cheeky.mommy news: march.2006

life as a cheeky.mommy

so, everybody knows how cute and adorable cheeky.baby.munster can be.. and yes, we are blessed and thankful for such a bundle of joy.. but things just doesn't end there rite.. now that cheeky.mommy's at home, she needs to find lots of activities for c.b.m and for herself to keep things in balance.

it's gonna be two months since cheeky.mommy been staying home. i have to admit.. it gets a lil crazy sometimes.. but guess i'm getting my groove back in this new role of a stay-at-home cheeky.mommy.

our cheeky.baby.munster been having lots of fun since her nanny came over.. and now that she's headed back home, she gets a lil bored with no one to play and tease with..

both cheeky.daddy and i agree that its about time our cheeky.baby.munster get into a playgroup or any class at all so that she can socialise more..

we've checked out musikgarten before but cheeky.daddy wasn't so keen as our c.b.m won't be able to mix around and make new friends so much..

and today, i did a lil search on infant swimming lessons.. but unfortunately there isn't any instructors from ISR in this country.. just look at this video.. you'd be so amazed!

- well.. that's not gonna stop me from teaching our c.b.m to swim!

anyways, here are some stuff i came across about tumbletots:

The Programme Each 45-minutes session is designed to develop children's physical skills of agility, balance, co-ordination and climbing through the use of brightly coloured Tumble Tots equipment. This programme also incorporates music and language skills through use of action songs and rhymes.

The Key Objectives

• General Motor skills
• Self confidence
• Self discipline
• Social Awareness

Its Importance

Child psychologists and educators agree that a structured program in movement should be a part of every child's education.

Programme Structures

This programme is progressive in its methods. Recognizing emotional changes and stages of development in a child’s life, each class is structured to cater to different physical skill levels, behavior and emotions of the age groups.

Key Benefits of the programme

• Develop self confidence
• Instil self discipline
• Improve sensory and general motor skills
• Acquire problem solving ability
• Enhance language ability

and what coincidence! they've got some roadshow going on at sunway pyramid:

March School Holidays ~
Fun & Learn Workshops & Coaching Clinics
Date : 10 - 19 March 2006
Venue : Main Concourse, LL1

Gear up for all things fun and learn a skill or two. Choose and pick what you like and hang out with your crew. This March School Holiday, catch exciting 'Fun & Learn' workshops and coaching clinics at LL1, Main Concourse. While you at it, don't forget to visit the exciting Rabbit Farm and Tumble Tots Skills for Life at LL2, East and West Wing too. The fun starts from 10-19 March.

not too bad huh? perhaps we'll drop by sunway tomorrow.. definitely will update of our adventure tomorrow.

but before i go, here are a couple of things i found from the tumbletots site. great info for all parents!

Difficult behaviour - is it just a phase?

When a child is going through a phase of testing boundaries it helps to:

• Stay in control, speak calmly and avoid shouting. Explain how you want the child to behave in short simple sentences and give him chance to practice.
• Hide any amusement you might feel at your child’s behaviour, make it clear that you will not accept it and put all your efforts into catching him getting it right.
• Stand firm against tantrums, whining and any other pressure the child uses to try to get you to change your mind, particularly if your child picks a time when you are “on show” e.g. in front of friends.
• Spend extra time with your child but make it plain that this will stop if your child is naughty again.
• Pick battles you can win when trying to get your child to conform again.
• Avoid making any threats you cannot keep,
• Act swiftly and avoid delaying the chance to bring your child back into line etc.

If a child continues to behave badly, check to see what might be sustaining this behaviour. Is it attracting a lot of attention? Are you making the effort to catch your child being good.

A Child’s behaviour often deteriorates when:

• He joins a pre-school group and has to learn new rules and routines. This is often worse for an only or eldest child, particularly if they have not had the opportunity to learn how to share, take turns, make choices, lose or manage without you being there.
• He is frustrated because he wants to do something and cannot because of his age, inability or lack of opportunity.
• The family stability is shaken by parents separating, the death of a loved relative, a move of house etc.
• They are not treated with respect, kindness or consistency by the responsible adults.
• He cannot live up to the expectations of parents or parents vary in the tolerance to his behaviour because of ill health etc.

All children get it wrong sometimes. It helps if as adults we can recognise and acknowledge this then help our children to get it right rather than focusing on what went wrong. It is always better to prevent unacceptable behaviour by intervening early, changing the circumstances or distracting the child. Many children learn quickly if given the chance to “role play” what would happen if they reacted differently. Similarly, they learn more easily if encouraged to work out what else they might have done or how differently they could have responded.

Hints for Parents:

• Most children will behave badly but this does not tend to last for long if you are firm and consistent with the rules you want her to obey.
• Try to ask your child to do things in a way that assumes that she will do as you ask.
• Give the impression that you are calm and in control, so that defying you does not become a game to “wind you up”.
• Ignore bad behaviour whenever it is safe to do so and only “fight” those battles you really intent to win. Try to reward the child’s good behaviour.
• Avoid using power tactics, like shouting or smacking as the immediate effect soon wears off and your child may not respond next time.

Children's personalities differ, so some will persist with poor behaviour for longer if:

• You say “no” then give in. Your child will learn that you might change your mind and so will keep going longer. He never knows when you will give in so it is always worth waiting.
• Your child get lots of attention for their poor behaviour, even if they don't get what they want. If you praise them when they don't pester and give them attention for being good they will son learn how to wait and be less persistent.

Younger children copy older siblings who may have poor behaviour which is tolerated rather than acted on.

Discipline

Parents of well disciplined children tend to have three things in common - they are confident in their handling of their children and they care enough to stop their child's bad behaviour.

All children misbehave at some time yet parents get little preparation to help them cope. Most of us learn by trial and error based on what happened to us as children and the way we have seen other parents behave. Knowing when to intervene and when to turn a blind eye is a skill which takes most adults years to develop.

We all want to be friends with our children but that does not mean we have to let them do exactly what they want. We need chance to practice staying calm and in control when our children are misbehaving. Children feel safe when their parents set limits and stick to basic rules. They will still try to fight against those limits, to push them back as far as their parents will let them. However, by staying firm and consistent, we can help our children to feel safe and secure.

Encouraging Good Discipline

1. Setting the scene

• Set clear limits and simple rules as soon as you can. Get your child into a good routine but be prepared for him to test your limits. Just stick to the rules and remind your child of the rules as calmly as you can. Avoid discussions or negotiations on serious issues.
• Set reasonable punishments and rewards. Children have a strong sense of fairness. If they feel that you give a harsh punishment one minute and a light one the next, they will feel less secure and it will take longer for them to learn how to behave.
• Encourage your child to think of reasonable rewards and punishments.
• Make a distinction between naughty behaviour and a naughty child. All children will do something naughty, but your child should not get the idea that they are naughty or you will risk them living up to this expectation.

2. Doing what you say

• Don't make threats unless you are prepared to follow them through. If you have said "No pudding unless you eat your sandwiches", then you must not change your mind later. If you do, your child will ignore the next threat and assume that you do not mean what you say.
• Choose your battles carefully and make sure that you win. Some poor behaviour can be ignored and it will stop, but some may be more serious or dangerous. This kind of behaviour has to be acted on quickly and consistently.
• Try to link the reward or punishment to the behaviour. Helping to tidy up before bedtime might result in an extra story. Hitting a child with a play sword, might prompt you to remove the sword for a day etc.

3. Showing that you care

• Spend time with your child doing things, which will not bring you into conflict.
• Stay involved in their activities as they grow up. Watching your child playing sport, taking part in an activity etc. shows that you are interested in what they are doing.
• Encourage them to become involved in your life. Let them visit your workplace, meet your colleagues and talk to them about what you do.
• If you feel you have behaved unfairly say so. Discuss what would have been fairer and why you had felt so angry or upset by your child's behaviour.
• Physical contact is always important to children. Having a cuddle can comfort a sick child, reassure a frightened one and re-establish your good relationship with your child after an argument or tantrum.

Ways of Dealing with Difficult Behaviour:

1. Stay Calm. You need to be able to give clear and simple instructions e.g. You must put your toys away before we have tea.
2. Don't get distracted or be tempted to see the funny side of your child's disobedience. This will only encourage the bad behaviour.
3. Only make threats you are prepared to carry out.
4. Don't give in to loud tantrums.
5. Be positive and give lots of praise when your child gets it right.

Reasons why bad behaviour might continue:

• You have not been consistent so your child has learnt that if they keep going you will give in.
• Your child likes the attention he gets by behaving badly.
• You shout at your child when you are cross or smack him so he shouts when he is cross and hits other children.
• You do not notice when she is being good.