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.

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!

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?!

Admiralty Park

It was our first time there yesterday.

Gerrard was obsessed with climbing up the playground, oblivious to the danger involved. It is pretty high for a 5-yr-old, and I was practically holding my breath while watching him climbing the ropes.

Cruising across from station to station was of no problem for him. Key problem came when he had to come down. He relied very much on Scott for that.

Gerlyn needed Scott to carry her up and down.

Gerry, so sorry, Mummy is a domesticated land animal. So, no climbing...

When we were about to leave, Scott wanted to buy an icecream for the children. While waiting, Dr. Tony Tan actually came to the park with his wife and grandchild! What a pleasant surprise!

Gerrard went up all by himself.

That's pretty high for a 5-yr-old...



Daddy carried Gerlyn up, leaving Gerry, lonely...

Cruising...

Cruising....

Daddy had to carry Gerlyn down.

Gerrard clinged onto Daddy like a koala...

Climbing up the rope net to the top.

Looking lost. Daddy, pls help!

Daddy giving instructions from the chair.

Racial Harmony Day 2011

Having fun again this yr.

Initially wanted them to wear Indian ethnic costume. Daddy went Vietnam with his soccer boys during June. Luckily he's clever enough to buy 2 sets for the older Gers. Super clever, cos Daddy bought 2 hats to go along with the clothes. He even bought a set for Mummy too! Unfortunately the side slits are way too high, gotta alter first...

Mr and Ms Vietnam.

And Daddy's Mr Indonesia.

Gerrard's Holiday Programme

This June, Gerrard had attended 3 holiday workshops. Experiencing difficulties while signing him up for external workshops, we leveraged on the sense of familarity and security that Gerrard has with his classmates/schoolmates. So, this year, we were super 'kiasu' and signed him up for all available workshops (last year, we were more selective). And this holidays, I believe he truly enjoyed himself. :)

Photos are taken and given by Centre's teachers and Admin staff. Enjoy the pics!

Gerrard getting onto the pony with some help.

There goes my little prince.

The next Tiger Woods? Don't worry, Gerrard is a faithful puppy.

Or maybe he is a shotput expert?

Where the fish go?

The essence of preschool experience - happiness and joy in learning.

Hot Wheels 2 - Share Share

We bought a Strider during the June holidays. It was actually for Gerlyn. But it turned out to be a great tool for the kids to learn all about taking turns and sharing.

They really had great fun, and Sembawang Park seemed to turn into our weekly weekend hideout. Only Gerrard seemed to be on the track. But who cares? Just enjoying the fun with the 3 older Gers.

Gerrard having great fun coming down the slope.

Gerry had so much fun that he refused to give up the seat.

Another Teacher Has Left...

Another good teacher has left the centre.

Gerrard has not been easy to handle. Especially after the change in the childcare centre. It was kind of unfair for him to unlearn something that was good, and to relearn. He protested for a while...

For Gerrard, Ms Camille is a nice teacher to have. She is understanding, and at the same time, able to exercise assertion. This is greatly needed, especially after we know that Gerrard has Asperger's Syndrome.

ForGerlyn, when both her teachers left, she refused to enter the Centre on her own for about one or two weeks. Ms Camille and Ms Seet were the familar faces available to coax and soothe her.

I do not know whether was this Gerrard's way of protesting, but there was a good 30-min standoff with him yesterday. Cried, screamed, pushed his siblings, pinched and spat at me. A bad cocktail of all the bad vices, all in that 30 minutes. The last time something like this happened was more than a yr ago, shortly after he changed centre... :(

Too many good teachers has left. I think the Centre should relook into incentives to keep their resources. I think, for a start, they should revise the teachers' pay...

The magic of photos - keeping happier times.

Happy birthday, Daddy! (edited - with pic of present)

Dear Daddy,

Here's the birthday greetings from the 2 older Gers.

Pls make sure your soccer boys win something this year, because you spend so much with them, even on your birthday as well. Make sure you enjoy today in Vietnam!

Clever Gerrard! What's Daddy's is also Mummy's, and what's Mummy's is still Mummy's!

Seems like Gerrard is able to understand that Daddy has gone overseas.

Finally, a proper birthday greeting at the 3rd take!

Daddy's present arrived on time! Thanks to DHL!

This iPad has Daddy's name engraved on it. Now, got to wait for Daddy to come home and open the package.