What do kids at Asher's age (between 1 to 3 years old) do at home?

Well, Baby Asher is fast turning 18 months...just 2 more weeks to go.
Sometimes I feel I am not keeping him occupied with sufficient fun & learning at this stage...

Do they just walk around, play their toys or watch TV and sit around??
If there are some interesting activities, please share with me!!

I try to let him play with paint and colorings during the alternate weekends and he gets his outdoor bath in the yard.
He probably plays with his cousins, running about when they come over during the weekends.

On a daily basis,

he plays on his Little Tikes slide...
he plays independently with his toys...he seemed to like the wooden melody mix especially which he can drum and cling clang...
Sometimes I try to play the building blocks with him, but he seemed not too keen as they are the soft textured ones..(maybe I should get some hard blocks)
he runs in and out of the living hall and yard, sometimes pushing his musical walker.
he usually remembers to feed water using a cup, to the soft toys namely, baby dog dog(a retriever dog), Tiga, Winnie the pooh, Eeyore & Bear bear & caterpillar upon seeing them...
he plays with the household stuffs like bowls and spoons, trying to cook and feed us sometimes
he tries to sweep the floor using the broom and dustpan...but often makes the floor more dirty...

he gets to go out on his morning and late afternoon stroll exploring the environment or even a visit to the playground in the CC, sometimes he even gets to go supermarket in the evening after dinner

he spends about 20 mins to 30 mins X 2 sessions a day, watching his DVDs like Baby Bright, Thomas The Train, Barney, Hi-five, Luli etc
at times, dancing along, depending on the music being played...
sometimes I try to watch longer movies like Finding Nemo or Ice-Age with him and tells him what is going on..in fact his one and only Thomas the Train is also a movie...and he knows what is going on...he goes "oh-oh..." when the bridge is going to fall...

we read storybooks together every morning when he wakes up and night before he goes to bed...he seemed to like it alot as he will find the book and bring it to me and ask to read... :D
we try to do some flashcards but it doesn't seem to appeal very much to him at times...

of recent, he started learning to brush his teeth every morning after waking up and night before he sleeps...and I am quite pleased at the results and enjoys the process. :)

recently I try to introduce some playing of the color markers to him by drawing on the drawing block, getting him to hold & scribble and asking him to pass me the different color markers, up to 5 currently. hopefully through this activity he can learn understanding what is 1 to 5 & counting 1 to 5, and the 5 colors black, red, yellow, blue and green. Suddenly felt I may have been missing out on the "maths" counting part as all I have done so far is "general knowledge" on environment, household, body parts, family, sharing love and respect, mannerisms & behaviour, language, shapes and sorting, alphabets & words-meanings...but not much on maths and counting...
OOPS!

this probably all he goes through in a day... ...well, other than his meal & snack times and nap & sleeping time...
is that good enough?


Maybe because I have been researching too much into kindergarten recently and chance upon how some parents focus on preparing their children for Primary 1 when they are just into N1. How they think to prepare the kids academically for P1 is very crucial and those preschool or kindergarten that does alot of learning through play isn't good etc...

Oh My....Asher is just barely 1.5 years old. Please do not forget.

Asher's Unplanned Outing Yesterday...

420pm:

"zou3, zou3!!", Asher uttered.(in Mandarin)

He was walking up and down the front yard, the living hall and so on... ...
My baby Asher seemed so bored. He requested to go walk walk...

So I took his bag, my bag and without a second thought, whizzed him into his car seat.
Baby Asher was delighted at the sight of our car and of course getting into the car.

At that point of time, Mummy Lindy me, still hadn't an idea where to bring my baby.
I thought of bringing him to GoGo Bambini, the indoor playground at Dempsey. However at five months pregnant and without Hubby around, it didnt seem a good idea, as I would have to climb about with him. Called Daddy, :D he is just 5 mins away from home...but he doesn't seem interested to go as he said, "But I am very tired, dear..." So I got to go on my own. Or maybe I should just bring Asher to Macdonalds? Hmm... ... Oh yah! There is Godma Sann! So I drove over to her residence's carpark. Ok, car is at home, so she should be too...called her...great! She is available....BUT TOO BAD, she is running a FLU. (worse, got a bad scratch on the car as I turned out of the car park lot...) :( Ok, being a rugged mummy who can't bear to see the bored look on Asher's face not going away....I decided to proceed as planned. GoGo Bambini!!Here we come!!

At GoGo Bambini, just like other indoor playground, you got to put on your socks...that's why I brought along Asher's. Infact i always keep a pair for him in his bag. BUT I forgot mine! Paid $3 for it anyway. Initially Asher was reluctant to put on the socks, after some coaxing, done! We explored the place cautiously as it was certainly crowded, despite being a weekday. The older children there are certainly rough.

AND YOU SIMPLY JUST CANNOT BELIEVE IT!
We met this group of 3 rough-playing children, 2 boys and 1 girl, probably 6 to 9 years old.(seemed like half Asian/half Ang Moh)
We came by the ball pit and I sat by looking after Asher "swimming" in the pool of balls. I was very cautious too as this 3 kids were climbing high up and attempting free falls into the ball pit wihout caring for the smaller children in the ball pit. And they kicked the balls so hard that many of the balls flew out of the ball pit, and laid everywhere outside...then the girl came up to me and said, "YOU! go fetch the balls back in." I was stunned and simply taken aback at her demanding attitude. I felt like walking up to her parents and tell them straight in the face, to take their kids in hand and educate them properly. Is that how they talk to people they don't even know?!! Well, maybe that's how they talk to their maid, family and even in school.
Simply NO manners!

Just like what I always tell people that when dogs misbehave, they cannot blame the dogs. It is the owners' fault for not disciplining, teaching or guiding the dogs properly about the right behaviour, or even giving them the attention they require.

The same goes for our children. I am glad so far, Asher's considerably fine. Everytime after playing something, somewhere...like a playground or those musical cars which you put in a dollar coin etc...when I say it is time to go, wave bye bye and we come back another day etc...Asher usually will be willing to wave goodbye and go off without throwing a tantrum. Not to mention, he is so far pretty generous in sharing his food, toys etc with people when i say he got to offer and share.

Since young, I have been teaching him to share his things by offering and show his love by greeting, hugging or kissing on the cheek.
And he has been doing it well...of course in return we offer him the same and lots of praise, encouragement and applause. And I try to respect Asher by respecting his choice...unless at times he shouldnt be having a choice or exceeded his choice.

Well, don't think they don't know when they are babies or toddlers. They definitely know!
Let's hope he will continue to be this way or even better.

Today I went to bed at 9PM!!

Recently Mummy has successfully changed my sleeping timing and habit to her preferred 9plus PM rather than the near midnight hours I usually sleep...

I will brush my teeth, say goodnight to all and then proceed to bedroom in preparation for bedtime.

Usually Mummy will read some storybooks to me, then she lets me play some of my toys on my own thereafter. So about half hour taken up.
Once I am ready, I will have my bedtime music plus milk and prepare to fall asleep..

Next morning, I will usually wake up at about 8am, sometimes 7plus AM and start fussing mummy to read my storybooks to me... hee hee... Mummy says sometimes I use the storybook to "hit" on her face to wake her up.... :D

Well, anyway mummy hopes with the adjustment of my sleeping hours, it will be easier for me to adapt to the timing when I starts attendning preschool..

Anyway, it is good too.
i think i love the new arrangement.
though so far i have been rather versatile.
I can sleep later than 9plus pm too..when we have outings etc.

Mummy wants me to be a versatile baby mah..erm, in fact she hopes all her babies will be versatile babies... :)

Went to a wedding dinner with mummy

14th Jun 2009 @ Mandarin Oriental Hotel
Mummy brought me to attend the wedding of her ex-colleague, officially now known as Mdm. Candie Tan. :P

In fact, throughout the entire night, I had been rather manageable except for the super fierce crying stunt while leaving the dinner....BECOS mummy had forgotten the time....it was 11plus pm le and I havent had my milk milk!!! So when we reach the car and mummy made milk milk for me, I finally settled down happily and while on the way home, fell asleep in the car.
I wa really very very upset... ... this made mummy remember NOT to forget the time when out again!!

I was shacked out by the time I reach home

During the start of the dinner

I am sat in between Godma Sann and Mummy Lindy
That's me enjoying the Spring Roll...

Well, self-entertaining on the floor

say cheese!

Hey dude, what are you looking at?!

I like .... or maybe it is Mummy who likes me in this jumper and shirt suit!

Actually I think I like too...cos' I look more handsome mah...

;p

Another Painting Session on 14th June 2009!

This is my third painting session...generally about twice a month?
mummy tries to let me play with crayons, paints, coloring, etc every weekly...
so i explore colors, my fingers, my feet and etc...
and after every painting session, I will end up with an outdoor bath in the front yard...

trying to shade myself from the bright sun..

creative boy at work...

see how i hold the brush...

looking bored...

aiyoh...so messy
paint even on my mouth

on my body and everywhere..

bath time!

naked baby!

What else can we do at home???

Mummy always think about this ... ...

Some photos during my 16th month...

Date: 29th May 2009
Venue: Jacob Ballas Children's Garden

learning to do some watering...

wow...the water so tasty... yeeee

hey...looks fun over there...

let me check it out!!

greedy me...
take 2...

see me in the center!!

oh...that's tiffany...

trying to collect some water...

see how tiny i am VS the water "fountain"

Tell me...why do kids all love water play?!

but sometimes don't like taking a bath??

hehe...

bathtime must be as interesting loh...

I am fully 17th months old and soon to be 18th month...1.5 years old!!

Today's blog will be a full update of al recent photos and activities and progress!!!

Eversince I have been introduced to Macdonalds' French Fries, I can't help loving it. :)

Even when I see the macdonalds print ad on the newspapers, I will say "mum mum mum mum" and try to eat the fries on the papers... ... :D and the sour unbearables gummy bear sweet....whenever mummy gives me one, i cant stop having somemore.... :D

So adults pls remember...in general, we kids eat what we are introduced to when young until we develop our personal preferences knowingly... ...

Last month, I finally went to the indoor playground but not the "GO GO BAMBINI" at Dempsey. Mummy brought me to one located in the Orchid Country Club. Well, it was fun anyway. Together with my cousins Jared and Ines, we played for about an hour plus there during the last week of their JUNE school holidays. (i will try to upload some of these pictures real soon.) I really look forward going again!!!

Did I previously mention that Mummy tries to give me 3 solid meals a day these days.

A typical day... ...with no special outings or so... ...

I usually wakes up at 6 to 7plus am for my first milk milk of the day 180mls.
Then I go back to sleep till probably 8plus and starts playing on my own or I will bring my 2 favourite big story books, "Goldilocks and the three bears", "The Gingerbread Man" to mummy and fuss her to read to me, afterwhich Mummy will try to flash me some flashcards.

At about 9plus, we will go downstairs, brush my teeth, take my fish oil(Yu Gan You)..and a bottle of my favourite Ribena drink! Then Mummy will make me my Oatmeal cereal breakfast and feed me while I watch a DVD of my choice, sometimes the more educational like Baby Bright, Luli etc, sometimes the entertaining ones and mummy will tell me what is going on...like Thomas the Train, Finding Nemo, Ice Age etc. After that we usually goes for a short stroll exploring the outside world and comes back for my bath. We will play some toys or I will just walk around and play on my own. By then about 1plus PM, I will take my lunch usually Macaroni soup or what mummy takes for lunch like fish soup etc plus a small 120 mls bottle of milk milk, then off for my afternoon nap.

Generally I take my afternoon nap from 1plus to 4plus or 2 plus to 5 plus.

When I wake up, mummy will give me some water and fruits...and depends on what time I wake up, I usually do drink a small bottle of 120mls milk. Then we go upstairs to have a short play session & Mummy will try to go through some flashcards with me...Then it is either stroll time to playground to play, or toys playing time or I will self entertain by walking up and down trying to play with the things the adults use...

6 to 6plus I will take my dinner usually rice with soup or whatever the family eats... ...
usually from 6plus to 8plus(at least) is my Rest & Relax Family Bonding time... Sometimes I go to the supermarket or night stroll with Mummy & Daddy or Grandpa and Grandma. Then I take my bath.

Before bedtime (well I usually sleep only at 11plus pm, which mummy doesnt like, so she is trying to make me go to bed earlier at 8plus or 9pm, so I got to be in the room latest by 830pm), I got to brush my teeth then take my milk milk 240mls. Once settled into the room, mummy will flash me some flashcards then read me some stories...usually my big storybooks plus the recent addition or chinese story books. After which, sing some nursery rhymes with me and play some toys then I go to sleep.

Notice we missed out the morning and night music session? All because the player has been down for a while and Mummy hasn't send it for repair yet... ....

And during weekends, it will be a little different, cos I get to have my outdoor bathing sessions after a messy coloring or painting session!

Anyway NOW I officially have a DiDi and not the Mei Mei Mummy was looking forward to...so she will have to think of a name...cos Mei Mei already had 2 chosen names on standby le mah...LEANN SEAH or ZOIA SEAH. So after some checking, Didi still doesn't have other name to choose from other than AYDEN SEAH. Very likely he will really be AYDEN SEAH.

:D
Soon I will have a DiDi to play with!!!

Mummys / Mummies? are Wonderful!! & Babies are Amazing!!

Peel an apple or grape off its skin... that's what mothers will do for their kids.
I munch my apple as it is...peel the skin?!
You must be joking... ... yah but I did that for my baby Asher... ... haha
and this is just ONE of the many things. Like I sacrifice my shopping for his subconsciously...
it is all about buying things for him these days...

And babies...oops, he is a toddler le... well anyway, he is so amazing. If you didn't peel the skin, as he bite, he will still spit out the skin... :P

He learns pretty fast...that's why they always say babies learn amazingly fast.
Cos' they are focus and determined?? no money woes?? hahahaha

I am trying to teach him to express himself since he can quite say "Yes, No, don't want (mai) and others etc..."

When you see him standing at a corner with an awkward expression and doesn't want you to come near him, chances are he is trying to pass motion...Ask him if he is shitting "uh-uh?" if "uh-uh" squat down....he will squat down at times...

He is calling Mama, Papa, Popo accurately. Except Gong Gong...he will call Thor Thor... :O?

Ask him... ...

"how do you cry?", he will gently rub his two hands on his eyes and whines

"how do you laugh?", he will open his mouth and give you a wide laugh for that 2 secs and haha.

"beat Mosquito"(da wen zi!), he will clap his two little hands together hardly!

"hug hug didi..." he will hug my bulging tummy... :P

I like it especially when you ask him if he wants something or wants to do something, if he doesnt want, he will shake his head and say "mai"...i find it soOOoooOo cute...sometimes even the body shakes along...HAHAHAHHAH

Oh...and we like to "play dead-BANG!" with him too..."shoot" him with a toy gun or an imaginative toy gun using your fingers, he will "ah...." and fall down slowly to the floor and act like he is dead..so CUTE right?!!!! And he is so clever...he will do the same to us too!! Of course we will have to play along...

Hiyah....so many so many I wish I can document all down...but really it is tough. hehe