Archives for July 2008

Looking rather spotty and feeling rather moody

Apart from the rash, he is still rather active and alert. He cheered up soon after he had some time in front of the computer watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse clips from http://www.disneychannel-asia.com/DisneyChannel/playhouse/friends/mmch/e

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Bopping to the Hot dog song

Mickey Mouse really seems to have timeless appeal for children. I recalled watching ‘old school’ Mickey mouse cartoons when I was little, but of course, the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse today is so different from those old cartoons that I used to watch.

The programme even ensures relevance for today’s context; it incorporates Playhouse Disney’s curriculum of cognitive and creative learning opportunities, as well as technology concepts through this computer-robot like Mickey head-shaped thing known as Toodles. Toodles provides about 3 to 4 collection of objects where Mickey and Friends can choose from. These objects can be utilise to solve the day’s problems. By calling, “Oh Toodles!” Mickey summons it to pop up from where it is hiding and fly up to the screen so that the home viewer can pick which tool Mickey needs for the current situation.

Even Kyle knows how to say ‘Toooooles…’ when Toodles appears on the screen. Such is the power of media over young children, parents really need to review what their children watch on TV. Not every programme is suitable, even some of the programmes which are on channels like Kids Central and Playhouse Disney; for e.g., Hannah Montana, High School Musical etc, which address adult themes like boy-girl relationships.

I always make a point to sit with Kyle when he is watching these programmes and will label and explain things to him. Well selected programmes can be used to help your child acquire language skills.

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Kyle just turned 16 months on the 17th of July. This little boy is growing and progressing very well as an active and inquisitive toddler. He is at this stage where he is starting to ask for more autonomy, however still very uncertain about his new found independence. I always try to encourage his independence by letting him feed himself when he is having a meal with Keith and I, as well as allow him opportunties to make choices. I try to minimise baby-ing him unless he starts to ‘manja’ and wants some affection and comfort.

His passive vocabulary (the words that he understand but cannot speak) is rather wide as he seems to understand most things that I say, and can answer with a nod or a shake of his head for a ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Also, he does most of the things that I tell him to. He can get rather lazy at times to speak and still grunts and whines, but I always try to prompt him to speak by asking, ‘Tell mummy what you want…’ ‘What is that?’…or ‘Say this, ____’.

Being a not so traditional mum that does not quite believe in certain gender specific toys, I recently got him a cooking set from ELC. Keith says that this will make him a sensitive guy, as he used to have a cooking set as well 😛

Probably this is the most so-call feminine toy that Kyle gets to play with, afterall, guys should learn to cook for themselves and not just concentrate on the eating bit. I am also looking for a cleaning set as I believe the males in the family also need to lend a helping hand with the chores around the house.

Kyle unfortunately came down with his 2nd fever this afternoon. His antibodies are most likely fighting a flu bug that he caught from yiyi Anyhow, he just took another dose of baby paracetamol and is fast asleep, I am sure he will be back to his chirpy self in the morning.

Kyle is a very healthy boy except for a rare case of flu once a long while. I must say this is all due to the communion that we take every Sunday. Thank God that we are able to take the communion to remind us of what our Saviour did for us at calvary. All our sickness and diseases are put to death on the cross with Jesus…our bodies are made whole because of Christ! No more fever or flu in Jesus’ name, Amen!

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Felt a certain sense of achievement when I managed to finish my assignment ahead of time. Not too bad for someone whose last experience at writing essays was at least 9 years ago. Definitely have to keep this momentum up since there will be 3 other assignments which will be due one week after another in August

Well this is all worth it, since I will be able to put all these knowledge to good use for Kyle’s progress in the various areas of cognitive, emotional, social and physical development. Most mothers without the background or this knowledge that I have now, will probably be cramming their 16 month old child with flashcards. Excellent if you child has a fantastic memory and a good attention span, but forget it, if you have an active and physical kid who is more motivated by trucks, balls and activity based learning.

For someone who is studying to be a childhood educator, I am sure quite relaxed when it comes to ensuring that my kid learns colours, numbers and alphabets. I suppose many mothers are now driven to panic city after coming across the article in Straits Times recently; about a 2 year old boy who can read words off menus. Sorry to have to be sarcastic, I hope his mom have helped him developed a passion for learning and not just a passion of acquiring approval and praise for his excellent memory.

And what about the Baby can Read program? It has got its merits, but I have driven the CDs into the deep recesses of my drawers. This is another program that encourages rote learning, i.e., learning from memory.

Mothers can throw away their flashcards if they plan to teach their kid who is below the age of 2. Read my article in http://parachutetime.blogspot.com/ You can chose to refute Piaget’s theory of cognitive development, and stick to your tested method of flashcards (since your child seems to be learning from it). Not for me, I have no plans to question this well known cognitive development theorist, until I am certain that I can develop some credible tried and tested theory that will prove otherwise.

In the meantime, Kyle is allowed to relax to learn things at his own leisure pace until he turns 2.

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