PARENT INVOLVEMENT

Many parents who don't homeschool might find this article useful.

http://www.kidsource.com/parenting/parents.part.html

Parents As Partners In Children's Learning

Parents and teachers may look at young children's learning from different perspectives, but they share a common goal: making sure that children receive the best possible education. Mutual respect and communication between programs and families takes advantage of both perspectives to provide children with the kind of care and education that will help them thrive. Today's family members and caregivers have many responsibilities and time constraints. It takes extra effort on both sides to build strong partnerships.

Tips for caregivers and teachers:

• Listen carefully to parents -- they are experts on their own children, too. Families can provide important information on a child's behavior outside the program or classroom.
• Be sensitive to different cultures and child-rearing beliefs. Never make judgments on parenting styles; always make an effort to respect the family's values and beliefs.
• Share pertinent information about the child on a daily basis, especially in programs caring for infants and toddlers. An established system for keeping records and reporting to parents about each child is key to good communications.
• Welcome parents into the program or classroom. Ask parents to drop by for lunch or snack, or arrange after-work events like socials or pot-luck dinners. Working around parents' busy schedules sends a message of being sensitive to families' needs.
• Communicate with parents about children's assignments or activities ahead of time. This will allow parents to set time aside for working with their child or coordinate family schedules with school expectations. Parents also appreciate regular, meaningful progress reports early in the year with time and recommendations to help prepare children for the next levels of their education.

Tips for parents:

• Listen carefully to what your child's teacher or caregiver has to say. Remember that they spend a significant amount of time with children and share expertise about their development.
• Don't jump to conclusions. If you have questions or concerns about your child or the early childhood program, speak directly to your child's teacher, caregiver, or program supervisor. Don't panic or merely commiserate with other parents when questions arise.
• Remember that many teachers or caregivers have families of their own, and may share similar responsibilities and time constraints. Be as respectful of their time as you wish them to be of yours.

Many early childhood programs today are working hard to become more "family-friendly," providing newsletters to parents that focus on staff members and professional development, ensuring one positive phone call per child each semester, or even providing voice mail for parents to leave messages after working hours. Programs may demonstrate strengths in different ways, but working together with parents remains crucial. When teachers or caregivers make the extra effort to include parents in program activities, and parents take the time to attend and participate, children benefit from the best possible learning experience.


Credits
National Association for the Education of Young Children
1509 16th Street, N.W.Washington, DC
20036-1426
Phone: 202-232-8777 800-424-2460
FAX: 202-328-1846
Web: http://www.naeyc.org/default.htm

Copyright 1997 by National Association for the Education of Young Children.

CROQUET

Nikki tries his new croquet set...

















I taught him how to use both hands when holding the club, but I suppose he had a difficult time so I let him do it his way...












Nikki, having a lot of fun...

NEWSBIT

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6601465.stm

Tighter rules on food ads urged

Teaching, health and consumer groups have written to the government urging it to tighten up the rules on food adverts that target children.

They said a revised code for non-broadcast adverts, such as those on the internet, did not go far enough.
The National Union of Teachers and the British Heart Foundation are among 10 groups highlighting "inconsistencies" with the rules governing TV adverts.
The industry said there was no need for more restrictions like those on TV ads.

The new code for non-broadcast adverts, including those appearing on websites, was unveiled this month by the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP).
Its measures - to come into force on 1 July - do not include "rules to restrict the volume or frequency of food advertising to children" and failed to "differentiate between healthy and unhealthy foods", said the 10 groups.

Their letter, sent to Health Minister Caroline Flint, said there were "major omissions and inconsistencies" between rules for print and internet adverts compared with those for broadcast adverts, which are developed separately by industry regulatory Ofcom.

Firms Accused

The British Heart Foundation described the way food manufacturers target children on the internet as "unprincipled" and "unacceptable".
It said fast food firms like McDonald's and Burger King were using the internet and online games to target children.
McDonald's said it was a responsible advertiser and adhered to the code of practice, while Burger King said it was reviewing its communication with children, including on its website.

CAP's rules - applying to all foods except fruit and vegetables - say print and online media adverts for food and soft drinks should not encourage under-16s to be unhealthy.
Nor should they encourage excessive consumption, or use popular celebrities to target pre-school or primary-age children.
But the 10 groups said the advertising industry had done little more than repackage old rules, failing to put pressure on food manufacturers to come up with healthier products.

'Staggering' response

Which? food campaigner Miranda Watson said the CAP restrictions fell "well short of the mark".
And the consumer group's head of campaigns, Anna Butterworth, told BBC Five Live there were many loopholes - especially regarding the internet.

Food manufacturers and advertisers were using their own sites "to lure kids in to buy their unhealthy food products", she said.
She added: "There are a lot of loopholes and there's a lot of vagueness about exactly what restrictions are now in place, so it makes it very easy for food manufacturers and advertisers to continue doing what they're doing at the moment."

But Julian Hunt, of the Food and Drink Federation, which represents manufacturers, said it was "staggered" the new rules were being "attacked before they have been given a chance to work".

The Department of Health said it welcomed the new code but would prefer more "consistent" rules for adverts across all media.
It has promised to monitor the impact of the code and restrictions already imposed on broadcasters.

Advertisements for foods high in fat, sugar and salt have been banned by Ofcom during or around TV programmes made for children, or programmes that would particularly appeal to seven to nine year olds, since the start of this month.
Restrictions are due to be extended to children aged up to 15 next year, along with an outright ban on promoting junk food on dedicated children's channels.

'Greater influence'

CAP said there was no need for similar restrictions on ads in non-broadcast media.
A committee spokesman said: "All of the limited evidence that exists for the effect of advertising of food to children relates to TV and not to other media."
He added it was appropriate for broadcasters to face tougher rules because of the greater influence of TV.

Other groups that signed the letter to Ms Flint were the National Heart Forum, National Consumer Council, National Children's Bureau, National Federation of Women's Institutes, Diabetes UK, Sustain and Netmums.

NEW FAVE

The kids have a new favorite show these days. They discovered The Wonder Pets on Nick Jr. I love this show! It's sooo cute! And I love the singspiel format of the show. They have a song that goes: "What's gonna work, Team work!". Here's more about it from wikipedia:

Wonder Pets is an American animated children's television series. It debuted on March 3, 2006, on the Nick Jr. block of the Nickelodeon cable television network.
The show's main characters are three elementary school classroom pets — Linny the Guinea Pig, Turtle Tuck, and Ming-Ming Duckling. They are presented as a trio of heroes who rescue baby animals as they demonstrate the benefits of teamwork.

The animation style used to create Wonder Pets is called "photo-puppetry", and was created for the series to allow animators to manipulate photographs of real animals. It also uses drawn objects (not characters), so the total presentation could be considered animated mixed-media.
The dialogue is almost entirely singing, so the show has been called an operetta or a singspiel. A 10-member live orchestra performs each episode, sometimes including other instrumentalists skilled in music from the region to which the pets are travelling during the episode. Completing each episode takes 33 weeks from script to final delivery.

Here's one of their songs:

Wonder Pets! Wonder Pets! We're on our way,
To help a baby [featured animal], and save the day.
(Ming-Ming:) We're not too big,
(Tuck:) And we're not too tough,
(All:) But when we work together we've got the right stuff!
Goooooooo Wonder Pets! Yaaaaaaayyyyyyy!

PLAYTIME

DEVELOPING MOTOR SKILLS

http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/toddler/toddlerdevelopment/11549.html

How to help your toddler develop fine motor skills

When it comes to using gross motor skills — things like walking, jumping, and running — your little dynamo probably doesn't need much encouragement. But it's equally important that she work on her fine motor skills — small, precise thumb, finger, hand, and wrist movements. That's because they support a host of other vital physical and mental skills. "Stacking blocks, for instance, involves not just picking up the blocks, but knowing what to do with them and planning out the action," says Gay Girolami, a physical therapist and executive director of the Pathways Awareness Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on physical development in Chicago.

How can you encourage your child's fine motor skills? As any parent who's ever heard "Me do it!" knows, toddlers don't need much prodding to try new things. Of course, your child won't be able to do everything she wants to right away. But with encouragement, support, and lots of time to learn, she might surprise you. So back off and let her try her hand at simple tasks, like getting dressed (she can start looping large buttons through buttonholes) and making breakfast (hand her a spatula, a slice of toast, and a jar of jam, and let her get busy). Remember, too, that variety is the spice of life, so mix things up once in a while. The activities below, for instance, will build on your child's fine motor skills and help foster new ones.

Filling Up and Dumping Out
As your child's daily wake of destruction has made perfectly clear, emptying a container requires a lot less precision than filling one. This is one of the first fine motor feats your toddler will master — and once she does, she's likely to repeat it with a vengeance. As exasperating as it may be come cleanup time, this dumping is an important cognitive exercise, too: Your child is beginning to realize that one object, like a bucket, can hold another object, like a load of dirt. Once this dawns on her, she'll delight in establishing that the dirt can also be emptied out.

Dressing and Undressing
Ten minutes ago you dressed your toddler in his Sunday best. Now that you're ready to head out, he's stark naked again! Putting things on and taking them off is a toddler delight. But your child isn't doing it to tax your patience. And dressing and undressing — himself or a toy — provides a host of opportunities for him to practice his finger and hand coordination.

Help your child out by creating as many chances for success as possible. Tiny doll clothes are too intricate for him and will only lead to tears, but big capes or ponchos for his teddy bears will be manageable (you can cut these out of felt). Felt boards with people shapes and changeable outfits are perfect, too, since they let toddlers indulge their fashion sense (and sorting skills) without being too challenging. Reusable stickers can also fascinate, though very small ones are tough for little fingers to manage. If your toddler especially enjoys dressing himself, provide him with a big box of dress-up clothes that are easy to manage — dad's old coat and shoes, your old scarves, and hats galore.When it comes to dressing himself for the day, your toddler will do best with pants that have elastic waists, pull-on tops, and Velcro-fastening shoes to minimize morning struggles. Be sure to introduce new challenges — a single large button or a big snap — one at a time.

Stacking, Sorting, Stringing
From carefully balancing one block on top of another to placing colored rings on a pole, stacking (and knocking down, of course) is a toddler tradition. It's also a fantastic way for your child to use her ever-more-nimble fingers and to work on her sorting and building skills. To make these architectural pursuits even more intriguing, let your child experiment with blocks of different sizes, shapes, and colors, and offer a variety of other materials for building and manipulating. Though ABCs and 1-2-3s games are a ways off, your toddler can sort refrigerator alphabet magnets by color or size. Or introduce her to bead stringing with plastic snap-together beads. Once she's mastered those, offer her a thick shoelace and a piece of felt with holes cut in it or a sturdy string and big wooden beads — before you know it, she'll be making edible jewelry (colored pasta shapes or fruit rings are perfect for this).

Poking and Pinching
Toddlers are sensualists above all else — they love to smell, taste, and touch. If you give your child plenty of fun-to-feel materials to keep her little hands busy, she'll have a great time developing their strength and agility.Non-toxic modeling clay invites hand and finger movement as your child rolls, shapes, punches, and molds the material to her liking. A few simple tools, such as a lightweight rolling pin and some plastic cookie cutters, stretch this activity out longer. If your toddler seems reluctant, try a few different products — she may not like the smell of one or the feel of another. And the softer the dough, the easier it is for small hands to shape. Real edible dough is, of course, the ultimate treat, so when you bake, give her some leftover dough to shape into her own "pie" and cook it with yours. (If baking isn't something you have much chance to do, check out the frozen dough in the freezer section of your grocery store.) And finally, don't forget "gak," the gooey preschool favorite made from equal parts white glue and water (often colored with food coloring), which kids just love to squish and squeeze.

Outside (or in the basement, if you have a big one), a mud pie kitchen or a sandcastle construction zone creates opportunities to use those same manipulative skills. As your toddler molds a tower and carefully tops it with a feather, she won't even realize she's honing her fine motor skills — but you will!

DRAWING AND SCRIBBLING

Since Ethan is so into art, I decided to read more about it. I found a very helpful article...

http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/toddler/toddlerdevelopment/12573.html

DRAWING AND SCRIBBLING

Sometime between the ages of 12 and 18 months, your toddler will probably attempt to "write" by making marks on paper, and sometime between 18 and 24 months she may surprise you by drawing vertical and horizontal lines and perhaps a circle. Applaud these early doodles, which encourage a whole raft of new abilities: Drawing with a crayon involves fine motor skills such as grasping and holding, for instance, as well as boosting your child's visual acumen and tapping her imagination.

Set up your budding artist with big sheets of thick paper taped to the table — after all, nothing inhibits creativity like a dismayed shriek from Mom when the crayon slides onto the tablecloth or rips through thin newsprint. Thick, sturdy crayons or washable pens in a few primary colors (so as not to overwhelm) are a good choice. If your toddler isn't interested, offer some alternatives: chunky sidewalk chalk to use outdoors, paper pinned to an easel instead of a flat surface, or soap crayons in the tub might pique her interest.

And don't forget finger-painting. While learning how to hold and manipulate an implement is important, finger-painting gives your toddler's fine motor skills and creativity a workout, too. If she's tired of paints, try printing. Hand- and footprints on paper makes great gift wrap. Or tap into her interest in nature and brush leaves, acorns, carrot-tops, or flower petals with paint to use as homemade stamps. For a special treat, let her finger-paint with pudding or brightly hued fruit juice — she'll exercise her motor skills and will have fun licking her fingers.

REVIEWING THE SOLAR SYSTEM

I am reposting this (from my other blog "our cozy nook"):

Last night and today the boys and I just made some crafts. Since Nikki is really into the solar system and already knows about the planets, their relative sizes and colors, I decided to make a new set of planets for him and add additional facts for each planet. So last night we were able to do a lot of cutting and pasting and this is what we came up with so far... tada!

.
.

.
.

.

.
.

.

We used old magazines to provide the colors of the planets (after verifying from the internet of course) and I was happy with the result. The scale is not exact though but at least Nikki will know which planet is bigger than which. I was happy with the activity because not only did it teach the boys about science and astronomy, but it also taught them how to cut (with much difficulty, I might add) and paste, how to work together, how to recycle (I didn't want them to use colored papers because we have many magazines lying around) and that it's okay to make a mess once in a while. We had a lot of fun! Hopefully, in the next few days, we will be able to post the facts under each planet. This is another reason why I like homeschooling. We don't have to rely on schoolbooks that might have information that's not updated. When we did this project, we searched the internet for data and so now, I'm confident that what I'm teaching the boys is right. The first time I taught Nikki the solar system (from Reader's Digest Children's Atlas to the Universe book) Jupiter had 18 satellites. When I checked the internet last night, NASA said Jupiter currently has 63 MOONS!!! Wow!!! So yeah, I'm glad I did research first...Will post a photo of the finished product later... =D

More photos:

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars -

The Inner Planets

.

.

.

.

.

Jupiter -

First of the Outer Planets

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Saturn, Uranus, Neptune - Outer planets as well

Pluto - a dwarf planet

A HEART-WARMING STORY

A wonderful letter from homeschool free stuff...

Why I Homeschool...There's more to learning than you think!

I struggled over the issue of homeschooling for years. I thought about it, and prayed about it, and thought about it some more. I finally decided two years ago that after my children finished that year in public school, we were going to give it a try. My children now are 11, 8, and 4.

Our first year, which would have been last year was at times rewarding, hard, easy, amazing, and not so amazing. I learned a lot about my kids and myself last year. For some reason though, I felt so compelled to follow the public school setting. You know, the same schedule each day, and every day. I felt that all of the material had to be covered by the end of the year. I was so overwhelmed and just didn't have it together. Now don't get me wrong, it was still rewarding, and I have always loved being home with my children.

This year however, I decided to do things differently. I decided to not stress over whether or not everything got completed for everyone each day. I realized that last year, I had missed out on a lot of opportunities to answer important questions from my children. Whenever they asked a question that didn't pertain to our lesson I would tell them that we would talk about it later. Then of course I would forget. I missed so many opportunities last year to talk to my children. For that matter, I guess public school would have been no different.

This year has been wonderful. Obviously we're not always happy and bouncing off the walls, but we have had a great year. The struggles haven't been so bad. I have learned so much more about my kids. When my daughter and I are doing math and she wants me to explain to her about how people and animals reproduce, (thanks to her guinea pig who just had a baby. She's only eight, thought I would have more time to have to talk about this subject.) , who cares about the math! When my son is doing language and decides that he wants to learn more about the creation of the earth, well then forget the language. I have realized this year that there is so much more to learning than just textbooks. I have been able this year to teach so much more "eternal learning" than just "school stuff". These are opportunities that I would have missed out on had they been in public school. I wouldn't trade my homeschooling experiences for the world! What a privilege to be able to "raise and teach" our children ourselves. Our society has definitely lost touch with this; being seen as a duty or chore and not the privilege that God intended it to be.

-Christa E. Wilkinson-

DOODLING

Ethan loves to doodle. He has 2 notebooks already filled with all his little drawings and doodles. I think he has an artistic streak in him. He also loves to paint. Hopefully when he is bigger he could go to art class...

Nikki is behind Ethan, at the computer table. He is playing a game at his current favorite site, addictinggames.com.

WHY I LIKE THE ECLECTIC APPROACH

This is very much similar to the eclectic homeschooling article I had before but it's still nice to remind myself why I am getting into this...

http://homeschooling.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&sdn=homeschooling&cdn=education&tm=94&gps=120_5_1020_572&f=11&tt=14&bt=1&bts=1&zu=http%3A//www.educationalfreedom.com/heart/pages/eclectic.html



excerpts from THE ECLECTIC HOMESCHOOLER

An Eclectic homeschooler may like the concept, adapted from the Unschooling method, that education should be "child oriented." He will possibly draw from the Classical approach by familiarizing his child, through his own method, with grammar, logic, and rhetoric. The Eclectic homeschooler may utilize unit studies to his own degree their maximum effectiveness, using them to help his child choose what will be his vocation or occupation in life. He probably will seek out "living books," like Charlotte Mason suggested, though choosing only the classics that he deems worthy and appealing to him and his family. The Eclectic approach also can include developing moral character, with some choosing to do so through a Christian outlook and a Biblical worldview, like the principle Approach preaches. Eclectic homeschoolers may choose the approach of the Relaxed homeschooler, like Mary Hood, allowing the child to learn at this own pace especially in the child's early years. Then he may opt to speed his child through the rest of "school," like the Swann children were, using a structured textbook curriculum in preparation for college. And finally (at least for now) the modern Eclectic homeschooler may decide to step up to the Computer age, selecting some quality software that is fun and educational.

As for curriculum, an Eclectic homeschooler rarely uses a resource exactly as the instructions indicate. He will take the information and mold it, restructuring it to glean what he needs most from it. And absolutely EVERYTHING can be considered curriculum.

The Eclectic homeschooler considers that there is a time for everything, and it is up to him to consider the "right" time for everything to do with his family.

An Eclectic homeschooler is flexible, knowing that each day of homeschooling brings new challenges and opportunities. And he must always be looking for open doors and what works best for his child.

The Eclectic homeschooler usually recognizes we are all unique individuals, right down to our very own DNA building blocks! Christian Eclectic homeschoolers recognize that each individual has a soul that will live throughout eternity. And as parents, God will hold us accountable for our part in raising His child, so we must consider each child's unique needs.

An Eclectic homeschooler is always searching for something new and better, but at the same time is happy and content with his current choices, knowing that no one and nothing is perfect. We just have to give it our best shot!

An Eclectic homeschooler will gladly share what he knows, but will be the first to tell you that you must find your own way, that no one else's formula will be the best for you. Only you can know what is best for your family. He wants you to have the freedom that homeschooling CAN offer if you have the courage to take it. Are you an Eclectic Homeschooler?

ANOTHER REASON TO LOVE HOMESCHOOLING

When the boys and I went to Japan for 6 months to visit Ruther there, I was very very VERY glad that I was homeschooling the boys. It was a great opportunity for us to be together as a family and I would have hated to let that moment pass. If I was working then, I think I would not have been able to leave Manila or stay long in Japan. If Nikki was going to school, same thing. So it really was a blessing that we made it to Japan and managed to be there for 6 long months. It really was not just a learning experience for the boys, but it was also a learning experience for me and also an opportunity for us to be together as a family in a foreign country. I loved every moment of our stay there. Sure, there were times when we were low on money (living in Japan is very expensive!) but God never neglected us and we were able to handle things on our own. It was really wonderful. I loved how we made new memories, how the boys learned about the seasons (it was our first time to experience autumn and winter), how we learned about the culture, how we tried to speak in Nihongo, how we adapted to their way of living, everything! It was really a great opportunity for us. I was really really sad to leave Japan and Ruther. Even Nikki wants to back there and has been telling his dad about it these past weeks. Because of this, Ruther has suggested that if he does get an extension on his stay there then we could all go back this year. That to me is wonderful news. When we left for Japan last year, I felt like I won the lottery. If we get to go a second time, I would feel like the happiest woman on earth. That's how much those 6 months affected my family. I hope that God grants us another opportunity to be together. After all the good our first visit has brought to us, I am only looking forward to this second visit. So I hope God grants us this and I will keep my fingers crossed...

.....

http://homeschooling.families.com/blog/reasons-i-a-glad-i-homeschool-change-of-scenery

Reasons I am glad I Homeschool: Change of Scenery
by Andrea Hermitt

This week I am blogging from Richmond Virginia. The kids and I are traveling with my husband who works as an IT (Internet Technology) contractor. We wanted some extra time with him and a change of scenery as well. Since he travels quite a bit, homeschooling makes it easier for us to get quality time with him because we are not necessarily tied to a school year calendar.

Sure, the children and I have commitments that do not allow us to travel all of the time. There are arts and academic classes, which are important, and we hate to miss a class. Sometimes my personal workload does not allow it either. However, the classes are flexible, and end and start later than the standard school year. My work (as an artist and web content writer) is quite flexible as well. In addition, the children's' classes ended two weeks ago and we are currently reviewing the year's curriculum before calling the 2006-2007 school year complete. This work can be done from anywhere we please.

My husband's job takes him to lots of places. Some are fun, and some are boring (like where he has been for the last 6 months and still is now), but we still managed to find the children's museum last time we were here, and are thinking about trekking over to Washington DC later this week.

It is great fun to be able to hop in the car with him on some of his business trips or to meet him at the tail end of a conference. In most cases, we just cancel a couple of appointments (though we try to take advantage of appointment-less weeks); grab our laptops, lessons, and go. Doing the same old stuff is a lot more fun when you are doing it from a different place. Homeschooling gives us a special advantage to enjoy a change of scenery often.

SOME DRAWINGS

Nikki draws the solar system... He loves the planets!











Ethan draws a teddy bear (which I think is sooo cute!), a small stool (beside the bear), musical notes which are upside down and a HUGE bowl!

=D

LEADER OR FOLLOWER?

Another refreshing and interesting article. I'm not even going to say if my Nikki and Ethan are leaders or followers because I personally think it's too early to tell. And frankly, I really don't like to label them...

http://www.todaysparent.com/preschool/behaviordevelopment/article.jsp?content=20070312_132034_5536&page=2

FOLLOW THE LEADER
by Randi Chapnik Myers


BORN OR BRED
It can be easy to slap a label on your baby. He came out screaming: leader. He’s so quiet, you wonder if he’s sick: follower, for sure. But is this early behaviour really indicative of what’s to come?

“When your child is young, we’re talking about temperament,” says Chaya Kulkarni, vice president of parent and professional education at Invest in Kids, a national non-profit agency that promotes the healthy development of kids up to age five. Temperament, which contributes to personality, is a child’s natural tendency to respond to the environment as well as the people and things in it. And as any parent with more than one child can attest, temperaments vary greatly. We’ve all seen those risk-taker babies, who explore without waiting for an invitation; then there are those who shrink back, ever cautious of their surroundings.

But temperament is not the sole predictor of how your child will turn out. In fact, Kulkarni warns about labelling kids a leader or follower based on early behaviour patterns. Since personality changes along the way, you don’t want to stifle its natural development. “It’s a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy,” she says. “If you keep telling your child that she is one way, that’s what she’ll believe.”

Through toddlerhood, though, labelling feels unavoidable. As part of socialization, some kids start telling the others what to do. Get two vocal girls in a room, for instance, and you’re almost guaranteed a fight over which game they’re going to play or who’s going to be first. Then in comes the girl who’s happy to follow, and she seems to get along with everyone.

Where does this leadership tendency come from? The experts agree there are a multitude of factors. Environment certainly contributes, as does nature: Maybe your child is growing up in a household with older sibs who boss him around, or is an older and more developed thinker (early-month birthdays give some almost a year on their school-aged peers). In the end, though, it’s how we respond to, or nurture, our kids’ personalities that influences their behaviour as much as, if not more than, the genes they’re born with.

THE GOODS ON BOTH
Chances are, if your son is class clown and your daughter is invited to every birthday bash, you’ll proudly call them leaders. While some leaders are magnetic and outgoing — the types who rally the troops to build a fort or run a race — not all leaders are extroverts, says early childhood development expert Carol Crill Russell, who heads up Invest in Kids’ research team. Even if your child is not the life of the party, his friends may listen when he speaks. These are the emotional leaders. Kids who, like Seth, have a certain quiet confidence that peers are naturally drawn to. Similarly, not all followers are introverts. Just think of those rowdy sports fans, says Crill Russell.

For most of us, leadership has positive connotations: motivation, strength, success. Whether we’re talking about kids or executives, we tend to value those who take charge and we devalue the follower who, by contrast, can appear weak and even lazy.

The fact is there are strong leaders, and strong followers, says Crill Russell. And while their styles may differ, both types may excel at figuring out how to resolve a sticky situation. A good follower who witnesses bullying, for instance, may not jump into the fray like a typical leader, but will help to resolve the problem tactfully — by taking people aside later, or quietly asking an adult for help. In contrast, a poor follower, lacking assertiveness skills, stays back.

TAKE TURNS
All kids follow sometimes. “You want your kids to be able to make conscious decisions to follow people they trust, for the right reasons — admiration, respect — and not for the wrong ones, like peer pressure,” Kulkarni says. To help your child understand the difference, encourage her to consider her feelings. If she’s nervous or feels secretive, for instance, then following along is probably the wrong move. “It is through conversations with our little ones that we help them develop the internal checks they’ll use later in life,” Kulkarni says. Regardless of whether your child tends to lead or follow, the point is to teach her to consider her actions, to be observant and reflective, to stop and think.

We may believe our kids should be leaders all the time, Kulkarni notes, but just like adults, no child can lead in all areas of life. Rather, depending on their particular strengths, they all have the potential to be both leaders and followers, depending on the situation. And that’s just fine. In fact, it is precisely this flexibility that helps kids fit into various social groups. Those team captains may well be more comfortable following along in music class, while the fashion trendsetters may be happy to sit back and watch, instead of star in, the school play.

KNOWING WHEN TO LEAD OR FOLLOW
The strongest leaders know how to follow when the circumstances call for it, says Crill Russell. Instead of forcing their way, these leaders listen to and empathize with the ideas and feelings of group members. So while you should support your child in those areas where she feels comfortable stepping up, you should also teach her to be able to step down at some point.
At the same time, kids gain a world of confidence by taking on the leadership role. If your child is scared to assert himself in groups, help boost his skills at home. Give him small age-appropriate tasks around the house, such as planning the dinner menu or coming up with fun activities on family night.

Teach your child that, by being a leader, she has a wonderful opportunity to be a great peer model for friends and eventually for co-workers. “As a parent, you’re in the ultimate leadership role,” Kulkarni says. “So use it wisely: Acknowledge, discuss and respect the positions of all members of your family whenever you’re making decisions, and your kids will learn to do the same.”

NIKKI AND ETHAN

PIANO-PLAYING

Nikki has learned a song on the piano. I taught him Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and he got it immediately! In fact, I taught it to him only once! This is so great! I knew that Nikki's personality fit perfectly with piano-playing. The good thing about this piece is that the melody could be played for other songs as well like the ABC song and Baa Baa Black Sheep. So it's wonderful that we can already sing 3 songs using this one piece. I've been trying to teach him Happy Birthday but we got as far as the second line. I'm not worried. When he's ready to learn he'll learn it fast. For now, I'm just happy that he goes to the piano, sits and plays it on his own. I hope he'll love the piano when he is bigger... Already he likes to listen to classical music. His favorite? Spring by Antonio Vivaldi. I hope that's a good sign...

EARLY MOTHER'S DAY IDEAS

I know it's to early but I've been browsing the internet for some Mother's Day crafts for the boys. Knowing my boys, it will take several days for a craft to finish, plus, I have to go buy materials for it (all my craft materials are in Manila). I think I am going to pick a craft from enchantedlearning.com. I find their crafts do-able and kid-friendly. So, hopefully, next week, we will be on our way to making some mother's day crafts for my mom and aunts. =D


http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/mothersday/

OUR WEEKLY READ

These are the books we are reading this week. All the Dr. Seuss books were first owned by my siblings and me. Yes, these books are ancient... =D Nikki loves these books and I love reading these to him and Ethan because the stories are fun and they are exposed to a lot of rhyming words. Already, Nikki knows many rhyming words and I am happy about that. Ethan loves the illustrations, which is understandable considering his artistic nature.

The Blue's Clues book was given to the boys by my aunt. Her kids are bigger than the boys and maybe they are not too fond of these preschool books any more so I am just as happy to receive this.

SPATIAL SKILLS

I think this is another interesting article...


Fostering Your Child's Spatial Skills
Preschoolers' spatial skills can vary a great deal -- though boys usually have a slight edge over girls. Here, some ways to boost your child's natural capabilities.
By Irene Daria


Why Spatial Skills Matter
Edith and Lukas are fraternal twins. They grew up in the same home, attended the same preschool, and were given the opportunity to play with the same toys.

Yet, from the time they were 3, their habits of play conformed to classic gender stereotypes. "Lukas loved blocks, and he was amazing at puzzles," says his mom, Nancy Howell, of New York City. "Edith had a lot of trouble with puzzles and had no interest in blocks. She preferred drawing, being read to, or playing pretend."

Like Lukas, many preschool boys tend to be better than girls at assembling three-dimensional toys, such as block towers or railroad tracks. And they often have a better sense of direction: which way to turn to get to the grocery store, for example.

Studies have long shown that by the time children reach adolescence, boys tend to outperform girls on tests of spatial abilities. But until recently, researchers were uncertain how early this difference manifests itself. Then in 1999, a University of Chicago study found that by the age of 4 1/2, boys have a slight edge over girls in their understanding of spatial relationships. In the study, children were asked to look at a page with two shapes and then point at the picture of what those shapes would look like if they were rotated. This task is too difficult for most children younger than 4 1/2. However, says Susan Levine, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at the University of Chicago and the study's lead author, "I believe if you had an easier task, you could document a sex difference earlier."

The source of boys' superior spatial skills may be the very hormone that makes them boys -- testosterone. Some researchers believe that this occurs because testosterone makes boys more active. "Their need for activity gets boys moving and interacting with the environment, learning about its three-dimensional aspects," says Karl Pribram, M.D., director of the Center for Brain Research and Informational Sciences at Radford University, in Radford, Virginia. (It's important to note that although boys outperform girls on average, many girls also score high on tests of spatial skills.)

Why do spatial skills matter so much? For starters, they help children do well in math and science. A 1997 study at Boston College found a link between boys' greater spatial skills and the fact that top male students do better than top female students on math SATs. Spatial skills also influence career choices. A child with strong spatial skills will be more likely to pick a career such as engineering, architecture, or aviation. And these skills are important in everyday life -- they help you read a map and find your car in a crowded parking lot.

The following activities can easily be incorporated into your daily routine. Each helps improve a child's sense of location and direction.


Boosting Spatial Skills
Here are some easy and fun activities that will help preschoolers -- boys and girls alike -- develop these crucial abilities.

Blocks
Basic free play with blocks helps sharpen spatial skills because it lets kids become familiar with and create three-dimensional structures, says Janet Hyde, Ph.D., a professor of psychology and women's studies at the University of Wisconsin, in Madison. If you want to be a bit more systematic, make a simple design on paper. Draw a stack of blocks of different colors or shapes, for example, and then urge your child to copy that design with her blocks.

Paper-Folding Activities
Have your child manipulate paper in various ways to form new shapes: She can try doing simple origami, making a hat out of construction paper, or folding a square piece of paper, and then cutting out various shapes along the folded edge to create snowflakes. "This develops spatial abilities because it helps children internally plan the physical transformation they're going to create," says Nora Newcombe, Ph.D., a psychologist at Temple University, in Philadelphia.

Jigsaw Puzzles
"These help develop spatial skills because kids have to analyze the shape in order to predict if it will fit," says Dr. Newcombe, who has conducted studies on the development of spatial skills in young children. Older preschoolers will mentally rotate the puzzle pieces to figure out where they go.

Legos
Again, free play is great, but as with blocks, helping your child follow directions from a diagram to a three-dimensional form promotes even better development of spatial skills.
Musical InstrumentsA 1997 study at the University of California at Irvine found that preschoolers who took piano lessons scored 34 percent higher in spatial-reasoning skills than children who were given computer or singing les-sons. This doesn't mean your preschooler needs music lessons -- teaching him to tap out a tune on his toy xylophone will help him develop the same skills.

Games
Any card, board, or computer games that is roughly modeled on the board game. Concentration helps build spatial skills because players must remember the location of the card or picture they are trying to match. Games involving mazes are also effective, especially if you have your child try to plan the route form one point to another. Sports such as soccer, baseball, and football, which require a child to aim a ball, are also beneficial, Dr. Hyde adds.

BLOWING BUBBLES

We did this fun activity one afternoon. Nikki had a lot of fun running after the bubbles and trying his best to blow on his own while I took photos. Ethan just waited for the bubbles so he could chase them as well but after a while he got bored so he just played with the pups...

Nikki manages to blow a single bubble...

1 bubble

"this bubble is getting away from me!"

Nikki and a bubble... before he burst it. =D

TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES

Teachable Moments
Take advantage of everyday chances to share life lessons with your child.
By Ilisa Cohen


EVERYDAY LESSONS
You probably do so many chores each day that you don't even give them a second thought, but they're actually a great way to help your child discover new things about the world around him. Children learn by show-and-tell. They watch you pay bills, do the dishes, and drive the car, but they probably don't understand how and why you're doing those things unless you tell them. Every place you take your child can easily be transformed into an instant classroom where you can teach him skills that will help make him a self-sufficient, well-rounded person. You just need to seize these teachable moments.

In the Car
You spend lots of time traveling with your kids. Grab their attention with a lesson about the rules of the road, and you might actually help delay the inevitable question, "Are we there yet?"

Little-kid lessons: Talk through each step: buckling your seat belt, using a key to start the car, and putting in gas so the car will go. Explain that it's the law to stop at red lights, slow down at yellow, and go at green so that cars coming from different directions will each have a turn and no one will get hit. Say, "We pull over for ambulances and fire trucks if their sirens are on because that means they need to get to an emergency quickly." Your kids will start to understand why you need to focus on the road when you're driving.

Big-kid concepts: Point out the speed-limit signs, explain why it's important to follow them, and show how to read the speedometer. Let your older child be your copilot (he can learn to read the map and follow driving directions). Teaching kids about streets and landmarks helps them develop a general awareness of their surroundings.

In the Laundry Room
Doing the wash is a great way to involve kids in housework. Teaching your child this chore will also ensure that your future college student won't be sending her dirty laundry home from the dorm.

Little-kid lessons: Help your child practice basic classification skills by sorting whites and colors. Tell her, "When clothes get wet in the washer, sometimes the dye that makes them different colors gets washed off. Since we don't want the dye to make our white clothes red or blue or purple, we keep colored clothes in a separate load." She can also start folding easy items like towels and pillowcases (teach her to match up the corners) and pairing up socks. She'll feel empowered, and she'll also begin to understand how families work together to get things done.

Big-kid concepts: Your older child can measure and pour the detergent, and fold and put away the laundry. You can even begin explaining the different washer and dryer settings so she can eventually complete this chore on her own.

At a Restaurant
A family dinner out is the perfect opportunity to teach table manners and proper public behavior.

Little-kid lessons: Model good restaurant etiquette for your child, and describe your behavior to help make it clear how you expect her to act and why. Tell her you speak softly and sit still so you don't disturb other people, that you chew with your mouth closed and use utensils properly to be polite, and that you say "please" and "thank you" to show your appreciation.

Big-kid concepts: Allow your child to order her own food, which lets her practice speaking to adults. You can also teach her about money by showing her the bill and giving her paper and a pencil to check to see that the total was added up correctly. (She can even do this on a napkin while you're waiting for your order at the pizzeria.)



RUNNING ERRANDS

At the Grocery Store
When you cook a meal, you have to think ahead, follow a plan, and make choices. Let your child help you at the supermarket so he can practice these skills.

Little-kid lessons: Have him draw a shopping list with pictures, or cut out magazine photos of items you usually get and paste them into a notebook he can take with him. Then have him look for them on the shelves as you go through the store. Whenever possible, give him a choice and let him make a decision. ("There are red and green apples. Which do you like better?")

Big-kid concepts: Have your older child write out his own grocery list with foods for his lunch box and snacks. Discuss together what will make your final cut and why. (A rule like "we can't buy anything with sugar as one of the first four ingredients" will get him reading nutrition labels and making healthy decisions.) Have him look through newspapers to clip coupons for items your family usually buys. You can even help him start to budget by letting him spend some of his allowance on a treat you wouldn't usually buy him.

At the Bank
Teach your child about budgeting by talking him through your trip to the ATM or your conversation with the bank teller.

Little-kid lessons: Explain the basics of keeping money in the bank: It's safe there because you know you won't lose it. (When you put -- or "deposit" -- money into a savings account, the bank pays you a little more money -- called "interest" -- for keeping it there. And when you need it, you can take it out -- or "withdraw" it.) Have your child count your bills for you; it will expose him to basic finance concepts.

Big-kid concepts: Narrate the process of writing out a check (show him what you write in each space and explain that the check lets the bank know it's okay to take money out of your account and pay it to the person you've written the check to), balancing a checkbook ("I subtract the amount of the check from my total balance, so I know how much money is left in my account"), filling out a deposit slip ("When someone writes a check to me, this is how I make sure the money gets into my account"), and going through the ATM instructions.

At the Post Office
Sending letters encourages reading and writing. Teaching your child to send thank-you notes for presents is an ideal way to introduce him to the mail system (and reinforce good manners).

Little-kid lessons: Explain that you have to pay money to send a letter, and have him help you pick out stamps, put them on the envelope in the right spot, and put the letter in the mailbox. Even just signing his name on a letter will help him practice handwriting and encourage communication and creativity. Explain that when you put letters in the mailbox, the postal worker takes them to the post office, where they're sorted. Then each one is delivered to the address you wrote on the envelope.

Big-kid concepts: Older children can write letters and address envelopes themselves. You might also use a map to mark where you're sending the letters and teach geography. A pen pal or Flat Stanley Project can inspire literacy and teach social-studies lessons.

http://www.parents.com/parents/story.jhtml?storyid=/templatedata/parents/story/data/1172071407849.xml&catref=prt23&page=2

EXERCISE TIME!

Around the oval...

TAMING TEMPER TANTRUMS

I really hate it when Ethan has a tantrum in public. He screams and sometimes throws his bottle on the floor. I sometimes am at a loss with what to do with this kind of behavior but I know it's his way of expressing himself because he is still not verbally competent. But still, I really don't like it when Ethan puts up a fuss. So, hopefully this article will help me out (and other moms like me out there...)

.....

TAMING TEMPER TANTRUMS


http://parenting.ivillage.com/tp/tpbehavior/0,,6wr6,00.html


Toddlerhood is filled with magical moments. As your child learns to navigate the world, she will delight you with her insights. And chances are, she will also test you when things don't go her way. Particularly when things don't go her way in the middle of a very crowded, public place.

Then, your little angel will show the world how loud she can scream. This is known as a "temper tantrum," and there is a reason that very phrase can make even the most calm parents shudder. Here, the parents of Parent Soup share their best advice on dealing with the inevitable toddler temper tantrum.

"My daughter is 21 months old and is prone to throwing herself down on the ground and screaming and kicking. I just let her ride it out. I reassure her calmly and quietly that I am there for her verbally, but I let her have her fit. I find that it passes much more quickly than if I react to her. It seems she wants me to have a reaction, so I just don't. She is very strong-willed and knows what she wants and doesn't want. I want to foster that in her, but do not want to reinforce this behavior. Also, if she is having a tantrum because of something I want or do not want her to do, I make sure that I 'win' if it is important. If I give in to her, she will learn that this unacceptable behavior will help her get her way whenever and wherever she wants."

"I have a two-year-old daughter who has terrible tantrums. I just let her be when she exhibits this behavior. When she is finished, she comes up to me and says, 'I'm done now Mommy!' and gives me a big hug."

"When my now three-year-old was two and had started his temper tantrums, I took him to the tantrum corner. Then I encouraged it. I told him to wait until I had left the room then he could start. I reminded him not to forget to stomp his feet. Essentially I was condoning it and that took all the fun out of it and he stopped. I would say he had about three and then he didn't do it anymore because he wasn't getting anything out of it. He was getting a sore throat and nobody responded to it."

"My oldest two didn't have temper tantrums, but my youngest is. If we do not hold her or let her have her way, she will either sit down where she is and just start crying or she will lie on the floor and start screaming. At home it can be quite funny, but when we're out and she does it, I become quite embarrassed. I don't think my husband realized how bad she can be with her tantrums until today when she did it to him in Walmart."

"When we are at home and my daughter throws a tantrum, I, in general, take her to her room and leave here there until she realizes Mom won't put up with it. When we are in public, she usually gets sat in the cart and continues to scream, with me rushing to get my shopping done so I can get out of there and the child home. But my baby isn't even two yet, and disciplining her for a tantrum she is throwing because she is tired or just wants to be with mommy isn't something I do.

"My son, who is 15 months old, has temper tantrums all the time! I usually just let him have his tantrum. Since we can't communicate what the 'real' problem is, I believe this is the easiest way. I always keep one thing in mind: 'We choose our battles, is this one worth it?'"

AT THE BEACH

We went to the beach last Sunday and the boys had a lot of fun. Nikki learned about crabs, seaweeds, shells, waves, sea snakes, corals and barnacles. Even if the shore was a bit rocky, they still enjoyed the outing.

Nikki loses a slipper... but loves the water still...

Ethan and his pail

throwing rocks into the water...

a sea snake

still at it...