Saying bye to Ready Steady Go Kids!

This Sunday will be the last Sunday we are going for the multi-sports class in RSGK AMK.

Yup, you read right, we are not continuing with them. Actually when we decided not to continue mid of the term, I was 100% sure about our decision.

But the last 2 weeks proved me wrong. Issac did benefit from the classes.

1) He likes to ask where is his sports class, and I reply "Ang Mo Kio". So now, he knows he is in AMK when we go to sports class. He would say "we are in Ang Mo Kio".
2) He can now count backwards, from 5 to 1. As Teacher Imran always teach them to wake up their muscles, Teacher Imran would count backwards to 1 and then said "blast off!", the kids will raise their hands up into the sky.
3) He can now make butterfly using his hand and then do a bend and says "butterfly fly slowly to the toes" and then count to 5.
4) He is also very anticipating, excited to wait for the class to start. He usually go to the circle time on his own while his peers' parents stay with them.
5) He can take instructions much better now compared to when he first started the class.
6) He learnt T-ball, cricket, golf, soccer, athletics, basketball in 1 term!

On why we decided not to continue:

1) we thought bringing him to nature, water playgrounds, playgrounds, parks will make him equally happy and excited nonetheless (without paying anything)
2) we thought the sports class would expose him to more kids his gender, which it does, but there's not much interaction between IZ and the peers as they would be guided by their parents as well as teachers (to make sure they follow the instructions). So this really defeated half of my purpose. (The other half is so to vent his energy on a weekend, but this could be achieved by #1 above, although by doing #1, we will have to actively participate)

And so, I'm not that sure anymore. But I've told IZ that we would be going for a final class this Sunday, and then we'll be going for fun on other Sundays, until his art trial class at the end of Dec. He agreed.

Feel sad to part with Teacher Imran who is a fun guy, Teacher Is (or Iz) who likes IZ alot, and Teacher Siti who started teaching them the last 3 weeks.

Well, I guess all is not the end here. One day, when IZ is old enough to participate in a sports all by himself and his peers, then it would probably be more fun.

Thank you Ready Steady Go Kids for the fun time!

My previous posts on RSGK:
Arranging for trial class
First class

Edited on 11th Dec'13:
We are in heavy consideration to continue with RSGK next term that will start on 12th Jan'14. Why? Coz IZ couldn't stop talking about sports class and what he learnt there. He even did short put well during our holiday in Bali. So, stay tuned on the updates!

Edited on 16th Dec'13:
We decided to continue with RSGK! We are given a 10% discount if we make payment within this week. I'm excited for IZ!

Writing progress..

Well, this is not guided by me, but our helper. They have nothing much to do since it's holiday season, but to play and play. She likes to teach him stuffs. I'm really grateful for that, although I have to keep reminding her not to drill IZ, just let him be if he doesn't feel like doing any of the activities she wants to do with him.

I know, I'm indeed very blessed for having this helper. She's not just our domestic helper, she's a tutor to IZ, a friend to me, my saviour for the past 3 years. I wouldn't be able to work and travel at ease without her in our family.

IZ regards her as family too.

So, here it is, yesterday's writing progress. She's trying to correct his G, S and C.

He's still writing mirror image of G, S and C. Sometimes, I wonder if he is dyslexic. But he has no problem with relating phonic sounds and the letter sounds, and reading out the letters loudly. He only has some difficulty writing the 3 letters above.

He can recognise his own names now (can cite and can spell out as well as write his first name), being able to distinguish clearly, the correct spelling of his name ISSAC, compared to ISAAC. (I was very proud when he could do that)

I believe we have to monitor further if he needs some sort of intervention.. or probably just more time is needed. I shall remember not to rush him...

Can you believe this is done by a 3yo? :-)

PS: Another thing that triggered my concern is if you ask IZ "how old are you", he'll reply "I'm fine, thank you". As if you asked him "how are you?". Sometimes vice versa "how are you?" he'll reply "I'm 3!".

Readings on dyslexia:
1) http://www.dyslexia.com/library/symptoms.htm
2) http://www.medicinenet.com/dyslexia/page2.htm
3) http://www.ncld.org/types-learning-disabilities/dyslexia/what-is-dyslexia

1 week to 3yo..

I bought this set from Jann phonics for some time.. Hmm before he was even 2yo.

This is the 3rd attempt. 

First 2 attempts were disasters although he knew all the alphabets then. He was not interested in making up the words. And made a mess out of the alphabets. I concluded that he was not ready.

Last night I tried my luck again, taking it out with the stack of storybooks I intended to read. He saw and asked to do it after our reading.

I have to say I was impressed. While I may not remember how to do phonics correctly, at least I was able to read the phonics and he managed to find the letters. He didn't mess with the letters and he asked to complete the whole piece!

And tadah!

He did his first sheet today! 

Searching for the letter

Putting the letter onto the board

Spell it out loud

Good start to spelling!

The start of the long holiday...

The dreaded almost 2 months school holiday is here!

As faced by many parents, IZ wakes up as early as 7am these days since the holiday has started. Just do not understand how their brain is wired, we had to dig him out of bed if it was a school day, but he was on automatic biological clock when it isn't.

This morning, he wanted to do crayons. He asked for white crayon and told me "egg is white". But he didn't get any trace on the white paper. Then he came to me and asked me for black paper. I told him I do not have black, I have brown. He took the brown paper, and immediately sat on the floor to try with his white crayon. Satisfied that the white crayon was then visible on the paper did he nod and smiled and went back to the desk.

Busy scribbling



I tried asking what he wanted to write, but he didn't want to answer me - this is the first time he included some alphabets in his drawing

We attended a party on weekend. The mother provided the kiddos with playdough set. IZ sat there for some time playing playdough.

He then asks for playdough every night and could spend a good 2.5 hours for the past 2 nights.

If you notice, he only has dark blue colour playdough. I DIY-ed the playdough some time ago, and they are in good conditions although he has been playing with it rather often. I'm too lazy to make other colours though the recipe is simple. And I really dread IZ mixing all the colours together just like what he has done to the good expensive playdoh. The playdohs get dry and crack easily after time too.

If you are looking at making your own, please note that you can modify the recipe a little by adding colorant when you are done cooking. I dumped the blue colorant just according to the recipe and got it too dark for my liking, but thankfully IZ was not disturbed by the ugly colour at all.

What's best.. they are edible **wink**

He was painting "monster"



Flower for me - using my trophy



Sand time!

In preparation for his birthday...

As we embraced the arrival of November, I was very excited. The last 2 months of the year have always been my favorite. They are months of CELEBRATION as there will be birthday parties, Christmas party to attend.

In less than a month, IZ will turn 3. Just like last year, we'll be having a mini party at home, inviting only closest friends of both him and I. I've just ordered his birthday cake. The theme this year would be Humpty Dumpty. The happy thing is, he's no longer allergic to eggs, so this year, I have plenty of choices!

This would be my first attempt to fix a theme for his birthday.

For the past 2 birthdays, as I personally did not think he was aware of themes, we chose blue colour for his 1st birthday, and clock for his 2nd - the so-called theme applicable to only the cake! Hahaha!



Chocholate chip walnut cake from Coffeebean



Celebrated 1st birthday in With A Pinch Of Salt

 


Eggless clock cake from Delcie and Cupcakes from Sweetest Moments



Celebrating with friends at home

I'm looking forward to his happy face when he sees the Humpty Dumpty cake.

Scissor Cutting @ almost 35 months

On and off, IZ would ask to "play" with a pair of scissors. Well, I do let him "play" with them, but I watched him really closely and have been telling him consistently that playing with scissors are dangerous and that he can only use it to cut papers.

For months, he has been using both hands to open and close the scissors to cut. He refused guidance, so I would tell him how to cut properly and then let him be. He would ask me to hold the piece of paper or dough strip he wanted to cut and then cut roughly.



Using both hands to cut

 Just 2 weeks ago, he was still struggling with 2 hands.. this week, he surprised me.

He changed to holding it inward. He still refused help. But when my helper corrected him that he should hold it properly, he insisted I taught him this way.

Holding inward

 This week, he finally got it. I believe he learnt a fair bit in school, it looks easy on him.



Cutting it almost properly - well done son!

The whole night he played cutting and pasting.

Now, I read the following, that proper scissors cutting is good..

Why?


Because, correctly done, it provides the child with lots of practice in using the tripod fingers together – ie the thumb, forefinger and middle finger. Have a look at this pic of a mature pencil grip and you can see how these tripod fingers are working well together to control the pencil.
Scissor cutting, with a proper scissor grasp, will give these fingers lots of practice in working together, and will strengthen your child’s hand muscles. This will help to improve fine motor skills and to develop the correct pencil grasp for good handwriting.

I shall wait for the day he's willing to change his pencil grasp..

Meanwhile, I'm going to print some cutting skills print for him to polish his new found skill!

Train in a flower

Random post @ 33months

26th Sep'13: Pretended to be Snow White (you read right)




20th Sep'13: Pretended to be a doctor: checking grandma's heartbeat



Taking her temperature



And she needed an injection



18th Sep'13: Eve of Mid-Autumn Festival, he said Happy Birthday to Me!



17th Sep'13: Having fun with stickers from classmate's goodie bag!

12th Sep'13: Yummy durian in KL!



11th Sep'13: Very hardworking at the piano - as if he was reading a story



With cousin Sabrina in KL

Super Fun!

Just a quick note to jot down how I am enjoying the make-believe stage with IZ..

He would be eating his dinner and shoved at me "mommy, I give you ice cream" (obviously with his empty hand)..

And I pretended I licked the ice cream...

Then he shoved once more, "mommy, can you open the lollipop for me?"

And I would pretend to tear the packaging and passed the lollipop to him..

And then he would pretend to lick..

It's a SUPER FUN STAGE!

Ready Steady Go Kids @AMK

As mentioned in my previous post, hubby brought IZ for a free trial with Ready Steady Go Kids at AMK. He told me (while I was enjoying myself at Melbourne) that IZ enjoyed himself, and he completed obstacle course, as well as learnt rugby. So we discussed and decided to sign on for a term.

And so I went with them yesterday.

I like the way the school replies to my mail, promptly. At times, they will also send sms to tell me they have sent an email. Also the flexibility of maximum 2 make-up class a term, excluding MC and exceptional cases.

It was really interesting how the class intructors led them on warming up and then introducing T-ball to them. There was another kid in the class, just like last Sunday. But we were told that this class will merge with earlier slot from Term 4 onwards.

I saw IZ enjoyed himself, and saw how his gross motor skills are actually not so good. Haha!

I really had fun watching him in the class. We shall see what comes out of it in the end. Hopefully, good sportsmanship. If you ask IZ now, what he would do if his friend falls down, he would tell you "help".. and ask "are you ok?" :-)

PS: In Term 4, IZ will be able to learn football, basketball, golf, cricket and athletics!

Music Trial in Seimpi @Hougang

Although I do not encourage competitiveness in enrichment, I do think our children should be exposed to various activities when they are young, and see if they have passion and interest in it.

I have been waiting impatiently to let IZ goes to multi-sports and art class - in my various posts.

To cut story short, there was new slot for weekend class in Seimpi for music. Then, I got a slot for trial for multi-sports! How lucky!

We went for music trial on Sunday. It was not our first experience with Seimpi, I've brought IZ to their classes when he was 1 year plus. I stopped then when he couldn't sit still and just kept playing with the keyboards in the room. And he didn't want to pay attention to the teacher unless if she sang new song. Then, he could mimick teacher's actions although his back was facing the teacher. So, I pulled out.

This time, I'm still a little bias, coz I would love it if he could learn music, so that I have a reason to buy piano at home?! Hahaha!

Anyway, there was only 1 permanent studen in the class, with 2 children (including IZ) attending trial. While I still believe in Seimpi's method of teaching, I strongly believe the kids will have strong foundation in music, I found the teacher not as interesting. Well, just say IZ could action Humpty Dumpty better and more interestingly than her.

IZ remembers what was taught in the class, but I'm hesitant. I can't foresee IZ paying attention to this lady teacher after say, 3 lessons? or 2 maybe.. **shrug**..

So I asked the front desk staff if they had other weekend classes for the same age group (3-4 yo), he said there was one, but it's on Sat 3-4pm. That shucks.. coz that's IZ's naptime. I'm not willing to risk a cranky child to the music class. The plus point is, it'll be taught by a male teacher who appeared on papers before.

Anyway, I guess it just not meant to be.

This coming Sunday, while I'll be away, hubby will bring IZ to multi-sport class in Ready Steady Go Kids in AMK branch. They were very responsive when I enquire, and the trial will be FOC, the timing is about right, 11.30am-12.15pm. So, why not? We shall see if he likes it...

He has been telling me that he likes sports! I just hope the class would be interesting. :-)

Potty training @ 32 months ++

Update on potty training at home:

He's been doing very well. From the need to ask him if he needs to urine, to now, he'd say I need to urine! and ran urgently to the bathroom. He's still struggling to take off his pants and underwear before facing the urinal, I think he's doing extremely well with no accidents.. and thenafter he would ask for stickers!

Update on diaper-less school days:

1st day (21 Aug): no accident at all
2nd day (23 Aug): he peed in his pants while helper trying to take off his jacket at the school compound after school
3rd day (26 Aug): he said he needed to urine but was a little too late, they were nowhere near a toilet
4th day (27 Aug): he said he needed to urine but was a little too late, peed in the lift at our block
5th day (28 Aug): he passed urine before he left for home, so, it was accident free!
6th day (which is today, 29 Aug): he wet his pants in the school, and wet his pants again on the way home.. boo hoo!

I'm still proud of him, as he didn't reject the idea of going diaper-less to school. Hope this phase will pass soon.. and then we can start being diapler-less at naps! :-D :-D

Updated on 6th Sep'13:
6th day (29 Aug): brought him to jog in the field, he told me he needed to urine when we were on the way to the playground (after jog). I had nothing with me, so I had to let him pass urine by the road, near a tree. I read a lot of horror stories of how people who pass urine to a tree may "disturb" some spirits, I said "excuse me, excuse me", while he peed. That night, he said "excuse me, excuse me" when he peed in the toilet! WAHAHAHAH!

7th day (30 Aug): The beginning of a good progress :-) :-)
Morning: We brought him to KKH for his lazy eyes check-up. (I may blog about the medical appointment in another post, IF I get to it). Suddenly he told us, he needed to urine. He had his diaper on! But he asked to urine! YEAY! Hubby quickly brought him to pass urine in the toilet. I couldn't be happier.. In fact, really proud and amazed...

Evening: I brought him to BBQ with my friends, when he suddenly said "I want to urine". Wow.. again, I was so proud of him, coz he HAD his diaper on! I think that's the best thing that's happening!

Few days passed, he has no more accidents in school nor home nor on the way home. That's a great start to the daytime potty training..

Up next, we'll try potty training while in day naps.. or maybe night sleep.. let's see how it goes.. I do have a feeling he'll be potty trained before he turns 3.. :-)

Updated on 16th Sep'13 (33 months+):

Subsequently from the above chain of events, we managed to stay dry in the day, except during naptime, he would wear a diaper. So I would say it took him 7 days to be fully trained while he's awake.

We took a long journey bus to KL last week, and he managed to keep the diaper (put on in case I couldn't bring him to toilet during the journey) dry throughout too, although he napped for about 3 hours. I'm really very proud of his progress.

Some says it's better to train them one shot, ie. day and night time. But I prefer to take things slowly, as the last thing I want is him regressing, or him detest diaperless etc.

So now, we are happy as it is, that he could ask to pass urine when he's awake. No accidents anymore.

He's showing some progress during daytime nap too. He hasn't wet his diaper for the last few days, but we still put on diaper for him, of course. :-)

I'll wait for his cue for next step.

Random pics on a random day

I drafted a long post this morning but I forgot to save before I closed my browser. And I thought Blogger does auto-saving! Gosh!

Now that I have to start writing again, the feeling is not the same anymore.

Anyway, here's random pics for a random day..

Taken when he was 26 days old

When he is 32 months+

Entirely his work - built a wall for Humpty Dumpty

Look at the happiness

Chinese anyone?

I was talking to a friend about my concern over IZ's non-existent Chinese speaking. And so I thought I should at least try to speak some with him at home, while I figure what I'm gonna do in the near future.

And so I tried speaking Chinese to him when we went for a jog 2 days ago. He was completely immersed in Chinese MODE:

We bumped into an uncle:

Uncle: what a good start!

Me: call uncle

IZ: Uncle, Ni hao!!

(Whoa! My son speaks Chinese!)

Thought it was a good chance to speak more Chinese with him..

Bla bla bla BLA BLA BLA

Me: (in Chinese of coz) and now we are going to.. (Thinking hard what is playground in Chinese..)

IZ: (waited patiently)

Me: (still in Chinese) and now we are going to.. Hmmmm..

IZ: you le chang!

WHOA! Do I still try? 

All about Princess

If you remember he asked about the Princess figurine here. He was all interested in Princessy and fairy tales.

He has been "reading" the same page of this fairy tale storybook. He wants the exact page 169 story which is Cinderella. He would fuss if anyone closes his book. Even to sleep...

Activities on 18th Aug'13

He woke up very early yesterday, was playing coins and coin banks by himself. So I brought out my treasure bag. He excitedly exclaimed "learn alphabet!".

And so we did i, j and k. As you can see, I was not prepared for the j. I've not gotten what's for the feely letter!

Glue & Paste the kettle

Not bad right? :-)

Glue & Paste activity from Kumon workbook - it's getting more challenging!

And then he asked to do colouring, so I passed to him the Kumon workbook we've not touched for very long. The objective is to fill the white circle with the colour that blends with the area, so that the panda looks like the one in the example on top right corner.

Daddy: the panda is black and white

IZ looked not convinced, but he coloured black for a while.. then changed his mind.

IZ: but I want blue panda...

...

"and orange!"

Then IZ says, "see, it's beautiful!"

Self-feeding headache..

I'm writing this post while I'm fuming actually.

I do not really know what age is appropriate for kids to learn how to self-feed as I do not want to stress myself of the milestone I'll find at the click of a SEARCH button, but I do really think at 32 months going 33 months, IZ ought to know how to self-feed. When I say self-feed, it reads, eating meals out of spoon and fork and stuff the spoonful of rice into his mouth and swallow, and so till the food disappear from the bowl/plate.

It's not that he could not self-feed for survival, but if it's up to him, he would never feed himself, except to finger foods, read food that you could eat using your fingers. Our helper has pampered him since young, feeding him every single meal. And now, to get him to self-feed, the food would get cold before he even get to reach for the spoon. Or there would be incidents before he could even feed himself, coz he would be busy playing with either the food or the utensils.

So, why do I hurry him to learn how to self-feed?

First of all, it would be great, if there's extra pair of hands to eat my own food, and not busy trying to feed or make him feed himself.

Secondly, I really think his motor skills are not very good in feeding, or aiming per say. I want him to practise on his motor skills so that he could eat by himself, write better etc.

Now I sound like hurrying him to grow, I'm not comparing him with milestones, I just want him to eat normally.... desperately..

And it's not helping when the elderly at home interfering me teaching my son!

Now, I shall breathe in and out.. and figure what I can do to start all over again..

Perhaps, I can shop for new bowl, utensils and all for the start!

IZ says.. at 32 months

AGAIN? 

He likes us reading to him these days. He would choose books from his bookshelf and asked us to read. 

His favorite would be books on eggs or Humpty Dumpty. He would ask to repeat the story again and again. 

When asked "again?" he said "not again.. ONE MORE TIME" 

How can you say NO? :-D 

I MAKE MY OWN 

We brought him to the beach today, and I was making something out of the sand mould. 

 He demolished it  and said "I make my own". 

 To think this came from my boy. He is growing up fast and furious. 

FIGHTING WITH SPIDER-MAN 

He took the Spider-Man toy and said to his dad "Let's fight.. Spider-Man fighting you" 

And he was all prepared to fight... 

Dad: why would Spider-Man fight with me? I'm a good man.. 

Iz: good man? ... 

Dad: ya, Spider-Man is my friend, I'm a good man! 

Iz: your friend? @-@ 

Hahahahaha! What a bummer..

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE?

Hubby and I were talking about pilots, basically their responsibilities, and of course, how much they are earning etc.. And then I turned to IZ:

Me: Do you want to be a pilot, IZ?

IZ: no!

Me: What do you want to be then?

IZ: IZ!!

To be honest, we couldn't be happier. How many times have we been asked the same question and we answered something else but not ourselves. We cheered at his answer and he was amused.

It was a simple answer, yet we always complicate it, we always wanting to be something else...

Added on 12th Aug'13

QUESTIONS?

Hubby and I noticed IZ likes to reply our answers with a question marks. Yesterday, while I was putting him to sleep, he went to my therapy set-up and chose to bring Princess to nap with him. Then he started asking...

IZ: where's the leg?
Me: covered by the dress
IZ: can open?

Few minutes later..

IZ: why is this white colour?
Me: that's the linen of her dress
IZ: linen
(and I was thinking hard if I gave him a correct answer.. apparently, it's called lining!)

Few minutes later..

IZ: why is the hand blue colour?
Me: that's the gloves my dear..
IZ: gloves?

Before more questions were asked, I put the princess in sleeping position and told him he should sleep like the princess too.. and Zzzzzz he went... 

HAPPY FAMILY

Hubby brought IZ to poop in the toilet, and he dashed out to me later.. "MOMMY!!" he called and giggled and came to me..

Then he went "Daddy and Mommy!!!!" and giggled...

I asked "yes darling, why are you so happy?"

He replied "Yes, I'm happy! Coz we are family!"

Unknowingly, his reply made me smile.. I seldom told him about family being who and who.. and who and who consist of family.. but I was really glad and proud that he could put us up and say family.

And then when we were in the lift going to school today, he pulled my hand and his dad's hand and put them together, smiling...

Painting at 32 months

School re-opened..

Term 3 has just started yesterday. I was happy to know IZ didn't cry, he naturally knocked the door to the classroom and made himself at home. That's my boy.

I know there was a new classmate, one of this blog reader corresponded with me and I get to know yesterday, her girl started in the same class. Isn't that a small world? :-) I hope her girl enjoys going to school as much as IZ and friends.

As usual, when I reached home and asked what he learnt in school that day, he would not reply me, or gave me rubbish answer like Humpty Dumpty etc. Right, teacher taught Humpty Dumpty everyday if you ask him.

Last night, while we were lying down, unwind to sleep, he was in talking mode mood. He suddenly talked to me as if he was an adult. Thinking and answering my questions properly without moving here and there.

I treasure that moment, wish we could talk all night. But I needed to put him to sleep.

He asked that the dad to be in the room together. When I wanted to pat him, he said "don't pat me, daddy pat me".

That's my boy.. my precious boy.