Wonderful Years Kindergarten

Premier Kindergarten in Bandar Laguna Merbok. Helmed by a B.A. (Hons) graduate with Diploma in Education and Diploma in Montessori. Trilingual kindergarten but stresses in English. We train children to be motivated, have high self-esteem and confident enough to do presentation on stage namely story-telling, dance, drama, and poetry-recitation. Our students performed very well in Kebangsaan or Jenis Kebangsaan schools. Ours is one of the most happening kindergarten in Sungai Petani.

Monday, June 25, 2012

30 Healthier Snack Ideas for Kids

by Amanda Formaro

It's time for the kids to head back to school. When they come home each afternoon have healthier snacks waiting so that they don't grab for potato chips or cookies. Our members shared their ideas for fun and tasty snacks that are much better than the prepackaged ones that are so easy to grab. A little forethought will get them eating better and they'll thank you for it. We asked our members to share their ideas for healthier after school (or any time) snacks for kids. Here's what they suggest,share your suggestions too!

whole wheat crackers and toppings - try sliced cheese, cream cheese, egg salad, tuna salad, peanut butter, peanut butter and jelly, or pepperoni. Make your own Lunchables by layering ham or turkey and cheese!
celery and/or carrots with dip - popular dips among kids may include ranch, hummus, creamy italian dressing, bean dip, cream cheese, and other soft cheeses. Try other raw vegetables too, like cucumbers, zucchini and bell pepper slices.
fresh fruit - different varieties of melon cut into chunks, whole strawberries and pineapple wedges are fun and colorful. Use rounded toothpicks to let kids make their own kabobs or mix several fruits together to make a quick fruit salad; add a dollop of fat free whipped topping.
apple slices and dip - use an apple slicer or cut into slices with a knife and sprinkle with a little lemon juice to keep them from turning brown. Serve with peanut butter, fat free whipped topping, yogurt, sugar free caramel dip, or other fruit dips.
tortilla roll ups and pinwheels - spread with peanut butter or peanut butter and jelly, roll up then slice into 1" pieces to make pinwheels. use a layer of cream cheese and a slice or two of turkey or ham, or layer with spreadable cheese and various vegetables, roll up and eat.
trail mix - make your own by mixing together peanuts, raisins, chocolate chips, mini pretzels, granola, and other sweet and salty ingredients. Keep the high sugar sweets to a minimum.
granola & yogurt - granola makes a great snack on its own, but it's also very tasty when you stir it into a container of yogurt. Look for different flavors available at your local grocer.
cheese sticks - String cheese is very popular with kids. You can also find colby sticks and cheddar sticks at the store. You can also cut your own from any of your favorite cheeses!
pretzel sticks & cheese - cut your child's favorite cheese(s) into cubes and give him pretzel sticks to pick them up with. Safer than toothpicks and edible too. You can also try dipping pretzels in cheese sauce or bean dip.
popcorn - make the light butter or unbuttered kind and sprinkle with parmesan cheese while it's still hot. Try season salt, cinnamon sugar, and anything else you can think of to spice it up.
cheese quesadillas - sandwich shredded or packaged sliced cheese in between two tortillas. Heat in the microwave until cheese is melted. For younger kids with smaller appetites, use only one tortilla, layer half of it with cheese, fold over and heat.
mini pizzas - spread tomato paste or spaghetti sauce onto a toasted english muffin, sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese and any other toppings you like. Heat in the broiler for a minute or two until cheese is bubbly.
quick breads and muffins - best when made from scratch, these are wonderful when popped into the microwave for a few seconds and dotted with a little butter. Muffins and quick breads are easy to make and there are many varieties including zucchini, banana, blueberry, and more.
smoothies - a great way to sneak in extra dairy and fruit. Pour 1 cup of milk into a blender, add enough frozen fruit to reach top of milk, add an 8 ounce container of yogurt, blend until smooth. Mix and match flavors, try frozen pineapple and vanilla yogurt, frozen strawberries and banana yogurt, or frozen cherries and cherry yogurt.
bagels, toast, english muffins - spread bagels with different flavored cream cheese and cut into bite sized wedges. Make toast and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, cut into triangles. Toast an english muffin and spread with peanut butter and jelly or layer with a slice of cheese.
cereal - toasted "O's", fruit circles, and other finger cereals and great as a snack. You don't have to limit a bowl of cereal to breakfast, this makes a fun and different snack for hungry kids as well.
yogurt - keep a variety of flavored yogurts, containers, squeezable and drinkable are all available.
bananas and peanut butter - slice a banana lengthwise down the middle. Spread each slice with peanut butter. Cut into bite size pieces and serve with round toothpicks or pretzels.
parfaits - layer fresh cut up fruit with yogurt and a little granola. Your kids will think they are getting dessert!
sugar free gelatin and puddings - if you do need a quick to grab snack sugar free gelatins and puddings are much better than a handful of chocolate cookies. Keep a small supply on hand and out of reach.
rice cakes - serve plain or spread with peanut butter or Nutella (chocolate and hazelnut spread). Rice cakes come in many varieties and flavors.
pita wedges & hummus - cut a pita pocket into small wedges, warm in the microwave and spread with cream cheese or your favorite hummus.
graham crackers - graham crackers are a tasty substitution for cookies. They are perfect for spreading peanut butter or dipping into applesauce.
tortilla chips & salsa - serve unsalted tortilla chips with homemade salsa. Mix together chopped tomato, chopped green onion, a little garlic salt and chopped fresh cilantro.
animal crackers - another great substitution for cookies
dried fruit - everyone knows about raisins, but don't forget all the other wonderful dried fruits available. Dried cranberries, plums, mangos and other tropical fruits are sweet like candy. Due to their natural sugar content they should be served in moderation but definitely in place of processed sweets.
bread - bread sticks fresh from the oven are yummy, as are sliced pieces of french bread with cream cheese, or bread and butter cut into squares and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar or garlic salt.
cereal & granola bars - another great option for quick grab and go snacks, cereal and granola bars come in a wide variety of flavors.
applesauce - you'd be surprised at the different flavors available in applesauce these days!
pita pocket stuffers - fill pita pockets with cheese and ham, turkey and lettuce, or even bananas and peanut butter

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Happy Marriage = Happy Children

10 things marriage counsellors want you to know

Heed the advice of some of Canada's top relationship experts for a happier, healthier marriage.

By: Paul Benedetti

Imagine that you have to learn how to drive a car by watching people drive on TV.

You also get to watch your parents drive, and you sit in the car while friends drive. Then imagine that after a few months of this, you take your car onto a four-lane highway for the longest trip of your life. Pretty crazy, right?

Well, that's how most people approach marriage, says Dr. Guy Grenier, a clinical psychologist and marital therapist in London, Ont. And the results are about as bad as you might expect. In Canada, 38 per cent of marriages end in divorce. (It's almost 50 per cent in the United States.) But it doesn't have to be that way. Dr. Grenier, who has worked with couples for more than 20 years, says that with a bit more preparation and education, we could save thousands of marriages -- and a lot of money.

The truth about divorce

Divorce costs Canadians billions of dollars in lawyer's fees and real estate swaps, not to mention the psychological fallout for both parents and children. "We could drop the divorce rate from 40 per cent to 20 per cent by insisting that for two years every high school student learn 'relationships,'" says Dr. Grenier.

Unfortunately, he says, no such course exists. So here's the Coles Notes version that any married couple, or anyone considering getting married, can use. (Don't cram! You have the rest of your life to work on this.)

1. There's no such thing as Mr. or Ms. Right for you...
...at least, not in the sense that if you "just find the right person, it will all work out," says Paul Beckow, a marriage counsellor and newspaper columnist in Victoria. Good relationships don't just happen. They're the result of work. "Couples are really surprised when they find that there are conflicts and differences, disappointments and hurts. But they're all part of the journey, part of the work of being in a relationship."

The advice? After the romance, be prepared to do the work. "We have to sort out real things in real life," says Beckow, who has counselled couples for more than two decades. He sees a relationship as a journey -- a dynamic, challenging opportunity for people. "A relationship is an ongoing laboratory for learning and development," says Beckow. He knows: he has been with his wife, Frani, for 34 years. Beckow says the key is that you have to be ready to work at exploring and investigating your differences.

2. Talk isn't cheap: it's your most valuable investment.
Good, regular communication is the key to a good marriage. Peter Evans, a registered couples and family therapist in Hamilton, says talking creates connection, empathy and intimacy. "My parents had a ritual when my dad came home from work," he says. "They would sit down with a cup of tea or a glass of sherry and talk to each other, just chitchat about the day."

3. A relationship is like a car: you need to change the oil every three months.
Have the "How are we doing?" conversation every three months, no matter how long you have been married. Why? Because regularly addressing issues or grievances means you head off trouble before the problem becomes entrenched or insurmountable. "Put it on the calendar. Make time. And ask the question with courage," says Dr. Grenier, who is also the author of The 10 Conversations You Must Have Before You Get Married (And How to Have Them) (Key Porter, 2007). "There's nothing better you are ever going to do for your relationship," he says.

4. Being emotional is better than being rational.
A common communication myth is that you should "stick to the facts" rather than talk about how you feel. But relationships aren't built on what happens as much as they're based on feelings. "Don't ignore the facts, but start with the feelings," says Dr. Grenier. "Talk about how you feel: ‘This is what I fear, this is what I'm worried about, this is what I want, this is what hurt my feelings,' and then go to the facts." Remember, relationships are by their nature emotional, not rational, so don't build a business case with facts and figures -- focus on your feelings and the rest will follow.

5. No one "wins" unless you both do.
If it's about feelings, then nobody's right -- or wrong. It's a conversation, not a fight, so stop trying to win. Beckow learned this in his own life when he realized that he was very good at making arguments that negated his wife's points. "But I had an awareness that every time I proved her 'wrong,' I didn't win anything."

A great example of this is fighting over division of labour in the home and how tidy a house needs to be. Dr. Grenier notes that some people like organization, while others don't mind a bit of clutter. It doesn't mean some are right while others are wrong, or that someone has to "win" -- just that they have different preferences, he explains.

Evans gives his couples a simple maxim: "When you are into a win-lose pattern, you are both going to lose."

6. How you feel is up to you.
"There is probably nothing more important in a relationship than the art of making yourself happy," says Beckow. Some people expect their spouse to fill in their shortcomings, to meet all their needs or heal their wounds. But when that does not happen, they feel disappointed and angry. Instead, it's healthier -- for both partners -- to recognize that they must learn the art of taking care of themselves.

How? Take responsibility for your own thoughts and feelings. In some ways this has little to do with your partner, says Beckow. Instead of blaming others for how you feel ("You make me so mad" or "Your lateness upsets me"), realize that how you feel is up to you. You can choose to be angry or annoyed, or you can choose not to be. It's not what happens, it's what you make it mean.

Reva Seth, author of First Comes Marriage (Fireside, 2008), a book about lessons anyone can learn from arranged marriages, agrees. "Women in arranged marriages have a much better sense of owning their own happiness...and assuming responsibility for meeting their own needs," she says. She recommends developing a life beyond your partner: play bridge, go hiking, join a book club, cultivate friendships. "Why should your husband be your best friend?" asks Seth. "Why can't you have a best friend and a husband?" That's good advice for all couples.

7. Women aren't from Venus and men aren't from Mars.
And most of the gender stereotypes we have are wrong, too.

Who talks more? Women? No. Studies show men talk more and interrupt more. Who lies more on a first date? No difference. Except each person lies about different things. (Men lie about themselves and women lie about the men!)

"The vast majority of investigations that we do looking at male and female differences find that we are far more similar than different," says Dr. Grenier. Knowing whether someone is a man or a woman does not tell us anything important about their communication style, emotional needs, financial style or anything else. "Thinking about and worrying about gender differences is almost a complete waste of time," he says.

So, forget gender and park your assumptions. Maybe your husband wants to be held more, maybe he needs to talk about his worries at work or his concerns about aging. You're more alike than you think!

8. When you argue, it should be all about you.
This powerful communication tool is simple: You know your own thoughts and feelings best, so stick to that. Don't tell your partner "how they think, or what they should or shouldn't be," says Beckow. He calls this being in the "other person's business."

Dr. Grenier agrees. "As soon as you start using the word you, you immediately just piss the other person off," he says. "There's no faster way to make another adult angry than to tell them what they think or feel... that you are more of an expert on their internal state than they are."

So stick to I.O.U. (I Over You) language -- say I think, I feel and I need. (The only exception is when you use you in a question: What do you want? What do you think?)

9. It's not about money. It's about what you think about money.
Money is one of the three things couples fight about most, say therapists. (No surprise -- sex and the division of labour are the other two.) Every person has a financial style -- some people live for today, others want to save for tomorrow.

"Neither is right or wrong," says Dr. Grenier. "If there was an overall, indisputably correct thing to do with money, we would have figured it out and we'd all be doing that. The problem is, there isn't."

So, the key is to stop trying to win and figure out what makes each person comfortable when it comes to money. One solution is to have three bank accounts, counsels Dr. Grenier -- his, hers and ours. Also, major decisions have to be made together. "As soon as somebody makes an important financial decision without consulting the other person," says Dr. Grenier, "the chances of that being a source, and potentially a permanent source, of conflict is huge." Money, like sex, is about trust. Erode that trust and the consequences to a marriage can be fatal.

10. Sex. It's mostly about talking... and fun.
Forget erectile dysfunction or lack of orgasms. In fact, what most couples struggle with is low sexual desire or mismatched levels of desire.

Low libido is especially common today in dual-career couples. At the end of a long, stressful day at work, after the homework, the lessons and the lunches, who has the time or the energy for sex? Assuming both people want more sex, the solution is to think more openly about sex and to talk about it. Sexual problems usually get solved not in the bedroom, say therapists, but in the kitchen, with people talking.

When one person wants sex more often than the other, the main advice is still to talk about it. The couple may have misunderstandings about what they are doing, what they want to do and what they could do. Talking openly, honestly and without fear is a start.

"We need to give people permission to think about other ways of having sex rather than the scripted, boring efficiency-driven versions of sex," says Dr. Grenier, who did sex research for his PhD and taught human sexuality at The University of Western Ontario. That means talking about masturbation (yes, pretty much everybody does it), about quickies, about sex in the afternoon, about assumptions and perceptions. "We need to open up the opportunities for sex," he says. "Sex is good. Sex is healthy. Sex is a great coping mechanism. Sex is a great stress management tool. Sex is a great form of relationship glue."

Marriage therapists emphasize that couples are on a long journey together. "The opportunity to learn to love is immense," says Beckow. Marriage is a dynamic experience. "You have to keep having these conversations for the rest of your life," says Dr. Grenier. "You don't wish a house, you build a house."

Finally, therapists like to remind couples that being together should be fun. "So many people work their partners to death, work their problems to death," Beckow says, adding that play, intimacy and ease are important.

Evans puts it simply. "You have to remember to have fun!"

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

An Organized Teacher Is A Happy Teacher

http://pinterest.com/lambiekims/an-organized-teacher-is-a-happy-teacher/

As a manager of a kindergarten, I not only need to fulfil children's needs, but parents' and teachers' needs as well. At times their needs conflict with each other, my role is to balance out and try to achieve this task. It is not easy, but at times, children's need are paramount, thus teachers and parents need to understand the my role is to put children's welfare on top of others. I hope teachers and parents do understand.

Children's life centered on play. At times teachers are so eager to finish the syllabus thus neglected children's other emotional, creativity, psycological, spiritual, physical, or social needs. Hence, a teacher's role is not balanced and stress creeps in when children are not happy in the classroom. Children who are not happy, create a stressful environment. This situation affects the teachers emotional being and the stressful cycle spins. Thus a teacher who wants to avoid this situation needs to dwell more time into planning and getting more organised.

Teachers and parents who are into early childhood education, do visit this site to further enhance their job effectiveness hence be happier in their daily tasks.

There are so many great ideas. Do visit this site.

By Mimi Say

Tips on making your family a happy family

Families are the essential building blocks of any society and happy families make a happy society. Everyone wants to live in a happy family as family is the place where human beings find the accomplishment of life. Modern families often face multiple relationship issues which have emerged as contribution of the changed lifestyle and les intense relationships. Living in a happy family is important to mould each and every human being into responsible social beings. Home and families are places where kids and elders live with a feeling of security and also places of sharing, love, care and concern. Mutual understanding, adjustments and love creates the unbreakable bond between family members and if taken care of certain aspects, any family can be made a happy family. Making a happy family is no magic as it requires just an extra strained nerve, to nurture love, to facilitate communication and to make each feel contented and secure. Let us see few of the inevitable building blocks that make a happy family.

Be There for Each One in the Family

Presence or availability is the most essential bonding factor that enhances the family relationship. Parents should be available for kids in each of their needs and similarly the couples each other. It should be with the family that each of the family members spends most of their time. Never take the work stress or other unwanted tensions home. As you step into the home, the prior concern should be home only. Find time to talk to each of the members and arrange activities for the entire family to take part. Family prayers, cooking, watching television, outing etc... are perfect family activities to make a happy family. Family should not be considered a place to just rest after the work and eat the food.

Express the Affection and Warmth

Many people say that they love the family and when it comes to the action they remain unexpressive and quite. Family is the place one learns the basics of love, affection, warmth, encouragement and sharing. Express your affection and attachment towards other members in family with gestures, action and words. Telling just the three words 'I love you' makes others understand the depth of your concern for them. Do not miss an opportunity to be affectionate with the spouse and kids. Let the entire family move on experiencing a warmth feeling. Unexpressed love is equal to no love at all. Encouragement is another important aspect that boosts the happiness and affection in the family. Be lavish enough to encourage the family members in all their attempts and even for the minute successes.

Communicate Frequently and Effectively

Communication is the key to build a jovial family. Be positive in your communication within the family and truly, the positive communication is the language of love. Talk to each other in the family frequently and designating family together times every day is helpful to this purpose. Even between the spouses, talking eases the tensions and promotes the attachment. Never argue or shout at each other unnecessarily. Family should be a place everyone wants to be with always.

Rituals of affection and honor

Experts say that family rituals are mandatory to maintain the relationships. There are specific practicable family rituals same as religious or national. Weekly outdoor dinners, monthly pleasure trips, family songs, visiting relatives, family cooking day etc... are some of the family rituals that are helpful to bind the entire family with the strings of affection. Such activities are also called rituals of honor as they help each of the family members to understand each other and learn to honor them.

Fights, Blames and Anger are Destructive

Parents should be cautious to not fight before the children and blame each other for mistakes. Horrifying expressions of anger is also equally destructive. When one of the family members makes the entire family life worse with such negative expressions, others may feel family as a disliked place to be. When parents fight before the kids, they are, in fact, teaching the kids with a wrong lesson of communication. Children of fighting parents may become rebels and antisocial in the future life.

Equality is the Best Quality

Considering each of the family members equal and not being partial to anyone is the best qualities a family member can posses. When everybody in the family is considered equal it boosts the confidence, security feeling and affection. Accept the opinions of everyone in the family when family related decision are taken and facilitate mutual respect among family members if you wish to convert your family into a happy family.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Father's Day Crafts

Do visit : http://www.kaboose.com/

for more ideas

GALLERY: Top Gifts for Dad

Don't know what to get Dad this year? Don't fret -- we have some great affordable ideas for fabulous gifts the man of the family will love. read more

Father's Day Cards

Kids Father's Day Card Ideas! Make Dad a special card, meal or craft this Father's Day with Kaboose Father's Day gift ideas, recipes and card crafts! re.read more

Recipe Dish Towel

Ask your kids what food Grammy or Papa makes that they like best and you'll probably get an answer pretty quickly. Ask them how they think it's made, though, and things get a little more interesting: Those magic cooking sprinkles and fairy wings may read more

Bubble Head Magnets

You can stick these magnets on the fridge to hold down lunch menus, but something tells us you'll want to stick them on top of the tin you've created to put them in. read more

Silhouette Display

At a recent town fair, I had one of those life-comes-full-circle moments: Amid the apple pies and cotton candy, my daughters and I watched an artist expertly cutting silhouettes. So I created my own silhouette technique that will, I hope, stand the read more