Yesterday was the beginning of exam week for my children. I actually like studying with them except that I think I give my eldest daughter too much pressure. Math was yesterday and it was a breeze, I guess since she did very well in the “dummy tests.”

Here are some tips in studying with your toots:

1) Prepare for the exam two weeks prior.

2) Prepare notes for all major subjects in case she needs to familiarize and memorize alot of facts. This is actually important. I have actually started to teach my daughter how to memorize important facts for example in science, by using mnemonics and acronomyms for easy memorization.

3) Make dummy tests. In my case, I like to prepare 2-3 dummy tests. Mostly I use the first dummy test to check the readiness of my daughter. From there, I tailor the second dummy as a review and ensure I include the ones where she can get high scores to encourage and boost her confidence. Once she is confident, I can give her the hard dummy test.

One of the things I have learned in school through the years in UP is the wonders of simple note taking. I started teaching my daughter the habit of making her own notes rather than copying her teacher’s board work. I have also taught her to study and read ahead, then make notes so she can familiarize hereself and perhaps memorize the important facts as she go along.

However, one of the most important studying style that I found effective with the children is the intermingling or inclusion of important topics in science or whatever subjects into daily conversations. My daughter, I found, seem to retain more information this way.

For more information about studying and helping children improve their habits, click here.

My toddler is ready for potty training. My eldest daughter was potty trained at one year and 5 months, while the next a little over 2 years. Now, my one and only boy is going to begin his potty training today and I am honestly scared and not looking forward to it.

I have been meaning to begin his training months ago. However, since we have moved house 2 months ago, it is rational for him to familiarize himself with the house first before we could begin potty training as potty training has alot to do with confidence, awareness and anxiety to children.

We are more or less settled here now, and I am honestly tired of changing diapers and is looking forward to some savings since his nappies cost an arm and a leg. Having moved and changed lifestyles eversince we left abroad and settled here, I have not changed diapers since the children are very sensitive and when I did try to downgrade the nappies to those cheaper ones, their bottoms became riddled with rashes that I declared it not worth it to change their nappies. The children’s comfort and sanitation should remain a priority, I surmised.

So, after reintroducing the mighty potty to my boy and I explained to him that he needed to inform Mommy if he wanted to do a pee-pee or poo-poo so we could do it together at the potty. Then I realized that I have never potty trained a boy and I thought there might be some confusion with the urination side since my boy has only seen and been aware of girls ever since we left his father last year. No role model…

I have read in one of those i-village articles that boys are sometimes easier to teach how to urinate by teaching them to do it sitting down. My sister who has a son swears by it also… however, I hesitate to take her opinion to heart because her son still continue to pee on the bed even at 5 or 6 years old! My daughters has never really given me trouble with bedwetting…

Anyway, my boy used up 6 briefs and 2 pants already. Since this is the first day, I tried my very best not to be mad and to be encouraging especially after his accidents. I still praised him for being a big boy for using his briefs and potty. At least everytime he pees on himself, he would ran to me and say, “potty now.” Then he would ran to the potty after he had informed me. At least I am happy to know that our problem just sequential. Any potty stories to share?

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