I'm a full-time mummy

I received an email from Michelle (the author of this book) asking whether I was interested in reviewing her book. As a parent, I want to learn as much as I possibly can on ways to help my child to read. Here goes my review for "What Children Need to Learn to READ " book:

Title:   What Children Need to Learn to READ
Author: Michelle Vallene
Publisher: LearnersLane; 1st edition (January 4, 2010)
ISBN-13/-10:  978-0982285602 / 0982285604
Paperback:  213 pages
Dimension:  9 x 7 x 0.6 inches

Description from the product page:
"Your Child's First Reading Teacher Is ... YOU! "What Children Need to Learn to READ" is the ultimate resource for parents and other adults who want to encourage literacy in young children. Packed with age-appropriate tips, techniques, fun activities, checklists, and common-sense suggestions, this one-of-a-kind book will answer your questions, boost your confidence, and prepare you for one of the most rewarding things you'll ever do!! You'll learn: What works best for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and early elementary school students. How to make reading a FUN and familiar part of everyday life. Where to find the best children's books, magazines, games, websites, and more. "

* I like the tips given in chapter 1 on how to read to your child everyday where the author breaks it down by age group: Babies, Toddlers and Preschooler or early elementary school child. Under the "Toddler" section, I realised I do practise the tips given such as discussing what we see and do when we are out and about. I always ask Ben what the object/building/colors etc. I also explain to him how they are similar to what we see at our home (whether in books, iPad app, movies)

* I like the Children Language Accomplishments Checklist on chapter 2 which I can refer back in order to see whether Ben is at par according to the age group.

* I love the activities listed in this book and how the author separates them into different chapters on their own: games, rhymes, music and songs, letters and sounds, sight words and so on.

In summary, it is a very resourceful book that shows you many ways that you can help to get your child interested in reading and expose them to literacy from a young age.

Highly recommended, do get a copy of this book for yourself too!!

You can get this book from Amazon.

And yay!!! I am so happy to hear Michelle has generously offered to sponsor 1 copy of her book SIGNED by herself  and an accompanying music CD with all the songs and nursery rhymes from the book to 1 lucky follower / visitor on my blog! Yep, if you are the winner, you get to own a signed copy of her book and her music CD and she will mail it to you anywhere you are!

OK then, just read below for the giveaway terms and entry form, OK?

To enter the giveaway, kindly read and follow the instructions as stated in the Rafflecopter form below.

• You can enter either via login through your Facebook account or just key in your name and your valid email address.
• Please also leave your valid email address in the post comment so that I can contact you if you win this giveaway.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

So what are you waiting for?!! Hurry up! You have 1 month time from now to join in the fun and try your luck!

I received no monetary compensation for this review, I was provided with a copy of the book by the author in order to facilitate my review. All opinions expressed in this post are my own. Please do your own research when purchasing products, as your opinions may differ from mine. And if you'd like to read my previous book reviews, you can do so by reading this post of mine called "My Book Reviews"

The other day, I was spending time with Ben, doodling and scribbling on this pad of blank papers with him. Then I decided to teach him how to draw straight and curly lines.

So I went and draw 2 vertical lines and at the same time, telling him, "Ben, see mummy draw straight lines, now you follow!"

And then he went and draw this:

You know what he said while he tried drawing his straight lines from where he stood?

He said "LADDER"

I was gobsmacked!

Never will I imagined he will think something else other than a simple straight line!

Wow!!!!

I just sat there stunned and amazed at this awesome discovery.

See again close up below:

The 2 vertical lines were drawn by myself while the horizontal ones were by Ben...

LADDER...

What a genius kid I got here!

LADDER!!!!

And he's not even 34 months old yet....

My oh my...

Every year in December, hubby and I will be cracking our heads to think of what to make and give his clients for Christmas celebration. You can read this post to see our previous gifts to his clients.

• In 2008, we got this 3 feet tall fake Christmas trees and hung treats and goodies as ornaments and filled up the base with sweets and snacks too.

• In 2009, we bought this glass cookie jars and filled them up with Famous Amos cookies and sweets and treats and tied a red ribbon over the glass jar.

• In 2010, we bought 2 biscuit tins of fifferent sizes (2 for each client), small tin filled up with butter cookies which I baked myself sealed in decorated plastic bags and the big tin is filled up with treats and snacks.

What we did for 2011? Ta-daaaaaaaaa...

For 2011, we made ribbon Christmas tree with treats and snacks in a basket decorated with fake pine leaves.

The ribbon tree is my idea after searching the Internet for inspiration and the basket with treats is hubby's idea. I've posted some pictures of our ribbon Christmas trees on my personal Facebook page and a couple of friends asked me how to make it, so here it is:

#1 : Making the Ribbon 'Leaves'

#1 - These are the items you need to make the ribbon 'leaves': scissors, double-sided tape, ribbons!

#2 - Start cutting ribbons! I cut mine about 7 inches long. Make sure the length are all same. Gently fold the ribbon in half.

#3 - Cut 2 small tabs of double-sided tape. I cut mine about half centimetres in size for each tab. Stick 1 of the tab to one end on the inside of the ribbon (you want the nicer looking surface to be outside). Peel out the protective layer and stick the ends together.

#4 - Stick the 2nd tab to 1 side of the ribbon where you just double-taped earlier.

#5 - If you do not want your tree to look fuller or bouncier, you can press the ribbon where it's folded in half.

#6 -Repeat step 1 - 5.

#2 : Creating the Ribbon Christmas Tree

What you need is party hats, some ornaments to put at the tip of your tree and your ribbons made from earlier steps. Take 1 ribbon, peel open the protective layer of the double-sided tape and stick the ribbon onto the party hat. I make sure my ribbons touched the edge of the party hat. Repeat until you reached full circle. I also try to overlap the ribbons by a few milimetres to make it compact.

To do the next ribbon circle, I will repeat the above and ensure my ribbons covered about 1 inch of the ribbons below. Keep on until you reach the top.I actually cut and prepared tons of ribbons, put them into a paper bag and when my girl is napping on my legs, I just start sticking the ribbons onto the party hat.

I got this cute little star ornament which I poke a hole big enough to cover the tip of the party hat. I also tape the star ornament for added protection.

#3 : Making the decorative basket

Now what you need for the decorative basket (hubby's idea!) are basket (big enough for your party hat), fake pine leaves, ornaments, cable twist tie and scissors.

Hubby cut and wrapped the fake pine leaves all around the basket and securing it with twist tie. We actually got some nice cookie tins and mini Pringles can to hide inside the party hat and then we filled the basket with goodies and treats.

I also printed the greetings and double-tape it to a card before punching holes to both ends of the card. I then use some recycled ribbon to tie the greeting card to each basket.

#4 : Final results to oogle on!

I love this year's gifts!

I hope you enjoy this tutorial!