Delamere Goats Milk

G has been drinking Karihome Goats formula milk ($48 per tin from ntuc) since I stopped breastfeeding and then recently, from Hay Dairies Lim Chu Kang Road 800 ml for $8.

I just found out Cold Storage has Delamere's Fresh Goats milk. 1 litre for $10.95.

Just look at my cheeky girl :)

Choosing a childcare or playgroup

I will look at several factors when choosing a childcare for my toddler (in no particular order):

1. The meals (and/or snacks) offered

Brown rice served with spinach and steam fish v Crabstick fried rice
It's pretty obvious which one is better for your child.

2. Naptime

What time is the nap and whether it's compatible to my child's current naptime. And also asking questions like what happens when some children wake up early/do not want to nap? What would the teachers do and how would  they handle the children.

3. Location

Of course, the more convenient it is, the better. If not, whether there is a school bus.

4. Communication channel

What is the mode of communication between teacher and parent? Mostly have a communication booklet or email address of the teacher.

5. Progress report 

Whether they will have a report of my child on a termly basis and if not, how else can they monitor / measure the progress of the child whether in terms of intellectual or social or physical skills.

6. Are there any outdoor play?

In my opinion, waterplay, sandplay, playground, field trips etc are as important if not more important than classroom teaching.

7. Will TV or computer be accessible at all?

I am a strong advocate of no TV and no computer at their tender age.

8. School fees

Price of fees, whether affordable and within budget.

9. Cleanliness level

Whether the school is reasonably clean. Is it a conducive environment for children? Do they wash their hands often?

10. Happiness level

Whether the existing children look happy and lively. How does the teachers handle misbehaved children? Are they gentle and patient? What is the language pattern used and how do they teach manners if teachers themselves are rough/ill-mannered?

11. Others

Other small stuff on my mind would be:
a) Feedback of other parents (online or offline)
b) Teaching curriculum
c) Preferbly a Christian school
d) Timely response of email and phone queries
e) Am I on a long wait list?

And so, I have already decided on the childcare for my girl next year 2014 :)

Have made an appointment to pay next week (1 month deposit + registration fees + uniform etc)

Oh, anyway I have to praise my girl here. (She is going 20 months old now)

She just started the Montessori school last Friday. It was her first day at school after close to 2 months of staying at home with me.

She didn't cry at all. Not when we were on the way to school. Not when I picked her up from school. And the teacher told me that she is very good. She didn't cry in class at all either.

I used 3 methods mentioned in this book (they have lots more methods) and it worked for us. So so so glad. I hope I read this much earlier. 

The no-cry separation anxiety solution by Elizabeth Pantley.

Another book for the mummy is Keeping Your Child In Mind. In summary it talks NOT about what to do but how to be with your child. How to maintain your state and to be calm in difficult times with your child. Holding them in thoughts and be mindful of your being because children absorbs certain energy from you.

Well, before starting school, we read lots of toddler books on the SCHOOL topic. I made it sound like it's so fun to go to school. Papa even called it a PLAYSCHOOL instead of just SCHOOL.

Everytime we see another child goes to school, I will point that out to say that it's such a nice and grown-up thing to do and that school is really fun and a place to learn new things.

The night before school, I prepared her school bag together with her. Telling her the things inside her bag. Water bottle, diaper, a family photo, her favourite bunny and wet wipes.

I told her that Mummy and Daddy are in the bag with her. If she misses us or she wants to look at us, she can look at the photo. I told her that Bunny will be scared but wants to accompany her to school. Reminded her that she is a big girl, so she can protect Bunny.

Then on the way to school, there were 2 cats and she stopped to look at them. I told G that the cats were welcoming her to school and to cheer her on.

Standing at the door of the school, she was hesitant to enter for one minute. Thankfully, the teacher is patient. G was paid more attention to because it was her first day. I stood inside for 5 minutes to watch her. She already started to work with the Montessori materials. Then I saw she was okay, I bid her goodbye, gave her a hug and told her that I will be back to fetch her.

I was 5 minutes early and I peeped through the window. She was all good and when she saw me, gave me a big smile and waved.

Mad school chase

So G attended kiddyabc for like 2 months. First week, she was crying very badly. Teacher told me she cried for one hour (it's a 2 hour playgroup) and then fell asleep. Anyway, to cut the long story short, we decided to change school because I observed quite a lot of unpleasant / unsatisfactory stuff amidst the Teacher scolding G and was not gentle and patient towards her.

And I visited:

1. Raffles House Preschool
2. NurtureStars
3. Liz Montessori
4. Startots Playgroup
5. Jessin Kindergarten
6. Creativo Learners
7. Wesley Child Development Center
8. Ykidz Montessori
9. Mindchamps Toa Payoh
10. Young Talents Preschool

And even checked out information on some preschools in Novena and Bishan.

And I also called and checked on Toa Payoh Methodist Kindergarten and Marymount Kindergarten for 2014 intake. Both registration are in May. And some of my mommy friends already secured a place for 2014! Incredible.

I was desperately searching, comparing and researching online reviews as well. All so because I could go and complete my certification. It was long overdue. I postponed it since G was 6 months old. And I thought she is ready for school. Apparently not so.

My mom was blaming me all the time for putting her to school this early and causing so much trauma to her. Yes, she had lots of nightmares, waking up in the middle of the night for milk, mommy and daddy and even became less sociable, more wary. (I said she used to sleep through right? Well, now she sometimes wakes up once around 4 or 5 am)

It has been tough on her. I decided to stop school for another 2 months before we put her in the new school again.

These 2 months, we spent lots of bonding time together. I always assure her that I love her even though she may not get to see me for a short while (like when grandma brings her out to the playground to play and I do housework at home). And that separation is only for a short while.

Reading time: she is now able to take books out herself and just flip to look at the pictures.

Sometimes she does roleplay and read the story to her students/children.

I made a nice and neat corner for her to do her Montessori play. 

Teaching her to take one tray at a time to work on and to return before taking the next tray.

Finally we managed to make the backlight work :)

Science experiment: Volcano Eruption 

Oh yes, the new school. I've paid deposit. $500 per month for every Mon, Wed and Fri 2.5 hour playschool. She's going to start next week. *pray hard all will be well* 

Teacher said once she settles well, we'll change to Mon to Fri daily 2.5 hours. Fees will then be $600. It's really quite high with no subsidy. Her 'enrichment classes' in the afternoon at Blue House, Shichida and Kindermusik will have to ceased because we really cannot afford them anymore. 

There are like 10 things on my mind at the same time (business, Perth trip, G's birthday plans, am I ready for #2, my certification course, my short term goals etc) last night and I couldn't sleep till 1 am. Then with her waking for milk at 4 am (I finally slept at 5 am) and then it's her wake up time at 7 am. I barely sleep much lately whether weekdays or weekends.

Anyway let's hope that this new school is for good. At least from now till the end of the year.

17 months old preschool

She will be going for a 2.5 hours playgroup everyday next month. 

She will be just 17 months old but the teacher said that she seemed more mature and can be independent, so she accepted G even though they have to be a minimum age of 18 months. G will be the youngest in class. 

School fees is about $200 per month.

Merry Christmas and she is 16 months old :)

We stayed home for dinner. Whipped up simple western meal for G and we had wagyu beef steak. She enjoyed her vegetables (potato, broccoli, carrot) in cream sauce and beefballs.

Words that she can say clearly now:

Jesus

Milk

Up

Down

Bye

Banana (Nana)

Butterfly (Budderby)

No no
Amen
Mama / Mommy
Papa
Grandma
Grandpa
Apple
Jump
Bus
Dog
Knock
Wow
Ball
More
Where?
Help
Beautiful (beatyfull)
Remember

And recently when I sing nursery rhymes, I stop and let her fill in the missing gaps.
Like...

The wheels on the bus go ___________ (with actions).
The horns on the bus go __________ (with actions)
The wipers on the bus go __________ (with actions)
The babies on the bus go __________ (with actions)
The mummies on the bus go __________ (with actions)
The doors on the bus go __________ (with actions)
The people on the bus go __________ (with actions)


She could sing all of the missing words plus actions.


And another thing we realised...

She has started to ask 'WHY?' now.

:))

14 months old

Wow it's been close to a month since my last update. G has been amazing. She surprises me everyday with what she can do. I think sometimes I underestimate her learning capabilities. In Shichida class this week, she could make the 'N' sound correctly.

Yes, we started Shichida. I just did flashcards (among other games) recently with her. Intially she couldn't sit still and would run about. After the 5 minute suggestion every night and with the energy ball exercise, she can now take 100 cards in one sitting.

My! it was tedious doing the flashcards. I, together w hubby's help made, 200 pieces. I had to google search the pictures, then put them into template. Print picture on one side and words on the other. Cut them out and laminate them. Then decide which stack to put them together and alternate them every other day so that it isn't boring.

Believe in your child. They can do so much more than you imagined.

We just shifted to our new place.

My typical day as a SAHM to a 13 months old girl

6.30 am - G wake up, drink milk, change her, clean up. Then she goes and do her own thing while I tidy the kitchen .and paper the floor.
8 am - preparation for G's breakfast, then breakfast (if she self-feed, we'll take 40 mins otherwise 30 mins), wash up, keep laundry and gobble up my breakfast.
9 am - do writing/drawing/colouring activity with G or read a book.
9.30 am - G's nap time (1 hour), I cook her lunch (mop if I have time), do the laundry, throw the trash, check my emails/hp.
10.30 am - she plays with her doll, bear (imaginary play), follows me around the house / mess things up here and there.
11.30 am - G' lunch. If we have time, will buy groceries/toiletries or go to the library.
1 pm - G's shower time. My shower time, read books
1.30 pm - G's milk
1.55 pm - G's nap time (1 hour), cook her dinner, if I have time, bake bread or cookies, wash up, get ready for outing, if I have time, 15 mins for me to lie on the bed to rest.
3 pm - change her, dash out for classes/playdates/gathering
4 pm - fruit snack
5.30 pm - dinner
6.15 pm - G's shower time
6.30 pm - G's milk
6.45 pm - prayer, book, massage, meditation
7 pm - put her down for bed.

Evenings and night time, I do the following:

spend time with hubby
more housework
check out recipes
surf facebook
research on child related topics
self grooming
pray
and sleep 11 pm, and later if I blogged.

Nod nod nod

G knew how to shake her head at 9 months old. And she does it on and off all these while when she doesn't like something, and very profusely when she is very irritated.

I just noticed that she knew how to nod her head (finally!) yesterday (2 weeks to 13 months old). When I asked Bunny whether we should read a book, I always make Bunny nod its head. Yesterday, when I asked this question, G nodded in agreement.

The other day, I brought out 2 of her old storybooks and placed them in the midst of her new storybooks that we borrowed from the library. She was very excited to see her old books and she wanted to read them first.

I love it whenever she wants me to read to her. She will hop onto my lap automatically and do the BOOK sign. (otherwise, she will hop onto my lap and do the MILK sign when it's time for milk).

And I love to see her nodding.
Nodding seems more pleasant right? :)

First visit to the Library

Currently G reads about 6 books per day (seated on my lap). She's been asking for more and we've finished all the books I've bought for her (I think we have 20 books for her level), re-read them a few rounds even.

I decided that we should just bring her to the library and borrow some books home. We went to the Library at Nex. Before we enter, I told her that we have to keep our volume low, no running around and she has to stay close to Mama.

She was sooo excited and happy to see sooo many books for the first time in her life!

She pulled out a book randomly

I had a SUPER quick browse, just to ensure that the content is suitable. And we started reading.

And she stood there listening until we finished the whole book (probably 10-11 pages) without moving an inch.

After that she crawled around, disturbed other children who were reading by interrupting them, crawling towards the counter and behind the customer service. Yup, she forgot all about the sticking close to Mama and behaving herself. I guess she was just too curious about this place that has so many books.

We borrowed 6 books home :)

Into Role-playing

I caught her talking to her bunny one day and patting bunny to sleep. So I decided to play doctor the next day. Yes I directed the show and she was cooperative and very keen to act it out for me.

I told her that Bunny is sick. She has a fever. "Can doctor G help Bunny?".
There I asked if she wants to listen to Bunny's heartbeat. And whether Bunny should take medicine.

Bunny's fine. Just a mild fever.

She feeds Bunny some medicine

She lets Bunny lie down.

She read Bunny a book to cheer her up

Later on, when it was nap time, she refuses to let Bunny go. She brought it to her cot to sleep cos she wants to care for Bunny. Today's bedtime, she has Bunny by her side as well.

ps: She'll normally just have pinky bear with her for bedtime.

She is 12 months close to 2 weeks old today.

Sensory play

Yes, she ate paint, chew on crayons, tasted flour and sand.

But we had a lot of great fun!

Happy 1st Birthday

Baby,  you just turned one.

Seng il chu ka ham ni da.

Thank you for being in my life. I've learnt:

1. To be more assertive. You taught me to persevere against all odds (sleep training, television) when it comes to what's best for you.

2. That I can achieve more than I think I can.

3. That it's not about comparing. We are not in a competition with anyone. Mommy wants to help you climb your own mountain, as high as you can.

4. To become (and to constantly be) a better person than I am.

5. To be creative and to think out of the box.

6. To be closer to God; praying with you every night before bed and trusting God for financial blessings.

7. To be simple

8. To be happy

9. To appreciate papa more because of you.

10. To make use of google for information and research. I search for the weirdest stuff like 'blood in poo'.


Mommy loves you.