Recommended activity books for toddlers

Recently, I've been visiting Popular bookstore once a week. The store really carries some Chinese gems that are easy on the pocket. I'm especially on the lookout for sticker activity books as Zech loves doing those.

This was given by Zech's grandmother sometime ago. Completed within a week.

Given by an aunt, Zech enjoys pasting the fruits and veg using glue.

Other books in the same series:

Sticker dots activity book. This is great at training fine motor and patience.

Some other activity books I've bought from Popular bookstore. 找不同 books are very cute and aid in visual discrimination. 好习惯童谣 comes with a CD. Initially, I thought it might be a bit boring for a 2 year old boy but Zech thinks otherwise. It's probably because he found his favourite rabbit eating carrots in the book. Anyway, whatever the reason is, he actually asked to listen to the CD earlier on today.

Bible sticker activity books from NTUC! Discovered by a friend who helped me to purchase these, Zech just loves the story of Moses, especially the 9 plagues. He likes pasting the frogs and locusts so much he keeps looking at this page almost every day.

There are others in the same series. Trying to get the entire set as these store so much precious facts about the Bible. Reading and doing just add value in learning.

Preparing Zech for the arrival of baby Nathanael

As the day draws nearer, I talk to Zech about the baby every day. Be it kissing my tummy, saying hi or simply feeling for the slightest movement of the baby, these small actions are important for making him realise and know that his brother is real. In recent weeks, I started telling him what to expect when the baby arrives. Thank God I found, by chance, a book about the arrival of a new baby in the library just weeks ago. It tells the child not only what to expect but also how to be involved. The other book 'My dog, my cat, my mama and me!' is a fiction book I bought sometime ago and which I've been reading regularly to Zech.

Last week, while surfing the net, I chanced upon some great resources on preparing kids for the arrival of a baby. Inspiration struck and I set to work immediately on a new lapbook for Zech.

The stages of baby development and womb nomenclature cards were downloaded from  http://mamato3blessings.blogspot.sg/2013/04/expecting-baby-sensory-learning-tray.html

In the lapbook, I've included a puzzle. Printed the clipart from mycutegraphics.com then cut them up into a jigsaw puzzle. Incorporated a Bible verse so Zech knows it is God's command to love his brother and vice versa.

What does Zech like most of all? Baby items matching game of course. He enjoys not just matching but delights in naming each item too.

Another activity below has Zech lifting the flap to reveal the answer behind the question. He particularly likes the question 'Who is baby's elder brother?'. Well, the answer is of course Zechariah. Printed a photo of him which is why he loves to lift that flap to look at himself.

After seeing how much he is enjoying his lapbook activities, I decided to make a 'Zechariah lapbook' specially for him. It's his turn to be in the limelight.

Learning thru play!

Zech's learning journey at home is definitely not the type preschool offers. At least for now. He has no fixed curriculum. There's minimum planning on my part. We simply play and do activities which, in the process, enable learning and build up his character. Most importantly, he must enjoy doing them. If he doesn't, I'll put it aside and save it for another day. Reason? He might not be ready. Readiness is a BIG word in my learning path as a mother. My hubby sometimes questions me why I've not started teaching Zech the letters of the alphabet. But what's the point of teaching him ABCs when he can't write? Wouldn't he take a longer time to learn if I start teaching him now? When he's ready and able to write holding a pencil correctly, wouldn't it be faster for him to learn to recite and write the letters concurrently? There's so much I can do to teach just the letter A. I'm still a firm believer of comprehensive teaching and not touch and go, only to revisit the concepts again and again later. Besides, literacy is really more than just learning the letters.

Zech is definitely enjoying his childhood and I don't want to end it for him now. He's picking up many things through play, listening and interaction. So why is there a need for formal schooling? Not at his age I feel. He shall continue learning through play till he's ready to start school.


Pasting sticker dots. A good way to train fine motor skills. The activity book can be found in the Popular bookshop. With compliments from a sis in Christ.

Initially, I thought it was too challenging for him but was surprised he managed to paste the small sticker dots. Lots of patience needed though! Took him a few days to complete a pic!

An interesting game I found online from http://www.figur8.net/space-memory-activity/. This is part of the right brain training programme. Tried it out with Zech and he loves it.

Noah's Ark magnetic figures. He enjoys arranging and rearranging them on the cookie tray.

Christmas is over but I couldn't resist making another set for him. Found these cute figures from http://www.designdazzle.com/2011/12/free-paper-doll-printables-the-nativity-santas-helpers-and-more/.

Playing with pasta.

Zech had a good time scooping the pasta into the bowls, then pour them back into the tray again. 

It has been a great week so far. Zech's healthy and cheerful. We even made a trip down to the Bishan library and borrowed several nonfiction books. His favourites? Books on tractors and the disgusting centipede and of course not forgetting, the only fiction book 'We are going on a dinosaur dig'.

Something that Zech can't do without every day is listening to his Bible CD which comprises of Bible stories and songs. Recently, I hear him narrating and singing together with the CD. Such a joker! He would mumble lines he's not familiar with and suddenly, I would hear him very loudly and clearly when it comes to familiar lines.

Such are the joys of daily learning. I do realise time is just fleeting moments. Once Zech is past his toddler childhood, life will be very different for him and for us. It's up to us parents to enjoy and cherish every moment.

Keeping little fingers busy at home

How does a typical day in Zech's life look like lately? Not sure if it's a sudden burst of energy in the final lap of my pregnancy. Or the fear of not doing more for Zech when the baby comes along in May. His day is now pretty packed with structured play and activities. Less mischief from him as well when we do more at home.Teaching Zech is not difficult but the challenging part is being able to engage him for an extended period of time. He sure needs lots of encouragement to complete a task.

Started teaching him the concept of size and order this week. Sometimes, he got it and sometimes he didn't. But he's enjoying this activity, a file folder borrowed from a friend. He loves arranging the cupcakes and tractors most.

He's learning shapes and colours too. A new file folder for him to learn recognition of colours. Downloaded the dino cutouts from http://www.filefolderfun.com/PreschoolColorMatch.html.

Other file folders he's been doing regularly are shapes matching and animals/flowers matching. He asks to do them every day without fail.

Thought it's time for Zech to learn how to colour though I don't think he's quite ready. Printed some basic shapes on paper and guided him to colour within the shape. Was rather surprised he could, most of the time, colour within the given shape.

Since Zech has been doing quite a few colouring sheets with different medium such as crayons and markers, I compiled all his work into a file and that is his very first portfolio. :)

Some other activities he enjoys doing...

Puzzles. Always the same 3 sets. The second set below is really easy but Zech likes fixing the animals so it's kind of like a warm-up exercise for him before he fixes the other sets.

Pulled out the Melissa and Doug shape sorter today. I love this cos it teaches many shapes like rhombus, hexagon etc. other than basic ones.

Took a pic of Zech at the end of the day. Doesn't he look contented? Haha! Makes me more motivated to spend time playing and learning with him tomorrow.