Kids Archive

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

Tinkerbell Themed Birthday Party at Jollibee

I just recovered some of my files.. ah not.. recovered not the right time.. more like, saw it again. My netbook‘s been sleeping for almost a year and finally had the chance to buy a charger for it. Most of Sati‘s first few moths documentation was stored on the netbook. So I had the chance to reminisce the first time to a baby girl feeling (and be really thankful for that.. separate post) and discovered that I am luckier than I think for having the best mom in the world (more to that later)..

and to mark our first year of overwhelming happiness, her first birthday party was celebrated with friend, online friends and family at Jollibee. It was my first time to have a birthday part at Jollibee. I am actually a bit lost when planning her Jollibee Birthday Party. Good thing about Jollibee is they have a party planner website. You will have an idea how much a Jollibee Kids Party will cost you. And birthday planning is all about 6 easy steps:

Step 1 Choose your food package
Step 2 Additional Food Items
Step 3 Choose Party Theme
Step 4 Add Theme Favors and Loot Bags
Step 5 Party Add Ons
Step 6 Finalize Important Details

Tinkerbell Themed Birthday Party at Jollibee? Is that possible? yes it was and here’s how I was able to do it, taking it step by step:

Step 1. I chose two kinds of food, one for the adults and the other one for the kids. I did not order a dessert, thinking the mini cupcakes I ordered will do, only to find out that you cannot serve a cake or cupcake if it was not from Jollibee‘s cake supplier which is Red Ribbon and of course it has to be included on the party package. I still had the tinkerbell cake displayed and the cupcakes was given as a take home. I created my own meal (food package 5 at the website).

Adults: chicken, spaghetti, coke and yum burger, with a total cost of P175.. this is 2010

Kids: chicken with spaghetti meal, juice and jolly hotdog for P140 (2010 price)

The party fee during that time was 1200 PhP.

Step 2. I added a few more since each package is only for 30 persons, if I am not mistaken we had 70 for adults and 30+ kids meal.

Step 3. With the party theme, as I wanted a Tinkerbell themed party, I decided to choose a Jollibee theme.

Step 4. Add theme favors.. since Sati’s first birthday is all about Tink, I did not add party theme favors.

Step 5. Party Add ons. I added some balloons, which I regret after, I thought the function room will be bare, didn’t realized that the function room has a fixed balloons decoration.

Step 6. Finalize. Jollibee Part Planner is not an official booking, so I still had to visit the Jollibee branch where Sati‘s Tinkerbell Themed Party will be celebrated.

Her party was celebrated at Jollibee Ortigas Roosevelt (Along Ortigas Ave. cor. Roosevelt Road, San Juan, Metro Manila). The place has one big function room (located on the 2nd floor)which can accommodate 100+ guests but can be also transformed into a smaller room for smaller party. This branch does not have a playground.

That was just the venue.. mind you, planning for her first birthday party was stressful! There’s the costume, party favors, giveaway for the adults, Tinkerbell cake, birthday party games, game prizes and a lot more. Good thing that during that time, my husband allowed me to attend events after events.. mind you it helped me a lot. I have the tendency to be calm when I am very busy..

Let’s start with the Tinkerbell costume, unfortunate events happened and here supposed to be Tinkerbell costume did not arrived on time:

And we had to look for alternatives, her ninang in the US sent funds to look for another costume. Divisoria is the answer. I bought three kinds of garments. Green Celadon Satin, Pink tule and purple tule made into a flower… the result:

As for the wings, I just bought a ready made wings at Divisoria, her head piece was made from the same material as the one on her waist.

I was very lucky to have guests who willingly played with us. Attire for kids should be Tinkerbell or fairy for the girsl and peter pan or pirate for the boys. As for the adults, it should be pink, violet or brown and everyone obliged to our simple request!

The party favors (all bought in Divisoria) for the kids was personalized, it was different for girls and boys. Also, the name of the kid was written in front along with a Tinkerbell sticker if it is a girl and a Peterpan sticker if it is a boy. For the giveaway for adults, I came up with the most usable and practical giveaway, Sati ecobag..you can read about it the bag HERE. The prizes for games I also bought in Divisoria.

The cake, I ordered from PH Bakehouse. I bought the toppers from Greenhills and PH Bakehouse made a cute Tinkerbell inspired cake for me:

All in all, I think I spend around 40K PhP for Sati’s Tinkerbell Themed Birthday Party. And it was so much fun! I think I will do this again on her 7th birthday party!

POTW: Moon Dough Snack Shop

I just realized that my kids are now ready for dough playing, my boys are, but with my youngest I thought she would chew on every dough she can. I think I underestimate her, she’s a big girl already (in fact she can put clothes all by herself). I was really thankful that I was asked to review a dough product, mommies and kids, I introduce you to Moon Dough:

Moon Dough is hypo allergenic no wheat dough and it never dries up!

The box that was given to us for review is Moon Dough Snack Shop. The box contain 3 blocks of moon dough (yellow, white and brown), a snack maker (ice cream and pop corn maker) and a pretzel maker. It also comes with ice cream cones and popcorn tumblers and a popcorn scoop.

From a mom’s point of view, anything that can keep the kids busy and happy, I am all for it. Seeing them play with the Moon Dough, making popcorn and ice cream, for hours is the reason why this is our product of the week. I just have to add that the popcorn maker is really cute, makes popcorn that looks so real!

Now let’s hear it from the kids:

My first born, being the most vocal has a say on Moon dough, it does not dries up according to him and not sticky to the hands. My second born who hates anything that has a strong smell, approves the mild smelling dough. All of them agreed that this is one of the best toy mom brought home. And all of them wants to make popcorn everyday!

As it is with any other dough, some parts tend to fall out, if you have noticed our rubber mat full of small whiteys, that’s Moon Dough, but since the dough never dries out, it’s easy to pick the fall outs and put it back to the bigger dough.

Moon Dough is exclusively distributed by Richwell Trading Corporation. Available in leading toy stores and department stores nationwide. For more information about other Richwell products, visit www.richwell.net or call Richwell Trading Corporation at telephone numbers 732-5141 to 47 loc 211.

Every Wednesday I post about products that I have tried and loved.. If you want your products here, contact us and we’ll take a look on it.

Understanding Kumon, Benefits of Kumon and KPEPS 2012

I have always been curios with Kumon and why parents enroll their kids at Kumon, when it is not a tutorial center. What makes Kumon Method different? What are the benefits of enrolling a kid to Kumon? What will the kid learn from Kumon. There’s so many questions on my head about Kumon and so when I received an invite for Kumon’s upcoming KPEPS press launch, I just have to go.

The Origins of Kumon Method

Ina Duller (Public Relations Division Leader of Kumon Phils) took us back to 1954, the time when Toru Kumon started developing the Kumon method. Mr Kumon is a high school Math teacher, his wife asked him to take a look on their first son’s arithmetic studies. Mrs Kumon was not satisfied with results of their son, Takeshi had taken. Mr Toru Kumon armed with the beliefs that each child posses an undiscovered potential and abilities, that it is a responsibility of the educators to uncover it, he developed a collection of original problems that Takeshi would be able to complete progressively. The series of problems will allow him to develop his skills gradually. Mr Kumon continued to create the learning materials everyday and it was from this process that the Kumon method emerged.

The optimum development of each individual’s ability, irrespective of age or grade- the pursuit of potential.

Toru Kumon believed that if it was possible for one child, then it is possible to many, hence he offered to as many children possible the chance to study the method.

More than 50 years since, the Kumon Method is now accepted in 46 countries and regions and here in the Philippines, there are 230 Kumon Center, including their head office in Makati.

What makes Kumon Method different?

K kindness movements

U Understanding the student

M Mastery of the basic skills

O On their own, the kids study on their own

N No to children are alike, hence in Kumon it is individualized learning

What are the benefits our kids can get from Kumon Method?

Kumon Method teaches the basic skills and discipline. During the press launch, there were questions asked that made us understand Kumon Method better. Some of the questions asked were, what is the appropriate age to enroll in Kumon? If the kid is already good on Math, should they go for English at Kumon? Do they hold a special class for kids with special needs? If a child was enrolled at Kumon and is already in the advance phase of the subject, say Math, wouldn’t the child be confused as he is way ahead from what was being taught on the school? What is the assurance that all centers have the same quality?

Teacher Susi Tsoi, Kumon instructor said that there is actually no appropriate age, any kid who can hold a pencil and follow instruction is accepted at Kumon. If you think your kid is ready, bring her/him to the nearest Kumon Center and they will assess you also said that even if the kid is already good on Math, the Kumon method for Math is still advisable as this will teach them discipline and the basics in computing. As for the question on special class for kids with special needs, teacher Susi said the Kumon Method is individualized teaching, so there is no special class as each student gets a unique approach.

When it comes to the child being advance and might be confused, Teacher Susi said, the child will not be confused in any way. A child maybe answering a Grade 4 Math worksheets but is actually a Grade 1 student, why he will not be confused? well because in Kumon Method, it is the basics that was being taught.

Ina Duller explained that though each Kumon Center is a franchise, the methods are the same and each center were trained the Kumon way. In fact, before anyone can open a Kumon Center in the Philippines, they need to attend orientation, pass the math and reading tests, pass the interview, attend the New Instructor Training and In-class Training (more info on Kumon Philippines Franchise). And that’s how Kumon assure us that all Kumon Centers are the same quality.

My words are limited to explain about Kumon, as I have mentioned before, I have many questions about the Kumon Method. Good thing Kumon offers a FREE Seminar for us parents: Kumon Philippines Education and Parenting Seminar (KPEPS)

Kumon Philippines Education and Parenting Seminar (KPEPS) will be held on May 19, 2012 (Saturday) 2:00- 4:30 at Cinema 4, SM North EDSA, The Block. This year’s theme is “Achievers of Today, Ready for the Future!” (How Parents Can Guide Their Children Amidst the Changing Landscape of the Philippine Education)” will give parents an understanding on the current chance in the countr’s educational system, the k-12 program. Mr. Henry Tenedero, an Education Reform Advocate will be there to talk about the changes in education and the role of the parents in the learning department.

KPEPS is a FREE EVENT, to register, just email your complete name, mobile number, and general address to parentingseminar@kumon.ph or call 885 0226.

*Kumon Philippines Price is 500 PhP for enrollment fee (one time payment) and 1,800 PhP per module per subject for younger students (grade school to grade six), P1,950 per module per subject for grade seven / first high school or older students. Each module is good for one month.