Playeum, The Play Museum
Note to self. We need to take the girls for this. the last time we took them to Jacob Ballas garden, they enjoyed themselves tremendously. Probably can do Saturday, as the kids are free and Anjali doesnt have ballet till 7pm. Need to prepare for brunch though. We'll see how it pans out
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
painting yesterday
The girls and I spent a bit of time yesterday painting with watercolors. Anjali's water color skills have improved tremendously. here's how it began.
"Mummy", says Anjali "Can you do this for me again, so that i can paint it?"
"Do what?", I asked.
"This. where you have drawn a lot of animals and I painted them"
I took out my sketch book. There were precious little sketches left - one of jesus Christ was there.
So Anjali painted Jesus Christ, and painted it well with water colors.
Sophia also wanted to paint. so i drew her a house.
Then Anjali wanted to paint something else - a crab. i am lousy at drawing, but my copywork is decent. So I copied a picture of a crab from one of her books.
And so it began, the crab was followed by four teddy bears (one for Sophia, one for Anjali and two more for Sophia), a pair of scissors and a crab house. I have no clue how to draw a crab house, so I drew a house with a crab on top of it. I thought Sophia might fuss, as she might have expected something like the Sungei Buloh crab house complete with televisions for the crabs to watch and a birthday cake (She had not slept the afternoon, so I drew with trepidation - maybe she would fuss?
But thankfully she was satisfied and colored it. )
"Mummy", says Anjali "Can you do this for me again, so that i can paint it?"
"Do what?", I asked.
"This. where you have drawn a lot of animals and I painted them"
I took out my sketch book. There were precious little sketches left - one of jesus Christ was there.
So Anjali painted Jesus Christ, and painted it well with water colors.
Sophia also wanted to paint. so i drew her a house.
Then Anjali wanted to paint something else - a crab. i am lousy at drawing, but my copywork is decent. So I copied a picture of a crab from one of her books.
And so it began, the crab was followed by four teddy bears (one for Sophia, one for Anjali and two more for Sophia), a pair of scissors and a crab house. I have no clue how to draw a crab house, so I drew a house with a crab on top of it. I thought Sophia might fuss, as she might have expected something like the Sungei Buloh crab house complete with televisions for the crabs to watch and a birthday cake (She had not slept the afternoon, so I drew with trepidation - maybe she would fuss?
But thankfully she was satisfied and colored it. )
Motherhood is Not for Wimps
Motherhood is Not for Wimps
This is an article discussing why I will not leave my children even with people I know quite well.
I totally emphathize
This is an article discussing why I will not leave my children even with people I know quite well.
I totally emphathize
trekking
Anjali did over three kilometers of trekking at MacRitchie yesterday, atleast a kilometer of this was done running. Husband and Anjali stopped at different places of the hike, examining leaves, flowers, ants, spider webs, leaves eaten by insects, ear shaped seeds.. We also picked a few of these things, hopefully there will be occassion to make a nice collage. There were a number of monkeys, which amused Sophia.
MacRitchie is an excellent place to introduce children to nature, second to Sungei Buloh, but ofcourse, they focus on different parts of the eco system.
We referenced Sungei Buloh several times in our MacRitchie trip.
"Sandhya!" said Anjali. "We saw Monitor lizards in Sungei Buloh"
"dho Sungei bulo see ciab houshe!" says Sophia.
I was quite impressed that Sophia remembered the crab houses in Sungei Buloh until
"sit ciab houshe shee tv, shing tuni sella tua la"
Then i remembered the huge crab hole in the sungei buloh museum with illuminated pictures of crabs and lobsters where the girls had spent some time pretending to be crabs and playing some pretend games.
MacRitchie is an excellent place to introduce children to nature, second to Sungei Buloh, but ofcourse, they focus on different parts of the eco system.
We referenced Sungei Buloh several times in our MacRitchie trip.
"Sandhya!" said Anjali. "We saw Monitor lizards in Sungei Buloh"
"dho Sungei bulo see ciab houshe!" says Sophia.
I was quite impressed that Sophia remembered the crab houses in Sungei Buloh until
"sit ciab houshe shee tv, shing tuni sella tua la"
Then i remembered the huge crab hole in the sungei buloh museum with illuminated pictures of crabs and lobsters where the girls had spent some time pretending to be crabs and playing some pretend games.
Is it a phase??
When Sophia was just born, Anjali was two yeard old. She was throwing several tantrums. Mostly involving Mummie caie anniya baby, and such stuff.
"She is upset", we all said. "She is upset that she has a new baby sister and there is less attention to go around for her". Mind you, this is not entirely true, Sophia used to mostly sleep and eat, and unless she was feeding, husband used to be the one who carried her around while i spent time making new activities for Anjali, messing up the house etc.
I do remember the turning point in Anjali's tantrum times. She was two years and two months old in Romania, and Sophia was ill. Overnight, there was a change in the kind and amount of tantrums she threw. She cries less and asked more whys. And blam, the toddler had changed into a little girl. I thought I had gotten to the crux of the problem - Anjali could talk better when she was two years and two months - she could say full sentences, say stories with two or three sentences, etc
Anjali still throws tantrums - mostly when she is hungry, or when she wants to say something but adults override her and carry her (she doesnt like that very much, people carrying her without permission). I think she is entitled to. I throw tantrums sometimes when things get overwhelming, so i guess she can throw them also.
But here is an example of a flawed hypothesis - Sophia will not throw tantrums because she can talk. We have recently found reason to believe that the terrible twos are terrible twos, regardless of whether the kid can communicate using language or not. Here is an example of what happened.
Husband and I took the girls and Sandhya to Mac Ritchie reservoir. They had had a decent breakfast - but the park air and good walking (in Anjali's case atleast) makes you hungry. I had packed some brioche (thanks to the bread machine), which the girls ate upon entering the park and some mamaliga for lunch. As they had had brioche at eleven, we waited till noon for lunch. Everyone was fairly hungry.
To make life easier for husband, who otherwise had to carry food for five people, and because we wanted to get the children in the habit of carrying their own loads, I packed a backpack for Anjali, with her lunch in a box, cake and water. The same went for Sophia and for each of us. It was from this lunchbox of Sophia's that I took her lunch out.
"No.", she said immediately. "aant plate"
Sandhya, who had a bigger lunchbox than Sophia immediately gave her the cover of her box to use as a plate. Was she satisfied?
Of course not.
"Aant nother plate!"
And so the tantrum began. And it went on and on and on.
"They both have their own styles of thrrowing tantrums", said husband sagely later, much later. "Anjali used to lie down whereever she was - road, home, shopping mall, airport and cry. Sophia's style is to run ten meters away from you when she is annoyed"
So husband went to console her for a bit while I fed Anjali. Nothing doing. She came back to me and was streaming in tears, that wouldnt let off. She was belyond a plate now - she wanted bua. But even that couldnt stop her.
Anjali finished her dinner, ran around a few times and wanted lollipop. Sandhya had given them lollipop that morning, and they had both stowed it in their backpacks. Sophia also wanted lollipop. It was time for a silly choice.
"Do you want to eat mamaliga now or after lollipop?"
"After lollipop."
I took the lollipop out of her bag and held it in front of her. She tried to reach of it, and I held it out of her reach.
"Will you eat mamaliga after eating lollipop"
Glare.
"Yes or no?"
A very sulky "yes"
"Do I have your word?"
"yes"
Well, she kept her word and was almost through her lunch, when we saw the monkeys. So we had to close the box
.
"She is upset", we all said. "She is upset that she has a new baby sister and there is less attention to go around for her". Mind you, this is not entirely true, Sophia used to mostly sleep and eat, and unless she was feeding, husband used to be the one who carried her around while i spent time making new activities for Anjali, messing up the house etc.
I do remember the turning point in Anjali's tantrum times. She was two years and two months old in Romania, and Sophia was ill. Overnight, there was a change in the kind and amount of tantrums she threw. She cries less and asked more whys. And blam, the toddler had changed into a little girl. I thought I had gotten to the crux of the problem - Anjali could talk better when she was two years and two months - she could say full sentences, say stories with two or three sentences, etc
Anjali still throws tantrums - mostly when she is hungry, or when she wants to say something but adults override her and carry her (she doesnt like that very much, people carrying her without permission). I think she is entitled to. I throw tantrums sometimes when things get overwhelming, so i guess she can throw them also.
But here is an example of a flawed hypothesis - Sophia will not throw tantrums because she can talk. We have recently found reason to believe that the terrible twos are terrible twos, regardless of whether the kid can communicate using language or not. Here is an example of what happened.
Husband and I took the girls and Sandhya to Mac Ritchie reservoir. They had had a decent breakfast - but the park air and good walking (in Anjali's case atleast) makes you hungry. I had packed some brioche (thanks to the bread machine), which the girls ate upon entering the park and some mamaliga for lunch. As they had had brioche at eleven, we waited till noon for lunch. Everyone was fairly hungry.
To make life easier for husband, who otherwise had to carry food for five people, and because we wanted to get the children in the habit of carrying their own loads, I packed a backpack for Anjali, with her lunch in a box, cake and water. The same went for Sophia and for each of us. It was from this lunchbox of Sophia's that I took her lunch out.
"No.", she said immediately. "aant plate"
Sandhya, who had a bigger lunchbox than Sophia immediately gave her the cover of her box to use as a plate. Was she satisfied?
Of course not.
"Aant nother plate!"
And so the tantrum began. And it went on and on and on.
"They both have their own styles of thrrowing tantrums", said husband sagely later, much later. "Anjali used to lie down whereever she was - road, home, shopping mall, airport and cry. Sophia's style is to run ten meters away from you when she is annoyed"
So husband went to console her for a bit while I fed Anjali. Nothing doing. She came back to me and was streaming in tears, that wouldnt let off. She was belyond a plate now - she wanted bua. But even that couldnt stop her.
Anjali finished her dinner, ran around a few times and wanted lollipop. Sandhya had given them lollipop that morning, and they had both stowed it in their backpacks. Sophia also wanted lollipop. It was time for a silly choice.
"Do you want to eat mamaliga now or after lollipop?"
"After lollipop."
I took the lollipop out of her bag and held it in front of her. She tried to reach of it, and I held it out of her reach.
"Will you eat mamaliga after eating lollipop"
Glare.
"Yes or no?"
A very sulky "yes"
"Do I have your word?"
"yes"
Well, she kept her word and was almost through her lunch, when we saw the monkeys. So we had to close the box
.
Friday, October 29, 2010
the most wonderful technology since post its
Is ofcourse the bread machine. I used it to make a loght rye bread for lunch today, as husband had fish and i was trying to decide between pasta and sandwich. As husband needed bread with his fish anyways, i went for the sandwich
Dancing
A tall tower
And when it got too tall for her, this is what she did.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
A jonah day
Anjali had a real jonah day yesterday. She began the morning by throwing a tantrum about her box of hairclips. Then she wet her clothes in school and had to be changed. When she returned Sophia and Anjali were playing in a boat that they had fashioned out of duppattas. Patti had gone for a minute to the bathroom and Sophia had fallen. Anjali, seeing the blood on Sophia's lips had panicked and tried to carry her.
Patti returned, picked Sophia and chided Anjali along the lines of - I had just gone for a minute and then you get into mischief. She had then picked Sophia and cuddled up with her on her chair.
Anjali had, immediately gone into her cave. a.k.a dining table. Sophia, after about one point five seconds had said "aant to go to Anchaali" and had joined Anjlai in her cave.
Anjali then puts her arms around Sophia "You listen only to me, Sophia, dont listen to patti okay?"
Yesterday's dinner was soup and bread. The beans were a bit undercooked and the girls just drank the soup water and had some bread. As a result, by the time we were ready to leave the playground, Anjali was throwing yet another tantrum for water (her bottle had run out of water) and Sophia was busily complaining to Pooja, who was pushing her swing and asking her what had happened to her knee (where there was a small and ancient cut)
"Anchaali puch me, Shopia dop"
"Where did Anjali push you?", asks Pooja
"in the boat"
"In the boat?"
"hmm. duppatta boat"
Of course, pooja didnt understand what a duppatta boat was, but I was ready to take her home, whereupon, she immediately thre a tantrum about
"no no five minat"
We came home and there was yet another tantrum about Anjali not liking Mozerella cheese in her noodles and then Sophia threw a tantrum for no reason at all (Sophia generally throws a tantrum when Anjali throws one - its called Sympathetic tantrum) and I had a stomach ache from eating undercooked beans and husband had no stomach ache from eating them.
And then (it is a bit hard to go around the evening with one kid shouting)
"story story story story"
and another kid shouting
"amma bua amma bua amma bua amma bua"
By the time the whole thing finished, I was quite burnt out and slept like a fair log
Patti returned, picked Sophia and chided Anjali along the lines of - I had just gone for a minute and then you get into mischief. She had then picked Sophia and cuddled up with her on her chair.
Anjali had, immediately gone into her cave. a.k.a dining table. Sophia, after about one point five seconds had said "aant to go to Anchaali" and had joined Anjlai in her cave.
Anjali then puts her arms around Sophia "You listen only to me, Sophia, dont listen to patti okay?"
Yesterday's dinner was soup and bread. The beans were a bit undercooked and the girls just drank the soup water and had some bread. As a result, by the time we were ready to leave the playground, Anjali was throwing yet another tantrum for water (her bottle had run out of water) and Sophia was busily complaining to Pooja, who was pushing her swing and asking her what had happened to her knee (where there was a small and ancient cut)
"Anchaali puch me, Shopia dop"
"Where did Anjali push you?", asks Pooja
"in the boat"
"In the boat?"
"hmm. duppatta boat"
Of course, pooja didnt understand what a duppatta boat was, but I was ready to take her home, whereupon, she immediately thre a tantrum about
"no no five minat"
We came home and there was yet another tantrum about Anjali not liking Mozerella cheese in her noodles and then Sophia threw a tantrum for no reason at all (Sophia generally throws a tantrum when Anjali throws one - its called Sympathetic tantrum) and I had a stomach ache from eating undercooked beans and husband had no stomach ache from eating them.
And then (it is a bit hard to go around the evening with one kid shouting)
"story story story story"
and another kid shouting
"amma bua amma bua amma bua amma bua"
By the time the whole thing finished, I was quite burnt out and slept like a fair log
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Drawing
We have a white floor and it makes a huge white board/ hopscotch play area, drawing board when worked with temporary white board markers. After finishing, hand the girls a wet towel, or if it is too late, incorporate it into the morning mopping session
Yesteray, i drew up a hopscotch board, with numbers for Anjali to jump. Jumping numbers helps to work addition, subtraction etc (Jump one step from 2, three steps from 5 etc). It also helps Sophia with her number identification skills.
Then we drew a giant map of going in a train from Singapore to Taman Negara, and Anjali helped to paint the ocean (use blue marker to paint the ocean) and the trees. The camera was out of battery so no picture, maybe we'll do it again today. Thats good for the literacy too, I think
Yesteray, i drew up a hopscotch board, with numbers for Anjali to jump. Jumping numbers helps to work addition, subtraction etc (Jump one step from 2, three steps from 5 etc). It also helps Sophia with her number identification skills.
Then we drew a giant map of going in a train from Singapore to Taman Negara, and Anjali helped to paint the ocean (use blue marker to paint the ocean) and the trees. The camera was out of battery so no picture, maybe we'll do it again today. Thats good for the literacy too, I think
like me
We were digging through some of my old photo albums yesterday - those of me when I was a kid, with Sandhya as a baby (Sophia insisted that the baby was her and the big girl was Sandhya. its sort of logical, as Sandhya was sbout two years old when the pictures were taken) and such.
Flipping the pages, we came to a section of old concert photos at the center, poems of Sri Aurobindo, Savitri etc. I pointed out Sophia's godmother in many of the photos.
"Who is this?", asked Anjali, pointing to one photo where a little boy was standing on stage, wearing a peacock feather on his head.
"This is Krishna", I explained
"Why Vishnu is always dresing up as Krishna?", she asked. Evidently, she was remembering that Vishnu had dresed up as Krishna in the Gita Jayanti program too. I didnt remember that, and spoke with reference to the photo alone
"Now, when we do a program, you are dressing up as Krishna. A long time ago, Vishnu was a baby and cute and we always used to dress him up as Krishna"
"Like me?" Asked Sophia
"Just like you", I said.
"Like me also?", asked Anjali
"Yes. like you also"
"Like me?"
"Like me?"
They kept at it for so long that I was torn ebtween laughing and changing the subject.
i decided on laughing.
Note to self: It is necessary to get more albums for the kids
Flipping the pages, we came to a section of old concert photos at the center, poems of Sri Aurobindo, Savitri etc. I pointed out Sophia's godmother in many of the photos.
"Who is this?", asked Anjali, pointing to one photo where a little boy was standing on stage, wearing a peacock feather on his head.
"This is Krishna", I explained
"Why Vishnu is always dresing up as Krishna?", she asked. Evidently, she was remembering that Vishnu had dresed up as Krishna in the Gita Jayanti program too. I didnt remember that, and spoke with reference to the photo alone
"Now, when we do a program, you are dressing up as Krishna. A long time ago, Vishnu was a baby and cute and we always used to dress him up as Krishna"
"Like me?" Asked Sophia
"Just like you", I said.
"Like me also?", asked Anjali
"Yes. like you also"
"Like me?"
"Like me?"
They kept at it for so long that I was torn ebtween laughing and changing the subject.
i decided on laughing.
Note to self: It is necessary to get more albums for the kids
Monday, October 25, 2010
I am small
"Sophia, You are growing big", said husband to Sophia on our way to the library.
"I am small". said Sophia, who was being carried.
"No Sophia, you are quite big, you know", I joined
"No. Anchaali big, Shapia small"
"You are big and you should walk", I said
"No. mummy caie me. this called small", indicating herself
Later we got into a crowded train.
"Where's daddy", asked the concerned girls. Daddy had gotten stuck somewhere near the door and was making his way towards us.
"Where's daddy", asked Sophia again when we got off the train, craning her neck and looking around to find husband, who had alighted ahead of us
"She is so concerned about me", says husband.
"Sophia", I said seriously. "Daddy is so small, and we have to take care of him, ok?"
"Daddy big!" she exclaims, pointing out the obvious and giving me a mom you are so silly expression. "Shopia shmall. Daddy big!"
"I am small". said Sophia, who was being carried.
"No Sophia, you are quite big, you know", I joined
"No. Anchaali big, Shapia small"
"You are big and you should walk", I said
"No. mummy caie me. this called small", indicating herself
Later we got into a crowded train.
"Where's daddy", asked the concerned girls. Daddy had gotten stuck somewhere near the door and was making his way towards us.
"Where's daddy", asked Sophia again when we got off the train, craning her neck and looking around to find husband, who had alighted ahead of us
"She is so concerned about me", says husband.
"Sophia", I said seriously. "Daddy is so small, and we have to take care of him, ok?"
"Daddy big!" she exclaims, pointing out the obvious and giving me a mom you are so silly expression. "Shopia shmall. Daddy big!"
Pizza and cupcakes
We made blueberry cupcakes on Sunday morning and baked them. They came out beautiful. The difference of, course, was that these were in a cup instead of in a big baking tray.
For Sunday evening, there was pizza. The breadmachine made the dough and the girls helped me to spread the dough into the baking tray. Then, Anjali helped to toss the topiings and the cheese (Sophia was busy washing her dough covered hands.). Then, Anjali asked for mozerella cheese to eat along side.
We invited patti, thattha and Sandhya over and I made a salad to add some more vitamins into the whole thing. Tha salad was accompanied by flax bread (courtesy of the bread machine)
Why go to the restaurant when you can have this kind of food at home?
I have been keeping track of our restaurant trips and came to the conclusion that we eat out about once a month. The last time we ate out was when Sandhya took us to Annalakshmi, and that was nearly three weeks ago. We havene been to pasta mania since August and when I attended a conference last week and had to eat from their buffet, I was really missing my own healthy oil free flax seed supplmented food.
My god! Can you believe it? As early as when i was pregnant with Sophia, we used to go to pasta mania atleast twice a month and supplement it with frequent canadian pizza.
Home made pizza? Cool!
For Sunday evening, there was pizza. The breadmachine made the dough and the girls helped me to spread the dough into the baking tray. Then, Anjali helped to toss the topiings and the cheese (Sophia was busy washing her dough covered hands.). Then, Anjali asked for mozerella cheese to eat along side.
We invited patti, thattha and Sandhya over and I made a salad to add some more vitamins into the whole thing. Tha salad was accompanied by flax bread (courtesy of the bread machine)
Why go to the restaurant when you can have this kind of food at home?
I have been keeping track of our restaurant trips and came to the conclusion that we eat out about once a month. The last time we ate out was when Sandhya took us to Annalakshmi, and that was nearly three weeks ago. We havene been to pasta mania since August and when I attended a conference last week and had to eat from their buffet, I was really missing my own healthy oil free flax seed supplmented food.
My god! Can you believe it? As early as when i was pregnant with Sophia, we used to go to pasta mania atleast twice a month and supplement it with frequent canadian pizza.
Home made pizza? Cool!
Friday, October 22, 2010
Lightbulb lab
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Teaching video
Here is a video of Anjali teaching Sophia to dance. Some curious things to point out.
Anjali being the teacher, husband is the drummer - which explains his curious getup and duppatta, and Sophia is the student, whose name is cinderella. They were at it for half an hour already earlier, before I grabbed the camera.
Anjali saying "First I show you the nethra and tripathaka". I have been working with her on some of the mudras. She is mixing them up quite a lot.
Later on I will be coming in and my name is perdita. Its interesting how Sophia picks these things up. During the duration of the play, she was calling me Perdita
Mental representation
"Mummy, what is beach mean?" asks Sophia, on our way to Sentosa on Sunday
"A beach is a place with waves and water", I explain
"patti'sh oush shimming pool waves shee"
"Thats right. its like patti's house swimming pool waves"
"Shopia aant to sit amma's lap shee waves patti' sh oushe shimming pool"
"Ok"
==========
We went to the beach. Sophia began to cry
"No. aant to shim shimming pool patti's oushe waves shee"
Evidently, she was expecting some kind of pool and got surprised by all the sand. She did have a good time though.
Except when she ate some sand by accident and I had to take it out.
"A beach is a place with waves and water", I explain
"patti'sh oush shimming pool waves shee"
"Thats right. its like patti's house swimming pool waves"
"Shopia aant to sit amma's lap shee waves patti' sh oushe shimming pool"
"Ok"
==========
We went to the beach. Sophia began to cry
"No. aant to shim shimming pool patti's oushe waves shee"
Evidently, she was expecting some kind of pool and got surprised by all the sand. She did have a good time though.
Except when she ate some sand by accident and I had to take it out.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Thigns have been happenng
Things have been happening, and I havent had time to report on them. Lets see what has happened over the past few days.
Fire is burning in forests in Indonesia. The whole place is hazy and I couldnt bring the children to the playground yesterday. So we locked the windows, turned the aircon and decided to stay at home. At this juncture, I have to say that the lightbulb lab is an absolute success. Thank you Kevin Henkes. YEsterday, Anjali asked me to draw her a butterfly, and then she copied my butterfly, cut it out, cut out her own scotchtape and stuck it on the wall. The interesting side effect of this is that we have scraps of paper taped to all the walls with yellow tape, drawings with bright markers on the guinea pig cage etc. Ofcourse, all this makes me very happy.
Sophia has started some new extended words. Anjali used to do this when she was in Sophia's age, saying things like mummiya, pattiya, anniya, adiya. Sophia's favorite suffix is li. i guess it comes from frequency and intermediate level categorization and learning, and probably the most frequently heard word in her world is Anjali and therefore her natural suffix is li. Here are some of the suffixed words
"go playground swing joolali"
"want to dink buali"
"making ooshali" (she is quite completely toilet trained by the way, just for the record)
And yesterday, as I was having dinner and Anjali was sitting next to her guinea pig cage and Sophia was sitting near the bookshelf fiddling around with whatever she was fiddling around with, she suddenly said "amma, amma"
"Yes I asked"
Sophia stodd up, came toward me, bypassed me and went to Anjali.
"amma.", she said.
"YEs Sophia"
"Sophia thinks that Anjali is her amma, its her new game", said husband who had been back early from work and had witnessed this play before.
"Amma, I love you", says Sophia to anjali, hugging her
Soooo cheezy.
The girls helped me backe plum cake. They especially liked poking plums in the batter.
I thank the lord who invented bread machines and cakes to keep sanity on hazy days,
And Kevin Henkes of course. Some videos and photos expected soon as I have some time.
Husband got told off by bunica yesterday for letting Anjali alone in the bus.
he he
Fire is burning in forests in Indonesia. The whole place is hazy and I couldnt bring the children to the playground yesterday. So we locked the windows, turned the aircon and decided to stay at home. At this juncture, I have to say that the lightbulb lab is an absolute success. Thank you Kevin Henkes. YEsterday, Anjali asked me to draw her a butterfly, and then she copied my butterfly, cut it out, cut out her own scotchtape and stuck it on the wall. The interesting side effect of this is that we have scraps of paper taped to all the walls with yellow tape, drawings with bright markers on the guinea pig cage etc. Ofcourse, all this makes me very happy.
Sophia has started some new extended words. Anjali used to do this when she was in Sophia's age, saying things like mummiya, pattiya, anniya, adiya. Sophia's favorite suffix is li. i guess it comes from frequency and intermediate level categorization and learning, and probably the most frequently heard word in her world is Anjali and therefore her natural suffix is li. Here are some of the suffixed words
"go playground swing joolali"
"want to dink buali"
"making ooshali" (she is quite completely toilet trained by the way, just for the record)
And yesterday, as I was having dinner and Anjali was sitting next to her guinea pig cage and Sophia was sitting near the bookshelf fiddling around with whatever she was fiddling around with, she suddenly said "amma, amma"
"Yes I asked"
Sophia stodd up, came toward me, bypassed me and went to Anjali.
"amma.", she said.
"YEs Sophia"
"Sophia thinks that Anjali is her amma, its her new game", said husband who had been back early from work and had witnessed this play before.
"Amma, I love you", says Sophia to anjali, hugging her
Soooo cheezy.
The girls helped me backe plum cake. They especially liked poking plums in the batter.
I thank the lord who invented bread machines and cakes to keep sanity on hazy days,
And Kevin Henkes of course. Some videos and photos expected soon as I have some time.
Husband got told off by bunica yesterday for letting Anjali alone in the bus.
he he
Friday, October 15, 2010
lightbulb lab
Lightbulb lab is done. Anjali wanted to spend a few minuted before leaving for patti's house working on it, and she drew a sun/ spider and put some tape around. It took a long time to sew, but I think it was worth it. The problem: glue. If I give the girls a tube of glue, they tend to use the lot (Anjali once spent the whole bottle off glue in making a half page size collage. The collage was lovely - but it took three days to dry and is still stiff. The girls dont seem to like the glue stick as much)
Ofcourse, i do have a horror of letting Sophia with the glue. ideas and suggestions welcome
Ofcourse, i do have a horror of letting Sophia with the glue. ideas and suggestions welcome
Thursday, October 14, 2010
lightbulb lab
We were reading lilly's purple plastic purse by kevin henkes, and I asked Anjali whether she wanted a lightbulb lab like lilly. She did, and so Ii have been working on it for the past week. here is what i have been doing.
I took a large sheet of cardboard (the cover of an old toy box) and put some cloth around it (One of my pants was torn at the knee, and I had it shortened to bermudas. The legs were still around, and I cut them up for this project). Then i made pockets out of a jean leg (again the reminder of a jean to bermuda conversion). there are several pockets - for markers, chalks, crayons, paper, scissors, glue etc.
The problem was how to fix the pockets to the board.
I tried tape, it wasnt strong. Husband suggested staples. It didnt work either. So I am sewing the pockets to the board. Almost done.
Now, a few days ago, i had already put up the lightbulb lab with staples for Anjali. She had used it until I had to take it down because the staples had come out and it looked a bit dangerous. As sewing takes time, I had put away the lab. I didnt expect her to remember it.
Yesterday she took me over to the guinea pig cage
"Mummy, see, I drew a two there"
I would have been happy if it was a snake or something, but it was really a two. So I was wuite thrilled.
"When did you draw it?" I asked.
"That day that you made the lightbulb lab and put markers in it, I took the yed marker out and drew with it in the pig cage"
So that made me double my efforts to get the lightbulb lab finished faster. Maybe i would work some prereading skills in it as well.
I took a large sheet of cardboard (the cover of an old toy box) and put some cloth around it (One of my pants was torn at the knee, and I had it shortened to bermudas. The legs were still around, and I cut them up for this project). Then i made pockets out of a jean leg (again the reminder of a jean to bermuda conversion). there are several pockets - for markers, chalks, crayons, paper, scissors, glue etc.
The problem was how to fix the pockets to the board.
I tried tape, it wasnt strong. Husband suggested staples. It didnt work either. So I am sewing the pockets to the board. Almost done.
Now, a few days ago, i had already put up the lightbulb lab with staples for Anjali. She had used it until I had to take it down because the staples had come out and it looked a bit dangerous. As sewing takes time, I had put away the lab. I didnt expect her to remember it.
Yesterday she took me over to the guinea pig cage
"Mummy, see, I drew a two there"
I would have been happy if it was a snake or something, but it was really a two. So I was wuite thrilled.
"When did you draw it?" I asked.
"That day that you made the lightbulb lab and put markers in it, I took the yed marker out and drew with it in the pig cage"
So that made me double my efforts to get the lightbulb lab finished faster. Maybe i would work some prereading skills in it as well.
An important lesson
Both husband and I agree that Anjali learnt an important lesson yesterday, although we are not very sure what that lesson was.
We were leaving patti's house. Anjali was very excited - she was going with her class to school the next day - and she was carrying a nice red balloon - and she ran all the way down the slope, found that her buckles were not strapped, strapped them properly, and ran across the road.
It was a small road, and a pedestrian crossing too. No cars were in sight, but I still lost my head for a minute.
"Anjali, stop right there!"
She stopped. There was a moment of horrified silence from her. she had, i believe, in her excitement, not realized where she was going. perfectly understandable, but, its the sort of thing that will get her into hot water in future.
Ok. deep breath. husband and i took Sophia and crossed the road. Love and logic (thank the book!) worked out.
"Ok Anjali, mummy and daddy want to tell you that it was wrong to run across the road like this by yourself", began husband. "Can we take your balloon until you cross the road properly?"
Accordingly, the balloon was pased to me. Anjali threw a tantrum, but we stuck to our guns. Sophia was walking, so i walked with her while husband and Anjali marched in front.
By the time they were through the third crossing (I was waiting for them at the end of the crossing), Anjali was ready for her balloon and explaining that if daddy runs across the road, she would take away his bag and his laptop.
We were leaving patti's house. Anjali was very excited - she was going with her class to school the next day - and she was carrying a nice red balloon - and she ran all the way down the slope, found that her buckles were not strapped, strapped them properly, and ran across the road.
It was a small road, and a pedestrian crossing too. No cars were in sight, but I still lost my head for a minute.
"Anjali, stop right there!"
She stopped. There was a moment of horrified silence from her. she had, i believe, in her excitement, not realized where she was going. perfectly understandable, but, its the sort of thing that will get her into hot water in future.
Ok. deep breath. husband and i took Sophia and crossed the road. Love and logic (thank the book!) worked out.
"Ok Anjali, mummy and daddy want to tell you that it was wrong to run across the road like this by yourself", began husband. "Can we take your balloon until you cross the road properly?"
Accordingly, the balloon was pased to me. Anjali threw a tantrum, but we stuck to our guns. Sophia was walking, so i walked with her while husband and Anjali marched in front.
By the time they were through the third crossing (I was waiting for them at the end of the crossing), Anjali was ready for her balloon and explaining that if daddy runs across the road, she would take away his bag and his laptop.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Vishnu is scared of guinea pigs
When Vishnu came to see Cinderella and Kitty Cox, he climbed on top of the sofa and refused to get down. When he did get down, he hid behind his mother until the pigs were out of arm's reach.
Somehow, Vishnu being scared of the pigs has given Sophia a lot of encouragement. While before, she simply used to touch the pigs, these days, she spends more time with them, Bingo especially, stroking and tugging his fur, sitting next to him and giving him food, and kissing his fur.
Ofcourrse, she is small and easily excitable, so she tends to move fast and speak loudly. Anjali understands when I tell her to be gentle with the pigs, though sometimes, she too in enthusiastic and tries to dance with them, but Sophia tends to be loud.
This is especially so when we leave the pigs to run in the corridor.
Somehow, Vishnu being scared of the pigs has given Sophia a lot of encouragement. While before, she simply used to touch the pigs, these days, she spends more time with them, Bingo especially, stroking and tugging his fur, sitting next to him and giving him food, and kissing his fur.
Ofcourrse, she is small and easily excitable, so she tends to move fast and speak loudly. Anjali understands when I tell her to be gentle with the pigs, though sometimes, she too in enthusiastic and tries to dance with them, but Sophia tends to be loud.
This is especially so when we leave the pigs to run in the corridor.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
cycle talk
"Who wants to come with me in the bicycle?", i asked.
"Me!" cried Anjali, very enthusiastically.
However, when it was time to strap her on the bicycle, she began to have second thoughts. "I am very scared mummy, I'll fall. Daddy, are you going to drive the bicycle?"
"Do you want to go with daddy on the bicycle?"
"yes..."
So, I borrowed a dupatta from patti to tie Sophia in for the walk. But Sophia didnt want to walk.
"aant to dho bicyshle Shopia now!"
"There's room for only one baby in the cycle Sophia, you come with mummy in the duppatta"
"noooo. aant to dho here bishyshle"
And so it happened that Sophia bucked on the baby seat, Anjali sat on the driver seat and husband and I held the bicycle on either handlebar and pushed the thing home.
"Is this a bicycle or a stroller?", I asked "We should buy another bicycle... one that you can add a baby seat to. then we can take both girls out"
"Mummy, but daddy can put the baby seat on his road bike"
"No Anjali", explained husband, "My road bike cant hold your weight"
"But it can hold your weight.", said the solution finder. "and you are much heavier."
Talk about spotting holes in the solution. She ought to be the director of a research company.
"Yes, but it cant support your weight and my weight together", said husband.
That seemed to satisfy the imp.
"Ok. I have a good idea", she said. "Mummy, you and Sophia can go in this bike, and Sophia can sit like this on the baby seat ok?.. And me and daddy will go on the blue bike"
"Which blue bike?"
"I will go on my blue bike and daddy can go on his blue bike"
"Ok"
"that will be vei fun"
"right"
"And then after we go on the three bike thing, we can go again like this, with Sophia sitting in front and me sitting behind and the two of you push"
"vei funny!", says the other imp.
============
Anjali put her shoes on the wrong legs again.
"Your shoes are on the wrong legs", thattha pointed out.
Anjali glanced down.
"Its ok thattha"
"If you put your shoes on the wrong legs, you cant walk", observed thattha
"But I am not going to walk, i am going on the bicycle."
Its nice to see thattha losing an argument and being happy about it.
"Me!" cried Anjali, very enthusiastically.
However, when it was time to strap her on the bicycle, she began to have second thoughts. "I am very scared mummy, I'll fall. Daddy, are you going to drive the bicycle?"
"Do you want to go with daddy on the bicycle?"
"yes..."
So, I borrowed a dupatta from patti to tie Sophia in for the walk. But Sophia didnt want to walk.
"aant to dho bicyshle Shopia now!"
"There's room for only one baby in the cycle Sophia, you come with mummy in the duppatta"
"noooo. aant to dho here bishyshle"
And so it happened that Sophia bucked on the baby seat, Anjali sat on the driver seat and husband and I held the bicycle on either handlebar and pushed the thing home.
"Is this a bicycle or a stroller?", I asked "We should buy another bicycle... one that you can add a baby seat to. then we can take both girls out"
"Mummy, but daddy can put the baby seat on his road bike"
"No Anjali", explained husband, "My road bike cant hold your weight"
"But it can hold your weight.", said the solution finder. "and you are much heavier."
Talk about spotting holes in the solution. She ought to be the director of a research company.
"Yes, but it cant support your weight and my weight together", said husband.
That seemed to satisfy the imp.
"Ok. I have a good idea", she said. "Mummy, you and Sophia can go in this bike, and Sophia can sit like this on the baby seat ok?.. And me and daddy will go on the blue bike"
"Which blue bike?"
"I will go on my blue bike and daddy can go on his blue bike"
"Ok"
"that will be vei fun"
"right"
"And then after we go on the three bike thing, we can go again like this, with Sophia sitting in front and me sitting behind and the two of you push"
"vei funny!", says the other imp.
============
Anjali put her shoes on the wrong legs again.
"Your shoes are on the wrong legs", thattha pointed out.
Anjali glanced down.
"Its ok thattha"
"If you put your shoes on the wrong legs, you cant walk", observed thattha
"But I am not going to walk, i am going on the bicycle."
Its nice to see thattha losing an argument and being happy about it.
Monday, October 11, 2010
ala thombu vika vik
Yesterday husband and I took the girls to see Beauty and the beast by the duffel bag theatre. The show was very good. The players had a very good sense of humor and the audience interactions, with the part of beauty and the beast being played by the audience members was very good.
Then we went to the center. husband left us there and went to Mustafa to look at bread machines.
I got out some toys for the girls to play with.
"ala thom vika vik ala thomu vika vik", said Sophia.
"What's that?"
"Ala tho mu vika vik"
"What does that mean?"
She didnt know how to explain it. so she, with Anjali's help, fabricated a story
"one Shister, one boy, byother"
"ok. And then what happened to them?"
"died."
"Oh dear. how sad. Why did that happen?"
"get losht"
"They got lost. Where?"
"foyest"
"In the forest?"
"get huit"
"They got hurt?"
"And then a demon came and then they killed the demon, and they went in the demon's thoppai and they grew in the demon's thoppai and broke the demon's thoppai"
Quite gross.
Note to self: The girls read too much krishna leela, and that book is full of demon stories. Question: Is it good to read demon stories if it is part of krishna leela in a book that details demons after demons killed in pretty much the same superhuman way? I wonder if there is a toddler version of KM Munshi's Krishnavatara. There most of the demons get a proper description, and there is a lot of logic behind the magic.
It wasnt much later that we were in the taxi and talking about beatuy and the beast. And then I was singing
"A tale as old as time, a song as old as rhyme, beauty and the beast"
"beauty and the gaston!", countered my little rebel.
"Lets sing the song that beauty and the beast danced to in the stage show", i said.
"I like to move it move it".. Sandhya also joined in. We were having a nice loud raucous musical time when suddenly i realized what Sophia was singing
"ala tho mu vik muvik"
And that solves the mystery
Then we went to the center. husband left us there and went to Mustafa to look at bread machines.
I got out some toys for the girls to play with.
"ala thom vika vik ala thomu vika vik", said Sophia.
"What's that?"
"Ala tho mu vika vik"
"What does that mean?"
She didnt know how to explain it. so she, with Anjali's help, fabricated a story
"one Shister, one boy, byother"
"ok. And then what happened to them?"
"died."
"Oh dear. how sad. Why did that happen?"
"get losht"
"They got lost. Where?"
"foyest"
"In the forest?"
"get huit"
"They got hurt?"
"And then a demon came and then they killed the demon, and they went in the demon's thoppai and they grew in the demon's thoppai and broke the demon's thoppai"
Quite gross.
Note to self: The girls read too much krishna leela, and that book is full of demon stories. Question: Is it good to read demon stories if it is part of krishna leela in a book that details demons after demons killed in pretty much the same superhuman way? I wonder if there is a toddler version of KM Munshi's Krishnavatara. There most of the demons get a proper description, and there is a lot of logic behind the magic.
It wasnt much later that we were in the taxi and talking about beatuy and the beast. And then I was singing
"A tale as old as time, a song as old as rhyme, beauty and the beast"
"beauty and the gaston!", countered my little rebel.
"Lets sing the song that beauty and the beast danced to in the stage show", i said.
"I like to move it move it".. Sandhya also joined in. We were having a nice loud raucous musical time when suddenly i realized what Sophia was singing
"ala tho mu vik muvik"
And that solves the mystery
Friday, October 8, 2010
love, logic and grandparents
Swati told me that some steps in love and logic (like bedroom time) make Annanya scream for Jaya patti and how jaya patti flies to the scene immediately.
I was reading a story about cutting treats during misbehavior. i wonder if thattha will cut godiva chocolates if Anjali misbehaves. probably not. He will say, "she's such a little girl, poor thing. Next time she wont do it no?"
yesterday Sophia did something naughty in patti's house. I picked her up, cuddled her and put her in a time out chair.
"This is Sophia's time out chair mummy?", Anjali asked
I didnt say anything. Sophia's lips trembled
For a small kid who weights less than a sixth of my weight, her lips tremble quite fast.
She began to cry.
"poor baby", says patti, melting. "She hasnt slept all afternoon"
So poor baby got out of time out.
I was reading a story about cutting treats during misbehavior. i wonder if thattha will cut godiva chocolates if Anjali misbehaves. probably not. He will say, "she's such a little girl, poor thing. Next time she wont do it no?"
yesterday Sophia did something naughty in patti's house. I picked her up, cuddled her and put her in a time out chair.
"This is Sophia's time out chair mummy?", Anjali asked
I didnt say anything. Sophia's lips trembled
For a small kid who weights less than a sixth of my weight, her lips tremble quite fast.
She began to cry.
"poor baby", says patti, melting. "She hasnt slept all afternoon"
So poor baby got out of time out.
The cheek of her
Sophia woke up at 6.30. I was in the kitchen cooking. She was a bit cranky and so i baby wore her in a duppatta and then continued the cooking.
"Amma, tooking?"
"yes"
"Amma. what are you doing?"
"I am cooking vegetables"
"guineapigs?"
"Nope, not for guinea pigs, for Sophia"
"nooo.. guinea pig veghetable"
"Sophia, the vegetables are for you"
"nooo. Shapia no want veghetable. thow"
"Where you will throw?"
"guinea pig cage"
Goodness
"Amma, tooking?"
"yes"
"Amma. what are you doing?"
"I am cooking vegetables"
"guineapigs?"
"Nope, not for guinea pigs, for Sophia"
"nooo.. guinea pig veghetable"
"Sophia, the vegetables are for you"
"nooo. Shapia no want veghetable. thow"
"Where you will throw?"
"guinea pig cage"
Goodness
The art of negotiation as it grows in kids
"Mummy I want to dance in the bus stop bench"
I look at the watch. 9.30pm.
"Anjali, you want to do three things. Dance on the bench, rescue snails and play with your guinea pigs before going to bed. You dont have time for all three, chose two"
"hmmm... I want to dance and play with guinea pigs"
"Ok"
"No. I want to rescue snails and play with guinea pigs"
"Fine, come on then"
"I'll dance just a bit ok? Just a little bit?"
=============
At quarter past ten
"Daddy, I want to watch something on the computer"
Husband was wanting to show Anjali something (off the computer), I cant remember what, lets call it X
"Let me show you X first and then we'll see"
I chivied the girl to the bedroom
"I want to see something on the computer mummy"
"Anjali, its bedtime, and you are going to bed now"
"Can I watch yenna samayalo once?"
"Nope"
"Just once??"
I almost yielded, but I try to be firm about the no tv before bed rule, and about doormats in the love and logic book, and about howw one song turns to two and to four and about how Sophia had not napped that afternoon.
"Nope"
Surprise surprise, she didnt protest
I look at the watch. 9.30pm.
"Anjali, you want to do three things. Dance on the bench, rescue snails and play with your guinea pigs before going to bed. You dont have time for all three, chose two"
"hmmm... I want to dance and play with guinea pigs"
"Ok"
"No. I want to rescue snails and play with guinea pigs"
"Fine, come on then"
"I'll dance just a bit ok? Just a little bit?"
=============
At quarter past ten
"Daddy, I want to watch something on the computer"
Husband was wanting to show Anjali something (off the computer), I cant remember what, lets call it X
"Let me show you X first and then we'll see"
I chivied the girl to the bedroom
"I want to see something on the computer mummy"
"Anjali, its bedtime, and you are going to bed now"
"Can I watch yenna samayalo once?"
"Nope"
"Just once??"
I almost yielded, but I try to be firm about the no tv before bed rule, and about doormats in the love and logic book, and about howw one song turns to two and to four and about how Sophia had not napped that afternoon.
"Nope"
Surprise surprise, she didnt protest
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Puzzles
Sophia loves puzzles. Right now, I am giving her those puzzles that i made for Anjali when Sophia was just born. The cat and the house and such. Husband and Sophia worked them for a quarter of an hour last night. She has very good spatial skilla - Sophia.
To help that a bit more, I took out the Maisy puzzle book I made for Anjali about a year ago and bound it proberly. Before, it was not properly bound and the girls could only use it with supervision.
This morning, Sophia and I worked a bit putting Maisy and Eddie in order, but she lost interest and went for the frog maze toy instead
To help that a bit more, I took out the Maisy puzzle book I made for Anjali about a year ago and bound it proberly. Before, it was not properly bound and the girls could only use it with supervision.
This morning, Sophia and I worked a bit putting Maisy and Eddie in order, but she lost interest and went for the frog maze toy instead
Who on earth is Kubera's wife?
Does anyone reading this blog have a background in Indian Mythology?
Yesterday we were reading one of the books we had got from India - about Ganesha and Kubera. The story is how Ganesha eaats all the food in Kubera's house.
I was telling them the story. One of the pages had a picture of Kubera's wife drawing a Kolam and discussing the feast with Kubera
"This is girl called?", asks Sophia
"This girl is Kubera's wife", I said, before carrying on with the story
Sophia was not satisfied
"Name called?"
I pretended to ignore her and continued with the story. I should have known better
"Amma. Thish ish name called?"
"Goodness, i dont know. Shall we call her Mohana?"
That satisfied both girls, so I guess Mohana will have to do
Yesterday we were reading one of the books we had got from India - about Ganesha and Kubera. The story is how Ganesha eaats all the food in Kubera's house.
I was telling them the story. One of the pages had a picture of Kubera's wife drawing a Kolam and discussing the feast with Kubera
"This is girl called?", asks Sophia
"This girl is Kubera's wife", I said, before carrying on with the story
Sophia was not satisfied
"Name called?"
I pretended to ignore her and continued with the story. I should have known better
"Amma. Thish ish name called?"
"Goodness, i dont know. Shall we call her Mohana?"
That satisfied both girls, so I guess Mohana will have to do
Why keeping a guinea pig contributes to cognitive development
The new guinea pig is called Kitty Cox. The girls maned him, so I dont klnow the reasons behind it - although they names him on the train journey back from Braddell and I suspeect that an advertisement in the train with Hello Kitty had something to do with it.
When we introduced Cinderella to Kitty Cox that first evening, they took to each other immediately. Cinderella went and sniffed kitty cox a couple of times, Kitty cox kept following Cinderela around and for the first time, since we had brought Cinderella home, he spent an entire night out of the tunnels. Morning came and i was pleased to see that he had not dug through the newspaper, but was actually sitting outside in the open, eating his hay.
Yesterday evening, I cordonned off the corridor with a blanket, closed the bedroom doors and let the pigs roam around, and ofcourse the kids too. Sophia toddeld up and fed the pigs corn cobs.
Now for this morning.
After Anjali went to school, I was talking to Sophia. We were reading Disney's 101 dalmatians (For about the 101st time). Sophia has a high liking for Cruella devil.
"So.." I said, "Perdita was very happy. Do you know why?"
"Cruella devil toming", said Sophia
"Perdita was happy because Cruella devil was coming?"
"Noooo..."
"Then why was she happy?"
"Shomething Inshide thoppai"
"Whaat was in Perdita's thoppai?"
"Shandy planty"
"Whose thoppai are Sandy planty in?"
"Shapia thoppai"
"I see", I said, pondering. "And what are you going to do with them when they come out"
"taie. put cradle"
"Ok. And if they are hungry?"
"Give food"
"What food will you give them? "
"Chappati"
"You must also give them vegetables"
"Ok."
"So what will you give them?"
"Chappati, vegetables. Vendekkai alsho"
"Ok, can you give chappathi and vegetables to your guinea pigs?"
"Nooooo"
"What can you give guinea pigs?"
"mmmm.... pellets"
"You'll give them pellets?"
"Hay alsho"
"thats good. Will you give them veggies?"
"ok ok."
"What veggies will you give them?"
Sophia toddles over to the cage and peeks inside.
"Amma, thish is called name?"
So she learns the names of her veggies.
When we introduced Cinderella to Kitty Cox that first evening, they took to each other immediately. Cinderella went and sniffed kitty cox a couple of times, Kitty cox kept following Cinderela around and for the first time, since we had brought Cinderella home, he spent an entire night out of the tunnels. Morning came and i was pleased to see that he had not dug through the newspaper, but was actually sitting outside in the open, eating his hay.
Yesterday evening, I cordonned off the corridor with a blanket, closed the bedroom doors and let the pigs roam around, and ofcourse the kids too. Sophia toddeld up and fed the pigs corn cobs.
Now for this morning.
After Anjali went to school, I was talking to Sophia. We were reading Disney's 101 dalmatians (For about the 101st time). Sophia has a high liking for Cruella devil.
"So.." I said, "Perdita was very happy. Do you know why?"
"Cruella devil toming", said Sophia
"Perdita was happy because Cruella devil was coming?"
"Noooo..."
"Then why was she happy?"
"Shomething Inshide thoppai"
"Whaat was in Perdita's thoppai?"
"Shandy planty"
"Whose thoppai are Sandy planty in?"
"Shapia thoppai"
"I see", I said, pondering. "And what are you going to do with them when they come out"
"taie. put cradle"
"Ok. And if they are hungry?"
"Give food"
"What food will you give them? "
"Chappati"
"You must also give them vegetables"
"Ok."
"So what will you give them?"
"Chappati, vegetables. Vendekkai alsho"
"Ok, can you give chappathi and vegetables to your guinea pigs?"
"Nooooo"
"What can you give guinea pigs?"
"mmmm.... pellets"
"You'll give them pellets?"
"Hay alsho"
"thats good. Will you give them veggies?"
"ok ok."
"What veggies will you give them?"
Sophia toddles over to the cage and peeks inside.
"Amma, thish is called name?"
So she learns the names of her veggies.
Love and logic
Swati recommended love and logic as a method for disciplining children. Husband and i have both been reading up and we can concede that there are some merits in the points that the book puts forward.
As I said yesterday, the best thing that we like is that the book proposed giving children choices and letting them make mistakes - because a mistake made in this age is less costly than a mistake made in their teens.
I have been trying some of these ideas out.
Last night, husband and the girls were playing with go stones. When they finished, a corner of patti's room was littered with stones. There was ten minutes to go before bed.
"Anjali, clean up your go stones"
"No mummy, i want to play frisbee", said Anjali, throwing frisbees to Sophia in the living room.
"I can pick up the stones", I continued "and throw them away"
Anjali dropped her frisbee and picked up the stones. Sophia helped too. In three minutes, all the stones were back in the bowl.
I really ought to make time for these steps and exercises, as the girls (and me) rely on Yema to pick up the toys. Sometimes I dont have the energy to enforce a pick up rule. But I ought to.
As I said yesterday, the best thing that we like is that the book proposed giving children choices and letting them make mistakes - because a mistake made in this age is less costly than a mistake made in their teens.
I have been trying some of these ideas out.
Last night, husband and the girls were playing with go stones. When they finished, a corner of patti's room was littered with stones. There was ten minutes to go before bed.
"Anjali, clean up your go stones"
"No mummy, i want to play frisbee", said Anjali, throwing frisbees to Sophia in the living room.
"I can pick up the stones", I continued "and throw them away"
Anjali dropped her frisbee and picked up the stones. Sophia helped too. In three minutes, all the stones were back in the bowl.
I really ought to make time for these steps and exercises, as the girls (and me) rely on Yema to pick up the toys. Sometimes I dont have the energy to enforce a pick up rule. But I ought to.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
PIggie mania
Pigs getting to know each other
 |
| Cinderella's elevated food platform and srting with green peas. Gives him a kick to reach for the peas |
 |
| Anjali's two new pigs |
Cinderella's antics
Love and logic
Some experiments
Anjali was peeling the brown paint from the bedroom door. Soon paint was all over the bedroom floor.
"Anjali, you'll have to help me clean that up"
"Mummy do it"
"Ok", I said quietly, trying to use sopme off the love and logic stuff "I'll do this, but I wont help you when you need me for something else. How about i dont help you read a book with milo?"
A pause
"Mummy, can you help me to pick up all the brown stuff?" And she picked the lot up.
==============
Sophia woke up in the morning.
"Good morning Sophia. Do you want milo or a hug?" (The give choices rule)
Sophia stretches lazily and points.
"Milo or hug?", i repeat
"bua"
"Bua is not on the choice list. Milo or hug?"
"Milo"
Too bad it doesnt work at night.
=================
I like especially the idea of giving questions instead of orders and choices instead of steps. I dont know, but Anjali was more cooperative towards brushing her teeth when I gave her the choice between standing on the toilet or sitting at the sink
Anjali was peeling the brown paint from the bedroom door. Soon paint was all over the bedroom floor.
"Anjali, you'll have to help me clean that up"
"Mummy do it"
"Ok", I said quietly, trying to use sopme off the love and logic stuff "I'll do this, but I wont help you when you need me for something else. How about i dont help you read a book with milo?"
A pause
"Mummy, can you help me to pick up all the brown stuff?" And she picked the lot up.
==============
Sophia woke up in the morning.
"Good morning Sophia. Do you want milo or a hug?" (The give choices rule)
Sophia stretches lazily and points.
"Milo or hug?", i repeat
"bua"
"Bua is not on the choice list. Milo or hug?"
"Milo"
Too bad it doesnt work at night.
=================
I like especially the idea of giving questions instead of orders and choices instead of steps. I dont know, but Anjali was more cooperative towards brushing her teeth when I gave her the choice between standing on the toilet or sitting at the sink
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Attitute, opnions and imitations
Anjali was sitting under the dining table stacking what was left of the wooden pieces from the guinea cage.
"Anjali is making a very nice building", remarked husband, who was sitting near the table, on the floor, eating his dinner.
"I am not making a building. i am making firewood", said Anjali, and then she added "I already told you that I was making firewood"
"No Anjali", said husband, quite correctly, "you didnt tell me. You just told me now"
"I already told you", insisted Anjali. "But you didnt listen"
She is learning this from you, says husband to me.
"Anjali is making a very nice building", remarked husband, who was sitting near the table, on the floor, eating his dinner.
"I am not making a building. i am making firewood", said Anjali, and then she added "I already told you that I was making firewood"
"No Anjali", said husband, quite correctly, "you didnt tell me. You just told me now"
"I already told you", insisted Anjali. "But you didnt listen"
She is learning this from you, says husband to me.
Monday, October 4, 2010
What is with Anjali's dress?
I didnt have a sewing machine (I have a horror of sewing machines - we did seing in school and my sewing machine never sewed properly), so had to handsew it. But after I sewed the whole thing up, patti ran it once with her sewing machine and now its quite strong.
toilet training herself
Since no one seems to remember to toilet train Sophia properly, the kid has gotten it upon herself to toilet train.
For the past few days, we have been noticing that before she gets into her bathtub she would say
"oosha first".
Then she would get out of the tub, finish her business and then get back in again for her bath.
Last night was very cute. before bed, the girls had a nice romp at the lift lobby. Sophia has gotten a new interest in bicyling. Only problem is that she cant pedal herself. So she would sit on the cycle and husband or I would have to push her. Anjali, at these times takes the kick scooter to the lift lobby.
So the children were playing with their cycles and scooters in the lobby, after which i left them in the bathroom to wash up while I mixed their milo. the girls washed up, then had some time sticking some of the creative corner rubber paintings on the wall. (They stick when wet, so they are almost as good as the foam blocks).
I asked Anjali to go to the bathroom before bed, which she did.
"Sophia, you also make pee pee."
"She made already mummy", said Anjali. "she made when she washed feet in the tap"
"Sophia", asked husband "have you made oosha?"
"ove theie!" said Sophia.
"Where?", we asked
"yothe bathuum".
"in the other bathroom? Who washed you? Anjali?"
"No. Shelf!"
She came in again to the bathroom and tried to do something.
"no working!", she said morosely, when nothing came out
For the past few days, we have been noticing that before she gets into her bathtub she would say
"oosha first".
Then she would get out of the tub, finish her business and then get back in again for her bath.
Last night was very cute. before bed, the girls had a nice romp at the lift lobby. Sophia has gotten a new interest in bicyling. Only problem is that she cant pedal herself. So she would sit on the cycle and husband or I would have to push her. Anjali, at these times takes the kick scooter to the lift lobby.
So the children were playing with their cycles and scooters in the lobby, after which i left them in the bathroom to wash up while I mixed their milo. the girls washed up, then had some time sticking some of the creative corner rubber paintings on the wall. (They stick when wet, so they are almost as good as the foam blocks).
I asked Anjali to go to the bathroom before bed, which she did.
"Sophia, you also make pee pee."
"She made already mummy", said Anjali. "she made when she washed feet in the tap"
"Sophia", asked husband "have you made oosha?"
"ove theie!" said Sophia.
"Where?", we asked
"yothe bathuum".
"in the other bathroom? Who washed you? Anjali?"
"No. Shelf!"
She came in again to the bathroom and tried to do something.
"no working!", she said morosely, when nothing came out
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)