RSP attempts to crawl by pushing himself forward and made lots of move

The start of school life

I decided not to start my boy RAP with school too young. I thought too early would be not suitable for a young child. Many of his friends started at 3 while rap was still hanging out in the house with me. I used to do some activities with him like writing, coloring, puzzles, pasting and etc. Then he would play with his tata while I get on with my studies.
The time was close to start him off with school. We checked a few and settled for one that we really liked. Brightly set up class area and montessori concept. To our advantage, his aunt was also working there. So rap will still have a familiar face in case he can't handle the separation with me. I had to put in a lot of thought to handle the separation as it was too new to him and me.
In order to prepare him for preschool, I planned ahead to adjust few things as listed below.

1. Sleep wake timing was cruciak to have a great start to the day. He used to wake up at 8 and go to bed at 10 or sometimes even 11. I slowly adjusted him to go to bed by 9 and hopefully sleep off by 10. He then wakes at 7. But the timing wasn't sufficient to get to school in time. Because he wants to lie in bed with me for some time and then he would take reasonable time to have his breakfast. With the timing adjustment, he now wakes at 6.45 when the alarm on his watch rings. He has no trouble in waking up when the alarm goes off. If he's had sufficient rest, he'd be alert to start off.

2. Eating time was also important since he sometimes does not focus on his meal but his cartoon. He would take long to eat because of the cartoon. So I gave him 15mins timer for breakfast. Though sometimes he takes longer than that. That's partly the reason I had to wake him at 6.45am instead of 7am.

3. Then I had to let him wear his uniform pants for a day so that he wouldn't fuss about wearing a new pant or tshirt on school day.

4. Taking a drive to school even before the start day. 2 days before the actual school starting date, we took a drive to school in the morning. Encountering the traffic and the route to take. The 1st day was not a suitable route as it kept on adding delays. As we reached school, there were other parents of new students waiting at the compound. It was an opportunity to show and tell rap about the parents waiting procedure. The 2nd day was better but still late on arriving. We made it on time for the school day. So far arrival as been earlier and no rushing.

5. Playground times had a cutoff time compared to previous extra minutes. This practice was in place just about a week before school. Yet rap was unhappy that other kids could have extra time but he adjusted. Fridays and Saturdays he gets extra time to play outdoor.

6. Preparing breakfast and snack box also had to be adjusted, mainly on my side. I used to prepare breakfast only after rap is out from the room. He would wait for the breakfast or help me with it. It can't proceed this way. Breakfast has to be ready before he is out of the room so sleep time is not jeopardised.  The extra sleep in the morning would help him to stay alert in the class. I also prepared a breakfast and snack box list for about 3 weeks with different combinations of food that rap loves. Healthy meal and filled tummy would provide him the energy he needs throughout school. 4 days into school, rap wakes up earlier than his alarm and helps me make breakfast. Sometimes it works for me to ask about breakfast and snack the night before. In case he has any special requests, I could put that in place. I would also tell him what I had planned to prepare and if that's fine with him. This way seem to work quite well and he won't be upset about a breakfast in the morning since he knew it earlier.

7. I also allowed rap to get used to alarms few months before school. I used the alarm as a wake up call for his evening playground time. He would usually wake but still lie in bed and cuddle up with me for some time. So using the alarm from his watch now, for the morning is a breeze. He would wake and sit up or sometimes call out to me when it rings.

8. Separation from me is one of the toughest to implement. He would be with me wherever I would go and had never been left behind in the house even for a short duration. That attachment needs some changes. So I told rap I will be going for work in an office soon. He thought it is the university, where he usually comes with me. I said this office does not have such flexibilities in bringing kids to hang around the compound while I'm at work. I spoke about this many times and one fine day I said it's now time. I left him home with my dad for about 2 hours. He was fine but called to ask me to get home soon. The next day he was upset I had to go. Yet I still left. He may cry now but he wouldn't be feeling the same when it happens in school. At least that's what I hoped for. Then after for the next 3 weeks he would be fine when I leave and sometimes call to say to be back early. This practice will be handy when I have to leave him in school and it sure does seem to work for the 3rd day in a row at school. He wouldn't ask for me until school is over. Partly because he is pretty occupied with all of those activities in class and his caring teacher.

With all the above adjustments put in place after much thinking and planning appears to be working out to smoothen rap's school life. I see rap to have adjusted well into school and that makes me happy. I hope other mothers could gain some idea from my plans in preparing their child for school days. All the best.

Away for class without mummy

The first time ever, he goes into art class or any class for that matter without his mummy. He was confident and walked in quietly with the teacher. I, on another end was feeling little nervous that he might be feeling worried without me. There has never been. Much moments without any known person; me, dad or grandpa.

He was really good in the class. He spoke to the teacher. Responding to her questions. Even asking her some questions in return to deepen his understanding. Twice I took a peek into the class to see how he was doing. Thank God he wasn't facing the door to spot me outside the class. Once I signalled to the teacher in a gesture to ask if he was doing alright. She responded that he was fine. Oh how glad I felt on knowing that.

So I waited patiently at the waiting area. I could still hear the teacher and him speaking to each other. That's a good sign. When a child feels comfortable and able to communicate well with the entrusted teacher, he could feel at ease and learn better. At least that's what I believe.

Half way through the class was a short water break. He comes out with the teacher. His water bottle was with me in my bag. So I pass him the bottle. He takes a drink and hugs me. Then after he continues his class. At the end of the class, his teacher takes a photo of him. It is for a short like pocket made of paper. It would hold his student card. Each time he comes in for class, he needs to get that card from the pocket and hand it over to the teacher to scan his attendance. That's so awesome. He was so excited and so was I.

Class ended and I am happy he managed through the 1.5 hours without much of his mummy. I have the confidence that he will survive school separation next year. I was proud of him for his confidence and communication with his teacher. I hope for good progress moving forward. It is my intention to gradually increase the duration of the separation in preparation for his preschool in 2017. I am thinking it will also help him to boost his own sense of independence with new people; teachers and friends.

Rap's first trial art class

Rap has been attending playschool for slightly more than a year. The syllabus is concluding and now he needs to move on with other levels or forms of learning. Instead of enrolling him to school just yet, I thought it would be good for him to attend some art and craft classes. He loves making crafts but not always I have the opportunity to get the materials for him. 

Both of us went around to a suitable art school to see if he could fit into their lessons. In his trial class, rap was so casual yet focused on his work. The teacher was very pleasant and friendly with him. She sat down with him with some colored pencils and piece of paper with mangosteen drawing. Whenever the teacher asks rap questions, he would respond to her and answer her. At times being silent as he was focused in coloring that fruit. She taught him how to hold the color pencil and how to color the picture with simple hand movements. Rap was able to follow through with the teacher and was happy to even draw his own mangosteen.

Tap communicated well with the teacher, even asking her questions at times. He was able to pick out pairs of similar color pencils for the artwork each time. The teacher asked him, where do you find the fruit at your place? He told her that he finds them on a tree. So the teacher draws a tree and guides rap to draw one as well. He was keen to complete drawing the leaves of the tree which are drawn like a cloud. Right after that, he tells the teacher, some of the leaves fell to the ground. So teacher draws a few leaves on the ground and rap was happy. Later the teacher asks him about the number of fruits on the tree and rap says two. Now the tree has two fruits. Rap colored the tree and the fruits with the help and guidance from his teacher. 

Although sometimes he changes the direction of the strokes, he was able to listen and follow instructions well. I am totally happy to see my boy learning. But the happiest part of it all is to see him happy. For the first timer in an art class, rap surprised me with his patience, focus and determination. 

This was also the first time, I am not next to him during a class. He gave me the confidence that he will be fine when he goes to school eventually. In fact, rap told me I can wait outside while he is in the class. The teacher left the door open. I could see him from where I was sitting. I could also hear them speak to each other. At the beginning few minutes, rap checked to see if I was still outside. Then after he was connected with his teacher. He even happily ran to me to show his artwork when it was complete. 

You make me proud rap, even the smallest effort.

A heart to give

Sometimes it is not easy to give away something that is owned to someone else but a heart that gives feels fulfilled. Rap had owned a pet house with a bus design that he bought at a pet shop in Midvalley. He loves to jump into it and hide or ask to be lifted with him still inside. It comes with an opening at the front, where a windscreen would normally appear. It also has a soft cushion inside. He has been having it for more than a year now and would frequently play with it. He would ask me to bring it down from the top of the cupboard whenever he needs it.

Yesterday we were heading to visit his cousin who owns a shih tzu dog. Rap had an idea. He told me he wants to bring that pet house for the dog. He has seen the dog previously and noticed its cage, water bottle and food. Rap said he wants to give away the pet house so that the dog could sleep in it just in case something bad happens to its current cage. He told me a story that goes this way.

If chinu's house gets blown away by a strong wind, chinu can sleep in this pet house. Chinu won't feel scared. He also told me that chinu would eat anything when I told him chinu eats dog food. Well, rap paid attention to what his cousin brother told him before.

Rap has decided. I have supported him to give it to chinu. He was very excited about giving it to chinu. I reminded rap that once it's given, he can't have it back. He agreed and still stood firm to his decision. He also said he could still see the pet house whenever he visited his cousin. Very well rap. You have a good heart to give away something you really love. I will not stand against your good will.

As we were leaving the house, rap grabbed the pet house, held it over his head and walked to the car. We placed it in the back seat. Once we reached our destination, rap said he will get the pet house. So again he held it over his head and brought the pet house for chinu. His cousins were happy with the gift and excited for chinu to use it. They even put chinu into the pet house. Chinu rolled inside and nibbled on the cushion. It stayed in for a while before walking out. They plan to keep the pet house in the room so chinu could sleep in it during the night. Rap was happy to see chinu in the pet house.