Hi,

Sounds like your LO loves learning.

1.) Have you heard of BFIAR?
This is a homeshooling method using picture books that may already have.
Here is a link to explain it better than I ever could : http://ourcountryroad.blogspot.com/2011/09/tos-review-before-five-in-row.html

2.) Have you tried sensory bins? You can do lots of learning with this activity.
Here's a link: http://countingcoconuts.blogspot.com/search/label/Sensory%20Tubs

My LO's 15.5 months and we do a mish mash of activities. He loves math dots, we do skip counting with the doman cards
We also do Tot trays with a lot of alphabet & phonics. My link is my siggy. Hope you can find some stuff you like

I am sorry, I could help but laugh when i read the thread. I was imagining all the mommies going to the park after reading this and try to brachiate.

I tried a while back and I can't. Hmmm, maybe I'll try again soon and risk being laughed at by the kids. Maybe I'll go when no one's around.

Cheers ladies

Hi Dear,

Congrats and welcome!!

Saw Dr Mommy replying to this post and decided to kay poh a bit. 

I'm from Malaysia and I am a working mom too. So, we can give each other some well deserved pats on the back.

The first few weeks are the toughest. I cried when I went back to work, I cried when I am on call. Cried some more when my child was sick and i was not with him. You get the picture...

Then, later, once the hormones settle down and you are back in your routine, life will somewhat seem a little more 'normal'.

Best of luck.

Keep a diary or a blog. It helps

Hi A_BC,

Just dropping by to give my 2 cents worth. Isn't it so overwhelming when you are deciding what you want to do? I think most of the parents here were in the same shoe before. I know I was.

The best advise I can give you is Youtube. Download samples of the videos that you are interested in and try it on your child.

I have YBCR, LR, LM, LC. That's all. My LO prefers music and dancing more. I limit his screen time to the minimum and no cartoons at all.

We do lots of other stuff, so there is no need for TV. If you are interested, you can read about my schedule on my blog. It's too long for me to type it out here.

Hope it helps

HI Arvi

I could relate to your question/problem because I was in the same shoe after I had my LO. This is what I considered when I made my choice of returning to work full time.

1. Who is looking after your child?
I have a MIL who is caring for my LO. So no worries of sending to daycare of abusive babysitter. If there was no one in the family to look after my kid, I would drop my career in a heart beat.

2. Do you have good spousal support?
This is shared decision. A single income family makes a huge difference. If financially able, then this shouldn't be a prob. At the moment, my husband is providing everything. My salary is for investment and savings. I live in Malaysia. The local higher education is laughable. I plan to send my LO abroad, hence the savings.

3. Your career mindedness.
I took a 2 months break from my job and during that time, I was still doing some work for my hubby. Not a leisurely hwife, mind you. Truth is I nearly died from the boredom. If your career means a lot to you, you can't quit cold turkey. Try a break or change to a part time job. That's what I did, I took it down a notch and finally breath.

4. How much of early learning you want to incorporate?
Are you planning to do it the whole day/during mealtime/one hour a day?
If you quit your job, will you spend the whole day teaching? What you want to achieve at the end of the day?
I do it once a day, that's all. My LO is still advanced for his age.

We all make sacrifices. At the end of the day, I just look at my LO and feel that it is worth it because he makes me smile and sometimes ROTFL..

Best of luck

HI, psmmaha,

I assume you are asking about the Tweedlewink DVDS?

The TW programme consists of eight categories:
vision: to work on the eye muscles
vocabulary
music: perfect pitch
world: cultures
math: math dots
reading: Phonics and speed reading
art
science

All these are done in a video/flashcard format in the DVDs. So, if you compare with Little Reader, there is more variety. However, each session is only eight minutes and each DVDs has 4 sessions. The entire set is very costly and of course it is entirely up to you to decide. Try the trial version on Youtube: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/sEeLcrv_S8w&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/sEeLcrv_S8w&rel=1</a> and decide if your LO like it. It works differently for everyone.

LR is predominantly a reading programme. Of course, the free downloads are usfeul for world language as well.

There are many ways to stimulate the right brain.

We attend TW and my LO is ok with both but he prefers Little Math more but that's just him

Hope this helps

Hi Ella,

I have YBCR. My LO will never sit still for the reading part. The only time he pays attention is during the singing (so that he can dance  )

Personally, i think it's not much of an investment if you are looking for right brain material. So sad that you are leaving Schichida. 

Jessica

Just wanted to add,

If you want to see the books first, (important bcoz the size of the print and illustration matters) go to Borders or Kinokuniya. They have the best selection of Children Books. It's like book heaven. Daddy's face when I go book shopping --> -->


Good luck

HI Ella,

I went through this phase as well. Please buy board books, the LO will rip the pages along with your heart. Also, buy during sales cause books are expensive in Malaysia
This is a list of the best picture books recommended:

http://childrensbooksguide.com/top-100

In Malaysia, you can use
http://www.caterpillarhouse.com/store/. Pretty good discount. Free postage above RM 200

Or
www.bookdepository.co.uk/. Free international shipping

Tiger's favourite:
Snuggle Puppy, A Love Song by Sandra Boynton. Prob bcoz I sing it and it's about dogs..haha..

Hi DadDude/Larry,

This has always been a topic of great interest to me. Anticipating the poll results,

I voted for phonics/whole words because that's what I am doing. Don't you think the results would be a little biased in view that most of the forumers would be Brillkids users?

Jessica

HI ladies

Ella, thanks for dropping by my blog and the wonderful comment.

Love to share whatever I have learned. It is tough getting some things in Malaysia.

Some art and craft stuff we love:

1. Do dot markers (Brand: Alex) from Think Toys RM 49. Says washable but not very washable. Takes a day or two to wash off.
2, Finger paint. (Peblo) which  bought from Craft Haven in One Utama . Crayola's watery. Please don't get the ones from USL. They looked scary. It's tempera. For older children only.
3. Since Tiger still mouths secretly when I am not looking, currently we finger paint with yogurt or instant pudding mixed with fruit. Yummy and fun!! Keep the session short though, in Malaysia, you will be surrounded with flies. We usually paint in the late afternoon to evening period of the day, less flies and then straight to the inflatable pool. Tiger's favourite activity for the weekends.
4. Stickers. Get cheap stickers and let them stick away. Always a hit
5. Crayons. I got the triangular ones from Crayola. Helps with tripod grip for writing later. Never forced Tiger to hold the crayons properly, he just observed and did it. Maybe it's the shape of the crayons.

If you child is still mouthing heavily, do hold on with art material even if it says non toxic. Otherwise use homemade recipe for playdough and finger paints. The different textures alone stimulate their senses. Will share some tried and tested recipes on my blog soon. Gotta go finish my secret project for Tiger.

Just to clarify some points:

Ella: The A4 size paper I use is at least 220gm and above. The normal A4 that we use for other documents would be about 80gm. Therefore, I can flash fast, it is quite impossible to flash fast with a 80 gm A4.

Jasmine: The USL puzzles are made in China but theirs are of better quality. If you want to look for so-so quality puzzles or wooden toys, check out Fun and Cheer in Bukit Tinggi 2. I'll post some of the goodies I got from there on my blog soon once I find the time. It's quite nice, really cheap. I'll mod podge everything I get from there even though it says non toxic paint. I 'kiasi' (scared to die) cause made in China and dirt cheap.

Have a great weekend  

HI Ella,

I print my flashcards as A5s. I find them easier to handle and print. I usually buy 220gm A4 and cut them into halves. More economical. Never used cards before.

After flashing, I will select some cards and place them in a reusable folder for my DS to use as a busy book. This is to keep him entertained when I am busy. Hence, the busy book 

Otherwise, very sad to see all the papers lying on the selves unused.

I love puzzles too, seriously, I need to stop colecting them. USL puzzles are quite sturdy when it comes to chewing and throwing. Better than Melissa and Doug's peg puzzle. Want to see part of my puzzle collection?

Click here: 3rd and fourth shelves,

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kn79iuWO-fE/TkaiTiAmzPI/AAAAAAAAAAk/TQ0IGG8nvwg/s1600/IMG_0998.JPG

He's only 14 months..hai...

Hi Jasmine,

Glad you found my blog useful. That's the whole point of starting one. If there is anything else you need, just call me

I am changing my profile name to mum2tiger for safety reasons since I am blogging now.  Not that I am turning into Amy Chua of Malaysia   

There was a tread earlier on what ppl do at home but I can't recall the title or find it. Maybe someone else can? This forum is too big!! Haha

Hi Ella,

Regarding the LR, I can't remebber the difference btw basic and deluxe   Maybe the brillkids team can help you there

That's lots of enthusiasm and passion    I know, i love shopping for my LO too. Actually that's pretty much my main agenda nowadays  My face after shopping:  Hubby's face -->  

Regarding montessori, if you are in Malaysia, there are a few companies but some deal in US Dollar. So if money's no problemo ,then check out these sites:
www.bambini-Montessori.com/
www.kmodemarketing.com.my/
www.my-montessori.com/contact.asp
www.usleducation.com/

I have purchased from USL and quality so-so but mostly made in China stuff. I am not particular about things made in China because after seeing so many catalogs and products I have realised that close to 80% of all products are from China. Unless you want to buy from Micheal Olaf or Montessori Services(US) in exchange for a limb Most of the stuff are crazy expensive.

My advise is go through the curriculum and decide which you can DIY or collect stuff from around the house. Check out this facebook link: http://www.facebook.com/gift2kids. They have some montessori products arriving late August. Their retail shop is very near my place and I'll pm you if I think the products are ok