Dear ( all those who are reading this post),

Excuse me for writing too much. I had this question in my mind for quite a long time.  Teaching children in adult way. Aren’t you too?

Children no matter at what age. They are intelligent with their own mind.

I had once tried to teach my son to use brushes, the adult way- use brush to paint. Instead, he use the brush to stir. Stir up my whole jar of color. End up, the drawing paper was as clean as new. But my son was filled with colors and so was the floor and the palette. And that very moment, I realize! Why must we draw only on papers? Palate is a good medium to draw too.
Luckily, I didn’t restrict him. If not, he will not have to chance to explore!

Lun has been attending Shichida since 11 month old.  There were lots of method being taught and was really enlightening. I was very active mum, always trying to mimic the teaching method taught by sensei ( teacher) . Had done plenty of cards and games for Lun. Most of them, especially those paper games, were a one time off. Consider them as a failure. Well, as those were very willing done, still worth it.

Flashing card is the main teaching or homework that has to be done daily. Consistency is a must. As I am those “5 minutes” mum. It didn’t last very long. We started flashing card before attending Shichida. By 11 month, the crawling time. Flash cards were tedious.  I insisted for a few months more. (Maybe, half a year.) Finally giving up and turn to computer.
Computer is bad. I know. I know. But, Lun was starting to love computer. Grandma, uncle, dad and mum is always on computer.

Why shouldn’t I be too?
So, off we go with the computer. It was fun. I used to work as a animator cum “one leg kick” for educational CD-ROM. (Means: doing the whole stuff, from brainstorming to the final output of the CD-ROM.)  Making an interactive, interesting clips for my kid is easy as eating jelly beans. I didn’t do much as a working mum, I search up and down in the net for the best learning clips for 1 year old. And I found some.

Lun learned well, love those clips and it was easy. But we stop!

Why?
Children mustn’t watch too much TV/ computer. Not only because of the eyes. It’s because it will make them hyper active and dull. Dull in the sense that, they can’t speed read, can’t focus well when doing anything.  I found Lun was a bit too active and slight dreamy.  So, we stop.

What next?
No more computer, I was force to be a bit more creative. We do other stuff instead. Drawing, reading story books, talking and pretending. I still do a bit of flash card on and off. Not very consistent. Sometimes I’m not in the mood and he doesn’t want. Reading is our best past time.

I was really lucky to have reading as my main connection with Lun. This was also the only fun and consistent stuff my mum gave it to me. I started reading to Lun, ever since he is still in my womb. My friend’s little thick books gift was  his first own books. He chew( just kidding) , he bite and he hold his own book since 4 month old.  So, you can imagine how many books he is having now.

Am I elaborating too much?
If you are free, you could continue reading. I am now getting to my point.  Teaching children in adult way. Aren’t you too?

Before teaching your child, one must first ask. What are you trying to nurture? A straight A’s scholar? A  doctor? A successful businessman?

My answer is simple.  I want my son to be an independent person with his own thinking (A positive thinker who has dream.) and a loving heart.

He may not be a straight A’s scholar, he know what he wants, what he will becomes and he love his family.

So what should I do to nurture him? 

Is Shichida method the best teaching system? Should I try Montessori instead? With all these queries in mind. I had finally got an answer. No matter what method available. They are just tools. Nobody has more understanding towards your child than you yourself.  Instruction and information can’t nurture a great thinker. The best way to teach them, is to guide them think.

For example, during our last visit to Shichida. Sensei created a windmill guessing game for the children. Each child was given a cylinder , a circle pocket palate and some pictures to guess. Lun wasn’t excited at the games. instead, he was more interested to know why this cylinder is heavier at one end than another. This curiosity is the best. And this is the time to elaborate his thinking. But with time constrain, I had to choose from following the game or  his curiosity.

I’ve chosen the 1st. Though I’ve tried very hard. It doesn’t matter. He find the solution on his own and found a wooden cylinder stopper sticking inside. And that’s the answer to his curiosity. But when he wants to know more. this game has to be put aside for another game.

Seeing it? A big lost to teach him about balancing and gravity.  Timing is so important to a child.

…

Am I wrong or right? …