Napkin Rabbit

Wondering how a napkin rabbit look like? Presenting the cute little napkin rabbit:

It's a craft which requires folding skill. Let's work magic to turn a napkin into a rabbit. Your little ones would love it.

Materials:

1. Napkin (paper or cloth)
2. Marker


Methods:

Fold (see picture)

Click images to enlarge

Source: The Tale of Napkin Rabbit by A. J. Wood.

What do you do with this rabbit?

My children each get one and they give the rabbits each a name, build them a house and take care of the rabbit like a real pet. Good practice before getting them a real pet, eh?

Do you know this song:

There’s a cottage in the wood

A little deer by the window stood

Saw a rabbit hopping by

Frighten as can be

“Help me, help me” the rabbit said

There’s a hunter to shoot me dead

“Come little rabbit come with me, happy as can be.”

Let your little ones hold their napkin rabbits and hop around when you sing that song.

Tell them stories about rabbits such as the story of The Rabbit and The Tortoise and let the children play the role of rabbit by holding their napkin rabbits.

So, if you are short of craft ideas or activities for your children, this may be another choice!

Learn Phonics And Blends With Magic Ring

If you are cracking your head, thinking of how to make your children learn and remember their “suku kata” (Malay phonics and blends), why not take a look at what I did with my children and see whether it gives you an idea or two.

For those who are wondering what MAGIC RING is, it’s actually a name of a game I have thought of for my children to learn their “suku kata” (Malay phonics and blends) in a fun way.

It’s actually very simple. First of all, you will need a piece of paper to write down whatever blends that you want your children to learn. (See picture)

Then, you need a Magic Ring. Use a binding tape or masking tape or whatever ring like thing that you can find. (See picture)

Let’s start the game:

“Magic ring, magic ring, show me BU”

The magic ring will move towards BU and land on top of it. (See picture 2)

Demonstrate one or two times and let your child be the Magic Ring.

Have fun!

PS: This method can be used to teach numbers or blends in English too.

Puppet Show

First, I bought this:


Then, I bought this:


When you put these together, you get this:

It's fun playing with finger puppets. All you need is some imagination and your children's hands to make it work. My children enjoyed playing but poor mummy has to crack her head to think of stories with land and sea animals as characters.


Well, if my children are happy, I really don't mind thinking a little more. That's motherhood, isn't it? So, if you are thinking how to entertain your children, consider putting up a show for them or get them to put up a show for you!


PS: Puppets and puppet theatre bought in IKEA.

A Craft We Did In Playgroup

Can you see the crafts? The sunflower craft on both sides? Not very clear though but those were the crafts my little ones learned during playgroup session one Saturday. This craft was Kelly's idea and if you want to know how to go about making this sunflower, please click here to hop over to Kelly's blog. She is one mummy who is very creative when it comes to crafts.

So, how can I put those crafts in the box after so much effort put in by my little ones? I just can't. They now lie peacefully on the wall of my bedroom.

Learning Adjectives

The Malay Language that the children learn in school today is not as easy as what we learnt many years ago. Although it is more similar to English compared to Chinese as in the Malay words are formed using alphabets rather than strokes, it is not as simple when it comes to grammar, especially verbs.

My friend has been telling me to watch out and so, I try to put in some extra effort to teach my son this “feared and disliked by many” language.

One day, my friend and I decided to teach our children (both of the same age) adjectives. I printed some pictures and words (adjectives) and placed all of them on the table. We started the MATCHING GAME.

“Which adjectives can best describe this picture?” I started and allowed the children to pick up words (adjectives) that describe the picture. At times, I had to give them some clues. One by one the adjectives were matched and eventually the game was over.

Then, we started another session – THE STORY CREATING GAME.

We told the children that we would create a silly story out of these pictures and the rule was to use the adjectives learnt and each one would make one to two sentences and stop while the next person would continue the story from there.

Boy, we had a good laugh! The children CAN create silly stories.

We then proceeded to – THE STATUE DANCE.

I made the children walk in a big circle and when I say stop, I would shout out an adjective. Each one of them would then make a sentence with that adjective. After making a sentence, they have to walk again and the game continues. What the children like about this game is the suspense of when to stop and what adjective is given.

With this, we ended the session hoping that the children would remember their adjectives by recalling the activities they have enjoyed.