To Pre-School or Not To Pre-School?

What's next in my three year old son? Schooling, I think. Although I am not 100% sold to the idea, I know sooner or later I would have to deal with it. Only I wish it would be later. Why would anyone want to go to school at age 3? In our times (dekada 80!), children don't have to go to school until they're seven. Nowadays, a lot of schools are offering early childhood education and they accept as young as two years old. And now I am pressured because every time people learned Riley is three, their next question is Nag-aaral na ba siya?

I am starting to ask around to fellow mommies. How early did they enroll their children? In what school? How much? I want to ask for their opinion because I am in doubt. I don't want Riley to go to school just because he is already 3. That's too young for me. I feel that he is not ready yet. But what if not enrolling him early on will result in more damage later in his school life? I mean we learn good stuff at school right? Like organization, sharing, independence. I want Riley to develop that as early as possible. Plus I think it would be good for him to be around other kids his age and work on his social skills. They say pre-school isn't really school - it's more of play time. And I don't want Riley to miss all the fun!

I am undecided and still weighing my options. But my main concern is: Riley should like love his teacher. Or it wouldn't work out. He must be comfortable with his future teacher and he/she should have tons of patience for a boy like Riley! My son has his own rules. Sometimes, he doesn't like to do things we tell him. But with a little persuasion, he can follow orders. He likes physical games. Like throwing things (is that even a game? lol) He loves helping out in chores too but he needs to be guided or he'll get frustrated. Another concern is the style of teaching method. Different strategy works in different children. I must find a school that will best cater to Riley's ability to learn. 

My mother instinct is telling me this: I don't want to force him into doing anything he doesn't like. So maybe I'll let him test the water first. See how he feels about school. If he won't like it this year, then there's always a next year! Pero pag 7 ka na at hindi ka pa rin ng school anak, papaluin na talaga kita! Hehe. Just kidding! 

painting with his playmates

Riley at 19 months

So ok, I just want to write about my son's latest development because I am such a forgetful lady that even important passwords need to be written down in order for me to remember. So when Riley is old enough to ask questions like "What am I like when I was one year old?" all I have to do is look at this blog and say with certainty "Ah you were so kulit when you were one year old!" For the record he is exactly 1 year, 7 months, 3 weeks and 2 days old today (thanks Lilypie for calculating!) And some of the changes and developments I observed with him are:

1. Motor Skills

• he can run so fast 
• he likes to dance a LOT!
• he likes to walk in places he is familiar with
• he likes to touch things especially water and splash it to his face
• he can tip toe
• he likes playing and clapping
• he likes to imitate us. when we are laughing, even if he didn't know what we are laughing about, he 'll have a "pilit" laugh! hehe

2. Verbal Skills

• he can say "MAMA" oh how I love hearing that from him! Plus he point at me when he says it! 
• he can say gatas and dede when he is hungry (when in the mood otherwise he'll just grab us and bring us to where his milk bottles are)
• he can say daddy and get his father's picture on our drawer
• he can kiss with sound "hhhhhmmmmmwah!

3. Emotional/Social Skills

• he is a friendly guy! he likes sharing his toys except when it is a toy he really loves.
• when being confronted of his behaviour, he gets irate and throws things sometimes (why does he have to get that attitude from me?! lol)
• great social skills. he likes to talk to strangers! my sister and i often tease Riley that he is "walang hiya"  lol. but that's a good thing right?! there's nothing wrong if you want to have a conversation with people you don't even know. 
• he can show affection to us! when i went home after tutoring, his smile and his hug says it all!

4. Uncategorized Skills

• although his vocabulary skills are limited, he has the ability to relate words to actions. like he can understand when we say ligpit, kiss, huwag, sara, kunin, lagay, and tulog na
• he knows how to refuse and he is a little snub sometimes.

That's what I came up for now. I may forgot some things (see forgetful me!) but that's just about it. Yep, my life is boring observing my son everyday. But I wouldn't change it for the world! 

the concept of NO

Riley has 3 consistent tricks: the "show mama your teeth" where he opens his mouth to show me his teeth; the second is "kiss mama" where he pouts his lips and make a "brrrr" sound; and last is whenever I say NO, HUWAG (don't), or BAWAL (restricted), he would turn his head side by side repeatedly.

I didn't know that teaching a child the concept of NO is very important at an early stage. I just find it amusing at first that he recognize the word and have a connecting head movement with it but I didn't know I am already teaching him a valuable lesson. As he grows, he will learn more the meaning when someone say NO and the reason why some things cannot be done or said by him. I think that is the beginning of teaching him the concept of right and wrong as well. For now I find Riley adorable when he looks at me as if waiting if I will say No or allow him when he do things. Here are some tips to make a child be the best that he/she can be:

For children 1 to 3 years

1. Allow him to play freely and safely. Fence off a portion of your house, make sure it contains no hazards, and let your toddler explore freely.

2. Teach him the meaning of no,especially when explaining why he can't go beyond his designated play area.

3. Talk to him whenever you dress him, feed him, or when you take him out on an outing. Help him absorb words by talking to him casually; name the part of his body as you bathe him. Let him repeat them.

4. Continue reading to him regularly. Choose books with simple stories about other small children or animals.

5. Introduce the concept of writing as another form of language. Show him what his name looks like in print.

6. Teach him how to perform a necessary skill, say, washing his hands or buttoning his shirt.

7. Look for toys that introduce concepts like in and out; inside and on top; and larger and smaller. When he's ready, go for push-and-pull toys.

8. Play simple games like hide-and-seek to help him form concepts about the permanence of objects not immediately in his sight.

9. Take him on excursions: a short bus trip, a train ride, or a visit to a fire station, the beach, and neighborhood parks.

SOURCE: Smart Parenting Learn

Hungry Riley

Nowadays, Riley seems to salivate whenever we eat. And he wants to be near us when we're having our meals. It really seems that he wants to eat just like the rest of us. He is now 4 months, 4 weeks old. I check the label of some baby food and it says for age 6 - 12 months only. But as I browse the net today, I came up with this article about the signs if your baby is ready in taking solid food.

How will I know when my baby's ready?

Your baby will give you clear signs when he's ready to move beyond liquid-only nourishment. Cues to look for include:

√ Head control. Your baby needs to be able to keep his head in a steady, upright position.

√ Losing the "extrusion reflex." To keep solid food in his mouth and then swallow it, your baby needs to    stop using his tongue to push food out of his mouth.

Sitting well when supported. Even if he's not quite ready for a highchair, your baby needs to be able to sit upright to swallow well.

√ Chewing motions. Your baby's mouth and tongue develop in sync with his digestive system. To start solids, he should be able to move food to the back of his mouth and swallow. As he learns to swallow efficiently, you may notice less drooling — though if your baby's teething, you might still see a lot of drool.

Significant weight gain. Most babies are ready to eat solids when they've doubled their birth weight (or weigh about 15 pounds) and are at least 4 months old.

Growing appetite. He seems hungry — even with eight to ten feedings of breast milk or formula a day.

√ Curiosity about what you're eating. Your baby may begin eyeing your bowl of rice or reaching for a forkful of fettuccine as it travels from your plate to your mouth.

SOURCE: http://www.babycenter.com/0_introducing-solid-food_113.bc

So far, only those with checks are the signs my son is showing. I guess I have to wait for the perfect time to give him solid foods. Anyway, it’s only few days before he turns 5 months. For now, he can only look at those yummy looking food!

To Patupat on Not To Patupat

Since my mother gave Riley a pacifier, it has been an issue if it is good or bad for him. Some says it’s bad for the teeth formation. Some people say its ok and it has nothing to do with teeth deformation and that it makes a child “mabait.” We tried to tone down the usage of it. But it seems that my son really prefer using his “ever dependable” pacifier. So to have a peace of mind, I decided to check the “ever reliable” google all about PACIFIER!

Pacifiers: Are they good for your baby?

The decision to use a pacifier — or not — is up to you. Consider the pros and cons as you decide what's best for you and your baby.


By Mayo Clinic staff

Most babies have a strong sucking reflex. Some babies even suck their thumbs or fingers before they're born. Beyond nutrition, sucking often has a soothing, calming effect. That's why many parents rank pacifiers as must haves, right up there with diaper wipes and baby swings. But are pacifiers really OK for your baby? Although the answer to that question is often debated, the American Academy of Pediatrics gives pacifiers the green light.


The pros:
For some babies, pacifiers are the key to contentment between feedings. Consider the advantages:

A pacifier may soothe a fussy baby. Some babies are happiest when they're sucking on something.

A pacifier offers temporary distraction. When your baby's hungry, a pacifier may buy you a few minutes to find a comfortable spot to nurse or to prepare a bottle. A pacifier may also come in handy during shots, blood tests or other procedures.

A pacifier may help your baby fall asleep. If your baby has trouble settling down, a pacifier might do the trick.

Pacifiers may help reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Researchers have found an association between pacifier use during sleep and a reduced risk of SIDS.

Pacifiers are disposable. When it's time to stop using pacifiers, you can throw them away. If your child prefers to suck on his or her thumb or fingers, it may be more difficult to break the habit.

The cons:
Of course, pacifiers have pitfalls as well. Consider the drawbacks:

Early pacifier use may interfere with breast-feeding. Sucking on a breast is different from sucking on a pacifier or bottle. Some babies have trouble learning how to nurse properly if they're given a pacifier too soon.

Your baby may become dependent on the pacifier. If your baby uses a pacifier to sleep, you may face frequent middle-of-the-night crying spells when the pacifier falls out of your baby's mouth.

Pacifier use may increase the risk of middle ear infections. However, rates of middle ear infections are generally lowest from birth to age 6 months — when the risk of SIDS is the highest and your baby may be most interested in a pacifier.

Prolonged pacifier use may lead to dental problems. Normal pacifier use during the first few years of life doesn't cause long-term dental problems. However, prolonged pacifier use may cause a child's top front teeth to slant outward or not come in properly.

SOURCE: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pacifiers/PR00067