August 2010
31 posts
Remembering Our Kids
My personal and professional life both revolve around kids. I love kids. When young, it is easier to engage them, to praise them. Lawrence E.Shapiro, a special needs director whose works I follow, once commented that sometimes we work with them through threars or bribery. Quite funny, but quite true. A drop of honey attracts more flies than a gallon of gall, something by Abraham Lincoln. Tracy...
A fatherly role model →
Former General Manager of TOUCH Community Services, Simon Sim has addressed staff of ministries, statutory boards, corporations as well as parents in various schools on strengthening family relationships. He is also the author of The Family CEO: Building A Happy and Successful Family.
Learning Skills-Metacognition →
Mr Nikki Tay is an accomplished teacher of special needs children. Mediated Learning Experience (MLE) is a proven technique where there is a transfer of knowledge of learning skills such as classifying, comparing, patterning, systematic exploration of situation. He and David Kwek have been helping special needs and also children with low self-esteem. He was also my mentor, empowering me with...
The danger of teaching too early
Many educators learn not only for subject competancy, and skill set. They sometimes uses these techniques on their kids, hoping the kids will do well. My daughter is 5 years old. While others are learning the spelling of 1-one, she has learnt up to 20. She knows the single digits addition and subtractions, and now is doing rote for 1 multiplication. However, when she is in class, she feels bored...
Innovation? Just a hunger to do well
I was in a parents teacher’s conference for my two year old son, Aaron. The teacher commented that my boy loves playing giant building blocks and at his height can stack up 7 building blocks.One day, when he was at 6 building block, he decided to put 3 giant building blocks together.He than stack up these 3 to the 6 building blocks. Now there were 9. Innovative? I won’t say so. I...
Rise of HFMD →
I believe a healthy balance of diet (home-cooked food), exercise (physical play) and rest is adequate. Do not go into aircon with many people, higher chances of infection such as in shopping centres.If avoiding playground, go into parks and open spaces for family or group games or sports.
WatchThere are many things I have learnt from my dad, and my son is learning from me….son…turn the other way please..heehhee
If you were to live for the next 6 hours only,...
Remember Our Teachers
As Teachers Day approaches, I wish to wish all childcare and studentcare and ITE teachers a Blessed Teachers Day come Wednesday. They are there throughout all the good and bad times…especially the rough times. I remember fondly my primary school English teacher in May Primary School, Mr Dragon ,”An empty mind is a devil’s workshop”. He has since passed away. Mdm Ng, my...
Why are playgrounds empty?
The HFMD is increasing in the numbers, and many pre-schools have stopped children going to playgrounds. I am not against the arguement that many children in playgrounds, thus higher chances of contamination. However, without some active exercise, children may lower immunity as well. It is a chicken and egg story.
Likewise, some preschools that aree not air-con have a better ventilated system...
Too many tuitions centres? Are schools doing a... →
If food in a centre, we dun look elsewhere. Same to a barber, or even foot massage. When enrichment and tuition centres sprouts out like weeds, I question are schools doing their part? Teach less, learn more? Schools teach less, others such as tuition teachers and parents teach more….there is no document proven studies of teach less learn more…we are just copying the ang moh ways of...
WatchWe sometimes see different aspects as compared to a child. Lets take a step back and learn from the innocence of children. Lets not be quick to judge and label.
2 tags
Beyond HFMD
4. Exercises are those that have sweat, not WII or computers..
5. Supplement with multivitamins, not vitamin C only. Alternate days not to load kidney
6.Avoid shopping centres or recycled aircon. Go parks or open spaces…
Beyond HFMD
As the numbers of various strains of HFMD increases, more parents are getting worried. HFMD has various strains, inclusive of ENtrovirus 71, a strain that has killed some infants. It is important to do some preventive measures.
1. Make the kid drink lots of water
2.Have a balanced diet (to improve immunity..yes..vegetables and different types with at least 2 cupfuls)
3.Have at least some 20...
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WatchThe Mashmallow test is a test to determine immediate gratification vs delayed gratification. Immediate gratified children have shorter term focus, whereas delayed gratification children has longer term focus, choice -consequences deliberation. They were followed up in the course of 18 years.
WatchChildren are influenced by what they see. Children model (imitate) parents. Older children model (imitate) parents and other “heroes” (from books or television or computers). Adults like us model after heroes, whether they be leaders, business or religious leaders. Lets be selective what we see, read and behave. Our children will be like us 1 day.
Whats next?
While selecting a profile photo,which is the most suitable? I think the one of me and my wifey in a wedding shot….hmmm..whats next?
As a husband, father….we never know whats gonna happen next. We wish and try to cope, but there is never a life manual customise for each individual. As parents, the most important thing is that husband and wife have a shared purpose and worked together,...
