An Applause to Dads!

It's daddy's day. 

We started the morning with a greeting and a hearty breakfast.

The day before, we made our father's day craft and discussed a lesson or two. 

1. Fine motor skills- cutting

2. Math- sizes 

We compared her feet with her little brother's, and also her hand.

3. English
After cutting all the letters we were making the sounds of each letter and rearranging it to make the right word.

4. Science
My daughter was awed learning about light projection and color projection. (we used her blue sunglasses to project blue). 
We learned about shadow and the distance of light from the object affects it's size.

5. Theater

Her dad had a funny mini "show" from the cast of Star Wars.  While watching, my smiling and ecstatic daughter said "Daddy you're the best!"

Independence Day

We are celebrating Independence Day by talking about Flags and Geography.

1. The Philippine Flag
Flags were distributed for independence day celebration, and that inspired my little girl to make one of her own.

To be able to draw it, I made dots for her to follow.
With the original flag on the side she drew and matched the colors,.

2. Philippine Archipelago
The first time my daughter recognized the Philippine Archipelago is through the puzzle map she was using when she was less than 2 years old. She continued to point it out in every place she sees and especially our shirts.

3. Philippine Map
We got her a Philippine Map, we pointed at the places we've been to, her grandmother's province and where we are.
We also color coded Luzon Visayas Mindanao.

To end it, I told her that we are celebrating the time we are free. And she answered me, but mommy I am free. :)

I hope we continue to think like a child and be free.

The Alphabet Game: Bb

It is home shopping time, get your bayong (basket) and let us fill it up with things that starts with letter 'b' ! --or whatever letter your child wants to start with.

Roam around the house.

Get the child saying the sound of b.

Give some samples before you start.

After the shopping, go to the checkout counter.

Prepare a mat as your counter, lay it all out and talk about each item.

One sure way to get kids learning letters is to have fun!

Dressing Themselves

Children want to do everything on their own.
They find a sense of fulfillment when they achieve something new.
With Yayas (Nanny) at their side, we sometimes forget the lesson they learn by doing it on their own.

1. Clothes- Zip it up

2. Stockings- right, left and pull it up

3. Lace the Shoes

4. Wearing Shoes- don't forget to show how Velcro works

5. Accessorize with a bag, zip, snap and hook

Make allowances for time, be patient. Remind them that their skills get honed with persistence and practice. Happy teaching.

Home Cooking #4 Mango Chia

We have been eating a lot of sweets lately, feeling a little bit guilty, so I'm trying a healthier alternative.

Chia seeds are one of the healthiest food with very little calories. Try to mix with every possible drink or dessert you can.

Book: The Sexy Chef Cookbook

Ingredients:

It is the mango topping that made us rave for this. We boast of the Philippine mango, the best I've tasted so far.

Can't let go of her favorite fruit mango

 Not really cooking, just mixing it all up. I have to credit it from the book above, it is easy and tastes good.

My daughter happily helped me prepare this one.

great way to finish off a meal

Best time to start a healthy eating habit is now.

Sensory Bins

I have first read about sensory bins, I thought it is hard to do.

We were all set for the beach and had a sudden change of schedule and went to a swimming pool instead.

We were already talking about sand and sea creatures. To continue with what we started, we made our sandbox.

1. Materials Needed

All you need are the ff:

  -A box (with cover preferably)

  -Sand (or rice, beans, macaroni)

  -10 different toys (select a theme)

  -Shovel and rake (optional)

2. Count

Find the toys and let the child know there are 10 items to find

Let the child find, count and put in a row.

3. Learn about the animals

  -Look for pictures

  -Make an index of the animals or a three part card

photo taken from devianart

  -Read about the specie, one per day is ideal.

  -Watch a video, select one in the wild, not at the zoo

Once you finish 10 animals, in case you have more toys of the same topic, explore other species.

Always make sets of ten so he or she shows what to expext.

4. Read, Find a book to match

Go ahead and make one!

Sort, Recycle, Reuse & Reduce

When I saw my friend's aerial shots of landfill all over the Philippines, I was taken aback, it was worse than what I see in news.
Though there is a world wide campaign for recycling, I seldom see it implemented at every household.

Let us change the way we think starting at our own home. 

1.SORT

It is only recently that the local ordinance mandates every household to segregate biodegradable (nabubulok) and non-biodegradable (di-nabubulok) trash. 

we introduced sorting when she was 2 yrs old

Label your trash.

Anotherway is to put pictures or symbols, make sure it is understood by all in the household.

daughter sticking labels

Teach and Make it a sorting Game 

I urge each parent to start teaching their kids. It will become second nature to them.

Color code helps for immediate recognition and non-readers

photo taken from Houzz

2. RECYCLE or REUSE

Donate or sell boxes, papers and PET bottles
Salvage re-usable items or use it creatively

3. REDUCE

Use ecobags, let's bring back the bayong fashion in the market :)

going to the market with a bayong is common in the 80s

Happy sorting everyone! Think green.