Just Enough is written and illustrated by Allie Hill
Title: Just Enough
Writer and Illustrator: Allie Hill
No of pages: 36 pages
For Whom: Toddlers and Preschoolers (Age 4-7)
Published Date: 15 December 2016
Publisher: MPH Group Publishing
The beautiful illustrations and harmony of colours are the first thing that draws you to this book for preschoolers. When it comes to children's books, I love those that have beautiful illustration, rhyming words and a moral lesson. This book has them all.
Just Enough by Allie Hill is a feel good book about love, good times, good memories and family. The illustrations are eye-catching and pleasing even for adults who may be reading this together with their little ones.
Written in prose form, the book journeys through time as seen through the eyes of a little girl with her favourite blanky made with love by grandma for her to the time when she is all grown up. Though the blanky is now reduced to a hanky it remains in her heart forever more.
The girl has exciting adventures with her blanket and takes away with her a lifetime of skills and lessons from her grandmother.
An easy and fun read with words that rhyme and lots of pretty pictures with important lessons about love and family for little ones. That is what you can expect from this 36 pagestorybook for toddlers and preschoolers.
The author, Alice Hill is a graphic designer and illustrator. Just Enough is her second picture book for children. She lives in Kuala Lumpur with her husband Phill and daughter Sasha.
We are currently taking orders and doing a mini giveaway for members of our FB group and blog readers from West Malaysia only.
Fill up this form latest by 23 March 2017 to order. Payment instructions will be sent to you after closing date once a minimum of 15 orders are reached. After payment, 3 lucky winners will be selected to receive this book free. Winners bear shipping cost. ie winners will be refunded the cost of the book minus shipping cost.
Have your children ever wandered what's inside a tablet computer or smartphone, what makes an alarm clock go off or how a rice cooker works? Curious and inquisitive children may wonder how many household appliances and electronics works. Some may even try to pry open some devices to study them. Understanding electronics is a good living skill to acquire as more and more gadgets become "smart" and "digital". Coding and electronics is what make these gadgets work.
Electrical Engineering and Coding makes everyday gadgets come alive. This is one fun element in the computer courses for kids and teens offered by KidoCode.
Here are what kids will learn when they join the electronic course in KidoCode:
They will learn how to program electronics using Arduino. Arduino is an electronics prototyping platform which you can use as creatively as you like to invent new and exciting gadgets that work in real life
They will create fun DIY projects using Raspberry PI. Raspberry PI is a computer in the size of a credit card. It plugs into your TV and a keyboard. Raspberry PI projects is educational and help kids learn about coding, programming and computing by allowing them to build practical and creative inventions
They will discover the basics of electronics while tinkering with jumper cables, buzzers, ultrasonic sensors, light sensors, and more
They will make simple LED circuits with Push Button or Pull Up/Down Resistors. These are helpful in understanding their Science lessons at school.
They will find out how a DC Motor works and its importance for many electrical and electronic devices.
All of these lessons are hands-on and incorporate STEM, the study of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math into the course syllabus. Besides satisfying kids natural tendency to build and invent, kids are learning essential coding and computer programming skills that is essential in 21st Century Learning.
Kids can also learn Python programming, Mobile App Development, Web Development, and Game Development depending on their own knowledge and capabilities by learning using an adaptive learning system using artificial intelligence.
Interested in introducing your child to the world of Coding, Electronics and Robotics? Sign up for a free demo class today. The 3-4 hour demo class is an eye-opener not only for kids but for parents too.
Schedule for Demo Classes in March - April 2017: Venue: KidoCode (Solaris, Mont Kiara) Click on the Sign Up link above to book your free demo class
Time Slots: 10:30 A.M. or 2:30 A.M.
March 16-March 19
March 21-March 26 March 28-April 2 April 4-April 9 April 11-April 16 April 18-April 23 April 25-April 30
There is no denying that learning is essential at any age. Many parents want to send their kids for English Language Enrichment Classes but they are not sure where to start or how to go about it? How many times a week is enough? Should you send for phonics, reading or writing, speech and drama or public speaking? Which is better?
We were able to catch up with Lorna Whiston during their recent Open Day at Taman Tun on 25th February 2017 to write this mini guide. We hope this will help you to understand what type of courses are available so you can pick the right one for your child.
Lorna Whiston Open Day
At Which Age Should You Start Your Child On English Lessons? Lorna Whiston Taman Tun accepts children starting from 4 years old. This is because they are a government registered institution and this is in compliance with requirement. 4 years old would therefore be a good age for you to start thinking of English Enrichment Classes.
How Many Times A Week Should My Child Attend English Enrichment Lessons? Lorna Whiston Taman Tun runs several types of English Language Programmes. Once a week, intensive daily or specific focus programmes.
You can sign your kids up for English Enrichment Classes for once a week classes for kids on weekdays (2 hours) or weekends (2 1/2 hours). Parents have a choice to select between weekday or weekend classes. The syllabus for both is the same. Weekend classes are 30 minutes longer and therefore may include a little bit more practice for an extra fee.
Classes are available for kids of all ages, Language Development Classes for kids age 4-6, Language Extension for Primary Students and Advanced Language for Secondary students. All areas of English language are covered in these programmes. (Who is this for? We feel this is suitable for parents with kids in public schools who wish to give their children extra exposure and help in English language to supplement school lessons or existing preschool. The native English speaking teachers and different style and approach will widen kids horizons from their current school based learning especially for SK and SJKC/T school going kids. These classes also provide valuable support for children at International Schools as they help improve grammatical knowledge.)
Language Development Class
They also have an intensive daily English class from Mondays to Fridays for 3-4 hours each day for kids from 4-6. (Who is this for? We feel this is suitable for those who are planning to send their children to International Schools. This will give children the early preparation they need in a fully immersed English speaking environment for kindy or preschool years with Math, Science, Art etc taught in English by native English speaking teachers. These classes also provide a solid grounding in all areas of the curriculum for children who proceed to National Schools. However, they will need extra tuition in BM and Mandarin before primary school.)
In addition if you prefer a specific focus, you can go for the Phonics, Creative Writing, Speech and Drama or Public Speaking or you can mix and match your programmes. (Who is this for? We feel this is suitable for everyone who wish to train their kids in these particular areas specifically)
Speech And Drama Class
What Do They Teach My Child In English Enrichment Classes?
Lorna Whiston uses their own syllabus and materials in their English Language Programmes which cover vocabulary, speaking, writing, grammar, comprehension, composition and all other aspects of English Language development. In addition they encourage all their students to read a lot with their extensive student library. Parental involvement is very much promoted as well.
What Is The Classroom Size Like?
At Lorna Whiston Taman Tun, classes are small and cozy with no more than 12 students to a class for individualized attention.
Lorna Whiston Classroom
So Where Do I Start?
This depends on the age of your child.
For example a 7 year old child may be required to sit for an assessment to decide whether it is more suitable for him/her to join the Language Development Classes for kids aged 4-6 or the Language Extension Classes for primary students. (Note: Parents can call up for an appointment for their children to do a free assessment which is conducted on Thursday afternoons or all of Saturday)
After assessment, secondary school students go to the Advanced Language Programme. Teenage students will benefit from classes with native English speakers to prepare them for tertiary studies overseas in later years.
Your child can join starting from age 4 and continue right up to age 18 progressing steadily as he or she goes along. The programmes runs over 4 terms in a year. Each term is 11 weeks long. We wish to thank Lorna Whiston Centre Taman Tun Dr Ismail for providing the information for this post.
Many parents realize the Importance Of Packing To School but they often face many challenges when packing food for their children. Here are some real problems moms face when packing to school and what to do about it.
CHALLENGE #1: HEALTHY AND NUTRITIOUS FOOD IS BORING There is a misconception that healthy and nutritious food is usually boring. Wrong! - That's what the kids may think, but as a parent, you can easily change that mindset. Start by cultivating a healthier mindset. Healthy and nutritious foods, especially natural foods like fruits and vegetables, can be made more exciting when you get creative!
Take a look at this picture of a recent Milo® UHT Pack in the Energy for Champions Bento Workshop. During the workshop participants used all of these healthy and nutritious foods to pack school lunches for kids that were easy to make, and far from boring. SOLUTION:
Involve your kids in your planning. Take them to the supermarket to select healthy foods and fruits they would like to include in their lunch boxes. Get creative. Create interesting, and fun-looking foods that kids will have trouble resisting. If you are worried that your kids will prefer his friend's greasy unhealthy snacks to your healthy packed lunch, make an effort to create exciting lunch boxes that will make your child the envy of his friends. Make sure you include a variety of food in different colours. Not only will this make your lunch box look more attractive, you are also actually packing more nutrients with them. Try out this creative Tortilla Roll for your next lunch box.
CHALLENGE #2: MY KID IS A PICKY EATER
Picky eaters make preparing school lunch boxes a real challenge. He will not eat broccoli or tomato, and will only eat rice when it is fried. No apples, bread, or bananas. How then do you prepare a healthy lunch box for a kid who is likely to leave everything untouched?
SOLUTION
Watch what your child eats at home. Make a list of items that they like. Include at least two items from that list, and one from another, which you think they will not touch. You may be pleasantly surprised. Children can develop an acquired taste for a lot of food. When you involve your child in the selection and preparation of their lunch boxes, as in solution one above, they are more likely to eat them and the more that they eat them, the less likely they are to reject future food items. So, introduce new healthy foods to them slowly... one at a time.
Another method is to prepare familiar foods that you normally would at home. There is no need to prepare anything fancy. If your child likes fried rice, why not include fried rice in their lunch box - together with a variety of other healthy food?
CHALLENGE #3: FOOD SAFETY
The big question that most moms have, however, is how do I make sure the food I prepare now is safe to eat hours later? How do I make sure that the mayonnaise I use is still safe to consume at lunch? These are common questions asked by moms who often pack school lunches for their kids.
SOLUTION
Make sure you wash your hands, knives, and cutting board before you use them. Make sure all surfaces are clean and dry, including your lunch box!
Food should always be kept in the correct temperature. Invest in a good lunch box that can keep things cool or warm, depending on the type of food you are planning to pack. When packing sandwiches, use cling wrap. This will also ensure that they do not become soggy, or have liquids leaking onto other food items.
CHALLENGE #4: IT IS TOO TIME CONSUMING
Time is always a concern, whether you are a full-time working mum or a stay-at-home mother. Parents are at their wits end to beat the morning rush and get everyone ready and off to school on time. How then will you find the time to pack school lunches as part of your morning routine?
SOLUTION
Plan ahead. Iron and prepare school uniforms the night before. Place school bags near the entrance. No fuss school lunches can be prepared the night before. Leave only fresh perishable items for preparation in the morning. Have a plan, shop for ingredients during the weekend, then prepare what you can the night before and keep it in the refrigerator. Wash fruits, and place them in little containers that you can slot into a larger one ahead of time. Include fuss-free school lunch items like quick bread rolls which you can bake over the weekend, cheese sticks, or a pack of Milo UHT, which provides efficient release of energy from food to help kids take on a full day’s challenge in school.
Keeping these all in mind, packing to school should be a breeze! Try out some of the recipe ideas on this page to prepare healthy, creative, and nutritious lunch boxes for your kids. Happy Packing!
In a Chinese Dictionary, words may also be indexed according to Chinese Radicals
This post is for the members of our Facebook Group - The Malaysia Primary School Parents especially for non-Chinese speaking families who are helping their kids with Chinese homework.
Learning Chinese is very different from learning English or Bahasa Malaysia. In BM or English, you first learn alphabets, then you form words from those alphabets. Learning those alphabets is the building blocks for forming many words and from there you progress on to sentences.
On the other hand, you have to memorize Chinese Mandarin characters in order to master the language. How many Chinese characters are there? Over 50000 according to this article from BBC. However, you only need to know about 2000-3000 in order to read the Chinese newspaper.
Where alphabets are the building blocks for words, perhaps you could say that Chinese Radicals are the building blocks for Chinese characters. So, it would help for you to teach your child this well. Here are some useful resources from the internet that will help you learn Chinese Radicals.
Chinese Character Radicals From Arch Chinese - Click on the pinyin to hear the pronunciation for each radical. Click on the radical and fetch details from the radical page to see the meaning as well as examples of words using the radical and their meanings.
Chinese Characters and Radicals Index - This page has an explanation of how to learn Chinese characters and what are the advantages of learning Chinese Radicals
Learning Chinese Radicals is a lot of fun. Once you learn the radicals, you will understand how and why certain Chinese characters are formed and be able to recognize a lot of other words/Chinese Character or guess the word simply by knowing the radicals. Here is a very good visual example of how the "ice" radical is used to form Chinese characters while here is another one which shows how the "mouth" radical is used in Chinese Characters . (Visit this link to have a good understanding of how radical works). Happy Learning!
.jpg)
.jpg)
