I am a Muslim

Lesson 1

Pre-reading activity: 

- might bring them to the park/garden

- let them lying down facing the sky

- ask them what they see

- ask children to write what they know about Qur'an

Talk about Qur'an as:

- book from Allah

- the contents: about Allah, how muslims should act, stories about prophets and people long ago

Story A: Allah is Greatest

Story B: Who made all things?

Read tafseer of 6:76-80

Sydney Australia, September 2012

First Day

'Hop on hop off' bus riding for city sightseeing

Bondi Beach

Dinner on first day, simple menu

Our stay, Oaks Goldsbrough Apartment-penthouse

Second Day

 Heading to Circular Quay to get to Taronga Zoo

Harbour Bridge

Opera House - seen looking from our ferry

Taronga Zoological Park

Tumbalong Park - best playground ever!

Third Day

Swimming Lesson

My children commence their swimming lesson about 5 years ago (Haziq 7 yrs, Husna 5 yrs & Hanim 4yrs). Now they are members of Sandakan Swimming Club. Previously, they joined Swimputra Swimming Club (Putrajaya). My husband really committed about our children's involvement in this sport. He believes swimming could gives lots of benefits to our children and he is so true.. even sometimes they feel like being 'pushed' but their dad keep on telling them that they 'have to' until they can swim properly.

Every year, my eldest son will participate few of national swimming events. Not to be the champion of course, but most important, he improve his speed timing. Besides, we want to expose him with competition challenging (learning to compete, win and lose) as well as developing strong self-esteem and  confidence. He has shown  splendid progress since joining SSC, in fact in the latest event, he could beat his old friends from Swimputra by leading few seconds in front of them (in 1 sec, swimmer could leave 1m of the others). Before, he always left behind.

Here, I share with you the positive impacts on the swimmers..

~ It is a tradition (sunnah) that claimed besides archery and horse-riding
~ Restores freshness body
~ Eliminate stress
~ Strengthens heart muscle and body
~ Maintain beautiful body
~ Most healthy sports activities because it involves the entire body and does not cause risk of injury
~ Highly recommended to those suffering from obesity and a history of asthma
~ Eliminate / reduce the problem of back pain and headache
~ Very good to practice for the 'rehabilitation' (recovery) after injury
~ Good exercise for the slow-learner and also people with disabilities

Organizing Toys

First, I prepare 3-4 large container/boxes. Then, I sort all toys according to types (balls, soft toys, miniature vehicles, puzzles, etc). Divide each type into the boxes equally, more or less (for 8 balls, each box will have 2; for 12 soft toys, each box will have 3). So at one time, only 1 box will show up and keep the rest in the store room or anywhere out of their sight. The box will rotate weekly or monthly or when they get bored.

Precious Toys

Really want to share my thoughts about these precious toys. I bought from amazon. Surely no regret. Keep them busy for hours! But the most important is possible to bring during vacation.
First: Stack & Roll Cups

Stacking into nest

All in one - easy to bring along for journey

Coupled into different sizes of balls

Second: Lacing Button

Easy for little hand. Store in plastic bucket with lid

Lacing, sorting, recognizing shape or colour

Girl, it can be your accessories too

Third: Lacing Cards

Laced alone or laced together into a book or  hanging art

Has centre shape that can be traced

Counting money skills

Fake money 

Benefits of this activity:
- not watching tv for at least 1 hour
- learn counting money
- early exposure into business and handling financial. Is it? I hope so.. since they need to work, get salary & spend money.

Idea:

• Prepare fake money. For bills, I scan real Malaysian money (RM) and print out them so that my kids will not confuse when comes into real situation. (Setiap keping kena la conteng mcm dalam gambar tu. Takut tak pasal-pasal anak-anak bawa ke sekolah terbagi kat makcik kantin. Kang tak pasal-pasal masuk penjara pulak..)  Coins? I use the real one.. 
• Gather some toys or recycles things and mark each with price tag.
• Pick a job. I feel we need to be more creative. So I suggest them to choose a job because I want them to know in real life, the money is rolling in and out. Haziq choose to be a magician, Husna want to be a beautician and Hanim want to be a cashier at Giant superstore (hmm.. boleh la) 

Task:
Magician - Get money from the show. Hire assisstant and pay salary.

Beautician - Get money from customers. Buy product from the supplier, Giant of course! (kerjanya sikat rambut, pakaikan bedak, pakaikan tudung, ala.. yang simple-simple je).  

Casher - sit quietly at counter waiting for customers to come. Hire a nanny to take care of her kid (nanny tu maknya la. Anaknya pulak Haikal).

• Each get their allowance as for start (ala-ala personal loan).

My reference: http://suite101.com/article/how-to-make-fake-money-for-kids-a336487