Monday, May 14, 2012

Paper Dolls and Worksheets

Just want to share a couple of great finds:

(1) WORKSHEETS and REVIEWERS

Visit school.ph for worksheets for both preschool and elementary kids. Covering all major subjects, these worksheets are made by moms for moms "to help their children do well in school." Registration is FREE (though premium membership is available for full access to worksheets and the answer keys) so you have nothing to lose by trying it out. The worksheets are in PDF format so all you need is an Adobe Reader and a printer and you're good to go!

(2) PAPER DOLLS

My daughter has just hit the paper doll mania stage. If you've gone through this with your kid, you've probably also experiences that one, teensy weensy annoying thing about paper dolls in general - as cute as they are, the clothes just don't stay on with those flimsy paper tabs! WS Pacific Publications (also known as Learning is Fun) solves this with paper dolls that have small lots for the tabs to go through, which prevents the clothes from sliding off. Their Princess Sticker and Activity Book comes with two such paper dolls. Although they only have a couple of dolls, clothes, and accessories, you can also pick up a copy of the mermaid, fairy, and ballerina editions in order to mix and match. At less than ~P80 each, you can buy the whole set at SM Department Store and still get more for your money than the flimsy Disney Princess counterpart. Each book also comes with stickers and activities (including puppets, connect-the-dots, etc.). I bought one to keep my daughter busy during our 1-hour flight to Cebu. It worked like a charm and all the dresses and accessories stayed on for the duration of the trip.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Shangri-La Mactan: Slice of Paradise


I highly recommend Shangri-La Mactan when planning a summer vacation with small children. My daughter is still iffy about swimming in the beach. Thankfully, this resort provided lots of alternatives to keep her entertained and allow us parents to relax!

(1) Adventure Zone - there's a two-storey play area for the big kids. Directly across from it is a small room called the "Toddler Zone" -  a miniature, quieter version where my daughter could play without fear of being trampled by the older crowd. The staff also holds daily arts and crafts sessions for FREE.

(2) Aqua Play - outdoor play area by the main pool rife with slides and showers. The showers still freaked out my daughter, but she did enjoy running around it.

(3) Miniature Golf and Putting Area - we weren't able to try this out though it was tempting - maybe next time? ;)

(4) Fish Feeding - get some fish food pellets from the counter and wade in the water. Pretty soon you'll be surrounded by colorful (and friendly!) fish.

(5) Water Sports - parasail at 150, 250, or 350 feet! There's also snorkeling, scuba diving, jet skis, banana boats, and glass bottom rides.

(6) E-zone - there is an actual Timezone inside the hotel! I would say enough said, but there's also a Wii station, air hockey, Internet, and pinball.

(7) Daily Breakfast Buffet - if you're traveling with kids, be sure to eat at Tides instead of Acqua. Tides has a mini buffet set up for children!

(8) Sand Castle Station - a small covered portion of the beach is dedicated to the artistic tots. It's well stocked with molds, pails, shovels, rakes and whatever else you need to create your masterpiece.

(9) Chi The Spa - the resort also has its own spa. At ~$100 for a "traditional Filipino hilot" though, we decided to pass on this one.

(10) SWIM!!! - there's at least 3 swimming pools and did I mention that there's a beach too? ;)

We stayed at the ground floor of the  Ocean Wing, which was well worth it. Every morning you can literally step out into a huge expanse of grassy walkways leading to the restaurants, pools, and beach. The Ocean Wing has its own pool, which is smaller, but just the thing when you want to kick back and relax and shy away from the boisterous crowd at the main pools.

Some tips: pass by a convenience store on your way to the hotel. The price of bottled water in their shops and restaurants is staggering! Also, set expectations with your tot - their cable TV does NOT have Disney Junior.