Exploring Our Children’s Potentials

>> When one receives something without working to achieve or accomplish it, there’s a tendency to take what was given for granted (read: less appreciation for it).

>> We all love and nurture our children. But when we make our children’s life materially and financially comfortable at all times, always giving to them whatever things that they ask for (sometimes, even when they’re all grown-up already), then we’re actualy letting them grow up not knowing:

– that it’s actually okay if they do NOT always get what they want
– that time, process and hard work are normally involved before something is achieved

>> Many things in life are gifts, given to us for ‘free’. And yes, we need to be grateful always. Appreciating the givers and the gifts.

But the thing is, in life many things do not happen ‘instantly’. There’s a process involved. And that means it involves time and hard work too.

Like how a mom carries a baby in her womb for nine months, often going through tough first-trimester morning sickness phase, before going through labour pain to deliver the baby.

Or how a husband and a wife need to work hard together in educating their children and in building a ‘better’ relationship with each other that’s based on trust, understanding and love.

When we go through a process and work hard towards something, interestingly, we get to enjoy the fruits of our labour more.

The kids went to their friend’s sixth birthday party held at Pasir Ris Park today.

And I must say, they had a different kind of birthday programme lined up for everyone. And a pretty educational one too, I think.

One of it was an animal show and they brought out an Albino Burmese Python!

This breed is apparently gentle and okay (read: safe) when brought to interact with humans (provided it’s not hungry or wrongly provoked, I’m sure!). The one we saw was still very young, weighs 16kg, but is already close to 3m long! (an adult one can grow up to 5m!).

Personally, I think it was great that they had such shows to educate people, young and old, more about the animal kingdom.

And oh, both kids went to touch the python at the end of the show.

Anya was a bit squirmish at first but she did touch it in the end. And Vai went and gave it a gentle stroke too.

I’d also try and touch it … but then someone needed to be behind the camera. Really.

PS: We went to celebrate Nathan‘s 1st birthday at his place too afterwards!

[Left pic] Anya and Andersen were all so engrossed with ‘Open Season‘ the animation movie played on TV!

Can’t believe Anya’s going to start SCHOOL next year!

I mean … MY kid is starting school! It’s like … I suddenly feel she’s growing up so fast before my very eyes.

And I’ll soon be one of those parents who send their kids to school, pick them up, meet their teachers and other parents, check on their school books, attend parent-teacher meetings and stuff.

And deep inside I wonder how it’ll all be like next year.

Will she be cooperative in class. Will she be pushed around by more agressive kids. What kinds of positive and negative habits she’ll pick up from friends at school.

Ah. It sure is going to be the start of a whole new experience. Not just for Anya, but also for us parents too!

This activity book was actually a gift when Anya turned two! But I’ve only introduced it to her today because she’s (finally) shown ‘more’ interest in actually learning about telling time.

[oh btw we also choose to gradually give toys or presents we receive to the kids. I mean, not all at once. This way, their play can be maximised when it is more ‘age-appropriate’, and … for us, we have something ‘new’ to give to them from time to time too, hehe]

So far she knows about the long hand and the little one on the clock. She understands too when I ask her to finish up her meal by the time the long hand is say, on the number eight. She has a small clock next to her bed. She has a talking (read: mumbling) toy clock too.

Somehow I notice, as I introduced the colourful book to her today when she herself is ready to learn about it, she seems to have more fun with it and ‘absorbs’ the info ‘better’.

Anyway.

Click HERE to see quite a useful site (comes with printable worksheets) on teaching kids about telling time. And HERE for a more advanced interactive one.

PS: Anya’s ‘terrible three’ days are a little bit ‘better’ (read: lesser daily frequency) these past couple of days. I’m so happy!

(and let’s hope things CONTINUE to get better AFTER I write about it on my website!)

By now, Christmas-themed shopping centres, decorations and christmas lights are just everywhere.

And the kids. Well, Anya’s just so excited about them all. And Vai sits up straight on his pram and goes, ‘Whoaaa…whoaaaa…WHOAAAAA…’ while enthusiastically pointing at them! Heh.

Oh btw, for Anya Christmas time is associated with making christmas cards too! We’re joining the christmas card swap again this year, organised by Amber from Kidscraftweekly! It’s going to be fun!

Anyway.

As the kids go about enjoying the nice and warm ‘Christmas feel’ here in Singapore, we also continue to share with them what Christmas is really all about.

That beyond the cute glittery balls, cards and giant christmas trees, Christmas is most importantly about ‘Christ’ Himself who’s come to earth so that we sinners who believe in Him can have peace with God.

Such a huge reason to always give thanks.

I don’t normally take the kids out to Orchard area UNLESS my hubby comes along (or unless I’m taking the kids for a swim at our friend’s apartment)

But since my mobile phone practically ‘died’ and badly needed to be serviced, I went with the kids there today.

While Anya’s generally okay with long bus rides and eating outside, Vai being the more active type on the other hand needs a slightly ‘different’ approach when we’re outside for quite a long period of time.

Here are just a few things that have worked so far for us whenever I’m out and about with the kids:

>> Bring along an extra wallet (or something with pockets and slots) with cards and stuff inside. Vai does get himself busy and occupied with it for quite a LONG time (it works during our 30-minute bus trips)

>> Choose higher-levelled seats (the ones next to the ‘space-to-park-your-pram’ near the back exit door are the best!) where kids can look out the window without needing to kneel or stand. Vai – though not always – does get interested in observing things that happen outside.

>> When it comes to mealtimes, I usually choose a place where we can see pigeons, cats or whatever animals nearby (though not always possible of course) as they serve as live-entertainment for the kids!

Sometimes it means sitting outdoors (read: with no air-con), but I’m completely fine with it as long as it helps me in getting Vai to finish up his food (yes, till today he generally still needs to be distracted in order for him to eat his food).

For Orchard area, there’s one spot that I’ve tried twice and worked really well for Vai especially.

It’s Burger King nearest to Borders bookstore. And I’d choose the seats at the far corner, next to the glass window.

Not only because we’re inside the air-conditioned room while it’s scorching hot outside, but watching the MANY pigeons fly and walk past just outside the window keeps them so entertained!

And errr … munching on the chips too get them pretty occupied!

PS: We’re not into letting the kids eat fast food stuff often. But when we do, we try to avoid getting the chips salted …

Anya created her own simple little drawing today.

We used:

>> Plastic caps for the flower’s ‘middle part’

>> White paper as the base, crayons, glue, scissors, scotch tapes

>> Crepe paper (for the ‘grass’ bits at the bottom)

We taped the caps to the paper. Then she scribbled and drew the sky and the petals. She then cut strips of the crepe paper and pasted them.

[Throughout the process, our curious little Vai climbed onto his tricycle, stood on the saddle, held onto the dining table and sort of watched what we’re doing and tried to play with whatever stuff that’s near him]

In the end, the ‘flowers’ sort of looked like three sunny-side up eggs (but I kept this opinion to myself. Heh)

Oh well.

Other than wanting her to exercise her scribbling, cutting and pasting skills, Anya herself was pretty happy with what she’s made.

Which of course is an important part of learning too.

Strongly wanting what other people have (or what the SHOP sells!) is part of Anya’s daily requests these past few months.

And apparently, this is pretty common amongst grown-ups in general too, huh? Being sinful human beings and all.

Wanting to own something that we actually don’t ‘need’, not feeling content with what we currently have, or secretly envying others who seem to have ‘more’.

Ah. Kids somehow have their own ways of reminding us of things that WE ourselves need to change, don’t they?

Well. ANYWAY.

Other than needing to so frequently explain why there are things that she CAN and CANNOT have, fortunately there are things that she WANTS and we can try to MAKE them. Ourselves.

She saw her friend’s hand-made paper fan yesterday and wanted what she had. She talked about it so much and so we made one today!

What we used:

>> Thick carton

>> Coloured paper to decorate the fan

>> Scissors, glue, masking tape

>> Disposable wooden chopsticks (ones you get from takeaways) as the handle

As she requested, I cut a heart-shaped carton for her and she started cutting out her coloured paper (to whatever shapes she liked) and glued them onto the thick carton.

We then stuck the chopsticks at the back of the fan with a masking tape.

And that’s it!

It was a very simple paper fan, really. But she’s very happy with it (and stopped wanting one afterwards too!).