Showing posts with label developments. Show all posts
Showing posts with label developments. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

How do children learn to read?

I recently bought the Ladybird Key words reading scheme books for Harvynna. As I was looking at it, I was wandering how children really learn to read. I know most kindergartens use Phonics nowadays and it is quite effective as they will also learn the right pronounciation.

I have been reading to Harvynna since she was very young and I realise that she memorizes the lines from the books. After reading a book a couple of times, she can actually 'read' the story. Somehow, I think either, she has memorised the story or linked the words to the pictures in the book.

The ladybird key words may actually get children to learn by sight the words as they emphasise on the frequently used words in the English Language. So, the more they are exposed to the words, the more they will know it. This is similar to using flahscards. But with flashcards, there are no distractions from pictures

I actually learnt to read using this method.

I will try to slowly introduce Harvynna to this method and see how she takes to it.

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Happy 10 months Rowena!



Rowena will be 10 months tomorrow. My little baby has grown, grown and grown. When I look at her now, I cant believe how big she has become. She now is able to play independantly by crawling to her toys and taking them out and putting them in her mouth! (as long as I am in sight), otherwise, she will start wailing wuaaaaagh and crawling to look for me!

Rowena is cruising now and can stand momentarily on her own without holding anything. So I guess, she should start walking soon. Gosh, once they start walking - they are no longer little babies and start to be more independant.


The hair on top of her head has grown very well (the hair that fell off due the cradle cap), but the hair at the back of her head is still like that (not much hair and sticks out everywhere). Everyone still thinks she is a boy that I really have to dress her in real girlie clothes. Dont wnat her becoming a tomboy later. She looks a lot like her dad (sigh!) but has the kind, pleasant personality like her mummy. Ceh!

I still have not ventured far where her feeding is concerned due to her allergy problem but she has tasted chocolates, ice cream, chocolate cake (all my favourite food) and seems to LOVE it.

Looking at her development now, I can safely say that Rowena enjoys shopping and going out. The moment we head towards the door, she starts flapping her arms and grinning away and whenever we take her out shopping, she seems so excited - laughing. Now, she does not like to sit still in her pram as she will try to stand up, climb out of the pram which is quite dangerous.

She indulges in baby talk now with wawa, adada, baba, aagh etc. I could have sworn she said mama, but then again.... you never know.

She recognizes her favourite songs, like Twinkle Twinkle little star, where she tries to imitate my hand movement but ends up clasping her hands together, moving it up and down and then FINALLY, it goes in her mouth!

Her other favourite songs are Itsy Bitsy spider and Baa Baa Black Sheep. I now play Harvynna's Musikgarten CD in the car and Rowena tries to follow the tune - just aa aa aa!

Oh yes, the spots she had was actually a bad case of exzema - still trying to figure out what was the cause, but she is really scratching especially behind her ear till it bleeds. Her face looks like she has an acne problem.

Now that Rowena is 10 months, and bigger I have actually taken the 2 girls out shopping on my own a few times but only as far as Bangsar village! Since its small and safe (i Hope) and the parking lot is small and well lit. Besides, I must say that the staff at Bangsar Village are really helpful. They always unlock the disabled toilet for me when I go with the girls as its much bigger and easier and the cleaner actually comes and asks if I need any help and even brings extra toilet paper for me.

Even the staff at the parking lots are really helpful. The other day, I was pushing the pram, Harvynna in one hand and Rowena in the other, the guy actually helped by pushing the pram and told me to hang on to the girsl properly as sometimes cars tend to speed. I felt quite bad, as Harvynna was running around wildly earlier and I told her, to be careful or the 'naughty man will catch her. Just to make my story real, I pointed to the car park staff (from a far la) and told her that was the 'naughty man'. She was actually quite scared when he came to help us. Later, in the car, Harvynna asked me 'Why the naughtly man helped us? I thought you said he was naughty???'

Errr? Never lie to your children!



p/s" Thanks Aunty Selvy for the photos