Language game: Smack the Alphabets!

Last Friday we went to Phoebe's school for "Sharing and Learning" and we learnt a language game that we wanna share with all the parents!

Smack the alphabet!

Things to make:

(1) Alphabet Tiles with Velcro backing

(2) Individual Gloves

 

Phoebe's hand is small so we traced and cut out her palm from foam paper for thickness and added a piece of felt cloth so the Velcro can stick onto the palm.

How to play:

1) Lay the alphabet tiles facing down

 

2) Players take turns to smack a tile

 

3) based on the letter stuck on the glove, say a word starting with the letter (e.g. D- dog)

 

 

*You can increase the difficulty by setting criteria for each player. Phoebe could say any word starting with the letter but for Nathan, he has to say a word with at least two syllabi.

*You can also add in time limit (like 10seconds). If the player was not able to say the word before the time is up, he/she will not get to keep the tile.

4) Player with the most tiles wins!

Last night, after all the tiles had been picked up, we added one more task for Nathan. He had to make 3 words with the tiles he collected. 

 

 

Easy easy but lotsa fun! 🤗🤗

You could even start with arranging the alphabets and sing the ABC song before starting. 

Go try it out and share with us how we can create more ways to use this set of materials! :)

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4 MUST-DOS when you visit the fire station

Do you know you can visit fire stations every Saturday between 9am to 11am?

 

We have been to a few and here are some MUSTS!

(1) Decide which type of fire station you wish to visit

Boon Lay and Woodlands fire stations are more kampung style. They are only two storeys as compared to new and modern ones like Bukit Batok fire station which can go as high as 8 storeys! Technology and facilities also slightly different.

(2) Ask and you may be given!

Don't be afraid to ask for demonstrations or some opportunities to ride on the vehicles or even have some hands-on activities like trying out the water hose and search for items in a smoke room!

The smoke room experience was really quite interesting. The kids were told that we have to find someone who is stuck in a fire in the room. We went in groups of 6, with two kids given torch lights. The room was so smokey that the visibility is like 1-2 metres. To help the visitors, they have placed little flashing green arrows to guide us to the "person" (which is actually a big jacket placed at a corner on the floor). It was a great simulation that allowed our kids to know the job of a fireman better. AWESOME!

The water hose! The kids got to increase and decrease the volume and also the type of spray (Wide or narrow).

 

 

By far, all the SCDF personnels have been nice and always agreeable to let the children experience the vehicles, gadgets and facilities.

 

Previously, Boon Lay station also brought our kids to visit the operation room which you can see the map and the different buttons. It was so cool!!!!!

At our last visit (this time with the kiddos' school), the firemen also demonstrated how to suit up and even simulated saving someone from third floor! Imagine all the action! Taking the long ladder from the fire engine, extending all the way up to the top and bring the person down! The kids were cheering when the firemen succeeded in the Mission!

 

 

(3) Ask for a fireman helmet!

For Neighbourhood fire stations, you will surely get it. BUT if you go for popular sites like Central fire station, be prepared to be there early and snatch for your piece. (I personally don't see a need to rush for popular sites. there are so many fire stations around!)

 

The firemen issued the hats and briefed the kids about the history of the station. Woodlands fire station is one of the oldest fire station in Singapore.

(4) Teachable Moments

There are so many teachable moments visiting the fire station. But do take the opportunity to educate the children on appreciation and a heart of gratitude ❤️. Tell the children about how fireman's job is dangerous but they choose to put others above themselves. Firemen are on shifts, which means some times they have to stay up at night which is not good for health. They have to stay in the station and not be able to go home. Yet, they chose to be firemen. :)

Hope these information will help you have a fruitful excursion with your kiddos! 

HAVE FUN!!!!!!

 

For more information, visit the SCDF link below!

visit to fire station

8 Tips to Enjoy Art Zoo 2017

8 Tips to Enjoy Art Zoo 2017

 

Tip 1: Decide the time slot you want to visit

We recommend (i) 5.30pm to 7.30pm or (ii) 7pm to 9pm.

We feel that 1.5hrs is quite sufficient for kids as frankly, too much of the jumping and playing is actually not gonna be too good for the night's rest. Imagine over-hyper kids right before bed time!!

For (i), you will get to see Art Zoo both in the day and when it is lit up. After playing, you can just head out for dinner at Makansutra Gluttons Bay for local delights or Esplanade for restaurants (expensive ones, other than Toast Box). THEN take a walk around the area to search for iLight at Marina Bay displays.

 

For (ii), try to have dinner before 6.30pm and something that is not over filling. If not you will not only see Merlion spitting water opposite the zoo, you will also see your kid vomiting inside the zoo. 

For us, we went in about 7pm and came out at 8.30pm so we took a stroll along Esplanade, bought a drink and some popcorn and just look look see see. Left Marina at about 9.30pm. :)

 

Tip 2: Clear your bowels before entering the zoo

I know this tip sounds totally weird but you better follow and make sure your kiddo squeeze out the last drop of pee in his/her bladder because THERE IS NO TOILET IN THE ART ZOO! AND once you exit the zoo, YOU CANNOT RE-ENTER!

 

Tip 3: Bring a good backpack

In some of our LIVE videos, you would see my kids holding bottles -> mama took over the bottles -> bottles disappearing because all went into papa's back pack!

The kids are jumping and having any loose item is just super dangerous. Having a good backpack means all these loose items go into the bag. 

For the one carrying, just tighten the straps and you can still hang around in the enclosure with your kiddo!

BUT GENERALLY, TRAVEL LIGHT.

Tip 4: There is NO wet weather plan.

If it rains, no refund! Because you can just happily turn your experience into a wet one! WATER PLAYYYYY!

However, if there is lightning alert, of course, it is indoors for everyone. :))

Bring along a small towel and change of clothes if you already know the weather isn't great. If you wanna be even more hardcore, just dress your kids in wet suit then! 

Word of caution: it gets really slippery when it is wet. Every jump may means falling. You will not be injured because inflatables are bouncy and there are no sharp edges but be prepared for muscle aches like what we are experiencing now.

Tip 5: Don't be a Cinderella! You need the correct shoes for play!

Tapered slip-ons are the best shoes for best experience at Art Zoo.

• If the weather is dry, jumping bare footed is shiok, so you will need to put on and take off your shoes very often. 
• If the weather is wet, you will be wearing your shoes most of the time and you will not want wet, soaked socks in your shoes.

I strongly discourage slippers. It is dangerous to jump in slippers. You either cut yourself or end up spraining your ankle. Just take them off when you are on the inflatables.

Tip 6: Read the information board at each zone

We love to make everything educational. *obsessed with teachable moments* at each zone, there is an information board that will give you the name of the zone and also what animals or plants or insect you can find in that particular inflatable. 

We recommend that you

(1) point at each animal on the board and read it to your kid. If you child is older, have them take note of the spelling; 

(2) ask your child to explore the whole inflatable and search for the animals in this display.

 

 

If not, you can also just let the kiddo jump jump jump then go to the next one then jump jump jump again then onto the next one. :)

Tip 7: We are Drivers too!

If you're driving to Art Zoo, you can either park at the Esplanade or at Marina Square. Personally, I would advise that you park at Marina Square BUT enter the carpark from the Raffles Avenue entrance (just before Mandarin Oriental). That way, you park literally opposite the event location! Also, Marina Square will help to fulfil your toilet/dinner needs (food at the Esplanade is just generally a lot more expensive too). There's a traffic junction there too, so you don't have to worry about jaywalking (both illegal AND dangerous!).

Tip 8: Cheap cheap tickets please!

There are many famous (more famous than us for sure!) bloggers who offer discount codes for their readers.

I found 2 so I'm just gonna share the love!

For 20% off online purchase of tickets, just type '20AZCHLOE' or '20AZJAYNE'.

I feel a bit bad... because I don't even follow them... :p

*updated: Mother Care also has discount code! '20AZMC'.

**updated: Passion Card holders and Safra members also get 20% off!

This 20% off is actually cheaper than the 4 tickets package offered by ART ZOO. 

You can purchase 4 tickets for $50 online or $54 onsite.

Single tickets are at $15 be it online or onsite but with promo code, ONLY $12!

So I got 4 tickets for $48!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now with these 8 tips, I hope you can enjoy the Art Zoo thoroughly and make your $12 sooooooo worth while! 

Frankly, I won't even mind going again with the kiddos! Maybe The Foong Family will see you there!

HAVE FUN, FOLKS! :)

 

P/S: our Favourite zone is the WHALE! Make sure you visit that!

 

Other general information:

1. ART ZOO IS FOR ALL AGES! Ah Mah and Ah Gong also can! :)
2. FREE admission for children below two years old BUT accompanied by two paying adults
3. Opening hours: 5pm to 11pm on WEEKDAYS and 2pm to 11pm on WEEKENDS

Simple DIY Christmas Cards (if phoebe can, so can you!)

Hahaha.. Yan Can Cook, So Can You! 

Did I just revealed my age? If you know this line, you are also not that young. :)))

Anyway, we were preparing some simple cards with the kiddos for their teachers this Christmas!

 

Don't worry, it is fast and simple and yet nice and sincere. Hahaha, 我讲到完！

All you need is:

(1) a palate (or just a plastic plate also ok)

(2) cotton buds (Q-Tip if you talk like Ang moh)

(3) paint

(4) card stock

(5) markers or Colour pencils

 

I did one first so that the children can have a visual guide / example.

We started with discussing the colours of the tree, trunk, star and the ornaments. We also talked about the shapes. Triangle, square and star!

This is to deepen the understanding of the process and the details. So I suggest you don't skip it. It will actually reduce some hiccups. :)

 

For phoebe, she is a little young, so I drew the shapes for her.

She has to first dot on the lines then fill in the space with more dots. :))

 

Last step for her would be to put the red and pink dots at where the "holes" or empty areas are.

 

Nathan wrote the words and designed the card himself.

 

 

Simple right? Hope this is in time for you!

Here is a variation you wanna consider. :)

 

 

 

We paired the cards with some wafer rolls!

 

Craft: A little love for the mothers!

Mother's day is not just a day for my children to thank me (obviously because I am their MOTHER) but a day when they appreciate all the lady figures who have shown love and care for them. 

For Nathan, who now understands much, I started with eliciting who are the people who love him and he loves as well. Then I told him, we are going to make gifts for them. With that, I showed him the earrings I was wearing and told him it shall be earrings. Of course, teachers being teachers, I made him said earrings a few times. Hahahaha!

We used shrinking film which is easily available at Art Friend. An A4 size shrinking paper/film is only $1.70 and you can make many things out of it.

(For those who doesn't know what shrinking film is, it is simply a piece of plastic like paper which under heat, will shrink by about 30-40%. You can YouTube it for better understanding.)

After cutting out the shapes, which in our case, I just used a big flower shaped paper punch, Nathan started colouring the flowers with magic markers.

After that, I put the paper into the toaster oven and shrunk them. :) so here I have all the lovely plastic chips, ready to be transformed!

I added the stud backings to the thickened chips. 

Tah dang! Simple and nice!

I love how the pair is not identical. It's so handmade. Hahaha.. And it's so original. 

After the earrings are done, we started on the card making. Basically, all u need is some ink pads and FINGERS! Yup, I demonstrated how to stamp a flower using my finger and Nathan was able to start right away! With prior knowledge about the five petal flower, it was easy for him to create the flowers.

Finally, poke two holes and put the earrings in!

To allow variations, I also took out some alphabet stamps for him to identify letters and stamp the name of the receiver. 

Here is a card for his auntie (my elder sis) and similarly, just slit then poke the earrings through!

And here's happy 奶奶 wearing her Mother's Day special edition earrings!

As for myself, I'm very thankful for a very caring husband who also secretly made a card for me with the children. 

He also presented me with a very heartwarming certificate.

This is my third Mother's Day. Frankly, it has been nothing but great. :) I recalled the first thing I said when I held Nathan in my arms in the theatre, "dear! This one cannot return ah!" That was a very real statement. When God entrusted us with the gift of a child, we are to be good stewards and nurture them properly. There is no return policy and we can and should always give forth our best. The journey and process can be challenging but with God being the center of it all, it will be fulfilling. :) totally loving all the cuddles I have with Nathan and phoebe on our bed and all their joyful giggles! All in all, I'm so glad I have been chosen by God to be a mother and I'm so gonna do my best! :)

I DON'T WANT TO SHARE!

"I don't want to share!"

Does that sound familiar to you?

With Nathan entering two and now at two years 5 months, we have been doing our best to inculcate good values and of course, many times to model the way. However, at this age when their cognitive development is very "caveman" and it is mainly about themselves and their needs and wants, it is not very easy. The power struggles that come with it haven't been too pleasant either. 

So today, we decided to use his favourite snack "honey stars" as a teaching tool for Sharing. :)

First we speak with Nathan about honey stars being his favourite food and he feels happy when he eats them. And it is good if other people can be happy too. So we can give them honey stars and let them feel the same "happy" that Nathan feels. :)

We took out some small zip lock bags and some animal puffy stickers from Daiso. We let Nathan choose a sticker for each of his cousins.

He chose an alligator for kor Kor ah rui; a lion for didi yisheng and a cat for Mei Mei   Beatrice. Then we guided him to stick them on the zip lock bags.

Then we let Nathan fill these zip lock bags with his box of honey stars!

Hahaha phoebe also wanted to join in!

Here are the end products!

Finally we went to Gardens by the Bay's children playground to meet the other cousins. Nathan then presented each packet to each cousin. (Minus yisheng cos he was asleep)

The concept of sharing is very difficult to grasp for young kids.. It's hard for them to understand why must they share their favourite toy with others esp just because the parents said so.

So we are going to continue to explain, model the way and guide our kids to do so...

Jiayou, everyone! 

Till the day we hear "I WANT TO SHARE". :)

River Safari: everything is just right!

I was trying to give this review a title but the one phrase that came to mind is: Just Right.

It was a very comfortable trip with everything just right. The walking is just right, the excitement is just right, the engagement is just right, the environment is just right and the whole experience is just right!

Just right is a state that all parents with young kids try to achieve as we always worry about the tipping point when kids are over tired and hyper and it can affect the remaining part of the day and if worse, the entire night. 

So for River Safari, it is JUST RIGHT. :)

This was the last excursion about 1month back before I ended my maternity. We were blessed with an awesome weather, slightly sunny but nice breeze. Thank God for MOE privileges, we have four adult tickets complimentary with boat rides!

Nathan was briefed about the pandas before that so he was really excited!

Family portrait at the entrance!

(Disclaimer: Phoebe was playing with the foam fan, she was not injured. She pulled out the whole blade. The fan was the one who was injured.)

What greeted us was tranquility! 

Never knew Singapore could still have space for a sight like this. :)

River safari is structured by major rivers and the entire walk to the pandas and passing through all the rivers is only 30min. It is fully covered and there is not much terrain. We had our girl in the stroller and there was no problem moving about. 

This crocodile is a monster. It is so huge that I was traumatized!

If your child likes the underwater world and SEA aquarium, he is bound to like river safari! This place is a combination of those two and the zoo! :)

The red pandas were really close to us. I love how the panda enclosures were. Up close and they were really tame and also showy.

As kids below 1.3m is not allowed on the boat ride, we had to stagger our turns to take it. What was impressive was they had a corner for parents to wait near the queue and do the exchange! 

Ok, the ride!

I LOVE IT! It is like night safari kinda experience which you sail through the animals homes. They are just right beside you! Only thing is, it is not very sheltered so be sure to have a cap on or slab on some SPF 1000000 sun screen. :)

This was how near the jaguars were from our boat.

The boat ride is located just at the half mark of the whole trail. It is about 30-40min from entrance, based on casual walking. 

Pls save some energy as the second part of the trail is as fun or more fun!

These monkeys totally freaked us out. My mother in law RAN out cos the monkeys were following the stroller she was pushing and trying to grab my hand bag. So please be very careful and alert when u enter this area and DO NOT BE COMPLACENT.

Then we went on to this beautiful and mysterious underwater ecosystem, aquatic animals swim and live amidst the trees and plants until the waters recede. 

We arrived just in time for the feeding and it was so interesting! It was about 1pm if I remember correctly. :)

The whole trail will take you about 1.5 hours with a casual stroll speed and stopping at all the exhibits and animals. But we stopped for lunch and had to do swapping for baby sitting and diaper changing etc, it was about 3+hours being out and learning something.

When we left at 1+pm, Nathan was tired but still not grouchy and the timing was just right for a long afternoon nap! :)

That's why I said from the beginning, this place is JUST RIGHT! :)

Ok, shall end with a unique selfie shot.

(Disclaimer again: I did not teach him that.)