PRESCHOOL MATTERS

Please take time to read this review from a parent searching for the right preschool for her daughter. The criteria she used might help other parents who are already preschool hunting even before their little ones are ready for schooling.

http://mizhelle.blogspot.com/2011/01/journey-to-finding-good-preschool-first.html

TO ALL THE COOL MOMMIES OUT THERE

One of my favorite website is Gwyneth Paltrow's GOOP. I love everything about it and I look forward to receiving their newsletter all the time.

Check out http://goop.com/

I happen to come across this really cool website by Amanda Griffin. I know I am not yet a mom, but I am all for parenting in style.

Check out http://glamomamas.com/

Another cool mom is Jenni Epperson. I also follow her blogs and it never fails to amaze me with her great finds, yummy treats and interesting stories.

Check out http://www.welovejenni.blogspot.com/

So Mommies, stay yummy! Enjoy surfing!

SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM FOR KIDS

A big shout out to those who live in the South area near Alabang. Come and join us in our Afternoon Enrichment Program festival OPEN HOUSE this Saturday. We are located at Alabang Town Centre beside The Spa, near Supermarket. 


SUMMER AFTERNOON ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS

COUNTING CHEFS

Cookery and Math

- A cooking class that is associated with Math. The students measure and count the ingredients according to use. It also establishes healthy eating habits aside from learning the different kinds and types of food.

LITTLE SUPERSTARS

Performing Arts

- Your kids will enter into the magical world of fairytales and rhymes, poems and fables through storybooks and theater plays. They will be developing the skills in the performing arts through theatrical plays, dramatization and interpretative dance.

WINDOWS on LITERACY

Reading Program

- The program carefully develops literacy skills as it introduces children to the world of ideas and knowledge using NGS (National Geographic Series) with its eye-catching photographs and engaging formats that provide strong text support.

ABC MUSIC and ME

Music and Movements

- ABC Music and Me is an award-winning music enrichment program for 2-6 years old.  Research shows that music improves your child’s memory, cognitive development, learning skills, and ability to express emotion.  Music makes your child a better learner, teaches self-control, improves coordination, enhances creativity, and inspires your child with a lifelong appreciation of music and movement. Plus, it’s fun!

TAEKWONDO

- is an overall physical sport. It is a sport for the whole physical system where all the muscles and joints of the human body are moved. It develops the muscles and stimulates the brains, thus, developing the will to action. Everyone regardless of age and sex for health and physical fitness can practice taekwondo. For the young, Taekwondo provides a venue for the direction of their boundless energies toward self-deployment. It also naturally appeals to the adventurous nature of youth and provides competitive spirit.

JELIC / MPM

Math Manipulatives

JELIC Brain Power Engine is a comprehensive curriculum of hands-on exercises for mental development especially designed for 3 to 6 years old.  Beside the knowledge development, it also motivates children’s thinking and creative abilities through manipulative experience.  Judgement, Emotional, Logic, Intelligence, and Creative Quotient and operation skills are cultivated through the learning and working process. Math can be fun and can really be easy to learn. Children will have the opportunity to learn the basic concepts of Mathematics in a fun way.

KINDER MUSIK (for babies)

- is for newborn to 1½ years of age. It incorporates the most current research on early childhood development and provides families a special place for learning and connecting with other parents and babies through music and movement. High quality, professionally created class and At Home materials include Kindermusik Foundations of Learning, insights based on current research that educate parents about their babies' unique development.

GOING BACK TO BASIC

Kids nowadays are so exposed to multiple high-tech gadgets. They truly are the "Techy Generation". What makes them such?

* One Kinder student brought an Ipad in school one time and he was very casual about it, like it was just another toy to him.

* You leave a cellular phone to a 2-year old child and he/she would be able to manipulate it in a matter of minutes.

* Preschoolers talk about playing "Angry birds" and Fruit Ninja". (Fyi: These are downloadable games)

* Play time to them means PSP time. It amazes me how focused they can get in playing video games when they normally have very short attention span in school.

These are just some of my observations working in a Preschool. I get more intimidated by "anything computerized" rather than these high-tech kids who can easily figure out how to use an Iphone without reading the manual. Yes, it is actually pretty impressive but I just feel like they are also missing out a lot on the natural way of having fun and enjoying their childhood, which compelled me to inspire parents and teachers to go back to basics. Whatever happened to outdoor play? Personally, I am anti-PSP and all other video-gaming devices for children. Or parents should at least regulate the use of these gadgets and really monitor their kids while playing.

Better yet, why not try the following with your kids:

Kite flying

Water fun: Swimming or go crazy with the sprinkler in your garden

Cook, bake or learn a new skill 

Get a pet

Make learning fun 

Try yoga for kids

Set up a tent at your backyard and "pretend camping"

Let them paint, doodle and scribble on their own freedom wall

Develop creative minds with Play-Doh 

The list goes on and on, but the real challenge is for parents to really give time and make an effort to take an active part in their kids' life especially in their formative years. Working parents shouldn't try to compensate their absence by buying their kids expensive high-tech stuff like the latest models of play stations, wii or Xbox. They shouldn't also get used to leaving their children in "Time zone" for several hours or let kids get addicted to playing DOTA or any of those violent video games. Maybe it's just me, but I strongly believe that kids have better alternatives and we should teach them to make better choices at an early age. 

Of Parties and Babies

Parties and babies? Hmmm...i am sort of still uncertain if they go together well. But I know I love 'em both, separately. Or together (?) Oh well, why not?

I just recently attended a super kaduper grand birthday party of a baby girl who turned 1 year old at the Manila Ballroom of Makati Shangrila. When I say grand, i mean the works!

Let the pictures speak for me!

Elaborate stage design

  

Heartfelt audio visual presentations

A separate room where kids can stay to play games or watch cartoons in the big screen








  

Magic show

Lots and lots of prizes, loot bags and freebies

Ooops note: My fashion eye noticed the latest craze for the little fashionistas - "Ballerina skirts"

I am sure you have attended one or two parties like such.  As part of the benefits of my job, :D I've attended quite a handful. Mostly when I was still in Davao. They throw really extravagant kiddie parties there. As in seriously! And I've undoubtedly enjoyed all of them.

But I just feel that these parties are really more for the parents than the babies. Probably a party they never had or just an expensive expression of how proud they are of their bundle of joy. Either ways, everybody is "happy" and I guess that's not bad at all.

My neices Jersey (4 yrs. old) and Sydney (2 yrs. old) both had lavish birthday celebrations before. I sincerely felt they were too young to appreciate such parties and I'm sure they hardly remember anything! ...except when they see the pictures.

 Buffet table

 Sumptuous cake

                                            The purple princesses


Apparently, whenever they look at  the pictures from their parties, they light up. Just knowing that they wore beautiful purple gowns with matching tiaras is enough to boost their self esteem and give them a happy disposition. (Must be worth it after all!)

Then again, they also learn to appreciate beautiful things that are often costly. So I think it is always best to create a balance by teaching them how to "spend and share wisely". Even children who are well off must learn that people can not always get what they want. I know these may seem big issues for little ones but it is really best to start early.

Okay, I'll say "yes"  to parties and babies but in moderation and keeping in mind "the balance".

EASTERRIFIC!!!

Late post, I admit. But I hope the pictures make up for it. :D

They say Easter deserves the same fuss we give Christmas. So why not make "egg hunting" a fun family affair. You'd be surprised at how it could be an atypical but truly enjoyable family bonding.

More villages and malls are celebrating Easter in a grand way. Bunnies, baskets and gazillion eggs besiege the event like that of the one I attended at Ayala Alabang Country Club.

I was part of the Cambridge Alabang Team who sponsored the Arts and Crafts Session. We put our crafty hands into good use and kept the children busy making bunny masks and Easter eggs. It was really an eye candy for me to see "dads" assisting their kids in doing crafts. (Super pogi points to all the dads out there!)

Relish the following photos and hope that these inspire you to plan a thrilling EASTERRIFIC event for your family next year!

CAMBRIDGE ALABANG TEACHERS --->

             Ready for the egg hunting!

Peek-a-boo!

                                


                                            Encouraging "creativity"

Notice the cool dad giving it his best shot at crafts :D

                    A separate event at The Podium

One happy childhood memory added

(why not add one to your child?)