J Summary (4Y1M28D) - Homework On Vacation

We started the tradition of doing homework when we were on vacation last year when J was 3 years old, so I was excited to see if it was still possible to continue with this tradition this year. Today was our first evening and without exception, we started the routine of doing homework before retiring to dreamland. For the next few days would be more challenging, with his cousins joining us (as Danish kids don't do homework even on normal days, so doing so during vacation would be totally inconceivable in their mind)!!!

I wasn't ambitious and aimed at just one page. J was very happy to do his homework and we completed 2.5 more pages.

My aim wasn't to teach anything, but to cultivate discipline - and yes, also during vacation, for how can we slacken to nothingness just because we are on vacation?

However, I went a step further and tested coloring work. That was when J had enough, and that was the last page of our homework. That was also fine.

I continued wherever possible during the next few days, when we were with our family. To my pleasant surprise, J was very happy to do his homework. So he did  his homework early in the morning for 10 minutes before the start of day (breakfast, sight-seeing, playing with his cousins, etc.) and for 10 minutes at night just before bed time. Having said that, it was not every single morning and night, and there were days when we did not do so, which was also fine.

One evening I gave slip for homework, but J reminded me that I have forgotten homework and that he should do his homework, before he goes to bed. I asked why. He said that he preferred to be able to  stay up a little later than to have to go to bed. And doing homework allowed him to stay up later :-)

I think secretly, J was proud that he was doing homework and even wanted to inspire his Danish cousins (he did not succeed of course). 

The others may think that I have forced J to do homework, but seeing that he wanted to do homework on his own initiative, someone commented how I managed to sit J down to do homework without whining and complaining (not that they wanted to do the same).

So far, my secret is to go slow on iPad, Nintendo, TV, videos, etc... but I did not forbid it. The rule is that he can play with iPad and Nintendo with others and watch videos with others, just not at home (similar to social drinking that we practice - we drink when we are with others, but we just don't drink at home). That created a natural break or a natural routine that compartmentalize these activities. During this whole vacation, J had watched enough videos with his cousins than the entire summation of the video he watched for a full year last year, but we were on vacation, and so it was fine.

Going against the cultural norm of the society, I am realistic enough to know that I will not succeed for too long, but until that day comes, I will continue on. Hopefully, when that day comes, J would have reached a maturity that he would choose for himself, and it would be a wise balanced choice.

J Summary (4Y1M18D) - Language Development

J loves books. Daddy noticed some mornings, J would take out a book and sit on his own to "read" it, while waiting for Daddy to get ready to bring him to kindergarten. I had to thank my friend, for it, because she encouraged her daughter to have own time and read on her own. I think J got this idea from her. J is not reading the words in the book yet, but he is reading the pictures and trying to associate the story with the words.

During bedtime, Daddy read J a book meant for 8-10 years old, full of text, and not many pictures, which in my opinion was very boring and too difficult for J's age. But Daddy felt that J was ready. To my great surprise, J was very passionate about it, giving his full concentration and demonstrated a good grasp of the whole story, understanding everything and laughing at the right places. J could also follow Danish theatre, and enjoyed Danish theatre very much, since he was 2 years old (which was very unlike Daddy and I). His Danish is on par with his peers, and perhaps ahead in reading among boys his age. But that is not the case for Chinese and English, although he loves Chinese and English books as well, and is selecting a variety of them each evening. Following Daddy's success with the Danish books, I will try to increase the level of difficulty of the Chinese books that I am reading to J.

Because J's Danish is doing very well, the kindergarten teacher stopped providing Danish workshop to J, and gave the slot to weaker children. It is a pity for J, but we are happy with his Danish progress. So now, we will only have to rely on Daddy to continue to read Danish to him.

Montessori Activity: Telling Time

IKEA Dekad Alarm Clock 49 DKK

Age: From 4 years old

Duration: 5-10 minutes

Materials:
1. 1 old-fashion alarm clock
2. 1 tray

Directions:
1. Show your child how to read the current time e.g. 8 o'clock.
2. Turn the alarm clock 8 times, and tell your child that when the hour hand turns 8 times, it will be morning 6 o'clock.
3. Turn on the alarm and tell your child that you have set the alarm to ring in 10 hours' time.

Additional Information:
J is very interested in telling time. With the timer that I use since he was a baby, he understood the concept of 5 minutes to 1 hour, as I set the time to 5 minutes and waited together with him until it rings. However, the timer could not allow us to set it to 10 hours. So J asked for an alarm clock.

IKEA is probably the best place to find a functional clock that shows the numbers clearly, thus good for teaching aid, and if the child breaks it, you will not feel heart pain :-) After a great day at the farm for Økodag, Daddy and I brought J to IKEA and he chose the alarm clock  himself. It is very cheap - 49 DKK (there is a cheaper one that costed only 8 DKK, but it didn't appeal to J).

So it will be our Montessori lesson this evening.

The link belows show many other varied way to teach children time which I will try sometime when J is older around 5 years old:

http://www.wikihow.com/Teach-Kids-to-Tell-Time

We also bought a big clock for teaching him time, which costed only 15 DKK from IKEA:

IKEA Rusch Wall Clock 15 DKK

Montessori Acitivity: Measure & Draw Lines with Ruler

Age: From 4 years old

Activity Duration: 5 - 10 minutes

Objective(s):
1. To provide a systematic way of learning to draw straight line.
2. To provide opportunity for practising pencil grip.

Materials:
1. 1 ruler
2. 1 pencil or pen
3. A few strips of paper
4. 1 tray

Directions:
1. Show your child how to measure an equal space between 2 lines and draw a line with a ruler.

2. Encourage your child to try.

Video Demonstration:

Here is a video demonstration of line drawing:

Additional Information:
I was preparing strips of paper with lines for cutting activity and J was very eager to draw the lines with the ruler. We turned it into a Montessori style line-drawing activity. J (4Y1M8) could do it rather well. He could now hlep me prepare the cutting activity by drawing the lines to be cut.

Montessori Activity: Transferring Rye Grains

Age: From 3 years old

Activity Duration: 5-15 minutes

Preparation Time: 3 minutes

Objective(s):

1. To train the child’s fine motor skills - also pincer grip when picking up spilled rice.
2. To teach the concept of empty and full.

Materials:

1. 1 cup filled with rye grains
2 canister jar
3. 1 spoon
4. 1 Tray

Directions:

1. Demonstrate to your child by pouring rice from the cup on right hand side into the cup on the left hand side.

2. Encourage and let your child try it.

Additional Information:

J (2Y1M5D) tried this activity this morning 10 April 2012, while I was busy preparing his breakfast, but it lasted only 5 minutes, before he started declaring "Mommy, I have finished". And it was not as if he has perfected scooping - there were rye grains spilled on the tray (although he could pour his own milk every morning well without spilling). I would have like him to last longer now at the age of 4. While putting back the tray, he spilled all the grains! That means cleaning!!! Fortunately, the thought of it as another opportunity for practical life activity took away my dread of having to bring the vaccuum cleaner out. I took out the vaccuum cleaner and J and I enjoyed the cleaning up. In fact, he enjoyed using the vaccuum cleaner more than transferring the rye grains.

Boy, it was 2 years ago since I first put out the pouring tray. It brought back fond memories. It has been quite some time since I did practical life activities with J, as I was busy compiling Maths lesson plan and doing them with J. Yesterday, I tried this with more interesting items so that it is not an "old" activity.

I am kinda paranoid. When I am doing academic activities with J such as Maths, writing, etc. I worry that I am too academic-focused, and not giving him a good grounding in practical life skills (one which I did not have growing up in academic-focused Singapore).

When I focus on practical life skills, I worry about not being rigorous enough with the academic pursuit to give him a good head start. Arrrhhhhh.... I am a very insecure mom, be it with child's education or parenting.

A friend of mine told me that perhaps it is too young to start writing practice with J. Sometimes, he is not holding his pencil perfectly correct. At times, he is leaning his head a little too down when writing. It is important to have correct pencil holding when a child is young, my friend told me, which I agree. And posture is very important too. J is leaning towards the worksheet too much, my friend told me.

In times like this, it is comforting to run to Daddy for a second opinion, who is usually more objective and less of a worrier than Mommy. So I asked him every now and then, "Am I pressuring J too much? Am I killing his joy for learning? Am I doing the right thing with these activities to train his concentration and ability to complete a task? etc. etc." Daddy assured me that J seems to be loving his homework, and willing to do it, and that I am not pressuring J at all with the academic work that I am doing. Of course, I tend to see the places he needs to improve - for example, I think he should be more focused and last longer in an activity. Of course, he is still quite a typical boy, compared to girls his age, Daddy reminded me. And I trust Daddy's judgment more than anyone else.

Anyway, I am bringing back practical life activities, and going at a more relaxed pace with the academic (if I can help it)... I don't want to take away J's childhood at such a young age.

Montessori Elementary Maths vs Singapore Maths

Here is an interesting post comparing Montessori Elementary Maths with Singapore Maths (equivalent to primary school in Singapore and grundskole in Denmark):

http://theadventuresofbear.blogspot.dk/2012/04/why-we-are-not-doing-montessori.html

It would be good to have both elements for variety I think, a bit of Montessori for the concrete experience, but incorporating worksheet-based Singapore's Maths for the rigorousness it provides. And ultimately, it depends on the child's inclination and each family's need.

Montessori Activity: Story-Telling From A Suitcase

Age: From 3 years old

Objective(s):
1. To cultivate reading habit

Materials:
1. 1 story book: Little Red Riding Hood
2. Puppets (Little Red Riding Hood, Granny, Wolf, Hunter)
3. 1 small suitcase

Directions:
1. Read the story-book to your child with the puppets.
2. Encourage your child to "read" the book and tell a story using the book.

Additional Information:
I learned this activity from J's kindergarten. J (4Y1M4D) brought home a suitcase with the fairytale of Little Red Riding Hood. He was so excited and wanted Daddy to read to him yesterday evening, but we did not have the chance. This morning, he took the suitcase and took out the book. Then he started telling the story by looking at the picture. Here is a video of J telling the story of Little Red Riding Hood, which he learned from his kindergarten, thanks to his kindergarten's teachers :-)He told the whole story 3 times. I recorded it on the video on the third time.

Montessori Apps

This is a work-in-progress. I am compiling an on-line Montessori Apps for iPad. No, I haven't started them with J yet, and don't have any intention yet until he is through with the physical curriculum with the physical Montessori materials. Montessori materials are very expensive, so for those who do not have the budget nor the space for physical Montessori materials, the apps developed by these developers are ideal. Just search for them in itunes. Some are for free.

Montessori Apps:

Rantek Inc.
Montessorium
L'Escapadou
MontessoriTech
VirtualMontessori
MontessoriOnline
Our Montessori

Numerals & Counters

http://youtu.be/SG7lk2y4ABM

Odd & Even Numbers

http://youtu.be/Hx9LIUMdXX8

Short Bead Stairs

http://youtu.be/W2yc6HWLL9M

Decimal System - Place Value

http://youtu.be/zBNTSz-GXxc

Bead Stairs - 1-100

http://youtu.be/T9kN4PQVfUk

Addition with Golden Beads

http://youtu.be/M6AZ7PnZFek

Stamp Game Addition

http://youtu.be/h01nTysf4j8

Stamp Game Subtraction

http://youtu.be/VFUUL-hMoKE

References:
http://mariamontessori.com/mm/?p=1375
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndnPuT0IfGM
http://www.adigitalkindergarten.com/2011/03/teaching-tools-montessori-apps.html
http://www.ikidapps.com/2011/10/best-montessori-apps.html
http://www.mobilemontessori.org/
http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2012/08/dev-lescapadou/
http://lescapadou.com/LEscapadou_-_Fun_and_Educational_applications_for_iPad_and_IPhone/LEscapadou_-_Educational_Apps_for_Kids_on_iPhone_and_iPad.html
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fraction-factory/id320616509?mt=8
http://www.brighthubeducation.com/middle-school-math-lessons/66730-free-itunes-download-fraction-factory-teaches-math/
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/weekly-ipad-apps-selection-montessoribased-learning-for-kids-2210987.html
http://montessorihome.com/
http://www.montessoriathomebook.com/Home.html/2012/03/08/ipad-apps-picks-pans/
http://www.awwwards.com/apps/montessorium-s-educational-apps-for-kids.html
http://montessorium.com/
http://www.montessoriathomebook.com/Home.html/2013/05/19/an-apptivities-experiment-in-learning-to-read/

Some Good Christian Children's Songs and CDs

I have been wanting to find fun and christian songs in a CD for children, but so often they had been disappointments. I have bought some from Amazon and some from Singapore, but I haven't quite like them. The singing in the CDs often sound aweful, kinda tacky and give me goosebumps (after spending so much money!). So I was really happy when I bought this book and CD called "100 Prayers God Loves to Hear" and listened to them. The children's singing in the CD was delightful and tastefully done.

And J loves it too. He will turn the page to each devotion page that accompanies each song, and dance with it. He will point his fingers to the text and try really hard to read them. This evening, we listened to the CD, and danced together. It was really nice that as J grows older, more and more, J and I can sing praises to God together, mother and son :-) J loves singing now, and he begins to sing along, actually singing the words. So that was a development and one that is very joyous to see :-) We still pray that one day, Daddy too, would truly praise God together with us. This has been J's bedtime prayer.

The disadvantage is that it does not come with lyrics, which is quite a disappointment. However, the style and melody of singing from the CD appeals to me, and so I will live with it. I will try to write down the lyrics myself one of these days.

Here are some informative reviews from Amazon:

"Each page has a 1-3 sentence story, a prayer that goes with the story, a Bible verse that goes along with them, AND in the corner is a notation of the recommended song to go along. The book includes 2 CDs with 50 songs each, so the notation not only gives the title, but indicates which disk and which track carries this particular song. These songs are a combination of familiar and new praise songs, and are easy for children to follow and learn."

"The kids loved this book! I enjoyed that it has 100 different prayers/songs to use in prayer. Rejoice! ; This book rocked because it had age appropriate praise. Some children may be in the preteen category and don't/cant relate to praise written for adults. The illustrations were also beautiful. "

I bought this book and CD from Tecman Christian Bookstore in Singapore, but it is also available from Amazon:

Montessori Activity: Bead Stair 20

 Age: From 4 years old

Activity Duration: 30 minutes

Objective:
1. To teach counting and number recognition

Materials:
1. Colored Bead Stair
2. 2 ten-bars
3. 1 worksheet
4. Color markers
5. 2 felt cloths

Directions:
1. Place the Bead Stair in order on a felt cloth to the left of the worksheet.

2. Place the two 10-bars on the felt cloth to the right of the worksheet.

3. Say: "20+1 gives you 21" and place the red bead on the second felt cloth to the right side of the 10-bar.

4. Invite your child to count the beads starting with the 10-bar "1,2,3,4,5...20" and end with the red bead as "21".

5. Point to the bar and show your child to skip count: “10, 20” and end with the red bead as 21.

6. Encourage your child to color the red bead on the worksheet with red color marker.

7. Encourage your child to trace or write the number 11 on the worksheet and say: "2 and 1 makes 21".

8. Encourage your child to count the bead he has colored on the worksheet.

9. Remove the red bead and return to a box or bag.

10. Invite the child to proceed onto the next bead (green beads) and repeat the exercise until the entire worksheet is colored.

11. When reaching 30, transfer the 10-bar from the cloth on the left to the on the cloth to the right and encourage your child to skip count: “10, 20, 30”. Encourage your child to verify the answer by counting the beads.

12. Repeat the exercise on another day for 40, 50… until all the worksheets to 90 have been completed.

Additional Information:
Continuing with the good momentum from yesterday, J (4Y0M30D) tried this today 3 April 2013. We did it in Mandarin. He counts much better in Mandarin than in English. He completed the worksheet for 21 to 30. I think it gave him a more concrete understanding of the quantity 21-30. It has been a good session today.

I like Brilliant Minds Montessori Maths Curriculum for its simplicity and clarity. It is a good and systematic way to teach counting and number recognition.

References:
Brilliant Minds Montessori Maths Curriculum

Montessori Activity: Teen Bead Stair

Age: From 4 years old

Activity Duration: 30 minutes

Objective:
1. To teach counting and number recognition

Materials:
1. Colored Bead Stair
2. 1 ten-bar
3. 1 worksheet
4. Color markers
5. 2 felt cloths

Directions:
1. Place the Bead Stair in order on a felt cloth to the left of the worksheet.

2. Place the 10-bar on the felt cloth to the right of the worksheet.

3. Say: "10+1 gives you 11" and place the red bead on the second felt cloth to the right side of the 10-bar.

4. Invite your child to count the beads starting with the 10-bar "1,2,3,4,5...10" and end with the red bead as "11".

5. Encourage your child to color the red bead on the worksheet with red color marker.

6. Encourage your child to trace or write the number 11 on the worksheet and say: "1 and 1 form 11 (describing how numeral 11 is written)".

7. Encourage your child to count the bead he has colored on the worksheet.

8. Remove the red bead and return to a box or bag.

9. Invite the child to proceed onto the next bead (green beads) and repeat the exercise until the entire worksheet is colored.

Additional Information:
J (4Y0M29D) tried this today. At 4 years old, he is much more matured and sensible now, and could complete the worksheet at one go - counting, colouring and tracing the numbers. It took us 30 minutes today. He is also more motivated to trace the number. He tried very hard to write the number, without tracing them, but he could not. He is also a lot of settled down as he counted the beads. It had been a good session. But not every day is like that. There are ups and downs.

References:
Brilliant Minds Montessori

 

Montessori Activity: Rainbow Name

Age: From 4 years old

Activity Duration: 5-10 minutes

Objective(s):
1. To teach the child to write his own name in a fun way.
2. To provide a varied way to practise letter-writting.

Materials:
1. A few magic pens - those color changing markers are the most fun, that will change colour as white is added on
2. 1 piece of paper with your child's name written on it with a pencil for him to trace.

Directions:
1. You can prepare this beforehand, but you can also write your child's name on the spot with him, as he gets to see how each letter is written.

2. Encourage him to trace each letters a few rounds so that it become very colorful.

Additional Information:
J (4Y0M27D) has started to show some real interest writing his name. I think he got inspired by the children at the church's Sunday School, who are writing their own names. I tried to introduce this activity a few months ago, but he wasn't interested in writing. So I think it is a good time to re-introduce this activity.

Yesterday, J started to write his own name during Sunday School, and really motivated to do so, this time around. However, he got the "s" inverted and has difficulty writting "a". So I think tracing his name will help him get the right practise.

The color changing markers are also available from Amazon:

Reflection: Modern Life

So too often, we get so caught up in fulfilling our to-do list... that we don't minister... we don't minister to the needs of others... cause we are not present, we are not listening.

While we are having breakfast, our minds go through the hundreds of things we need to do... get the soil for the gardening, pick up the photos, send shoes for repair, buy a replacement battery for that gadget, get that gift for the party, return the ligts to a store, to get light bulb so that we can change it, go to the car exhibition, help our parents to get a stereo, etc. etc.... and the list go on...

Why?

Because we need to maintain the household - these are real needs, but also because of vanity - not all are real needs, but because we want a

All are well and good, but what is the balance?

We need to simplify our lives.

We are having breakfast on a Saturday morning, but our minds are already on the next activity we need to accomplish... on a Saturday morning, while the shops in Denmark are open.

The state of modern life...

I quote - Love Your Life by Victoria Osteen:

"...the pressures of the modern family is complicated by the pressures of the modern world, we often struggle to find a healthy balance between carrer, family and relationships"

I see this in many others, I see this in us... and I see this in J too already at the age of 4.

This morning, J work up and told me that I should hurry up and wake up now, otherwise, we will not have enough time to do all the activities...

I asked him, "What activities?"

He said, "the Montessori activities, the letter box activities, reading, running on scooter, etc. etc."

I should be happy. Here is a very self-motivated boy already at 4 years old.

But here is also the making of a very busy ant...

We had a very nice day yesterday... we baked buns, and did many things amonst others, but at the end of the day, J was upset. I asked him why. He said that the baking took too long, we did not have time for Montessori activities, for the alphabet box, and he said that I should have told him that baking could take such a long time. Since baking takes such a long time, he would not want to do it again.

Hard work and self-motivation, all the qualities of the human race, are but a double-edged sword.

Too much of a good thing, skill or quality may not be a good thing.

It requires the wisdom to handle our qualities well.

Here I am lacking...

Here I pause without saying a word...

I pray for wisdom as a mom, as a wife, as a working woman, and I pray for our family.

For the wisdom to strike a balance...

Our family is still struggling to find that balance.

I wish for all of you too, that you will receive wisdom and love as you pray and navigate through this journey call life.

Have a meaningful and blessed Easter, one which is filled with love and the presence of God.

Dear God,

Please help me to truly listen with my heart to others. It is only with your wisdom, that I could do so. Help me to extend grace to others when they too fail to listen to me. It is only with your peace that we could do so. Help us to simplify our lives, so that we can truly listen to others. Thank you for your redemptive grace on this Easter day, as You continue to mold me to be the person you want me to me. Help me to look to the Cross. Thank you for not giving up on me and help me dear God.

In Jesus most victorious name I pray,
Amen

Hard Work and Academic Success

Last Saturday, we watched a Danish documentary about how hard work brings academic success using the so-called "Chinese" method. Here is the video broadcasted on 23 March 2013:

http://www.dr.dk/tv/se/sadan-opdrager-du-en-vinder/sadan-opdrager-du-en-vinder#!/00:11

That sets me thinking...

In general, the Chinese are known to be extremely hardworking (but there will always be exception. I have known many many extremely lazy Chinese too).

The Chinese value hard work more than intelligence.

The Chinese's greatest strength of hard work is also the Chinese's greatest weakness.

There is no quality of life. What a life! No one would wish for.

But the Chinese had no choice - no choice in the past, nor any choice in the future, except to be hard-working.

There is NO WAY OUT.

Since ancient times, the Chinese competed with the Chinese to be the number one scholar serving the emperor.

The ancient Chinese stories are full of stories of the Chinese burning mid-night oil, studying under candle light to prepare themselves for the scholar exam.

It was so 5000 years ago. It is so now.

With overpopulation, the Chinese society is highly competitive where only the fittest survive.

In this grim perspective, it is comforting to know that if you are hardworking, you will survive no matter what. If you are hardworking, willing and able to take hardship, there will be jobs for you.

This is what every Chinese child is taught from young. This was also what I was taught by my dad as a child. This was also what I was taught by my teachers in school in Singapore.

Contrary to what the rest of the world think, the Chinese are not competing with others.

No, the Chinese are actually competing with themselves.

The Chinese environment is very harsh. Any other environment in the world is most likely softer.

It is hard to compete with the Chinese and their ability to work hard, make sacrifice and take hardship, as they are born and breed in such a harsh environment, and thus are used to such environment.

The Chinese children spend a long period in school - up to 9 hours daily, excluding extra classes after school - within the school compound. This means that the Chinese children spend time longer in school than the Danes spend daily working, since Danish working hours are 37 hours a week.

For high school students in China, it is the norm for teachers and students to go home at 11pm after tuition.

Thereafter, the Chinese teenager self-study until 2am. The day normally starts at 6am. You need to get to school by 7am.

My Chinese friend used to tell me how she would watch her neighbour who attended the same school as she was. If the neighbour switched off the lights at 3am, she would try to match that.

Here is an article on schooling in China:

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2007-05/13/content_871182.htm

According to the Danish TV station, the video "followed the family Bentzen, with the help of a Chinese coach to do the family's two children  to do better in school. The method is two hours of extra school work every day and personal trainer to coach their leisure activities. The children are sent to exam before and after the course. The question is: Can the Danish family survive living with a simulated, albeit somewhat water-down "Chinese-type" pressure? The goal of the video is to examine how the upbringing and parents influence their children's success. Have they been beaten to do homework or have they been allowed to take care of themselves and have only been surrounded by love without demands?"

The Danish kids in the video was behind in their school by at least 1.5 years compared to the students in their class.

After being coached by a Chinese and having 2 hours of homework and revision for a month, their grades have improved equivalent to half a year - in just a month. That's a remarkable achievement.

According to the Chinese coach Xinxin, if the children do not do well in school, it is the parents who are to be blamed.

The Danish parents, especially the mom, sacrificed to make it work, coaching her children for 2 hours after work everyday. The whole family has enjoyed the fruit of the labour. But can the Danish family continue at this tempo, especially the Danish parents? This will remain a question mark.

What implications have this on J?

After watching the Danish video, I am convinced of working hard is the way to go.

We should not stop working hard for academic success. It is good to work hard. With hard work comes the reward of being good at something.

It is no good to work hard at the expense of everything else. It is important to strike a balance.

We will not set the goal of competing with the Chinese with working hard. There is no way we can beat them.

We will set the goal of being at least on par with the Singaporeans, although it is getting increasingly more difficult, growing up in a softer environment.

However, life in Denmark is not secure 30 years for now. J must be able to be agile enough to move out even to the Chinese world.

That would mean that J has to embrace the value of hard work, pursue academic success and be able to understand Mandarin, if not being fluent in it.

This should be done in a good balance.

However, the challenge is finding a balance - both for me as a mom and for J.

But we will have to try.

Board Game: Pop to the Shops

Age: From 5-9 years old

Duration: 30 - 45 minutes

Objectives:
1. Teach the child to learn to take turns
2. Teach the child counting (he has to throw the dice and count the steps to take - the more concrete and easy part and counting money - the abstract and difficult part)
3. Teach the child the concept of money, how to handle money and the concept of buying and selling.
4. Teach the child how to ask politely when visiting a shop.
5. Teach the child the names of the different items we buy in English
6. Create an excellent opportunity for bonding with your child.

Directions:
1. Each player starts by picking a card from those spead out on the table. This shows the first item they have to purchase.

2. The youngest player starts by throwing the dice and moving their character the corresponding number of spaces towards the shop that sells the item.

3. Play passes to the next player.

4. When a player reaches the correct shop, they must ask the shopkeeper politely for the item they wish to buy and pay the shopkeeper the appropriate amount of money.

5. The card with the coloured background is given to the player and the other card is discarded by placing it in the box.

6. The player places their item onto their shopping bag board, returns their character to their own shop doorway and a new card is taken ready for their next purchase.

7. Players must always check that they have enough money to buy the next item shown on their card. If not, then that card should be returned to the table and a new card taken.

8. The first person to fill their shopping bag bard with all 6 items is the winner.

Additional Information:
I didn't come from a family which play board game, either does Daddy. Nevertheless, I think board game is a good way for family bonding, and I wanted to start J young on it.

J loves this board game, although he still could not quite tell the difference between 40p to £1.20 (I bought this from Amazon UK). He requested to play this game evening after evening, and repeating after a finished round. But our rule is only one round a session. Thus, we had not have the time to do any Montessori the past week.

Being adults, Daddy and I weren't not too thrilled to play this board game, as it was too easy for us. But for the sake of J, I continued and of course, I dragged Daddy into the "pain" :-)

It however provided us much joy to see how thrilled, excited, interested, fun and happy J was playing this board game and for the education value it provides.

So based on the fun the children get and the education value, I highly recommend this board game.

Although the recommended age is for 5-9, 4 years old can start to play to grasp the concept of money and buying and selling things.

I love Orchard Toy's board games for children. They are very well-illustrated and well-made. It is also available in Amazon:

http://amzn.to/2663ZNA

J Summary (4Y0M18D) - Where Does Tea Come From?

It seems silly that I am logging such trivial things, but I want to keep it for memory. This afternoon, J asked where does tea come from. I briefly explained that it comes from leaves, but I did not give a very scientific and detailed answer, except that I explained that tea comes from leaves.

It bugged me the whole day.

So this evening during bedtime routine, we sat in the bed conveniently with our iPad and I showed him:

- where tea comes from - tea leaves
- how tea is harvested
- the process
- the tea plantation
- the tea making factory

We watched a video of how tea is made from plucking tea leaves at the tea plantation to being processed in the tea factory.

I also of course informed J that tea originated from China, for his heritage education's sake.

He then asked why the tea plantation we saw is not in China.

I am filled with thanks to the internet, Google and iPad, which helped me out. (It also makes me reflect and I think the world is very unfair to the poor, without internet access, who are left further behind in the knowledge gap. There is so much resources that they are not able to tap into, also in the education of their children. It is a privilege that I should not take for granted, nor do I feel that I deserve. Incidentally, Denmark is the 5th best place to be born in the world, and Singapore is the no. 1 best place to be born in Asia this year. So we do live in very fortunate countries, not that we earn it or deserve it. We should always remember the less fortunate among us, and make the world a fairer place for everyone, even if it means that we need to take cuts.)

Here is a good video showing the tea production:

http://www.mslimalicious.com/2012/07/where-does-your-tea-come-from-my-visit.html

Here are some good links:

http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/food/tea.htm

Btw, I haven't allow J to use iPad yet, even for the educational application. So far, I am using iPad only to do research together to answer his questions.

I can't wait to the day, when he can find answers to his own questions.

How to Address Chinese Family Relations Correctly?

This is what I struggle with when visiting Singapore, how to properly address everyone and how to teach J. I always get it wrong, especially when meeting all the relatives. I wanted to make a post on the different titles for Chinese relations, but this video gives a comprehensive list and save me from making such a post :-)

http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?v=619626884719224

J Summary (4Y0M11D) - Tracing Chinese Characters for the First Time

 

 

J had completed tracing the English alphabet, so today 16 March 2013 (4Y0M11D) was the first time we started tracing Chinese characters.

The first Chinese character he traced was "人" - meaning human being. There is an old Chinese saying that my parents told me when I was young: "写人这个字容易，做人难。" meaning writing the word human "人" is very simple and easy, but knowing how to be a human or living out the human life is not as simple and easy. It requires wisdom to be lead a life as a human being, to know the right things, to know the principles of being a human, to live in harmony with people, to live a life of integrity, to face the hardships and difficulties in life, to lead a fulfilled, productive and full life - all of these require wisdom. The Chinese (I believe it goes for all human beings) struggle with life and being a human since ancient times, resulting in such an old Chinese saying.

The good thing which I find comforting is for Christians, we don't have to struggle through the human life alone. God is there for us.

J also traced "大" meaning big in Chinese.

Montessori Activity: Exploring Gas with Balloon, Baking Soda & Vinegar

Age: From 4 years old

Duration: 5-10 minutes

Materials:
1. 1 plastic bottle
2. Vinegar
3. Baking soda
4. 1 funnel
5. 1 balloon

Directions:
1. Fill plastic bottle approx. 1/3 full with vinegar.

2. Fill balloon approx. 1/2 full with baking soda using a funnel.

3. Cover the top of the bottle with balloon, making sure that you don't let the baking soda spill into the bottle until you are ready to blow up the balloon.

4. When you are ready, lift your balloon and let the baking soda drop into the vinegar.

5. Watch the mixture fizzes, bubbles and your balloon expand in size :-)

6. Talk about how baking soda and vinegar produce a gas call carbon dioxide that fills the balloon.

Additional Information:
J is now 4 years old and I think he is ready for some Science experiments. I got to know this wonderful activity from Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas blog. For a change from our usual Maths time or doing nothing, I tried this with J (4Y0M7D) tried this today. After fumbing a little (I added water into the bottle instead of vinegar absent-mindedly, and nothing happened. We used the opportunity to talk about the difference between water and vinegar that produces the effect.) And J's reaction? He loved it enough to want to repeat the activity with another balloon, but we ran out of vinegar :-(

After a week of sickness, I am exhausted. I am glad I have pulled myself together today and continued some educational activities. I have been feeling rather lousy about myself... for not doing so well as a mom, and for feeling torn between my full-time work and motherhood - so many things that need my attention - Montessori, Maths, English, Chinese, piano class, life skills, Christian education, etc. etc. I find myself constantly busy, even as J is getting older - well, acutally even busier than before. I wish wish wish I could be a full-time professional mom - which is what I really want.

I do wish I am the type of mom who can just let my child "play with dirt and grow" as a friend described herself, without worrying that I am doing too little. I do wish I do not have the "Tiger Mom" tendency, but I couldn't. I tried to do nothing, but it didn't feel good, and thus it doesn't work for me. Perhaps I am too harsh on myself, but I am struggling hard with some tough balancing act, and wondering how to find the right balance. It is important not just to do things right, but to do the right things, and for now, I am a little confused. I am still praying about the right things I should do.

Anyway, this post is supposed to be about this activity.

References:
http://www.momto2poshlildivas.com/2012/01/blow-it-up-exploring-gas-with-balloons.html

A Prayer for the Day

Do you sometimes wake up feeling grumpy? That's how I felt on some days... And today, because I woke up too late on a precious Saturday morning.

It helps to start the day with a prayer:

"Dear God

Help me to be warm and cheerful today.

Give me the energy to face an active child...

The wisdom to prioritize smelling the roses... and not to feel lousy about all the items in my to-do list waiting to be crossed out...

The ability to be present for the moment...

And the grace to overlook all imperfections and lower my expectations...

The discipline and self-control to switch off my iPhone, iPad, laptop, work mail, Facebook and blog...

And deliver me from the temptation to switch them back on!

I entrust our day to you.

Teach me to learn to do the right things rather than doing things right.

Thank you, Dear God, for giving me the chance to learn to be less efficient and ambitious.

In Jesus time, I pray, Amen."

For a person with a weakness for being highly efficient, such a prayer is what I need. You may not have the same struggles as me, so your prayer will be different, but trust me, God will help you too.

Today is a fantastic sunny day, so I will learn to take it easy and enjoy.

I will log off now.

Have a great weekend!