Extrinsic Motivation is very much ALIVE

Jaina saw mummy writing English and Chinese words on some cards and asked what were those cards for.

Mummy: So we can revise the English and Chinese words you have learnt.

Jaina: But I don't wanna read any words! I don't like Chinese words!!

Mummy explained that she will get a star for every pair of English & Chinese words right. And with enough stars, she can redeem small gifts and eventually, a trip to Disneyland.

Instantly, she asked if we can practice all the words before I test her!!

Amazing change of attitude isn't it? Who said extrinsic motivation is old news?!!? Have you not met Exhibit A - Jaina Chak?

Disneyland Heaven

There was an advertisement of HK Disneyland shown on TV that day and Jaina stood rooted watching the whole ad. When it finished, she turned to me and asked in a voice like she was asking about heaven,"What is that, mummy?"

Mummy: It's Disneyland.

Jaina (still with 'heavenly' tone): Can we go there?

Mummy: No. We can't afford it. Unless we save money for it.

Jaina (quiet for a moment): Oh I know!! We can save the money we give to the poor!!!

Mummy fainted and fell off chair!

Watch that Mouth!

Shannon walked over to Yeye that night after dinner and loudly said,"Yeye! Kern-ni-nah! Kern-ni-nah!"

Yeye: What are you saying? What you want?

Shannon: Yeye!! Kern-ni-nah! Kern-ni-nah!

Yeye: What!?!?!

Shannon gave up and walked into the kitchen.

She emerged once again with a bottle of Ribena in her arms.

She is very clear on her intent, need to work on her articulation though... :P

June 2010 Photo Collage

JSTDT - Explaining Christ's Love

Jaina asked the BIG question this evening..."Why did Christ died for us?"

I have always been telling myself that when my children ask me questions, I should try to answer them plainly and not make up stories just to "handle" that moment. Because I know these little white lies will come back and bite us back in the behind some day.

So to answer her, I simply said that because Christ love us so much, he is willing to die for us. Even though He did nothing wrong, He died on our behalf.

Jaina thought for a while and asked, "But why Jesus do nothing wrong but still died?"

I figured she doesn't quite understand the idea of taking the pain for someone else behalf yet.

So I decided to give her a context that she would understand.

I started, "Ok, if someone wants to hit mei mei and you are there. What will you do?"

I wanted Jaina to say something to the extend of taking the blow for mei mei so I can help her see Christ's action of love.

But Jaina quickly said, "I know! I will stop that boy!"

I was NOT expecting that!

I tried again, "What if mei mei was walking on this hard road without shoes? Won't you give mei mei your shoes?"

Jaina: "No? I go get her shoes lah!"

I rolled my eyes...6.47pm is too exhausting an hour and coupled with bad traffic, I ran out of examples to explain the depth of Christ's love to her...I gave up!!!!!!!!!!

Imagination Movers!

I wanted to sneak away with best friend for a pedi & mani treat but I had to first pick Jaina up then hubby then they drop us off at nails place.

So in the car, I had to prep Jaina that I'm being dropped off and she is to have dinner with daddy dearest.

Mummy: Later you'll have dinner with daddy.

Jaina: And mummy.

Mummy: Er, mummy has to meet Auntie A to discuss work tonight.

Jaina (eye wet wet): But I want to follow mummy....

Mummy: The place Auntie A and mummy going, children are not allowed.

Jaina kept silent for a while and said: The place got the sign right?

Mummy: Huh? What sign?

Jaina: The sign with children and a circle and a cross.

Mummy (ran past conversations with Jaina at speed of light in my mind): Oh YAH!!! The place has a sign with children and a circle and a cross.

Jaina: Yah...(self talk for another 10mins)

If you are still confused, that's because we adults don't see the world in the same way. Jaina has taken a deep fascination to the signs at various places that says 'No Smoking', 'No Food Allowed', 'No Playing Soccer', etc. So in her world of mainly black & white, she imagined the nail parlor to have this big round sign with a black outline of children and a thick red line right across the middle.

Jaina is my precious imagination mover!!

JSTDT - Heavy Heavier Heaviest!!

It rained today when I went to Jaina's school to pick her up and we were just talking about the weather. I tried to explain to her the rain was getting heavier and more difficult to look out of the windscreen.

Jaina agreed and said,"Just now, the rain just a bit heavy. Now the rain is more heavy you know."

I thought about letting that error go as she is actually only 3 but I thought again, if I can reason and teach her the concept of intensifiers, why not?

So I said,"Just now, the rain was heavy but now the rain is heavier, not more heavy dear."

Jaina: "huh?"

Teacher-mummy: "You know, if something is more than heavy, we say it is heavier. So someone who is more than tall, we say tallER."

Jaina just stared at me, so I thought we can try seeing the pattern and fill in the blanks.

Teacher-mummy: "So more heavy is heavier. More than tall is taller. What is more than small?"

Jaina: "Tiny"

Teacher-mummy laughs: "True also but more than small is smallER! So what is more than sweet"

Jaina, very seriously quipped: "I cannot eat more sweet you know!!!!"

Mummy burst out laughing but Jaina looked a little crossed. Probably feeling very self-righteous about mummy offering her forbidden snacks. :P

JSTDT - The Importance of TV

I'm a terrible parent.

Most (if not all) parenting books will tell you not to let your child watch too much TV as too much is not good for them. Jaina doesn't REALLY watch a lot of TV but enough to be ranked as one of her favourite pastimes.

So we tried to teach her basic TV social skills, which is not to ask for her Disney Playhouse channel whenever any TV is turned on. We thought that she was doing quite well in this area until my father-in-law (FIL) related this incident to us.

Jaina walked into the bedroom and my FIL was watching his usual golf show. She climbed onto the bed and watched a little of the golf show with him. Then she turned to him and said in a teacher-like tone,"Ye ye. I know your TV show is important. But MY TV show is MORE important you know? You change to my show ok?"

My FIL couldn't stop laughing and OF COURSE, gave in to her.

And we wonder why Jaina LOVES going to stay over with my in-laws.... *sigh*

JSTDT - Happy Teachers' Day

Now with Jaina schooling and all, I realised that I should put in more effort in preparing Jaina to show adequate appreciation for her teachers. As an educator myself, I feel that appreciation should be a daily thing but definitely and especially on Teachers' Day!!

So concerned mum here bought 3 flowers for Jaina's main teachers and planned to dedicate 1 hour that night to prepare Jaina on how she should present the flowers the next day.

So we all sat down on the bed and I took a flower and told Jaina that we will role-play to practise what to say.

Mummy: Ok, pretend that you're Teacher Lilian and I'm you. This is what I will say when I give Teacher Lilian the flower. "Happy Teachers' Day, Teacher Lilian".

Jaina: Thank you! (She really got into her role.)

Mummy (laughs): Now, Mummy is going to be Teacher Lilian and you will be you. What are you to say?

Jaina: Happy Teachers' Day, Teacher Lilian.

Mummy: Clever girl!!

Jaina: You didn't say "Thank you"!

Mummy: Right...Thank You. Ok, now we practise for 小云老师 ok? So you are now 小云老师 and I am you again. I'll say "小云老师，教师节快乐！"

Jaina: Thank you!

Mummy: Er, I don't think 小云老师 will say "Thank you" right?

Jaina (laughs): 谢谢.

Mummy: CLEVER!! So now I'm 小云老师 and you are you. What would you say?

Jaina: 小云老师...er...

Mummy (encouragingly): Yes...? Good...

Jaina: NAH!!

Both Shawn and I burst out laughing!! Jaina laughed too because she knew she did a boo-boo...

I supposed "nah" is a word in the universal language. Oh well, at least the words "小云老师" are said pretty clear.

JSTDT - A True Cinderella

Jaina was introduced to the world of dolls by my MIL. She enjoyed dressing them up, stripping them down and repeating the cycle over and over again.

I must admit my MIL tried her best by NOT buying Jaina Barbie dolls, she just bought some Disney princess dolls instead. Oh well, I can't win all my battles.

Anyway, I bought her Disney Cinderella doll some change of clothes and she was happily changing clothes when my MIL suddenly asked,"Jaina, where is Cinderella's other shoe?"

Jaina replied (quite quickly actually),"It's like that one. Cinderella also lost her shoe. Just like the story book."

My MIL cannot control, bursted out laughing!