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The other day the kids and I did this arts and crafts thing together.

We made a Balloon Lady!

What we used:
> A balloon (for the ‘head’)
> Crepe paper, cut to strips - approx. 1.5cm wide (for the ‘hair’)
> Glue
> Coloured cartons (for the eyes and mouth)

After I inflated the balloon and cut the cream-coloured crepe paper, the kids started smearing some glue on the top of the balloon.

I opened up the strips of crepe paper and the kids put the long strips across the top.

Oh btw, I cut out some shorter and wider strips too for the fridge and back of the head.

I then cut out these shapes : two oval eyes and a crescent smiley mouth. Anya then did the gluing and pasting onto the balloon.

And VOILA!

Here’s a big Hello from the Balloon Lady!!

From: Respectful Parents, Respectful Kids: 7 Keys to Turn Family Conflict Into Co-operation

In some ways our children are as much guides for our life as we are for theirs.

They are a reminder of how lively and engaging life can be.

For children, the world is a giant laboratory and they’re serious explorers of it.

Watch, experiment with them and learn from them because they can help you remember how to be deeply in love with life.

Children play and explore, laugh and wonder right out loud. They provide a constant invitation for us to join them. Accept their invitation and cross the line into their world.

Imagine how it must feel to walk through sand for the first time, to balance on two wheels and zoom through space, to pluck petals from a daisy and sense the flower slightly tugging back, to hear an airplane or the wind or a crow caw for the first time.

Their awe and appreciation of simple things in life can be yours. And they’re wiling and waiting to share it with us.

If you expect your children to think and behave more ‘adult-like’ BEFORE they’re developmentally ready to perform them, we’re in a way threatening their sense of emotional security.

Trying to meet parents’ expectations but not yet ‘ready’ to do so is commonly experienced by all kids.

Drinking from a cup, eating with a spoon and tying shoes cannot be done before brain and muscles are ready.

And sometimes they may simply be genetically and developmentally unique and special.

As much as parents expose, teach and help a child to grow and develop, it is possible that he doesn’t ‘perform’ as we ‘hope’.

He may not yet start cruising at 10 months, nor as tall as his peers at 2 years, and not yet know his alphabets at three years of age. But despite all that, he is just as special as others who seem to be ‘more advanced for their age’.

Each child has their own unique timetable for developing, as well as their very own personalities, abilities and ways of learning.

The question is :
Do we see our child as unique and do we accept him just the way he is created, while at the same time positively encouraging him to continually explore and develop his potentials and letting him see our unconditional love and acceptance of him?

According to an article by News Canada titled ‘Learning Through Senses - The Key To A Child’s Development‘:
‘The first few years of a child’s life are full of new and exciting experiences that are absorbed like a sponge through the five senses: touch, taste, smell, sight and sound.’

…

The kids did this simple ’sensorial’ activity the other day.

For Vai:
I pasted some glue on a piece of paper, and Vai spread some coloured glitters on it using his fingers. This way, he got to feel the sensation of the sticky glitters on the tips of his fingers.

For Anya:
She did a simple ‘painting’ using coloured glitter sand.

Basically she sprinkled the coloured sand onto some specific areas (the paper is already sticky), then she rubbed the sand to even out the coloured surface.

These activities were simple yet nice for the kids that afternoon!

Jakarta … here we come!

The kids and I are flying off today for our family reunion, and I so look forward to this (hopefully) refreshing two-week break!

This is btw my very first attempt of going on a flight with the kids WITHOUT anyone else (hubby’s joining us later). And so yes, I’m completely clueless as to how everything will turn out today.

Will Vai wriggle constantly and refuse to sit on my lap? (since he’s under two, he doesn’t get a seat)

Will Anya get cranky and start asking for the impossible while I’m busy with Vai, the stroller, my bag and our luggage? (she’s been having occasional bouts of tantrums lately)

Oh well, at least it’s a relatively short flight (about an hour and fifteen minutes).

And I sure hope things will go well with the kids.

…

As for this site, I’ve got some pre-written posts that will appear automatically ‘on schedule’ during the two weeks that we’re away. So do come and visit!

Or, you can always check out my past posts on parenting, principles and values, or activity ideas for kids!

Till then!

PS: Btw, that photo was taken with an iphone at Singapore Changi Airport by Wilson, as he was about to leave for Perth a couple of weeks ago

From : www.kidsource.com

“You never listen to me” is a complaint heard as often from children as parents. Good communication helps children and parents to develop confidence, feelings of self-worth, and good relationships with others.

Try these tips:

> Teach children to listen. Gently touch a child before you talk. Say their name.

> Speak in a quiet voice. Whisper sometimes so children have to listen. They like this.

> Look a child in the eyes so you can tell when they understand. Bend or sit down. Become the child’s size.

> Practice listening and talking: talk with your family about what you see on TV, hear on the radio or see at the park or store (Talk with your children about school and their friends)

> Respect children and use a courteous tone of voice. If we talk to our children as we would our friends, our youngsters may be more likely to seek us out as confidants.

> Catch children and teens being good. Praise them for cooperating with you or their siblings, or for doing those little things that are so easy to take for granted.

> Use door openers that invite children to say more about an incident or their feelings.
“I see,” “Oh,” “tell me more,” “No kidding,” “Really,” “Mmmhmm,” “Say that again, I want to be sure I understand you.”

> Praise builds a child’s confidence and reinforces communication. Unkind words tear children down and teach them that they just aren’t good enough.

> Children are never too old to be told they are loved. Saying “I love you” is important. Writing it in a note provides the child with a reminder that he can hold on to.

> Give your undivided attention when your children want to talk to you. Don’t read, watch TV, fall asleep or make yourself busy with other tasks.

While we’re on the topic of ‘hypersensitive’ kids, you may want to check out this month’s Mother and Baby Indonesia.

It has an article on what hypersensitivity is about and lists out a few handy tips we should know when it comes to caring for a hypersensitive child.

Anyway, if you understand the language, just click here to read the article in Indonesian.

[And oh yes, that's Vai in one of his very cranky moments *smile*]