Kids Archive

What my kids are like, and how to raise your child/children in this day and age.

Oh Hello There March!

Sooo it’s been a while since my last PARENTING related post, aka post about my kids. Well, I am not planning to turn this blog into a beauty or food blog though most of my recent entries were food or beauty related.. Juice colored, wala pa akong lakas ng loob na maging beauty blogger! Nagkataon lang na panay lafang at pagpapaganda ang nangyari sa akin lately.

Aside from that, our household has been very very busy the past few weeks. We’re busy trying to cut out our expenses. I have mentioned before that we’ll be moving to our own house this year and you know how costly it can be. Also, this week, my multi- achievers will be taking their 4th quarter exam. Madugo ito mga inay!

We’ve been to Baguio last January (related post: Baguio Hotel Review: Venus Parkview Hotel ) and it’s the most TIPID trip we had so far (more kwento on that as soon as time permits). After our Baguio trip, the kids got busy preparing for the school’s English Month Celebration. And that’s when things got more exciting.

As you know, my two older boys were both active in school. My 3rd born on the other hand, who’s in Grade 1, is still trying to figure if he’s going to be shy forever or if he should start being active like his kuya and diko. Guess what? He finally realized that he can do it! He was one of the contestants for the story telling competition. I am not expecting anything from him, all I was praying was him to finish his performance! And he did!!!

He didn’t won but it was more than winning for me. I am so proud of him. This little boy of mine who’s the shyest of them all, just performed in front of everyone! He’s becoming as people smart as his kuya and diko are!

Last Valentine’s, we went a little crafty and made a few art works using HEARTS!

After this week, they will be busy practicing for recognition (IF they made it to the list of honors! waaah).. After that we’ll be busy with our new house. We’ll be looking for activities this summer to enhance their Multiple Intelligence. Any tips you got there? Summer workshops? I think we will be focusing on them being body smart this summer.

Sooooo.. how about you? What have you and your kids been up to lately? Exam week na din ba ng multi- achievers nyo? Kwento!

5 #FunBrushingTip For Hapee Tooth-brushing!

It would have been easier if she goes to school everyday, brushing was a part of her morning routine. The recent “vacation” put us out of track again… yes, another vacation just a few days after the long Christmas vacation. Tell me, I am not the only one who’s still picking up the pieces (or getting back on track and on shape haha). It was never an issue but recently, we’re having a hard time with brushing. Sati’s the kind of girl that you cannot push, no amount of angry tone or bribing can make her brush if she does not like doing it. And she’s only 5! She already knows how to trick me, keeping me entertained until I forgot that she hasn’t brushed her teeth yet. Witty Girl!

But this mom is smarter than she is! Thanks to Hapee Kiddie Toothpaste’s fun and exciting dental tips, brushing would be more exciting for her!

The first tip I got from Hapee Kiddie Toothpaste Facebook Page is this:

GIVE HIM A CHOICE – Allow him or her to choose his or her own toothbrush, and toothpaste flavor. A colourful toothbrush, an attractive packaging and a fruity flavor for toothpaste like Hapee Kiddie Toothpaste will add excitement to every brushing time.

Bakit hindi ko naiisip to? Yes! Give her a choice! This little girl likes that so much. She finds peace knowing she have a say on things. Remember how she meticulously planned her 4th and 5th birthday party? As Hapee puts it, an attractive packaging and a fruity flavor can seal the deal.

And from the seven flavors Hapee has to offer, she asked for Strawberry Bloom with Dora Design. Anything with Dora! Sorry Elmo!

Tip number 2 (still from Hapee Kiddie Toothpaste): Sing along!

Brushing should be 2 minutes, we already know that and singing along makes that 2 minute a little shorter and more fun.

Some nursery rhymes for brushing teeth:

Row, Row, Row Your Boat (repeat 10x)

Row, row, row your boat, Gently down the stream. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, Life is but a dream.
Row, row, row your boat, Gently down the stream. If you see a crocodile, you have to scream.

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star ( repeat 4x)

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star Twinkle, twinkle, little star How I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle, twinkle little star, How I wonder what you are

Rain, Rain, Go Away (this song is really short, like 10 seconds only, so you need to repeat it for 20 times! TIP>>>think of 20 people that wants to play!)

Rain, rain go away Come again another day. Rain, rain go away Little (name of the child) wants to play.

Itsy Bitsy Spider (repeat 10 times

Itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout Down came the rain
And washed the spider out Out came the sun and dried up all the rain
And the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again

5 Little Monkeys (Just finish the song until no more monkeys are jumping on the bed and you’re done with the 2 minutes!0

Five little monkeys jumping on the bed One fell off and bumped his head
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said: “No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”
Jumping on the bed! Jumping on the bed! And falling of the bed!
Jumping on the bed! Jumping on the bed! And falling of the bed!

But for those who can’t sing like me.. tip number 3 is more appropriate: Brush with her

because for her, everything we do together is FUN! #funbrushing #dentalhealth
A photo posted by @mommypehpot on Jan 20, 2015 at 12:18am PST

This little girl is obsessed with me. It’s best to tell that part in person, and show how she makes gigil to me. And she’d do anything I would.. one of the reason why I am wearing dressy clothes lately and being girly more than I used to be.. and the excessive skin care routine that I am obsessing (yes, partly, it was to set a good example to her.. and partly, I am planning to stop the time). I am losing track, yes? Ah back to brushing. It would help if I brush with her. Moms with daughters, have you tried that technique? How effective it was?

#FunBrushingTip number 4: Don’t be too hard on them. If they missed a spot, do not make a big deal out of it. Yes… sometimes I pushed her too hard… must stop doing that. I am not like this with my boys.

As expected, your child won’t be as good as you when it comes to brushing. Don’t stress over when he misses some spot. The more important thing at this stage is to make brushing a fun habit with Hapee Kiddie Toothpaste and its cute cartoon characters. With practice, he’ll improve sooner

Lastly, Encourage them, praise them and make a big deal out of brushing.. dental care is big deal! Hence the lengthy post LOL (ang mahal ng dental fee no!)

They say it takes 2 months to form a habit.. but even after 2 months, I would still be checking on her from time to time (just like I did with her older brothers). I know that with the right brushing tools like Hapee Kiddie Toothpaste, she’ll be saying hello to “Hapee-ier” smile and say goodbye to cavities. I can’t wait for the moment na sya na ang mag papaalala sa akin na it’s brushing time.

8 Tips on Guiding Your Teen to a Better Career

You know I don’t usually post press release as it is.. I love writing no, so I don’t allow PR materials to take away that luxury! (luxury daw oh! haha)

But this release I got from FutureYou.ph.. and they since I have no experience to share when it comes to teenagers and that this will be very helpful to me soon! (seems like sooner that I expected it to be… waaaaaaaah).. I am sharing you this article as it is:

8 Tips on Guiding Your Teen to a Better Career

Teach them how to be financially responsible.

Start walking him through ways on how to handle his money. One suggestion that you can make is something that is very convenient and familiar to kids these days: smartphone apps. There are apps such as Mint and Budget Boss that would make them manage their finances wisely–these will help keep track of their spending, and make them be conscious of all their purchases.

Match their hobbies and interests with possible careers.

Be mindful of the activities that your child likes to do. List all of these things down and match them with careers that he could possibly get in the future. Don’t be too meticulous, as these interests can (and most probably will) change. The goal here is to write down everything first—the more the better!—and then narrow it down later. Which brings us to the next item…

Talk to them about their dreams.

Your child may not always be open with what he’s been doing and feeling, but don’t let this discourage you. Things could be difficult in the beginning, but he will most likely ease out eventually.

Writing things down is a great exercise. If, for instance, he expresses that they want to be a chef, tell him to list down the things that he likes about cooking. Then, ask questions like why this is the job he dreams of having, and what he thinks a chef does. From here, reach out by exposing him to successful chef stories and highlight other good things that a chef can do (ie. give food to those who have none, set up restaurants that offer healthy food, and so on).

Aside from giving your teen an idea on what these people do, also provide him with a reality check. Tell him about the challenges that this career might bring—ie. that there’s a need to be good with numbers because of all the recipe measurements, that being a head chef will take years of practice and experience, that there will be a lot of competition that could easily break them if they do not toughen up and be patient. Give realistic expectations—tell them about both the good parts and the bad parts.

Share your personal experiences.

Tell your teen stories from when you were just starting out. Tell them about your first job interview, share some great anecdotes about the people you’ve work with, tell them about the mistakes you’ve made and how you got through them. You’re their role model and inspiration—they may not express outright that they appreciate the things that you say, but be patient and trust that they will listen. They almost always do.

Encourage them to join activities in the community.

Let him get out there and be part of communities in their school and your neighborhood. Some of the things that you may want to consider include charity work, literary clubs, and other regular gatherings where people meet on a regular basis. This will allow them to manage their schedule and be confident, as they will be constantly surrounded by different types of people. This will also prepare him for things he’ll need to do when he’s already working.

Let them take personality tests.

Ask them to take fun tests that will determine his personalities. According to a study by AT&T Parent Project Career Development Course, these are great self-esteem boosters; fantastic ways to will make them feel special: “These tests allow them to say for themselves who they are and what they want. “ This helps them feel more confident and competent.” The study also suggests tests like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.

Do your research.

Put in a little bit more effort in keeping yourself updated on what goes on with kids these days. Trends constantly change, so you need to keep pace with what your kid’s generation is up to. These trends don’t just include things under the entertainment category (such as music and fashion), but also technology like apps, websites, social media, and other online tools.

One tool that you can check out is FutureYou.ph, a website that helps students get into the right school and find the right course. It offers three simple steps: Pick the ideal job, learn the qualifications or courses, and then find the best school.

It also provides information on what’s trending on the job market, so you and your teen will be able to have an idea on things like salaries or in-demand job. In addition, there is also a Top Performing Schools section, which will give you an idea on some of the best and the most consistent colleges and universities in the country.

Give them space.

This could perhaps be one of the most important things that you could give to your child. They’re growing up fast, and before you know it, they’ll be adults with offices to go to and bills to pay. Make sure that after you apply all these other seven tips, you give enough space to breathe and figure things out on their own. Help them take the right direction, let them independently develop their decision-making skills, and then let them do their life-long homework.

Then, watch them from afar and see how they grow.

“Guide” is the key word that you should always keep in mind. Always remember that you are here to hold your child’s hand while he navigates his life. You’re here to recommend, to give ideas, to encourage—but never to dictate. This is about them doing what they love, and not doing what you love.

OK, I will keep GUIDE in mind and I will try really, really hard not to be OC with their lives!!

Parents with teenagers! Share your tips!