Lantern Festival @ Toa Payoh Garden

10 September 2011

Organised by the RC.

We got a goodie bag which consisted of a plastic lantern, a small moon-cake, a set of stainless steel spoon and chopsticks and a bottle of water.

There was a long queue for the pop-corn so we didn't bother. But we got a potong ice-cream for Eugene.

We had actually brought our own lanterns. I bought the paper ones where you have to light a candle to put inside the lantern. Wah, I really cannot stand those plastic ones with light bulb and irritating music (more like noise).

Well, was Eugene interested in carrying the lantern ?

NO............

He was more interested in the below.........




This gazebo was very popular with the kids, not so much becos of the lanterns but becos the kids were enjoying themselves lighting up candles to place around the gazebo.

Eugene just wanted to blow the candles and this nice gal was nice enough to keep lighting up a candle for Eugene to blow.

All the kids in a row.

We would have stayed longer but it started drizzling and then it got heavier and so we decide to leave.

Chinese Lessons

I've decided to terminate Eugene's chinese lessons end of this year (fees paid till end of this year).

Why?

- the children are been taught new topics every week (once a week lesson).

A booklet of what have been taught that day will be given, including the flash cards being used - so that the parents can revised with the kids at home.

When they return the next week, the teacher will go thru the previous week's lesson on a one to one basis before she starts a new topic for the week.

Problems :

- Hubby and I are not good in Mandarin. Not good as in really, really bad, at least for me. I can converse but can't really read Mandarin.

The first few booklets brought home was easy but subsequently, hubby and I are unable to read the Mandarin words. So how? I can't be going to my neighbour and asking them the words all the time.

My family or my hubby's family - nope, none can read Mandarin.


- I feel that the way the lessons are conducted are not easy for the kids to immerse into the language, well, at least for Eugene.

Every lesson is a different topic. So whether you know the previous lesson or not, the teacher will just carry on to the next topic. I feel that there is no continuity to the topics being taught.


I think Eugene learnt more Chinese words and how to use them by watching "Ni Hao Kai Lan"
instead.

Paint, Sharpen, Ruler

5 September 2011

Lotus root soup was on the menu and I cut off some of the ends of the lotus root to use for stamping. Thought I'll do some art and craft with Eugene.

I remembered when I was young, my teacher would make stamps out of carrot, potatoes and lotus root and I really enjoyed painting and stamping on paper.

So I was rather excited to show Eugene what to do and I was sure he was going to enjoy it.

When he woke up from his afternoon nap, I declared that we're going to do some painting and I quickly brought out the lotus roots and showed him how to paint and stamp it.

Yes, he was excited ......... for less than 10 minutes.........


He looked at me and said in a soft tone : mommy, I don't want to paint anymore. 

I guess it was not much of a challenge to him. 

Paint and stamp, paint and stamp......

He was more interested in sharpening his pencils and drawing straights lines with his ruler.

Bro-in-law had bought for him a pencil case with pencils, ruler, eraser and sharpener in it and he was excited to try it all out.

He was meticulously sharpening his pencils..........

and learning to use the ruler......... I guess it's more interesing and challenging to him.

See him sharpening the pencil and using the ruler.

To 'Fight' or Not

(1) At the Mister Maker play corner, he had a girl who shouted at him. Another girl also snatched the toy car from him.

(2) At the toy store at Ngee Ann, two older boys who're brothers kept pushing his train away from the tracks so that they will have the whole train set to themselves.

For the above incidents, I did not immediately go to 'rescue' Eugene. I wanted to see how he will react.

For (1), when the girl shouted at him, he was stunned.
And when a girl snatched the toy car from him, Eugene ran to me to complain and I told him to take it back.

Eugene tried to take it back but the girl was older and stronger than he was.

I told him to tell the girl that she must share, which Eugene did, but obviously it fell on deaf ears.

I didn't want to create a fuss as we were leaving already.


For (2)at the toy store in Ngee Ann, two boys kept pushing Eugene's train off the track as they wanted to whole track to themselves, Eugene told the boys that they must share and to be gentle. This caught the eye of the two boys' father who disciplined his kids there and then.

As a parent, as with all parents, I try to instill and teach my kid to have good values and principles. And for his age at this moment - be nice to others, tell the truth, share, must address your elders etc.

Of cos, he has his moment when he's a little devil like being defiant but generally he's a good kid.

So when I see him being bullied, what am I to do? Do I tell him to fight back or to be nice about it? If I tell him to fight back, it will contradict what I had taught him. If I tell him, never mind, he will be stepped upon.

I've been trying to find a 'solution' and at the moment, this is the best I can think of.

I will tell him : talk to the other party nicely, if the other party still persist in being nasty, then he can retaliate.

Of cos, I want my child to be a good kid but I want him to learn defensive skills too. If the other party is going to hurt him or being obviously nasty, I don't see why he has to stand there and turn the other cheek.

I am not going to always be there for him and I'll rather he be street-smart than book-smart. It's a jungle out there, not everybody's gonna play nice and I want him to be able to defend himself if the need arise.


I'm a 'late mother' and I guess maybe, I worry that I'll not be around for him when he is going through adulthood phase.

Am I teaching him the wrong thing? I don't know. I'll act accordingly to each situation that might arise.

Maybe I'm thinking too much? I guess as a parent, you will worry for your kid the rest of your life.

Mister Maker @ Forum Galleria, Singapore 2011

27 August 2011

Got a free invitation to a workshop by Mister Maker, courtesy of StarHub. Well, not exactly free, 200 points to be deducted from our Hub Club account, I think for admin fee.

Before the workshop begins.

Hello everybody!

Packed!

I've got to use the glue!

With Mister Maker and the spider that was made (with lots of help) during the show.

Starhub : Mister Maker, Channel 303 Cbeebies

There was a play corner and Eugene had fun playing with the toy car.

The goodie bag from Mister Maker and the spider that was made during the workshop.

I tried to stick the felt ears, nose, mouth etc for the sock puppets with the glue provided but it won't stick. The only way is to sew it. 

Even the spider made during the workshop won't stick. But I guess they have to use a normal glue as it's safer for the kids.

On the way to Takashimaya.

At a toy store in Ngee Ann City. Very nice wooden Thomas train set.

When Eugene was playing with the toy cars at the Mister Maker show and with the Thomas train set at Ngee Ann City, he encountered rude and aggressive kids.

What to do? I will post this dilemma in the next post.