This week reading: Teach Your Child to Read in Just Ten Minutes a Day

Got this book title from a mummy which she shared this method works for her son ... Shall read through and see how i can apply this method to my missy.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0773760350/ref=cm_rdp_product_img

Remarks:
Gave up half way as the techniques given in this book seems not interesting. it's teaching using phonics. maybe Leap frog is more exciting.

My Lapbook : Missy Family Album

So, i've completed little missy's FIRST Family Album.. in a Lap book.. hee.e. being a not so creative mum, i guess this will make do..

This is one of the activities i wanted to do to go-inline with the suggestion in my earlier post on Raise a Reader



Missy is rather excited to see people she is familiar with like her maternal grandma & paternal grandparents in the lapbook.Somehow, i think she is more fastinated by those cartoon picture like doggie & duck that i pasted in the cover..

Anyway, shall let her enjoy her family members..while enhance her memory by remembering them by image..

Happy parenting !

This week reading : The Creative Family

http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Family-Encourage-Imagination-Connections/dp/1590304713/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1221113842&sr=8-1

Finally, i found this book from library. I remember the call number wrongly that's why until now then i realise the correct call number is 749.XXX and not 371.XXX. today quickly go & grab it.

Shall start reading it tonight.

It seems like a MUST-Have or at least MUST-read book for all mummy. Even mummies in Oz take this as "hand-book"..mmm.. interesting.

After-reading Thoughts:
I'm so inspired by this book. Im inspired in the sense that i determine to create a very "creative" environment for my child to grow up in. Soulemama said, parents learn creativity from their child, as children is so pure and they just do things the MOST creative manner..

Shall try to do some "Creative" stuff at home, start bit by bit.. muahaha..

my head is so full of things.. wonder why i did not learn to sew /knit earlier.. sigh.. now i feel handicap, cos i wanted to do many things, but i don't have the basic skill to carry it out. shall find some time to pick this up ! i always think seing or knititng is so "aunty".. mm.. so i think im walking into this auty stage..but im happy i do now.. than later.. heee

Will bring missy to more nature places..see more hills.. sea.. sand.. just thinking of me make me happier.. haaa..

Good book to read for all mothers or i should say parents.. !Thumbs UP ! You can actually just visit her blog to be inspired more..

Leap Frog purchase

I wanted to buy Leap Frog DVD but seems like it is not sold in Singapore. Thus, i daringly ordered from Amazon.com.. My first purchase from Amazon. I just click 'proceed ro order" and it just went through, never even prompt "confirm" ?

anyway, i guess, it's ok to try. I will use the "extra income" earned last week for this DVDs.. heee *feeling smart*


Order Details: (order date : 10th September 2008, afternooon )
1 "Leap Frog - Talking Words Factory"
Leapfrog; DVD; $8.99


Sold by: Amazon.com, LLC1 "Leap Frog - Letter Factory"
Leap Frog; DVD; $8.99

Sold by: Amazon.com, LLC

Subtotal of Items: $17.98
Shipping & Handling: $12.97
---------
Total for this Order: $30.95 (USD) SGD with 1.5 conv rate= SGD47

Delivery estimate: October 7, 2008 - October 28, 2008

Shipping estimate for these items: September 11, 2008



The stupid delivery is more than 1 DVD's price. but after i converted to SGD, it's still cheaper to buy from Amazon. But, i ordered 2 DVD, each including shipping will be about SGD23 per CD

My search on SG online:
1. Wondebox - SGD 27.95 per DVD with SGD 8 delivery charges. Unless i buy 4 DVDs (they only have letter factory for leap frog) , delivery fess will be waived. still amazon is cheaper even after adding the shipping.

2. ebay.sg - SGD32 no delivery charges. bidding price is SGD31. Still amazon is cheaper wor..

So, i guess it's ok for first attempt to shop in Amazon. Shall update after i receive the DVDs.

Today (11th September 2008), i received email from amazon saying that my order was shipped. Woah ! that's efficient. Thumb's up. So shall see when i will receive it !
******************************************************************************
Greetings from Amazon.com.

We thought you'd like to know that we shipped your items, and that this
completes your order.

You can track the status of this order, and all your orders, online by
visiting Your Account at http://www.amazon.com/gp/css/history/view.html

There you can:
* Track your shipment
* View the status of unshipped items
* Cancel unshipped items
* Return items
* And do much more

The following items have been shipped to you by Amazon.com:
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Qty Item Price Shipped Subtotal

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Amazon.com items (Sold by Amazon.com, LLC):

1 Leap Frog - Talking Words ... $8.99 1 $8.99

1 Leap Frog - Letter Factory $8.99 1 $8.99

Shipped via Standard Int'l Shipping

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Item Subtotal: $17.98
Shipping and handling: $12.97

Total: $30.95

Paid by Mastercard: $30.95

------------------------------------------------------------------

******************************************************************************

Yipeee.. my Leap Frog DVDs arrived yesterday 17th September.., so it took only 7 days to reach me, Not Bad ! very impressive and the condition is tip-top ! warp up in box.

I've yet to watch all the DVD, just started a bit of letter Factory. the alphabets are dancing and it teaches the right sound of each alphabet.

The Benefits of Preschool Songs and Nursery Rhymes

Check this out:
http://www.shirleys-preschool-activities.com/preschool-songs-and-nursery-rhymes.html

extracted the benefits from the website above:

There are many benefits to learning nursery rhymes and preschool songs:
1. Nursery rhymes, poems and songs will provide your children with opportunities to develop an appreciation for rhyme and rhythm, as well as to develop their memory and auditory skills .

2. Research in the field of early childhood development and reading has shown that children who struggle to recognise words that rhyme, often have difficulty in learning to read. Hence the importance of familiarizing children with rhymes and preschool songs.

3. The rhythm of songs, poems and rhymes help children to remember the words and helps to develop auditory memory skills .

It has been said that the golden age for memory is between ages 6-9. At this age a child can memorize more quickly and remember for longer than at any other time in his life (Raymond Moore, Better Late Than Early, p197). I have also heard it said that children, who cannot yet read, remember better than their peers who can read, as the non-readers cannot refer back to the text for information but have to remember everything they have seen or heard.

4. Listening is an important skill to encourage – and it is an important step towards one day learning to read.

5. Poems and verses use words to paint word pictures and nursery rhymes help to activate that awareness.

6. While you read, sing, play and act out nursery rhymes together you are conveying to your children that sounds make words and that words are fun!

7. Nursery rhymes also help children to appreciate and develop an understanding of humour.

8. Since many nursery rhymes also include mathematical concepts, like counting, time, height, measurement, position, volume, weather, temperature etc… you should use them as opportunities to develop vocabulary around these concepts.

9. Fingerplay rhymes and clapping songs are a delightful way to help children develop motor skills and co-ordination .

10. The intriguing and fanciful stories, colourful characters and vivid language of nursery rhymes and preschool songs have fascinated children for centuries and helped expand their imaginations. People who live in shoes, dishes that run, eggs that sit on walls – what an enchanting introduction to the world of literature, storytelling, play-acting and make-believe.

11. Since there are always new children, there is never a need for new preschool songs and nursery rhymes. Children and their parents have kept them alive for centuries and maintained them as an integral part of our language and cultural heritage.

Upcoming project - Playgroup

I'm thinking of forming a playgroup for my little missy and some mummies who are interested.

Since, im working, my playgroup will be on sunday and we will take turn to organise in each other's home. We will have themes each week on activities to carry out.

Still studying the step-by-step of forming a playgroup.

So far, i have 2 mummies who are interested. However, both mummies have boys who will be turning 4 next year, missy will be 2 next year. So, we have to do something that suits all.

Hope this will be a success for us all, as i think home playgroup is more beneficial that childcare. They get to play, do structure stuff and socialise but in small groups.

Mummies get to control what type of activities to do.

My next year project. For now till year end, i'll be homeschooling my missy. y homeschool means doing something structured like reading/singing/rhymes/flash cards/practical life activities on weekday evening and weekends.

Solid food - recipe #1

This recipe is for baby above 6th months. In singapore, baby is recommended to start eating egg yok from 9th month onwards to in small portion. This is to ensure baby body does not reject egg yok or not allergic to it. as baby needs to take MMR (have egg yolk substance) when 15th month-old.

i've been letting missy ea porridge with fish(threadfin/cod/salmon) for the past few weeks (since mum not around) + broccoli+carrot+pumpkins..sometimes with drief scallops & sweet potatoes/potatoes.. i think she is tired of these food. so i thought maybe it's time for a change huh !

So, i got this simple recipe from my collection of baby recipe.


Ingredients:
1. 1 egg
2. carrot
3. drinking water

methods:
1. Chop the carrots into small small cubes, just a small portion of the carrot.
2. break the egg into a bowl , add about 100cc water
3. add in the carrots
4. put the bowl into a pot with water surrounding the bowl.
5. steam for about 20 minutes

Little missy seems ok with this steam egg, as she does not seem familiar with the steam egg texture/taste, i cook pumpkin porridge to go with the steam egg.

This is the first tiem missy eat the whole egg.A new try for her. No allergy so far ! *relief*

Raise a Reader -Upcoming activities

http://www.babycenter.com/0_how-to-raise-a-reader_11545.bc

Extracted from babycenter:

It's never too early to steer your child toward books. But for toddlers, the goal is not to make sure they can read the classics before they're out of preschool. "The phrase to remember is 'developmentally appropriate,'" says Roni Leiderman, associate dean of the Family Center at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. "Parents often come to me wanting to push academics too much, too fast, too soon. In fact, children learn best through play. Make reading a joyous event for them."

There are many developmentally appropriate — and fun — ways to help your little one learn to love books and stories. And, surprisingly, not all of them involve sitting down with an actual book.

Use books to bond
"It's not about reading the words," says Leiderman. "At this age it's about learning to love the interaction with Mom, Dad, or a caretaker." When your child sits in your lap as you read aloud, she doesn't just enjoy books, she also enjoys the security of your undivided attention.

Set up a ritual
A regular reading time establishes a calming routine young children love — that's why the bedtime story is a time-honored tradition. But don't forget that many other daily events also provide good reading opportunities. Once in a while try establishing a new ritual with a breakfast story, a bathtub story, a just-home-from-daycare story. Some toddlers (and older children) who are heavy sleepers are much better able to face the day when their parents "read them awake" rather than hustle them out of bed.

Choose appropriate books
Toddlers love board books, bathtub books, and pop-up books — any type they can hold easily and manipulate themselves. They love stories accompanied by bright, clear, realistic pictures. And of course they love rhymes. That's not to say your 2-year-old won't appreciate the stories her big brother chooses — who knows, Rocks and Minerals may end up being her favorite book. Just make sure she has access to simpler books as well.

Repeat, repeat, repeat
Stifle your yawns if you've read The Very Hungry Caterpillar every night for the past month and your child still asks to hear it again. Repetition is a hallmark of the toddler years. "The reason children love to read the same stories over and over and over again is that they're so thirsty to learn," says Leiderman. You'll soon find that your toddler has memorized her favorite passages and is eager to supply key phrases herself — both signs of increasing reading readiness.

Ham it up
Lose your inhibitions when you read to your child. Growl like the Papa Bear in Goldilocks, squeak like Piglet in Winnie-the-Pooh. Kids love drama as much as adults do — in fact, your youngster may love to pretend to be the scary wolf in The Three Little Pigs. Encourage her, even if it slows the story's progress. She'll get more out of the story if she's participating actively.

Follow her interests
Choose books about her favorite activities — visiting the zoo, swimming, playing ball. Back up your kids' favorite videos and TV shows with books about the characters. You may be mystified by the appeal of Teletubbies, but if your child loves the cheery little creatures, she'll love the books about their exploits as well. Follow her lead, but do experiment with a wide variety of books before you decide you know exactly what your child will like. Your little girl who loves dress-up and dolls may, to your surprise, also be the one who asks to hear Godzilla Likes to Roar or Monster Bugs over and over.

Go to the library
Even babies like library story-hours, and they're wonderful adventures for toddlers. Your child may well discover a new favorite when it's presented by a beguiling librarian with a soothing voice and perhaps some pictures or puppets to illustrate the action. And, of course, libraries let parents — and kids — try out countless stories without spending a bundle.

Push play
Many wonderful books exist on cassette or CD. Your toddler may not be interested in them because what she really likes about books is the interaction with you, says pediatrician Laura Jana, a national trainer for Reach Out and Read. But if your toddler does happen to like them, great. She may want to sit with the picture book while she listens to the recording, or you may want to put it on while the two of you do other things. You could also record yourself — or another relative or friend — reading stories. Just remember, says Jana, that recorded stories can't take the place of sitting down together.

Don't make books a reward
Don't tell your child she can listen to a story if she finishes her dinner. When reading is associated with systems of reward and punishment, it isn't a positive experience. Instead, pick times to read that feel natural, such as when you want your toddler to quiet down before her nap.

Dealing with the wigglers
Some wiggly youngsters just won't sit still through all of Blueberries for Sal. What to do? "Sit down and leaf through something short for just 30 seconds, and then say, 'Wow, we read this whole book!' Then let them go," says Leiderman. The next day you can try a little longer session. "Some children will always be more interested in motor activities than in reading," she says. "Respect that, and don't make reading a negative experience." If your toddler is the physically active type, she may respond best to the non-book-related activities described below.

Make storytelling a part of life
"Promoting reading readiness is more than reading a traditional book," says Leiderman. While you're at the dinner table or in the car, tell stories — standards like "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" anecdotes from your own childhood, or stories that feature your child as a central character. Make books of your child's drawings or favorite photos, and tell stories about them — or ask her to be the narrator.

Point out words everywhere
Wherever you go, you can show your child that words are an important part of everyday life. Even the youngest toddlers quickly learn, for example, that traffic signs say STOP. Alphabet refrigerator magnets are staples in many homes. Other families label objects around the house, such as the shelves that house BLOCKS, DOLLS, and other toys. If your child is in daycare or preschool, slip a daily note into her lunchbox. Even if she can't yet read CAT, seeing the word printed on a piece of paper, along with a drawing or sticker of a cute kitten, will be a high point in her day and help excite her interest in reading. If this seems too ambitious, try drawing a heart or smiley face with a simple "I love you," which will help get your toddler excited about the meaning behind words.

Talk
Children from families who converse at the dinner table have larger vocabularies, according to researchers at Harvard University. Talk with your toddler, and don't be afraid to use complex words and phrases. Encourage her questions and explanations. Toddlers are curious and wonder endlessly about the world, so don't be shy about trying to explore her interests with her.

Demonstrate your own love of books
Your child wants to imitate you. If she sees books all around the house and knows that you like to settle down with one whenever you have a moment to yourself, she'll learn that books are essential to daily life. Modeling your own love of reading is more powerful than making your child sit through a rigid story time.

Books for you
Numerous books have been written for parents who want to nourish a love of reading. Try Jim Trelease's The Read-Aloud Handbook, E.D. Hirsch's Books to Build On, Elizabeth Wilson's Books Children Love, and Bernice Cullinan's Read to Me: Raising Kids Who Love to Read.

My own activities inspired by above reading:

I'll be making a lap book with family photos and photos of little missy .

She loves to see photos and she will point and call herself baby when she sees her own photos. so i guess i shall make full use of her interest and stetch her interest into something useful like recognising her family members.

Work in progress...will update when done.

Morning sickness- Girl ?

http://health.asiaone.com/Health/Women%2527s+Matters/Story/A1Story20080831-85083.html

Extracted from the website
The claim: Morning sickness means a woman's more likely to have a girl.

The facts: Old wives' tales about predicting a baby's sex - relying on clues like the way the woman carries and the foetal heart rate - are usually more fantasy than fact.

However, the notion that morning sickness can sometimes indicate that a girl is on the way may be an exception. A large number of studies in various countries have examined the claim and almost all have found it to be true, with caveats.

Specifically, studies have found that it applies to women with morning sickness in the first trimester and with symptoms so severe that it leads to hospitalisation. It's a condition known as hyperemesis gravidarum.

One of the most recent studies was conducted by epidemiologists at the University of Washington. The scientists compared 2,110 pregnant women who were hospitalised with morning sickness in their first trimester and a control group of 9,783 women who did not get severely ill.

They found that the women in the first group were more likely to deliver a girl and that those who were the most sick - hospitalised for three days or more - had the greatest odds: an increase of 80 per cent compared to the women in the control group.

Other studies in The Lancet and the journal Epidemiology, among others, have repeated the findings. It is thought that certain hormones produced by female foetuses may be the culprit.

The bottom line: Severe morning sickness may indicate a higher likelihood that the baby will be a girl.

This story was first published in Mind Your Body, The Straits Times, on Aug 28, 2008


Our own experiences:
Me/Jenny/Jane - all have morning sickness and girl
Jenna/Jenny's first pregnancy/Jan's first pregnancy - no morning sickness and boy..

So, it does make sense. heee

Baby Bottles- BPA

This news is not new. But, never really change my Avents bottles as AVA published the outcome that Singapore plastic bottles are within safe range.

AVA article:
http://www.agri-biz.com/ttd_bizenterprise/Singlenews.aspx?DirID=65&rec_code=176035

"24 April 08 The Strait Times



No ban as plastic baby bottles are safe: AVA



ALL plastic bottles sold here are safe and no stores have been asked to stop selling them, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) said yesterday.
The announcement came after Toys 'R' Us voluntarily pulled plastic baby bottles from its shelves on Tuesday, in response to concerns that they might leach a potentially toxic chemical. A Toys 'R' Us spokesman here declined to comment on the decision.

However, it comes amid growing global worry over the safety of drink and food containers made from polycarbonate - a hard transparent plastic - which is produced using a chemical called bisphenol A or BPA.

A report by the United States National Institutes of Health, released a week ago, expressed concerns that BPA could affect brain development in infants and increase their risk of developing breast and prostate cancer later in life.

But tests conducted early this year by the AVA showed that the levels of BPA in baby bottles were within safe limits.

It also cited a 2006 European Union review which concluded that the average BPA levels taken in by adults and children did not pose a threat to their health.

Other local retailers, such as NTUC FairPrice and Mothercare, said they had no plans to pull the bottles.

The AVA suggested that worried parents minimise their infants' exposure to BPA by using lukewarm, rather than boiling, liquids. The bottles should be sterilised according to instructions on infant formula labels and allowed to cool before the milk is poured into them.

Parents can also switch to using glass bottles. "


However the outbreak of the news still create alarm to us, parents. The Avent bottles that i bought are BPA-version. Now, Avent revealed that their latest version are BPA-Free

http://www.consumer.philips.com/pageitems/locales/en_US/CONSUMER/grouppage/MotherAndChildCare/ArticlePages/BPA/img/Material_Chart_20080423.pdf

I think, maybe it's time to change new bottles ? I wonder how to use glass bottle.. so heavy and what if it breaks..

Sigh..Nowadays not easy to be parents huh !

Vaccination Online

Wow, so cool.

SG child's vaccination record/schedule can be found online. Each compulsary jabs are recorded. Optional jabs can be included by submittng your child's health record( optional jabs record are recorded in child's health book) for them to update on your child immunisation chart.

So very cool and convenient. Just login with your Singpass and input your child's birth cert ID or name/DOB. Simple as that !

http://www.nir.hpb.gov.sg/nir/eservices/eservice.jsp