How Mommy Uses iPhone

I have been constantly amazed by iPhone. It really has a little brain of its own. A tribute to late Steve Jobs.

Especially in Singapore, almost everyone I know owned, is owning, or plans to own an iPhone. Quite phenomenal.

I've plan to write this post ever since I got my own. Approximately a year ago. Initially, I thought, it was the thrill of new gadgets. Now, a year on, I'm still very attached to the little tool.

1. I used it to track library due dates. Singapore NLB has its own apps, and being able to go online anytime anywhere has helped me a lot in avoiding overdue fines (imagine, being able to bring the list and finding the items at the same time :D)

2. I actually took photos of everything that I need instead of taking notes. My photo album consists of -on top of myriads of children photos- recipes, dictation list, important school announcement, enrichment courses calendars, answers to workbooks (so that I don't have to flip to and fro), ...

3. Entertainment on the go. Practically anywhere, the kids can play games and watch movies. Grrreat for waiting time.

4. Teaching tools. Some great apps teaches phonics, maths, Chinese, ... One of most often apps that I used as reference is the Pleco Chinese-English dictionary and Hanyu Pinyin chart.

5. 'Info-desk' at our fingertips. Combo with Lord Google, I can search anything under the sky. Example question from my 6 years old: why is there so much water on earth?

So, thank you, Mr. Jobs. You have touched so many lives.

[It Works] Letterland

Long time ago, I was a little skeptical about Letterland. I thought of it as just another one of hyped-up-commercially-exploited creation.

However, we've been converted now.

[+]
1. Catchy tunes. My 3 years old son has been humming the tunes for a few months now.
2. Fun fun fun stories. Even my daughter cannot stop reading the book.
3. Bright beautiful colorful characters, both in illustration and in their story roles.
4. Well developed method of phonics introduction, making it easier for children to remember. 5. We did zoo-phonics with our first one, and we're impressed by the more wholesome approach. From single sound introduction, to digraphs, to more as we've yet to explore.
6. Letterland has almost everything we can think of. Games, workbook, storybook, flashcards,... To make learning continuous and fun.
7. They are available everywhere, not exclusive from the school.

[-]
1. Limited range of product in Singapore.
2. They don't provide free online games as other brands do nowadays.
3. Some stuffs are literally breathtakingly expensive.

Another one is minus for me, plus for my son. He can't stop doing the workbook. So one book was finished up pretty quickly. :)

[Fun] Apples to Apples Kids 7+

Not in line with natural weather, my household also operates based on season. So far, we've met sporty season (jogging regularly, natural walk,...), Avatar season, Indiana Jones season, ...

Sometimes, we even acknowledge that fact. 'Did we buy this before or after the Avatar season?'

Anyway, now it is board game season.

One of our fresh purchase is Apples to Apples Kids 7+.

(Image : http://www.amazon.com/Apple-Apples-Kids-Plus-Comparisons/dp/B00112EJEY/ref=dp_cp_ob_t_image_1

[What is it about]
There are two stacks of cards, red and green.
Red cards are 'things to compare' (E.g: kitten, throwing stones, ...), and green cards states the comparison criteria (E.g: yummy, cute, ...)
Basic idea is to submit suitable red card to the judge whatever thing fit the criteria best.

[+]
1. Simple, even my 3 year-old can participate.
2. Act as vocab builder. Each card has description of the word.
3. Training reading skill as cards do not contain picture.
4. Honing up creativity too... since we're definitely required to link things and criteria that sometimes does not even have natural nor obvious relation. Some may say term it as thinking-out-of-the-box.
5. Teaching kids to see things, to compare within given context.
6. Whoohoo... you'll like it... it's fast... One round is about 15 to 30 minutes only (depends on how much discussion you are encouraging kids).

[-]
1. As mentioned above, picture on the card would've been great help for kids, and also will make it more attractive. But, I also think that with pictures, minds will be directed. Limiting the possibilities, the perspectives.
2. Requires at least 3 to 4 players (I think official rule quoted 4, but we've been playing with at least 3). Making it more difficult in arranging the playing time compared to those can take-off with 2 players.

Oh yeah... we take board games as great opportunity to train kids to win humbly and to lose gracefully.