Preschool - Catch 40 Winks

Let Praises Fill this Place 让赞美飞扬

October 21, 2011 · By Rachel ·

For the last two weeks, hb and I have been trying to get Kyle to perform his concert item at home, but he has never revealed his dance steps for his performance. His response to us each time we asked has been, "It's a surprise, cannot show you, You will see on the concert night." I am actually rather impressed by his resolve to keep this performance under wraps, especially when it comes to his usual ability to keep secrets :S

Let Praises Fill This Place 让赞美飞扬 was the title of the song that was used for Kyle's school performance this year. Last year, the theme was tied to the story of "The Caterpillar and the Shoemaker', so all the performance items followed the storyline. This year it was rather disjointed with non-related performances.

The theme for this year's concert was conceived after some of his kindergarten's teacher and staff had the opportunity to experience an exchange programme with two preschools in Cebu Philippines. They shared skills and knowledge teaching young children and were able to be an instrument of peace and blessing to the less fortunate. Despite the disjointed performances, this year's theme for Kyle's school concert was still very meaningful as it was a night of 'rejoicing and celebration' (from the words of the programme outline)…

'of the achievement of the children's development milestones, though songs and dance using musical instruments, may our hearts be encouraged to persevere in doing what is right. Let us draw strength from God, who is our Source of hope, to put others before ourselves, and recognise that we can be instruments to channel love and hope to others!'

"Arise! Shine! For your light arrives! The splendor of the Lord shines on you!" Isaiah 60:1'

Coincidentally, I chanced upon the same verse while doing my BSF studies of the book of Isaiah about 2 weeks ago, and I thought the verse really reminded me of Kyle's school.

This year's costume was a little more 'Chingay-liked', nonetheless, the kids in his class all looked adorable in their costumes, finished with gel and glitter in their hair. With the exception of one of the older group of kids who were decked out in pvc-liked black and red mid-driff tops with a black 'tie', complete with a silver chain tied to their black bermudas. I would have cringed if Kyle had to wear that costume, as it came across very s&m and cheena styled.

Here's a slight shaky video for the performance, Kyle is the third child from the right.

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Categorized: His World · Tagged: Preschool, Video

Preschool pains

August 23, 2011 · By Rachel ·

Kyle was in one of his moody moods yesterday, and it was all because his classmate S pinched him twice in school that afternoon. Hb was feeling very protective and told Kyle to defend himself and push S if he tries to pinch him again, and then kick the latter if he attempts again. My respond differed a little from hb's as I told Kyle to say. "No! Don't pinch me!" and not to push or hit the boy, even if the latter attempts to hurt him again and to make sure that he tells the teacher that S was hurting him. I already knew what was the cause behind S's antagonistic behaviour towards Kyle.

Kyle became rather upset over the pinching incident and was all whiny and clingy the whole afternoon. He realised that he was the cause behind S's pinching as he antagonised the latter about a week back. I recalled Kyle mentioned that he sat in the naughty chair in school twice last week for pinching S. And the reason for his misbehaviour? He pinched S as he was frustrated over the lack of response when he asked S to share a toy, but S totally ignored him. So he pinched the latter to see if he could get a response from him. So S responded by 'taking revenge' this week.

He asked me this last week, "Why is it that S does not answer back when I ask him nicely. I said please..and I asked a few times, he said nothing. If he say no, I will play something else." My reply was, "Not all kids know how to respond when someone speaks to them. That's why it is important to always answer when someone asks you a question, and not just ignore them. It is very rude to ignore and not respond. But at the same time, you cannot pinch him just because he did not answer you and you are frustrated with him. If he does not answer you, just walk away and choose something else to play with."

Kyle response to hb and my advise was, "I don't want to fight back." I asked him if he told his teacher about it. His reply was "Yes, but the teacher did not scold him." I assume that the lack of attention to this little wrangle at school could be likely due to the teacher's assumption that Kyle started this and thus deserve this response from S. Better to let them to fight it out amongst themselves, or it could just be that there are just too many kids in the class to address every single issue.

I try not to over-react and highlight this to the teacher at this point. Even though Kyle is only 4, I think it will the best to teach him how to try to manage this with his classmate. I can't be there 24/7 for him, and he needs to start to think how best to manage situations like these with what he has learnt from us. In the meantime, I will monitor the outcome and see how it turns out the next couple of weeks at school.

How will you manage this if this happened to your child in preschool?

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Categorized: Education · Tagged: Preschool

The Ant

October 23, 2010 · By Rachel ·

The Black Ant

I have been looking forward to this since the start of the week; K's first school performance! Prior to this evening, K only divulged that he will be dressing up as a black ant, then refused to show me his dance, but told me that he will be performing a dance to the tune of "Nobody". It was also the first time I saw him dressed up in his ant costume.

Dh and I did not get good seats in the hall, so this shaky and blurred video was my best attempt to capture scenes of his performance K is the 1st black ant on the left of the stage.