Club SAHM

[happyfeet3]

Dear mummies, thanks for your insights and ideas. It seems like i am not alone with slow kid. My girl is faster this morning but she still took 55 mins to finish breakfast and toilet. I use rewading system and told her if she could finish on time which is 40 mins for two consecutive days, she can get an ice cream treat and if 5 consecutives days, she can get Swenson ice cream. Yet to see the outcome. But, i could see that she was trying to be fast and improve, just too slow to chew food. For keeping things, I kept two books when she did not keep after reading last night. But, the problem is I have many books in the bookshelves , and she just took another book to read. Do you think keeping reminding her will do any tricks?

[sharonkhoo]

happyfeet3:

Dear mummies, thanks for your insights and ideas. It seems like i am not alone with slow kid. My girl is faster this morning but she still took 55 mins to finish breakfast and toilet. I use rewading system and told her if she could finish on time which is 40 mins for two consecutive days, she can get an ice cream treat and if 5 consecutives days, she can get Swenson ice cream. Yet to see the outcome. But, i could see that she was trying to be fast and improve, just too slow to chew food. For keeping things, I kept two books when she did not keep after reading last night. But, the problem is I have many books in the bookshelves , and she just took another book to read. Do you think keeping reminding her will do any tricks?

Any reward must be something she really likes, and any penalty must be something she really dislikes. Does she like ice cream that much? I would still prefer to use a penalty with immediate effect rather than a reward after a couple of days. Since you know there are many alternative books, then your penalty for not keeping books should not be just confiscation, but also have something that bites - like no TV or extra chores or reading a book of your choice (make it a heavy non-fiction one!). I remind my kids once before the penalty kicks in. If you remind too often, they get immune or they complain that you nag.

[ngl2010]

Hi Happyfeet3,


My son is slow too but I managed to make him eat faster. For dinner, I let him watch TV for 30 minutes while having his dinner. If he cannot finish within 30 minutes, he cannot watch TV during dinner anymore (I usually remind him to chew and also 5 minutes before the time is up). Since this is 1 of the 2 chances he can watch TV in a day, he really treasure it and hence he finishes his dinner in 30 minutes (30 minutes is the length of cartoon programme in Okto so it is easy to track).

For breakfast, he doesn’t have problem because he doesn’t want to be late for school. Lunch is usually in school.

[happyhappygirl]

Hi, my girl is 4 yrs now but seems that among her peers are taking enrichment classes. She is only attending her half day school. wondering is it too late for her or anyone can advise some enrichment that may interest her at her age?

[icy_mama]

happyhappygirl:

Hi, my girl is 4 yrs now but seems that among her peers are taking enrichment classes. She is only attending her half day school. wondering is it too late for her or anyone can advise some enrichment that may interest her at her age?

hi happyhappygirl

my dd is now 6. when she was 4, i didn't send her to any extra enrichment cos i thought she should enjoy her childhood as much as she can.

now that she is in k2, i started her on chinese speech and drama, art class and john langrehr class for once a week. these classes were given as add-ons after her lessons proper.

so far she is enjoying these classes as she's doing it with her fellow classmates.

initially i was apprehensive about having so many enrichment classes as i was afraid it would tire her out. i was prepared to pull her out if she shows any sign of not willing to go to class, but she was alright. i guess it's important your child is ready and enjoy the classes. then learning could follow.

listen, watch and change accordingly. doesn't matter how many enrichment classes other kids are going. imho kids learn best when they have interest. don't stifle that interest by loading them with too much.

[linguastic]

This discussion is awesome. keep going

[happyhappygirl]

Thanks so much, icy mama for your advice!


I fully agree with you as my hubby also thinks that enjoying childhood is more impt & only when they are ready then go for it. Just the peers around us is scaring me off. I just heard from my frd’s son who is a few months older than her already doing abacus, golf, chinese class wkly.

Currently, she does enjoy alot in her daily school & adapting well. I am going to let her trial on a music class & art class so as to see if she has any interest to proceed further. Just hoping she can cultivate some interests soon I will definitely follow her flow until she is ready for any lessons.

[sleepy]

happyhappygirl:

my hubby also thinks that enjoying childhood is more impt & only when they are ready then go for it. Just the peers around us is scaring me off. I just heard from my frd's son who is a few months older than her already doing abacus, golf, chinese class wkly.

4 years old is a good age to expose a child to various things and explore interests. Who knows you may even discover a hidden talent and can start nurturing that talent earlier?



I believe exposing a child to various activities is a privilege. I don't see that as depriving childhood. I remember letting my dd1 tried all sort of stuff at that age. She was always enthusiastic too. Being first time parents, we had to trial & error. Well, we figured way early that dd1 has a flair for drawing and she has two left legs so couldn't dance

With dd2, we only started her on group music lessons at 5 years old. advancing from zero background to learning grade 2 in a music school, all within 1.5 years. She subsequently auditioned into nafa grade 1. However, her assigned nafa teacher complained we started her on music too late. She said we should have started earlier at 3 years old :nailbite:

[AdonciaTang]

Hi Ladies! I am so happy I am a part time SAHM now!!! get to spend more time with my kid!

[happyheart]

AdonciaTang:

Hi Ladies! I am so happy I am a part time SAHM now!!! get to spend more time with my kid!

:thankyou: :rahrah: :rahrah: :boogie: