Update on teaching aids for (small) toddlers

I wanted to update this blog on our successes and/or failures with the teaching aids/activity books we bought back in 2011.

Here is my original post

The Brain Quest series was a success he adored the My First Brain Quest (when he was 2 years old) and quickly surpassed it and we bought Brain Quest for Threes.  I also bought the Write & Erase Alphabet Set and Write & Erase Numbers but they were a bit too advanced for him at age 2.   We will go back and use these now since he is 3 years old.

We also bought some Kumon Series Books.  We tried Kumon Tracing Book for 2, 3 and 4 year olds when he was 2.5 years old.  He did well with the simple straight lines and a few curves.  Recently I brought out the book and he was able to complete almost the entire book in 2 hours time!  He can now make lines, curves and even x's +'s and the letter H! 

This is why I stated we will go ahead and try Brain Quest's Write & Erase Alphabet and Number Sets.  He is really starting to write and draw things that make sense ;-)

So in summary...buying these workbooks at age 2 is a bit too young.  But 2.5/3 years old is really a good time.  My son recently started Maternelle (aka preschool here in France starts at 3 years old).  By the end of the school year he will learn how to write his name!  So we are practicing with him at home.  I am also worried about his English Language skills so since he is getting so many hours of French.  I will need to find some supplemental workbooks etc...in English when we are in the US again in 6 months time.  If anybody has any recommendations please feel free to comment. 

I read to him daily so if you have any good book rec's pass them along also.  I am always looking to stock up while we are home.  But Amazon.fr is always a good source for English books as well (more $$ but hey...the cost of an extra bag or the weight limit probably is more!). 

 TN

3rd Birthday American Style + Frenchies = ;-)

We were battling over whether to throw Little Man a 3rd birthday party or not.  And if we did who would we invite (friends from the neighborhood, English speaking friends or family and close friends)?

We have been really getting to know a lot of people lately.  Not just from Little Man's halte de garderie (part time daycare) but also through an English Group we are a part of.  It was hard to decide since SOME of the English Speakers aren't all French Speakers.  And I wasn't sure if the French Speaks could all speak English since I have only spoken French to them.   So we did not know if they would mix well.  We decided to go with just friends from the neighborhood!  So the Frenchies it is...

With a little help from Little Man we decided to throw a Robot Party ;-)

Here are pics of our invites we handmade!

I decided to do something VERY American and have cupcakes and chocolate chip cookies!

OH MY the cookies were to die for!

For the cupcakes I decided to be French Friendly and just do a dollop of frosting (homemade btw!)

Here is Little Man saying he is ''tree years old'' ;-)

All in all it was a good time and we got to bond a bit more with our neighborhood friends.  Who btw will mostly be in Little Man's Preschool (Maternelle) Class in the Fall!

Recipes:

Cupcakes - http://allrecipes.com/recipe/simple-white-cake/detail.aspx
Cookies - SOOOO GOOD! http://allrecipes.com/recipe/best-chocolate-chip-cookies/
Frosting Recipe -  4 cups sifted confectioners sugar (powdered sugar)
                              1/2 cup butter softened
                              1 teaspoon vanilla
                              3 tablespoons milk
                              food coloring optional
                              -in large bowl beat with an electric mixer

Bilingual - Language Development - Little Man

So I have never commented on Little Man's language skills.

Sorry...I have been pretty busy lately ;-)

I have read many times that bilingual kids are late talkers.  But good news no issues here!

He was recognizing many many words by 13 months (i.e. baby, bird, panda, ball, duck, belly button, ears, nose, feet and shoes).  So we knew talking was on it's way.  He (technically) said his first word "Tiger'' at 15 months but then never said it again for a long time.  It's funny because that is F's College Mascot.  Coincidence I think not!  The 2nd OFFICIAL word was "Mama'' at 15 months followed by ''Papa'' at 16 months.

At 17 months he was saying Tchin Tchin (Cheers in French), Dodo (night night), Caca (Poop) and Miam Miam (Yummy).  He was recognizing many more words and he also could make a lot of animal sounds (chicken, lion, bear, monkey, dog and sheep).

At 18 months (Christmas Time) he was saying Santa, fish, encore (means more/again in French), please and baby

At 20 months he was saying Thank You and Merci as well as saying Mamie and Papy (Names for his French Grandparents).

At 22 months he started to add Verbs!  Casser (to break) and Cacher (to hide).  Words he started to use were water, cookie, bread, again and more (in English).  He started to repeat everything we said at this age. 

Just before his 2nd birthday he made his first sentence (in French)...Il est là and Il est parti both were using the Past Tense! 

At 25 months he learned his soon-to-be baby sister's name, started to form his first sentence in English (not a full sentence) he said ''You go'', started to say his own name and he counted in English (skipping a lot of numbers but mostly in order).

At 26 months while on vacation in Dordogne (Region known for Medievel Castles) he was trying to say Cheval and Chevalier but in Theo's language it is Falal and Falalier (Horse and Knight in French).  Other words learned this month were - outside, chercher ballon (first command - go get the ball), pecher (verb to fish), cache papa cache (means hide papa hide but he meant swim underwater papa), spashing (aka splashing) and Alwhite = Alright

Also at 26 months he said his first 3 English Sentences!   "I did it", "Little Man (he said his name) farted too" after papa farted and then after we were laughing hysterically he said "Little Man's (he said his name) so funny!" After these first English and French sentences his language really exploded.  Too many sentences to count or to keep track of.

At 27 months colors were a big accomplishment - Blue/Bleu he knew very well.  Rouge/Red pretty good.  Jaune/Yellow is his favorite so everything is Jaune.  Pink/Rose - is pretty good.  Vert/Green not very good with this color.  Still trying to expose new colors Purple, White, Black, Brown - he fully learned them all by 29 months.

At 28 months he said his first French negation sentence - Ylon ne manger pas (Tiger does not eat).

At 29 months he started to use contractions - can't find it, can't reach it

At 30 months he was able to tell me his ear hurt.  We caught an ear infection early!  


At 34 months he could recite a book we read at night by himself

Now to present just a few weeks shy of 3 years old...he is fully bilingual.  I do see some long pauses from time to time.  When he is trying to translate something from one language to another.  Also these pauses occur when he gets stuck on a noun he does not know the name for.  Instead of finishing the sentence with a general word like ''this'' or ''that'' he looks at me or my husband for help. 

He usually speaks the correct language to people.  Meaning if they are French speakers he speaks French and if they are English he speaks English.  He has been doing this for awhile.  He translates a lot of what his grandparents/papa says in French into English for me.  I think he thinks I don't understand haha! 

I only speak English to him (and his baby sister).  We subscribe to One Parent One Language.  We read every night (but my husband and I take turns so half French half English).  People ask all the time which language is he stronger in.  I think it is English.  And I believe my husband agrees.  BUT he is starting a French Preschool in the Fall.  I think I will need to step up the English speaking, reading and playgroups a bit to keep up the English language learning. 

Any tips or suggestions?  My worst fear is that he will get behind...

I would consider a bilingual school but I really don't think there is a real need here in Paris and in a One Language One Parent home.  We are also highly active with the English Speaking Community (having playgroups every other week).  My concerns are a bit eased because my husband is fluent and he was not a native (mother tongue) speaker like our children.  But it's always in the back of my mind.  Plus these bilingual schools are a terror to get into.  Just like those prep schools you hear about in NYC.  i.e. 9 spots and 100 kids apply!  There is only one nearby us (it's Catholic...which doesn't bother us too much) the rest are in the burbs.  Of course French school is free from age 3+ and the added expense of private bilingual school...I just can't seem to want to waste money IF I can teach them effectively.  Or if I see there is a problem I would hire a tutor to come in weekly. 

With the kids together I often wonder what language they will choose to speak ;-)  So far it is English!  But she is only 8 months so I don't know if it counts haha!

Let me know if you have any ideas...

TN

Puzzles!

I was wondering the other day if Little Man was at the same or a high level than other children his age.  He is working on puzzles higher than the suggested age but I was wondering if those ages are actually lower than those who can actually do them. 

At 2 years and 2 months (August) while on vacation we needed some toys to keep Little Man occupied.  He was tired with the few toys we brought with us.  So we bought a 36 piece (4+) puzzle.  We decided to choose a more advanced puzzle since the wooden ones (or those in the 2 year age group) were boring for him.  He needed some help at first.  But within one month he was putting it together by himself (September).  Amazing my cousin who was visiting. She in turn bought him another 36 piece 4-6 year old puzzle.  He actually picked this one up in no time.  I'd say the second or third time he was able to complete it without any assistance.  2 months later (December) we bought him a more challenging puzzle a 100 piece 5-8 year old puzzle!  We normally do this one together but he could do it by himself except for the sky which is hard for us haha!  My husband then (March) bought him 54 piece 5 year + puzzle (we wanted one he could do all on his own...it is challenging even though it has less pieces). 

So what's the verdict are other almost 3 year olds doing around 60 pieces with no assistance or 100 pieces with little assistance?  The teacher at his part time daycare (In French Halte de Garderie) says this is not normal for a child his age.  We are encouraging this skill maybe he will become an architect or engineer ;-)

I have heard of these Frobel Gifts that were used by Frank Lloyd Wright...we might by them next go around.
http://www.froebelgifts.com/gifts.htm