You Tube Chinese Songs

I was bored and searched for some Chinese songs I hear toddlers sing.  Would you like your kids to study Chinese like this?  Personally Chinese is best learned through singing because Mandarin is a tonal language.

What do you think?

To Ipad or Not?

As we were sitting waiting to be picked up from the hotel, my Japanese sister-in-law took out an Ipad for her daughter to play with.

Prior to this, my son was happily running around the hotel lobby and jumping from some steps.  I wasn’t disturb by his playing as long as he wasn’t disturbing anyone at the hotel.  To him, he was trying to pass the time creatively.  His cousin who is mixed Japanese and Taiwanese tagged along behind him mimicking his actions.  My son was laughing and soon enough the both of them found something to do together.  It’s what kids are good at.

Then her mom took out the Ipad and asked her daughter to sit and play.  In Asian culture, kids need to be disciplined or controlled early on.  Obedience and respect is more important.

My son also out of curiosity walked over to where his cousin was sitting, and started to play with the machine.  I looked at the machine not as an instructive tool, but as a play killer.  As soon as the machine was turned on, their creative play ended, now it was time to sit down and behave quietly because we were in a hotel.  They were to behave quietly because who knows, people are watching and thinking negative thoughts about you and your kids.

Anyways, that’s my little bias, but the Ipad reminded me how TV was used in the old days to quiet kids down.  Just plop yourself on the couch and watch some harmless entertainment.

So they both sat and played age appropriate puzzle games.  From my point of view, I don’t think a computer for a 3 or 4-year-old can enhance any creative learning.  It’s like when a child is beginning to walk and parents buy their child the walker with wheels.  Or a tricycle rather than a two-wheel bike without pedals.

My son was curious about the touchscreen and how you can move pictures around by using your hands.  I tried to explain to him how the machine works.  They both played with it for a couple of minutes and the cars came to pick us up.

In Asia, products that promote education and early skill development is always sought after.  The Ipad is no exception because it’s readily available at inexpensive prices here in Taiwan.  So if a family doesn’t have the money to buy books, they can get an Ipad and download games and books for their children to play. 

People are always amazed when they see a child use it because it’s a wonderful product to have.  It’s also a status symbol to own one.  I did some digging online and found a video of a child using the machine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O74PAKkGs6A&feature=player_embedded

There are many videos of excited parents falling in love with a new technology along with their children.  It’s an attractive tool to have.  But is it useful for my 4-year-old boy.   I would say no, it’s not the right time or age for this type of tool.  If a child learns or is exposed to technology, will that make him or her into a brilliant computer programmer. 

Children need role play and real life scenarios to teach them about themselves and life.  So the Ipad technology can wait until he is matured enough to handle the demands life gives him.  For now, he can build, take apart, and play all he wants.

Being 5 in Taipei

Do you remember being 5 and alive?  I did a lot of playing with balls, bikes, and water.  In Taipei kids spent their time learning, and getting ahead.  During their kindergarten experience they have to prepare for the first grade placement test.  This test can determine if you have the intelligence to be with the top class. 

Learning is not a world where kids explore and experiment in school.  It costs money.  Kids are subjected to memorization, flash cards, and strict discipline early on.  You need this discipline at a young age because  Chinese demands it.

It is through memorization that kids begin their learning experience.  The student with the highest memory capacity is usually the most admired.  Your kid is so smart, at 5 he can do the multiplication tables up to 6.  Memorization is the trick to learning in Asia.  Endless testing and the weeding out of kids who can’t hack it in a competitive world is the next process.

Private schools in Taipei are notorious for their testing methods.  It is an effective way to see who will move up in society.  If you are left behind and you come from a family that cares about face and tradition, then you are in dire straits.  Everyone here can put you down unilaterally because they are all competing against each other. 

Pushing kids to write before their age requirement is done through endless copying and memorization.  It is common to see kids carry heavy school bags home because their wonderful perfection seeking teacher wants them to learn everything as soon as possible.  No wonder some take up smoking at 13.

Physical development is sacrificed which leads to learning obstacle in their educational life.  Kids that are not physically ready to handle a pencil or color because they haven’t reached their milestones, get quickly left aside.  Psychological and developmental issues that arise in school can be viewed negatively by the family.  It can be regarded as an insult to their honor.

Parents are more concerned about losing face, so they pile on the pressure to their kids.  They can use whatever language on their kids as they have been accustomed to using in their little family enclave.

The learning process is usually killed by the time the child reaches kindergarten.  It’s a race to  the best scores, which translates to the best schools with the most connections and the best jobs.

At five years old, a child is taught to read in Chinese and English.  Everything is done through memorization and repetition.  Exploration and time costs money.  If Chinese is learned this way, then English must be too.

It is an irony that some westerners don’t realize the negative effects of Asian education systems.  Sure people here are great at math and science, but they lack the imagination to create and innovate.  The envy of Asians being hardworking and loyal is a little over the top.

And then when you least expect, I have met teenagers that don’t have to go to 40 plus hours of schooling a week.  This includes cram school on Saturday and Sunday.  They tell me that their parents only wants them to do their best and to have a personal life for themselves.  Usually these type of people feel better about themselves and work toward enriching their curiosity rather than study for the grade.  We  will see how my son does when he enters into this environment.  Education starts at home.

In Love with Legos

The family is in love with legos.  They are simple connecting blocks that can take you out of this world, with a little imagination.  The little guy made his first police buggy, boat, and moon vehicle.  He was so proud of his accomplishments.  We had high fives, hugs, and a job well done. 

I have been pushing lego play because it’s a great toy that you can build anything with.  In the words of Ezra Jack Keats in the book, Regards to the Man in the Moon, a little imagination can take you out of this world.  What an inspirational story that is.

Yo Baby Kick Flipper

This is a kick flipper from GarageCo toys.  It’s diaper training without the wheels.

Why did we buy this toy you ask?  My wife and I want him to be active in life.   He is always excited when he sees kids skateboard or ride bikes without pedals, so we are trying this product out.

My wife tells me that before he can focus in learning, his physical needs must be satisfied.  His body is growing and it demands movement. 

He was all smiles when he opened the box and got his red board out.  He can do simple turns and duck waddles.  The plastic is sturdy, I just wished that we can use it on cement pavement.  We haven’t taken it out to the park yet.  As long as he is confident and enjoying himself doing 180 spins, then it is all good.

What’s Ugly? Daddy

My son asked me what ugly meant.  We encountered the word when we read Shrek.  I must admit that it took me by surprise.  How do you explain what ugly means to a four – year old?  When I thought about it, I realized that ugly has no real meaning.  Everyone is different and no one is ugly.  I told him that it was a great question to ask, and we need to find out more information about it.  I copped out,  I admit.  As he matures , we will find out the answers if possible to his questions.

Constructive vs Destructive Toys

Living in a male dominated culture, where the symbol of peace includes a woman under a roof, boys in Taipei are inclined to learn the strong masculine traits. 

Boys are given a wide range of space to act out their dreams and desires.  Grandparents can keep pictures of their grandson’s all over the house, while their granddaughter’s picture is nowhere to be found.  This is a place where a man is a doctor and a woman a nurse.  I get giggles from boys and girls when I inform them that boys can be nurses too.

Naturally, boys are the creators and destroyers of their societies.  And what does this have to do with toys?  Well, we teach these thwarted behaviors to kids through toys.  Unfortunately, the little destroyers learn about destruction from toys and cartoons.  Construction and building are briefly emphasized.

I made that mistake when I exposed my son to battling.  We would build swords from plastic tubes and used them to duel.  It’s harmless fun I thought.  My wife was patient enough to let me discover what I was doing.

Then after some time, everything became battling.  His animals battled, he wanted to play kung fu.  To add to the drama, he incorporated magic to his kung fu stance.  With animals, it was hunt or be hunted.  Anything he came up with had to do something associated with violence.

Our Lego toys were not immuned to this eternal conflict.  On Christmas, he received a castle set with battling knights.  I was so excited when we opened the box.  It took us two hours to build together.  Then I began to tell him of stories where knights fought bravely to defend their kingdom.  I didn’t realize that through my innocent excitement, my boy was getting the hunger for violence and aggression.

That’s when your loving wife asks you politely why a four-year old needs to learn about sword fighting and violence that’s recommended for a seven-year old.  My mind tried to find any rational excuse to her reply.  It went something like this in my head:

1. They’re just Legos.
2. Legos are a form of innocent play.
3. What’s the big deal? It’s only a phase.

I had even started to imprint the new Ninjago legos with their spinning attacks.  Ninjas battling skeletons, how cool is that!

I ignored the seven-year old recommended age and was ready to collect the whole set.  At the Lego shop my wife advised me to get him something related to construction, but I wasn’t listening.  I wanted the legos, they’re mine!  As I looked at the awesome ninja set I opened my eyes to the little human being in front of me.  I saw a boy who is being influenced by the people he loves to commit and learn about violence.  I don’t want my son to grow up with his only memories are of killing and being killed. 

That day I had a change of self.  We didn’t buy the ninja lego set, instead we bought some racers we could build together.  Practicing non – violence with toys can be as difficult as becoming a vegetarian.  The meat is everywhere!  I mean violence is everywhere in toys. 

I enjoy the Lego toys were we build and explore.  He is starting to see that there is more to life than destroying things.  I hope that we can continue and move toward constructive toys.

Don’t Push!!!

It’s unmistakably that parents worry about their kid’s future.  Whether it is human nature to expect a new generation of kids to be better than the last, we all can relate to pushing our kids to succeed.  This push can of course vary on many societal and economic factors.  Not to mention psychological ones as well.

In Taiwan pushing or punishing kids to excel is the agreed consensus among parents.  It’s the unwritten rule where a kid needs to show excellence and scholarship at soon as they begin walking.  It’s high prestige to have a 3 or 4-year-old recite the multiplication table or simple addition.

Whether the child understands the meaning of what he is learning will not be known until he gets into the best schools.  Testing is rampant and it’s the deal breaker to whether a child is capable of conducting himself during pressured situations with limited time.

By the time they reach 2 years of age, a child is expected to start a learning process.  Parents sacrifice themselves for their children.  That’s admirable, and something that parents across societies do, however, motor skills are greatly sacrificed.

Personally, my kid needs to play and fine tune his physical development.  Local Taiwanese parents usually wonder why my son is not enrolled in a school since he is 4 already.  Well, he is 5 now if I count the time in the womb as a year. 

I usually tell them that his only task is to explore the world around him.  He needs to feel, touch, communicate…etc.  So he doesn’t have any extra curricular classes that will make him into a Mozart or Picasso.  I’m more concern with his emotional well – being than his intellectual one.

Everyday I see kids rushed to their music, art, dance, science, or math classes.   With parents hoping that a head start will mean a better life.  The child must sacrifice his ego to please his parents and environment.

At age 4, my son can’t add very well or understand the complexities of multiplying.  I’m more focused on his building skills and emotional progress.  It’s vital for him to play with his environment in order to absorb sensations and knowledge that comes with it.  That’s something many local kids lack.  So I don’t push…

F is for….

The little one has started to actively read independently.  In the morning he wakes up and walks to his bookshelf to get some books.  Then he settles down on the sofa and starts reading. 

He mimics the way people read.  At the moment, he is beginning to focus on words rather than pictures.   If he finds an ” F ” in the story, he quietly mumbles his name.  His brain is discovering letters and how they play a vital role in story telling.  Now he is asking me  to read the letters first.

Reading is intimate, like going to the bathroom for the first time.  It’s self discovery all over again.  We are all works in progress.

He has also picked up J and Y for his parents names.  I’ll keep it up an experiment with blocks and out blackboard we have.  I need to be abstract so he can learn to play with language.

Online Videos

As part of his language development, I have taken advantage of the resources the web has.  He watches shows in English and sometimes in Spanish, to practice his listening skills.

http://www.peepandthebigwideworld.com/videos/

This site is about three different birds and how they interact with each other and the world around them.  He enjoys watching different types of personalities share life around a pond.  He can also pick up a lot of vocabulary and expressions. 

Using the net as a resource has been a wonderful experience all around.  We hope to continue using it as a learning tool.