Exploring Our Children’s Potentials

To some families, choosing painting as one of their activities at home for their young children simply comes naturally.

But to some others, moms (and dads too!) often feel clueless as to HOW they should introduce their young kids to painting activities.

(Btw, over the years, I have shared simple activity ideas for kids here on my blog. Just click HERE to check them out! =)

Anyway.

Brie did some painting the other day.

(She is now 3 years and 10 months, btw)

What I did :

Drew with a pencil, simple shapes according to Brie’s request (when asked, she said she’d like to paint flowers)

I then prepared the water colour paints and brushes (she asked for the colours reddish pink, green and yellow)

The rest … was done by Brie herself.

Simple and straight forward =)

TIPS:

– To begin with, keep the colour choices to a minimum.
eg. You may want to start with just painting with one colour, and adding more colours to the palette as she progresses with her artwork.

Reason :
So the child can focus more on the painting activity, INSTEAD OF seeing ‘a temptation’ to mix and play with the paints on the palette =)

As the child grows a little older … introduce painting a page in ‘full colour’– Start with a big drawing book, so the child can just experiment with painting strokes and colours on the page

– As the child grows a little older and when you wish to introduce painting a page in ‘full colour’, then I’d suggest using a smaller drawing book first.

Reason:
Simply because it takes less effort to ‘fully paint’ the page. It allows the child to see how it IS possible to paint a full page all on her own, and it encourages her to paint more and more the next time round.

– If you’re keeping the artwork as keepsakes, don’t forget to write the child’s name and date of activity at the back of the page.

I mean, it’s always nice to remember ‘when’ it was painted, as it does make a wonderful difference to know if the artwork was painted when Brie was 2yo or 3.5yo =)

Display their artwork at home– Other than giving verbal encouragements to the child, to encourage these little artists further, do display their artwork at home (eg. Even one or two artworks are better than none)

– Also, what we usually do is, take a photo of the child AND her artwork! =)

‘I’d like to share what you did with Daddy‘, is what I usually say to Brie.

And yes, soon after, I send the image to her Dad through Whatsapp =)

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Have fun with your little ones!!

Have you ever watched those ‘growing up’ video clips of a couple, played on their wedding day?

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You know what?

I always, ALWAYS, get all teary-eyed whenever I watch such videos.

But.

It’s not quite because I feel emo and touched from seeing the couple’s photos in the clip.

It’s more because every time I watch such videos, I always imagine how those photos would one day be of my children, and I just can’t imagine how totally emo I’d feel if I were to watch those ‘growing up’ photos on THEIR wedding day.

Right now, the kids are still with us! And we can create memories everyday with them!I can already feel how my heart would ache from seeing photos of them still so little.

Heart ache from loving those growing up moments AND knowing how such moments could never be repeated ever again.

Heart ache from experiencing how time flies by so fast.

Heart ache from knowing how much I love my children, how they have grown so much through the years together with us, and how it is now time for them to move on and start their own family.

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There’s nothing, nothing, that we can do to turn back timeThe other day, as I watched such a video at a wedding reception, I leaned over to my husband (teary-eyed, of course) and whispered,

I know I’d miss the kids’ growing up years so much when they’re all grown up. But, at least I know, when I watch their growing up photos put together into a video one day, I can say to myself, ‘I was there. I was with them all throughout their growing up years!’

And you know what?

The interesting thing is, those growing up moments I’d one day see in a video clip are actually here TODAY!

Right now, the kids are still with us! And we can create memories everyday with them!

Isn’t that just a greatttt reason for us to treasure our days together, while we still can?

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Our children’s growing up years will be gone in no time.

And there’s nothing, nothing, that we can do to turn back time.

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Their growing up years are here TODAY.

Let’s not let them slip away, without us in them.

Let’s treasure their childhood and our time with them, by BEING WITH them.

While we still can.

One of the things that I appreciate about living in Jakarta, is the opportunities to see my bigger families more often than when we were back in Singapore.

(Back in Singapore, we went to Jakarta for holidays about once or twice a year. And, at times we had relatives visiting us too, once in a while)

I guess, most importantly, I appreciate the fact that my children get to spend time with their great grandmother, grandparents, aunties and uncles, as well as cousins.

Such interactions also give them a sense of identityBecause to me, I think it’s important for my children to know that they are part of a bigger family who cares for them.

They need to know their background and culture, in a bigger picture.

Plus, I feel when they spend time with the bigger family, such interactions also give them a sense of identity.

And, guess what else do I appreciate?

Opportunities for my children to learn and apply basic courtesies towards the elderlies (including some basic table manners).

Approaching seated elderlies and verbally greeting themI mean, basics like:

– Approaching seated elderlies and verbally greeting them (eg. When we’ve just arrived at a restaurant or at my parents’ home)

– Say, ‘Makan dulu ya’ (ie. I eat first ya) to others before you yourself start eating (This is especially said to those older than you)

– Allow the elderlies to take the first scoops of the food served on the table

– Before spinning the turn table (to get to the dish we want), we need to check and see (and wait) if others are about to scoop or are in the middle of scooping some food onto their bowls / plates.

Keep our elbows closer to our sides– If we have a lot of people sitting on one table, then we should keep our elbows closer to our sides (instead of care-freely spreading our arms on the table and taking up a lot of space just for ourselves)

– If we dine together, say ‘Thank you for the meal’ before we go home (and if someone paid for the lunch / dinner at a restaurant, eg., then the children would need to approach the person, and say thank you)

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Okay. Gotta stop here.

There are too many to mention one by one =)

Anyway.

Simply put, I’m just grateful that we get to spend time with the bigger family.

Lots of things to learn from them, and from being with them.

We are blessed.

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PS: Photos were taken when we celebrated ‘cap go meh’ together over dinner (ie. Fifteen days after Chinese New Year)

Are our children given the chance to help out and contribute to their home?

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In our family, we believe all children need to know how they are important members of the family.

And we believe, it is never too early to instill a sense of responsibility.

Return books after reading.

Place dirty laundry in the basket.

Wipe away spills.

Tidy up after play.

And in Brie’s case this morning, … she swept away the mess she created after play 🙂

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Sometimes, I get asked, ‘Did she btw clean up properly and leave the floor spotless?’

Err, no.

I mean, she is afterall 3.5 years old.

But.

To us, ‘being able to clean and sweep like adults do’ is NOT the point.

Especially, not expected of them when they are not even 5yo.

‘Being able to clean and sweep like adults do’ is NOT the pointIt is more about creating a habit since young.

An understanding and a willingness to help out and to look after their home, and to be a responsible member of the family.

(And we hope, when they are all grown-ups, they become responsible members of their own families, and the society too)

So.

Do just playfully sweep and clean up?

No.

They still do need to do things properly, as best as they can.

And then, we’ll come and help out too, when needed.

Anyway.

The habit just needs to start from the family, we think.

PS: Our intention to instill such a value is somewhat made ‘easier’ with the absense of a fulltime domestic helper at home.

Managed to spend a good 5 hours at Waterbom PIK the other day!

And it was greatttt! So good to be in the outdoors! =)

I guess we all needed that good break from our everyday routines!

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We got there at about 2pm, and it drizzled a bit.

But soon after, it was all good.

Cloudy, but good.

(Click HERE to watch the video and read my earlier post on Waterbom PIK)

A friend said that Waterbom PIK is more for teenagers. Bigger kids and adults.

It’s true in a way, because other than the safer yet fun slides for the younger kids, there are quite a few ‘adventurous’ rides here, which require you to climb lots and LOTS of stairs! =)

Having said that though, Anya and Vai (11yo and 8.5yo) really love the thrill of going down the tall slides.

(Actually, me too, haha!)

So.

Here we’re again, our second time! =)

How about our 3.5yo girl then?

What did she do? Did she go down the crazy rides too? Did she get to enjoy the water play?

Hehe. Yep she did have fun together with us!

Other than floating across the ‘lazy river’ on a yellow tube, she did go down (countless times) the ‘meant-for-younger kids-slide’, alone.

And, of course, she went down the other slides, including some ‘scarier’ ones, together with us too!

(Naturally, she didn’t go on ALL the ‘super scary’ slides lah. Not allowed too, anyway =)

Anyway.

Here are some quick tips and info to share:

1. Go on a weekday, if you can. Less crowd, shorter queue!

But, on weekdays, some rides are closed at certain hours. Check their website for the details!

2. Grab their promotional deals!

Check their website for promotions!

We got an awesome deal, btw!

All 5 of us went, and we only paid for one adult ticket and one child ticket! (Because there’s a promo of ‘Pay for 1 and get 3 tickets!)

3. Bring along your underwater camera, if you have it! =)

Have fun!!

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Here’s a one-minute video I made of the trip:
 

‘It’s okay. Jakarta is okay too. You’ll do fine living there.’

Out of nowhere, a friend who lived in Singapore said that to us to ‘cheer us up’ after seeing how we faced the big flood last month, and deal with daily traffic jams here.

The thing is, yes we live in Jakarta, and we have to face all that, … but, no, we didn’t feel ‘trapped’, ‘disadvantaged’, ‘wanting to leave’, or anything.

I mean, we ARE doing fine here.

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Many do wonder about us, our family and HOW we’re coping with everythingNow. I know of many who have relocated to Jakarta or who are still thinking of relocating to this busy city.

And many do wonder about us, our family and HOW we’re coping with everything.

Well, by this month, we have officially been in Jakarta for THREE years.

And, yes … we are doing fine =)

[THIS was what I wrote back in 2012 about our big move to Jakarta, and THIS was how it felt on the day we left Singapore for good]

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Here are three common questions we get from others when they ask about us living in Jakarta :

How can you cope with everything?

Are the kids doing alright?

Do you miss Singapore?

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And here are our thoughts on them:

How can you cope with everything?

Well, every country has its pros and cons. There is no ‘perfect’ place to live (gotta wait till we’re all in heaven one day! =)

To Wilson and I, we believe we can always choose how we wish to move forward.

We believe we can always choose how we wish to move forwardWe can choose to feel thankful for what we’ve been blessed with, and live with whatever inconveniences we happen to face daily, without complaining about them incessantly.

Or, we can focus on the many ‘negative’ things about Jakarta and live unhappily everyday.

Right now, we believe God wants us to be in Jakarta and that He has a purpose and a calling for us, so we are of course fine with it.

If one day, perhaps years from today, we are to move and relocate again elsewhere, then we’ll just see how things go =)

Wherever we are, as long as we stick together as a family, and as long as that’s where God wants us to be, that’s what matters most to us.

It’s all in the mind and heart, I guess.

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Are the kids doing alright?

We believe young kids will naturally follow their parents and learn from their ‘adaptability’ in the new country.

If BOTH parents are fine with the move, stable, settle down steadily, and help the children in adapting with the new environment … I truly believe the children will do fine too.

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[A good stroll along Orchard Road]

Do you miss Singapore?

Of course I do miss loads of things about Singapore.

The convenience of public transportation, the cleanliness and orderliness of everything, the wonderful libraries, the many free play areas for kids, the many fun public events organised, etc! =)

(Including its coffee- shop’s Teh-Peng, sugar cane, Char Kway Teow, Katong Laksa and boneless chicken rice!)

[East Coast Park]

Anya and Vai still have loads of memories of their growing up years spent in Singapore too.

But, having said that, this is what we do and what we’ve also shared with the kids :

Yes, we treasure our memories, but if we are now in Jakarta, instead of always looking at what we had in the past and NOT have today, let’s value what we now have, especially things that are NOT available in Singapore.

Things like:

– We can now enjoy more seafood, dessert and authentic Indonesian cakes, etc (because food naturally is more affordable here)

– We get to see our big family more often (Back in Singapore, the kids hardly spend time with their grandparents and relative, because we fly to Jakarta only 1-2x a year)

– We can travel and explore the mountains and beaches more during holidays without leaving the country

– The kids can now have piano and tennis lessons!

– We have a part time helper coming three times a week!

– They can attend a good Christian school, that focuses on the integration of their christian faith into everything that we learn in life, instead of just focusing on academic achievements

– We are exposed to more opportunities to serve God and be involved in the ministry

– We get to see more smiling people who happily tolerate and welcome the existence of playful children and families in the society

– We can now see Daddy everyday!
(He was a ‘weekend Daddy’ in the last one year of our stay in Singapore)

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Okay, I’ll stop here.

The list can go on and on.

There are lots of things that we now can enjoy, which we didn’t have before.

And we choose to focus on this, instead of what we don’t have.

We choose to learn and count our blessings everyday.

And this, I must say, helps a lot when we first relocated to Jakarta three years ago.

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Did you go through a big move with your family?

How did you cope? Any tips to share?

Well apparently … smiling for the camera – while underwater – is not as easy as it looks! =)

Glad to have taken some shots of the family, underwater, while we all went to Waterbom PIK a few days ago!

A nice break for all of us!

Since it is not yet 15 days after Chinese New Year, here are more Chinese New Year craft ideas to share with you! =)

We made these Hong Bao fish and fire crackers.

(We’re seriously recycling our used hong baos! =)

Another set of simple Chinese New Year craft ideas for the kids!

To make the fish, we did this:

– I drew the fish shape (not to forget the ‘inside area’ of the fish that will be covered by Hong Bao pieces)

– I cut out rectangular shapes out of used hong baos

– Brie smeared UHU glue stick and stuck the pieces

– Don’t forget the fish eye! =)

And …. THAT’S IT!

To make the fire crackers, we did this:

– I cut an A4-sized red carton into 4 pieces

– Brie stuck Hong Bao pieces onto them

– I covered the sticky surface with scotch tape (the large one), rolled it into a tube, and taped the ends

– Used a wool yarn as the string

Btw, we made plain ones too.

We rolled the red carton and stuck orange-coloured origami strips on both ends! =)

And there they are! =)

Nothing fancy from shops.

Instead, all were hand-made, and the kids OWNED them!

The satisfaction is better, I reckon =)