well, but they are in fact ‘unhealthy’ …

Missing my twosome moments

2 August 2006 | Posted in: Marriage & Relationships | No Comment

I was browsing my old photo collection and saw some of our old traveling ones. Aahh … it brought back sooo many sweet memories.
Frankly right now, with a toddler and a newborn coming very very …

Thoughts : Married to Our Spouse, Not to Our Children

6 June 2013 | Posted in: Inspirational, Marriage & Relationships | No Comment

When we become parents, the reality is, children will demand a lot of our time and energy.
Breastfeeding / bottle-feeding them, preparation of meals, feeding, bathing and playtime, changing of diapers, dealing with tantrums and behaviours.
Not …

Translate This Blog NOW »