Category Archives: Child Care

Mathemagis: Singapore math enrichment program for children

As a mom we are looking for other ways and great ideas on how we can help our child deal with their school subjects. Usually they are having difficulty with Math and Science subjects. Good thing that there are tutorial center for children that aid in this area. Mathemagis is a long-term Singapore math enrichment program for children 4-12 years old that develops advanced problem solving skills in addition to number skills. It is based on the effective and successful Singapore Math curriculum and teaches math concepts in a concrete-to-visual then to abstract methodology. The program aims to make math more enjoyable and accessible to Filipino children through hands-on activities, group discussions and individual work.

mathemagis in Katipunan, Quezon City
Mathemagis in Katipunan Ave., Quezon City

I have visited Mathemagis Singapore Math tutorial center in Katipunan with my little boy for an initial assessment. The center is clean, organized, has a good ambiance with lively color design combination and very pleasing for the child to stay. Since my little boy is only three, he had a lot of fun with the hands-on activities. He gets along easily with the teacher as she patiently presented different hands-on activities.

mathemagis assessment
Mathemagis assessment on Filipino child

This summer, Mathemagis will be holding Singapore Math summer fest. These are Master the Art of Bar-modelling (7yo & up), Thinking out of the box(7yo & up) and Jr. Math Champs (4-6yo).

The program will run in three batches:

  • Batch 1 April 10 – 20
  • Batch 2 April 23 – May 5
  • Batch 3 May 7 – 18

For more information call 387-6602 or 0932-843-5551 now to register. You may visit their website at http://mathemagis.com or at http://www.facebook.com/mathemagis

Healthy weight gain strategies for kids

My husband and I have been trying different ways to help our little boy in gaining weight. Although my mother-in-law has been saying that my husband’s built when he was my son’s age is the same, I am worried about his health and weight. I do not want to divulge my little boy’s weight. What I can describe is that his weight is not good at his age. Every time we visited his pediatrician, I would always tell her about it and she suggest several ways for a healthy weight gain. Pediasure is the milk of my son.Kids have really different moods and development.

Filipino boy for weight gain

Filipino boy for weight gain

My son loves to eat any fruits and vegetables but he eats less rice. I have noticed that he loves to eat super delicious tasting foods like the foods served at food chain or restaurants. Sometimes I found myself always buying at food chains or ordering food deliveries just to let him eat enough food. This is unhealthy that is why I also tried to prepare something special at home but still he eats less. Because of the poor eating habits, I am now monitoring my child’s attitude in eating and the foods to prepare for kids with small appetite.

I know that it is not that easy but as a dedicated mom, I will always do my best to achieve what is right for him. This post will marked my devotion for the ways or alternatives to help my child in gaining weight the healthy way.

Healthy weight gain strategies for kids

  • Increase your child’s calorie intake above what he burns daily. A 500-calorie increase per day should result in a 1-lb. per week gain.
  • Prepare quality foods that have a high number of calories per serving at every meal or snack like peanut butter, eggs, cheese, nuts, full-fat dairy and bean dips. Offer high nutrition but more calories per servings like white or sweet potatoes, corn, peas, raisins, dates and dried apricots instead of broccoli and carrots.
  • Allow your child to eat in small portions often and take in calories when her appetite allows. Eating six to eight small meals of high-calorie foods is an effective way to get her all the calories she needs for weight gain. A good alternative if your child do not want to eat is to offer full-fat milk mixed with dry milk powder or 100 percent juice between meals to add calories.
  • Help Stimulate your child’s apetite by moderate physical activity.
Great ideas for calorie-boosting:
  • Add whole milk, instant breakfast drink powder, bananas, flax seed oil and nut butter to smoothies
  • Offer peanut butter with all-fruit spread on whole wheat toast as a sweet high-calorie snack
  • Add cheese to scrambled eggs or noodles
  • Give a nutritious dessert such as ice cream, pudding or flavored full-fat yogurt.
  • When going out, bring a pack of Cheese sticks, buttered popcorn and granola bars which are high-calorie snack.

Pneumonitis causes, symptoms and treatment in children

A few weeks ago my little boy was sick with Pneumonitis that was an impression on his chest X-ray results. I was really worried about it and the first thing that came into my mind is Pneumonia which is said to be at high risk in babies, small children and older adults. What is the difference of Pnemonitis and Pnemonia? I try to do a research and I have found out that Pneumonitis is a general term defined as an inflammation of the lung tissue whereas Pnemonia is technically a type of pneumonitis because the infection causes inflammation. When they use the term “pneumonitis“, most doctors are referring to other causes of lung inflammation. Let me share what I have learned from my research.

Factors that can cause Pneumonitis

  • Exposure to airborne irritants
  • Inhaled chemicals
  • Allergies
As I read the factors that can cause Pneumonitis, I tried to look back at the recent activities of my son before he got sick. He was playing clay dough. I bought him a Thomas and Friends Clay dough alphabet set online and I let him play that time. I think he has an allergy with the clay and he might also expose to viral airborne irritants.

Symptoms of Pneumonitis

  • Cough
  • Fever
  • Malaise
  • Dysponoea
  • Fatigue
  • Aches
Fever is the first symptom that I had observed from my little boy followed by cough. He also complains that the other side of his ear is painful. In his first check up, there is a light infection in his right ear and he gets better after a week. But then after few days he develop colds and cough. He has dry cough, on and off fever and it was the first time that my little boy has difficulty in coughing. His pediatrician referred to have X-ray test which we did. The X-ray findings said that Streaky densities are seen in both lower lobes and the impression is Pneumonitis.

Home Treatment

  • Keep the surroundings at home clean.
  • Avoid exposure to airborne irritants such as pollution, pollen, mold, dust and chemical fumes.
  • Clean the Aircon filters regularly.
  • Do not give cold and oily foods
  • Drink warm water to relieve coughing spasms.
  • Place a vaporizer or nebulizer in the bedroom at night.
  • Use an air disinfectant that kills viruses.

The pediatrician prescribed medicine for my little boy to treat the Pneumonitis. She prescribed Klaz Clarithromycin to be taken three times a day. It may be taken with or without food. My little boy loves the strawberry flavor and works well on him. It is important to always consult your doctor or pediatrician before giving medicine to your child. Thanks to Dra. Rowena David for always being helpful to my child’s health condition.

After eight days, my son is not coughing anymore and he feels better but I continued to finish his medicine intake up to 10 days. Currently my little boy is actively playing but he has colds without cough anymore. I think it is allergies to the changing weather condition. Because my little boy is thin and weight is not good at his age, we decided to take him for a PPD skin test to make sure that he is not sick with primary complex.

I will share the result and experience in my next post…..

Health source credit to mayoclinic.com, rightdiagnosis.com and freemd.com.

A toddler who loves to travel

One thing that I have observed from my three year-old toddler is that he loves to travel. Since I am a work-at-home mom, we only travel during weekends. Usually we go out to attend the Sunday mass and to the mall to shop important things. Every time we go out, my little boy has a big smile and the sweetest sentence that I could hear from him is “Mommy I am very happy!

Filipino boy loves malling
Filipino boy loves malling

He adds color to our driving experience because while we are on the way, he sings different nursery rhymes cheerfully. We never get bored because he used to tell words about the places and displays that he sees along the way. Even if I often see him at home, after my online work I always miss him so I always give him a soundly kiss and a big hug.

 

Educational activities at home for active toddlers

As a mom, I have been trying different ways to keep my active toddler busy. My three-year old son is so playful and active that he wants to play most of the times. I let him watch educational children TV shows from Nickelodeon but I think it would be best to engaged him in other educational activities at home.

Aside from toys, I encourage my little boy to love books. I bought several children’s book from booksale and some are gifts from his godparents and aunt. Children get easily excited with new toys but they also get easily bored after several plays. They have a tendency to lose their interest with their toys and want various activities. Letting them explore various activities at home may help in child’s mental development and social interaction attitude through mommy-toddler bonding.

Filipino toddler reading book

Filipino toddler reading Thomas book

Teaching him through book reading and demonstration helps Continue reading

What is the best way to deal with children’s tantrum?

Dealing with kid’s Tantrum is truly one of the most challenging part in parenting. Every child has its own behavior and moods that shifts depending on certain situations. Tantrum is an emotional outburst usually associated with children that can be identified by stubbornness, yelling, screaming, shrieking and angry ranting. A child with tantrum maybe difficult to handle at times because they usually express angry and violent speech that cannot be controlled immediately.

Filipino toddler on tantrums
Filipino toddler on tantrums

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Tips on teaching step by step learning of a toddler

My little son just turned three years old last October. I am so thankful for his milestones and he is truly catching up so fast. I remember at age 18 months, he can completely count to ten and can distinguish primary colors. When he reached the age of two, he can completely sing clearly the “Bahay Kubo”, a Filipino Folk song and he can count to 20.

Now that he is three years old there are lots of big development from him. I was grateful that he speaks clearly in Filipino, some English words and sentences.  He can distinguish basic numbers and shapes. I noticed that he started to do story telling with books and role playing with his toys. When we introduced him to try scrolling the mouse of the computer, he can now hover and click on to play on the computer. The only problem that I am worried about is the effects of using the computer at his early age.

Filipino toddler using laptop
Filipino toddler using laptop

I tried my best to teach him the traditional way that my parents taught me. I  have observe that toddlers at this age needs a twist approach in learning. Let me share some tips to boost your child step by step learning.

Tips on teaching step by step learning of a  toddler Continue reading

Drypers diaper jumbo pack review

Drypers diaper jumbo pack

Drypers diaper jumbo pack

Three weeks ago I joined a giveaway contest by a fellow mommy blogger and the prize is Drypers diaper. I was one of the lucky winners of Drypers jumbo pack diaper.

I received the shipment of Drypers diaper jumbo pack containing 48 pieces on Large size last week. Before I blog about it, I decided to test and use it first for my little boy who is three years old. Since he is already a toddler, I am starting to teach him to use the potty whenever he wants to urinate and poopoo. But, I still prefer to let him wear diaper at night when we stroll outside.

I tested the drypers diaper  to my son for almost a week and I can say that the diaper is so soft and its true that the baby’s skin even drier. It is very convenient to use for the baby and toddler because the diaper is fitted and my son felt like he is not wearing diaper at all due to dryness. The texture of Drypers diaper is cottony, soft and smooth making your baby happily comfortable. It also has a magic tape that you can adjust to make sure that its fitted. Lastly, drypers diaper is stylish and fashionable with its cute animals design printed on the diaper.

Thank you Drypers for the giveaway prize  through the giveaway contest hosted by my fellow mommy blogger at mommysurvival.info.

Toddler learns to use the spoon at three

I am so happy that my little boy learned to use the spoon with little mess. Usually I help him whenever he eats using the spoon but that time he completely use it with less mess. Toddler at age three is truly playful and active. Most of the times when we dine in we stayed first outside the restaurant to scroll so he will not be bored then we will go back inside when the foods are ready.

Filipino toddler using a spoon
Filipino toddler using a spoon

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Let Our Child Enjoy their Childhood with our affection

For me, childhood is the best part in a life of an individual. I remember how I was loved and raised by my good parents with my sibling, relatives, cousins, playmates and teachers. When I reminisce my childhood memories, I always smile and thankful that I have enjoyed my childhood days.

cute Filipino toddler smiles
Filipino Toddler with cute smiles

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