14 Months Old!

Janelle turned 14 months old today! Wow, another 4 more months down the road, Janelle will be attending child care. Well, as mentioned in the previous post, Mummy will finalise the centre by end of May 10. Mummy is hoping that Janelle will adapt to school environment fast and will not have separation anxiety (Crossing finger about all those bad stuffs) etc!

Muumy really felt that Janelle had grown up! Janelle can understand what adults are telling Janelle. Few days ago, Janelle was playing with Mummy's handphone and dropped the handphone under the cabinet. Mummy saw the handphone from a distance and told Janelle to pick up Mummy's handphone and bring over to Mummy. But the handphone was at Janelle's blind spot, thus Janelle only pick up the bolster and walk over to Mummy and shaked head. Mummy understood that Janelle was trying to tell Mummy that there wasn't any handphone there, only got bolster. When Janelle walk over to Mummy's side, Mummy showed Janelle the location of the handphone and immediately Janelle walked over to pick up the handphone back for Mummy. Mummy felt so happy and touched! Janelle can understand what Mummy is trying to rely to her. Even Yi Yi also said that Janelle understand well as Ah Yi also tried talking to Janelle by asking her to sit aside and wait for her while she do her stuffs before carry her etc. And Janelle really wait to the place and sit down to wait for Yi Yi.

How can I know if my baby's hearing and speech skills are developing normally?

All children develop their language, listening and speech skills at different rate. Between 12 and 24 months of age, brain developments help your child to learn and understand language.

Most children understand many more words than they are able to speak, like they are often able to point to their nose or eyes or other body parts when asked, even though they may not say the words. If your child communicates effectively through emotional expression, gestures or body language they will usually develop speech normally. However, if your child seems to lose language skills that once were mastered, it is a good idea to have them checked by the doctor.

Helpful tips for your baby's language development
The ability of children to communicate their needs and wants causes children to be less frustrated and research has shown that it has great language development and vocabulary building benefits. Here are some tips to give your child a head start in language development:
• Try not to anticipate your child's needs. If you always give them what they want without giving them the chance to ask for it first, they will learn that they don't need to speak
• Spend at least 15 minutes 'special time' with your child every day
Turn off the TV and radio so that there are no distractions and sit facing your child on the floor, or sit him/her on your lap, Hold him/her close and gain eye contact while talking.
• Sing action songs and nursery rhymes
Do all the actions with your hands as you sing and say the words. This helps your child develop listening, imitation and turn taking skills as well as developing their speech and language.

Brain Health Foods
Brainpower helps your child do it all! To keep your child's brain energized, pump it up with vitamins and minerals. Give them at least 5 servings of fruits and veggies every day, and let them drink plenty of water. Remember, junk foods like chips, candies and snack cakes don't provide vitamins and minerals for your child's brain, and sometimes contain excess salt and fats that can make them feel sluggish.

Although babies start making sound much earlier but their first words are usually between 11 to 14 months. The common first words are mama and dada.

Well, Mummy is quite happy with Janelle's hearing and speech skills as they are developing normally. When Janelle heard some songs like Barney Theme song & Angry Bird song (Game from Iphone), she will dance etc! Good Job Janelle!

Visit to Honey Tree

The day before and yesterday, Mummy and Yi Yi went to visit Honey Tree @ Siglap & Bedok. The centre at Siglap is nearer to Ah Ma House. Ah Ma can walk to the centre to pick Janelle in the evening if Janelle is enrolled there. But Mummy and Yi Yi felt that the centre seems to be a bit small. Mummy and Yi Yi was thinking how can they accomodate 8 toddlers in 1 room! But hygiene was generally good. Mummy was thinking that maybe the timing during the visit @ about 5pm+, the cleaners had already cleaned up and disinfected the place.

Mummy asked the principal whether phonics lesson is conducted in this centre. The principal mentioned that phonics is conducted as an enrichment class, meaning that parents got to pay an extra $50 every month in order for the toddler to attend the lesson once every week. Phonics will only be introduced in Nursery 2. Mummy felt that it might seems a bit too late. The teacher ratio to children in Honey Tree is 1:8. Wow, Mummy felt that it's a bit too high. Mummy wants teacher ratio to children of at least 1:6. Mummy thinks that Janelle needs more attention as Mummy decided to enroll Janelle once Janelle reach 18 months old.

The curriculum provided by Honey Tree is as follows:
Playgroup & Nursery One
(18 Months to 3 Years)
- Language Immersion (English & Mandarin)
- Moral Values
- Story Time
- Nursery Rhymes
- Sensory Experiences
- Art & Craft
- Dramatization
- Indoor Exercises
- Outdoor Activities
- Music & Movement
- Water Play
- Dough Play

The fee at Honey Tree is cheaper than Zee Juniors alot. But the issue is the curriculum is total different. Mummy mentioned that will visit another 2-3 more centres to know more details and make the final decision. But Daddy and Yi Yi said that seems like 80% Mummy wants Janelle to be enroll into Zee Juniors. Haha. Well, there are alot of factors that Mummy has to consider. If Janelle goes to Zee Juniors, Mummy doesn't have to worry too much about Janelle being ill-treat by teachers etc as Sharon Yi Yi is there. If Janelle is attending school at Zee Juniors, Mummy don't need to spend extra money on bus transport as either Sharon Yi Yi or Small Grand Auntie/Uncle can help to send Janelle back to Ah Ma house after class.

Mummy knew that Zee Juniors fee is still the most expensive compared with the others child care centre that Mummy had shortlisted. But if Mummy find that the curriculum at other child care centre such as Our Junior Schoolhouse is good, the bus transport and fee along might cost almost the same as the fee of Zee Juniors!

Well, Mummy had arranged to visit Capre Diem @ Bedok Reservior, Our Junior Schoolhouse @ Simpang Bedok and Zee Juniors @ Dunman Road on next week! After next week, Mummy will do her firm evaluation on the child care centre that Janelle will be enrolled.

Child Care Centre for Janelle

These few weeks, Mummy had been so stressed up on sourcing of childcare centre for Janelle. Initially Mummy wanted to enroll Janelle at Zee Juniors but due to the high fee, Mummy had to source around for other options. Mummy felt that there are a lot of factors to consider. Mummy said she really got to sit down and think thoroughly the criteria when shortlisting the child care centre.

Mummy's Criteria on Child Care Centre
1) Curriculum provided by the centre
2) Teacher to Children Ratio
2) Environment
3) Cleanliness
4) Age Group of Teachers
5) Location
6) Bus Transport Services

Shortlisted Child Care Centres
1) Zee Juniors @ Dunman Road
2) Honey Tree @ Siglap / Bedok
3) Carpe Diem @ Bedok Reservoir
4) Our Junior School House @ Simpang Bedok
5) Crestar @ Siglap
6) Kinderland @ Siglap

Today, Sharon Yi Yi called Mummy and told a good news. Sharon Yi Yi's Supervisor had worked out a better offer. Mummy had to discuss with Daddy on the new offer. It seems attractive but still got to discuss in more details with Daddy on it. Mummy really hoped that can settle Janelle's child care centre issue ASAP!

Penguin Janelle!

Mummy had been commenting that Janelle walked like a penguin when Janelle started to walk independently durin 12mths+! Janelle had officially learned to walk by herself. Everyday, Janelle will walked around with stuffs. Janelle will go to Yi Yi's wardrobe and look for stuffs and carry around the house. Ah Gu will always asked Janelle to carry the toyogo container and go market! Ever since Janelle started to walk, everyone is so busy looking and chasing after Janelle!

Once we are out of the house, Janelle will want to walk by herself. Once, Mummy left Janelle to "roam" around by following behind Janelle, you make a guess where did Janelle walk to? Janelle headed to a toys shop! Omg! Mummy quickly carried Janelle away from there as once Janelle entered the shop, Janelle will not want to come out!

2 weeks ago, Mummy brought Janelle to a 1st Year Old Birthday Party and Janelle had her first official swimming at the public pool! Sharon Yi Yi brought Janelle to the pool just to have a dip by standing without foot wear. But Janelle was so happy playing in the pool, Mummy decided to take off Janelle skirt and let Janelle "swim" with her clothes and diaper! After 10mins, Mummy said got to bring Janelle back as it's Janelle first time swimming, can't let her be in the water for too long! Janelle cried and doesn't want to be carry out of the pool! Mummy got to coax Janelle by telling Janelle that Mummy will arrange for swimming again!