Soft Toys Collection

WH has got his own cars collection and for JS we have started her with soft toys.

But she doesn’t really like soft toys very much. We have collected more over the years than shown in picture.

TV Programmes That My Kids Watch

I was quite against the idea of letting my kids watch TV starting at the very young age (my mum’s influence), but really, these days we cannot get rid of this idiot box. I even gave in SIL#1 pestering and subsequently hubby’s and subsribed to ASTRO Kids package after Playhouse Disney Channel was on aired. (I don’t let the kids watch the other channel in the kids package – ie. Nickalodeon, Cartoon Network, their viewing on this package is restricted to Playhouse Disney only) I actually found all the programmes in Playhouse Disney Channel very educational and sometimes I find it hard to decide which hour to let them watch the TV because each programme seems so interesting. But again, I have to set rules and limitation, else they would be glueing in front of the TV 24 hours a day (Maximum 2 hours a day). I try to sit with my kids when they watch TV as much as possible so to answer JS’s question, to explain to her and mainly to be involved and get to know the cartoon characters and story line so we got common things to chat about.

OK.. here’s the list of programme that my kids love

1) Sesame Street. JS’s famous character – ELMO
JS started watching this very young when she was at the babysitter’s place. Seldom watch this anymore, don’t know the air time on TV, so usually watch ELMO VCD. I actually found out JS learned the very basic alphabets and numbers here earlier on.

2) Wheels On The Bus
We have got the whole set 3D animation cartoon, great story line that merged with classic nursery rhymes.

3) Thomas the Tank Engine (VCD)
Got that for WH because he loves transportation.

4) Winnie the Pooh (VCD)
The kids just love Pooh Bear. Don’t know why. Maybe it’s cuddly, maybe we have alot of Pooh soft toys at home.

5) Jojo’s circus
Both kids favourite. Maybe Jojo is cute and colourful.

6) HigglyTown Heroes
Teaches about people. ie jobs

7) Barney
We have a few VCDs on this, it covers on various topics, very educational.

Out of The Box
Interesting, can steal some ideas on activities to do with the kids at home especially art and craft. Enhance the kid’s creativity

9) Little Eisteins
Great on music and instruments

10) Stanley
Great cartoon that teaches about nature and animals. More on science and facts.

11) Bob The Builder

12) Disney Cinderella
JS’s dislike Sleeping Beauty. The Witch part a bit scary to her.

13) Sound Of Music

Music Lesson

It’s Thursday and it’s music lesson day. Tonight we are going to the music school again after the 2 weeks break. JS’s is attending Musickids at Yamaha music school. She started attending the lesson in February. It’s a weekly, 1 hour lesson. Wanted to start her off earlier, we actually went for a trial in August 2005, but at that time she hasn’t turn 3, so the school didn’t accept her enrolment. The minumum age requirement needs to be at least/exactly 3. There are other similar music lesson like Gymboree Music and Musikgarten. Unfortunately I haven’t got the chance to try it out and their age requirement is lower. Can even start as young as 6 months old.

There are about 12 pairs of parent/student in the class. JS’s enjoy this weekly lesson very much, so as WH. Actually let WH to sit in and join the class and he can actually follow quite well. I myself like this programme very much. The music and song is lively, very attractive to young kids. It does not only introduce music to young kids, but in class, basic lesson like manners and moral also is taught in a very interesting way. All kinds of instruments is introduced to the kids. It teaches the kids about tempo, rhythm and alot more and gets them prepared before they choose to specialize in any instrument. The kids get to move about, there are action songs, good for the energetic kids. Music is so important in life, it’s important in the child early development and it can be be very therapeutic. It also foster bonding between parent and child as parent are very involve in the lesson. For me there is another benefit, it’s another change of enviroment for JS. In this class, 11 out of 12 student is Chinese, and the teacher is also Chinese. Not to say I’m racist, but she’s more comfortable here. I can sense that she’s quite scared and not comfortable with people who has very tanned skin. I have tried to explain to her that there’s nothing to be scared of and get her to accept the other races. (I shall not elaborate more!) It’s not a very taxing and pressure lesson for the kids because there isn’t any expectation from them, it’s just a programme for them to enjoy and learn music, have fun, make friends. JS’s actually looking forward to this weekly lesson.

Maybe I came from a small town, there wasn’t such lessons available during my time. When I first started music lesson at age 7, my parents sent me straight to learn piano. The interest in learning piano does not last long though I persisted until I got my ABRSM Grade 7 cert. Music lesson to me at that time is a chore because one needs long hour practices on some same boring songs and scales. *Yucks* There wasn’t much chance of playing nice lovely song because months ahead of the exam, we were required to practise the exam pieces (3 usually) over and over again and that left not much time to explore into other songs. With the early childhood music programme that’s available now, I hope I’m sowing a seed of love for music in the kids and will let them decide later in which area they want to venture/master in. It will make a good hobby too.

Sidenote: The TV programme Little Einsteins on Playhouse Disney Channel also introduce classical music pieces and instruments to kids. I think it’s a good programme in teaching kids some basic knowledge about music.