These nights I have to read “bedtime stories” to Gavin. No, not the typical nursery stories. But this encyclopedia of SHIPS!
He has taken a very deep interest in ships and loves to look at the pictures, learning about the different types and their features. It’s really more of a describing than reading process. He’ll also happily identify the ships from the submarines, very pleased when he’s able to get them correct.
His dad, a model ship hobbyist, has also made him a battleship to further pique his interest. This model ship, along with the encyclopedia, are comfort objects he take to bed each day.
I’ve also leveraged on this opportunity to teach him Chinese. Up till now, he only knows words involving his body parts and simple greetings. So in between describing the ships to him, I’ll throw in the Chinese words and he’s quite happy to pick them up.
I guess boys will be boys. No point telling him stories if he’s not interested. Even though I much prefer reading those. Mummy will just have to get more interested in marine automotives for the time being.
Yes, reading the books he likes will help him learn faster. No pt reading something that bores him and frustrates u.
So, it’s time for you to start adding more Chinese words in between the lines. That’s what my Taiwanese’s friend recommends me to do with Nikita i.e. read 1x in English, then read the 2nd time in Chinese. That way, they will pick up the 2nd language faster.
Comment by crazymommy — Fri, 7 Apr 2006 @ 11:20 am
Hey CM, I must teach him more Chinese words. I’m inspired by Nikita’s progress through your persistence!
Comment by sesame — Fri, 7 Apr 2006 @ 11:33 am
Hmm..no wonder Damien doesn’t show much interest in his Disney Bedtime stories…no matter how i ‘act cute’ (for the different characters) he’ll just pretend to be interested for a while and then totally switch off after that…
But…he happily spend more than half an hour with hubby on a car magazine…bleah..
Comment by Eileen — Fri, 7 Apr 2006 @ 1:45 pm
I don’t know what I would do if I had a son. I really don’t fancy reading books on ships, cars, dinosaurs….
Worse if you have children of different genders. You’d have to read a book on ships followed by a princess storybook.
Comment by fuzzoo — Fri, 7 Apr 2006 @ 10:50 pm
Your husband must be so excited that your son is sharing one of his interests. What a cool thing to be interested in!
Comment by blackbeltmama — Fri, 7 Apr 2006 @ 11:54 pm
I agree that it’s better for kids to read what they like. But I can just imagine myself nodding halfway the book… Ships? yawn … zzzzz. Fortunately, I have my 11-year-old daughter to play surrogate mother.. Most of the time, she reads to Dillon, really boring stuff, over and over again …. haha
Comment by Ange — Sat, 8 Apr 2006 @ 7:58 am
Wow..!! so smart .. your Gavin..!
And to think that “those” ppl said.. those things.. about Gavin..!!
Really .. i feel like shooting them now..!!!
Comment by Mama BoK — Sat, 8 Apr 2006 @ 9:27 pm
I sometimes read fashion magazines to Ophelia. But only when she asks me to.
Comment by the diva — Sat, 8 Apr 2006 @ 10:01 pm
Eileen: We have no choice! Got to take an interest in all sorts of vehicles for our son’s sake!
Fuzzoo: *Sigh* You’re so lucky you don’t have to do this yet.
BBMama: Yeah, that’s cool but it’s mummy who has to go through the books with him!
Ange: You’re lucky! And your girl is such a good sister. That’s the beauty about daughters. They tend to be more responsible.
Mama Bok: I’m still haunted by those comments and get worried sometimes…
Diva: Opehelia likes fashion? But not too surprising for girls lah.
Comment by sesame — Sun, 9 Apr 2006 @ 8:59 am
Oh boy, that’s a tough ‘bed time story’ to read!
Zara likes to read her First 1000 words book.. I just have to invent stories with each picture we show her to make it more interesting.. Tiring.. easier to just pick a book and read.
Comment by zara's mama — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 @ 9:30 am