Jade Can Read!

May 5, 2011 by

On the 5th of May 2011, a couple of months shy from her third birthday, my daughter read her very first words sans help from Teacher Mama.  It doesn’t make her a genius or a child prodigy but, still, those first words were like music to my ears.  And for reading bat, mat, hat, rat and cat all on her own, my daughter deserves all the praise and accolade this mom can shower her.

The bookworms we’re cultivating are making good progress. We still have a long way to go but I am just so proud (isn’t it obvious?!) of what my little girl can accomplish at such a young age.

 

Filed Under: BookWorms, Kids At Work, PLAYhouse preSCHOOL Tagged With: , ,

Playhouse Preschool

May 3, 2011 by

All my sisters and I were already in school by age 3.  Most of my friends’ children have started school at a young age also.  Those who are the same age as Jade will be attending regular preschool come June.  Understandably, I am a wee bit saddened at being unable to send Jade to preschool this coming school year.  If not for her frail health, I would probably insist on sending her even just to the neighborhood preschool. Since I am also worried about her acquiring any virus, bacteria or ailment that is prolific in schools, I have resigned myself to “homeschool” her and her brother until their immune systems are strong enough for them to be able to go to school.

My toddlers are just turning 2 and 3 years old so there really is no pressure for regular homeschooling schedule.  I would just usually prepare some games or activities we can do in the morning and sometimes print out worksheets for Jade to do.  Lest some think that I’m this evil mom who expects too much from her children,  I don’t force my toddlers to sit and do their worksheets.  I also don’t impose on doing the activities I’ve prepared for them.  Although I do urge them to finish an activity that they have already started.

Since we’ve started this practice homeschooling, Jade has had significant improvement in language and math skills.  Jakei still just loves to play and goof around so I provide him with plenty of manipulative to develop his fine-motor skills and reasoning ability.  I made a daily schedule for them which included language, reading, math, music, and art each day.  It didn’t work though as more often than not, we were unable to stick to the schedule. What worked for us was this weekly schedule that focused on one learning subject each day:

  • Monday: Music & Me (music and movement)
  • Thinking Tuesday (math and abstract reasoning)
  • Wonderful World of Wednesday (art and science)
  • Thursday Talkies (language and reading)
  • Friday Free Day (do-anything-day ^_^)

I get plenty of homeschooling ideas from The Mommy Journey and the Confessions of a Homeschooler.  My printables are mostly taken from Kidzone.

It might seem too much for toddlers, but it really is all play for them.  I always take my cue from them as to when we have to move to the next activity or when we need to have our “recess”.  There are also days when we would just opt to watch a dvd that they really love or would just lounge on the bed and talk.  It is PLAYhouse after all.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Kids At Work, PLAYhouse preSCHOOL Tagged With: , , ,

The Curious Tots and the Sensitive Makahiya Plant

April 28, 2011 by
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toddlers intently watching the leaves of the Makahiya fold and unfold

We stumbled onto clusters of Makahiya on the grounds of my best friend’s clubhouse.  There was a sign a few meters from us that said “Keep of the Grass” but we couldn’t resist showing our toddlers the magic of the Makahiya.  Unlike during the days of our youth when empty lots in the neighborhood were still safe to play in, our children have no luxury of exploring the many weeds, bugs and what-have-yous that we used to find in those empty lots cum playgrounds.  So, we let the toddlers stay on the grass and have a poking good time watching the foliage of the Sensitive Plant fold and unfold.

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when all the leaves had folded in this tiny patch, these very curious toddlers looked for a bigger patch of Makahiya

Here are some facts about the Makahiya plant:

  1. Its scientific name is Mimosa Pudica.
  2. Touching, blowing, warming or shaking it would cause the leaves to close.
  3. The leaves also close during nightime and reopen during daylight.
  4. Other common names for it include: sensitive plant, humble plant, shameful plant, sleeping grass, and touch-me-not. (Of course, I still love “Makahiya” best)
  5. Extracts from its roots can be used to neutralize cobra venom.
  6. Its extracts can immobilize threadworm within an hour’s duration.
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The sensitive Mimosa Pudica

Relive your childhood, explore the neighborhood park and have fun poking at those makahiya with your little ones.

Filed Under: Kids At Work Tagged With: , ,

50% Discount on Entrance Fee at Philippine Science Centrum

April 15, 2011 by

The Philippine Science Centrum is offering a 50% discount on their entrance fee from April 1 to May 31. That means you get to pay only 50 pesos for 1.5 hours of interactive science fun!

The Philippine Science Centrum is the first hands-on science museum in the country.  It boasts of more than 80 interactive science exhibits that will surely rectify the misconception that learning about science is boring.

I took the toddlers on a “field trip” there last February and they had so much fun.  I will definitely be scheduling another trip there to take advantage of the discount.  We’d have to go there earlier though so we could also have time to play in Kids’ World.

Filed Under: Kids At Work Tagged With: , , ,

Milk Teeth Need To Be Checked Too

April 13, 2011 by

The toddlers were long overdue for a visit to the dentist. Usually I go to this Dentist Orlando, but we were finally able to take them to a very dear friend, Dra. Lisa Orense, who squeezed us in her very hectic schedule and took a peek at the toddlers’ milk teeth. When we arrived at the clinic, there was still another patient being treated so we had to wait a little while for our turn. While waiting, I again reminded the toddlers about what the dentist would be doing.

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practicing their “ahhhs” while waiting for their turn

My kids are very sociable so they took to Tita Lisa very easily. We were ushered inside the dental clinic and Tita Lisa made sure that the toddlers were comfortable. Jade was checked first as she had no qualms sitting on the dental chair. The dentist also did not have a hard time checking her teeth as she gamely said Ahh and followed all of the dentist’s instructions.

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happy little girl getting all comfy in the dental chair

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This little girl’s hands are sooo very swift… you’d think she was trained by Fagin

If checking Jade’s teeth was a breeze, checking Jakei’s proved to be a challenge for Tita Lisa. He refused to sit in the dental chair and would not let go of dear Mama. So while safely ensconced in my arms, the dentist coaxed him to open his mouth and allow her to place the dental mirror inside. It took a while but soon she was able to check his teeth also. It’s important you get your children used to the dentist early so they don’t develop any teeth or gum problems later on in life and need serious dental care such as periodontics.

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the toddlers with their very beautiful dentist, Tita Lisa

Filed Under: Kids At Work Tagged With: ,
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