Posts Tagged ‘Kids’

Book Club for Toddlers and Kids

Tuesday, December 6th, 2011

In October 2008, when Kabir was 2 years old, I started a book club for toddlers/kids. I sent a letter to some of my friends who had similar aged kids and invited them to join the book club. All my friends came and we formed a book club for kids very spontaneously. Since then we have been meeting once a week for about an hour or so. We read books to our kids and then let them play together. During summer, if the weather is good, we either meet at park or pool and let them enjoy the outdoors. It has been 3 years and we still look forward to it. My kids have benefited from this book club amazingly and they still look forward to it. Thanks to all my friends who have supported this little book club. It is still going strong. It’s amazing how some ventures start spontaneously and sustain themselves!

Tags: Book Club, Children Books, Kids
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Time is flying away

Friday, November 18th, 2011

Kabir started kindergarten in October after his grandparents went back to India. We completed two weeks of school and then we went to Disney World and it was indeed magical. Arjun (21 month old) can’t talk much but he has learnt to recognize and say “Mickey”. The trip was really worth it even though it was super-exhausting by the end.

Arjun enjoying the ride

Kabir dancing with Goofy

Then we came back and we have finally completed two more weeks of school.

Last Saturday, Kabir and his dad went for a night camp in Memphis zoo. They had a great time. The highlights were patting a python, going on a safari in dark, watching Finding Nemo and eating popcorn and lemonade before bedtime. They camped in a cozy room in the zoo and not outdoors!

Kabir at night camp in Memphis zoo

On Wednesday, we had a Roman party at home. We were reading about Ancient Romans. So, I took a pillow cover and made a tunic for Kabir. He enjoyed wearing it. Then I, the slave, served him (rich Roman) three-course Roman meal. He chose to be a rich Roman because poor Romans only ate bread and porridge. He ate all the food while lying down as the ancient Romans do. In the end, he said, “Mama, my tummy hurts because I am lying down while eating but I am still going to finish my dinner like this.” Arjun looked really puzzled at his brother and was itching to get out of his high-chair. Then, Kabir tried to burp as he wanted to be a polite Roman but he apologized as he couldn’t. He enjoyed it when I brought him a bowl of water to wash his hands. It was really fun. Roman bread pudding was the best part. It is bread soaked in milk and then fried and served with honey. Arjun loved it too!

Kabir as a Roman boy

Now, we are getting ready for Thanksgiving. The cousins are coming over and Kabir is super excited with all the plans and ideas for them.

Time is indeed flying away…

Tags: Homeschool, Kids
Posted in Children / Kids | 1 Comment »

Painting with Homemade Paints and Feathers

Wednesday, October 19th, 2011

Today, we read about cave paintings. So, we made some homemade paints. We added ¼ cup of hot water to ½ cup of frozen blueberries and mashed it to make a paint. Similarly we made brown paint by adding little boiling water to instant coffee. Also, we made green paint with kiwi (it was not a good idea. I would rather use something else for green paint). Then the kids had a blast painting on a paper with feathers.

: Homemade Paints

: Arjun’s painting

: Kabir’s painting

: Arjun painting with feather and bluberry paint

: Kabir painting with feather and homemade paints

Tags: Homemade Paints, Kids
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Pumpkin with Grandfather

Thursday, October 13th, 2011

Spontaneously, we have started a tradition since 2009 (when Kabir was 3). My kids decorate pumpkin every year with the help and guidance of their grandfather. It’s very interesting to watch them. Here are some of the photos that will always remind us of these beautiful moments.

Left and middle pumpkins are Kabir's and the right one has been decorated by Arjun in 2011

Kabir's pumpkin in 2010

Kabir and his grandfather decorating pumpkin in 2009

Tags: Kids, pumkin
Posted in Children / Kids | 1 Comment »

Penmanship is important!

Friday, July 22nd, 2011

I belong to old school where we think that grammar (even though my grammar is not up to the par and hence I feel more strongly that it’s important) and penmanship is important and should be one of the priorities in early education.

Technology is evolving at a speed of light and it is wonderful. I love it but I do feel that elementary and middle school students should use it for a limited time during the day and it should not be introduced too early in a child’s life! I am of the opinion that creative writing needs to be done with pencil or pen on a paper at elementary level. Also, I fail to appreciate “texting language” when used anywhere other than texting, such as in an email or a posting on facebook. To me, it seems that the writing loses its soul. Writing a letter using a pen/pencil on a paper has its own charm. Moreover, I fear that slowly we will lose the art of writing. Here’s my own example: I am born and brought up in India and studied how to read and write Hindi for about 12 years in school. I moved to US in 1999 and since then I haven’t used Hindi at all. I haven’t written anything in Hindi and I haven’t read anything in Hindi. Today, I’ll be scared to write even one sentence in Hindi. I have lost it. Here’s my husband’s example: When I met him, his handwriting was more beautiful than mine and I could read whatever he wrote very easily. Since a few years, he either dictates or types his notes. Now, his handwriting is not only worst than mine but I can’t decipher a word he writes. I hope you get the point.

So, I make my son, Kabir, practice handwriting. My friend, Sheila, introduced me to the following website (I love this website!) where you can create worksheets for your kid: ESL Writing Wizard

I have created worksheets for my son and used quotes from Shri Mataji (hoping that he will remember these quotes that might come in handy to him in his life). Here are the links to those worksheets. I hope it’s helpful!

http://www.writingwizard.longcountdown.com/wizards/multi_word.php?id=54892

http://www.writingwizard.longcountdown.com/wizards/multi_word.php?id=54893

http://www.writingwizard.longcountdown.com/wizards/multi_word.php?id=54894

http://www.writingwizard.longcountdown.com/wizards/multi_word.php?id=54895

http://www.writingwizard.longcountdown.com/wizards/multi_word.php?id=54896

http://www.writingwizard.longcountdown.com/wizards/multi_word.php?id=54897

http://www.writingwizard.longcountdown.com/wizards/multi_word.php?id=56380

http://www.writingwizard.longcountdown.com/wizards/multi_word.php?id=56381

http://www.writingwizard.longcountdown.com/wizards/multi_word.php?id=56382

http://www.writingwizard.longcountdown.com/wizards/multi_word.php?id=56383

http://www.writingwizard.longcountdown.com/wizards/multi_word.php?id=56384

http://www.writingwizard.longcountdown.com/wizards/multi_word.php?id=56385