When a Child asks about Cancer, Do you answer Truthfully?

1. Breast Cancer

What is it? My mom had a full mastectomy more than 15 years ago, my daughter couldn't help but notice the scar. We had to explain what happened in the most basic way that would inform but not scare a child.

2. Awareness and Prevention

Information is vital, it saves lives. All my answers were replied with a 'Why?' Try to explain the possible causes and what are the precautionary measures, what are the risk in the family.

For older children, especially ladies, teach the self breast exam.

Go to a support group if needed. One group my mom is involved in is the Bosom Buddies, where activities, assistance and group discussions happen regularly.

3. Food Groups and Preparation

Discuss what comprises a balanced diet. Which vegetables are best for the body.

Cook and show different food preparation, best if baked or grilled not fried.

4. Family support and Faith

When my daughter was trying to understand what being sick means, I had to explain that each part of our body has a function. It's like a toy, when the mechanism breaks, we have to repair it, else it will not run or function well.

  It is the web of support that will hold you together and cushion each fall, until you are ready to spring back and be whole again.

5. Attend Seminars and Activities

For us parents, to be able to shed light to our little ones, we should be informed ourselves. Makati Med had a film showing, Decoding Annie Parker, (this is for mature audience).

It is about the life of a breast cancer survivor in the 70s and the medical development of BRCA gene mutation , stating that cancer can be in the genes, what a patient goes through, how different it was back then.

If you choose to fight cancer, your goal is winning, if you give up before the fight started, then the battle is lost. To friends, families and patients, take courage because this is a battle to be won.

A Wedding and a Wedding Anniversary

October so far has the most wedding anniversaries I know of (based on my circle of friends).  This month my daughter is chosen to be one of the flower girls in my nephew’s wedding, as every mother, I am excited!

Weddings in the Philippines are a big event. Guests could range from 200-800, this one is close to 400.

For this joyous event we did several activities to make it more memorable.

1.       Vocabulary: Wedding, Vow, Family , Ceremony, Reception

What happens during the ceremony? To answer that, we watched our wedding video.

(This brought tears on our eyes J)

2.       Movement: Practice Walking

Walking the line is another Montessori inspired activity.

Shown below is the wedding march.

3.      Virtue Development: Patience

Waiting for your turn, falling in line

4.       Book: Planting a Rainbow

We talked about flowers, colors and arrangement.

5.       Culture: Dining, Lauriat, Chinese Traditions

6.       Activity: Care for the Flowers

Spray and watering plants, cleaning up the mess

Celebrating our 6^th Anniversary and looking at our children, it has been a busy, crazy, happy, frustrating, fulfilling year for us. I knew two kids will be a handful, yes it is a handful of fun and a pocketful of kisses!

Spooky to Geeky- Mummies, Pyramid, Egypt & Pharaohs

1. Book: I am the Mummy Heb Nefert

We view mummies as what they are, wrapped dead bodies, haunting. The book speaks of the life she once led, how all things pass. I like the way it spoke, it touches the soul. I didn't expect death would be a topic the next day we read it. My daughter was asking how come she speaks when she has passed away?

2. Toys: 

To better get the idea, an actual toy is presented in a humorous way, we couldn't talk too serious about death to a three year old, could we? Hands on play and dancing like an Egyptian.

3. Crafts Ideas:

Mummify this cardboard guy with tissue.

4. Further reading:

We learned about Pyramid's purpose, way of living, how to make a Papyrus (first paper), and a lot about ancient Egypt.

5. Math Shapes: Pyramid

We did 3d drawing, hand drawing, clay making, paper pyramid.

6. Costume Day

Last day of Kindermusik class is Halloween dress-up (Trick or Treat). Reading and learning about Egypt made her appreciate our choice of character, Cleopatra.

Our greatest thanks to my mom who did all the sewing of the whole outfit and prepared the accessories. My participation would only be sourcing the crown.:)

Happy Halloween to all!

Adult Coloring Book Craze

Everywhere I look I see adult coloring books, several themes to choose from, different bindings and paper type. You'll get lost among the chaos of what is supposed to be a relaxing activity.
A recent book launch by Jomike Tejido has caught my eye. He has diverse works ranging from Banig Painting to Children's Books.

Illustrated are select works from his eight years of painting.

What is interesting is that it is Filipino in character, you see Bahay Kubo (Nipa Hut), Maya (common bird found in the Philippines), Ibong Adarna (a mythical bird from Filipino Folktale), Vinta (colorful sailboats) , Butanding (Whale shark) and many more.

Here are our first try, my daughter and my work on the left, my daughter's solo work on their right. We used color pencil as our medium.

Shown above are postcards of some of his works. We got this freebie during the book launch.

We were lucky to have our copy signed.

I am posting some clips from the book, no copyright infringement intended.

All my reviews and selections are based on my honest opinion and is not sponsored in any manner. 

Book: Goodnight Bunny

1. Book: Goodnight Bunny

A very simple story, but it left my daughter laughing.

2. History:  Family Tree

There's an app for your family tree but making or having a picture of each family member will be a great activity for you and your child.

Discuss names we call our relatives, in Chinese every member is specific whether father side or mother side and 1st, 2nd, 3rd child and so on.

We have a big family tree,  we started with our immediate family members.
 I still have to call on relatives to have everybody accounted for.

3.Math: Counting Game

Practice counting , let your child count slowly, in several languages also.

Common Language spoken in the Philippines

This is a go-along book we used for ABC Bunny.

It is time to have annual family gatherings, try to make it more often, have fun!

ABC Bunny Activities

1. Book:ABC Bunny

We have been reading this Five days in a Row.

2. Writing

Practice one letter a day in a pad paper, to make it fun. We did a letter tree just like in the book.

3. Science: Weather

4. Music

We sang the book, notes are included in the book. (Music played and  available in Youtube)

We identified quarter notes.

5. Pre-reading skills

Play games with letter sounds.

6. Art: Charcoal Drawing

7. Art: The Starry Night by Van Gogh

Similar strokes to Vincent Van Gogh's famous painting, we have attempted to do, crayon as our medium.

Wool, Weave , Baaaa!

1. Book
We are currently rowing (reading five days in a row) Ask Mr Bear. A book to go along, we used Charlie Needs a New Cloak.

It is about the process of sheep shearing, weaving and making a cloth.

2. Practical Life Activity
Something as simple as weaving can have several benefits:
  - Development of fine motor skills, manual dexterity and manipulative skills
  - Development of concentration
  - Building self-confidence

We were aiming to weave a new cloak, we weaved a bracelet instead.

3. Art & Science
Dye a cloth.

4. Field Trip

See some Sheep , watch a sheep being sheared, or watch someone who is looming.

Be creative and make it fun, that is the time children learn most.