2011年12月22日 星期四

安馨小啾啾(14個月大)祝你Merry Christmas and Happy 2012

安馨小啾啾14個月大
愛走來走去
愛爬來爬去
愛打招呼
愛笑嘻嘻


愛祝你Merry Christmas and Happy 2012 

2011年11月28日 星期一

Games to play with your toddler (by Baby Center)

Games to play with your toddler

Reviewed by the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board
You and your toddler will have lots of fun playing these simple games, and they'll help her development, too.

12 to 16 months

Coming to life
Pretend your child's favorite teddy or doll is real — make him walk, go to bed, or dance across the room. Include him in everyday activities — sitting him at the table for dinner, for example, and putting a bib on him. Talking about what you're doing will help your toddler with her language skills. Act out happy and sad times, too, so she can learn about feelings and emotions as she's developing her imagination.

Push me, pull you
If your toddler is pulling herself up and trying to walk, help her practice with a pushing and pulling game. Use a moveable object such as a child-size chair or plastic stacking box filled with soft toys. While she holds the edges for support you can hold the other side and keep it steady. Then slowly pull the box toward you to encourage her to step forward. Soon she'll start to push while you gently pull. This will build her confidence for the day she finally walks on her own.

Clap happy
By now your toddler can hold her hands open, but it may be a while before she claps independently. For now, clap them together for her, or let her hold your hands while you pat them together. Sit her facing you on the floor or on your lap, and sing clapping songs like patty-cake. These will boost her language skills as well as her hand-eye coordination.

Who's hiding here?
Just as she loved peek-a-boo as a baby, your toddler will love to play simple games of hide-and-seek. First thing in the morning take turns hiding under the bed sheets; at bath time, use a big towel. For extra fun and giggles you can gently prod her as she hides. "Hmm, is this a leg? Or is it an arm?" Games like this help teach your toddler that just because she can't see something, doesn't mean it isn't there. For a change, while she's wrapped up in the towel, carry her into another room. She'll be delighted when she pops her head out to discover she's in a new spot.

16 to 20 months

Tea party
On a sunny day, take a child-sized plastic tea set outdoors and fill a large plastic bowl with water. Pretend you've "come to tea" and encourage your toddler to fill the teapot and pour the tea. This fun game will challenge his coordination skills and help him learn about the properties of water — for example, that it always flows down, not up.

Block patterns
This requires some concentration on your toddler's part, so it's best played when he's feeling refreshed. Use his building blocks to make simple patterns, such as three in a row or "two up, two down" to make a square. Encourage him to use other blocks to copy your pattern. Then let him try making his own pattern, which you have to copy. Sorting objects like this into shapes will help encourage your toddler's problem-solving skills.

Roll it to me
Balls are popular toys for toddlers. Bouncy balls are best kept outside, but soft, foam balls make great indoor toys. The best ball game to start playing with your toddler is an easy version of "catch." Both of you sit on the ground facing each other with your legs apart and toes touching. You can now roll the ball backward and forward to each other without it going out of bounds. Fun for building arm muscle strength and hand-eye coordination.

Young collector
Go for a walk together and take a bucket with you. Collect small objects that interest your toddler — stones, leaves, pine cones. Your toddler will want to carry the bucket, but don't be surprised if he also dumps its contents and starts again. Toddlers this age love to fill containers just so they can empty them again. Meanwhile, he's practicing his hand movements and developing dexterity.

20 to 24 months

Let's dance!
Play favorite snatches of music that lend themselves to particular actions — something with a big, loud beat so your child can stamp like an elephant, or something quiet so she can pretend she's tiptoeing past a sleeping lion. Marching to music is also great fun and easy enough for most toddlers to manage. These games will stretch her imagination and develop her sense of rhythm.

Balloon fun
Balloons are great for indoor play — they move slowly enough to be chased and are relatively easy to catch. Blow one up and tap it gently into the air. Count how long it takes to float to the ground or let your toddler try to catch it. A good game for counting skills and hand-eye coordination.

Note of caution: Uninflated or broken pieces of latex balloon are a serious choking hazard for children. Inflated balloons are okay, but supervize your toddler closely and take away broken pieces immediately if the balloon pops. If possible, choose mylar or paper balloons instead.

What can you hear?
Take a big towel or blanket out into the garden and lie down on it together. Ask your toddler to close her eyes and listen carefully. After a minute or so ask her what she could hear, and tell her what you heard: The wind in the trees, a bird singing, a car driving past. This is a great game for helping your toddler develop her listening and descriptive skills.

Catch me if you can
Toddlers love to be chased. The object of this game is for your child to be caught, especially if she knows she gets a big bear hug and tickles every time you manage to catch her. For variety, pretend to be different types of animals — a roaring lion or a scuttling mouse. A great game for building up your toddler's stamina — and yours!

2011年11月14日 星期一

The discipline tool kit: Successful strategies for every age (管教小孩妙方 by BabyCenter)

The discipline tool kit: Successful strategies for every age

by Melanie Haiken
Last updated: August 2011
En español
We've all seen them: the out-of-control toddler hurling handfuls of sand at the park; the whiny-voiced 3-year-old begging for candy in the grocery line; the sassy 7-year-old yelling "you can't make me!" at the restaurant.
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And we've privately dissed their parents, reassuring ourselves that we'd never be such a wimp if our child was terrorizing the playground or disrupting everyone's dinner.

But then it happens: the massive meltdown that takes you completely by surprise. And suddenly you are that parent — the one flailing to figure out what to do. The truth is, every child presents discipline challenges at every age, and it's up to us to figure out how to handle them.

Why is discipline such a big dilemma? Because it feels like a tightrope act. On one side there's the peril of permissiveness — no one wants to raise a brat. On the other side there's the fear of over-control — who wants to be the hardliner raising cowed, sullen kids?

What we need is a comfortable middle ground to ensure that our little ones grow up to be respectful, caring, and well behaved.

First, the ground rules

To set the stage for discipline success, here are the bottom-line rules many experts agree on:

1. We're all in this together. Right from the start, teach your kids that your family is a mutual support system, meaning that everyone pitches in. Even a baby can learn to "help" you lift her by reaching out her arms, says Madelyn Swift, founder and director of Childright and author of Discipline for Life, Getting It Right With Children.

2. Respect is mutual. One of the most common complaints parents and kids have about each other is "You're not listening." Set a good example early on: When your child tries to tell you something, stop what you're doing, focus your attention, and listen. Later you can require the same courtesy from her.

3. Consistency is king. One good way to raise a child with emotional strength? Be consistent and unwavering about rules and chores, says Harvard professor Dan Kindlon, author of Too Much of a Good Thing. Even if you pick just one chore to insist on, your child will be better off, Kindlon says. "Being firm and consistent teaches your child that you care enough about him to expect responsible behavior."

4. Life's not always fair. We're so afraid of disappointing or upsetting our kids — too afraid, say some discipline pros. "If a child never experiences the pain of frustration — of having to share a toy or wait their turn in line — or if they're never sad or disappointed, they won't develop psychological skills that are crucial for their future happiness," says Kindlon. 

The tools: Babies, toddlers, and up

A disclaimer: These tools aren't guaranteed to work every time, and none of them will be right for every parent and child. But they will give you options — and what parent doesn't need more to choose from in his or her personal bag of tricks?

Tool: Lavish love
Age: Birth to 12 months (and beyond!)
How it works: It's easy to wonder whether you're giving in when you pick your baby up for the umpteenth time. Is it time to start setting limits? Not yet, say the pros. Responding to your baby's needs won't make her overly demanding or "spoiled." "It's impossible to spoil or overindulge a baby," says Kathryn Kvols, an expert who teaches parenting workshops on discipline and development.

In fact, the opposite is true: By giving your child as much love and attention as possible now, you're helping her become a well-adjusted and well-behaved person. "Your baby is developing trust in her parents, and she does that by knowing that you'll be there to meet her needs," Kvols says.

That trust means that in the long run your child will feel more secure and less anxious, knowing that you take her wants and needs seriously. She'll have confidence in you later, when it's time to set boundaries and lay down rules, and understand that you love her even when you correct her.

Real-life application: Your 4-month-old is crying even though you nursed her a half-hour ago. Your mother-in-law says to let her cry it out. Wrong, say experts: By crying she's telling you she needs something, even if you don't know what it is. Try walking with her, nursing her again, or singing to her. She needs to know you'll be there for her, even if all that's wrong is that she wants to be held.


Tool: Remove and substitute
Age: 6 to 18 months
How it works: Like the rest of us, young children learn by doing — so when your baby throws his bowl of peas off the highchair tray, it's because he's curious to see what will happen, not because he wants to upset you or mess up your clean kitchen floor.

That said, you don't have to stand by while your child does something you don't like. And you definitely don't want to stand by if your little one's grabbing for something dangerous. Take the object away or physically move your baby away from it. Then give him a safe, less-messy or less-destructive alternative. "Substituting something else will prevent a meltdown," Kvols says.

Make sure you explain what you're doing to your child, even if he's too young to really understand. You're teaching a fundamental discipline lesson — that some behaviors aren't acceptable, and that you'll be redirecting him when necessary.

Real-life application: Your 8-month-old keeps grabbing your favorite necklace and chewing on the beads. Instead of letting him, or continuing to pull it out of his hands, unclasp the necklace and put it aside, explaining simply that your jewelry is not for chewing. Then hand your baby a teething ring or another chewable toy and say, "This is fine to chew on."


Tool: Right wrongs together
Age: 12 to 24 months
How it works: Going back to the peas example above — there's a difference between a baby who playfully throws her bowl to the floor and a young toddler who knows she's creating a mess for Mommy or Daddy to clean up.

That turning point happens when your child becomes capable of knowing when she's doing something she's not supposed to, often around her first birthday. "When she looks at you with that glint in her eye and then drops the peas, you know it's time to do something." says expert Madelyn Swift. What you do, says Swift, is start teaching the concept of taking responsibility for her actions.

Real-life application: Your toddler's made a mess under her highchair. When she's finished eating, lift her up, set her on the floor, and ask her to hand you some peas so she's "helping" you take care of it. Talk to her about what you're doing: "Okay, we made a mess with the peas so we have to clean it up."


Tool: Emphasize the positive
Age: 12 months and up
How it works: This one's easy: Tell your child when you like how he's behaving, rather than speaking up only when he's doing something wrong. "It takes a bit of practice to get in the habit of rewarding good behavior rather than punishing bad, but it's more effective in the end," says Ruth Peters, a clinical psychologist in Clearwater, Florida, and author of Don't Be Afraid to Discipline and other books.

Real-life application: It's nap time, a potential battle zone with your sometimes resistant toddler. Head it off by praising even small steps: "It's so great that you stopped playing with your blocks when I asked you to. That means we have extra time and can read a story. If you lie down right away, we'll have even more time and can read two stories." Keep praising each improvement he makes in his nap time routine, and make it worth his while with rewards such as stories or songs.



Tool: Ask for your child's help
Age: 12 months to 8 years
How it works: Researchers know something parents may not: Kids come into the world programmed to be helpful and cooperative. All we have to do as parents is take advantage of this natural tendency. "Kids are innately wired to want to cooperate," says Kathryn Kvols. "A lot of times we parents just don't notice this because we don't expect children to be helpful."

Studies back up this idea: Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology discovered that toddlers as young as 18 months already have full-fledged qualities of altruism and cooperation.

The way they demonstrated this was simple. A researcher would "struggle" to hang up a towel with a clothespin or stack up a pile of books. When he dropped the clothespin or tipped the books over, the toddlers would race to pick up the clothespin and hand it back, or restack the books. But when the researcher made the same mistakes without struggling — that is, without looking like he needed help — the toddlers didn't budge. They understood what it meant to be helpful.

Get your child involved in daily tasks around the house so she learns that everybody works together. "I recommend that parents find things their children can do, whether it's washing vegetables, feeding the dog, or sorting laundry," Kvols says. "You're teaching your child to be helpful, which is one of the most important life skills. We've found time and again that the people who are most mentally healthy are those who've learned to be of service to others."

While this may not sound like a discipline strategy, just wait: If you've taught your child to be cooperative, you can call on this quality when you need it. For example, giving your toddler a "job" to do can defuse some of the most common tantrum-provoking situations. Kathryn Kvols put this to use when her son, Tyler, refused to get into his car seat. She made him "boss of the seatbelts" — he had to make sure everyone in the car was buckled in before the driver could start the car. The battle over the car seat was over.

Real-life application: Let's take the grocery store aisle, site of infamous meltdowns. When your child wriggles to get out of the cart, you can hold up a box of raisins and say: "I need to get food for us to eat, and I need you to help me." Then hand him the box and let him drop it behind him into the cart. You can also ask him to be your "lookout" and help you spot certain favorite foods on the shelf.



Tool: Manage anger
Age: 12 to 24 months
How it works: Toddlers are tantrum-prone because they're not yet able to control their emotions, experts say. "Tantrums aren't really a discipline issue, they're about anger management," says Madelyn Swift. "Tantrums happen when kids don't get their way and they're mad."

Step one in this situation is to let your child calm down in whatever way works best for her. If she'll let you hold her, hug and rock her until she's quiet. If touching her only sets her off again, give her space to calm down by herself.

Don't try to talk to her about what happened until she's over the emotional storm, Swift says. But once it's over, don't let relief prevent you from addressing what happened. Instead, replay the tape and return to the scene of the crime. It's time to fix whatever mistakes were made.

Real-life application: Your toddler didn't want to get dressed and threw a fit, hurling toy cars around the room. Once she's stable, take her back to the toy cars and calmly but firmly tell her it's time to pick them up. If the task seems too daunting, split it up. Point to one pile of cars and say, "You pick up these cars and I'll pick up the ones over there." Stay there until your toddler has finished her portion of the job.

If she refuses and has another tantrum, the cycle repeats itself. But wait longer for her to settle down this time, and make sure she knows you mean business. Then back to the cars you go.


Tool: Talk toddler-ese
Age: 12 to 24 months
How it works: The secret to getting your toddler to do what's right — or to stop doing what he shouldn't — can be as simple as communicating in a way he can truly understand. Pediatrician Harvey Karp, author of The Happiest Toddler on the Block, tells parents to get down to their toddler's level and keep it really, really simple.

Karp calls his communication strategy The Fast Food Rule because you're basically operating like a drive-through cashier: You repeat back the order, then name the price. Use short phrases with lots of repetition, gestures, and emotion to show your child that you get what's going on in his head.

Real-life application: Your toddler yanks a truck out of his friend's hands. Instead of plopping him down in a time-out or trying to explain why what he did was wrong — both strategies that assume your child's more sophisticated than he is — take a few minutes to echo what he seems to be thinking and feeling back to him: "You want the truck."

Validating your child's feelings will help him settle down, and once he's calm enough to listen, you can deliver your discipline message. But again, give him the stripped-down version: "No grab, no grab, it's Max's turn." Note: This may feel silly at first, but it will work.



Tool: Listen to "no"
Age: 12 to 36 months
How it works: "No" is one of the first words many kids learn to say, and it almost immediately becomes the one they say most often. As parents know, the constant negativity and refusals can get a little tiresome. Strange as it may sound, one way to prevent "the endless no's" is to try and take "no" seriously when your child says it. After all, we all have a tendency to repeat ourselves when we don't think people are listening, right?

Real-life application: Your toddler's running around in a dirty diaper, but she refuses to stop and let you change it. "Start by asking if she wants her diaper changed, and if she says no, say okay and let it go for a while," says Kvols. Wait five minutes and ask again, and if you get another no, wait again.

Usually by the third time you ask, discomfort will have set in and you'll get a yes. And knowing that saying no carries some weight will stop your child from saying it automatically. "The more you respect their no, the less often they use it," Kvols says.

The tools: Preschoolers and up

Tool: Use time-outs and time-ins
Age: 2 to 4 years
How it works: The time-out is one of the best-known discipline tactics, but it's also somewhat controversial. Some experts think time-outs don't work well, are overused, and feel too punitive — especially for young preschoolers. "When we say 'Go to your room,' we're teaching them we're in control, when we really want them to learn to control themselves," says expert Kathryn Kvols.

In fact, for some kids time-outs can be so upsetting that they trigger tantrums, something you want to prevent. To avoid this, treat time-outs as a brief cooling-off period for both of you. (One minute or less is probably long enough for a 2-year-old. Don't start using the one-minute-per-year guideline until your child's at least 3.)

Let your little one know that you need the time as much as he does by saying, "We're both really mad right now and we need to calm down." Designate an area of your house as a self-calming place for your child (preferably this won't be in your child's room, which should have only positive associations), and direct him to go there for a few minutes while you go to your own corner.

Another possibility: Take time-outs together by sitting down side by side. You can also balance the impact of time-outs by instituting "time-ins" — moments of big hugs, cuddles, and praise to celebrate occasions when your child behaves well.

Real-life application: You said no dessert tonight, triggering a tantrum, and now your child's screams for a cookie are only slightly louder than yours. Explain that it's not okay for either of you to scream at the other, so you both need to calm down. Lead her to her self-calming space (Kvols says the only thing that worked for her daughter was to go outside into the garden), and then sit down nearby yourself.

When a few minutes have passed and the anger has subsided, explain that it's not okay to throw a fit to get what she wants and that you're sorry she's disappointed. (Hint: On a future night when a treat is okay, give her one and praise the fact that she's stopped fussing to get dessert.)


Tool: Try reverse rewards
Age: 3 to 8 years
How it works: Take a page from teachers everywhere — kids respond much better to positive reinforcement than to reproach and punishment. And they also like structure and clear expectations. Ruth Peters, the clinical psychologist in Clearwater, Florida, advises parents to take advantage of these qualities by setting up a system of rewards. You can make this system even more effective by reversing the usual rules — instead of giving rewards for good behavior, take them away for bad behavior.

Real-life application: Put a few things your child loves — these could be a Hershey's kiss, a new colored pencil, and a card good for an extra bedtime story — in a jar or box as the day's rewards. Then draw three smiley faces on a piece of paper and tape it to the jar. If your child breaks a rule or otherwise misbehaves, you cross out a smiley face and one treat disappears from the jar. An hour or so before bedtime, you give your child everything that remains.

The tools: Grade-schoolers

Tool: Teach consequences
Age: 5 to 8 years
How it works: We want our children to make the right choices — finish their homework before they turn on the TV, for example, or not play ball in the house. But when they don't, what do we do?

To handle problem behaviors, involve your child in finding a solution, says Harvard professor Dan Kindlon. For example, if he doesn't finish the night's homework, he may decide to wake up earlier the next morning to do it. Because this isn't a great long-term solution, make a plan for the future together: Does he want to do his homework before going out to play, or does he want to set aside time in the evening?

If he's been part of the planning process, it'll be a lot harder for your child to pretend he just "forgot." But be consistent in enforcing limits — if the plan is to finish homework after dinner, it must be finished before the TV goes on.

Real-life application: Your 7-year-old breaks a lamp throwing a ball in the house. Instead of scolding him by saying that he wasn't supposed to be doing this in the first place, tell him it's up to him to fix his mistake. Have him glue the lamp back together if he can — if not, he can do extra chores to earn enough for a new lamp.


Tool: Allow redo's
Age: 5 to 8 years
How it works: How many times have you wanted to take back something you said the moment you said it? Well, when your child sasses or snaps at you, and you snap right back, chances are everyone feels that way.

One way to maintain peace in the family is to allow "redo's" — a chance for your child (or you!) to say what she wants again in a more respectful way. "When you tell your child 'redo,' you're saying, 'I want to hear what you've said, it's important to me, but I want to be respected. So say it in a more respectful tone and I'm happy to listen,'" says Kathryn Kvols.

She and her daughter, Briana, even have a secret signal they use to tell each other to redo without having to say anything out loud. Asking for redo's when your child talks back keeps the situation from escalating. It also teaches her that speaking to people calmly is a better way to get the response she wants.

Real-life application: Your child screams "I hate you!" Stung and hurt, you immediately yell back, "Go to your room!" and the evening's lost. Instead, take a deep breath and ask your child if she wants a "redo" (or use your signal if you're in public). This gives your child a chance to articulate her feelings in a calm way rather than just exploding.

"You want your child to know that you're not trying to shut her up, and that you're capable of hearing the good and the bad," says Kvols. "Then you can address the issue that's actually at stake" — the underlying problem that prompted a regrettable comment in the first place.

Get more great advice about discipline for your babytoddlerpreschooler, or big kid.

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不吃飯就餓著??? (轉載)

(轉載)


不吃飯就餓著
  每天早上,托比醒來後,蘇珊把早餐往餐桌上一放,就自顧自地忙去了。托比會自己爬上凳子,喝牛奶,吃麵包片。吃飽後,他回自己的房間,在衣櫃裡找衣服、鞋子,再自己穿上。畢竟托比只有3歲,還搞不清楚子的正反面,分不清鞋子的左右腳。有一次托比又把褲子穿反了,我趕緊上前想幫他換,卻被蘇珊制止了。她說,如果他覺得不舒服,會自己脫下來,重新穿好;如果他沒覺得有什麼不舒服,那就隨他的便。那一整天,托比反穿著褲子跑來跑去,蘇姍像沒看見一樣。

又一次,托比出去和鄰居家的小朋友玩,沒多大會就氣喘吁吁地跑回家,對蘇珊說:「媽媽,露西說我的褲子穿反了,真的嗎?」露西是鄰居家的小姑娘,今年5歲。蘇姍笑著說:「是的,你要不要換回來?」托比點點頭,自己脫下褲子,仔細看了看,重新穿上了。從那以後,托比再也沒穿反過褲子。

我不禁想起,我的外孫女五六歲時不會用筷子,上小學時不會繫鞋帶。如今在上寄宿制初中的她,每個週末都要帶回家一大堆髒衣服呢。

一天中午,托比鬧情緒,不肯吃飯。蘇珊說了他幾句,憤怒地小托比一把將盤子推到了地上,盤子裡的食物灑了一地。蘇姍看著托比,認真地說:「看來你確實不想吃飯!記住,從現在到明天早上,你什麼都不能吃。」托比點點頭,堅定地回答:「Yes!」我在心裡暗笑,這母子倆,還都挺倔!

下午,蘇珊和我商量,晚上由我做中國菜。我心領神會,托比告別愛吃中國菜,一定是蘇珊覺得托比中午沒好好吃飯,想讓他晚上多吃點兒。

那天晚上我施展廚藝,做了托比最愛吃的糖醋裡脊、油悶大蝦,還用意大利麵做了中國式的涼麵。托比最喜歡吃那種涼麵,小小的人可以吃滿滿一大盤。

開始吃晚飯了,托比歡天喜地地爬上凳子。蘇珊卻走過來,拿走了他的盤子和刀叉,說:「我們已經約好了,今天你不能吃飯,你自己也答應了的。」托比看著面容嚴肅的媽媽,「哇」地一聲在哭起來,邊哭邊說:「媽媽,我餓,我要吃飯。」「不行,說過的話要算數。」蘇珊毫不心軟。

我心疼了,想替托比求情,說點好話,卻見兒子對我使眼色。想起我剛到美國時,兒子就跟我說,在美國,父母教育孩子時,別人千萬不要插手,即使是長輩也不例外。無奈,我只好保持沉默。

那頓飯,從始至終,可憐的小托比一直坐在玩具車裡,眼巴巴地看著我們三個大人狼吞虎嚥。我這才明白蘇珊讓我做中餐的真正用意。我相信,下一次,托比想發脾氣扔飯碗時,一定會想起自己餓著肚子看爸爸媽媽和奶奶享用美食的經歷。餓著肚子的滋味不好受,況且還是面對自己最喜愛的食物。

臨睡前,我和蘇珊一起去向托比道晚安。托比小心翼翼地問:「媽媽,我很餓,現在我能吃中國面嗎?」蘇珊微笑著搖搖頭,堅決地說:「不!」托比嘆了口氣,又問:「那等我睡完覺睜開眼睛時,可以吃嗎?」「當然可以。」蘇珊溫柔地回答。托比甜甜地笑了。

大部分情況下,托比吃飯都很積極,他不想因為「罷吃」而錯過食物,再受餓肚子的苦。每當看到托比埋頭大口大口地吃飯,嘴上臉上粘的都是食物時,我就想起外孫女。她像托比這麼大時,為了哄她吃飯,幾個大人端著飯碗跟在她屁股後面跑,她還不買賬,還要談條件:吃完這碗買一個玩具,再吃一碗買一個玩具……

以其人之道,還治其人這身  

有一天,我們帶托比去公園玩。很快,托比就和兩個女孩兒玩起了廚房遊戲。塑料小鍋、小鏟子、小盤子、小碗擺了一地。忽然,淘氣的托比拿起小鍋,使勁在一個女孩兒頭上敲了一下,女孩兒愣了一下,放聲大哭。另一個女孩兒年紀更小一些,見些情形,也被嚇得大哭起來。大概托比沒想到會有這麼嚴重的後果,站在一旁,愣住了。

蘇珊走上前,開清了事情的來龍去脈後,她一聲不吭,拿起小鍋,使勁敲到托比的頭上,托比沒防備,一下子跌坐在草地上,哇哇大哭起來。蘇珊問托比:「疼嗎?下次還這樣嗎?」托比一邊哭,一邊拚命搖頭。我相信他以後再也不會這麼做了。

托比的舅舅送了他一輛淺藍色的小自行車,托比非常喜歡,當成寶貝,不許別人碰。鄰居小姑娘露西是托比的好朋友,央求托比好幾次,要騎他的小車,托比都沒答應。

一次,幾個孩子一起玩時,露西趁托比不注意,偷偷騎上小車,揚長而去。托比發現後,氣憤地跑來向蘇珊告狀。蘇珊正和幾個孩子的母親一起聊天喝咖啡,便微笑著說:「你們的事情自己解決,媽媽可管不了。」托比無奈地走了。

過了一小會兒,露西騎著小車回來了。托比看到露西,一把將她推倒在地,搶過了小車。露西坐在地上大哭起來。蘇珊抱起露西,安撫了她一會兒。很快,露西就和別的小朋友興高采烈地玩了起來。

托比自己騎了會車,覺得有些無聊,看到那幾個孩子玩得那麼高興,他想加入,又覺得有些不好意思。他蹭到蘇珊身邊,嘟囔道:「媽媽,我想跟露西他們一起玩。」蘇珊不動聲色地說:「那你自己去找他們啦!」「媽媽,你陪我一起去。」 托比懇求道。 「那可不行,剛才是你把露西弄哭的,現在你又想和大家玩,就得自己去解決問題。」

托比騎著小車慢慢靠近露西,快到她身邊時,又掉頭回來。來回好幾次,不知道從什麼時候開始,托比和露西又笑逐顏開,鬧成了一團。

管教孩子是父母的事

蘇珊的父母住在加利福尼亞州,聽說我來了,兩人開車來探望我們。家裡來了客人,托比很興奮,跑上跑下地亂竄。他把玩沙子用的小桶裝滿了水,提著小桶在屋裡四處轉悠。蘇珊警告了她好幾次,不要把水灑到地板上,托比置若罔聞。最後,托比還是把水桶弄倒了,水灑了一地。興奮的小托比不覺得自己做錯了事,還得意地光著腳丫踩水玩,把褲子全弄濕了。我連忙找出拖把準備拖地。蘇珊從我手中搶過拖把交給托比,對他說:「把地拖幹,把濕衣服脫下來,自己洗乾淨。」托比不願意,又哭又鬧。蘇珊二話不說,直接把他拉到貯藏室,關了禁閉。聽到托比在裡面發出驚天動地的哭喊,我心疼壞了,想進去把他抱出來。托比的外婆卻攔住我,說:「這是蘇珊的事。」

過了一會兒,托比不哭了,他在貯藏室裡大聲喊:「媽媽,我錯了。」蘇珊站在門外,問:「那你知道該怎麼做了嗎?」「我知道。 」蘇珊打開門,托比從貯藏室走出來,臉上還掛著兩行淚珠。他拿起有他兩個高的拖把吃力地把地上的水拖乾淨。然後,他脫下褲子,拎在手上,光著屁股走進洗手間,稀里嘩啦地洗起衣服來。

托比的外公外婆看著表情驚異的我,意味深長地笑了。這件事讓我感觸頗深。在很多中國家庭,父母管教孩子時,常常會引起「世界大戰」,往往是外婆外公護,爺爺奶奶攔,夫妻吵架,雞飛狗跳。

後來,我和托比的外公外婆聊天時,提到這件事,托比的外公說了一段話,讓我印象深刻。他說,孩子是父母的孩子,首先要尊重父母對孩子的教育方式。孩子雖然小,卻是天生的外交家,當他看到家庭成員之間出現分歧時,他會很聰明地鑽空子。這不僅對改善他的行為毫無益處,反而會導致問題越來越嚴重,甚至帶來更多別的問題。而且,家庭成員之間發生衝突,不和諧的家庭氛圍會帶給孩子更多的不安全感,對孩子的心理髮展產生不利影響。所以,無論是父輩與祖輩在教育孩子的問題上發生分歧,還是夫妻兩人的教育觀念有差異,都不能在孩子麵前發生衝突。

托比的外公外婆在家裡住了一週,準備回加利福尼亞了。臨走前兩天,托比的外公鄭重地問女兒:「托比想要一輛玩具挖掘機,我可以買給他嗎?」蘇珊想了想,說:「你們這次來,已經送給他一雙旱冰鞋作為禮物了,到聖誕節時,再買玩具挖掘機當禮物送給他吧!」

我不知道托比的外公是怎麼告訴小傢伙的,後來我帶托比去超市,他指著玩具挖掘機說:「外公說,聖誕節時,給我買這個當禮物。」語氣裡滿是欣喜和期待。

雖然蘇珊對托比如此嚴格,托比去卻對媽媽愛得不得了。他在外面玩時,會採集一些好看的小花或者他認為漂亮的葉子,鄭重其事地送給媽媽;別人送給他禮物,他會叫媽媽和他一起拆開;有什麼好吃的,也總要留一半給媽媽。

想到很多中國孩子對父母的漠視與冷淡,我不得不佩服我的洋媳婦。在我看來,在教育孩子的問題上,美國媽媽有很多值得中國媽媽學習的地方。

2011年11月2日 星期三

安馨小啾啾1 歲大, 丟好多玩具在地上 What's your discipline style? (from babycenter)

安馨小啾啾1 歲大
丟好多玩具在地上吸引把拔, 馬麻的注意
該怎麼辦哩???


What's your discipline style? (from babycenter)

2011年10月26日 星期三

安馨小啾啾護照照片精選總決賽冠軍 (Baby Passport Photo)

馬麻, 阿媽, 和阿公手忙腳亂給安馨拍護照照片


以下是安馨小啾啾護照照片精選總決賽冠軍








安馨拍護照照片NG鏡頭 & 幕後花絮










2011年10月24日 星期一

在呼召我之處 The Place Of Calling

I got the chance to listen to this song from my friend's website (http://www.wretch.cc/blog/hsinyuyu)
I learn lots of beautiful things from her, Sherry.
It's not an easy job to be a mother, wife, daughter, and independent woman in a foreign country.
Reading her blog helps me to find the courage to keep up.
She reminds me that we are not alone through God's love and grace.




(台語)
主溫柔的聖神 惦在我的內心 陪伴我的一生 賞賜平靜和安息 使我得滿足豐盛

主愛疼的真理 光照我攏無離 我身軀你扶持 賞賜恩典和安慰 你的愛真正甘甜

在呼召的所在 我欲歡喜吟詩 無論環境好壞 猶原讚美敬拜
在呼召的所在 我欲歡喜吟詩 無論環境好壞 猶原讚美敬拜


(國語)
主溫柔的聖靈 讓我全心感受 滲透我的生命 賜下平靜和安息 你使我心得滿足

主慈愛的真理 你榮光照向我 包圍我的身體 賜下平靜和安息 讓我感受你的愛

在呼召我之處 我要獻上敬拜 無論遭遇何事 依然揚聲歌唱

在呼召我之處 我要獻上敬拜 無論遭遇何事 依然揚聲歌唱

在呼召我之處 我要獻上敬拜 無論遭遇何事 依然揚聲歌唱

在我行走時成爲我道路 活著時成爲我生命 就在這地獻上敬拜

Milestone chart: 13 to 18 months


Milestone chart: 13 to 18 months

Reviewed by the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board
En español




Child's Age

Mastered Skills (most kids can do)

Emerging Skills (half of kids can do)

Advanced Skills (a few kids can do)
13 monthsUses two words skillfully (e.g., "hi" and "bye")
Bends over and picks up an object
Enjoys gazing at his reflection
Holds out arm or leg to help you dress him
Combines words and gestures to make needs known
Rolls a ball back and forth
14 monthsEats with fingers
Empties containers of contents
Imitates others
Toddles well
Initiates games
Points to one body part when asked
Responds to instructions (e.g., "give me a kiss")
Uses a spoon or fork
Matches lids with appropriate containers
Pushes and pulls toys while walking
15 monthsPlays with ball
Uses three words regularly
Walks backward
Scribbles with a crayon
Runs
Adopts "no" as his favorite word
"Helps" around the house
Puts his fingers to his mouth and says "shhh"
16 monthsTurns the pages of a book
Has temper tantrums when frustrated
Becomes attached to a soft toy or other object
Discovers the joy of climbing
Stacks three blocks
Uses spoon or fork
Learns the correct way to use common objects (e.g., the telephone)
Takes off one piece of clothing by himself
Gets finicky about food
Switches from two naps to one
17 monthsUses six words regularly
Enjoys pretend games
Likes riding toys
Feeds doll
Speaks more clearly
Throws a ball underhand
Dances to music
Sorts toys by color, shape, or size
Kicks ball forward
18 monthsWill "read" board books on his own
Scribbles well
Strings two words together in phrases
Brushes teeth with help
Stacks four blocks
Throws a ball overhand
Takes toys apart and puts them back together
Shows signs of toilet training readiness


On to the next chart: 19 to 24 months

Back to the previous chart: 7 to 12 months

Return to the toddler development page.


Milestone chart: 7 to 12 months

Reviewed by the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board
Last updated: July 2011
En español



Child's Age

Mastered Skills (most kids can do)

Emerging Skills (half of kids can do)

Advanced Skills (a few kids can do)
7 monthsSits without support
Drags objects toward herself
Lunges forward or starts crawling
Jabbers or combines syllables
Starts to experience stranger anxiety
Waves goodbye
Stands while holding onto something
Bangs objects together
Begins to understand object permanence
8 monthsSays "mama" or "dada" to parents (isn't specific)
Passes objects from hand to hand
Stands while holding onto something
Crawls
Points at objects
Searches for hidden objects
Pulls self to standing, cruises
Picks things up with thumb-finger pincer grasp
Indicates wants with gestures
9 monthsStands while holding onto something
Jabbers or combines syllables
Understands object permanence
Cruises while holding onto furniture
Drinks from a sippy cup
Eats with fingers
Bangs objects together
Plays patty-cake and peek-a-boo
Says "mama" or "dada" to the correct parent
10 monthsWaves goodbye
Picks things up with pincer grasp
Crawls well, with belly off the ground
Says "mama" or "dada" to the correct parent
Indicates wants with gestures
Stands alone for a couple of seconds
Puts objects into a container
11 monthsSays "mama" or "dada" to the correct parent
Plays patty-cake and peek-a-boo
Stands alone for a couple of seconds
Cruises
Understands "no" and simple instructions
Puts objects into a container
Says one word besides "mama" or "dada"
Stoops from standing position
12 monthsImitates others' activities
Indicates wants with gestures
Takes a few steps
Says one word besides "mama" or "dada"
Walks alone
Scribbles with a crayon
Says two words besides "mama" or "dada"

2011年9月28日 星期三

安馨小啾啾滿一歲囉!!!生日快樂!

Happy 1st Birthday, Anshin!
安馨小啾啾滿一歲囉!!!生日快樂!









神的孩子/曾毓蘭創作集



神的孩子,不要沮喪,舉目向上望。

神在天上,不分晝夜,時時看顧你。

雖遇艱難,雖有愁苦,仍在祂手裡,祂必叫萬物互相效力,使你福杯滿溢。

不要看環境,不要看自己,凡專心倚靠祂的必重新得力。

每個禱告神都垂聽,千萬別放棄。

永遠不要忘記你要忠心走到底。



神的孩子,不要沮喪,舉目向上望。

神在天上,不分晝夜,時時看顧你。

雖遇艱難,雖有愁苦,仍在祂手裡,祂必叫萬物互相效力,使你福杯滿溢。

不要看環境,不要看自己,凡耐心等候祂的必如鷹遨翔天際。

神的孩子,在主愛中,得享祂安息。

永遠不要忘記,你是神所愛孩子。

2011年9月27日 星期二

安馨小啾啾10-11個月大, Aug 2011 (宅在家裡與疹疹打8年抗戰篇)

安馨小啾啾10個月大囉!
會小狗爬, 熊熊爬, 扶站, 推東西走路
還會哈哈笑   笑哈哈
天天宅在家裡與疹疹打8年抗戰