Who Say Pre-schooler Need To Attend Art Class??

Ok ok…last post for today… till I come back 2 weeks later.

Early childhood educations and enrichment classes is a lucrative business nowadays. There is this demand by the parents in the market to enrich these next generation, either they are too busy to spent the time with their kids or they lack the patient.  These classes including art class. Art school for kids are mushrooming everywhere. They accept children as young as 3, as long as the kids can grip the pencil firmly. (JS actually requested to go for those classes after seeing all the colourings pasted on the wall of a art school…but sorry…NOPE!)

These art schools that accepted kids as young as 3 are actually merely teaching them how to colour and mix colour (配色). It’s more of a colouring class then teaching a young kid how to draw. 

I personally feel that colouring class for pre-schooler is unnecessary. Why give them a rigid set of standard of what is nice to the adult’s eyes instead of letting them explore and experience with colours.  A kid’s own drawing and colouring reflected very much of how she visualises the world and surrounding. It also shows the kid’s creativity.

Look around at those kids colouring competitions. Those who have won attended colouring classes, the end result is so much adult like. The colouring of the kids is not longer been judge if it’s in the line, it’s neat but instead of how they mix the colours.  Many of these kids have been given guide by their teachers and practises over and over again at home before the competition. The end result is the outcome of endless practises and no longer coming out naturally from the kids. The end result of the colouring and drawing does not reflect the childishes and kids true self anymore.  (失去了童真)

JS’s done these colouring all by herself without my supervision. I wasn’t even sitting beside her when she did this. These were the true colours of things and the world in the kids eyes. To them, the more colours the merrier and to them it’s nice. I believe if the colouring teacher in the art school sees these, the teacher would have alot to correct her on the shadings , using of colours etc etc and I believe she can’t even make it to the top 50 if these were sent to the colouring contest…. to me this is already good enough. Unless one day she decided for herself to become a professional artist/painter or graphic designer and enrol in art college, in the meantime, I rather keep the money for better use.

Birthday Celebration

This was how I celebrated my 30th birthday.

Hubby pretended to have forgotten but quietly brought in this cake that he hide in the car after dinner.

 I’m only 3… not 30 . LOL (3 candles only!! )

Thank you everyone for the well wishes by leaving wishes in my blog’s comment to the sms-es that i’ve received, emails and also through MSN. Thank you , thank you.

Greeting Cards

When I was younger (during primary school days) I enjoyed making greeting cards. Every year I would make birthday card for my mum and grandmother and also christmas card for my pen-pals. That’s the only greetings that I can think of as for a kampung girl without much pocket money, there wasn’t much that i could get.

Each time I presented the home made greeting card to my maternal grandma and my mum, I feel very proud of myself on the effort and thought that I’ve put in it. That was also a way to show that I care.

Sadly I have given up making greeting cards for a long time.

JS is into art and craft now, and I’m getting her to revive this hobby.  Home made greeting cards is so full of personal touch and in today’s electronic advances, many young generation has lost the feel for this.

JS and WH did this for MIL’s birthday. I helped, but both kids enjoy the process of making it.

Busy

The lack of posting in my blog this week, the lack of appearing online this week, all because….

… busy packing

… busy rushing off 2 assignments to be handed in next week

… busy compiling a video slide show for my MIL’s birthday.

… busy cathching up with other assignments writing which I realize is a little behind schedule

… busy researching and reading up for resource to write up those essays

… busy dont know with what somemore..

All these because of poor time management and my last minute attitude. 

Will only catch up with the writing when I’m back and hopefully able to steal sometime to update what I learn next week using my bro’s laptop.

I’ll Be On A Two Weeks Blog Break!

Wood Annivesary

Five years ago, this day, I tied the knot with the love of my life.

5 years down the road , we have 2 kids and have gone through many ups and downs. I’m very grateful to have met this man of mine.

HAPPY ANNIVESARY, DARLING!

Already 30!!

I TURNED 30 TODAY!!

Yup…30 , no more “change”… no more in my twenties, though I feel like just fresh out from school/college. It’s so unbelievable… ME 30??

No celebration today though. But I like to thank my mum on this special day. Without her, there’s is definately no ME.

Instead of saying “happy birthday” to myself, I want to say

“THANK YOU, MUM!!”

ps: mum just sms-ed me to wish me “happy birthday”

Looking Forward & My Sticky Glue

Next week, the 11 days workshop for my course will commence. I’m so looking foward to attend, so much anticipation on the knowledge that I will gain on the hands on workshop.

I’ve started to pack the things for bringing to my parent’s place this coming weekend. Will be staying with my parents while I attend the workshop. Mum and the maid will look after the kids for me, dad and bro will also be around to entertain them. ( A little worried now how mum and the maid will cope with the little ones when I’m away, haven’t left them behind for so long hour before, almost full days from 9am  - 10pm for 6 days and  9am – 5pm for 4 days)

While I was busy packing last night, JS came to me and cried “mummy, dont go to school”. (That’s what I’ve told the kids that I’m going back to school for 2 weeks, that’s why we going to stay with Poh Poh). She kept saying that and with big tears rolling down her eyes. After she stopped crying and when she was playing at the corner, I still can hear her mumbling “mummy, dont go to school. I dont want mummy go to school. I’m so sad. Want mummy stay home. Mummy stay home, I happy. Mummy canno go school, I’m sad” There wasn’t much reaction from WH yet, but sometimes he will also cry very little saying “mummy, dont go skool” Meantime as long as he can still feel my presence, he doesn’t kick up the big fuss… but i really dont know how he will react next week onwards when I’m not around.

My heart broke the moment I saw the tears rolling down from her eyes but at the same time also I feel a little annoyed on how demanding she’s on me. I’ve no choice, I really have to go and I never deny how much I’m looking forward to it and how much I wanted to do it, but at the same time I have this feeling of  ”am I such a bad lousy mum to leave behind the kids when they still like a “sticky glue” to me? when JS’s pleaded me to stay home?” at the same time I’m also have the calling in my heart telling me that it’s time to train them to be a little independent and less dependent on me.

JS is real super glue to me until I feel suffocated sometimes and that she’s over demanding and very unreasonable. Yesterday when we went out shopping, SIL and MIL was sitting at the back passenger seat and it was the first time I sat at the front passenger seat when the kids were in the car at the back with their aunty and grandma. JS cried the from the moment we left the house until we reached the destiny just for me to go sit behind with her. Though we were in the same car, but as long as we are not sitting together is not good enough for her, same thing when sleeping, though we are in the same room, she insist on me sleeping on the same bed with her than only she feel secure.

Attachment is good, but sometimes I just feel drained when they over demand on me…of course hubby always think it’s my fault of bringing them up to be so demanding and overly dependent on me.

Brainteaser Game

Recently there’s a booth at Giant selling this IQ toys. Though made in China and Taiwan, the quality is not too bad and the price is very afforadable too.

I always like this kinds of toys for my kids. Toys that can promote their creativity and logical thinking. We already have lot of woodblocks at home, we have ZOOB, we have Mega blocks and we have LEGO DUPLO (only one box though…coz very expensive) , and we have those alphablets cubes. Still each time I see educational or IQ toys , I cannot resist not buying them.

  The beads game came with assorted shape of beads and though it looks simple, but it’s not as what what perceived at first glance. This game is suitable for up to 90 years old.   For me I can spent about 10 – 15 minutes to get the elementary level question solved.  Using this to teach WH’s colours and memory. Usually I will take out like 2 to 3 pieces of the beads of different shape and get him to put in back in the place that I took it out. This is also to test his concentration and memory. A good way to teach him colours too. For JS, I will follow the question sheet to get her fill up all the blank with the beads (That’s no easy task though)

 Another mind game for the kids.

 7 pieces tangram. This will promote the kids logical thinking.

 This one bought it long time ago on the net. Can use the different shapes block to form the picture on the booklet. Good way to teach WH colours and shapes too.

Parenting Style

With the technology advancement today, many informations can be easily obtained. In my stereotype mind, I thought all educated parents are IT savvy and that they would obtained the latest best parenting style from the cyberworld.  I always have the impression that all educated parents should be pro-breastfeeding and practise attachment parenting. ( I have these impression maybe the parents I mingle with are all pro-breastfeeding and practise attachment parenting) It was like a shocker to me know to know recently that not all parents have the same mind and thinking as me and certainly have a very different approach in parenting.

Though a college or university grad, many still practise the parenting style of their parents or grandparents. (My mother never interfere with my parenting style, though I know her thinking is modern for her time, but now she admits that at that time, information are hard to get and some of the things she did were wrong and she only realize it now after reading newspaper now. My mum cut out newspaper cutting on the latest parenting style for my reference)

Many still think that Formula milk is better than breastmilk.  These parents will look at me as if I’m a alien who has breastfed and still nursing my 2 year old boy. Many think that the attachement parenting I’m practising will make my kids too attached to me and that I’m not training them to be indepedent and that I have neglect myself. I’m one who will bring along my kids with me everywhere I go. I got remark “wah… u bring your kids here ah?” ( The tone is like..see I left my kids at home and now I can enjoy the party..unlike you have to take care of your kids during this outing.)

 I know of a mother whose 7 yrs old is sent to day care after school each day and the 4 years old also to day care after kindy. Father working oversea. Grandparents staying with them to look after the kids after they return from day care in the evening and of course be the kid’s driver. School holiday approaching, grandparents wanted to balik kampung for holiday, they can only manage to bring back one of the grandkids as they not capable of taking care of both. The mother said “aiyo…i have plenty of work in the office, I cannot come home early to pick my son back from day care’. In my mind I was thinking “HELLO…THIS IS YOUR OWN SON. WHY PUSH THE RESPONSIBLITY OF TAKING CARE OF THE SON AND CHAUFFERING HIM TO THE OLD FOLKS’. The youngest kid has been staying with the grandparents in the kampung since birth, only move back to her parents home at age 3, even that the grandparents sascrifice leaving their own home and moved along with the 3 year old. If dont want to take care of kids…why give birth at the every first place. Career more important than kids? There are some mum who place their own interest on themself rather than on the kids.

Another SAHM of 3. Instead of taking care of the kids at home, she put all the 3 kids in nursery , kindergarten and after school care instead of looking after them herself. And she doesn’t cook… she caters! Her only task as a SAHM is to chauffeur the kids from one class to another. Her kids are attending various enrichment classes and is encouraged to attend various competition. All she cares about is how many medal and how many prices can the kids bring back.

I’m one parent who is zealous and send my girl to enrichment class, but I do not place high expectation on her to be the best of all. My purpose is for her to gain knowledge and not to show off that she’s the best and can win how many prices and competition.  It has never cross my mind that I can actually sent her in for competition since she has learned so and so. Only get to know recently that the purpose of other parents sent their kids to enrichment class is for the end result and how many prices the kids can win back.

One mother from the music class failed to supervise her kids to do homework. Week after week this pair of twin never do their music homework. It’s not that tough , I wonder why this mother cannot even spare that 5 to 10 minutes to guide the kids to do homework. I dont think it’s a very much request for just 10 minutes of her time for just one day of the week, the homework isn’t that tough actually… why bother to sent the kids to class if at home the mother is not willing to spent time to at least check their homework??? My maid see this case also shake her head on this mother’s attitude.

Shall I Be Concerned?

Lately I noticed this traits in WH…

It’s very hard to get eye contact from him.  When he asked for something from us, he will never look into our eyes and simply look somewhere else. Eventhough when he’s able to say “Thank You so and so” automatically  after we gave him something he wants but he never look into our face to say it.  Each time when I say “Look into mummy’s eye” , it’s almost very hard for me to get him do so, if he does, he would switched his sight away in spilt second. Same thing when he want to ask for something, he can say “Please, so and so” but never look into the eyes or the face, he would usually look somewhere else. He can call everybody in the sweetest tone like “jie jie, mummy, daddy, ah kong, ah mah, uncle dik” but he never look at us when he call, he face or mind is usually somewhere else.

He’s very into solidary play which I thought earlier that he is much for independent than his sister. When he’s very into what he’s doing, no matter how we call to him, usually we failed to hail his attention as if he never hear us. Again this make me very confused, because according to Montessori, there will be time when the child is full on concentration on the work he’s interest in. I dont know whether he’s really full of concentration of has he filtered out the voice around him and working in solitude.

Each time it’s very hard to get a hug and kiss from WH. Each time when we bid goodbye to the grandparents and aunties, we usually get the children to hug and kiss the elderly, JS will do it spontaneously as for WH, we need to ask many times before he does so, and even that, his mind is somewhere else and the hug and kisses were vague.

One more thing that I wasn’t so worried before was his speech development. But now with all the traits above,  I start to worry. Though he’s picking up a little now, but still it’s quite slow. He only know one song and he cannot sing in full tune and doesn’t know the full lyrics. The words that he’s able to speak is not very clear. Thus far, he longest sentence is “mummy, pao pao me”, most time it’s one word or 2 words pharse.

He’s also very much into his imaginary world that i initially thought it’s no big deal…but a little worried now.

According to the book,  it says possible symptoms of autism are : social withdrawal, hearing abnormalities, avoidance of eye contact, speech disorders, repetitive behaviour patterns (a bit confusing, because Montessori noted that kids love repetition) , indifference to pain.

I’m worried (have I been hearing and reading too much until I become so paranoid?), but at the same time I knew that many of his behaviours apart from the mentioned above can counter the symptom of autism. 

My boy certainly loves to smile and he likes to mix with the neighbour especially those Abang. When he sees my father or PIL, he’s very happy and will squeek. Besides solidary play, he’s also quite capable in role play with his sister. So this has definately countered the social withdrawal, I guess..

Of course when I extended out my arms to him, not all time but most time he will come rushing to me for a good snuggle.

Other than that he’s also quite capable to express to us his needs and preferences with his limited vocubulary instead of just crying and wailing.

I’m really confused and concerned especially each time when he try to avoid eye contact. It’s really that big deal?