Tips on Fun Water Play

To get your kids to love water, here's some idea that might be a solution. All these ideas applies to either toddler or preschooler:-

Teaching English as a second language

Hanz's : This sharing was based when Hanafi was at the age between 5 to 6 years old. By now, the English language lesson for him has been some ongoing additional changes and extension, suitable for his ongoing progress.

To be honest, I did not use any specific syllabus or using any specific programs on educating my eldest boy, Hanafi, the English language. Neither do we send him to any English class. Basically, it dawned back to self-research, the available resources and the knowledge and experiences that I possess.

Cooking exposure for the juniors

Want to introduce cooking to your little ones?

The following are some guidelines how cooking can be done based on Concepts and Skills for each age group.

Quick ideas for Preschooler Homeschool activities

You can do homeschooling for your preschooler & have some get-together activities without cracking your brains too much. Here's some ideas for you.

(1) TOOLS

1. Lots of writing materials in different medium (pen, pencil, magic ink, chalk)

2. Painting in different medium (finger-paint, nature-paint, stencils from vegetables, food colouring made from raw materials)

3. Art & Craft books (cut & paste, origami, many more)

4. Toys with purpose (specific for lesson to be learn). You can even create toys.

5. Television with supervision by parents.

6. Child's tennis or badminton racquet set, ball, balloons, etc.

Optics Exposure & Learning Lenses Purpose

Hanz's : More science lesson for my then 5 years old (year 2009)

I am getting more Science learning of late, carefully planned for Hanafi ever since his previous Kindergarten failed to expose Science in their syllabus (one of the reason we stopped his schooling).

Hanafi (even baby Hambali) always fascinated with his (their) parents wearing glasses. I told Hanafi that both his Mama & Papa is far-sighted (rabun) & it is very crucial for us to wear a SPECTACLE so that we can see better. As for his Mama, daytime wearing CONTACT LENSES of course which already being explained to him the functionality still the same like Spectacles. This point onwards, I told him that it is important for him to takecare his eyes well so habit like watching television very near and reading in the dark is a complete No-No.

Creative Magnets Playing

Hanz's : One of the lesson we did when Hanafi was 5 years old.

Creative magnet play includes seeing how many objects one can pick up at a time, pushing one magnet around by the repelling force of another & testing objects around for attraction to magnets.Playing with magnets is a useful science activity in early childhood because it fosters conversation, exploration of materials & learning to make predictions.

The objective of introducing magnet to a child is to make an observation of how magnet work and the usage of magnet. Give example how common appliances in our household like the refrigerator door and in your surrounding like the drink vending machine applies the concept of magnet.Some of the activity you can do for your child to learn about magnet as the list below:

1. Introduce the nature of magnet which is magnetic force that can hold together two piece of magnet despite there is a barrier between the two magnet.




 2. Extend the understanding of magnetic force is strong and show this to your child that when he moves around one of the magnet, the other magnet followsuit because of the magnetic force.




3. Explain the concept of magnetic poles by handling two magnets to your child and ask him to make the two magnets to stay together & to describe what he feels when he push the magnets together or pull them apart.


4. Have a test what object attracts to magnet to help your child understand that the property of magnet is in the material, not a size, shape or colour. It is very common to say that 'magnets attract all metal objects' until your child test it. (As for Hanafi, he was surprised that the magnet did not attracted to 50cent coin & handphone)


5. Record the findings. An example like below:-


6. Finally, let your child 'test' how strong the magnet by playing 'magnet fish'. Challenge your child how many 'fish' he would be able to catch within one minute or so.


Have fun fooling around with magnet with your child. As for my child, Hanafi, he loves it & thought magnet is magic! LOL...

50 Fun Science Ideas for Toddler & Preschooler

Simple science ideas to use with preschooler or toddlers.

1. Make bubbles: Mix one gallon of water with one cup liquid detergent & 50 drops of glycerine.

2. Jet balloons. Fill a balloon with air & let it go. What makes the balloon go?

3. Nature Walk: Take a plastic bag with you on your next nature walk. Encourage your child to collect leaves & small sticks & put them in bag. Ask your child about each item he choose to put in the bag.

Learning About Dinosaurs

Hanz's : Reminiscence trip done middle of year 2009.

A backdated Chat & 1st attempt implementing the Thematic Approach in our Homeschool.

I was keen on Dinosaur Exposure for Hanafi exactly right after I read an entry in Mummy Intan & Farrahar. They went to the recent Monster & Dinosaur Exhibition, held at Mid Valley last 18th April to 17th May. So, I said to dear hubby, "Let's bring our boys there too!"

Before the trip, I purposely intoduced Dinosaur to Hanafi by using this book....

Love to Read | Techniques on instill a love of reading

1. Encourage speech. Talk to little babies, even before they can respond. When young children want something, let them ask instead of rushing to do their bidding immediately.
   

2. Starts with storytelling. Looking at a book together can be a pleasurable experience even when a child is very young. Choose a time when your little one is in the right mood. Make it pleasurable. Hold the child close and make the session short. When he has had enough and loses interest, stop at once.

3. Provide a good example by reading yourself and always have books in the house.

4. Buy books that small children can handle, such as cloth books and board books.

Love to Read | Reading to Preschooler

This time round, specially dedicated to read to preschooler. Please take note that reading never stops, even if your child has already independently read, keep on read-aloud to your child. This is what James J.Trelease advises that you can even still read-aloud to your teenager. And, before there is an existence of tv, people read for amusement, news & entertainment, right? Internet is there, but you are still doing what it had been done right?

Here is an excerpt or summarisation from one of the topic inside the book by Rachel Goodchild, "The Joy of Reading".