Kids first hair cut

I am sending Arissa for her first hair cut today....I can't stand her hair anymore!! Sorry dear, mama rimas tengok your thick hair...

I just googled some tips...but I guess I suppossed to get the tips bit earlier...anyway I'll give it a try today...


Here are some tips for the First Hair Cut:

Make an appointment rather than drop in

Take your baby into the hair salon a few days before to get him familiar with the facility

Get your baby to watch himself in the mirror

Wave around a brightly colored stuffed animal to distract your baby

Hold or cuddle your baby during the cut if he is upset

Sit your baby in a special shaped chair, like a car or fire engine, during the cut if he seems calm

Let your baby play with a squirt bottle

Watch other children get their hair cut

Don't forget to bring a camera and ask for a lock of hair to document your baby's first hair cut


Popular Styles for Kids??

Some styles, like the bob and buzzcut, have been around for years. These classics never go out of style. Whether you stick to the traditional format or make the cuts a little more modern, your kids can't go wrong with these old favorites.


Bob???

If your daughter likes a bob, but wants to jazz it up a bit, try these ideas:

Inverted bob: Hair is tapered and short at the neck, and longer at the top.

Asymmetrical bob: Cut one side shorter than the other for a unique, edgy look.

Layered bob: Have the stylist cut layers all over the head for more volume.

Vary the length: Bobs may hit at the collarbone, jawline, chin, or shoulders. Choose the length that works best for your daughter.

Play with bangs: Bobs may be all one length, or they may have bangs. Let your daughter choose the look that works for her.

Work the ends: If your daughter is old enough to "fix" her hair, she can flip the ends or roll them under, depending on the style of the day.

will see the result shortly!
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sweet dream in a sweet room

For many parents, convincing their children to sleep in their separate bedroom can be difficult. It is hard to resist the child’s pleas of being afraid of the dark and lonely. However, the sooner your child gets used to sleep in a separate room, the better for both you and him or her.

It would be helpful to involve the child in decisions about decorating his or her room, so that sleeping in it would be more appealing. A bedroom theme can be the starting point of your decision for buying or decorating the children’s room.

Your little girl would probably love to sleep in a golden coach shape bed where she could feel like a princess.

Your boy would have pleasant dreams while sleeping in a bed resembling a model race car or a private boat. While taking a decision regarding a fantasy theme for the room can be fun, you will also have to think of how quickly your children might outgrow the fantasy bed stage and be prepared for the expenses required for redecorating the room.

You might blend fantasy with practical solutions that would also keep your children safe while sleeping. You should create a safe and pleasant environment so that your children will be pleased to spend time in this room the bed being the center of their world.That’s why it is best to choose softer materials for your children’s furniture since sharp edges can be the cause of accidents.

One of the most important things to consider related to your children's bed is the amount of light they are exposed to while sleeping. A night light, a computer or a TV can affect the child’s sleep as during the sleep the hormone melatonin is produced.This hormone which regulates sleep but also the mood is produced in the right quantity only if the body is not exposed to light. A source of light during the night might be the cause of various sleep disorders or moodiness even if your child seems to get enough sleep.

A child spends a lot of time in his bed, so one of the most important decisions to take is to choose the right one. Besides the children's bed, other pieces of furniture can add to the appeal of the room. Again it is useful to think of both practical things like storage space and funky pieces that will put a smile on your children’s faces.

This is my eldest room...which i think suits her very much.....
Previously the room was occupied with a queen bed...but later i felt that the queen bed makes the room less spacious...dah lah her room is not that big...so i decided to use a single bed which has another bed below it in case we have guests around or later both my daughters can sleep in the same room.....we choose to have white furniture instead of wood colour which will make her room looks more bigger..

single bed..which has got another extra bed below...and with storage and shelves

at the end of the bed

Previously the room was occupied with a queen bed...but later i felt that the queen bed makes the room less spacious...dah lah her room is not that big...so i decided to have a single bed which has another bed below it in case we have guests around....and maybe Arissa can join her later.We choose to have white furniture instead of wood colour which will make her room looks more bigger..and spacious...

a wardrobe and a chest drawer

book shelf

study area

her treasures

I'm thinking of putting a wall paper...but it seems that almost all the walls already occupied with furnitures...so pakai wallpaper pun tak berapa nampak except for small area at her bed...will think about it...i am glad coz Batrisyia loves her room very very much as much as i do!

Sweet dream, baby!

Bacalah Anakku

Both Batrisyia and Amsyar use Bacalah Anakku series when they starts learning to read...and I found it really good and easy way to teach them..The books comes with CD and also flash cards as an extra tool...The author of the book,Othman Ahmad and Nik Eliani are very experience in education world...Nik Eliani is a Co-writer of Siri Cepat Membaca Bacalah Anakku & Readeasy Early Reading Series, Reading Specialist & Nursery & Preschool Curriculum Designer. She holds B.A. Economics from Brock University, Canada(1985)& Diploma in Education(English) from International Islamic University Malaysia(1990), an ex-English teacher in secondary school.

Here are some tips from her :

1. Sesi bacaan mestilah pendek, 5-10 minit saja, 2 -3 kali sehari.

2.Berhenti sebelum jemu! kalau tumpuan anak 2 minit aje, 1.59 minit mesti stop.

3. Pilih tempat sesuai - jauh dari gangguan. Jangan ngajar depan TV. TV tu kalau tutup dengan kain hitam pun distract anak-anak.

4. Keep cool. Parentsla ye. Sebab saya cadang sesi ngajar pendek.. takut-takut parents yang tak boleh sabar.
5. Selalu puji masa ngajar. Lebih-lebih puji pun tak pe. Pandai sebut 'a", bagi hi-5.

6. Bila mengajar mesti ceria selalu. Jadikan sesi mengajar FUN. Buat Teknik Asosiasi Aksi, nyanyi lagu fonik & main seperti rebut-rebut bunyi, memory game dsbnya.

7.Kalau habis Buku 1, boleh belikan hadiah. Jack la sikit supaya dia seronok nak belajar Buku 2 pulak.

8. JANGAN LUPA, ajar 'BUNYI HURUF bukan nama huruf a(ei), b(bi, c(si).

9. Bila ajar baca perkataan, ajar GABUNG BUNYI, bukan ngeja sukukata atau hafal sukukata ba bi bu be be bo.

10. Akhir sekali, bila ngajar, ikut susunan buku.

Dan JANGAN SEKALI KALI PRESSURE anak. Seorang ibu atau bapa sepatutnya tahu samada anaknya dah ready atau tidak nak belajar membaca. Bila saya cadang boleh mula pada umur 3 tahun, kita pun terus ajar pada hari jadinya. Kita kena tahu tak semua ready nak belajar membaca pada umur 3 tahun. Sesetengah anak laki lambat sikit (which is true to me..., i'm not comparing Batrisyia and Amsyar...but i can see)


This is what she wrote too...
"Mengikut kajian luar negara, bahagian otak yang digunakan untuk membaca bagi kanak-kanak lelaki 5 thn adalah sama dengan kanak-kanak perempuan 3 1/2thn. Kedua anak lelaki saya memang lambat menguasai kemahiran membaca berbanding dengan anak-anak perempuan saya. Tetapi semenjak 12 tahun menerbitkan Baalah Anakku, saya telah bertemu banyak anak lelaki yang dapat membaca pada umur 4 tahun lebih"

You can read more about this at her blog www.cepatmembaca.blogspot.com. Amsyar is still catching up with reading...and hoping he can read well before he enters standard one next year! way to go boy!

Potty train. Is it the right time?

I am thinking to start potty training Arissa..she is 26 months now...is it too early? I used to start potty train my eldest around 30 months..and my son a bit later around 32 months...both were quite late. Thanx to  their 'superbusy mommy'! My girl was fast but my son was a bit lengthy at the process...but it was challenging, tiring, frustrating? along the way *sigh*. Hopefully i can get over it again with Arissa!

According to one of the reaserch, where the results were published in the Journal of Pediatric Urology, period between 24 and 32 months of age as most effective time frame for parents to begin toilet training lessons with their children. Additionally, the timing appeared to matter more than the specific training method used. 

What Expert Says?
Your child must be both physically and emotionally ready for potty train. Most children are ready when they are between 24 and 32 months of age, although every child is different. Toilet training usually becomes a long and frustrating process if you try to start it before your child is ready.

Before children can use the toilet, they must be able to control their bowel and bladder muscles. Some signs of this control are :
1) having bowel movements around the same time each day
2) not having bowel movements at night
3) having a dry diaper after a nap or for at least 2 hours at a time.

Children must also be able to climb, talk, remove clothing, and have mastered other basic motor skills before they can use the toilet by themselves.Most children are physically ready to toilet train before they are emotionally ready. Your child must want to use the toilet and be willing to cooperate with you. He or she may even talk about being a "big boy" or "big girl" and wearing underpants rather than diapers. Training generally does not go well if your child is in the stage where "no" is his or her automatic response to every request.

 
Some Tips to Potty Train...

• Buy clothing that’s easy to remove and make sure you have plenty of spare pants.
• Buy a couple of potties or a special training seat. Get into the habit of taking the potty with you wherever you go (you can buy travel potties).
• Once you start, keep at it. It can be confusing for a child if you put him back into a nappy at night. Instead, buy a mattress protector and keep the potty by his bed. Leave the light on and keep fluids to a minimum before bedtime.
• Create a special sign that means ‘toilet, please’.
• Take him into the toilet with you so he can watch what you do.
• Note the times of day when he usually goes and put him on the potty then. Try to create a routine, e.g. use it first thing in the morning, after lunch and last thing at night.
• Praise him lots when he uses the potty – even if it’s only a dribble!
• When he has an accident put his poo into the potty to show him how it is done. Then take him to the toilet to empty it, let him flush the loo and show him how to wash his hands afterwards.
• Don’t make a big fuss if he has an accident – he will take it as encouragement to do it again.
• Potty tricks – if you’re having difficulty getting your child to sit on the potty, buy a musical or magical one, that sings or lights up and turn it into a game.
• Keep a goody bag so he gets a special treat each time he uses the potty.

How long does it take to potty train? 

A child is considered toilet-trained when he or she knows that it is time to go to the bathroom and is able to climb onto and use the toilet with little help. In a study of children who started training between 24 and 32 months of age, boys were fully trained at an average age of 38 months, while girls were trained slightly earlier, around 36 months.Your child will likely need help with wiping after a bowel movement until age 4 or 5. He or she may also need extra help in unfamiliar bathrooms, such as public restrooms, until about age 5 or 6

What if my child resists?

If your child resists using the toilet, he or she probably isn't ready. Sometimes potty training disruptions or delays are caused by stress or major changes in routine. Also, a child who is doing well with pottty training may suddenly have difficulty for no obvious reason. This is a normal part of potty training. It is best to start or resume potty training when your child is receptive to it and in a stable environment.
Your child's potty training experience should be positive. If it becomes a struggle or a battle of wills, it is best to ease up or stop for a while. Although you may be ready for potty training, your child may not be!

 Whenever you decide to start potty training your child, make sure it’s a good time for you - that you are not stressed and things are settled at home. All children are different so be patient and accept that it may take some time. Using training pants gives your child some control over when he wants to go, and may help encourage him to use the toilet more often. Always praise him lots - even if it's only a dribble! Children also love to flush the toilet and wash their hands with mummy and daddy so this is one way to turn it in to a good routine.

Good luck to me and Arissa!

travelling with kids

This is the second time i'm travelling with my 3 kids on airplane without hubby...We're going back to my home town Kuala Terengganu. As hubby can't follow us...he'll be going back the next day, so i  have to travel alone taking care of 3 kids.....

The challenges are.....kids of course. Eventhough it is a short distance, 45 minutes on airplane..still a big challenge to me having an 8, a 6 and a 2 years old on board with me and being the only one who will entertain their needs and attention! This is the second time we're travelling with Firefly...becoz the airport is near to my house and it's a small airport, everything is nearby....check-in counter the boarding area...easy to manage the kids.

I try to minimise the load....i need to bring a stroller for Arissa of course...will make my life easier, one cabin size luggage bag...as i don't want to check in the luggage bag..it will take a long time to wait for the bag when we landed. This happens on my first travel alone with them...so i'm not going to do that again! Each bag for the kids....to load their own stuffs like toys, books whatever they want to bring along and of course my oversized handbag to load Arissa's stuff...snacks, water in her fav bottle, baby wipes, books, diapers...etc!

At the waiting area..after boarding...we still need to wait around half an hour..this is the time when all of them need their attentions! especially Amsyar and Arissa....Batrisyia is a big girl now...and i normally can count on her in helping me over a small tasks.....I will make sure my boy go to toilet first before getting into the plane...coz i can't handle that inside the plane as the toilet is small and of course I cannot leave Arissa alone on the seat. Amsyar wil be running here and there...Arissa will ask again and again to get her out from the stroller....and the best place to sit is in front of the big screen so that they can watch whatever advertisment displayed...

Inside the plane...i need to strap all of them...Batrisyia will sit alone with other passenger, buckle up herself. Amsyar will be a bit difficult...kejap nak kejap nak bukak...especially during take off  when u need to buckle up! huhuhu...45 minutes inside the airplane feels like few hours...hahaha but Arissa will be occupied with books, Amsyar with his toys and Batrisyia will have a chit chat with her neighbour...sampai tak larat lah passenger sebelah dia dengar story mory dia....me? smiling away..and pray that everything goes well until we landed :-P

I love this quote
"there are two classes of travel: First class, and with children."

Robert Benchley
Here are ome tips for travelling with children:

Take a travel blanket with you and tuck it into the seat pocket in front of your child. It will help keep their feet from being able to do too much damage to the person sitting in front of them.

If you book early, you may be able to grab the bulkhead row. There is extra leg room which means, if you have a child who is old enough to stand, you can more easily let them stand while you hold onto their hands giving your lap, and your child, a much needed break.

Airplane seat belts aren't made for kid travel, especially small ones.Infants can use airline approved infant or car seats, but small children can be made more comfortable and more safe with the use of an approved restraint system that attaches to the airplane's belts.

 better and safer belt for your kids

Crayons and coloring books are a good way to keep small children occupied, but be prepared to lose a few. These easily roll off of trays, onto the floor and are nearly impossible to retrieve. Even if you can retrieve them, you don't want to spend your flight doing so.

Bring toys that aren't too small, don't roll, and won't hurt if accidentally thrown at the person sitting next to you. It happens.

As planes change altitude, mostly during takeoff and landing, the pressure impacts our ears. Babies and children are more susceptible to this than adults - hence, the crying jags that rattle the nerves of parents and fellow passengers alike.

Have something handy for a child to suck on or chew during the flight, especially during takeoff and landing
- a pacifier, a bottle, a lollipop, a piece of gum - all, of course, dependent on their ages. The sucking and chewing motions help relieve the pressure in the ears and can ease the pain a child feels. Which, by the way, will make you less stressed than if you're having to comfort a screaming child and wishing you could hide in the bathroom for the rest of the flight.

You can't take liquids through airport security and this includes baby milk (even applesauce and yougurt). Bring powdered, pre-packaged formula in single feedings. The airline will heat water for you to make a bottle.

Food on airplanes is rather expensive and the selections are usually unappetizing to small children. Pack dry cereal, cut up fruit, raisins, crackers, and other snacks your toddler will like.

 Try to plan an infant's meal (breast or bottle) to take place during take-off and landing if you can. This,  will help make sure your child is hungry enough to suck on the bottle during those times that cause them the most pain. Often, this will cut down on the crying and screaming that makes a parent feel completely helpless.Little fingers drop food during travel on an airplane and the last thing you want is to be stepping on a bunch of crumbs in your row or sitting on them throughout the flight. These great travel cups keep food safe and have a little gasket like opening so kids only pull out what they need. The rest stays in the cup no matter what.Ever had to chase a sippy cup down an airplane aisle? They're round, kids drop them and then they roll away and end up under the feet of someone 10 rows back. These cups have cool straps so you can attach them to a seat restraint, part of the chair, your wrist...wherever...and they'll stay with you through the flight. 

A bag for me, a bag for each child, suitcases, strollers, and car seats? How on earth - you think to yourself - am I ever going to make it through the airport much less to my final destination? Grab handy wheels and easily zip your stuff along.

 

Cool!

The Food Tray is Not a Toy 

Up, down, up, down...ugh!

Once a child sees how that little tray flips down, they want to try it too, and their fascination will go on throughout the whole flight. Suddenly, they have control of something and kids love to control things (do you blame them?). It makes them feel older and bigger. However, that tray going up and down can be felt by the person in front of them and it's darn annoying. Instruct younger children that the tray is off limits and that if they need the tray, you will take it down and put it up.

Peek a Boo 

Fun for a few minutes

I've bounced a standing child on my knees during a flight to keep them occupied. This quickly becomes a game of peek a boo with all those faces they can suddenly see all around them from such a high position. No doubt, your child - if not too shy - will find a kind soul somewhere on the airplane who starts a game of peek a boo with them. Suddenly, instead of a simple little exercise to pass the time, your fighting to get your child to settle down and they are pulling against you to keep up the game. When that happens, have a toy or snacks ready to pull out and distract them or your thighs are going to be numb before the flight is over.

Airplane Book 

Prepare them for the airport

If this is an older child's first trip on an airplane, you can help them get comfortable with all that they're going to see, hear, and feel by helping them go through this book.

  These are some photos of Amsyar and Arissa on the airplane....ni je yang sempat ambik :-)

both busy with own activities

 

Arissa loves books

  

Amsyar occupied with toys

Choc muffin anyone? :-)