As I observe and recall Haruka's learning development, I begin to see the value of Questioning and Answering. It started with greetings in the morning. I would smile at her and greet her
Ohio Haruka-chan! (
Good morning Haruka!). "How are you today? Do you want to see the bow wow dog?" Nowadays, when she wakes up, she smiles at me and say "bow, wow! bow wow!" I know she wants to go out for a walk. When I go out for
strolls outside with Haruka since around 2 months old, I would talk to her and always ask her "where bow wow dog? where meow meow cat? Where chip chip bird" Is it there? Where is it?" I start pointing my finger at the dog or cat. Now, when we go for strolls, I would ask her the same questions and Haruka would point at the dog and say "bow wow" or bird or whatever that captures her attention. During meal time since 2 months old, I started
sneakily put some tit bits into Haruka's mouth and said "mmm ... oishi!" (delicious in Japanese). Then, as she respond by opening her mouth and smacking her lips, I asked, "Oishi desuka?" (Is it delicious?). "Oishi!" (Yes its delicious). Amazingly, by starting since 2 months old, Haruka has now memorized this word and always say "Shhh! shhh!" when she likes a food.
Besides the list below are there any other Q & A that you usually do with your kid? Would love to hear from you. Fill my comment boxes fulll. :)
How are you? I am fine!
Do you want to go out? Yes! Yes! (Nodding the head)
Is it delicious? Yum! Yum! Yes! Yes! (Nodding the head)
Where is the bow wow dog? There. (With finger pointing at the dog)
Do you want papa to carry you? Yes?
Do you want to play
round and round in the garden? (Showing finger on palm) Yes?
Do you want to sleep? (Daddy yawns. Haruka follows.)
2 comments :
As a Dad of 2 kids, I couldn't bring myself to agree with you on the tid-bits thingy. Goodness gracious, your girl is only 2 months old and is already eating JUNKS! Have you ever tasted baby solids sold in bottles or small jars (Gerber, Heinzs etc)? They are very bland in taste for a reason. Babies are not supposed to have sodium until later, about one years old. I am certain that Tomomi wouldn't have approved your experiment either. The same goes for fruit juices that you are feeding her. Not only they contain too much glucose and sucrose, there are too much addictives and colourings in it. It is better not for them to get hooked on sweet things lest they become sweet-toothed too early in life, and later become obesse. Let us be good Daddies who instead of spoiling them, guard their diet, making sure only healthy food and snacks are consumed. When it comes to sinful food like chocolate and junk food, there is no cause to worry, for as far as I know, no children will resist them... at young age or later in life. They will pick up this bad eating habit sooner or later, but as good Daddies, we should make sure it is the latter. BTW, it is not "Ohio Haruka-chan!"; it should be "Ohayou Haruka-chan!" Let's teach the proper and correct language to our kids because to unlearn something learnt wrongly take a lot of effort. My son learn a bad phrase in nursery: "I want sleeping." and no matter how hard we corrected him, until today, we have not seen the results yet. So, watch out, Daddy!
Haha, thanks Peter for visiting my site. All comments welcome, even the fierce warnings. Bring them on. It serves as good reminders but often times humor. Ohio was a funny phrase an American friend of mine use to remember good morning in Japanese. For those without the priviledge of studying, working and staying in Japan like yourself, such phrases makes a good memory tag and can come in handy for someone who want to use it for just a brief trip to Japan. Read my other post that has this in context and the correct pronounciation. And of course, feel free to leave more warnings in each post ...
http://daddyparentingtips.blogspot.com/2008/04/tip-14-ohio-haruka-chan.html
Fortunatey, for Tomomi, I am seldom home to cause too much damage to Haruka. When Haruka was 2 months old, I probably just let her lick some tit bits once... just once ... to stir her senses. Can't recall how many more times I have done that since ... probably less than a dozen times... Haruka is much older now and has not been hooked on fruit juices, chocholates or other junk food. Though, she knows how to smack her lips, and say ... shhh...shhh ... if its delicious. That to me is bonus. No regrets. Life is beautiful. We define what is beautiful through our own perception of right and wrong. Most important, we spread light, joy and love to the young ones, so they know that life is more than right and wrong. Life is colorful and beautiful!
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