Daniel--classes, learning, growing & video

Posted by spots (Singapore, Singapore) on 6 April 2009 in People & Portrait and Portfolio.

A while back, I had a pivotal conversation with some mums about what our kids do all day. As our kids were no longer babies, it was interesting to hear differing opinions about how to fill up their time--should we send them for enrichment classes? Activities like golf, ballet and swimming? Words like the "Shichida Method" and "flashcards" and "Berries" were thrown around. (If you're a parent, you won't need me to explain that last sentence!) And that was when I started formulating my own views on the topic.

I have to admit I've been a terrible mum. I don't actively think of the kids' education and intellectual growth. It takes conversations like these to spur me to deeper thinking. But I tend to think slowly about all things anyway. So it doesn't surprise me that I didn't have all the answers to begin with.

What I have decided is this:
In terms of structured lessons, generally speaking:
1. I will not send my kids to learn anything that I could teach them myself.
2. I will not send my kids to learn anything they will learn when they get to primary school.
I would rather my kids (while young) enjoy the outdoors, have free play time, enjoy nature and play with non-techy toys, like model cars, lego blocks and wooden train sets. I cannot fully articulate WHY I prefer these toys. I just DO.

And in terms of what I can teach my kids myself, I have identified 3 areas--being a traditionalist, the 3 areas are: Reading, Writing & Arithmitic!

Reading is something we have done with the kids consistently since they were very young. Till this day, we read to our kids about 30 mins a day, before they sleep. With Daniel, for the past year, he's begun to identify first alphabets, then short words, then longer and longer! I consider this quite an achievement, because with most other things, he has the attention span of a flitty butterfly. But when it comes to reading, he's started to be able to read simple books on his own, praise God! I took this video of him after the Koh Samui trip.

Writing is something I've only recently started doing with Daniel--I bought these wipe-off books that he uses markers to write his letters and numbers on. And as for Arithmitic, I find this the most fun to teach Daniel actually! Especially addition and subtraction. There are so many weird and wonderful stories you can make up with regard to addition and subtraction. And it's fun! Like, there was once 7 doughtnuts in doughtnut land. Then, a big bad monster called Daddy came and he was very hungry and he ate up 3 doughtnuts all at one go. Chomp Chomp! How many doughtnuts were left? And he totally gets into it!

So yea. I think for now, no Shichida and Berries for me. I'll be happy if my kids can read, write and count. :)

The other thing we've been thinking of recently is swimming lessons. I think Daniel might benefit from having a seriously strenuous physical workout once a week. And acquiring a life saving skill to boot! I recently found him throwing himself fearlessly into the kiddy pool at a friend's birthday party--more pics of that dramatic feat another time. What I can't figure out is--should Dan & Ben take lessons together? Ben is only 2 while Dan is 3.5. Or, should it just be Dan taking lessons alone? Does anybody have any opinions on this? it'd be appreciated!