Light Table Fun

Children of all ages are attracted to lights and if given the opportunity to explore with it, they will definitely not hesitate at all. Hence, a light table will indeed be a great play area for children as well as adults.

There are a wide variety of light tables available in the marking ranging from different sizes and prices. As such, you can easily purchase a light table of your preference. However, what if you cannot afford do not have the space to accommodate one? Does it mean your child will not have the opportunity to explore at the light table? NO! As you can build a light table at a low cost and it can be turned into a storage box when not in use.  Continue reading to find out how to make your DIY light table and the activities that can table place at the light table.


DIY Light Table

What you need:- Transparent storage box- Battery operated LED string fairy lights-Batteries (*Compatible with the fairy lights bought)

 

Build: With all items ready, you just need to arrange the fairy lights evenly across the box, on the light, cover up the lid and the light table it ready. As simple as that! Now your child and you can have tons of fun together at the light table.

 

Activities

Cellophane Shapes:- Use ice-cream sticks to form shapes like square as well as triangles and secure the joints using double sided tapes- Stick the shapes form on cellophane papers (Primary colours) and trimmed of the excess

 

As children explore with the cellophane shapes, they learn about the following concepts- Shapes: number of sides as well as points- Colours: identifying colours, forming colours (e.g. yellow + blue = green)

 

Story Fun:- Prepare transparent sheets or clear plastic sheets (e.g. plastic sleeves)- Permanent markers

You and your child can take turns to draw something on the sheet adding on to one another’s story or retell a story they your child love. For instance, we retell and drew the story of Three Little Fish and The Big Bad Shark by Ken Geist and Will Grace.

 

Sensory Bag:- Cook Sago Pearls. Divide them into separate bags before dripping different food colouring into each bag. Shake it to get the Sago Pearls mix well with the colours.- Draw animals that your child love on the sides of the ziplocks

 

 

Now your child can spend the time feeding the ‘animals’ by pushing the Sago Pearls into their mouth.

 

 

Others:

      

 

Enjoy! J

PlayMax

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Woodwork for Children

 

Upon hearing the word ‘Woodwork’, what rings in your head? I guess many of us will link it to the subject ‘Design and Technology’ which we or some of our friends took during Secondary school days. However, do you know woodworking is one area which is can be commonly seen in the other countries but not in Singapore? For instance, it can be found in the household of Caucasian families and more importantly in preschool settings like some preschools in Taiwan. 

 

Woodworking encompasses a range of activities and skills that involve measuring and marking, dimensioning, assembling as well as finishing (Woodworking, 2008). According to Anderson and Hoot (1986), woodworking is one of the “most potentially educational yet most neglected areas” (p. 12)

Benefits of Woodworking

• Woodworking activities not only provide children with the opportunities to develop skills such as pounding and sawing but it also aid children’s overall development
• Woodworking promotes the proficiency development in the five domains of child development: Physical, Cognitive, Social, Emotional and Creativity (Pape and Hatcher, 2008)
• As children engaged in woodworking activities, it enables them to feel inspired and to be able to imagine or dream about becoming designers, scientists and technologies (Siraj-Blatchford and MacLeod-Brudenell, 1999)
• Whether done alone or in groups, the process of woodworking aids children in developing Learning Dispositions which are essential for life.

Knowing that woodworking provide a wide range of benefits for children’s learning and development. Are you pondering upon why it is not commonly seen in local (Singapore) preschools? Isn’t it a pity?

Please feel free to share your comments and experiences J

PlayMax

Maximise Learning through Play

Anderson, S., & Hoot, J. L. (1986). Kids, carpentry, and the preschool classroom. Early Childhood Educational Journal, 13(3), 12-15.

Pape. D., & Hatcher, B. (2008). Tomorrow’s architects and engineers: They’re hammering and sawing in today’s classrooms. Texas child care.  Retrieved August 17, 2011 from

               www.childcarequarterly.com/pdf/fall08_architects.pdf

Siraj-Blatchford, J., & MacLeod-Brudenell, I. (1999). Supporting science, design and technology in the early years. Buckingham: Open University Press.

“Woodworking”. (2008). “The art of woodworking" - Beginners guide. Retrieved April 3, 2011 from http://www.woodworkweb.com/free-woodworking-ebooks/224-woodworking-101the-art-of-woodworking-free-beginners-guide.html

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Story Based Activities: 3

Elmer’s Colours by David McKee

Elmer is a colourful patchwork elephant who is loved by every child. Follow Elmer, as he brings you through the world of colours with the simple storylines and attractive illustrations.

*For age: 12 months and above

Activities:

• Elmer Collage: Prepare a piece of contact paper and cellophane papers of different colours as well as sizes. Draw Elmer on the non-sticky side of the contact paper and get child to create a colour Elmer using the cellophane papers prepared.

•      Elmer Elephant Craft: 
  

•     DIY Clay Elmer:
  

•     Weaving Elmer:
  

This book is available in Singapore National Library. Hence, go and grab it this weekend.

Enjoy reading and having fun with your child!

 

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Story Based Activities: 2

Story Based Activities: 2

Walter’s Wonderful Web by Tim Hopgood 

This story shares about Walter the spider’s journey towards spinning a sturdy web that can withstand the blowing wind. While attempting to do so he explores the spinning of web in various shapes such as square and diamond before he figured out that special shape that is the best Apart from introducing the concept of shapes, this story also portrays Walter’s persistence and determination in overcoming challenges.

*For age: 24 months and above

Activities:

•  Re-enact: Use ice cream sticks to form the shapes mentioned in the story and coil string around the shapes formed. Get a toy spider or a paste a picture of a spider on an object such as bottle cap.  Read and role play the story out using the props mentioned. 
• Twig Weaving: 
  

• Shape Threading: 
  

• Baby Spider Web:  
  

This book is available in Singapore National Library. Hence, go find and borrow it this weekend.

Enjoy reading and having fun with your child!

 

PlayMax

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Story Based Activities: 1

Shapes Are Everywhere!  by Charles Ghigna

Charles Ghigna who is also known as Father Goose, is the author of more than 50 award-winning books and ‘Shapes are Everywhere!’ is one of the wonderful story he wrote. This beautifully illustrated book introduces children to the concept of shapes by identifying them through the things in the environment. This allows children to be able to relate to the concept easily, furthermore, the storyline is written in the way that reader can easily chant it out with a rhythm creating greater excitement for children.

*For age: 12 months and above

Activities:

• Draw it out: Drawing out the shapes mentioned in the story while reading it to your child. By doing so, it enable the child to see how the shapes are created through lines and curves. After which, the child can help to fill the shapes drawn with colour
• Shapes Hunt: Bring your child on a shape hunt while reading along the book. Encourage child to look around the environment to identify the shapes/objects mentioned in the story.
• Shape Monster:  

• Roll Hop Shape Game: 
  
• Learning shapes marshmallow geometry: 
  

This book is available in Singapore National Library. Hence, go find and borrow it this weekend.

Enjoy reading and having fun with your child!

 

PlayMax

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Story Based Activities

 

Books not only impart new knowledge to readers but more importantly, it provides a world of endless opportunities. The opportunities for child’s imagination to flow freely, make predictions, take on a different roles/character and many more. Being aware of the vast of benefits books can provide children, PlayMax seek to create a list of books which parents and educators can consider reading to their child/children through a series of posts titled ‘Story Based Activities’ which will gradually be made accessible to readers. Furthermore, simple activities that can be introduced along with the books will be shared to aid you in extending child’s interests as well as learning. 

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Be a Lifelong Learner

Singapore Education System is known by most people as academic driven resulting in great stress being placed on both children and parents. However, Ministry of Education (MOE) is re-looking at the education system in Singapore with the aim of revamping the system by shifting away from the academics aspect working towards offering students with the “opportunities to discover their interest and talents, and develop life skills, a sense of curiosity and a love for learning” (The Straits Time, 2016).

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Long said, “We need to build character and inculcate strong values in our children... and provide them with a broad range of experiences and encourage their interest in non-academic areas. So that they have a sense of belonging to Singapore, so that they want to help fellow Singaporeans and contribute to society and to the school” (The Straits Time, 2016).

MOE’s first initiative rolled out in 2016 is doing away of the aggregate score for the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) replacing it with wider scoring bands similar to O- and A-level examinations scoring system. Read in details via the link below.

Going beyond grades: Evolving the Singapore education system

ST PHOTO: JAMIE KOH

Being an Early Childhood Educator and a mother, I strongly believe that character building and the developing of learning dispositions are the most crucial for children especially during the early years of life while academics are secondary objectives. Hence, I am really delighted to see that the MOE seeks to revamp the education system and of course we all need to understand and be prepared that time is needed for the changes to take place. We may not see the result now but our future generations like our kids will benefit from it.

What exactly is Learning Dispositions?

Learning Dispositions which is often term as ‘Habits of Mind’ are attributes and skills that will aid you during the learning process as well as when encountering with situations. These are 16 Habits of Mind are critical life skills will aid you in becoming a lifelong learner.

(Pikes Peak Association for Gifted Students, 2017)

Help your child develop the Habits of Mind

The follow are the key highlights of what you can do to support your child in developing the Habits of Mind. 

*Reference from Developing Your Child’s Habits of Success In School, Life and Work by   Arthur L. Costa, Ed. D

1. Persisting: Provide encouragements, remind about successes and acknowledging efforts

2. Managing Impulsivity: Discuss and remind about the rules and consequences, talking about and resolving problem together

3. Listening to Others – With Understanding and Empathy: Use questions to help child understand the feeling of others (Why, What How, If). E.g. If you are Ben, how would you feel?

4. Thinking Flexibly: Suggestion possible alternatives, encourage, providing time to think at his/her pace

5. Thinking about Their Thinking (Metacognition): Ask questions to lead them in thinking further (Why, What, When, How, If), guide them in making comparison and prediction

6. Striving for Accuracy and Precision: Guide them in setting standard, checking and reviewing through things together. E.g. Going through homework together and identify areas that are done well and those that need improvements

7. Questioning and Problem Posing: Encourage questioning, be a role model who seek for answers through questioning

8. Applying past Knowledge to New Situations: Help them recall upon the past experiences or knowledge learn, guide them in applying those skills and knowledge gained in a different situation

9. Thinking and Communicating with Clarity and Precision: Introducing new vocabulary, provide opportunities to speak and share thoughts and ideas

10. Gathering Data through All Senses: Provide opportunities to use senses – Sight, Taste, Touch, Smell, Sound. Cooking/Baking is one activity which can help fulfil all these sense

11. Creating, imagination and innovation:  Ask question to lead them in thinking further (Why, What, When, How, If), engage in discussion and brainstorming

12. Responding with Wonderment and Awe: Show enthusiasm, get them excited and create enjoyment

13. Taking responsible risk: Encouragement and support, providing opportunity to try something new

14. Find humour: Be humours, identify and share humour

15. Thinking independently: Encouragement, guidance and provide opportunity to be in a team or work with others

16. Remaining Open to Continuous Learning: Constantly introduce new knowledge, be a role model in learning from others, encourage questioning

Some useful articles for educators

Why Children’s Dispositions Should Matter to All Teachers

The Early Years Learning Framework: Building confident learners

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Visit the Library today!

As technology continues to advance, people rely or use technology devices to replace many things that we used to do without such devices and one of which is reading print books. According to a study done by Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY), since 2012, the number of  people visiting libraries and loaning books in Singapore have declined steadily as more people uses library e-books as he source of reading. Hence, The Communications and Information Ministry and National Library Board (NLB) collaborated to launch the nation's first National Reading Movement in June 2016 with the aim of promoting reading among Singaporean.

Dr Yaacob Ibrahim - Minister for Communications and Information and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs stated “reading habit helps promote self-directed, lifelong learning among those of all ages.” (The Straits Times, 2016)

Many parents find that digital books are more interactive and captivating for children, however, parents need to be aware that there are aspects which digital books may not be able offer a child. Such as the hands-on experience turning the pages of the book and the animation of e-books can actually affect a child’s ability to focus his/her attention.

Dr. Jenny Radesky, a developmental behavioural paediatrician and assistant professor of paediatrics at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor shared, “Preschool children learn better when there’s an adult involved,”  “They learn better when there are not distracting digital elements, especially when those elements are not relevant to the story line or the learning purpose.” (The New York Times, 2016)

Am really happy that the government are playing and active role in keeping reading alive as it is really critical for children knowing that the interesting for reading need to be built from young.  The NLB is striving to attract more people to visit the libraries especially families by rolling out new initiatives and revamping the libraries where some include new features and collection that are suitable for young children who are below 3 years old.  

Mrs Elaine Ng, Chief Executive Officer of NLB said, “If young children can discover that reading is fun, they will learn to love reading. Our Early Literacy Library is a welcoming space for them to make that discovery.” (NLB,2014)

Find out more about the Child-Friendly Libraries available in Singapore via the article below.

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Articles

Articles

Being a stay-at-home mum, I try all ways to source for freelancing jobs/projects that enable me to earn some income to help with the family finances while being able to care after my child. Fortunately, through the help of a friend,  I managed to have the opportunities to help a parenting portal to write some articles. 

Hence, I would like to share some of those articles I wrote as well as other articles or resources which are very useful for me here! As I believe that the knowledge as well as ideas share in the articles will come in handy for you - parents as well as educators. 

Enjoy reading!

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