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Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Friday, February 5, 2010

Our letter "T"

We chose "The Ten Lepers" for our Bible lesson with the associated character trait of "thankfulness". We read the story from the kid's Bible and role play with all his stuff toys as the 'lepers', and he was the 'doctor'. Then we played the 'thank you' game.

It was rather fun and effective in getting Krunchy Boy (to verbalise "thank you" as it utilise repetition to help a child get used to saying it.

We found that KB can be rather reserved in situations that calls for initiating a conversation or greetings with strangers or people he is not familiar with. So this can be a rather big thing for him to overcome. With lots of other intentional training at home throughout the weeks, we discovered that he said "thank you" to a cellgroup friend of ours when they send us home, he also said "thank you" to a little girl who offered him sweet. On both accounts, it was a first. Subsequently, he also managed to say "Bye" or "Hi" softly.

We used a song "Thank you Lord (you choose)" from children's praise & worship by Kingsway, Children's ministry. The song really helps in letting him sing what he is thankful for! And soon he was picking out his toys in the house and many people he thank God for in the song. When we went to the airshow, he started to sing "Thank you God for aeroplanes." We loved that song to bits.

Treasure hunting for triangles mummy hid around the house. We try to make something out of triangles. I did some and KB did some. He got interested in the latch of my big bag later and spent some time figuring out how to open and close. Nice discovery.



















We did the usual familiarise with the letters with "T" crafts which he painted the "T" and tore assorted shades of green paper to make leaves for his tree.
















I used to think rice-writing does not work, but he proved me wrong! He was having such fun writing with his fingers! He even initiated a small 't' and a big 'T' and did a song and dance.
















I asked KB where does the Terrapin lives? He tells me "From the market". Ha haha.. such is a city boy's encounter with nature. I proceeded to create a lapbook from one of the books we were reading. Although I usually don't do lapbook much, I felt that this is one way he can play games and be reminded of some tiny bits of facts. (We try not to overdo information at this age). "One tiny turtle" is such a heart-warming yet informative living book. KB enjoyed the living book so much I had to read over and over and over and he would even sit outside the washroom with me on the toilet seat reading the book to him!!! He had also dramatized the story many times over pretending he was the little turtle. Motivated learners are most creative. He counted the hatchlings, played with life cycle, talked about predator and prey, and named the various body parts of the turtle.





















Painting tires of his little truck and cleaning up after.

We made a tunnel using the letter foams. Ok, this was mummy's idea. The boys enjoys the tumbling around and racing each other they didnt care if the tunnel crashes within minutes. I love to watch them play together without a care. Having two boys so close together in age is a blessing as they can play together (and snatching! So lots of opportunities for teachable moments of love and sharing). KB recites the 2 guidelines when playing with Didi.

"Number 1, Must share, number 2, Cannot snatch, because I love my brother".


































Making tea! We used caffeine-free Rooibos green tea from South Africa. KB watched as the colour of water turns from clear to golden yellow. Tea is ready and he had a cup to taste.



















We did some measuring with a customised ruler made of turtles! We measured furnitures around the house and counted the number of turtles that made up the length of the objects. This is a one level up on counting objects in hand, but I ventured anyway. It was challenging at first, but we counted it slowly with him.

Free play






























































I provided the chalks. KB proceeded to draw on the pavement just outside our door. He had progressed from abstract drawing to symbolic drawing. You can see the "t" shaped symbol which is a representation of the shape of an aeroplane. I noticed alot of similiar shapes drawing on the floor and asked him what was he drawing. He tells me he is drawing an aeroplane. Look at the many aeroplanes! He cleans the floor by pouring water. Crayola chalks really cleans easily. No brush needed.

He also drew a water fountain using magic ink. He tells me there are big ones and small ones of many colours.

KB saw a wire hanging nearby my keyboard and asked me what was that. That question led to the finding of a mircophone which now sits permanently on my bedside shelf. KB will go once in awhile to sing very very loud! He loves to sing "How Great is our God" into the microphone. I had to remind him not to 'eat' it cuz he places his mouth so close to it.
























We went to the park twice in a week to jog. It is so nice to finally be able to take baby Elias out wherever we go. KB is playing alot with his sibling. KB knocked out and took a 3-hour afternoon nap each time. Mummy was bushed as well! Then we went swimming the following week.




















Mastery of chopsticks! Yipee! KB was really happy to be able to use chopsticks like us. My mum tells me I mastered the use of chopsticks when I was three-yrs-old, but KB beat me to it. He was two-years and nine months.

KB's love for transportation is admirable. Everything he does in his imaginary play has something to do with a plane or a train or a bus! This is his construction of staircase to the bus, going to work with a backpack like daddy! He woke up recently and tells me he wants to go to work so eagerly.He cries when he realised he wasnt really 'allowed' to go to daddy's office. Sigh... maybe one day we should really let him walk around daddy's office.:0)