Homemade Disposable Letter Mat for Hopping

Age: From 2 years old

Activity Duration: 10 - 15 minutes

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Objectives:
1. To provide a fun way to teach phonics, making full use of the children's energy at this age.

Materials:
1. Disposable Letter Mats for 4-6 letters (here we start with c, m, a and t)
2. Scotch tape to tape down the mat to the floor
3. Some items to represent the letters, such as an apple, a monkey soft toy, a tiger soft toy and a cat soft toy or picture.

Directions:
1. Demonstrate by hopping on the first letter mat, stop and pronounce the sound of the letter, followed by a word that begins with the letter, namely hop, aaaaaahhhh, apple - for the letter "a", for example.

2. Go on to demonstrate the rest of the letter in this way and finish one round.

3. Encourage the child to try.

How to make?

1. Use a marker to write on A4 paper and taped it onto the floor.

Additional Information:
Letter Mat for hopping gets worn out very fast, because it is being stepped on all the time. Thus, I prefer to make disposable ones. Also, being a working mom, I have prioritize how much time I could spend in producing home-made materials. In this way, it is fast, easy and stress-free. Write, use and dispose. To save even more time, one could also make photocopies of them for future use.

Montessori believes that movement aids memory. So by jumping and hopping, it is believed to stimulate the brain to remember the alphabet, and at the same time, make it fun for the children. I got this idea from Nurturing Tender Years, but simplify it to suit toddlers. For older children, please refer to the reference link below on how you can expand this game.

J (2Y1M16D) tried this during our "Fun with English" Class for Toddlers today (we conducted the class today, since it is Easter holidays and we want to do the "hard work" first so that we can save the Saturday free for idling around). He could do it very well, but fell, and then that was the end of the game for him. He rolled and complained on the floor instead (as seen in the pictures)!

This evening in the privacy of bedtime without other students, he asked to try again and could pronounce the letters. He completed two cycles, and turned his attention to other things. At this age, aim for 5 minutes with the toddlers. Anything more would be a bonus. I am very happy with the progress thus far.

References:
http://nurturingthetenderyears.blogspot.com/2011/04/jump-to-spell-words-game-and-letter-and.html

The Number Nursery Rhyme

Age: From 1 year old (Level 1)

This is a very good way to learn numbers AND at the same time to learn language. I got this idea from "Having Fun at Home".

Here is the Number Nursery Rhyme:

One is fun.

Round and back on the railroad track. 2-2-2

Round the tree, round the tree, that's how we make number 3.

down and over, down some more. That's how we make number 4.

Down and around with a flag on top. 5-5-5

A line and a loop, six makes a hoop.

Across the sky, down from heaven. That's how we make number 7.

We make an S, do not wait, climb back up and make and 8.

A loop and a line make number 9.

Straight line down, circle we bend. That's how we make number 10.

References:

http://havingfunathomeblog.blogspot.com/2008/11/teaching-numbers.html

Heritage Education: Matching Homemade Family Picture Puzzle

Age: 1.5 year old

I got this idea from "Having Fun at Home" to use for Heritage Education. Since J gets to see his grandparents, aunties, uncles and cousins only once a year (if God provides us the means as He has granted us thus far...), this is a very good way to help him to remember all the faces.This is especially useful, when we have a large extended family in Asia.

How?

Basically you make a set of two same pictures with photos of your faraway family members, and play a game with your child to match them.

This is a very good way to provide a refresher course for J, before we next visit Singapore. I haven't had the chance to make this puzzle yet, but I will have a few months to do so :-)

Activities for Babies (0 - 1 Year Old)

I am compiling a list of things to do with babies (0-1 year old) from various sources and books, including materials from the Virginia Baptist Church Children Ministry:

1. Hang toys above baby crib for baby to look at.
2. Put a colorful picture in baby’s bed to look at.
3. Take infant cot, swings and jumper chairs outside or near big window to look at trees and leaves.
4. Lie on tummy on play blanket.
5. Bring Baby for baby-swimming.
6. Play with non-breakable mirrors.
7. Rolling on Exercise Ball
8. Play with “Touch & Feel” Book.
9. Read and sing nursery rhymes.
10. Read bible verses to baby.
11. Hang a wind chime in your room.
12. Paste baby's photo on side of the changing station for baby to look at.
13. Place a CD player to play classical music and lullabies for baby when he sleeps at night.
14. Let Baby swim in balls.
15. Take infant cot, swings and jumper chairs outside or near big window.
16. Play with wrist bells.
17. Play with colorful plastic bangle bracelets.
18. Make “bell socks” for infants by sewing a bell on the toes of brightly colored socks.
19. As baby is fed, place a colorful sock on the bottle for them to see and feel.
20. As baby is fed, place a non-breakable mirror for him to observe himself.
21. Homemade Baby Board Books
22. Baby massage
23. Enjoy bubbles preferably outside.
24. Let baby hold a rattle.
25. Let baby play with activity centres.
26. Let baby play with exersaucer.
27. Let baby try to crawl after a vtech ball.
28. Let baby play with snow
29. Let baby play with ice cubes.
30. Let baby touch pine cones.
31. Let baby see and touch a large pumpkin.
32. Place several apples in a large plastic bowl for baby to see and touch.
33. Let baby play with xylophone.
34. Let baby play with balls
35. Enjoy water play using a dishpan with 1 inch of water in it.
36. Play music using a pot or pie plate and a wooden spoon.
37. Play with snap-lock beads.
38. Place several flowers inside a clear plastic/glass bottle/jar. Supervise!
39. Make an eye-catching toy by using colorful bits of ribbon in a clear plastic bottle.
40. Play with measuring cups.
41. Play “Hide ‘n Seek”, hiding a toy under a blanket.
42. Have a busy box in the baby’s crib.
43. Make a coffee can drum.
44. Use a goldfish in your room or bring baby to aquarium or pet shop
45. Toss a bean bag and let the baby crawl after it.
46. Put pillows and boxes on the floor to make an obstacle course for the crawling baby.
47. Provide a large bean bag chair for babies to sit on and crawl on.
48. Play with a shape-sorter.
49. Count blocks as you stack them.
50. Read books on a blanket inside or outside.
51. Use a plastic hammer with a pounding bench.
52. Play with plastic containers or ice-cream tubs.
53. Sing songs about Jesus.
54. Make a tunnel out of a large box or buy the IKEA tunnel toy to crawl through.
55. Bring a large pillow or quilt to read books on.
56. Set aside a drawer in the kitchen for baby
57. Pushing trolley
58. Build a tower of blocks for Baby to knock down
59. Count blocks as you stack them.
60. Bring baby to art museum for visual stimulation
61. Stack-a-rings
62. Bring baby to playground
63. Play with edible dough.
64. Play "Pat-a-Cake".
65. Show baby photo album of himself, Daddy and Mommy

Useful Links:
- http://www.havingfunathome.com/p/0-12-months.html

References:
- Virginia Baptist Church

Activities for Toddlers (1-2 Years Old)

Here is a list of activities I am compiling from various sources, mainly Virginia Baptist Church Children Minstry for toddlers 1-2 years old.

1. Play clapping games and sing “If You’re Happy & You Clap Your Hands”
2. Play “Pat-a-Cake”.
3. Let toddlers scatter bread crumbs outside to feed the birds or ducks.
4. Bring fresh flowers for children to smell.
5. Gather fall leaves for children to see.
6. Sort pieces of sandpaper from pieces of smooth cardboard.
7. Provide a large bean bag chair for toddlers to sit on and crawl on.
8. Place empty food containers in a large grocery sack for toddlers.
9. Play with edible dough.
10. Make a fill and dump toy from an oatmeal box.
11. Collect paper towel cylinders and allow toddlers to use them as “telescopes”.
12. Let toddlers pack and unpack clothes in a small satchel.
13. Put two spatulas and a plastic bowl in home living for toddlers.
14. Let toddlers play with a flashlight.
15. Place clean hats in a laundry basket for toddlers to enjoy.
16. Attach footprints to the floor for toddlers to walk on.
17. Gift-wrap several toys and let the children unwrap them.
18. Let toddlers play with old sunglasses with plastic lenses.
19. Play in a large box.
20. Make a basket of surprises, putting different objects in a picnic basket.
21. Bring several different sizes of shoe boxes for toddlers to play with.
22. Provide place mats and plastic dishes on a colorful tablecloth on the floor for toddlers.
23. Place several scarves in home living for toddlers to play with.
24. Put a laundry basket on the floor and let toddlers toss a ball into it.
25. Let toddlers put tennis balls in a trashcan.
26. Hide a musical box or a ticking clock. Can the toddler find it?
27. Bring riding toys for toddlers to use outside.
28. Play telephone games using toy phones.
29. Use pull toys outside.
30. Play with beach balls.
31. Play with wooden puzzles.
32. Play with toy cars.
33. Play a xylophone.
34. Allow toddlers to play with tambourines.
35. Play with large soft plastic farm animals.
36. Allow toddlers to play with a hula-hoop.
37. Encourage toddlers to rock dolls.
38. Let toddlers have paper and big crayons to scribble.
39. Using a large brush, paint with water outside.
40. Let toddlers finger paint with shaving cream (supervise carefully!).
41. Let toddlers experience cold ice.
42. Let toddlers handle vegetables such as potatoes and carrots.
43. Place several apples in a large plastic bowl for children to see and touch.
44. Let children handle fruit such as oranges, grapefruit and lemons.
45. Play with a large tub of cornmeal (place 2 inches in bottom of tub - supervise!).
46. Let children touch pinecones.
47. Provide a large pumpkin for children to see and touch.
48. Provide a fresh coconut for children to touch and handle.
49. Tape record toddlers as they begin to talk and then play it back for them to hear.
50. Listen to lullabies from a recording.
51. Gather three pairs of mittens, place in a box, and allow toddlers to play with them.
52. Make a “My Friends” book, using pictures of each child in a photo album.
53. Salad Spinner Fun

Here are other mommies' blog on Montessori activities for toddlers 1-2 years old:
http://growingagodlygirl.blogspot.com/search/label/12%20Months
http://livingmontessorinow.com/2011/08/30/how-to-prepare-a-montessori-toddler-environment-at-home/

References:
- Virginia Baptist Church

Activities for Older Children (5-10 Years Old)

Here is a list of fun activities for children 5-10 years old, which I am compiling from different blogs:

1. Treasure Hunt Meals

2. Ping Pong Power Ball

3. Tea Time Bonding

4. Mopping slip and slide

5. Shaving Cream Fun

6. Graffiti Room/Wall

7. Making Malt Pull Candy

8. Fun with Boxes

9. Jar Lanterns

10. Dress-up Chest

More Great Family Fun Links

Montessori Activity: Washing Dishes/Vaske Op/洗碗盘

Age: From 2 years old

Activity Duration: 5-15 minutes

Preparation Time: 3 minutes

Objective(s):

1. To teach the child how to clean up after himself.
2. To teach process concept (requires orderly demonstration).

Materials:

1. 1 basin half-filled with water
2. A few "dirty" toy dishes
3. 1 brush
4. 1 soap bottle
5. 1 towel (I recycle the diaper cloth and give it to J to dry the dishes. It is also easier for child this age to use diaper cloth than to use real towel)
6. 1 tray

Directions:

1. Demonstrate to your child in an orderly manner and systematically in this sequence: by pretending to add the "soap" into the basin of water, using the brush to wash the dishes, shaking off the water, putting the cleaned dishes on the tray one-by-one and then drying them with a cloth one-by-one.

2. Encourage your child to try.

Cost:

1 basin: 25 DKK (6 SGD) from Netto
1 brush: 10 DKK (2.40 SGD) from Søstrene Grene

Additional Information:

20 April 2011 - J has been showing interest in doing the dishes recently and he wanted to wash the dirty dishes in the sink, when he came home from vuggestue today. I told him that I would allow him to do so after dinner. Taking advantage of his interest, I let him play with this, which he played with gusto. J (2Y1M15D) washed and dried the dishes. I was pleasantly surprised that he followed the orderly sequence very well :-) It had been a very satisfying time for J and mommy... can't wait for the real day, when I can leave the real dishes to him, and just sit back and relax.

27.3.2012 Updates:

J (3Y22D) asked to play with washing dishes today. This time round, he was quite good at drying the dishes.

Updates 2 years later:

20 April 2014 (5Y1M15D)

From 5 Years Old

Montessori Activity: A Unique & Meaningful Way of Celebrating Birthday

Age: From 3 year old

Traditional birthday parties often tend to focus on  presents, party bags and lots of sugary food, but what's the alternative? I am excited to come across this Montessori idea from "How to Raise an Amazing Child" by Tim Seldin of one way to make it a meaningful and unique birthday celebration for your child. I am making a summary below as a reference when planning J's future birthdays:

1. Giving a Memory Box as a Present

Keep the collection of memetos of the year in a box, so that  your child can look through them and remember the year gone by.

This includes photos, a copy of some family videos, a letter from mom and dad, some art or other objects that your child had made.

The box should be kept where he can look through them whenever he wishes.

2. Teaching the Concept of a Year as a Party Activity

Take the opportunity to teach or revise the concept of a year - which is the time it takes for the earth to go around the sun one time - by putting a candle or lamp to represent sun in the middle of the room, a long piece of yarn, representing the orbit of earth around the sun and a small globe to represent the earth.

Light the candle (or on the lamp) and explain that: "This candle/lamp represents the sun that we see in the sky. The sun is a great ball of fire that keeps on burning and doesn't go out."

Show how the earth circle around the sun by taking the globe and walking slowly around the line on the floor, saying that: "This globe represents the earth, the planet we live on. The earth goes around the sun and it takes a long time for earth to go around the sun. Every time the earth goes all the way around the sun, a whole year has gone by. It takes a year for the earth to go around the sun one time."

3. Tell the Story of the Birthday Child's Life

Tell the story of the birthday child's life year by year, from birth to the present day. Give the globe to the birthday child. Ask him to hold the globe and walk slowly around the candle/lamp on the orbit that the yarn provided each round for every year of the child's age.

Before your child begins to walk on the line, you can say that: "Today is J's birthday, and we are going to celebrate it in a special way. J is going to carry the globe and walk slowly around the line 4 times, because he is 4 years old."

"J is just beginning his journey on the earth around the sun. He hasn't been born yet. Mommy and daddy are waiting anxioulsy for his time to come, when he is born. J, would you take one stop forward please?" (J takes one step forward).

"Now J has been born. It is March 5th, 2009. He is tiny - only this big - and all wrapped up in a blanket. Mommy and daddy are so proud. Here is a picture of J as a newborn baby."

"J, would you walk all the way around the line? Stop when you get back to that spot. J is 1 year old and he is celebrating his first birthday with his family..."

When J has walked around the line the correct number of times for his present age, say: "J is now 4 years old, and today is his birthday. The earth has gone around the sun 4 times. 4 years have gone by, since J was born."

Present your child the memory box as his birthday present. End the celebration by singing a birthday song, pray for the birthday child and all in the room, then let your child blow out the candle. You may serve the cake and other goodies, if you can't do without the traditional birthday celebration :-)

Here are more birthday party ideas:
http://mymontessorimoments.wordpress.com/2011/07/12/summer-birthday-party-on-a-budget/
http://havingfunathomeblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/25-cent-birthday.html

References:
Raising An Amazing Child by Tim Seldin
http://hapalab.blogspot.com/2012/02/earth-goes-around-sun.html

We did a Montessori Birthday. You can read more about it here:

http://momlearnings.blogspot.dk/2013/10/j-summary-4y5m28d-celebrating-js-45.html

 

J Summary (2Y1M11D) - Could Not Keep Pace with His Language Development

J surprises me with new sentences everyday. For example, he said, "爸爸在楼上，慨恩在楼下" meaning daddy is upstairs and J is downstairs. "要去火车站" meaning wanting to go to the train station. "要去坐火车" meaning wanting to go and take the train. "要下楼吃早餐" meaning wanting to go downstairs to eat breakfast. "榨汁器榨橙汁" meaning using the juicer to make orange juice. And in his speech, he revealed to me the concepts that he now understands, which I also stand in awe. And to know that there are many other toddlers who are more advanced than J fills me with even greater awe. Who could have created human beings, than the Intelligent Designer behind all this? To me, this Intelligent Designer is God. Seeing the birth of J to his development, just simply increases my faith and belief in God. For birth itself is a miracle, and the brain development that is on-going is another miracle.

J (2Y1M11D) clearly differentiates Danish and Chinese now. For example, he would ask Daddy for "appelsin" in Danish and then turn to me and ask for "橙" in Mandarin, both meaning orange in English.

Many books and Montessori believe that the age between 2-3 years'd old is the sensitive period for language development, and some even say that it is peak of language development where language seems to be learned much by intuition, and I am clearly seeing it in J. At this age, the child learns language effortlessly. And again I am clearly seeing it in J.

I want to make sure that I don't waste this special year, but I feel that I am falling behind. I wish that I could spend all his waking moments with him, having more conversations with him, introducing more vocabulary to him, reading more story-books to him , interacting with him every moment.

But J is limited only by mommy's own physical strength, stamina and energy. I need to seize the day, cos' when this special year is past, I can never turn back the clock, and would only live with regrets of not having spent enough time with him, during the periods when he was most sensitive to languages.

Yet, I also need to balance the other demands of life with the amount of time devoted to J. In this area, I truly need God's wisdom - God's wisdom to choose what to do, what to drop, when to stop and when to rest.

In the journey of parenting and motherhood, I am so glad and comforted that I am not walking alone, but that God is walking with me, forgiving every mis-step that I make; speaking peace into my heart, when I feel insecure; encouraging me, when I feel down; boosting my confidence, when I feel lousy; assuring me of His adequacy, when I feel inadequate; giving me another chance to correct my attitude, when I feel fed-up and grace, instead of judgement, when I leave behind dirty dishes to be washed (Daddy washed them today) and emails to be replied. And I hope others will be equally forgiving towards me, for the tough balancing act that I am trying so hard to balance.

E's "Fun with Chinese" Class for Toddlers

I have started "Fun with Chinese" class for toddlers yesterday. Here are the pictures from the first class:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?fbid=10150154033228348&id=705043347&aid=292027&l=1a68cd326e

We could not find suitable toddler's size chop-sticks for toddlers, but we will be sourcing it from China and ready for class in August :-)

Jigsaw Puzzle Teaching Dressing Up (From 1.5 Years Old)/拼图玩具 [pīn tú wán jù]

Age: From 1.5 year old.

Activity Duration: 5-10 minutes

Preparation Time: 3 minutes

Objective(s):
1. To teach the concept of changing clothes.
2. To train fine motor coordination skill.

Material(s):
Wooden puzzle with different clothes in the same shapes.

Directions:
1. Show your child how to fit the the clothes to the body of the little boy and describe the colour and print of the clothes.

2. Encourage your child to try.

Additional Information:
J (2Y1M10D) tried this today and he enjoyed it. We got this from our ex-neighbour Sidi and Leif.

Fun with Language through Puppet Theatre Play for Toddler

Age: From 2 years old

Objective(s):
1. To train child against stage fright and to perform in public.
2. To provide a fun way of teaching language through interesting story-telling with the use of a stage.

Materials:
1. 1 Play Theatre
2. 3-5 puppets
3. A book to enact the scene after reading it

Directions:
1. Read the book to your child.

2. Pick a scene that is suitable to be enacted out and act it out for your child.

3. Encourage your child to try.

Tips:
1. You can depict a biblical scene after reading a children's Bible story to your child or in the church nursery.

2. Sometimes, it can be rather monotonous to recite Tang dynasty poems. Thus, we hope to be able to incorporate that into theatre play, but I haven't found the time to implement all my ideas yet!

3. When the children are older, a shakespeare scene can also be enacted.

Cost:
1. Play theatre: approx. 30 DKK from the flea market (you can also buy it from Amazon, but it is expensive, or make it yourself using card board or 4 planks of wood)

2. You can get finger puppets from IKEA.

Additional Information:
This is a brillant idea by my friend YL, who introduced it to her then 2 years old daughter, A. I don't have a play theatre yet, but will be looking out for it. A is getting really good at it, and above is a picture of her performing for us during our Chinese Playgroup on 12 March 2011. It is very inspiring to J too.

I hope I can introduce this to our church's nursery one day.

Playing Jigsaw Puzzles (From 2 Years Old)/拼图玩具 [pīn tú wán jù]

I believe that jigsaw puzzles are very good training for the brains and have encouraged J to play it. However, J showed no interest for jigsaw puzzles, preferring books for a long time. Although I was a little disappointed, I just let it be, as children are all different, and I did not want to push him, unless he showed interest himself.

But around two years old, he began to develop interest in them and recently he is very much into it. Yesterday (2Y1M5D) and this evening, we played with jigsaw puzzles during the bedtime routine. He then laid the jigsaw puzzles out in a line and started counting them.

J is doing very simple two-piece puzzles now, such as matching animals with their food, matching animals with their habitat and matching the upper and lower part of the animal body together.

Playing "Basket Ball" with Toddler (From 2 Years Old)

Age: From 2 years old

Objective(s):  Train hand and eye coordination.

Materials:
1. 1 Ball
2. 1 wastepaper basket

Directions:
Use a wastepaper basket and show your toddler how you aim and throw the ball into the basket. Then encourage your toddler to try it.

Cost:
Plastic waste paper basket: 10 DKK (2.40 SGD) from Chao Chao.

Additional Information:
This is a cheap way to create a lot of fun. J (2Y1M6D) enjoyed this very much and we played this again this evening. He was laughing a lot whether the ball got into the basket or did not manage to get into the basket.

A Birthday Letter to J

6.3.2011

Dearest J

Happy 2 Years Old Birthday!

This letter was written when you were two years old from mommy’s heart. The day you can read and understand what’s written on this card, will also be the day that you are slowly growing towards independence.

May your growing ability to read also be accompanied by your growing maturity and the wisdom to make the right choices in life. May you choose God and truly know His unconditional love, joy and peace that give meaning to life. For now, mommy and daddy decide what mommy and daddy prayerfully think are best for you.

These “Alphabet Puppets” that mommy made late into the nights and presented to you as a present on your two years old birthday signify the importance of literacy and education that mommy and daddy would like to convey to you.

You may be someone who learns fast and effortlessly or you may not be. It doesn’t matter. The most important thing is to reach your full God-given potential and to make learning your life. Keep going, don’t be discouraged by setbacks, learn at your pace and enjoy the fun in the process. In this way, you will certainly make progress in small, but sure steps. That’s what’s important.

Remember the virtue of putting in effort and time and having self-control and discipline. The geniuses from past and present do so too.

Throughout history, the greatest discovery by the greatest researcher and scientist did not come about without hard work. Behind the greatest scientific achievement were hours of labour put in the laboratory, conducting endless number of experiments.

The greatest piece of music by the greatest musician did not come about without hard work too. Behind the greatest piece of music ever composed were hours of practice put in at the piano or violin.

Hard work and fun does not need to be mutually exclusive. These handmade "Alphabet Puppets" are mommy’s attempt to show you that learning can be fun too.

Years from now, you would have outgrown these “Alphabet Puppets”, but whenever you look back at them, may you be reminded of the importance of obtaining literacy and education in life and fulfill the full potential that God intends you to reach - through hard work – and fun.

Mommy and Daddy would like to share with you a Bible verse on your birthday:


"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." - Galatians 5:22


Happy Birthday, J. God, Mommy and Daddy love you very much.

Love and hugs,

Mommy & Daddy

Tips for Forest Walk

Children can be expected to walk a mile (1.6km) for every year of age. Coming from concrete jungle, Singapore, I have a lot to learn, which I am learning from Florian, on how to appreciate nature. The things most natural to me were rows and rows of shopping centres, not trees!

Here is a list of handy tips I summarized from "Raising an Amazing Child" by Tim Seldin (page 142) on what you can do to make it more interesting and educational for your child during a forest walk. I intend to print and bring along during our nature walk:

1. Set a goal such as collecting samples of leaves, rocks, grasses, pine cones, baby ferns, seeds, etc.

2. Limit on the number of samples (3-5 items at most).

3. Talk about the weather and the seasons.

4. What does the sky look like?

5. Is it sunny?

6. Are there clouds?

7. Point out the colours of leaves on the trees (and other seasonal clues).

8. Remain quiet, sit still with eyes closed at times to hear the sounds of nature such as the wind as well as observing.

9. Stop for snacks or a picnic gives children time to recharge.

10. Follow a squirrel.

11. Adopt a tree and follow its growth.

12. Lie on your back with head up against the trunk of a tree and look up into the branches.

13. Learn the names of the trees around your home.

14. Study the shape of leaves and ask your child to describe their shape, texture and colour.

15. Use crayon and paper to trace the bark rubbings.

16. Find a fallen tree whose wood has begun to decay - explore what lives here.

17. Run down a hill with your hands spread wide like an airplane.

18. Sit by a lake and watch the ducks.

19. Follow a butterfly.

20. Use a binoculars to bird watch.

21. Study the shadow cast by the sun.

23. Watch a worm creeping over a leaf.

24. Bring along a disposable glove and a tong to pick up trash along the trailside.

25. Make a "Colour Coded Scavenger Hunt" by recycling the egg packaging and allocating colours for each of the little cups. Your child could look for things with the same colour specified by the egg cups.

26. Gather woods and make a cozy little hut.

References:
http://havingfunathomeblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/13-outdoor-missions-for-children.html

http://havingfunathomeblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/interesting-ways-to-engage-nature-with.html

How to Cook Soft-Boiled Eggs?

Ingredients:
1. 3-4 eggs
2. Water sufficient to cover eggs

Directions:
1. In a small pot that nicely fit the eggs, bring water to a rapid boil.

2. Drop in eggs carefully and turn down the fire to just bubbling (no. 7 or 8 on our stove).

3. Turn the timer to 5 minutes and cook for 5 minutes.

4. Drain with cold water and the eggs are ready to peel.

Additional Information:
It is more tricky to cook soft-boiled eggs than hard-boiled eggs. I asked Florian how he makes soft-boiled eggs? Here is his way of doing it, and this is how done he likes his soft-boiled eggs to be. I have jotted it down, so that I can learn to make it the next time, the way he likes it.

Montessori Activity: Matching Shapes/Matchende figurer/形状分类[xíng zhuàng fēn lèi]

Age: From 1.5 year old (Level 1)

Activity Duration: 5-10 minutes

Preparation Time: 3 minutes

Objective(s):
1. To create a fun way to identify picture and name the picture.
2. To teach language skills.

Material(s):
Wooden puzzle with different shapes in different colours.

Directions:
1. Show your child how to fit the correct wooden shape into the correct place on the puzzle, and say the name of the shape.

2. Encourage your child to try.

Cost:
Wooden Puzzle: 20 DKK (4.90 SGD) from Tiger.

Additional Information:
I was very happy when I found this in Tiger!!! It is very cheap, very educational, very well-made and well thought out! The holes are marked with the shape to clear vision. The wooden pieces also protrude out for from the hole, instead of just lying flat, for better sensory feel. J tried this activity for the first time on 19 march 2011 (2Y14D) and had no problem with all the other shapes, except for the triangle. He took some time to learned it, as the triangle is not of equal length on all three sides.

Montessori Activity: Stringing Large Beads/Snor Perler/穿珠子[chuān zhū zi]

Age: From 2 years old

Activity Duration: 10-15 minutes

Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Objective(s): To train the child’s fine motor skills

Materials:

1. 10 wooden beads
3. 1 string

Directions:

1. Show your child by tying a knot in the string.
2. Show your child by picking up the string with right hand and moving the bead from left to right.
3. Encourage your child to try.
4. Remove the beads and repeat the activity if your child is interested.

Special Warning:

Supervise closely with the string. Remove and store away immediately after activity.

Cost:

Beads and string: 10 DKK (2.50 SGD) from the flea market

Additional Information:

J (2Y1M4D) tried this before, but truly mastered it today, after observing A and being inspired by her. Kids are the best teachers for each other.

E's "Fun with English" Class with Toddlers

My passion for Child Development & Education grows and grows. I have many ideas and things that I want to do that benefit children and create fun learning. I am so glad that as I read more deeply into this area, I realised that my intuition largely agrees with major educators such as Montessori (there are parts which differs from my own conviction, of course). However, I take a more moderate approach. As part of acquiring a life time PhD on cross-cultural home-making, I have now started this "Fun with English" class last Saturday (2 April 2011) with two students - J and A (my neighbour's daughter). We had a fun time together, both children and mommies.

I want to thank God that the first class went very well. The second class (today) also went very well. It was really sweet to get applause from Amy, my student, and her mother Yang Li told me that Amy told her that she looks forward to our English class every Saturday.

I do not have much expectations for the class, but I am really thankful to God that it is going so well. My prayer request is that I will press on, even when at times it does not go as well as the last two times.

My prayer request is also that this will not grow to become an idol in my life, taking the place of God and my family. Already, I have slackened in my diligence with cooking for my family and of course, time with Daddy.  (But he is very busy undergoing a training program, which requires him to complete a major project and a paper. Thus, it is a very good time now for us, since this is also my major project. But he is finishing it soon, and I will have to devote my time back to my hubby.)

Here are the pictures from the past two classes:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=288565&id=705043347&l=b21c8f21e0

What's in the Bag? It's the Letter Puppets :-)

Age: From 1.5 years old

Acitivity Duration: 5 - 10 minutes

Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Objective(s):
1. To teach the sounds of letters.
2. To train the child's sense of sight.

Materials: 
1. A set of 4 homemade letter puppets
2. A larger than A3 size homemade enevelope to contain the letter puppets or bag

Directions:
1. Put the letter puppets into the bag/envelope, and ask your child to pick out one at a time.

2. Then say the sound of the letter that your child takes out of the bag to your child.

Note: The "How to Raise an Amazing Child" book by Tim Seldin recommends introducing the letters according to the following sets:

1st set: c m a t

2nd set: s r i p

3rd set: b f o g

4th set: h j u l

5th set: d w e n

6th set: k q v x y z

Additional Information:
I don't know how to file this activity as this is a mixture of Montessori idea and my idea. Thus, I have decided to file this activity under the category called "Other Fun and Educational Activities". The "What's in a Bag?" idea is Montessori, while "The Letter Puppets" idea is my own. I find that most younger toddlers do not like sandpaper letters, which is Montessori way of teaching alphabets. Tracing sandpaper letters is also usually introduced to preschoolers and not toddlers. But that would mean that I would have to wait until J is 3 years old or older to introduce letters. However, having lesson with big letter puppets that pops out of a bag is a big hit with J (2Y1M4D) and Amy (2Y8M).

It can be very boring to teach letters. I find that hiding them in a bag or box or envelope creates mystery, and always make the children more interested in learning. J and A got all excited about which letter they picked from the bag. We tried this today during our "Fun with English Class with Toddlers". J (2Y1M4D) and Amy really enjoyed it.

J Summary (2Y1M3D) - Turning Chicken Pox into a Fun Educational Time

Amy and J are both having chicken poxs, but Amy has it more serious than J. It was funny for them to meet each other and see each other's "dou dou".

J woke up this morning with chicken poxs all over his body. Being naughty, I teased him by bringing him to the mirror. To my surprise, he looked down and refused to look into the mirror. I realised that at 2 years old, he was conscious of how he looked!!! I started encouraging him to count the "dou dou" on his face. He pointed to the "dou dou" on his face and on his hands. I also took the opportunity to teach him the concept of opposite. I asked him whether mommy has "dou dou" and he said "mei you" meaning no in Chinese. I then asked whether J has "dou dou" and he said "you" meaning yes in Chinese. I asked him whether Amy has "dou dou" and he said "you".

Then I asked J whether he knew why he had "dou dou" and not mommy, which of course he did not. I took the opportunity to explain that he is sick and mommy is well, and that the "dou dou" will go away, when he recovers.

We also differentiated "ban dian" (flat spots) from "dou dou" (poxs). Thus, today, we learned counting, the opposite concepts and the difference between flat and concave, all thanks to the opportunity that the chicken pox has given us.

Heritage Education: Through Pretend Play - Making Danish Rye Bread Sandwich

Age: From 1.5 year old

Two days ago, we had a pretend play session with making Chinese fried rice as part of the heritage education. Today, we had a pretend play session with making Danish Rye Bread Sandwich (which I nicknamed as the Black Bread) as part of the heritage education. The Danes can eat rye bread for all three meals - breakfast, lunch and dinner! Rye bread to the Danes is like rice to the Chinese.

Normally, Danish sandwich is eaten open, but today we did a closed version. We started by teaching J to say grace and thank God for the "sandwich", which he did. I had forgotten to put the apron on today.

Montessori Activity: Table-Setting/Borddækning/摆餐具 [bǎi cān jù]

Place the place mat on the table

J setting the table for training teddy bear

Age: From 2 years old

Activity Duration: 5-15 minutes

Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Objective(s):

1. To inculcate table setting habit during meal time
2. To teach serving others

Materials:

1. 2 homemade disposable table place mat (see below how to make this)
2. 2 plates
3. 2 forks
4. 2 knifes
5. 2 cups
6. 1 training teddy bear

Directions:

1. Serve your child by showing him how to set the table. You may want to do it the true Montessori way by tracing out the objects first, and then tracing out the outlines on the place mat.

2. Encourage your child to do it for his "guest".

How to Make Disposable Table Place Mat?

1. On a A4 paper, use a pencil to trace out the shape of the plate, cup, fork and knife. (If you are making a place Mat for adult sized cutleries, use A3 paper instead).

2. Use a marker to go over the out-lines made by the pencil.

3. Make photocopies of the place mat for use and dispose it after each use during meal time.

Cost:
A packet of A4 and A3 size paper: 39 DKK (9.50 SGD) Måla from IKEA

Additional Information:

I couldn't bear to use real place mat (even if it is cheap) for this activity, and this has hindered me from introducing this activity to the detriment of J. Today, I thought why don't I just use a piece of paper instead. Basically all I need is a piece of paper with outlines of the plate, cup and cutlery drawn on it and I am ready to go. I intend to make photocopies of them, so that I don't run out of stock and have to draw them again.

I didn't go the strict Montessori way by using real plates and cutleries and by tracing the objects and outlines on the place mat, but adapted to suit our needs, since J did not have the patience for tracing the objects yet. For a good idea of what tracing the objects is all about for this activity, here is a good post by http://www.montessorimoments.wordpress.com/. But because the outlines of the objects are on the place mat, J knows where to put them. I will encourage him to trace the objects when I re-introduce this activity again next time.

We had a pretend play today with training teddy bear as J's guest. J (2Y1M3D) learned to set the table for training teddy bear and serving it.

References:

http://mymontessorimoments.wordpress.com/2010/11/22/table-setting/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/artsandliving/features/2007/holiday-guide/entertaining/anatomy-of-a-place-setting/index.html

http://www.marthastewart.com/article/place-setting-practice

http://www.infomontessori.com/practical-life/care-of-the-environment-setting-a-table.htm

Homemade adult-size disposable place mat for kids to practice

Måla paper from IKEA