Wrap-up 2014

This year flies especially fast.

Unfortunately, we didn't have time to bring IZ overseas this year due to hectic work schedule for us.

Fortunately, we traveled overseas twice last year, ie. Taiwan and Bali.

Overall, it has been a good year, except for me falling sick so frequently. I start to wonder if it's pure bad luck or there's something I've not been doing right. (for sure, I've not been exercising enough).

As for IZ, he turned 4 earlier this month.

We stopped going to Ready Steady Go Kids, as we thought it's time for IZ to start on something else. We couldn't find a suitable Aikido class, something I really want him to learn, to defend himself when he goes to primary school. Aikido is supposed to be the "safest" martial arts, in my opinion. The good thing about it is, you do not injure your opponent, you dampen their attack, at the same time, taking care of not injuring him/her.

So we settled for swimming. Found a very passionate instructor in Hougang pool. It has been 5 lessons since. There were days IZ were enthu and strived to do the best (kiasuness kicks in when he sees his peer doing well), there are days he slacked (on days he didn't have peer pressure). We like the instructor very much. He is what we defined as "passionate to swim, passionate to teach, passionate to young kids". You can't get any better than this. Swimming class is fun for IZ, and fun for me to watch.

There's a slight problem though. Instructor prefers to have a parent in the pool when the kiddo wander in the water, in case he slips and struggle to stand. He doesn't want them to be traumatised. I am very very very X 1000 times reluctant to be exposed to the SUN! Tasked hubby to do it but he's not doing to my "expectation", grrrr!

And we also stopped going to Heart Studio, as IZ has been chanting "I don't like my art class" for the 1000th times. He also asked me not to pay anymore (coz we told him he had to finish the term as we paid for it). Seeing how he detest the class (although he was very happy IN the class itself), we decided to call it a quit. I felt really sad coz the teacher was really passionate about kids. Another good teacher we found, how lucky!

I looked around for drawing class (as he said he only likes to draw, not painting) and signed him up at Innoart. The teacher is from China, so she speaks strictly Chinese. When I brought IZ to the trial class, I was half-expecting him to give up half way coz of the Chinese speaking environment, but he claimed he loved it and asked me to pay.

So now, he goes to drawing class, and you guessed it, DRAW. More like copying actually but my brother who's studying early childhood said copying cultivate the concentration. Slowly, they can move on to the next phrase. Well, that's a super good deal. Killing few birds with a stone (fulfill his passion for drawing, cultivate concentration, in the meantime polishing his Chinese too!)

As things changed (slightly) for the better...

As I penned down the crazy week here the craziness did not end just there, but one thing I should be grateful, talking to others about IZ's behavior.

And so I pay attention on him, and did what was advised.

I "collaborated" with all the adults in the family that we would ignore him completely when he gets upset and start shouting or yelling or crying. All agreed. We would tell him to calm down and look for us again.

And so we had a chance to do it on Friday night.

He was crying over something when everyone else was already in the room preparing to sleep. And he was wailing on top of his lung in the hall, in the dark. Nobody entertained him, and it stopped within 2 minutes and he came back in as if nothing ever happened.

He woke up at 6.55am on Saturday, so you may have guessed it, no tantrum. He went "wakey wakey daddy, mommy!" Kids do have biological alarm installed in them for weekends don't they?

A friend came for dinner and he behaved superbly. He even followed me to send the friend home. Once in a while, he would speak in a loud voice as if he was shouting, but when reminded, he would try to bring his voice down.

Yesterday, he woke up with a smile. Out of impromptu decision, I drew lines on a piece of A4 paper and brought some stickers for him. I told him that it was really nice to wake up with a smile, and I shall give him a sticker. I told him, for everytime he wakes up with a big smile, I would give him a sticker.

I told him of the day itinerary, sports class, come back to bathe, eat lunch, take a nap and then BBQ. When he asked for playdough before class, I told him we can play after class. He said, but we are going to BBQ after class. Which means telling him the itinerary works to let him know in advance what he is expecting.

The day started really well. Teacher Izz in RSGK said he performed well. I think so too. Before the class I told him again why it is important to listen to his teachers. I told him the teachers would keep him safe, so he would be safe if he listens to them. It helped too that the class was not as crowded as previous weeks and it was less chaotic with 3 teachers around.

One thing I noticed, every Sunday, before the class starts, he would ask to go to the toilet, saying he needed to pass urine. But unable to pee usually. It reminds me of what Ms Fizah says, that he would say he wants to pass urine frequently, but most of the times, he is not able to. I wonder if this is a psychology thing. Something for me to read up on.

We also had some time to spend at the playground after class and he had fun despite the bright sunny day. All was in good mood.

Make believe puppet - Cookie Monster

He followed me to the company's family day and enjoyed playing with the bigger kids (my colleagues' kids). Thankful the kids did not mind such small little boy. Instead they took good care of him in the pool. He was in super good mood when I sent a colleague and her kids home, and kept asking in which location we were. I enjoyed talking to him like to an adult when I was driving.

Coz of the fuss at home, sometimes I forgot how it is when he is behaving well outside.

He amazed me when he noticed one of my colleagues were sitting alone at a corner eating by himself. He asked me why was he alone. I told him I do not know why, why don't he go and ask. He really went and asked why my colleague was all alone. It made me realised he is aware of his surrounding and the people around him.

He has no problem talking to my colleagues in different race.

It was wonderful day, I ended the night with a story about Rapunzel. A story he asked in the day when he got to know one of his friends were going to watch Rapunzel show.

This morning he asked with curious face, on the Rapunzel's story. Yes, IZ and his 100001 WHYs. I get so used to it, I think I have upgraded a level, my patience, that is.

And yes, as of this morning, he's got 2 stickers!
I promised an ice cream treat for every 7 stickers!

RSGK: Tennis!

3rd lesson of our 2nd term with Ready Steady Go Kids!

Past 2 lessons, he learnt football, I didn't take photos.. grrr..

Presenting.. IZ learning TENNIS!

I received compliments from a fellow mom who sent her son to the class, that IZ is very well behaved and can take instructions really well. Well, I think he improved tremendously too.. He doesn't run and play without teacher giving the "Ready Steady GO!".

Well done, my son! All thanks to the consistency from Teacher Imran and Teacher Iz!

For our adventure in RSGK:

Beginning

Temporary Farewell?



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!

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. :-)