Learning to Swim at Four

Posted by: Sharmila Rajah Post(s) by this blogger

At her first class...

Is four a good age to begin swimming lessons? Experts seem to think so.

Here’s why –

Four, they say, is a fine age to start. At four, your child is mature enough to be in the water with an instructor (and without you). They are able to pay attention to instructions and directions (especially if they’ve been going to preschool).

Warming up...

Swimming lessons are a great way to learn water safety and work on coordination. And that’s why we’ve just started Ayanna on swimming lessons. She’s always been comfortable in the water and swims with a jacket (which keeps her afloat) but knowing how to swim is essential.

Kick! Kick! Kick!

Ayanna responded well to her first class. Though a little shy at first she slowly warmed up to the instructor before she kicked, floated and swam (with the help of a board). Basic floating, breathing and leg and arm movements were the highlights of the first class.

Seems like fun!

My defiant four-year-old

Posted by: Sharmila Rajah Post(s) by this blogger

Sometimes I find my four-year old being absolutely defiant – ignoring my requests and doing as she pleases. It can get quite frustrating as I stand and plead to her to perform a task, etc. Why is this?

According to experts, defiance is a way a preschooler asserts himself.

Experts urge parents to:

1.    Be understanding - as difficult as it sometimes is, parents are encouraged to be understanding and to tackle the situation with a hug and an explanation. Be kind but firm. Be patient and consistent.

2.    Set limits- preschoolers need and want limits so parents are urged to set them and inform your child what they are. If Ayanna gets upset, she’s urged to talk about why she is feeling so rather than throwing something to vent out her anger.

3.    Reinforce good behavior – praise your little one for his good behavior which goes a long way to encourage him to do more of the same.

4.    Teach him a task – defiance could just mean that the little one is unable to follow through on a responsibility that's too difficult.

Disciplining = teaching him to control himself. He must do the right thing because he wants to.

Empower your preschooler so he is given the opportunity to be in control and to choose.  In due time, they will learn that defiance is not the way to go.

The Artworkshop

Posted by: Sharmila Rajah Post(s) by this blogger

Due to her immense interest in art and craft, we decided to enroll Ayanna in the Artworkshop. She’s had several lessons now and is enthralled by each class and the creative world she’s entered into.

Children begin at ‘Junior Art’ (ages 4-9) before graduating to ''Senior Art' (available to age 12) and later progress to the 'Teen Workshop'.

Young artists at the junior level actively explore, make mistakes and learn to go beyond their boundaries. Little ones receive a balance of art learning and a variety of messy art explorations according to their individual learning paces.

In her class, Ayanna is guided towards the understanding of contrast between objects, the representation of things in multiple layers, and the making/ creating of a scene. She employs the use of a variety of materials such as tempera paint, poster colour, colour pencil, oil pastels and other crafty materials.

You’ll find the Artworkshop at:

-    The Waterfront; Sunway Giza Mall, Bandar Puteri Puchong and the Publika Mall.

For more information log onto www.artworkshop.com.my

Art & Your Four-year Old

Posted by: Sharmila Rajah Post(s) by this blogger

Just like any four-year old, Ayanna loves art - be it painting, drawing or making music. She spends a considerable amount of her time at home making craft and exploring her skills at painting. We love making greeting cards, engaging in free-hand painting, finger painting, colouring with crayons, and chalk. There's an adequate amount of time dedicated to art and craft at her school each week. It's a fun way of learning.

Ayanna's art

The benefits of art (according to the New York Center for Art Education):

-    Children should be exposed to art as their cognitive skills mature so the brain's right and left hemispheres can develop separately and in tandem to achieve full potential.

-    Children learn to think creatively and with an open mind when engaged in art.

-    They learn to observe and describe, analyze and interpret.

-    They learn to express their feelings, with or without words.

-    Children practice problem-solving skills, critical-thinking skills and language, while exposed to the different forms of art.

-    They're exposed to the understanding that there's no one straight answer but multiple points of view.

-    Art is a great window into the world and its diverse cultures.

-    Art builds confidence - there's no one right way to make art.

What are some of the art projects you do with your kids at home?

14th month update

Posted by: Sharmila Rajah Post(s) by this blogger

How time flies! Shamindra is in his 14th month.

The biggest development to date is his increasing vocabulary. Shamindra has added 'ball', 'dog', 'star', 'book', 'tree' and 'bye' to his modest range of words. He tends to say 'dog' for every fury animal he sees even if it's a cat. It's an indication that he's learning to group things together. He seems to understand some basic commands and complies with them. He seems to be fond of using the word 'no' and even displays an understanding for the meaning of the word.

Shamindra recognizes his nursery rhymes especially 'twinkle twinkle little star' and opens and closes his fingers depicting the twinkling stars.

He's still very explorative. When out of his stroller, he simply takes off eager to explore his surroundings without a backward glance. We give him the space he needs to explore but stay close by for reassurance.

Shamindra is displaying fascination at how things work, and is very keen at manipulating them just to see how they work. He loves opening and closing boxes and containers; cabinet doors and fridge doors are his favorite.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

Posted by: Sharmila Rajah Post(s) by this blogger

Here's wishing everyone a Happy Valentine's Day!

Ayanna spent the weekend making heart-shaped Valentine cards for her loved ones.

Have a great day!

Evolving Eating Habits

Posted by: Sharmila Rajah Post(s) by this blogger

My picky eater...

No matter how many times I’ve read/ heard what experts have had to say about a toddler’s evolving eating habits, I still worry when Shamindra doesn’t eat very much. Though I may not fuss as much as I did with Ayanna, our first.

As experts frequently remind anxious mothers like me –

A toddler’s appetite generally shrinks around this time. They become pickier too. I see these changes with Shamindra and wonder why. After all he is active.

The reasoning is simple - toddlers grow more slowly and don’t need as much food at this stage.

Parents are advised not to pressure toddlers to eat more (which I admit I’m sometimes guilty off). Let their appetites determine how much food they take in. Instead ensure that your toddler enjoys a variety of healthy foods.

The power of 'routines'

Posted by: Sharmila Rajah Post(s) by this blogger

Every mom will swear by this – routines. We moms love our routines as it gives us a sense of control and fulfillment (and it keeps us sane too). While sticking to a routine can be helpful for mums to get through the day, routines are just as important for kids. Here’s why?

Routines help build confidence in children and provide them with stability. When a child knows what to expect out of them and how long to get something done, it will help them manage their time and behavior better. Ayanna and Shamindra have their daily routines that are systematically mapped out throughout the day. The day begins with the morning, and soon proceeds to after school, dinner and before bed routines.

Our morning routines are especially important to ensure everyone has a good start to the day, especially if we’re on our way to school. After school routine for Ayanna involves playtime, reading time and mummy/ daddy time. Bedtime routines are just as important to ensure the little ones get to bed on time and enjoy a good night’s rest. Ayanna’s and Shamindra’s bedtime routines involve a bath, brushing their teeth and reading a story together.

Each family has a routine that works best for them. What’s your routine like and how important are routines to you? Care to share?

Yamaha Junior Music Course

Posted by: Sharmila Rajah Post(s) by this blogger

Ayanna has begun music lessons under the Yamaha Junior Music Course (JMC) where once a week she is introduced to music notes, piano playing and singing in a fun, interactive way. The course’s main objective is to help develop s young musician’s musical senses and skills. What this mean is that during the one hour session – the tutor emphasizes ear-training to enable his young chargers develop their innate sense of music by creating a stimulating environment through singing and the playing of simple tunes. Kids are encouraged to express themselves musically.

According to experts, from the age of 4, a child’s sense of hearing, finger muscles and vocal chords develop most rapidly, making them perfect candidates for the programme.

Best part – JMC involves parental participation which helps children relax and motivate positive attitudes toward more learning while enjoying their musical experiences together.

Is your child in JMC- care to share your thoughts on the course?

Yu Kids Island

Posted by: Sharmila Rajah Post(s) by this blogger

Ayanna thoroughly enjoyed herself

We stumbled upon Yu Kids Island while shopping around at the Curve. It’s a welcome break for kids and their parents. We found the play-gym ideal for older kids (3 years and above) but not quite suitable for younger children.

We love the colour scheme

There are no supervisors monitoring the children therefore parents are required to keep a watchful eye on their little ones at all times. This also means older children jump in and out, unsupervised, of areas that may seem more appropriate for younger kids.

What we love about Yu Kids Island is their range of cheery colours that evoke a carnival like feel.

Below is the pricing list-

Weekdays – RM20 for unlimited playtime (an added plus)

Weekends – RM30 for unlimited playtime

Yu Kids Island, Second Floor, The Curve, Mutiara Damansara