Baking craft:Fish - 3years 11months old

Zo Ee at 3years 11months old. (8th April 2012)

It was raining and we couldn't leave the Mall this afternoon. While waiting for the rain to stop, I decided to let Zo Ee tried on this baking craft available there. Of all the designs, Zo Ee decided on a fish which I thought to be rather simple and boring but surprisingly Zo Ee creatively turned it into a lively one. Even the craft person at the shop praised her beautiful work and creativity. DH was impressed too and I think he will not hessitate for her to bake another one in the future. It's not difficult and it's a lot easier than it look, or maybe Zo Ee made it look easy since other kids were really careful and slow with their work while Zo Ee finished hers fastest among all the kids. She was fast in filling up the mold with the colour material provided and she didn't follow the picture sample provided (bottom right). She told me that she wanted to make a colourful fish which she did. We decided to stick the finished rubbery fish on her room's wall with blue tac and she is really happy and proud of her fish.

Graphing - 3years 11months old

Zo Ee at 3years 11months old. (2nd April 2012)

I've seen Zo Ee doing Tally Mark chart for few months already but Bar Chart and Pie Chart are really something new. I think it all got started after she read a Charting book from the library few weeks ago. Since then, occasionally, I am seeing emerging charts in her drawings. I think the ones she did yesterday were pretty good. I asked her about any charting videos on Brainpop Junior and she did say yes. Since I coudn't recall any, she must have not watch those videos recently or for the past weeks. That's why I'm finding this interesting as I'm seeing her self-correcting and improving on her charting without any feedback or guidance from me or anyone at all. Each time, her graphing improved with more details etc and she has not re-read that book which we had returned many weeks ago and has not watched any related video recently of past 1 month. So, it's all inside her head and memory and she just self-correct and improved after each try. As of yesterday, I think it was her 10-13th charts that I've seen. Pretty obvious that she has been a bit obssessed with graphing since reading that library book, occasionally telling me that she/we need to make a chart of XXX or YYYY for my cooking, her toys, activities etc. And she could read graphs long before this too, most probably from brainpop junior too.

This is the most complete Bar Chart from her, though the missing zero on the number bar. She said its a bar chart of fruits she has eaten; banana, apple, grapes and cherry.

Pie Chart - Ice-cream, flower shape cake and sweets.

Prime Numbers - 3years 9months old

Zo Ee at 3years 9months old. (25th January 2012)

For the past 2 weeks, Zo Ee is obsessed with math again; she's been asking loads of math questions and is interested in negative numbers; doing negative subtraction and simple division and money. Today, she showed me 5 and 6 coloured pencils in each hands while telling me, 5 + 6 = 11. Then she handed me those 5 pencils while telling me 5 is a primary number and then handed me 6 pencils while telling me 6 is a secondary number. Ok...I don't think there is any primary number or secondary number. What sheis really trying to tell me is primary = prime numbers and secondary numbers = composite numbers. She is linking from the colour concept ; primary and secondary colours. You mixed two primary colours to get a secondary colour. So the same concept applies to numbers.

Poem for Mummy - 3years 7months old

Zo Ee at 3years 7months old. (6th December 2011)

Another poem from Zo Ee. This time, a poem for Mummy. So I must be proud right? ; ) but I don't really understand it; partially maybe but I can't expect much from a 3years 7months old, right?

When I asked her to read it to me, it sounded like this.

Yellow yellow evyre(ever) owchoo aplethees

As a man

Is bella good?

yes and soost.

Shoo! the bee stinged Mummy.

And my Mummy sheeshabch

What a gap fomed(formed) owch!

Is at mnoocch!

And a shoes and ch!.

First Poem - 3years 7months old.

Zo Ee at 3years 7months old. (2nd December 2011)

Zo Ee showed me this and claimed that this is her funny poem. I'm not sure whether it's totally all her idea or maybe copied/remembering from the Diary of the Wimpy Kid book, since I'm guessing the word Dork is from there although she was not referring to any book when writing this.

Poem 1:
SheLLs Doing all Wet as A
is what a Dork?
Its parts are very bTusss........ (a funny sound)
A Dork is it
A wheel is it
A rock!

Poem 2:
See A butterfly
is Aooo.........
Am An Acooo......
AcorotAtt...... (funny sound)
At When Dooo.....
The Hen gee!
A A O O b!
C C C C.....
A too...
T T T T
is AA OCC.

6th Swim lesson - 3years 7months old

Zo Ee at 3years 7months old. (2nd December 2011)

Today was Zo Ee's 6th swim lesson. I thought she did great especially from someone who is afraid to put her head in the water prior to her 1st lesson. She swam a short distance (14s video clip below). Oh....I'm so proud of her.

Case 1 - 3years 6months old.

Zo Ee at 3years 6months old. (31st October 2011)

Case 1 ? I am finding this very interesting. I'm wondering what is she doing on the white board.

Crossing over Puzzle - 3years 6months old

Zo Ee at 3years 6months old. (29th October 2011)

A classic math problem about a man trying to get a goat, a cabbage, and a wolf across a river. There is only space for the man and one other thing in the boat. If the wolf and the goat are left together, the wolf will eat the goat, if the cabbage and goat are alone, the goat will eat the cabbage. How does he get all three across the river?

A friend posted this online and was surprised as to how her two children solve it differently. S0 I was curious whether Zo Ee will understand such puzzle and somehow she managed to get the answer correctly. I think it's a combination of luck with some reasoning skill but I still and won't believe that she could solve it since she is only 3years 6months old. Initially, she couldn't reason anything out by just listening to the question. So I drew it out for her. She was able to see it clearer with the drawing. Immediately she said Goat should cross first. I'm not sure why, maybe it was luck. Next was to bring the cabbage over. Followed by the wolf later. That's when I interfered, reminding her that that will not be possible as the goat will eat the cabbage while the man went back to get the wolf. They shouldn't be left alone together. She paused to think and before finally telling me that the man should bring the goat back across the river. Dropped the goat so that he can bring the wolf across and finally back to get the goat again. She got it and was proudly telling DH the answer.

First Story - 3years 6months old

Zo Ee at 3years 6months old. (23rd October 2011)

I think it's cool to see Zo Ee's first writing. Is this a 3.5years old spurt? I have yet to see any sentences from her and she skipped wrting sentences and straight into her very first story. She did ask me to spell the words knocking, blasting and sound for her. The rest are her own work. We have not talk to her about ghost as such, and when I asked her what is a ghost, her reply - A ghost is a scary thing. And If you know her, Zo Ee is a fact person, reading books on facts rather than fiction. So I didn't really expect such a story from her.

Star! - 3years 6months old

Zo Ee at 3years 6months old. (19th October 2011)

Look at the Stars! This is my first time seeing her drawing stars. I think her handwriting "PUZZle WRiTing" is very good for her age.

Speech & Drama Class - 3years 6months old

Zo Ee at 3years 6months old. (15th October 2011)

Zo Ee attended her speech and drama class for the 2nd time today. She had a blast and loves it. Picking her up, I asked her teacher how is Zo Ee doing in the class, she replied me that she is a very creative girl while raising her eyebrows! So I asked Zo Ee about today's class, she said that she told the drama teacher that she wanted to be king Arthur, and her friends will be Kay, Sir Ector, Merlin, etc while raising one hand above her head with an imaginary sword, pretending to be Arthur. Ok. this is a drama class for 3 -5 years old, I wonder how many would understand what she 's talking about.

Went inviting - 3years 6months old

Zo Ee at 3years 6months old. (11th October 2011)

When I dropped Zo Ee at school today, her teacher asked me, " Did she tell you about what happen yesterday?" I have no idea since Zo Ee didn't say anything special other than being extra tired after school. Zo Ee's class teacher told me this morning that she took Zo Ee around the school to send out invitations to the headmaster, vice and all the big shots in school yesterday. This is not a small school considering the classes they offered; Nursery1, Nursery 2, Kindergarten, 1st Standard - 10th Standard, as the school has been divided into different sections with their own heads and occupying different blocks. No wonder, Zo Ee was so tired yesterday after school that she actually napped for 2 hours which she hasn't been for months. The walking to other blocks and the heat must have exhausted her plus the ongoing rehearsal for tomorrow Nursery 1 Poem Recitation Day. Her whole class will be reciting and performing the Hush, Little Baby (with acting) which her teacher modified to a longer version for all to take part in and a poem on My little Naughty Monkey.


So yesterday, Zo Ee was representing her section to invite those important people to witness their performance tomorrow. Her teacher taught her what to say and do just before hand and Zo Ee did the talking and handing out those invitation cards at each individual office. Her teacher said that she did so well and amazingly impressed all the invitees. I'm glad she was given the opportunity to boost her public skill (anyway so far she has no fear at all talking to strangers) and to carry on a special task like that. I think its such an invaluable learning and experience for her since this is not something she can get from her beloved books. What a good way to mark the day Zo Ee turned 3 years 6months old (yesterday). I'm very proud of her.

Here is a photo of her on the actual Recitation Day, today (13th October 2011).

The whole class is wearing Green blouse/shirt with Denim Shorts, plus a little makeup. Zo Ee was excited about the makeup since she did have some idea from her DVD, those kiddy ballet dancers getting ready for their performance and I'm not into make up myself. I don't really like children to wear makeup at such age but didn't want her to be left out since all her friends will be having them. She was very cooperative. Anyway, I just put very light makeup for her; eyeshadow, blusher and a lip gloss instead of lipstick. I'm not good at make up but I think she looks alright. This is how she looks with her make up!

Linking Addition with Multiplication - 3years 5months old

Zo Ee at 3years 5months old. (9th October 2011)

These 2 weeks, Zo Ee surprised me by trying to link addition sums with multiplication sums. A few of her examples that I could recall is

2 + 2 = 4 , 2x2 = 4
so 2+2 = 2x2

3 + 3 = 6, 3x2 = 6
so there are the same,
meaning 3 + 3 = 3 x 2

5 + 5 = 10 and 2 x 5 = 10
so 5+ 5 = 2 x 5

5 + 5 + 5+5 +5 = 25 and 5x5 = 25
so 5 + 5 + 5+5 +5 = 5x5

1 whole Drawing - 3years 5months old

Zo Ee at 3years 5months old. (4th October 2011)

This is the first time I'm seeing Zo Ee drawing related pictures in one drawing (rather than many individual pictures scattering on one page). When I asked her why some of the people are not touching the ground, her replied "They are jumping in the air."

From left to right:
A-Jack-in-the-box with a Mickey hand. The first pink kid was thinking about MICKEY. The girl is skipping with a rope. The small purple boy is thinking about a flower flying in the air. The man is thinking about another Jack-in-the-box with a Mickey hand. A brown alien and also a flying helicopter in the sky.

Singing on stage -3years 5months old

Zo Ee at 3years 5months old. (1st October 2011)

Last Saturday night, we were attending DH's company function. We were walking past the stage and the singers on stage talked to Zo Ee and they asked her whether she would like to sing and she replied yes. I was very surprised she agreed to sing. Zo Ee sang 2 Hindi songs on stage, in front of about 50 people. She was cool and calm. The singers gave me this "WOW!" look for her singing and asked me about her age. Before bed that night, I asked her again, whether she will want to sing on stage again, and her answer was YES.

Last weekend, we got another positive remark on her singing at another restaurant. The waiter overheard her singing to herself and telling us that she sings so well. Hmm... Both Dh and I are not good at singing. I think she sings ok but many people commented that she never sings out of tune since young. I don't really know how to judge a toddler's singing.

2nd Poems Book-3years 5months old.

Zo Ee at 3years 5months old. (17th September 2011)



About this book: 192 pages, DRA - 38, RL - 3.5, GRL:P.

After embracing her first Poetry book - The Kingfisher book of Funny Poems, over 200 funny poems selected by Roger McGough for a few months (yellow book below), I finally managed to find her another book today- Where the Sidewalk Ends (30th Anniversary Special Edition) by Shel Silverstein. Zo Ee sat down and read the entire book this afternoon in one sitting. When I asked her, Do you like poems? Yes was her reply.



In fact, last month she had wanted to brought the first book to school so that she can read it to her class teacher.

Oh! Now it did make sense....no wonder Zo Ee is so good at rhyming words. Now, I know where she learns... It has never triggered me that she learned from poems cause she read the first book all by herself. Mummy bought her this second poems book which she read in one sitting just now. It's over 200 pages with 130 poems. Amazon review stated that this is a book for 9 -12 years old.

Enjoying her new book.



Zo Ee's first Poems book.

1st reward Money - 3years 5months old

Zo Ee at 3years 5months old. (17th September 2011)

After collecting 30 stars, we promised to reward Zo Ee with IR300; each star is IR10. With this money, she can buy anything of her preference and today Mummy took her out for shopping with her first IR300. We stopped at a toy shop , and Mummy saw this toy below which looks like something Zo Ee has been looking for for some time now. When I showed it to her, immediately Zo Ee wanted this. When I checked it out, the pieces are very tiny; from 2mm- 6mm. I was a bit worried seeing the actual size but Zo Ee was very persistent that this was what she wanted. She spend quite some time playing with it even at the restaurant that we stopped after the toy shop. She created a symmetry pattern which looks awesome to me. I've never seen her doing any thing like that before.

And when we reached home, she had wanted to create the tulips as per the instruction book. She spent about an hour to finish the entire thing and struggled a little to put the tiniest ones in place. She did make a few minor mistakes which Mummy corrected. She had no problem doing the individual flower but found it a little tricky each time to move on to the next flower as where to start. Sometimes, she went a little higher or lower than the actual stated grid location. Since this is a new toy, she insisted that I helped her; not doing anything but to sit next to her and look! Just in case she had any queries or if she was stuck. Zo Ee even told Mummy, "Please stay here until I finished the entire picture."

That's her final picture. I think this shall keep her occupied for some time since she has so many samples to copy from train, fish, human, windmill, birds, butterflies, apple etc.

Since the first toy didn't cost much, only IR150, Zo Ee bought this sharpener with her remaining IR150. It was actually IR155, Mummy contributed IR5.

Easy & Hard Quizzes - 3years 5months old

Zo Ee at 3years 5months old. (13th September 2011)

Out of curiosity, I had Zo Ee answered the multiple choices Easy & Hard Quizzes from Brainpop Jr. She has never try any yet and my thinking was why not. We never do Q&A session after reading. To me, reading is to impart knowledge. But as Zo Ee gets older, she started to ask questions here and there while reading but not the real Q&A. On a few rare occasions, I may ask her a question but its really rare and it happens only when I have doubt in her understanding a big word etc.


I chose her favourite two; Solar System and Digestive System. Since she is quite new to this website; as it has been only introduced to her about 10 days ago and it has approximate 230 videos, I noticed that she has watched these two videos the most; 5x and 4x respectively unlike the rest, mostly 1x, a few 2x since she has wanted to cover all the video clips systematically. She has completed about 90% of them thus far. I am very impressed that she diligently finished each videos in every sub- topics and topics before moving on to the next. Ok. Maybe this is her second nature; huge appetite for knowledge and is interested in almost EVERYTHING!

Zo Ee was very quick at answering most questions; she spilled out some answers spontaneously even without looking at the multiple answers provided, especially from the Easy Quizzes. Here is her result. For Solar System, she correctly answered 4/5 from the Easy Quiz and 4/5 from the Hard Quiz. 5/5 from the Easy Quiz and 4/5 from the Hard Quiz for Digestive System. She breezed through the Easy Quizzes and paused to read the longer answers in the Hard Quizzes, but she still managed to answer the longer questions in less than 30s each. Nevertheless, its unimaginable that she is capable of answering even the Hard Quizzes well too. Sometimes, occasion like this really proof to me that Zo Ee 's capabilities are beyond words, at least to me. I think this is pretty advanced for her age if my guessing is not wrong; Am I right? Please forgive me on this, as at many occasions, I don't really know what is norm and what is not anymore.

The Solar System
Easy Quiz
1. Which planet from our Solar System does this picture show?
Saturn

2. Which planet has thin rings and a storm called the Great Dark Spot?
Neptune

3. Why is Mars called the "red planet"?
Zo Ee got this wrongly. She chose because it has a Great Red Spot. The answer should be because it has reddish dust and rocks.

4. What is the center of our solar system?
The Sun.

5. Which planet is a gas giant?
Neptune.



Hard Quiz
1. Why is Venus the hottest planet in our Solar System?
Its clouds trap in a lot of heat.

2. How is Uranus different from the other planets in our Solar System?
Its spin on its side like a rolling ball. Zo Ee spontaneously answered this even without the need to look at the multiple choices.

3. How are the planets in the Inner Solar System different from the planets in the Outer Solar System?
The inner Solar System planets are warmer.

4. Why is Pluto considered a dwarf planet?
Zo Ee answered - because it orbits around Neptune instead of the Sun. The correct answer should be because it is smaller and its orbit around the Sun is different.

5. Which sentence is true?
The sun is the closest star to Earth.

Digestive System
Easy Quiz
1. Which part of the digestive system does the picture show?
Stomach

2. Which is a long tube that connects your throat and stomach?
Esophagus

3. What happens to food AFTER it gets broken down in the stomach?
It goes to the small intestine. Zo Ee answered this spontaneously without looking at the multiple answers given.

4. Where does digestion starts?
In your mouth

5. An organ is a body part that does a special job. Which part is an organ?
Stomach



Hard Quiz
1. What happens in the small intestine?
Nutrients in the food get absorbed.

2. Which happens LAST?
The food moves into her large intestine.

3. Which sentence is FALSE?
Zo Ee chose - Exercise helps keep your digestive system healthy. The correct answer should be -Your esophagus absorbs different nutrients in food.

4. What do gastric juices do?
They help digest food inside the stomach.

5. You MASTICATE food to help break it down before you swallow. What does MASTICATE means?
To chew.

Hindi Poem - 3years 4months old

Zo Ee at 3years 4months old. (27th August 2011)

This video was taken on the 27th August 2011 (2weeks ago). I am still not use to the new video camera as how to edit video; to add date and title to it. I still can't. Sigh... I am missing my old broken video camera.

Zo Ee's teachers were very surprised when Zo Ee chose to recite this Hindi Poem in front of the class the other day as this was taught in class while she was away during our Australia holiday. Teachers said she can recite so well! That's why I wanted to capture her in action but I have not a single idea what is it about. According to her teachers, Zo Ee also sings 2 other Hindi songs(adult song) and the India national anthem!

Computer skill - 3years 4months old

Zo Ee at 3years 4months old. (7th September 2011)

For the past 1 week, Zo Ee has been busy exploring Brainpop Junior website - one title after another. This is actually the first website that Zo Ee shows tremendous interest at and thus has strongly encouraged her to use the mouse and navigating through this website. She is able to control the mouse well, clicking on the selected films and also navigate between web pages; Science - Animals - Food Chain or Math - Geometry - Plane Shapes or juggle between titles that she wants etc.

Microsoft words

As for typing, occasionally she enjoys typing using Microsoft words. So far, there is nothing special that she has typed that worth blogging. Basically, she is experimenting around with typing; changing between capital and small letters. Trying out the symbols; coma, fullstops, question mark, exclamation mark etc. She likes to type a line of words, and then erase them all. She will sit for half an hour during each sitting.