Let's Read together Picture Book Project

Reading is a habit we must cultivate from young.  Reading together with your children not only help to foster bonding but also develop reading habits at young age.  With this objective in mind, we have started the let's read together Picture book  project in July 2012.  Children can borrow a picture book back every Friday and read together with the parents.  Why we choose picture book?  

1.  Through experiences with picture books the young child can develop socially, personally, intellectually, culturally, and aesthetically.
2.  Books enable the newly socialized child to explore interpersonal relationships and human motives.
3.  Picture books communicate self-acceptance, and they model coping strategies for children who are just learning to deal with powerful emotions. 
4.  Through picture books, children meet families, settings, and cultures that are in some ways similar and in some ways different from their own. 

As a result, picture books contribute to the child’s cultural identity and multicultural awareness.

 Tips for improving your child's reading ability:

1. Read with and to your child everyday.
2. Teach them how to read slowly by first teaching them their name and helping them recognize that letters form a word.
3. Be patient.
4. Play with them, play catch, go to the park, and say the names of things as you go along.
5. Sing often with your child.
6. Read in front of your child. Children love to imitate their parents.
7. Let them choose the books they want to read with you.
8. As you read with your children, first read the sentences, and ask them to repeat after you.
9. Praise your child for their progress, even a little praise goes along way.

After three months, we can see children are excited about the picture book! Let's continue to read!

 My first picture book!

 This book is interesting!

 Every one can read a picture book!

 This my selection for this week!

I am reading!

Raya Smile for Children under Privilage

Arriving,

Enjoying the cake ............

Serving the cake....

Hand Print

Celebrating Birthday!

My New friend!

Group Photos

“Every time you come, you bring surprises and joy to the children” this is what Mr. Soloman, the founder of Batu Grace Orphanage home telling us when we were there for the birthday party!

Our connection with these under privilege children started last year, when a group of (including myself) from Asia Work’s graduates initiated Shoe box Christmas present project.  For this project, we went to old folk home and orphanage to distribute the presents and gifts donated by friends during Christmas.  This is how we landed in Batu Grace home.

Then, we were informed by Mr. Solaman that more than 40 children need to go to school and there urgently need a van to send them to school.  So, my another group of friends from MADE(Make a difference every day) decided to help them to raise fund and manage to get them a second hand van worth RM18,000.

This Raya, QQ wanted to contribute Raya Smile to all these children and also children who are undernourished by collecting the donation in terms of money and goods.  The objective is simple, we want to teach our children to learn how to give and how to help others who are under privilege. 

We are happy that this Raya smile project was getting overwhelming support from our parents. We managed to collect more than RM5000 in terms of cash and goods.  Half of the cash were given to Batu Grace and another 50% were donated to the nourishing the children initiative to help 38 children from dying of malnutrition for a month.

To make the event more meaningful, QQ Kulim and Padang Serai organized a birthday party at Batu Grace home to celebrate birthday together with the children.  Some parents even take leave to join us celebrating the birthday with the children there.  I was touched by our QQ children when some of them donated their saving from  their coin box , some passed me the pocket money for the donation, the amount of the money is not important, the important learning here is the act of willing to give, share and help others!

More than 100 children and parents visited the home on 17.8.12(Friday).  We dance with the children and doing the Jalur Gemilang with the hand print from all children.  The most exciting moment for the children is the birthday celebration as they have an opportunity to taste different birthday cakes( total 27 cakes) and also “ice potong” specially make for them.

It was a memorable event for most of the children and we can see smile and gratitude on their faces.  The most satisfying moment for me is that we have made a difference in their life and we hope the children grow up happily and healthily!

Lastly, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all the parents, teachers, children that has contributed to this Raya smile project.  This may be 5% of what we do, but it represents 95% of who we are!

for more information on Batu grace and nourishing the children initiative :

 Batu Grace -http://bit.ly/SfveiD

http://bit.ly/NvZ3pL

Nourishing the children initiative : http://bit.ly/NWvikJ

What Is hand, foot mouth disease?

What is hand, foot, and mouth disease?

© Biophoto Associates / Photo Researchers, Inc

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a fairly common viral illness in children. (HFMD is not the same as foot-and-mouth disease, also called hoof-and-mouth disease, which affects animals.)

HFMD most often occurs in preschoolers, although adults and children of any age can get it. Most adults have developed antibodies against it from previous exposure. HFMD most often shows up in the summer and fall.

HFMD can be caused by any of a number of viruses, most commonly the coxsackie virus. Although in very rare cases HFMD can lead to viral meningitis or encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), children usually recover just fine, without treatment, in a week to ten days.

What are the symptoms?

If your toddler contracts HFMD, he'll first have a mild fever. You may notice that his appetite isn't what it usually is. He may also have a sore throat and feel lousy in general.

Is HFMD contagious?

A day or two after the fever starts, your toddler will develop painful sores in his mouth — on his tongue, gums, or the inside of his cheeks. This will likely make him irritable.

Your child may also develop a rash on the palms of his hands, the soles of his feet, and maybe his buttocks. The rash, which isn't itchy, starts out as small, flat, red dots that may turn into bumps or blisters.

Yes, the virus can be transmitted through nose and throat secretions, the fluid in the blisters, or stool. While your child will be most contagious during the week he first shows symptoms, the virus can be transmitted for weeks afterward.

If your toddler usually goes to daycare, check with the staff about the attendance policy. They may want you to keep your child home until his symptoms are gone or even longer.

Should I call the doctor?

Yes. Although your child's doctor won't be able to do much, she can make recommendations for fever and pain relief. And if you're not sure that HFMD is what you're dealing with, the doctor can confirm it by taking a look.

If your child's fever rises higher than 103 degrees Fahrenheit or doesn't subside after four to five days, the doctor will probably want to see him.

Dehydration is a concern because your child's mouth sores may make it difficult for him to drink anything. If your child shows any signs of dehydration — such as lethargy or a dry, parched mouth — call his doctor immediately.

How should I care for my child while he's sick with HFMD?

If your child has a relatively mild case of this illness, you won't have to do much beyond watching his temperature and making sure he's taking in enough liquids and food. If your toddler gets a bad case of HFMD, though, he can be really miserable. Be prepared to do plenty of soothing in addition to pushing the liquids.

Avoid giving your toddler salty, spicy, and acidic foods (like citrus) while his mouth hurts. Soft foods will be easiest for him to eat.

Cold drinks, ice cream, and ice pops may ease the pain, as will the proper dose of children's acetaminophen or ibuprofen. (Never give a child aspirin. It can lead to Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disorder.)

One way to temporarily ease the pain is to dip a cotton swab in a one-to-one mixture of a liquid antacid (such as Maalox or Mylanta) and liquid children's antihistamine (such as Benadryl), and gently coat the inside of your toddler's mouth with the solution. The combination of these two over-the-counter medicines will coat and soothe the sores. In severe cases, your doctor may recommend adding a prescription medicine to the mix.

What is Batik?

Using The wax to draw the pattern.

Completed the simple pattern

What is Batik?

Batiks origins can be traced back to Asia, India and Africa. Some say the word is of Malay roots and translates "to write" or "to dot".

Batik is an art medium and methodology for creating design, usually on cloth, by applying wax to portions of the material and then dyeing it, then removing the wax. This can be done to make vibrant colors and incredible designs.

Simply, batik is an amazing and ancient method of color dyeing.

Technically, batik is the process of applying dyes to porous surfaces.

Historically, batik has been around for many hundreds of years.

Esthetically, batik produces some of the most beautiful art in the world.

However, batik is not easy and involves a very labor intensive and complex process with many hours of back breaking hard work.

The first step in Batik is to design a pattern and have an idea of what you would like to create.

Wax is then placed in specific areas on the fabric using a "Canting" tool.

Wax acts like a barrier to the color dyes and allows a color to remain while the remaining non-waxed fabric absorbs the dye. Some times called “Resist Dyeing”.

Most of the time the wax is then removed by soaking the fabric in hot water. Occasionaly some wax will remain on the fabric and is easily removed in a warm wash cycle.

The batik process of dyeing and waxing repeats. The wax can be removed and re-applied several times to make beautiful and intricate designs. Repeating until all the desired colors and patterns are obtained.

The process of batik is practiced around the world. New methods and techniques are continually evolving.

In order to let our children to experience this beautiful art and culture, QQ has started the Batik class in March. The process is similar but the wax we use is not hot wax, so children can enjoy making their own pattern easily and creatively!

How to teach children on culture Diversity?

Team work!

Children learned to decorate the Kolam.

Selecting the colour to use!

Preparing the material for Kolam making

Respect for and appreciation of racial and cultural diversity is and has always been extremely important to all of us as Malaysian. How and when to educate children on culture diversity? Cultural diversity is an important concept to grasp during childhood. Understanding that people are not all the same will enable children to embrace and value the things that make each person or group of people different. Children notice differences, and taking time to teach what is important to each culture can help foster acceptance and understanding.

Deepavali celebration is the best time to educate our children on Indian culture! By letting the children to experience themselves, they will understand better! With this objective in mind , QQ teacher has arrange a special lesson to teach children Indian culture including their food, costume, what they do during Deepavali! In order for them to experience this special day, all children and teachers were wearing Indian Costume, tried Indian food such as muruku, tosei etc. Most interesting part is decorate the kolam in front of our school!

All children have great experience and understand more about Indian culture and their Indian friend!

The Floor Decoration - Kolam

In Tamil language, the word kolam means beauty; it is a common routine with full of grace to make the home a sacred place. The female members of the house regularly draw Kolam designs in front of their homes, by using rice powder. These kolam drawings are starting with a certain number pattern of dots and curly lines going around these dots. Most of these are finished with a single line going in a stylish but zig-zag away around the entire set of dots. Everyday kolams are naturally white, an indication of purity. On exceptional or festive occasions, kolams become very rich and multicolored. The insertion of yellow (turmeric powder) in a kolam stands for prosperity.
In a Tamil home, it is believed that Kolam design bestows prosperity and success. Kolams may be connected to the earth, the stars or special festivities, but they are first and foremost a willful offering to Mother Earth. Kolam is measured as an important form of artistic manifestation of Tamil Nadu. Definitely, the kolam can be called a most important part of Tamil culture.