Learning Tools

Children learns from baby and as they grow older, they learn the cause and effect in everything that they do. Zoos and parks are perfect kids’ learning tools because they teach about animals and nature. Learning tools do not need to be an item. Places and situations make the best lessons. Let them help in the kitchen to learn math skills. Even tidying a room teaches life skills.

The easiest way to begin understanding kids’ learning tools is by the educational toys they play with. Kids’ learning tools are simple. Look for child driven toys that can be played with in multiple ways. Like I have listed before shape sorters, building blocks, open ended games (the rules can be adjusted to fit your child’s age and level), puppets, tent, balls, musical instruments, stuffed animals, trains, cars or dolls, puzzles are toys that they needed in their toolbox.

Another example of kids’ learning tools are children's books. Books open a whole new world to children and teach them about both familiar and unfamiliar situations, people, animals and events. Make sure you to have age appropriate books. Don't expect your toddlers to treat books gently. Their curiosity may incline them to take a great book with flaps and rip them off to see what will happen. As the children begins to read, encourage this challenge with easy readers and phonics books but do not stop reading to the child. Hearing your voice and spending time together is another tool that the child will take with him forever.

Children need to express themselves. Art provides kids’ learning tools of creativity. Children will learn different ways to express ideas, appreciate the beauty of the world around them and have a fun outlet of painting, gluing, and drawing. His hand-eye coordination will also improve as he works on projects.

Teach Respect

In the Philippines, “respect” is one of the most important behaviors, parents and teachers consistently teach to children. What to expect at toddlers? As I said from my previous blog, toddlers have an oppositional behavior and teaching respect will need years of continuous teaching and practice to learn how to show it.

Listening is one of the good examples of respect. It can be hard to wait patiently for a toddler to have his say, but it’s worth it. Let them feel the respect by getting down on their level, looking at them in eye and letting them know that you are interested and you are listening of what they are telling you. It is also the best way to teach them to listen to you, when you are talking to them and by that you will gain the same respect that you show them. Don’t make them associate respect with fear by threatening smack them if they didn’t listen.

Teach them good manners by saying “please” and “thank you” to show care and respect with others. Tell them that you appreciate them when they are polite and tell them also that you don’t like it when they boss you around. Always say “thank you” and “please” not just to your kids but to others as well and they will learn that these phrases are part of normal communication to both your family and in public.

If the child is being naughty by pulling you, call you names or even hit you just to get your attention, talk to them face to face… “We do NOT hit or talk that way in this family (or in this house)”. Tell them that if they want or need something, ask it with respectful manner. “If you want me to watch a video with you, just ask me nicely. Say, ‘Daddy, can you watch a video with me?’” We cannot always ask kids to follow us, because that is normal, there are always disagreements. Remember that when the kids won’t do what you asked them, it doesn’t mean that they are disrespectful -- they just have a different opinion.

One of the best ways to show respect is to be equally kind and firm in your discipline. Kind shows respect to the child and firm shows respect for what needs to be done. If your toddlers throws tantrum in daycare center and say that they are not going in, and none of your strategies work, just stay in one place and let them until they stop. After that ask calmly if they are ready to try again, then go back to daycare center and before you leave explain that you will be back to pick them up. They will learn that tantrums will not change the fact that they are still going to their daycare center.

Praise the child when they show politeness as much as possible, by saying specifically why you praise them. “Thank you for saying please when you asked for your book” or “thank you for saying thank you to your friend for giving you a biscuit.” Be precise, so they will know what they did why you praised them and they will see that their efforts are worthwhile and appreciated.

Teach Generosity

• Toddler Battles

Some of the biggest toddler battles with both parents and friends are fought over sharing toys. This is normal because their happiness are sometimes based on their possessions. Toys are part of their comfort zones that they will not just share to anyone. Sometimes they do proto-sharing, they are willing to let their friends look or touch their possession as long as they are still holding on to it.

• Show it How

The most effective way of teaching children is by showing a good example. During snack-time, ask, "Do you want a slice of my apple? Let me share it with you." and you can also say "Daddy might also want a slice apple, let's share it with daddy. Always use the word "share", so they will learn what it means and to aware them of others' needs.

• Appreciate

When children share, even if it's proto-sharing, appreciate them by telling "I'm happy you shared your toy to me (sibling or your friend). They'll be happy too. They'll be proud of themselves for sharing and that they please you, and in time generous behavior will come out naturally.

• Set Aside

If you know that the child have this precious or new toy, and some friends are coming over for a play date. Tell the child earlier to keep it and tell the child that they can keep it because it is special to them, but explain that all other toys will be for all to play and share.

• Avoid Punishment

Don't make such a big fuss if your child didn't share. Let them know, gently, that you are disappointed. Tell them "maybe next time you are ready to share". Remember that it is normal. ;)

• Learn from Friends

They will learn as well to share from friends. Try not to get involve with every little battle over toys. They will learn to compromise when their playmates go away because of their selfish behavior.

• Time and Support

Try to be patient, if sharing remains a difficulty for your child. Look for the reasons behind this behavior, as I have said before, they maybe possessive of this precious thing because of he feels secure with it. Give them all the love, time and support that they need to work through it and keep the sharing lessons for later.

Community

Thank you to all the group communities who added me. It is a great help for me and my school.

Educational Games for Toddlers

Children are open minded, they are very curious and wants to learn everything around them. They are like sponges that keeps on absorbing informations and knowledge on every activity that they do. Learning through play is one of the best ways for toddlers to learn. Playing using educational toys have the following benefits - increases creativity, develop cognitive, motor and problem solving skills, improves spatial development.

It is important to buy an age appropriate toys for your children. Educational Toys such as "the classics" are still the best toys, that includes - shape and alphabet sorters, puzzles and picture toys, manipulatives such as building blocks and stacking rings. For language development skill, the picture books that have life-like pictures and flash cards from DK Publishing and Teacher's Choice seemed to be very effective. Books, videos and music are very helpful and I personally like the Disney's Baby Einstein Brainy Baby and Little Einstein. You can use electronic educational toys as well but most experts says children learns best while interacting with real people than electronic toys.

Batibot

Who doesn't know the educational, fun and lovable Batibot, especially children in my era (80's) who doesn't want to go to school so as not to miss an episode of Batibot. To those who doesn't know, it is a first Filipino educational children's program that franchised a muppet from the popular CTW in the US.

I can still remember the famous songs they sing in each episode such as Batibot Theme, "Alin-alin ang Naiba", "Ako ay Kapitbahay", "Pagsama-samahin ang Pare-pareho". The very entertaining hosts led by Kuya Bodjie, Ate Siena, Kuya Dwight, Ate Joji and Ate Isay. The adorable muppets made specially by the famous Children's Television Workshop who made Sesame Street in the US - Pong Pagong, and Kiko Matsing. If my memory serves me right, Sesame was it's first title when it was first shown on Philippine television until it became Batibot from an old Tagalog word meaning "small but strong and robust". They added new characters such as Manang Bola, Ging-Ging and Ning-Ning, Sitsiritsit and Alibangbang, Irma Daldal and Kapitan Basa.

When Philippine Children's Television Foundation, Inc. and its partnership with CTW ended, they returned Pong Pagong and Kiko Matsing to the US producers. I remembered crying when I saw the last episode where they last appeared. The PCTFI came up with a new muppet in the name of KOKO KWIK-KWAK, a four year old bird-child inspired by Pag-asa, the first Philippine eagle hatched in Palawan by the Philippine Eagle Foundation, Koko symbolizes hope, and tomorrow's cleaner and greener world.

Batibot may have ended but it will remain in the hearts of the Filipino children. I wish that one day it will be back on air to inspire the children of coming generation.

Thanks to Batibot and www.philonline.com where i got these pictures.

Terrible Twos

Hey guys! Sorry I wasn't able to blog in these past few days because I was searching for some textbooks or any educational activity book for toddlers. I have been searching bookstores and publishers all over manila but unfortunately I am not successful.

As I was browsing on the net awhile ago, I saw this nice blog from Dr. Greene about Terrible Twos. Like it a lot because it is very enlightening and I experience most of what he said not as a parent but as an instructor with the kids in Rockies where I used to work.

Terrible Twos are at the stage of Oppositional Behavior, give them n opportunity of limited choices to accomplish his task to gain skill at making appropriate choices, and at this stage if it's difficult for parents, it is difficult as well with the kids when they opposes their parents as they experience intense emotions. The children's desires tended either to be either responses to physical needs (he was hungry and wanted to eat) or reflections of your desires, things that will make you happy to get your attention.

For children who are tentatively learning to make choices, who is dependent on his parents for food, shelter or emotional support, it is even more intense. Dissolving tears is an appropriate expression of the inner turmoil that is so real for children who are in the midst of this process.

Cherish each learning experiences with your child, you will never know it had already passes and this aspect of your child's unfolding development was already present when he was conceived. Although you will have a large impact on it's course, it is not caused by something you are doing wrong, and it will not last forever.

I hope this blog helps.

happy birthday

happy birthday ma! I love you! thanks for all your guidance, care and love.

long life!!! ;)

GUESS HOW MUCH HUNGRY THE CATERPILLAR

HEY GUYS! I have worked in Australia for couple of years and I have encountered kids of different ages and I can say as I was browsing through the net looking for more books that i can read on my students in RGALC, I saw these two lovely books at WWW.AMAZON.COM and reminds me that when I ask the kids in Australia to bring their favorite books, most of them brought the "GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU" and "THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR".

"GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU" book is about a bunny before going to sleep asked her mommy how much she loves her and her mommy told her the different ways of how much she appreciate and love her. While the other book "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" is about a caterpillar who eats different fruits each day and on Sunday when he rest and become a cocoon, he blossomed as a very colorful butterfly.

I personally like and recommend the book "The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle" because you can count and recite the different fruits, colors, days of the week and the transformation of a caterpillar from a cocoon into a beautiful which will make the children learn and wonder.

The books are available at www.amazon.com

New Classroom

Hey Guys!

This is the wall of the new classroom that I am preparing to decorate for the coming school year 08-09. I looked at different sites regarding wall decorations that really helped me a lot, but that I am having a hard time looking for a removable wall stickers.

I want it to look visually stimulating for the kids ages 2-3 that is why i am starting to buy colorful posters of alphabet, numbers, shapes, colors and even height chart. I am a bargain hunter and I saw these nice building blocks that costs half the price and it's 210 pieces with a very nice container so I purchased. I also bought a cheap but very cute mini baskets for their arts and crafts, a manipulative/educational toys that can entertain them as well as educate them. They are only 2 year olds, you cannot expect them to give you their full attention for a couple of hours in just studying. I have a bought as well a very nice music, rhymes, videos and books.

I have some materials for the floor that I bought at Robinson's, it is really dear but it's alright cause it is really beautiful. I have big cartoon stickers to add a good impression.

I am very excited because this is going to be our school's first early childhood care and development program for ages 2-3 years old.

These coming weeks I will update you with the progress of my new classroom.

Thank you kuya Egay and Aloy for all your love and support!

;) Cheers!

Scenic World Australia

Penrith

Breath-taking scenery, that was the first thought that came to me when i saw this place. This is the Three Sisters in Blue Mountains at Penrith, New South Wales Australia.

My friends and I planned to visit Blue Mountains and I ask them why did they called it Blue Mountains? They said to me, they didn't know why. So, i tried to discover it by myself and funny as you may hear but this is the truth, when i saw these mountain it is really blue because of the clouds and the sky that kisses it.

The other photo that I have is the devil's railway. The miners used to travel with this to get into the mining cave.
You can experience it at Scenic World Penrith, Australia.

RGALC Moving-Up and Recognition Day

Here are some photos of our recent moving up and recognition day. I hosted the program and in behalf of my mum the Directress of this school would like to take this opportunity to thank our special guest speaker Tita Norah who graced our program and shared our students an inspiring words. Thank you!

A new beginning!

hello mates!

This is a new beginning for me... because after being in different countries for two years, I have finally decided to stay in our happy country Philippines! A new beginning with my new house, a new beginning with my new school (preschool learning center) and a new beginning with my family with our new two babies MJ and Takumi. Everything for me is brand new this new year. It's such a different feeling being with your family again, after living independently for two years.

I will show you each day the pictures of the different places i have visited last couple of years and the progress of my new classroom in my new preschool for ages 2-3 years old.

kith