Friday, 24 March 2017

关于一些顽皮的故事,《顽皮故事集》读后感


这本书是为了孩子们买的,买的时候刚好因为孩子们的顽皮折腾得一个头两个大。
他们每天每天都有不同的缘由,让身边的大人伤神。

这本书写了很多顽皮的趣事,故事里的孩子并没有为自己的顽皮找借口,而是道出了顽皮时他心里正在想的是什么。这正是我想知道的。

书中的序就说到,无论你已经是一位有名望的专业人士或是生意人都好,不得不承认这些人的心里也有住着一个顽皮的孩子,时不时有一些想要捣蛋或是捉弄人的想法。都被理智的想法压抑着。孩子却不同,他们还在摸索着。很多时候都会想要尝试。

首先,我喜欢看这本书,很简单扼要,没有拖泥带水,却又有很多意想不到的精彩情节。很多意想不到的事情,故事里的小男孩都做了。

虽然有顽皮的一面,却同时展现了自己爱妹妹和敢作敢当的好个性。这让我不禁想到,当看到孩子的顽皮时,大人们都忘了去欣赏那孩子身上其他的好。

这本书让我看到,顽皮的孩子的观点,你细细的听其实很有特色。因为就是他们的思维不一样,所以常常做出一些导弹的行为。

其实,有点特别也没有什么不好。



Wednesday, 8 March 2017

Why we teach cooking? It's a important life skill


As a children playgroup center, we have been teaching children how to cook with minimal help from adult. We try to let them do as much as they can independently. 

Teaching them how to bake and cook is different from teaching them how to finsih homework, it doesn't apply on exam and there's no result to show on an exam paper. So why we put so much of effort teaching it? Not only because the children love it and enjoying doing things in the kitchen. 


It's a important life skill. We all grow up for a purpose that we learn how to take care of ourself and others. Children need this achievement even at their young age. This would help to let them feel identified and confident. Children culinary ain't only about playing and making nice food, it's also an important part for them during the growing stage. 

After few months of learning, we see the progress of the children, they are confident to share with others how to make the food. Most importantly, they are more than happy to share their food happily.

Life skill isn't only about make a living, also to care about others in our life. 

Sunday, 27 November 2016

The tale of the Gingerbread Man

Story time while we are waiting for Gingerbread Man baked from the oven
Childhood is wonderful while it's filled up with all these amazing tales. Most of the children love gingerbread man. Gingerbread man is yummy, and it's also adorable. 

 Let's get started from the scratch. We measure by using scale, mix the ingredient and make the cookies dough.
 There are big and small ginger bread man.
 Look at these gingerbread man, they are made by us.
 It's baked, and give them some eyes and buttons.


Sunday, 20 November 2016

Sensory activity - Yes, we let the children play with flour

Design pattern on floured surface
At the end of baking class, because we used ingredients wisely so we have excessive flour


Some of the parents share with me they run out of ideas what to play or to do with their children? This sound like a common question some of the parents have.

In Hi5, we welcome parents to stay for the baking class if they would like to learn too. We share the recipe with parents too, in case they would like to bake at home. We are happy to learn that some of the families start baking together at home.

At the end of the class, there are materials left over. We will let the children play with that. Children love sensory activity, it is also a good way to let them release some creativity energy. 


We bake English Muffin this week, children kept distracted by the excessive flour in the bowl. They couldn't stop to play, I know exactly how they feel because flour has such a special texture than anything they have been touching daily. We suggest the children to use their ingredients wisely, so they will have more flour to play after we complete. From that point onward, they handle every steps carefully.

While we were waiting the parents to come, we had so much fun by playing with the flour.

Do you know that?Research shows that sensory play builds nerve connections in the brain's pathways, which lead to the child's ability to complete more complex learning tasks. Sensory play supports language development, cognitive growth, fine and gross motor skills, problem solving skills, and social interaction.

Friday, 18 November 2016

Children Chinese Cultural Camp 儿童传统习俗体验营


传统习俗有多重要?华人的文化流传了多久,就有多重要。

因为传统习俗和日常生活融入在一起,而且我们不再需要一年才有吃到一次节庆食物。生活的步伐也变得很快,我们慢慢忘了先辈们留下来的习俗, 忘了有好多精彩的故事和习俗可以告诉孩子们。

今年三月的传统习俗体验营,我们和孩子们一起认识了屈原uncle,他是一个什么样的人、他的职业,还有为什么大家那么尊重他。学习是可以很生活化的,让孩子用他们的方式去体验。课程结束后,孩子们对于端午节的重点不再是好吃的粽子而已,还有那位被派去很远的屈原uncle。这就是孩子们可以把屈原的故事记得很好的秘密。

华人的习俗也可以很有趣、好玩,只要我们找到属于孩子们的方法带着他们一起去了解。

活动接受报名中,提早报名可享有优惠。

用不织布制作传统粽子,命名“包中”,家长们都喜欢孩子们送的礼物
下午茶时间是亲手制作的汤圆,下课来接孩子们的家长也吃到了

Wednesday, 16 November 2016

Introduction of Finance to Kids Programs

For the first time, we start this course - Finance to kids. This idea has been with us for a long period of time.

Occasionally I shared this idea with some friends, most of them agree immediately and comment this is something essential for children nowadays. Society has commercialized our lifestyle, even for a young kid. For example, a nice movie will soon to be seen on toy store, stationery or freebies on fast food. Little children is too young to understand this theory behind the commercial world. As a result, we often see crying children in toy store arguing with the parents.


The next step is "how"? How do we break such a big topic into an interesting programs for children to learn while having fun. We have been studying and researching different kind of teaching method. The best result came from the children themselves. During the past holiday camp, a group of children enjoy playing pretend game of seller and customer very much.

Life is simple, especially at the young age. We buy a pen when we need that, and it is not because it's cute and I like it. The question is how do we deliver this important message for the little ones.



Saturday, 12 November 2016



Today we have a group of children from the same school joining Eat Craft - making cup cakes together, and had a lovely afternoon tea after the class.

This beautiful arrangement is credited to the mothers among the group, they have been sharing ideas and interesting activities for their children. Attending activities together, is one of their favorite moment.

The children have lots of fun. First of all, making food is always fun. Baking has the magical power that let everybody both adults and children to enjoy doing it. In Malaysia, baking isn't that common in most of the household especially letting kiddos to do by their own. Honestly, that's a lot of preparation and cleaning to be done. But if you were there to witness how happy they are, you would definitely think that's something worth to do.

I am happy to look at these children, because they have so many things to talk about. They talk about their interests, hobbies, siblings and activities. Even though some of them came for the first time, they open their heart and enjoy the class very soon after we start the activity. This is another reason we enjoy teaching Eat Craft so much. Food brings everybody together.



 
Children who made meringue for the first time, they claim it looked exactly like ice cream which is not melting at all.


Quick learner he is. First baking class, he just learnt how to fold batter with meringue by watching.
Baking is a perfect lesson to teach about patient and waiting. Because nothing can be ate without waiting.