There are times when I don't really pay much attention to my kids, especially when they are watching good TV shows. So it's really a delight for me when they learn something new.
It caught me by surprise when my 2 year old showed me a yellow toy and she said, "Amarillo." Another time, she was trying to reach something and she called for my help saying, "Mommy, help. Ayudame." All these she learned from watching "Dora the Explorer." As we are not Spanish speaking people, it's good to know that my kids can learn a new language just by watching TV.
My older daughter learned about fortissimo, adagio, crescendo and other musical terms. She also became aware of different classical compositions from watching "Little Einsteins." I sometimes catch her humming classical tunes while playing with her toys.
Because of "Elmo's World," going to the dentist was a breeze for my 6 year old and she actually had fun while having a prophylaxis. Watching an episode about babies also helped prepare her for the birth of her younger sister when she was just 3 years old.
There are so many things a child could learn just by watching television. I just hope more child-friendly and educational shows will proliferate on TV. Truth is, even I, do learn something new from watching these shows.
Friday, July 6, 2007
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Armpits and Breastfeeding (Part 2)
I have talked about my kids having a penchant of placing their hands in my armpit while breastfeeding, but it's actually more than that. They also liked smelling it as well as rubbing their faces on it. Even though they only did this at home, I still feel embarrassed by their actions.
My 6 year old still likes to do things with my armpit. One time, she smelled it so I laughingly asked her, "How does it smell?" She cheerfully answered, "It smells good." She's like an armpit inspector who tells me "very good" whenever my armpits are newly shaved.
The sense of adoration they sometimes shower on my armpits is really laughable, not to mention embarrassing. But children are driven by their active senses after all. It is important for them to see, hear, touch, smell and even taste special persons in their lives.
Thinking about all these things brought back to mind what I had experienced when I was about 7 years old. I remembered taking my mother's used nightgown and smelling it. The smell was very comforting to me and I can honestly say it smelled really good then. She was breastfeeding my younger brother at that time, so maybe the smell of breastmilk has something to do with it also.
I am curious to know if bottle-fed kids do these things too. Feel free to post your comments.
My 6 year old still likes to do things with my armpit. One time, she smelled it so I laughingly asked her, "How does it smell?" She cheerfully answered, "It smells good." She's like an armpit inspector who tells me "very good" whenever my armpits are newly shaved.
The sense of adoration they sometimes shower on my armpits is really laughable, not to mention embarrassing. But children are driven by their active senses after all. It is important for them to see, hear, touch, smell and even taste special persons in their lives.
Thinking about all these things brought back to mind what I had experienced when I was about 7 years old. I remembered taking my mother's used nightgown and smelling it. The smell was very comforting to me and I can honestly say it smelled really good then. She was breastfeeding my younger brother at that time, so maybe the smell of breastmilk has something to do with it also.
I am curious to know if bottle-fed kids do these things too. Feel free to post your comments.
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Armpits and Breastfeeding
One thing I have to cope with while breastfeeding my daughter, is having her hand in my armpit. She likes to roll the back of her hand or sort of scratch my armpit which is not really painful but uncomfortable. Sometimes I feel like my skin will peel off because of her constant rubbing. Most often it's just one hand but there are times when both hands are busy in my armpits.
Both my kids tried nipple twiddling but I did not allow them to continue, so having a hand in the armpit is actually more of a compromise. Sometimes an errant hand gets lodged in my mouth but more often its the armpit that gets the honor of being given the loving attention.
I have read of this action being referred to as the free-hand habit. With no bottle to hold on to, the hands are free to explore and do things that could be soothing for a child. I can still remember clearly when I was about 3 years old and I love to twiddle my mother's nipple. She used to slap my hand so I will stop doing it.
I discourage my child from touching my armpit whenever I'm breastfeeding her. I usually remove her hand and put it somewhere else. Sometimes she whimpers, especially when she's very sleepy, but more often she allows her hand to be removed and slowly she'll place it back in my armpit when I'm not paying attention to her. Nowadays, it has become more of a game with her.
Both my kids tried nipple twiddling but I did not allow them to continue, so having a hand in the armpit is actually more of a compromise. Sometimes an errant hand gets lodged in my mouth but more often its the armpit that gets the honor of being given the loving attention.
I have read of this action being referred to as the free-hand habit. With no bottle to hold on to, the hands are free to explore and do things that could be soothing for a child. I can still remember clearly when I was about 3 years old and I love to twiddle my mother's nipple. She used to slap my hand so I will stop doing it.
I discourage my child from touching my armpit whenever I'm breastfeeding her. I usually remove her hand and put it somewhere else. Sometimes she whimpers, especially when she's very sleepy, but more often she allows her hand to be removed and slowly she'll place it back in my armpit when I'm not paying attention to her. Nowadays, it has become more of a game with her.
Chicken Vermicelli Soup
My toddler is starting to get picky with food lately, so I always make sure I cook something she'll enjoy. She loves eating noodles, any kind of noodles, that's why it's not uncommon to see a dish with noodles during mealtimes in our home .
With a quarter kilo of chicken, carrots, cabbage, vermicelli, garlic and onion, I can be assured that my 2 year old will enjoy her meal.
Saute the chopped garlic, then add the diced onions and then the thinly sliced chicken strips. Once the chicken turns brown, add the chicken stock and let boil. Add the vermicelli and wait for it to be cooked before adding the julienned carrots and shredded cabbage. You can add other vegetables if you like. Season to taste.
This is fast and easy to make, just the kind of thing for extrasuper moms who have lots of other things to do.
With a quarter kilo of chicken, carrots, cabbage, vermicelli, garlic and onion, I can be assured that my 2 year old will enjoy her meal.
Saute the chopped garlic, then add the diced onions and then the thinly sliced chicken strips. Once the chicken turns brown, add the chicken stock and let boil. Add the vermicelli and wait for it to be cooked before adding the julienned carrots and shredded cabbage. You can add other vegetables if you like. Season to taste.
This is fast and easy to make, just the kind of thing for extrasuper moms who have lots of other things to do.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
BedWetting (Part 2)
Bedwetting or nocturnal enuresis is a pretty common occurence for kids 6 years and below. Most children will eventually grow out of it so it's not something that should bother any parent too much. However, it could be stressful to both parents and kids.
Although my daughter does not seem to feel any embarassment everytime she bedwets, she still does not want it to happen since she has to wash and change her clothes after getting herself wet. Personally, I don't worry too much about her bedwetting, it's the need to change the sheets as well as wash the soiled bed linens that I don't like.
Bedwetting is hereditary. It's more likely that a child will bedwet if a parent or both parents wet their beds when they were still kids. In my daughter's case, I think she got it from my side.
I remembered when I was about 7 or 8 years old, I woke up from a deep sleep with a wet bed. If my memory serves me right, I got up from my bed, covered the wet spot with a blanket, changed my clothes and went back to sleep.
My Aunt had her own story to tell. She laughingly recounted her experience when she was already in her teens. She remembered dreaming about going to the toilet with a need to urinate. "It just kept going on and on and on without giving me any satisfaction until I finally did it and felt relieved," she said. She woke up soaked but just laughed off the incident.
Although my daughter does not seem to feel any embarassment everytime she bedwets, she still does not want it to happen since she has to wash and change her clothes after getting herself wet. Personally, I don't worry too much about her bedwetting, it's the need to change the sheets as well as wash the soiled bed linens that I don't like.
Bedwetting is hereditary. It's more likely that a child will bedwet if a parent or both parents wet their beds when they were still kids. In my daughter's case, I think she got it from my side.
I remembered when I was about 7 or 8 years old, I woke up from a deep sleep with a wet bed. If my memory serves me right, I got up from my bed, covered the wet spot with a blanket, changed my clothes and went back to sleep.
My Aunt had her own story to tell. She laughingly recounted her experience when she was already in her teens. She remembered dreaming about going to the toilet with a need to urinate. "It just kept going on and on and on without giving me any satisfaction until I finally did it and felt relieved," she said. She woke up soaked but just laughed off the incident.
Monday, July 2, 2007
The Uniform
My 6 year old was very happy with her new set of school uniform. My mother, her grandmother, had sewn it for her. I called up my mother to thank her and my daughter excitedly took her turn over the phone. She sweetly said, "Thank you Nana. Thank you for the unicorn."
The Pothole
Feeling tired and sleepy after our trip to the mall, we had limited conversations in our car while on our way home. We were contented listening to Psalty the singing songbook when suddenly we ran over a pothole. My 6 year old looked at her daddy and said, "Daddy, you have to be very careful. I could get a booboo on my head and I will cry." My husband just had to apologize after that.
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