ABC’s and 123’s January 24, 2007

Here is my kid’s product recommendation for the week (or month maybe - who knows when I’ll get around to finding something else to recommend):

I know, I know…Initially, when I heard “Kumon”, it made me think of those over-achieving parents who were pushing their kids at a young age - preparing them for the ivy leagues. Now, I don’t know if I would ever send my kids to Kumon (or if I would ever be able to afford to do so), but J really loves these cards. It basically teaches them how to write the uppercase letters by tracing it. He loves using the dry erase marker that comes with the cards and erasing it himself. They also have the same cards but with numbers.

And also, little books that help them with pasting which is supposed to “develop fine motor control and spatial reasoning skills by pasting paper parts and objects on to designated spots in order to complete fun art projects”.

And another for cutting which is supposed to “develop their manual dexterity.”

These are the ones he got for Christmas from his aunt, and he loves to do all of them..He is always asking to do a “project.” Not sure how the other Kumon books are for this age level, but once we are done with these, I’m going to try the others out!

Nagging cough January 8, 2007

J has had a cough for over two weeks now. Just when I thought it was getting better, it gets a little worse. Worse meaning more phlegm and more frequent coughing fits. I don’t think he is getting quality rest sometimes. So what is it? Just post-nasal drip? Allergies? He had the same thing last winter too. My niece is going through something similar, but much worse. She is actually coughing so much that it causes her to throw up. Poor girl has gone to the doctor’s a few times already and has been taking cough medicine, anti-biotics, etc.

I can’t wait until winter is over and we can open our windows to change the air in this house!

EDIT: Just found out from a pharmacist that the cough suppressant in medicines such as Robitussin and Dimetapp have never really been proven to work. I was told that if your child has a nagging cough from post nasal drip, Benadryl or Claritin (antihistamines) MAY be just as or more effective than those other cough medicines. BUT as always, ask your pediatrician…Lord knows, I have no qualifications to be dispensing medical advice. Just passing along what I was told.