資優兒童Baby

critic

Tszfungma,

I did not offer any Thomas & Friends stuff to my son because the toy trains are very expensive, I'm afraid he will fall in love with them.  He loves all kind of engines, tractor etc... I have ordered some books especially for truck & tractor. He reads them again and again.

My son can remember all songs from Leapfrog! He sings every morning, "The A sounds "Ah", the B sounds "Ba", the C sounds "Ka" and the D sounds Da, until Z.

Tszfungma

Critic,

Sorry for the late reply.

Agree, Thomas & Friends (T&F) is expensive. However, in my opinion there are several advantages of the collection. The quality of the engine, truck, lorry, etc is good. I bought the die cast ones which can't be easily broken by my son. I bought a lot of books that the stories are interesting & most of the time meaningful. Also, there are a lot of assocated activity books. My boy is still young for those books but when he gets older, we can let me play with the them and have fun. Since he loves so much of the vehicles, I bought him a relevant encyclopedia.

I bought several T&F books from Sogo yesterday. They offered 10% off now. One thing worths mentioning here is buying T&F is cheaper in Thailand. I was in BKK in Jan and the books there are at least 20% cheaper than in HK. I also bought T&F DVD from HMV yesterday. I now and then remind myself not to buy too much T&F stuff for my son but books is definitely an exception. As a matter of fact, he enjoys other stories like Sesame, Richard Scarry, DWE of course.

Other than Leapfrog, I am also interested in Letter Land which other moms highly recommend here. When I have time, I will find out more. Seems it is only available in Taikoo Shing. What about Leapfrog? I go to Times and 天地 often but I don't find it there.

VALERIEBB

Hi critic,

Please pm your list to me, thanks!

critic

Tszfungma,

I don't think you can buy the Leapfrog DVD here, as I know they don't have an office in HK yet. (only in Japan)  I love all the educational toys made by Leapfrog and hope I can work for this company, especially for the leapfrogschool products.  I was once very interested in their phonic desk latest model and searched all over HK but could not find any shop selling it (actually made in China).  I was about to ask my friend in the US to ship me one but shipping cost is too expensive.  After 6 months, I found Toy R Us has it.... but sold out very quickly. I did quite a lot of research on education toy, I once found a talking machine (Professional use in the US)which is similar to the Disney Talking Machine but much advance, which is used by the English teachers in the US, but it was too expensive, I gave it up.

P.S. Just heard from my husband that leapfrog is setting up an office in HK and hiring many people.

Yumom

Dear Critic,

You are really a good mom and your son is really brilliant! His " language quotient" is really high. How do you develop his other quotient, like logic, maths etc?

Yumom

Tszfungma

Hi Yumom,

Thanks for joining us. What a good question! We normally focus on languages but what about others? I scratch my head especially during weekends. We read together different kinds of books but other than reading, what else shall we do?!

I have some blocks and posters with numbers and try to give me some ideas of add, take away, times and divide. I also have a world map specially design for young kids. I personally am very poor at drawing and my son doesn't find coloring interesting.

Could you all, especially Critic share your experience? Thanks in advance.

Tszfungma

critic

Tszfungma,

Thomas & Friends is British or American? You mention about Letterland, as it is British, I won't consider.  I will stick on using Standard American English.  (if your son gets use to DWE, he is already familiar with American sounds)  I've seen some moms here say British and American is the same etc... because I've learnt phonetic, sound & sounds of American & British, they are not the same!  I'm afraid it will confuse the kids, especially we are not expert to explain the difference.

Did you buy the "Between the Lions"? Is it good? I have showed the online version to my son and he loves it, I am thinking to buy one VCD as trial.

Hello Yumom,
Can you share your experience? I teach my son mainly thru reading and observation. For example, if it is windy, he will tell me, "Trees are moving, it's windy." When it is raining, I will ask him, "what do you carry when it is raining?" He will reply, "Bring an umbrella." I also teach him, when you see the sun, you have to wake up and say good morning to everyone.

I'm not sure if it is teaching him logic? He always follow me to kitchen, so I will teach him the difference between fire, water, hot, cold etc.... I am trying to teach him fast/slow, fat/thin, short/long.

I'm very poor in Maths. (I hate Maths) I've bought him a wood abacus but he is not interested. He is only interested in counting 'real' thing. For example, he goes to kitchen and count tomato, onion, corn, green peas. He is able to count his fingers, toes, stairs.... He can verbally count from 1-12. I'm teaching him from 13-30.

The problem is, when he sees 0, he confuse it as zero, O, circle. How to solve? Any mom can share?

I'm OK in drawing and coloring. (simple pictures) We have a big blackboard (from Ikea, one side blackboard, one side whiteboard). I draw a lot with my son with colorful chalk. I will ask him to name an object and I draw on the board, or, I draw something and ask him to name what it is. I heard it is very difficult for kids to draw circle but my son is OK with draw circle but not able to draw straight line. I play piano, so we play, dance & sing a lot at home.

I want to share my happiness with moms here. I'm so glad that my son has learned the phonic sounds A-Z within one week. We went out on Saturday and Sunday, whenever he found letters around, he could spells out loud with their sounds. I'm teaching him to combine the sounds, seems he understands how it works! Hope can share his progress next week.

We speak English at home but his Cantonese is still OK. He calls my mom tonight and he says a complete sentence in Chinese as "Grandma, can you buy me a bus?" (Because my Dad bought him one last week and I guess he wants one more from my mom) Then my mom asks him, "What did you eat for dinner?" He said, "Some noodles."

Yumom

HI, Critic,

I'm sorry that I don't have much idea on how to judge and train up young kids "logic quotient".  My daughter is about 4 years old. Frankly, your way of teaching your boy is similar to mine.

I had taught her additions as subtrations months ago but ...Besides, her kindergarten is only teaching her counting skills (up to 15?), so I stopped teaching her "maths". Any mom to share their experience besides reading and ways to develop your child "maths" quotient.

Tsefungmo,

Would you consider getting your son to drawing class? Maybe he can develop interest in it!


Yumom

Yumom

Tsefungma,

One more thing, may I know where to buy the map for kids? Tks in advance.

Yumom.

Tszfungma

Critic,

Thomas & Friend is British. Sure, there are differences between British and American English, not only the spelling but also pronounication. My son watches Wide Eye by World Family. It is British too. My son can understand both so I don't worry yet.

I don't know much about Letter Land and therefore would like to find it out. I don't know anything about Between the Lions.

Yumon,

I bought the map at Times TST. As I work in TST, I go there often.  Like yesterday, I bought a book called  2-12歲教育 培養知識精英 增加智慧DNA. Have read less than 30 pages but interesting so far.

Drawing class? Maybe. It will be great if it can be combined with music class too for my boy likes music much (I think all young kids do too). I read a book about simple scientific experiments that we can do them at home. I haven't bought it for I have no time to prepare the materials needed and no time to play with him. As the book is written in Chinese only, I can't let my helper play with my boy. What a pity! When I have more time, for sure I will buy one as it is a good way to let child explore more.

Tszfungma

Listen

I have the same problem too.  My son has just turned 6 last month.  He knows addition or subtraction up to 4 or 5 digits. e.g. 4789 + 3648 or 7921 - 3695.  He also knows simple multiplication and division, and also problem solvings.  Since he is only learning simple addition and grouping in his kindergarten now, I also have hesitation in teaching him further.  But he seems have interest to learn, I still continue to do that.

Anybody can share?

Tszfungma

Hi Listen, it seems that your son is more advanced than the peers in maths right?! If I were you, I would keep playing more maths related stuff with him. In short, just keep providing a simulating environment so that it can further inspire his interest.

I mentioned before the simple experiment that we can do at home. I bought the book already. It is called 科學遊戲 DIY. Price is HK$48. I will do it during weekend.

I bought The "Maths Master" that mentioned by other moms here. I find it "super" for it is only HK$30 each.

Yumom

Dear Tsefungma,

Tks. I really admire all those who live and work near the city where you can shop easily. I've to spend a lot of time travelling to get what I want! Most of the good bookshops are in Central, Causeway , TST. The collection of different branch of the same bookshop is different!

I've also enrolled my daughter for music lessons in TomLee.  For drawing class (also swimming class), I'm still searching.
I've bought a book "Bright Start, Activities to Develop Your Child's Potential". It is in English. If you want, I think you can ask your maid to teach your child. By the way, how old is he/she?

Yumom

Tszfungma

Hi Yumom,

Your daughter is 4-year old right. What kind of music lesson in Tom Lee? As mentioned, I may consider music class too for my son who is 2.5 year old like music. We play him all kinds of music. He likes moving his body, playing the toy music insturment and nodding his head when he hears the music he likes.

Drawing and swimming class too. How can she/you manage so many activities, all on Sat?

Thanks for introducing the book. I will check and take a look first.

Tszfungma

critic

...

Yumom

Hi Tsefungma,

There is only one class for child of 4 years old in TomLee (Sorry! I forgot its name!)  You may wish to contact TomLee direct and register now if your son is so interested in music. I registered in TomLee about one year ago.

For the swimming class,  I intend to do it in weekdays. I am still finding companion for my daughter. It would be better for kids of similar age to learn how to swim together. Besides, the price of learning on a one-on-one basis is too expensive ($350/hr) for me.

For the drawing class, I am planning to make it on Saturdays.   

That's all extra curricular activities I plan for my daughter. I hope she can manage and find them fun.

Yumom

牡丹

Critic:

請問您可否說多一些關於"Accent & Intonation"課程呢? 因為囡囡六個月大開始和她說英文, 發現越說得多, 越覺得自己的英文不行. 但是時間卻不許可在晚上上課, 故只是看書, 囡囡的 VCD及兒歌來改善口音.

謝謝!
牡丹

critic

牡丹,

The course is not easy. You have to listen a lot and do recording all the time. Fee is approx. HK$500 for 1/2 hour lesson. Total 12 lessons. You call the teacher, she is in the US. If you don't have time to listen & do recording, it's kind of waste becuase it is very intensive and you are not able to follow.   

The course has nothing to do with grammar (it is not an English learning course). It is for people who already speak very fluent English but want to improve the sounds of American English.   It focus on pronunication (you will feel boring & not easy to remember, e.g. front vowel, back vowel, central vowel...., difference between r/l, n/l etc.)

What problem are you having? grammar, vocabulary, listening or pronunication?   If only pronunication, I will suggest you to learn IPA first.

牡丹

critic:

謝謝您的意見.  我想這個課程對於我來說是深了一點, 因為我的英文是沒有甚麼美國口音或英國口音, 而且一些基本的口語用英文也是在和囡囡的談話間才學習. 我會加倍努力的.

最近, 我也在研究 "l" 的讀法. 如 girl, bill 等. 也遇到無法分別它和"r"的問題.

critic

牡丹,

When you say 'l' the tip of your tongue will touch your tooth ridge, but 'r' won't touch. Hope can help!