CNY teachable moment 1: Make some greeting cards!

Teachable moments are facilitated moments for values, good behaviour or knowledge to be taught or caught. I love teachable moments as they are powerful because of the available situation and evidence and the emotions that the child can feel and observe. The key is actually the parent or teacher sensing the opportunity to offer insight and seize it strategically. Since it requires some practice to acquire this skill, in this post, I hope to help by writing the steps with clear teachable moments and what you can say or do. :) 

So, what are some of the teachable moments we can have for our children as we celebrate Chinese New Year? I will try my best to write a few (since I numbered it in the title) amidst the feasting!

How about appreciation for elders in the family? Here's a simple card that you can make with your child and let them present them to the elders this new year!

(Focus is not on the cards by what they can learn through making the cards)

Here are some simple wordings your toddle should be able to write on the cards: 

(1) 新年快乐

(2) 大吉大利

(3) 步步高升

(4) 平平安安

Step 1: 

Cut some thicker paper to use as cards. Depending on what kind of card you wish to make. For me, it's always postcard type because I like it straightforward! Ha!

Step 2:

Shape your toilet roll into a heart shape. Note that you have to ensure the heart shape is properly levelled. As you shape, the arc downwards may pertrude, making stamping uneven.

I made the kids say "heart shape" and taught them to do the shape with their fingers here. THEN told them heart shape  represents love and have them tell me one way they feel loved and one way they can show love.

(Adding rubber band is optional, depending on the quality of your toilet roll tube.)

Step 3:  

Palette and paint! This helps to organise the colours and ensure that the paint doesn't get mixed. Some likes to use small plates for each but I don't like to have children push and pull the colour plates to themselves or away. I prefer to have it like a colour station.

I would usually say each colour in English and Chinese and have my kiddos repeat after me. (Good moment to teach colours) You can extend the learning to having the child tell u what objects are of that colour.

(Please remember to spread the colour in the entire "hole". Do not mix too much water as the colour will just be soaked up and no stay on the tube for stamping. I don't even mix with any water.)

Step 4:

Demonstrate putting in the tube, and stamping AND returning the tube to the same colour compartment. Do it for all the colours to reinforce where each colour is and the correct way of handling the materials.

Step 5:

Now the children's turn! 

Try to control yourself in wanting to make sure they stamp or design in a certain way! Hahahaha! Nathan surprised me by doing paired up heart shapes and chain-like heart shapes. 

Talk with them about the patterns created and colours chosen but DO NOT pass judgements!

Enjoy the conversation!

(This was his first piece of which he was trying to get the colour purple by stamping the red over the blue!)

Here are some of their works!

Step 6:

You can either write the greeting directly on the card or separately then paste. If your child is still learning to write, I suggest doing it separately and remember to use pencil to draw a square so there can be some spatial awareness.

Step 7: 

When you are done with the cards, speak with your child on:

(1) who do they want to give to

(2) why do they want to give the card

(3) which card for who

I am sure any of you do craft or fun cookery at home but all these sessions can be not just about the skill acquires or the finished product. Try slowing down to capture the moments or for starter, reflect about the session and think about what  you can do next time. :)

Jiayou!