Matching skills

Matching skill is part of the logical skills in the cognitive development in the children's developmental milestone. I am rather thrilled with how the toddlers learn and pick up this skill. There is the Montessori ways, the traditional ways, and the DAP ways. These are just how the skills being instilled into the toddlers.

My personal approach will be having my toddler to explore these skills - the matching, sorting, group etc. naturally. I will just give him the awareness and through much exploration, I am sure my toddler will soon grasp the skills.

Here I have posted the final result of Maximus's matching skill (match the transportation). I started with giving him a picture magnet of a transport and then he will place it on the picture of the same transport in the book. We do this every night in a playing manner. But yesterday night, he decided to pick his own picture magnet and turn the pages to match the picture. Quickly I grabbed my recording device (mobile phone) and record the moment.

I was thrilled with excitement and proud of his achievement! Check it out...

Swimming experience - before and after 1-year-old

I recall that on May 2009 (Mother's day), we gave Maximus his 1st experience in the pool. He was 6 months old back then. On 23rd April 2010, we brought Maximus again into the pool. And this time he is already 1 year and 5 months old.
I can see a load of differences... It's a progress! But the similarity was he enjoys himself at no matter how old he is! Swimming is just baby's nature. They are a swimmer by nature - I guess!
It was such fun. Now, Maximus is already more than 3 feet tall. He is able to walk in the baby pool and is independent maneuvering around the baby pool. He is not as afraid as before. In addition, he can identify the real fun being in the adult pool! He wants to be in the adult pool... Guess it's also another children nature that they love the adult pool.
Here are the differences from the photos:

Being more independent in the pool patrol float. He is more aware of the environment now as compare to when he was 6-mths old. He was more interested chewing / tasting the steering on the float.

Able to kick and try to swim independently with the float comparing to before where he needs a lot of supervision and guidance.

Maximus is able to walk in the baby pool without much help. Previously he will cling tightly on us.

I am so proud that every day my lil son grows and learn new things. I have to thank God for HIS wonderful gift and also continue to thank HIM for his faithfulness in taking great care of this precious gift that HE has given.
I am a proud mother seeing my lil Maximus achieving new skills and learning new things in his environment. But mostly I am proud that I have God (Jesus) with me to lead this journey.
Glory to Jesus...

Having fun in the pool

It is the 2nd experience since the last year in May. Maximus gained more confidence maneuver around in the pool. With daddy swimming with him, it's just like double happiness.

Greenery Versus Concrete Jungle

I have been longing to expose Maximus into the greens but most of the time we are stuck in the concrete jungle!!! The Malls!!! It's really sad seeing a lot of children hanging around and strolling around with parents in the malls... where are all the adventures and exploration into the greens?

I always want to plan for a picnic... but my intention is always being discouraged by hubby or friends! It's always about the mosquitoes, and the heat! All I wanted is to have fun with Maximus out there in the field. Some of the places that I always have in mind to have a family picnic are:

1. Lake Garden
2. Waterfall
3. Recreation park / forest
4. Seaside / beach
5. Playground
6. Field

These are the few greeneries that are available in KL areas now... what else to expect with such development! The concrete jungle is moving into our next generation life... so before these are all gone, I do wish to have picnic in the green with Maximus.

So, who is up for a picnic? I must be determine to have it soon...once I started it I am sure it will be easier to organise the next one.

Greenery here we come...!

Second Language

Most children have at least familiar with 2 languages - English as the international language and their mother's tongue i.e. Mandarin, Tamil, Bahasa Malaysia or any dialects. At the toddler's age, most of them are quick to absorb and pick-up language especially those that are familiar to them. Once they are given much exposure on the language, they will be able to use the language to the right context.

Maximus begins to pick up his language pretty-well too. Besides being able to understand English language, he also starts to grasp the Mandarin language too. He is able to apply the vocab in the right context too.

He know 3 vocab in Mandarin - zhi ge (this), na ge (that) and wo de (mine). Most of the time when he pointed at things that he wanted he will use the zhi ge or na ge depending on where the thing is. And each time when I told him not to play with my things, as I said "This is mummy-de." He will reply, "Wo-de" and put the thing on his chest showing that he own it.

I am sure that as he grows, he will have the opportunity to pick up his dialect Hokkien. Later in school, he will grasp Bahasa Malaysia too. It's really a good opportunity because our Malaysian children have a wide choice in languages since we are varieties.

Praise God for Malaysian...

Pingu Vs Maximus

Maximus loves to watch Pingu and he will insist watching the same story again and again. I understand that most toddlers learn from observing and imitating others especially the adults. But I least expect that Maximus will learn from his cartoon Pingu.

In one of the episode in the Pingu cartoon, Maximus imitated Pingu's naughty actions... Pingu stepped into the boxes and wore them like shoes. Low and behold, my dear Maximus did the same thing one night while playing with my new purse that was in the box. He took out the purse and put the box on the floor. He did exactly what Pingu did...and found it very amusing!

Quickly I got him to redo and manage to capture the moment.

Above: A snapshot of the Pingu episode.
Below: Maximus imitating Pingu