HFMD 2011: Activities at Home 2 - Snowman 1

While staying at home with the Gers, we experimented and prototyped our X'mas gift for their trs.

Researched on Internet and found something that the Gers can do: Papercraft snowman!

1. Print template out from website. A4-sized is too huge for the Gers, So I printed 2 sets of templates onto 1 A4 paper.

2. Colour. The Gers had different concepts on this. Gerry, scribbled and drew circles. Gerlyn used a single colour for every confined space/shape. Gerrard had a multicolour concept.

Cheese! We are done with the colouring!

Gerry deploying pointism.

3. Cut out the template. Mummy did this for them as they are still not very gd with scissors...

4. Creative time! The Gers decorated their snowmen. Gerry did not do this as he was not very good with following instructions and the coordination was horrible.

Playing dress-up? I'm good at this!

Gerrard was concentrating hard.

We had lots of time, so we experimented with other media....

Poster colour. Messy. The Gers used cotton buds instead of brushes, as the height of the apparatus is more suitable for their tiny hands. Gerlyn messed up her colours and ultimately, there's only one colour - brown. The key problem with using poster colour was that the outline was all covered by the poster colour that it was really tough to cut out the template. The Gers had fun though.

Gerlyn likes to watch Gerrard a lot.

Collage. Had fun. Killed time too. Initially used the papercraft punchers, but they were tough to press down. Turned to using the good old ordinary paper puncher. Initially, recycled wrapping paper was used. Then I turned to getting the children to paint on blank paper, and use their paintings to punch out paper flakes.

Gerlyn trying out the papercraft puncher.

Pasting. Unaware of colour coordination.

HFMD 2011: Activities at Home 1 - Colouring

The very first activity that I had done during HFMD episode with the children was colouring.

Initially, they were colouring from the books that they have. Then I started browsing on the Internet after they were fighting for the colouring books.

Lots and lots of free printable colouring pages around. Their favourite are the Sesame Street's buddies.

Gerry doing his 'colouring'. Actually just scribbles and circles...

Teachers' Day 2011

This year's Teachers' Day is indeed different.

For more than 10 years, I had celebrated Teachers' Day as a student. And for a good 10 years, I had celebrated it as a teacher. This year, I am fully a parent.

This year, I got the 2 elder Gers to do their own present. Gerry is still too young to be involved. After looking at ideas from the Internet, I had adapted and planned something simple for the Gers...

Looking at what we have in the house, I was simply delighted to find a huge tub of pre-cut heart shaped confetti. That was actually meant for for customary marriage!

Get ready the hearts.

Working intensely...

Look at this!

There! One's done!

Factory...

And of course, Mummy is good at recycling, cos she's in the school's Environment Education Committee! The body of the bookmark was the ice-cream sticks bought for the window decoration activity...

The message was typed by Mummy. Guide lines were printed at the back, so that the Gers can follow the lines and cut. Alas! Their motor skills are not that refined to control that yet. Hence, the product ended up very 'artistic'...

Working with the pinky shears


Packaging in progress

The presents were divided into 2 batches as the Gers found it tiring to cut with the shears. So, the 1st batch was for their form teachers and subject teachers. There was also one for their auntie, Auntie Elsie, who gave Mummy a lot of invaluable advices. The 2nd batch was meant for other staff in the Centre, including Auntie Sharon and the VP Ms Chin. However, the presents were given out on Mon evening in a haste, as the Gerry was down with HFMD, while Gerlyn was put in the suspect list. A decision was made that Gerrard will also stay at home. Hence, the 2nd batch, which was meant to finish up yesterday, had to be given away without the complete packaging...

The product of 2 weekends. A photo collage was attached behind.

What are my learning points:

1. Patience. It really took long hours to do this with the children.

2. Room for mistakes. If the heart or stick was pasted out of alignment, or if the children cut away from the line, so be it!

3. Expectations. If the task matched their ability, they can accomplish, and they feel good about it!

Overall, it was indeed a very good experience and I enjoyed it! I sure hope the teachers like their present!

Gerry's First Days of School

Gerry's finally in school!

Day 1 is bad! Just like the 2 elder siblings, Gerry had the 'first-day-syndrome'. Mummy was too focused on the immersion rather than documentation. Hence, having only one photo at the end of the day...

Hey, it's Daddy and Mummy!

For Day 1 and 2, Gerry was able to wake up in time and he was very fresh after a night's sleep. We left house at 7am. Pretty early for a young kid.

Having a photo taken while waiting for Daddy at the void deck.

For both mornings, Gerry had episodes of his lung and voice box exercises. Think the trs in the Centre will know that he is strong with good lung capacity. Luckily the siblings are around to play a small role of comforting this young bro.

Hmmm... Let me have my burger sweet 1st...

They have books here too? I like reading.

Boohoo! I dun wan Mummy anymore!

Breakfast is served. This banana cake is yummy!

Gerlyn's around to comfort the brother. Good sister!

Fire-drill at Day 2! What an experience. Gerry went down the stairs on his own. Luckily Mummy is around, so he got 3 flights of stairs being 'flown' down. Hmm.. I wonder what happens during a real fire? Children in Pre-Nursery 2 clearly outnumbered the number of adults that they have in the class!

How much luck do we get? Fire drill on Day 2!

A private moment...

Theory of evolution.

Maid's not around and everyone was eating on their own. So Gerry, at Day 2, picked the spoon and ate on his own. Day 1, too hungry, so Mummy fed 1 bowl and Gerry down the 2nd serving on his own.

Bathing, can't do on his own yet. So gotta Q and wait for his turn.

Su Su is not here! I can eat on my own!

Cheese! Q-ing up for a quick bath.

Couldn't wait for naptime. Because that was when Mummy got to sneak out! Just like Gerlyn, Gerry was able to sleep immediately after finishing the milk. Think he's dog-tired. So was Mummy!

Playtime before naptime!

Milk Milk time before nap. Zzzz..

Tomorrow is Day 3, and Gerry will have to go through it on his own right after the routine check at the door. I think he will be able to survive it better than his 2 elder siblings. We shall see tomorrow. But for now, Mummy's gonna Zzzz...

Gerry's going to school!

Next week, my Prince Charming is going to school.

Hopefully that will help to tame him a bit. He's been at home with maid most of the time, and I find him more difficult to discipline compared to the 2 elder Gers during this age. Hopefully through social conformity that this young gentleman learn to grow with others. Now, he is bullying his elder siblings during play. Gervin is spared, and in fact, is much loved by this brother.

I'm excited about next week. Will document more. :)

Cheese!

Loves Mummy's slippers.

Home Intervention Programme 4 - Playdoh

One of the key areas that we are focusing on developing Gerrard is play.

At this age, it is through play that children form friendship with others, improve their communication skills and enhance their creativity.

One of our favourite 'tools' is Playdoh. Of course, we roped in Gerlyn to be Gerrard's playmate. They like it so much that they can spend more than an hour on this on the table and can still go on. As I type this entry, they are playing on their own at the living room.

This reminds me of a conversation that I had with one of the teachers in the childcare centre. The emphasis should not be on handwriting or penmanship for children in preschool. They should be doing more handicrafts. This, I agree. In fact, at home, we refrain from writing or spelling. Though we do let them doodle a lot.

The Gers mainly play, doodle, watch TV (less than 2 h) and read. We have assessment books, which are given by my cousin. But we have not sit down and go through any one of them. With Gerrard's diagnosis, the activities we do tend to be those recommended by the therapists. Everything is back to basics - improving communication, attention span and reading skills. Hence, we can declare that we failed to be the modern Singaporean parents. But I am pretty sure we have provided the Gers with a totally different childhood experience!

惜福！

Brother and sister in action.

Look what I have made!

Gerrard's snowman. Daddy's takking a nap at the background...

National Day 2011

Values and knowledge can be taught from young.

Weeks before the National Day, Gerlyn was caught on camera trying to sing the National Anthem. I will have deducted marks for posture, lyrics and whole lot of other things, but I applaud the teachers' efforts in teaching the kids to sing the Anthem and other national day songs.

As for me, what have I learnt? Invest in a good set of red tee and white pants during Chinese New Year and recycle for National Day! Sounds desperate? No choice, I have evolved into a 'calculative' mum...

Cheese! All 2 dressed for their schs' celebrations...

Of course, Gerrard has a red LFC jersey.

No white bottom. Pink can just do the trick!

Many flaws here. Flaw no. 1: Din stand to attention!!!

Outdoors vs Indoors

As long as the weather permits, we like to bring the kids outdoors. Very soon, Gervin may join the pack!


Hmm... How will that look like??

Sibling Power!!!

Daddy in action!

Gerrard trying very hard.

Huh?! I thought there's a Prince Charming at the end of the tunnel??

Where's my Mummy?

Daddy got to play cos of Gerry.

Whee!!! I can go for many many rounds of this!

I want to go for 3 more rounds!!!

Tah Dah!

Talking about sibling revelry...

When can we get a real decent family photo?!

Big Boss

Despite being petite, Gervin is relatively faster in acheiving his developmental milestones compared to the 3 older Heavenly Kings. At less than 7 months old, he is able to pull himself up and stand by the side of the cot on his own. Now, he's in the process of being trained to sit down and eat. Alas! He is not as interested in the teething biscuits as to watching TV. Instead, he is more curious than his siblings. Likes to observe them play and always turning around to see what they are up to!

Now, it's about a month to my return to the service. I think I will miss him a lot when I'm back at work... :(

Yummy yum yum!

Biscuits and TV are the best!