teaching your toddler to read

I have been thinking a lot lately when the right time is for parents to start teaching their kids how to read. I've seen kids who are 8 or 10 and they could not read smoothly... I also have seen as young as 3 (congratulations to their parents).

I think that my son does not have the attention span needed for some kind of a structured "teaching how to read" setup. He can spell his name though. He can identify words like zoo, spell, dog, wolf, tall, ball, wall, book, sheep, duck, and some other words that he normally sees when watching TV. He also knows the alphabet so well... and the sound of every letter. But every time I try to teach him how to combine the sounds of letters to form a word, he just listens and then after a few minutes he's all over the place doing whatever he wants to do.

I read an article "When and how can I teach my toddler to read?" and it said "Children usually don't start reading before the age of 5 or 6, and for good reason. Researchers believe that until that age, most children have not yet formed certain neural connections that allow them to decode printed letters and then mentally combine them to make words. A few children are able to read earlier, but most of them just pick it up; they don't learn through direct instruction."

It is good to know that I'm on the right track because a lot of articles that I read about this topic tell me that the key to preparing my child is through indirect instruction. This includes introducing him to letters, books, letter sounds, words with pictures, etc.

Perhaps I should try searching for other materials like videos and flash cards. These sorts of things catch his interest. I think it's time I get a new set because he already memorized those that are on his desk. One more question popped on my mind though, how often do I need to "upgrade" the materials?

Love is in the Air

Keep on Loving You

You should've seen by the look in my eyes, baby
There was somethin' missin'
You should've known by the tone of my voice, maybe
But you didn't listen

You played dead but you never bled
Instead you lay still in the grass
All coiled up and hissin'

And though I know all about those men
Still I don't remember
'Cause it was us baby, way before then
And we're still together

And I meant, every word I said
When I said that I love you
I meant that I love you forever

And I'm gonna keep on lovin' you
'Cause it's the only thing I wanna do
I don't wanna sleep, I just wanna keep on lovin' you

And I meant every word I said
When I said that I love you
I meant that I love you forever

And I'm gonna keep on lovin' you
'Cause it's the only thing I wanna do
I don't wanna sleep, I just wanna keep on lovin' you

Baby, I'm gonna keep on lovin' you
'Cause it's the only thing I wanna do
I don't wanna sleep, I just wanna keep on lovin' you

Keep on lovin' you, baby


I love singing this song to my husband.... it's just so nice and romantic and sweet!!! I wish Gabriel will also sing this song to his future girlfriend/s. LOL

Is this an after effect of Valentine's day? I don't know what I'm thinking but I've had this song on repeat mode for like a week now.

Did some reading and found this info in Wikipedia....

"Keep On Loving You" is a power ballad written by Kevin Cronin and performed by REO Speedwagon. It features the lead guitar work of Gary Richrath. It was one of many REO Speedwagon songs to become a pop hit, reaching the number-one spot for one week in March 1981 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and peaking at number seven in the UK Singles Chart. The single was certified Platinum for US sales of over 2 million copies.

The song has been featured in numerous films, beginning with the 1982 film The Last American Virgin. It has subsequently featured in Crank: High Voltage as well as appearing on the soundtrack to Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. A cover version by The Donnas appears in the 1999 film Drive Me Crazy and in the TV series Cougar Town.

house decorating

We've recently made some changes in the living room, at last! We've stayed there for a year and a half and whatever was there when we started renting out the place, we had until recently. My husband is thinking of getting an XBOX with Kinect for me and my son. And before he does, he wants everything to be in order. He put all the toys in the other room. Left the TV set, DVD player and the cable TV box. He bought a new shelf and put some photo frames. He arranged the living room in such a way that there will be enough space for us to play and maybe do the dance moves when he gets the game station.

My husband is not quite satisfied though. In the effort to have a lot of space, he now has some space on one corner where something has to be put. He's now thinking of getting a floor lamp. I'm not sure when he will get it but it will definitely mean the Kinect purchase will be moved as well.

The TV set that we used to have at the living room is too big he replaced it with the one we have in our room. Now, I am happier because I have never really wanted a TV inside the room. He put a small table where we used to have the TV. And then he bought a very nice table lamp. Now it's nicer to read inside the room. I don't have to disturb my son when he's already asleep.

Doing some interior design work is really fun. It's so pleasant to have an organized home. I'm just so glad my husband likes to arrange and put things in the proper places. All I'm left to do is enjoy and relax.

funny frog

Kids are so amazing. They have this very special power of stopping their parents from losing patience.

This afternoon, this was what happened while we were trying to make my son sleep.

Dad (slapping my son on the leg): Gabriel, you sleep or Daddy will get the stick!!! (this was after 3 hours of trying to make him sleep)
Gabriel: buhuhuhuhuhu!!! ribbit, ribbit!!!

Oh my goodness, such a funny frog! I just love being mom to my son!