Born to be the teacher’s pet

Posted on July 17, 2010July 14, 2010 by Mamapumpkin

That'll be my T1. Every other day, she comes home from school 'boasting' about how her teacher always asks her to help. Of course, she only dares 'boast' to me. She isn't allowed to do it otherwise. Either help in the canteen or help in the classroom, almost.......click to learn what next.

5 year old who cries after fun

Posted on July 14, 2010July 11, 2010 by Mamapumpkin

Ever since T1 was 3 years old, she would cry after a holiday. I don't know why. She'd cry every time we came home and we'd have to endure her dramatic tears and sadness for a few hours. It was almost like she'd sink into a depression after.......click to learn what next.

6 year old doing homework

Posted on July 12, 2010July 10, 2010 by Mamapumpkin

T1 goes to a school reputed for slave-driving kids with academic pursuits and lots of homework but really, she doesn't get much homework at all. Not to me anyway. I've seen kids with lots more, or perhaps she does it independently and quickly that it doesn't appear to.......click to learn what next.

Creative Play in Children

Posted on July 11, 2010July 10, 2010 by Mamapumpkin

I love it whenever I see T1 entertaining herself with creative play because I think it is so important to be creative in this day and age what with all the commercialism that is thrown at our kids every single day. Here she was a hill (and she.......click to learn what next.

Stone Dinosaur

Posted on July 10, 2010July 10, 2010 by Mamapumpkin

Since she is always alone and having to entertain herself most of the time, T1 makes up her own games and songs a LOT! The other day, she asked me if I've seen her stone dinosaur trick. She clasped her hands together almost like praying, in a joint.......click to learn what next.

The importance of sleep in children

Posted on July 8, 2010 by Mamapumpkin

According to Doctor Marc Weissbluth, a children's sleep expert, and the late Tracy Hogg, who was my life saviour for T1 (and the best book I'd recommend for every new mother), most people underestimate the importance of sleep in children. Especially in Asia, where I see most kids.......click to learn what next.

Match made in Psycho Land

Posted on July 8, 2010July 4, 2010 by Mamapumpkin

My brother Ben and T1 have the most symbiotic relationship - mid thirties single creative male and five year old single creative brat, and they get along like a house on fire. These two are such a riot. They can talk rubbish all day long and laugh all.......click to learn what next.

The reading pooper

Posted on July 7, 2010July 7, 2010 by Mamapumpkin

T1 now reads every time she sits on the pooper and she poops every single day. Sometimes, twice a day. Coincidentally, T2 squeezed out 10 inches (TEN INCHES, MY FRIENDS!!! And just for the record, she had already had 2 poops yesterday) of toothpaste poop onto my hand.......click to learn what next.

All from the same genes, Mama…..

Posted on July 7, 2010July 6, 2010 by Mamapumpkin

Today, T1 wanted to eat THREE nectarines consecutively and I said NO. She is so lucky that she has a Nana who indulges her in such expensive fruit and this girl has damn expensive taste! She likes cherries, she likes nectarines and peaches, she likes Japanese Fuji Apples.......click to learn what next.

Developing compassion in children

Posted on July 6, 2010July 4, 2010 by Mamapumpkin

One of the very important things children need to learn from the start is to have empathy and compassion. According to the fabulous book above, children who have a higher emotional quotient get ahead in life at a much faster pace and go much farther in life. That.......click to learn what next.

Making Star Angels

Posted on July 5, 2010July 4, 2010 by Mamapumpkin

T1 is very good at entertaining herself by designing little games or composing rhymes and songs and tunes or choreographing dance steps. Here she improvised the usual snow angels to star angels since she claims we don't have snow in Malaysia. It involves flapping both hands and feet.......click to learn what next.

Encouraging fine motor skills in kids – For the love of scones…..

Posted on July 2, 2010 by Mamapumpkin

T1 has inherited the love of Scones from my mother and we three are really the scone experts as we have tried so many scones in so many places! And the best still goes to the ones Jo taught me how to make, thanks again, Jo! Recently, T1.......click to learn what next.

Monkey see, Monkey do?

Posted on July 2, 2010 by Mamapumpkin

Now you all know how much my baby loves those crappy baby bites that I really don't like her eating but give it to her because she hardly likes anything else thus almost everyday, you'd be able to catch her with one at some point when Mommy gives.......click to learn what next.

A keen observer

Posted on July 2, 2010 by Mamapumpkin

Can anyone recognise the atrium above? T1 excitedly told us that the colours on the columns change and illuminate at every 10 seconds. Did you know that? I have been to that mall so many times and I never notice things like that! But trust a 5 year.......click to learn what next.

Toy Story 3 with my 2 girls

Posted on July 2, 2010 by Mamapumpkin

This last holiday, I took the girls out with T1's school mates to watch Toy Story 3 at The Gardens. Of course, it was T1's day out, T2 just tagged along as a matter of course. Actually, she asked if she could stay home alone so she could.......click to learn what next.