Toddler's First Puzzles: The Next Step

So your toddler's mastered 3pc, 4pc, 5pc, and 6pc puzzles - what's next? Don't make that eager trip to Hobbes just yet! 24 pc puzzles and beyond may still be too much to handle for your little puzzle master. Thankfully, there is a puzzle between 6pc and 24pc - a 15 pc puzzle! I discovered this type of puzzle at the toy section of Landmark Department Store. It comes in three types - Justice League, Disney Princess, and Winnie The Pooh. The puzzle pieces are large and well suited for toddler's hands. There's also a picture at the righthand corner to serve as a guide. My daughter enjoyed  the feeling that she's now able to work on "big" puzzles! We helped her build the puzzle for the first couple of weeks and now she's able to build it on her own.

Another alternative is to get a 24pc puzzle with large pieces and set up all the corner/edge pieces on the frame. That way, your toddler will only need to figure out the remaining 8-piece puzzle in the middle.

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Battling Toddler's Fears

My toddler has a lot of fears and she doesn't take it well (read: the type who clings and shivers and cries when facing something that scares her). We're taking things one step at a time though and here are a few things we've done that have helped alleviate her fears:

(1) Fear of fish [in an aquarium] - we bought her a lone female fighting fish in a small bowl and set in the middle of our living room. She started by peeking at the fish from the doorway. She eventually got closer and closer until she finally walked up to the bowl and said "Hi!". Now she's able to tap at the bowl to greet the fish.

(2) Fear of thunder - we told her the clouds were clapping their hands because they were happy. She seems to have accepted this explanation and screams "the clouds are just happy!" whenever there's thunder.

(3) Fear of other kids - we enrolled her in toddler classes (Gymboree helped a lot). She's still quite shy and easily intimidated, but there's been a lot of improvement since her first class.

(4) Fear of motorcycles - we told her it's just "Edgar" from her favorite cartoon, The Aristocats.

(5) Night terrors - we've lessened her food intake at night - light supper or cereal instead of a full meal with rice. It seems to help her sleep better with lesser occurrences of nightmares.

Cambridge Development Center

We visited Cambridge Development Center in Salcedo Village, Makati today, and I must say - the facilities are quite impressive. The school is large, spacious, and well-maintained, with areas dedicated for play, class, books, audio/visual activities, etc. There are separate bathrooms for girls and boys. And yes, they do have a fire exit. ;)

They have their own mixed curriculum/methodology following Singapore and Montessori methods, among others. The fact that they have an activity time tailored to each child's skill level and time set aside for grooming lessons (putting on clothes, brushing one's teeth, etc.) was a big plus for me as well.

The only drawback for me - and this is more of a personal thing, really - is that I'm only looking for a toddler school this year. Three times a week, a couple of hours of play and learn to introduce my toddler to the school set up and help her interact with kids her age. Unfortunately, Cambridge only offers toddler class for 1.5 - 2.5 years old. At 2.7 years old, my daughter would be part of their Nursery 1 class - 5 times a week, 3 hours a day. Also, they do not allow parents/yayas inside the classroom. I feel that my child is not yet ready for this kind of schedule, nor do I feel the need to force her into it yet.

The school has an open-enrollment system wherein you can enroll anytime during the year. I'm definitely putting my child up for a trial class and will see later in the year if she's ready for actual schooling.

Free Comic Book Day!!!

Dropped by Fully Booked in Fort at a little past 9 AM to see a line of other eager comics lovers awaiting the shop's opening time of 10AM. Sweated it out under the blistering heat for a chance to nab a free comic myself. This turned out to be a useless effort. Once the doors opened, it was revealed that each customer can choose only one comic out of the pile (a bit disappointing, that, since past free comic book days used to offer more). Hence, the line soon dwindled with plenty more comics to spare. My husband, who decided not to join the line and graciously offered to take care of our daughter, was still able to get a free comic once the initial crowd thinned out.

The choices, I felt, were at least worthwhile: Spiderman, Star Wars, Avatar, Richie Rich, Smurfs, Thor, Green Lantern, and Young Justice League - something for everyone and every age. I'm quite content with my choice of Spiderman and all the humor it has to offer.

I did take advantage of the 20% discount, though. The bookstore restocked their comic collection beforehand and I finally nabbed some manga I've been searching for and at less than the regular price, to boot.

All in all a good haul for me - would have been better if I skipped the line altogether though. :P

The Many Ways You Can Use Shelcore Stacking Cups

Not to be confused with the bulky, musical version, Shelcore Stacking Cups are a set of 8 multi-colored cups. My daughter had this since she was 1 year old and it's one of her most-used and most versatile toy. Here are the many ways you can use the cups, which are sold at less than P300 at the local toy stores (if you buy it separately from the blocks, that is):

 (1) Have your baby stack them into a tower - they need to be stacked in the proper order, from largest to smallest, in order to successfully build a tower. Great for building hand-eye coordination and as a logic puzzle for babies.

(2) The reverse of (1), have your baby fit all the cups inside each other. Again, the proper order is required - from largest to smallest - to get all the cups to fit.

(3) Toss it in the bath and use it as spill cups. The different types of holes at the bottom (used to portray a variety sea creatures) creates various "waterfalls". This kept our baby occupied in the bathtub as she'd scoop up the water, raise the cup, and watch the water drain away.

(4) This is one more for bath time that is sure to delight your baby - stick a plastic ball on top (the really light, multi-colored ones used to fill up those kiddie tents, pools, etc.) and dunk it in the water. The water will go through the holes at the bottom and cause the ball to fly up in the air with a slight popping sound.

(5) Use the cups to teach your baby about the different colors. It also helped my toddler learn to differentiate between light and dark colors.

(6) Bring it to the beach - great for molding sand!

Let's Get Dressed With Dora

Let's Get Dressed with Dora is an ingenious board book lets toddlers practice handling zippers, buttons, velcro snaps, and other items needed to dress up Dora. It's engaging for the little ones and helps develop hand control and hand-eye coordination. It's also a great way to introduce them to different articles of clothing and how to dress up oneself.

The book is available locally, at Fully Booked.

Kumon Workbooks

While in National Bookstore, looking for a book of tracing or basic mazes to help my toddler refine her writing skills, I stumbled upon two shelves full of Kumon workbooks! I've been looking for Kumon workbooks for quite some time now and the actual product did not disappoint. Each workbook specifies the appropriate age range, starting from age 2. The most basic of the set is My First Book of Tracing, which branches out to the basic coloring, counting, cutting, mazes, uppercase and lowercase letters books.

The books are a bit pricey at ~P300 a pop, but each one contains full-colored pages with images and activities that are appealing to children. I'll try the tracing book first and see how it goes. More to blog once my toddler gets her hands dirty with this one!

Angry Birds Mania!

Are you a fan of Angry Birds? Are you desperately seeking all kinds of its cute merchandise? Check out Blade/Clipper at the ground floor of Greenbelt 1, Makati. They offer box sets of figurines (pigs included!), pillows, keychains, cellphone charms, stuffed toys, piggy banks, and bags at reasonable prices.

Animated books

Animation embedded in books? You better believe it! With Scanimation (Waddle, Gallop, etc,) and Animotion (On The Go, etc.) technology, kids (and adults!) can watch in awe as animals, people, and vehicles move on the pages of the book - just like an old-fashioned animated clip! While the text on these books are typically limited to short rhyming phrases and there is little (to no) story whatsoever, the moving pictures still provide ample amusement and entertainment, while introducing young children to the concept of movement.

The Waddle! book had my toddler laughing out loud in the bookstore. I thought the colors on On The Go were more visible, though, and bought this instead.

These books are available at the local bookstores (National, Power Books, Fully Booked).

Original Dora DVDs at P50!

Head on over to the video stores if your kid's a Dora fan - they're selling all original DVDs at only P50 each. A saleslady informed me that the distributor is changing so they're selling out the old stocks. Dora DVDs are already sold out at most of the popular video shops, but they're still some available if you keep looking - as of last weekend, I was able to get a box set from Astro Vision and I noticed that Rustan's Department Store still has them. Good luck and Happy Shopping!

Dora's Storybook and Figurine Playset

Great find at Fully Booked in Fort Bonifacio today - the Where Is Tico? storybook, giant playmat and 12 toy figurines set! The figurines include Dora, Boots, Benny, Isa, Tico, Swiper, Backpack, Abuela, Mami, Papi, Senor Tucan and Grumpy Old Troll! And all for P750 - beats buying the individual Megablock Dora toys at the toystore for P800-P1500. Not to mention that Megablock usually only has Dora and Boots figurines.

I've yet to open the pack because I'm planning to give it to my toddler as a reward for when she starts school this June. She really likes Dora's Theater, but has difficulty maneuvering the paper dolls and balancing them on the cardboard stage. I'm really hoping she'll like this playset!

PRIMA Day School

Another progressive preschool within Makati is PRIMA Day School. I was very impressed by their school, which is located in Ascott Hotel, Glorietta. The school is divided into 3 rooms - the reception/waiting area, indoor playroom, and classroom. The indoor playroom is spacious, with two work tables; a mini library; a play kitchen area; boxes and shelves of toys (with musical instruments and blocks); and a small elevated space with a faux tree (for kids who like to run up and down stairs). There is also an outdoor playground.

My daughter immediately took to the place and its teachers, who were friendly and obviously used to dealing with children (not surprising given that PRIMA is also a day care center). My toddler, who is usually painfully shy, began to run around and even allowed me to leave her with the teachers for a little while (a first for us!). Upon sitting in on the Nursery class, I saw that the teachers meant business in the classroom, which bolstered my belief that they can prepare my daughter for the big schools. All in all a good experience for both me and my little girl.

KIDS in Day School

Another Makati-based preschool that has gained a lot of positive reviews throughout several mommy blogs is KIDS in Day School in San Antonio Village. The most notable comments were the teachers' ability to prepare their students for the big schools and help particularly shy students to come out of their shell and shine.  I've yet to visit the school myself, but the fact that nearly all their slots have been filled is testament to their popularity.

I did find one blog that mentioned that the  school does not have a fire exit. Again, I have not confirmed this firsthand as I've yet to visit them, but this is definitely one thing I'll be asking when I do drop by.

Shops in Makati with Play Areas

More and more shops in Makati are setting up designated play areas for kids! This adds greatly to the shopping convenience of mommies and daddies who would like the freedom to browse without having to worry about keeping their kids sufficiently entertained. Here's a list of stores that have set up play areas:

(1) Toys R Us, Greenbelt 5 - Little Tykes swing and slide set, cars/scooters, and writing board set up in a corner next to White Hat. Parents can sit and eat (or shop!) while the kids play. THIS IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE.

(2) Hobbes, Greenbelt 5 - long table with chairs at the back of the shop serves as a puzzle area. Kids can play with a large version of the Rush Hour Traffic Jam game, put together something with the Zoob! building set, or - if you're willing to shell out some cash - paint ceramics.

(3) Powerbooks, Greenbelt 2 (walkway) - this bookstore has recently added a small toy section next to the children's books area in the 2nd floor. There is a large Thomas the Tank Engine set on display, which kids can tinker around with.

(4) Rustan's Ayala - the children's section has a semi-enclosed play area with chairs, tables, blocks, and toys. There is also almost always playground sets on display somewhere within the floor, which kids are free to try out.

(5) Toy Kingdom, SM - nearly every section in this huge toy store has toys kids can play with. I just let my daughter run loose and try everything from the Little Tykes sets to the kiddie laptops to the kitchen playsets...and so on :)

(6) Build City, Greenbelt 5 - at the back of the shop, there is a long table where kids can play with LEGO blocks.

How to Organize a Spa Party

A spa party is a unique and well-appreciated event, especially for bridal showers and all-female parties. I organized one for my mother's 59th birthday party. Caprichosa Spa makes it all the more easier by offering to bring the spa to your home! For a minimum of P6000 (consumable), guests can choose right off the spa menu for their desired services. You can also opt to avail of their set packages. Caprichosa takes care of the basic equipment, spa decor, robes, and slippers, giving you a hassle-free experience. They can also provide catering and souvenirs, although I opted to order a merienda package from Conti's instead. Souvenirs were an easy matter of finding colorful bath products.

Both Caprichosa and Conti's did not disappoint overall, although there were some snags. The Conti's delivery van lost its way and was half an hour late. The amount of food (value for money!) and great taste more than made up for that debacle. While Caprichosa delivered as promised, most of the guests complained about the head staff who was taking note of the charges and refused to go over the minimum rate of P6000. I admit that some of the fault was mine, having left the house with my husband and baby to give my mom and her friends time alone, although I did advise the staff to contact my mobile for any concerns. Apparently, they have had instances where guests go overboard with the spa services and reach more than P10K, which the host is unwilling to pay. The owners are very gracious all throughout though, so I think this is just a matter of setting expectations beforehand as tho whether you're willing to splurge or have a limited budget to work with.

Special diet? Drop by Zuni, Greenbelt 5!

To be honest, my mother and I had doubts about enjoying our usual Mother's Day lunch, given that my brother - who just last week had succumbed to a mild stroke at the age of 36 - was on a NO salt / NO fat diet. We decided to stick to our usual jaunt Zuni Restaurant at Greenbelt 5, Makati City, since their grilled selection has thus far managed to cater to all our dietary constraints (such as allergies and limited diet for my mother, who has cancer) without sacrificing the taste. Thankfully, we weren't disappointed. After explaining my brother's condition and presenting a list of his dietary restrictions, the chef came up with a customized meal covering appetizers up to dessert.  The result? A savory set of dishes that left my brother quite content. The rest of us were able to enjoy our regular fare as well. Truly a happy mother's day for us!

Disney Princess Dress Up

Of all the dress up and paper doll books I've encountered, the Disney Princess Dress-Up (A Sticker-Activity Storybook) is by far the best and most convenient for a toddler. It features the 6 princesses (Cinderella, Snow White, Aurora, Belle, Ariel, and Jasmine). Each princess has their own sticker sheet of clothes (including their standard costume) and set of accessories. Since all the princesses sport the same size and pose, all the clothes, shoes, and jewelry can be mixed up to form dozens of combinations.

The set makes use of reusable vinyl stickers, which do not have the stickiness of regular stickers, but cling easily to the board book. This makes it more suitable for toddlers and lessens the chance of the stickers being torn apart. I also favor this version over the magnetic one, which I gave to my niece last Christmas. We discovered that it was difficult to put the magnetic accessories on top of the clothing magnets as it doesn't stick and has a tendency to fall off. Also, the magnetic pieces were quite small and not fit for toddlers. In contrast, the vinyl stickers stick quite nicely on top of each other.

My only gripe is that the vinyl stickers are quite opaque and you can see through the material, making the base garment clearly visible. This is especially evident for Ariel's white wedding dress. It doesn't seem to bother my toddler in the least, but may be noticeable to older children. Also, Ariel is positioned near the middle of the book such that a fold is formed on her dress when you attempt to close the book.

M-Pass - Your ticket to a hassle-free movie experience

I tried Ayala Cinema's M-Pass for the first time yesterday and marveled at the convenience. It took me less than quarter of an hour to register at www.sureseats.com (including the verification process via mobile phone) and load my M-Pass account using G-Cash. I would say the only glitch is that it takes about 10 minutes for the server to process the G-Cash payment. It was smooth sailing after that though. Choose a cinema, seats, pay via M-Pass, print a copy of the confirmation letter and viola! You can go straight to the moviehouse (no need to pass by the ticket counter and certainly no need to be there 45 minutes before showing as is required by the reservation process) and just show the printed page. There's also no extra charge for paying online. You're assured of your seats without any hassle. I'm definitely going to go this route the next time my husband and I have a movie date night!

Meanwhile, we watched Thor (non-3D version). It was OK - worth the price of the movie ticket, at least, but not at par with its Marvel movie predecessors such as Iron Man.

UPDATE: If the website refuses to accept the GCASH reference number even after the 10 minute wait period, go to the CUSTOMER SERVICE tab and contact the Ayala Cinema Support Team via phone or email. This happened to me already and they responded and resolved the issue within the day.

St. Therese Nursery and Kindergarten School

We ventured to the outskirts of Makati, near Sta. Ana, Manila, to check out a preschool that has gotten rave reviews on several blogs and has a reputation for getting their students into the big schools - St. Therese Nursery and Kindergarten School. The directress, Teacher Angel, is very accommodating and allows you to preview a class so long as you schedule beforehand. Summer school is ongoing so this is a good time to have a trial class.

The school itself is spacious with a large garden and play area and clean, well-maintained, air-conditioned classrooms. However, it is not a "play school" (no fancy cushioned rooms with slides and toddler gyms here!); rather, it is an actual preschool that prepares children for the big schools. Their teaching method is eclectic/traditional.

Unfortunately, my daughter still found the actual school set-up daunting and refused to have a trial class. I do have every intention of returning next year, though. I was impressed by the facilities and it is quite difficult to find a traditional preschool in the Makati area.

Toys for Tots: LeapFrog Fridge Phonics

If your child loves fiddling with the fridge magnets, may as well give him or her something safe, fun, and educational to play around with. LeapFrog Fridge Phonics is a magnetic letter set that can teach your child the sound each letter makes. Each letter magnet is big, brightly colored, and covered in plastic, making it safe and easy to handle. Letters can be placed inside the doghouse magnet in order to hear the different sounds each letter makes. There's even a music button that launches the alphabet song (my toddler learned to sing ABC by singing along to this toy!). We used this toy to familiarize my baby with letters and phonics. Now that she's trying to learn how to read, we let her form simple words on the fridge. We currently have a "word of the day" thing going and she's able to identify at least a dozen simple words.

How to Organize a Fairytale Festival Themed Party

I'm asked from time to time to organize or assist with some aspect of events held by family and friends, so I thought I'd blog about these experiences as well.

Theme: Fairytale Festival

Type: Children's Party

Invitation: Simple card invitation with formal wording, inviting others to join in the festival. Prizes will be given to those who come in costume.

Food: Food carts/booths of crepes, ice cream, hotdogs, pizza, french fries, etc. to add to the festival/carnival feel

Decor: Balloons floating freely on the ceiling; Disney princess decor

Entertainment: Bubble Show with Disney princess host; games; party booths (henna tattoo, glitter tattoo, fortune telling)

Souvenir: Photo booth (why waste the costumes?)

Cake: Goldilocks Disney Princess cake with castle

Cost: ~P80,000 for 100+ guests

Tried and Tested Suppliers:

kiddie-party.com (decor, tables, chairs, booths)

Clowning Around (bubble show with host package)

El Regalo (photobooth and souvenirs)

CIE Preschool Opens In Makati!

CIE is a British school from Cebu that has branched out to the Makati area. Their Makati preschool will start this coming school year. The preschool is located at 107 Palanca Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City, which is quite near the business district and Ayala Center malls, and walking distance from most condominiums in the area, including BSA, Shang Grand Tower, Prince Plaza, Greenbelt Madison, Residences, Rada Regency etc.

Because it is an international school, its school year starts in August and ends in June. You can opt to drop by on May 16 (I'll be doing this as well!), which marks the start of their summer classes, in order to see the facilities, teachers, and class schedule/structure first hand.

The tuition fee is actually not that high, given that it's an international school in a prime location and they do offer flexible payment schemes. They charge for their M-F classes the same rate that other preschools give for their 2 to 3x a week classes.

I'll have more to blog after my May 16 visit, but you can opt to call the school at 8880909 for any inquiries.