Exploring Our Children’s Potentials

In their attempt to lure as many people as possible to their shopping centres, there are heaps of ‘live’ (and free) stage performances we can catch this month!

It’s great! (provided that we can somehow avoid the super-tempting toys’ area afterwards!)

Anyway. A couple of other friends, their preschoolers and us three went to the see the ‘Noddy Show’ today at Forum Shopping Centre (Vai slept on our way there and woke up just when the show finished!)

Oh btw, here are a few other shows (out of many more out there!) you can catch too:

>> Dora the Explorer & Friends at United Square

>> Sesame Street at Ngee Ann City, Takashimaya Square

>> Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends at AMK Hub (Ang Mo Kio)

>> Barney & Friends at Marina Square Shopping Centre

>> Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Christmas at Parkway Parade

Have fun!

When it comes to activities for the kids, generally every family has their own preference over certain activity types. You know, the stuff that we tend to do more with the kids than the others.

But since there are SO many things that we can (and should) expose our kids to, I often remind myself to try and vary the kinds of activities that they do each day.

Things like:

>> Outdoor activities
eg. going for a walk to nearby shops, playground sessions, observing animals and whatever stuff you encounter when you’re out and about

>> Activities that require concentration
eg. doing puzzles, reading, sorting stuff

>> Arts and craft
eg. drawing, scribbling, painting, cutting, making stuff

>> Indoor play
eg. tumbling around the bed, moving and dancing while listening to music

>> Activities that need ‘building’ and ‘constructing’
eg. Lego bricks, wooden blocks

>> Helping around house
eg. sweeping, vacuuming, taking out the laundry, mixing the chicken marinade

The list is endless.

PS: Today the kids had their ‘watercolour’ session (Vai used the brush, Anya used a toothbrush). And towards the end, Vai sort of decided that painting his feet was pretty fun too!

>> When we’re physically unwell, we should learn to not quickly complain and feel like we probably should’ve just ‘died’.

Instead, we should be sensitive towards the strength God still provides for us and make even better use of our time and energy to do God’s work and continue to be a blessing to others.

>> When there’s more than one child in a family, generally there tends to be one who is more lovable than the others. Perhaps the gentler one. The more obedient. The funnier one. The one who gives less hassles.

In such cases however, parents must learn to ‘equally’ love all children.

Children, since very young, ‘know’ when they’re not treated fairly. And when parents show more love towards a particular child and less towards another, family issues (usually at a later stage) will most likely take place.

The ‘less-loved’ child may develop a kind of ‘hatred’ towards self. He may even gradually respect his parents less as he grows up.

Let’s learn to show unconditional love to our children and continually seek out their potentials.

Let’s find the treasures in them. However ‘hidden’ they all are.

I’ve got to say, it’s been quite a while since the last time we managed to spend nearly the whole of our Saturday together. Like today!

And it was a nice dayout for all of us.

Anya (for the first time) got herself a penguin ‘painted’ on her arm.

Both kids napped, played in the playground (at level two of Vivo City), AND in the water (level three).

We even had some one-to-one time with the kids when Anya and Daddy both went to see the Bee Movie at GV Vivo City (this is her very first time going to the cinema too! A date with Dad!).

Ah, really. It’s refreshing to be able to break away from our usual daily busyness and just … enjoy our day together as a family.

Something all families should strive for, I feel. However busy we normally get during the week.

Top left photo: April 2005
Anya: 13 months old, Hans: 10 months old

Top right photo: December 2005
Anya: 21 months old, Hans: 1.5 years old

Hans and family are flying back to Sydney tomorrow and since we couldn’t really catch up with them these past two days, we joined their family dinner today so that we can at least chat for a while and let the kids play with each other again for one last time.

The next time they get to see each other will be in TWO years time or something!

*gasp*

And by then they’ll be six year old kids!

Not too sure if they’ll still comfortably play with each other the way they do now though.

This year Anya’s taking part in kidscraftweekly‘s Christmas card swap again!

And so while Vai napped, she made four cards!

We used only watercolour today (she said she’d like to use glitters tomorrow!)

Basically I let her draw whatever she felt like drawing at the time. And she used the brush as well as her fingers.

Anyway.

I think it’s good when our little ones are given the opportunity to learn and create something FOR someone else.

Especially when they’re at an age where everything tends to always be centred on ‘themselves’.

I’ve mentioned how I’ll write a bit more about my recent trip to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia … and so here it is.

>> Berjaya Times Square

Frankly, it does look pretty nice from the outside, BUT once we’re inside, we’re surprised to see how ’empty’ the place is. Hardly any crowd. Nothing much was happening and there were many unoccupied ‘shop lots’ (we’re there on Thursday, 12pm)

The main attraction I guess, is Cosmo’s World, their indoor theme park. There are two sections – one for the adult teenagers, the other for the younger kids. Quite a lot of teenagers were there enjoying the rides!

You pay to enter and you can basically stay and play till it’s closed.

Entrance fee:
Adults: RM30
Children: RM20

My review:
I’d go to Times Square again the next time I visit KL. But only to bring the kids to Cosmo’s World. And oh, do expect a pretty bad traffic jam around this area too.

>> Suria KLCC (pictured at the top)

Now THIS is the place to go if you’re looking for a shopping centre to visit (we were there on Friday, 12pm).

Lots of great shops. Huge crowd and lots of exhibitions. The place is so much more alive!

My review:
Will definitely visit the place again. Their food court is quite big but is really PACKED during lunch hours! So be prepared to queue for quite a while and share your table with LOTS of other diners.

>> Petronas Twin Towers

We wanted to visit the skybridge, BUT apparently they now have a QUOTA!

When we reached there (12.30pm), the staff said that they’ve given out all available (free) tickets for the morning session (and so lots of tourists went away feeling pretty unhappy).

Anyway, we went to see their exhibition area, just next to the ticket counter. Learned quite a bit about the towers and its history.

Saw a quick ‘lightning demo’ too (it automatically runs every 10 minutes and basically it shows how and why you won’t get ‘electrocuted’ if you happen to be on the tower during thunderstorms)

My review:
Though I personally find it a rather silly ticketing rule, do come ‘early’ if you’d like to visit the skybridge.