Standard 1 Examination just Round the Corner!

Coming week is school holidays. Right after, Ryan has 2 weeks of examination.

Trying to get him to understand the seriousness of examination is not simple. This is the first real exam. In kindy, they were merely assessments. Half the time, the kindy was telling us parents not to pressure the kids and let it be stress free. Just easy revisions and let them go through them easy.

Now the real thing. How do I even explain the seriousness. That he has to study. That exam is important. You might say that it is only Standard 1. Then it will be 'only Standard 1'. It will have to start somewhere.

A few weeks back, I just tried telling him the examination is important. He has to study with his tuition teacher. I don't have much time as my work is very demanding, what with a new boss. I tried to explain that if he wants to be a doctor, he has to study and get all correct. My boy told me that he wants to become a doctor to take care of his Daddy and Mummy. So sweet :)

Actually, I'm not asking for top of class or really all correct. I just don't want him to fall behind and having stress picking up. That's all I ask. A good average and I'm satisfied.

With the exam, I gave him an incentive. I told him that if he gets all correct (figuratively), I will by him his much desired Nerf Gun - one of those in things for young kids today. Earlier I refused to get him because it just don't like him playing with guns and shooting at people. But he just so loved the toy. So I just told him, if you do well and all correct, that is his reward. Work for it! He said 'But Mummy I thought you say cannot?'. I just said 'I promise that I will give you Nerf Gun if you get all correct. I promise. And you promise you cannot shoot at people. But if you get 1 wrong, you get a smaller present. 2 wrongs even smaller present.' Actually my intend is to reward a present anyway. Just for studying and trying. I don't think he will get the Nerf Gun anyway ie all correct but a good incentive. So bad of me :)

I have taken some days off next week to coach him on English and BM. I have not been a good Mummy. I used to be so closed in coaching. Now I just don't have the time and I'm usually too tired. I rely on the tuition teacher a lot. I felt that the exam require my attention and so I make some time. Not enough but better than none.

The reward piece actually works. Before, Ryan used to get all wrong or few correct in his Spelling, Ejaan and 'ting seah'. Since the time I told him that if he gets all Spelling, Ejaan and ting seah correct, all 3 everytime, I will get him a present. Now he has shown me 100% for Spelling and Ejaan. He told me he has 100% for Chinese and ask me for the reward. I told him to show me. Along the way, when he showed me each, my husband and I 'drama' a bit on our praises. Works and he was very proud.

My Sons Are Hooked on iPhone and Wii Games!

Are computer games bad for kids? Especially kids so young like my sons (they are 5+ and 3+ years old)? Some would think so.. especially when the games show bloody and violent killings. But then again, us parents can always choose not to buy these games for them, right? I just got my brand new iPhone a couple of months ago. Love it! It just spoiled my choices for other phone brands. It's like having a mini computer in your hand, all the time. And I discovered the wonders of games and applications. Haha! I put my iPhone out my sons' reach. Do you how fragile is that thing? Eventually I still let my sons play with it - provided they sit down and hold it carefully. Once tried, they are hooked. Even my 3 year old son knows how to play the games. I'm amazed how they can figure it out just like that. I don't even know how to play with some of them. My eldest has already figured where to buy the games on the iPhone and has been bugging me to download! Of course, I choose only the free ones and the RM0.99 ones :)

The good thing about it? Well at least they sit still, AND quietly, in restaurants and in the car. And that's saying something :) Two weekends ago, we got us the Nintendo Wii. The initial intention was to get both of them a handheld game set each. Gameboy is lousy. To buy 2 handheld Nintendo DS is nuts. For about the same, we got Nintendo Wii instead. We had some fun. Mummy and Ryan played together. Daddy also joined in. Raymund is not too keen.. he still prefers the iPhone as it is easier for him. So, while we are on the Wii, Raymund sits quietly with the iPhone. Parents-kids bonding! What more can you ask?! I love it.

I also used it as motivation for my sons to do their homework and study. Works also. Something like a reward after they have been good. The game itself? Nintendo Wii games are quite ok. Not violent ... at least not the ones I have. Actually, I encourage my kids to play computer games, whether on PC, TV or even on the iPhone. I believe that it helps my kids with hand eye coordination. Even reflex. Not to mention, working up some young brain juices to figure out the games. No harm there. Having said that, excessive is not good. So I control the time. Like I said. As a reward. When it is not easy to get, it becomes a treasure :) A weekend fun time .. only if they have completed their homework. Am I mean or what :) No Wii on weekdays. They have to be in bed early. And I do not want to spoil their eye sight! So, tomorrow is Wii time. Ryan had already mentioned it tonight.... reminding us. Smart boy! I just used this to negotiate reading time with him :) I got him to read 4 Clifford Phonics Fun Books with me at bedtime tonight :) The fact that I got new games today helped. Ha,ha!

My Princess Rachel is One-Year-Old

My darling girl turns ONE today. How time flies!

It seems like just yesterday when I gave birth to her. I can still remember the first moment I saw her. So tiny and adorable. One year has gone already. That's fast! My hubby and I have decided that we stop at 3 children. But we are already missing the days when we get to cuddle and play with our babies. Rachel, our youngest, is already toddling, learning to be more stable on her small feet. Before long, we will be getting headaches trying to discipline and coach all 3 kiddos.

We didn't have a big party for her. We did for Ryan's 1 year old and realized that he was just too young to appreciate it. In fact, it was too tiring for him then. So with Raymund and Rachel, we just had dinner with close family to celebrate their First Birthdays.

We celebrated twice for Rachel, just like we did for Raymund. We had a dinner with my in laws in Melaka last weekend. Didn't go too well as Rachel was tired and was throwing a tantrum. My little girl sleeps pretty early. She gets tired before 9pm. Since it wasn't the actual day, we didn't have a cake then. Also, there is this 'pantang' thingy (ie taboo) against blowing the birthday cake twice. Being a banana myself, I don't quite believe but for the sake of my daughter, I just follow.

Today, we have another round of dinner. This time with my side of the family. Learning from mistake, we had the dinner earlier at 7pm so that we are in time for cake cutting later (at home). She's good today. Cute in her little blue dress. I made a hair clip with blue bows and ribbons to match her dress. I'm learning how to make more. She had on white stockings, cardigan and little powdery pink shoes. Cute and very girly :) I have yet to upload the photos. Will do so when I have the time to transfer the photos to my PC. Soon :)

For presents, Rachel gets new clothes, a soft toy (she likes toys with flappy ears/hands for her to flip back and forth) and K's Kids stacker buckets with shape sorter from her parents. She likes to stack little cups and put things into containers and out. Her grandparents gave angpau. She also gets new pretty clothes from her 'kau foo' (uncle). We sang her the B'day song. She is still too young to understand. Just curious why everyone is singing. So cute. Then, it was bedtime. Just in time!

Happy Birthday to my darling girl!

May you grow up to be a lovely, lucky, healthy and happy girl;

May all good things come your way;

Love from Daddy and Mummy.

Toys Worth Buying

Children nowadays are so privileged. I remember when I was a kid, I wouldn't dare ask my parents to buy this toy and that without considering the price and the occasion. My parents were just average income earners and most of the time, were on shoe string budget. Even so, when I shared this with my friends, they said the same too. We were less bold in asking for toys and such - partly because of our more traditional up-bringing versus today's children.

Because I love my kids and I do so love shopping too (oops!), from time to time, I'd reward my children and make them happy. Particularly when they do well in their work or have been good boys. Actually, I don't mind spending on toys which have educational values or those which stimulate their creativity and thinking. One of which is puzzles or blocks.

From 1-2 years old, I introduced Ryan to blocks. Megablocks and wooden blocks. I'd teach him to build houses and bridges and so forth. Then I'd leave him to it to show me what he can do. Now Raymund is catching on and he is especially encouraged when he can make something interesting out of it. You'd be surprised by what children can do base on their imagination.

Now I have progressed Ryan to more complicated puzzles. He got a Lego set (smaller pieces) for his birthday and he is really fascinated with it. I wouldn't let Raymund or Rachel near him when he plays these small pieces. The pieces can be very small and if you have babies and young children, it is dangerous if they put the pieces into their mouth. Lego has different range which is graded by children's age. Go for the bigger pieces if your children are still small. Alternative is Megablock - big and suitable for very young children.

A friend from HK recently gave us an interesting 3D cube puzzle that they can piece together to build anything that they can think of. I find this very good and allows better creativity since it is now 3D/cube instead of just stacking up like blocks and Legos. Ryan is able to build robots, space ships, rockets, etc with it. He loves it! Quite unfortunately, I can't find this product in Malaysia.

To take this further, my sons love to play soldiers, dinosaurs, cars and sea animals pieces. Together with these blocks, they will build a fortress from the blocks and then position soldiers, dinosaurs, robots in combat positions. Sometimes, they would build house and bridges and then play cars on them. All we have to do is give them suggestions every now and then. Don't limit them to logistics and must-dos, should-dos - just give them a free hand and build on their creativity. That's my view :) Sometimes, I find that Ryan and Raymund's creations are much nicer and more interesting than mine.

The next birthday - Raymund's - I know what to get for them. Another puzzle called Zoob. More affordable and you can get it at Isetan. Check out this site about Zoob: http://www.infinitoy.com/zoob/index.shtml

And yes ... I think I'm spoiling my kids too :(

I Found This Pattern Ruler that I Used to Play When I was a Kid!

I found this pattern ruler in Isetan. I remember in my girly days, this was sooo cheap and used to be sold by street peddlers. My dad got me a set that I soo wanted then - much larger ones too. Of course not so changgeh packaging la. It was the type with cardboard back and front covered with hard plastic like those 'China' toys.

And now, I found it at Isetan produced by the Japanese - nicely packages with cute pictures. Talk about repackaging! And of course, this little thing costed me RM5! I bought it anyway. One of the carrots to encourage my son to study. He loves it. And I thought that the activity can help him work on fine motor skills.

Ryan's Birthday Today

Today is Ryan's birthday. We celebrated his birthday with his friends in school and he was so very proud and shy about it :)

Here's his Ben10 Birthday cake.

Ben 10 is one of his favourite characters!

Ryan and his classmates

Ryan's proudly giving out little presents for his friends (sweets and chocs)

Raymund was too shy to join in.

Our present for Ryan - Lego to build creativity :)

And of course, Raymund gets one too!