March 2007
Monthly Archive
“Simply talk to and hold your infant or toddler, please.”
Posted by kmwithsarah on 26 Mar 2007 | Tagged as: Useful Information
That brilliantly simple advice on how to raise a healthy and successful child is from Dr. Fraser Mustard. It’s part of the new Early Years Study 2: Putting Science Into Action, by Mustard, Margaret Norrie McCain and Stuart Shanker of York University in Ontario, Canada. It is a 185-page follow-up to the groundbreaking 1999 Early Years Study and documents the research advances in the area of childhood development. A good summary of its findings can be read in today’s online edition of the Toronto Star.
Of course all the talking and holding in the world won’t magically resolve a real developmental or physical delay, but it will give parents more opportunity to notice it. And early intervention can make a huge impact on your child’s future. Children learn so much before the age of six that the sooner they receive assistance, the greater the impact is on their future lives. Continue Reading »
The Blind Leading the Blind
Posted by kmwithsarah on 26 Mar 2007 | Tagged as: All that other stuff, Only in Beijing
Look out Beijing, my friend Amy is headed our way, and boy oh boy, does she have plans. There is whole binder full of well organized research and a complete library of travel books. Grand plans. Plans that put me to shame, really, as I have been here for almost 10 months and have been to exactly ONE of the places that is on her busy 5 days in Beijing schedule.
Now don’t get me wrong, I’ve seen lots of Beijing in the last few months and really feel like I am starting to get a feel for the place. But none of my regular haunts will ever be featured in the glossy travel guides that tantalize overseas visitors. I live here, and I rarely find or make the time to play tourist. I do exciting and exotic things like grocery shopping! Going to the park! Staying home and getting the laundry done! Ah yes, the life of a self-employed expat mom is a glamourous one, indeed.
I think the place I am most embarrased about not getting to is Panjiayuan, or the Dirt Market. Its less than a kilometre from my house. I’ve talked about going their with my camera to explore since I arrived last June. Yes, its known as a destination that is not child friendly and requires an early start on the weekend. Neither of those facts makes it impossible to go there. But I haven’t made the trek and likely wouldn’t without Amy’s visit as an excuse.
So look out Beijing! Amy’s visit coincides with end of term school break and Passover, so I have 3 and a half days to be Beijing’s most illiterate and inexperienced finest tour guide. I bought my first Beijing travel guide last week, in honour of Amy’s arrival and am now an expert. I have the papercuts to prove it!
And hey, Panjiayuan, your number is up. Sunday, April 1, 2007 at the crack of dawn. No joke.