Amazing RM2 Chinese books sale

An Amazing rm 2 clearance sale is going on at the classic shanghai bookshop Jln sultan until september 2012. some books are going for 70%, dictionaries for 50%. I met an elderly man in the book shop, he felt unbelievable that books are going for so cheap these days. And yet not many children are reading much. He believes it is the pressure from the school exam has taken away the love for reading stories.

I would feel in cloud nine if I were presented with these books when I was little. However my son finds reading Chinese is quite a task for him. At 7 years he enjoy Enid blyton's. He finds it easier to read English. I was told to be able for one to read Chinese, once has to master approximately 2000 characters. A Chinese reader teacher told me that these days even children from the chinese school cannot achieve decent Chinese reading ability to enjoy reading even at the age of 9, 10.

let's sail

so to commemorate the titanic 100 years anniversary the father has come out with some ideas. We have built the ice boat earlier on, which didnt last too long for them to play in the bath tub. Then we moved on to build something more lasting. A simple raft out of a palm trunk we collected. It's easier to saw than wood! Then we drilled a hole in the middle to fix the mast using a bamboo stick collected from the park near our house. (yes we have a wonderful park nearby that provide us these natural materials!)

We also took a trip up to Penang to experience the ferry and watch ships from afar. The kids were overjoyed! I must say ships are such beautiful invention. Even i started to like these water engines! Such marvelous piece of fine work. They spotted some oil tank ship, a ship sailed from hong kong...

We also borrowed some books from the library, a titanic book and a pirate ship book with beautiful illustration naming all parts of the boat.

Learning Chinese via art, calligraphy and Chinese painting

We are getting a bit concerned about 7 year old shanyang not showing much interest in learning Chinese. He managed his way satisfying his knowledge acquiring needs via phonetic reading the English books. His exposure in Chinese reading has need badly hindered by too much early reading and writing during the 3 years in the kindergarten.

So we hope to revive his interest again slowly. We are experimenting with learning the language via art. we have found teacher lai to be a suitable teacher who specialized in Chinese art and understands children well. So we expressed our concerns to him and we were told that at a tender age of 7 play oriented learning is still the best approach. We feel very comforted to leave our kids in the hand of teacher lai . Today we've had our first class together. The kids had free form art lesson as the teacher still trying to understand the child and I had a Chinese calligraphy lesson. I felt great after the class it seems Chinese calligraphy helps to regulate your breathing and cultivate your emotion. I love to be able to learn at the sametime with the kids, not merely ferrying the kids around.

After hearing from teacher lai, again I am confirmed that young school going kids should still be left to play and experiment instead of learning the hard and fast rules. the ripe age to learn doing calligraphy properly is at about age 10.

It's great I am learning it myself now. So that I can teach him when ever he is ready. Hmmm in homeschooling, it is true that the parents should learn first! And the child would be curious and start to imitate.

Teacher lai' studio
http://yiyuanjuart.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2009-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&updated-max=2010-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=1

Into Boat, ship and marine life (Wednesday 4-4-12)

Recently shanyang showed great interest in transportation on the water. His dad has been telling him about titanic as this ship in sunk sometime around April 15. Dh asked if he could borrow the titanic movie back for the kids to watch, I strongly against it for the movie has much cliche to drown the young kids's senses.

So we try to build an ice boat after lunch. ( I seemed to gain more consciousness after lunch, everyone in the family will come into the similar wave length after having a meal together.)

We spent a long time fixing the boat and left it in the fridge over night. However the time for enjoying the boat floating on the water is too short. The ice melt fast. So I have a dissatisfied 5 yr old complaining his boat is gone. Hmmm... Have to find another way to build a lasting boat again.

Gingerbread man (tuesday -3/4/12)

We've been enjoy reading the gingerbread man book from the library. So it is time to try out the recipes at the back of the book. After a well fed lunch we started our baking project. The kids were overjoyed.

I haven't done baking with them for a long time, as I was over occupied with curriculums. I see sparkles in their eyes, i am blessed with their undivided attention. they are fully engaged with their hands and all the senses. After the first round of bakes, they waited for it to cool down patiently and had it with a cup of cool milk. simply blissful.

I also witness a keen enthusiasm from my 3 yr old daughter in working with her hands. She was so focus in sieving the flour n sugar. I see a rare intense concentration coming from her. Silent Sweat drop from the hair to the forehead.

Taichi homeschooling

It is coming to the 4th month since I started homeschooling my children. I am still finding our pace and dynamics. I started it with over scheduling of outings and visits. I find myself feeling drained n tired to drive far away to new places. tried some regular playgroups n classes, some too far, or doesn't fit all the kids ' age groups.

Even tried to fit into a waldorf school with me teaching shanyang in grade 1. But shanyang seems to be in a stage of "detoxing". He refused to be taught somehow. He rejected the school after 2 days. And the little schooling adventure was very short span.

And phew, we are back to plenty of freedom again!

Now I am experimenting w a 3 day stay home rhythm. Then comesthe outings. That means will have to skip events organized by other homeschooling friends. I find it important to establish my family rhythm. Then it can at least take some anxiety away from the younger kids.

Next thing I try to engage more on the soul level at home. I learnt some pentatonic songs and sing more at home. Try to radiate some positive atmosphere. I just enjoyed myself singing those tune. Not trying to teach in particular. But the kids started to pick up the tune and imitate. Ah... they absorb!

I want to try to paint more... also trying to find out more about a Chinese calligraphy n painting class.

With swimming, they are rather afraid. I just wonder how the kampong kids learn to swim. I guess u just have to play in water more often until the fear of water is gone. I am rather reluctant to send them to class. I managed to convince them to "sleep" in the pool w the face facing up. I support with two hands under their body. Then one hand. To date, they are very happy that I only support them with 1 finger.

The lesson I have learnt so far in the beginning of homeschooling it is all about finding out about ourselves as the chief of this clan, as the magical tour guide. Find out about your touring children, who they really are. Especially if they have gone to school, you would probably have a missing gap some where. They might not be the same as u thought they were last time. So it is so important for both parents n child to take time to chill, to have fun, to understand each other and to love. Before you really decide to commit any classes.

In my first phase of homeschooling - I discovered " tai chi homeschooling". It is not about how much you do but how deep you feel. Go slow.

Class 1 maths block : counting

We went to pd and collected some beautiful stones. I thought this would be great to start our first counting exercise. The sense of touch is great, the stones are cooling, rounded feel very nice to touch. We first group them in five then to 10 and finally to hundred. We have collected 250 stones in total. My initial wild guess was 100 over stones. So I was wrong!

We will continue to count concrete and useful things relating to the world of shanyang. Slowly would increase to one thousand. ideas for counting: rice grain, no of fingers in the family, some of his fav things perhaps. No of steps to the play ground....

Simple home gourmet n washing shoes

Sometimes I forget some v delicious quick home gourmet. Today also make a very delicious chess toast. All u need is a v good block of cheese.

I tried to get the kids to wash their own shoes. At first no one was interested. I had to show some good example myself. I use some soap nut for washing so that it is gentle for the hands. Though not fantastic in removing dirt. When I was done. Xuan came round w his fav pair of Ben sleepers. He was determined to wash his own. My action driven Xuan, u r always the first one to get things done. Bravo!

Cooking is therapeutic

I have been lazy. Shying away from the kitchen. A word from Adeline made me feel encouraged. I asked if I should go out for a quick bite or should I cook myself. To my surprise she asked me to do the latter. She said that I am creative in the kitchen and have the most interesting ingredients.

With that I am arm w strong spirit marching to the kitchen. Open the fridge and dig out some veges. and wao la. Lunch is ready. I should do this more. Let the kids to see me do magic in the kitchen. Have a rhythm going, that I cook on a certain day, perhaps Friday. Sometimes maid cooked till no ideas. N the kids didn't enjoy eating too. Ok i shall cookupfridaystormy night!

Renew work permit for helper

Today went damansara to renew yorn phath's work permit for another year. Arrived at about 1 30pm. She has been with us going into the 3 1/2 year now. No fomema required for the 3rd year going to the 4 th. Paid rm 500. Maid's presence was not required. All I need was to bring her passport with expiry date no less than 1 yr. It was quite a breeze. Left immigration at about 2.30pm with a valid permit. Bought her a shirt to commemorate her domestic effort for another year.

I might need to do this annually. Just to blog this to remind myself.

Lunch out in papa

W a lawyer n a doctor

Making dolls

I never really had a doll So dear that I remember. Mom has sort of trained us not to be too emotionally attached to anything, including pillows. I used to be rather proud of it. That I could go anywhere to sleep without bring anything familiar. But now I am having a second thought, that I might have missed out something, some feelings might have been suppressed. Recently I have picked up a doll making lesson. The doll looks nothing spectacular but the process of making a doll was valuable to me.

After many months part of the doll was complete. It was therapeutic for me to hug it n hold it in my hand. The I handed the doll to my girl. There was an unspeakable truth I felt. Mommy has made my first doll. And mommy will give my first doll to u. She observe every stitches on the doll.

Ok 2 more dolls to go for the boys.

Some online tutorials for making waldorf dolls for your child.
starrysheep.com/crafty/?page_id=645

Birth Mat

Xuan is trying to meditate on the mat.

This post is created with the gentle birth mothers in mind. I had a homebirth 2 years ago, I have one thing to cherish is the sturdy coconut husk mat I sat on. It kept me warm and comfortable, the dark colour mat disguised all the blood stain. The coconut husk inserts can be soaked and washed, not a stain was found after the event.

I often hear mothers wish to do active birthing at home or in the hospital but unable to find a portable yet comfortable solutions on the floor. I really want to share with them this unique product I have come across.

My family still use it a lot now. to have naps, babies crawl, or just bring it along for vacations when you need an extra bed space. Or tuck it beside the bed, in case the little ones fall off accidentally. I have brought in 10 units for sale with RM150 each.

can be carried easily

fold & unfold conveniently

Coco Cool Booster Cushion

It started with me didn't want another piece of baby furniture in my house.  1 1/2 yrs old XinYuan didn't want to sit on her baby high chair anymore. So I ordered some "Booster" Cushions made of coconut husk for this purpose. I also customized a few more to share this idea with other like minded parents. These Coco Cool Booster can be washed n dry easily and it is very cooling and firm to sit on. I got some experienced meditation mats producer from the temple to make this. They have quite a few of other products too like single bed mats, the light weight multipurpose mat (which i used to lie on during my homebirth, not a stain is noticed now. )

So this is how the cushions look like, my 2 yrs old daughter sitting on the Full 4" booster cushion.

She just woke up. This is a Full 4" Coco Cool Booster Cushion.

So I have just a few more to sell to vacant my cupboard for more organic cotton bed sheets perhaps. There are 3 different specs:

 1.)  Full 3": [ 3'' x 14'' x14'' ]  2.) Full 4" [ 3'' x 15'' x15'' ]  3.) Half 4" [4''x15''x10'']
These cushions are suitable for children age 1 1/2 to perhaps 8 yrs, as long as they outgrow from their high chair. If your child is of the smaller build and is very young you can start them with the 4''.

1.)  Full 3" (Height) RM85
[ 4 pieces left only.]

2.) Full 4''   RM90
[SOLD OUT]

3.) Half 4''   RM 65
with space for leg rest
[SOLD OUT]

Other uses of this cushions are many. Both parents and child can use them on the floor for meditation, take them with you when you travel, family reunion dinner etc. (to sit in the car, just to pop them up a bit, absolutely not to replace a car seat)

Xuan is sitting on a Full 3" and Daddy is meditating on a Half 4"

I also sell a meditation cushion set.

Coco Medi Mat   RM 90    [8pcs left]

This is a family shot of all the products. This shot was taken at 7am, both daddy n Xuan were very eager to help me out.

Convenient handle. Xuan is still sleepy...

mid year holidays

It's beautiful to sleep under the stars. My boys did it. Me & 2 yr old girl stayed in the hut.

This time we started the holidays with a kampong stay in Janda baik.When we arrived, there were 10 over cars parked outside. A malay family set up 10 camps in the compound. At 12 noon, the kids were playing in the stream while some women cook up a storm. They had a feast under the trees on a huge tikar . What a nice family bonding trip. They were obviously seasoned campers and brought everything they could including a rice cooker.

They boys had their first camping under the stars. I am so proud. Then we spent the rest of the 2 weeks recouping from this trip, as the kids caught some cough and flu from having too much fun in the river. We stayed in zainiguesthouse.com. A nice kampung set up by a local musician. It could have been better if his french wife wasn't in confinement after her first born. Some of the soft touches like linen, mosqito netting etc of the guesthouse could have been perhaps better. There were lots of mosqitoes at night and red ants on the bed. However the camping facilities provided were adequate. no mosqitoes if you camp. Pillows, blankets and tikars were provided.

I enjoyed staying home with the kids during the holidays. Partly rehearsing what will happen to next year when i homeschool them. I was trying to feel the rhythm of the day. At first they were a bit resistant to activities i planned. All the boys wanted was ipad and tvs. But by the 3rd day after i persisted. waola... they could tune in to the rhythm and went with little complaint.

We usually start the day with a  outdoor play in the park. Then come home for a shower before they do some quiet work. Then it is time for lunch. They would quickly finish their lunch as it is ipad or tv time after that. After 1 round of trashing on the ipad they could nap easily. We do the similar thing even when we have a playdate over. That helped to ground the habit in deeper as they see their peers doing it too.

Tomorrow is my off day with hubby on a day trip to ipoh wo kids. Life is good.

Nice experience climbing up a kampong house. This is the bamboo hut. Bring your own table cloth for better ambiance.