New 3-Days Lapbooking Workshops

Registration for the following 3-days workshops is now open.

Make-A-Totbook workshop (for June 2009 to Aug 2010 kids)  -   Last place 

Dates/time: Sundays 10th June @ 12pm - 1pm and 

                                 17th and 24th June @ 12pm - 1.30pm 

Make-A-Totbook workshop (for June 2009 to Aug 2010 kids)

Dates/time: Saturdays 16th and 23rd June @ 10am - 11.30am and 

                   Sunday   24th June @ 1.45pm - 2.45pm 

N1/N2 Lapbooking Workshop (for Jan 2008 to Aug 2009 kids)    -   Last place

Dates/time: Saturdays 16th and 23rd June @ 12pm - 1.30pm and 

                   Sunday   24th June @ 4pm - 5.30pm 

N2/K1 Lapbooking Workshop (for Jan 2007 to July 2008 kids)   - unaccompanied class

Dates/time:  16th, 17th and 23rd June @ 4pm - 5.30pm              2 places left

         

To register/enquire, please hop over to From Tiny Acorns.

Shy? He is Not.

Those who know my boys often tell me how different they are. They do have fairly different temperaments and personalities, though both can be considered precocious and academically advanced for their age.

In the recent years, I have noticed how M is becoming more of an introvert. He is very empathic and highly sensitive, while Chip is more sociable and not more sensitive than a typical 5 years old.

Though M gets along well with many kids, I am convinced he finds it a little challenging to find friends who have similar interests or at same wavelength as him. I am sure this has something to do with his personality and perhaps social skills as well.

To begin with, because M reads widely and beyond his age and has preference for toys and hobbies that are meant for older kids, most kids his age can’t really appreciate what he says or shares his interests.

When he was in Kindy 2, his best friend was another kid who had similar interests in submarines and were able to discuss technical details in depth, which most typical K2 kids aren’t keen on.

Just because he was not chatty like other boys and didn't appear enthusiastic enough to join in the 'exciting' discussions about Ben 10 and other TV programmes, his kindy teacher raised a red flag and suggested he didn't know how to fit in, was shy and perhaps lacking social skills.

At first, I wondered if the teacher could be right. But the slightly rebellious and individualistic side me threatened to challenge her: what is so good about fitting in and what's wrong with not wanting to discuss Ben 10 and those duh TV programmes anyway? But, I held my tongue anyway.

A year later, we heard almost similar remarks from his Primary 1 teacher during the Parent-Teacher-Meeting in Nov. We took her comments with a pinch of salt after discussing with M. After all, if M was happy with going to school, felt he had friends to talk to and play with, it should be good enough.

Nevertheless, we still tried to nudge M towards making more friends and give pointers on social skills. Taught him how to open conversations with others, and how to join in a discussion etc. He appears popular in school and doesn't seem unhappy about his small circle of friends. Perhaps he just doesn't feel the need to be super chatty or to be always 'gossiping' about other kids in class.

More importantly, I want to consider the possibility that my boy may very well be an introvert and if he is happy being one, there is nothing wrong with that. There is no need to push him to be an extrovert, just because far more people consider it to be the superior personality trait. Enough light has been shed in recent years on the Power of Introverts and Why Introverts can be great leaders ... etc..

As for the social skills and handling of interpersonal relationships, there is a always room for improvement. But then again, my boy is only 7.

The Skinny Problem

I know many mums are like me - worrying incessantly about things that dads would never bat an eyelid on.

One of these being my kids' weight.

Right from the day my boys were born, I have been concerned about their weight gain and the lack of it.

They started out so chubby but the baby fat started melting away when they turned 4 months. By the time they blew out their first birthday candle, the not-so-nice aunties and uncles would tell me point-blank that my kids were undernourished.

They were NOT. They were just lanky. Very long and lean with just skin over their skinny frame.

By the time they were toddlers, they had lost every ounce of fat (to the naked eye, I mean). Whenever I showered or dressed them, I would feel a slight sadness, guilt and self-doubt. I couldn't help but wondered if I feed them right.

The dad always assures me that they just have his skinny genes. Well, he was very skinny back in those years.

Some concerned relatives had suggested I give them fast food a few times a week and feed as much deep-fried and chocolates as they fancy. But I stuck to my guns. No, they will continue their diet comprising mainly whole-grains, a wide range of unprocessed food and as many home-cooked meals as possible. I don't cut back on good fat, but I also don't let them indulge in saturated fat, junk food with empty calories just to 'fatten' them up.

A visit to the nutritionist last year sort of put my mind at ease. If the nutritionist thinks my boys have healthy appetites, are fed a good range of healthy food in sufficient quantity, then it should be fine.

Anyway, after a long, long wait, Marcus finally weighs over 20kg. Haha!

It's about time, baby.