Organization: Storing School Stuff

This is how our school room looks, right now:  

 

 Those are the usual shots I take.

After 3 years of schooling Tiger, I have to admit that 

I'd amassed quite a large collection of things.

It is still not much by American standards but by local standards,

I still scare a lot of people.

The following pictures aren't pretty but just to give you a rough idea on

how I organize the kids' school stuff. Minus the clothes, shoes, toys and outdoor things.

So, don't blink because I am only going to show them this one time.

My knick knack drawers.

Bought during sales from Giant solely for this purpose.

I keep it just outside the room.

As labelled:

 In knick-knacks, I store all the tiny things that will go missing otherwise.

This is also known as the choking hazard drawer.

I love these little containers from IKEA

This set, I stole from my mother since she wasn't using them wisely.

I love the transparent part which allows me to identify each one quickly.

We have golf tees, mini erasers, bento sticks, glass beads, mini colour sticks,

googly eyes, mini straws, etc

 Magnetic sets.

I find it easier to store in ziploc. 

Space saving too

Utensils

This is the drawer for the containers, cups, plates, spoons

If you are thinking, that cannot be ALL of her things.

 You are absolutely right! Haha!

Here's more:

The study is also my home office, where I am slave to more paper trails,

usually in the middle of the night.

I use a dish rack to sort my mails/bills/letters.

On the wall is Tiger's model student chits :)

Under the table:

Too big a space to waste!

The craft box is just bugging me.

 and more here; next to my table.

 

Last but not least,

this eye sore above the cupboard

The puzzles, brain games, grolier bags, etc 

The covered gray areas are my personal and work-related folders.

Below them, 

Most left: Early readers

Center: Workbooks and teacher's stuff

On the right: Stationery and papers

Oh darn,

I forgot the pocket charts behind the door!

But you get the idea :)

Playing creatively with a toddler

I like to think that I am pretty creative when it comes to playing.

I may not be able to built a mini Lamborghini. But I will always succeed in

getting giggles and laughter from my kids.

Teaching them is such a wonderful learning process for me.

I know I have not posted a lot of our study time pics lately.

Blame the girl.

She doesn't like the camera in her face.

On with creativity.... this is one of her fav tot tray.

Just an old raisin can (from Tiger's tot days) and some poker chips

We'd done this for an entire month previously.

By now, it was obvious that she is right-handed.

I made it more tricky by rendering it useless.

Use your left hand, baby!

A lil struggle but nothing beyond her capabilities.

I placed some chips between her toes.

I thought it was funny but she frowned at me.

Not too impressed, I guess.

I stacked them up to see if she noticed.

Yup, she was more careful in picking them up.

To increase the task difficulty, I changed the direction of the slit

repeatedly so that she had to adjust her hand position each time

 

I am sure you can think of more ways but always add a new twist 

to keep things fresh.

 This is Tiger's Playdoh Station, where I set up some

knick knacks for him to explore and create.

This is inspired by Reggio.

Note 'inspired'. The thought of bringing wood and rocks indoors.

*faint*

They can play with those in the outdoor class, not here. 

I have a lot of confidence in my kids

But I just remind her from time to time that these are not for eating.

 

I think because I do not deprive them of junk,  there is no need to eat the pony beads.

They get their sugar fix now and then.

Non-organic, sugar-loaded stuff.

My mantra in life is you only live once.

Eat, play and live in moderation.

If anyone dies tomorrow, it would be a shame to think

he/she didn't have that cheeseburger/gummy worm.

So, if you tell me your kid is on an organic, vegan diet, wearing hemp

and only play with natural wood...

you have my respect but we won't get along.

I do buy organic but just the dirty dozen vegetables.

Cannot afford to buy organic apples

Anyhoo, back to the knick-knack setup, she picked her ingredients

and set up this tray for pouring.

 

The cartoon

Picture again??!!??....No! Hmmphh...I close my eyes

OK la...I pose for you...Faster a bit

What about this look? Cute or not??

 Every parent his/her kid is the best, smartest & cutest.

I am no different.

She has us all smitten, esp hubs.

 

You do not need fancy equipments to be creative.

Boxes, old cans, bottle caps, knock knacks are excellent.

 Think open ended play.

Think of ways to extend play.

Think about combining different methods.

Think of textures, smells and sensation.

Google creative play space and like Let the Children Play on Facebook

You will be inspired.

Parenting: To spank or not to spank?

Tiger is now at a "asking-for-spanking'" age.

Despite being a lanky 4 year old, he thinks he has to be carried in loving arms. Oh, don't get me started on the whining. Having a little sister had rekindle his inner baby-ness and brat.

I grew up with the cane. *cough-cough child abuse* but it didn't make me love my mom any less than my dad who never believed in any form of punishment.

I'd admit that I have my crazy-lady moments where I just yell on top of my lungs at my 4 year-old. Usually, that happens when I am overloaded with work, tired or PMS, I guess. Hey, only human...

So, last night, Tiger asked for the poker chips. After I gave the box to him, he removed everything and after 5 minutes, he declared, "Not nice, I don't know how to play with this." and moved on to something else. Guess who had to cleanup? Me. I tried inviting him to help, nope. Too busy.

Tiger: I don't know how to clean. You clean for me.

Me: Look you just sort the colours, stack them and place them in the box. It's easy.

Tiger: Went momentarily deaf.

Me: Losing patience. Don't be lazy. Next time, don't play if you cannot clean up.

Tiger: Went into crazy mode. Don't say I am lazy. I no lazy, YOU lazy.

He started scratching me and I just tried to control my temper monster by focusing on the chips. As if my silence was a sign of submission, he walked out, slammed the door close and started kicking the door from outside, hard and repeatedly.

As usual, he went next door to complain about MY behaviour to Grandma. I grabbed my 30 cm plastic ruler and followed him. When I open the door, he was about to come and hit me when he suddenly noticed the weapon in my hands. He started bawling and hid behind his Grandma.

Me: Come here, now. Kicking the door is not acceptable. That kind of attitude is not allowed in the house (address the behaviour, not the kid crap)

Tiger: Waaaaa, waaaa, waaaaa (in full blown cry baby mode)

Me: I am going to give you two choices. Either you come and sit next to me where I am going to beat your hand once or I am going to go there and beat you 20 times. You choose.

Tiger: Thinking face. I don't want. Cannot beat. Nai-nai, cannot beat me.

Me: Then, don't kick the door

Tiger: Next time I no kick...huu huu huu

He didn't come over because he thought I would give in and let him go with a warning.
So, I walked over, ask for his hand and fined him with a swat on his right palm.

Me: Remember, no kicking doors. And I walked out.

Ten minutes later, he peeped into my room and came in for a hug. His way of saying sorry la.

So, yes, I will punish when his attitude is out of line. 
You can run around in public, swing on bars, hop around when we are out, fight with your sister etc (I don't give a fart about what people think) BUT you cannot slam doors, scratch you mother, or break stuff out of anger. Bad attitude will not  be tolerated.

I don't think I will ever spank the way my mom did but I will use the ruler as needed. I can count with one hand the number of times I'd hit him. 

I am not qualified to share my views on Asian upbringing but I don't think 'experts' should dictate they way you bring up your child. You know your child best and mine is a good kid with the occasional meltdown.