Posts from — October 2011

There seem to be two major things occupying several aisles in shoping centres or shopping malls today. These are sweets or lollies for the Halloween Trick or Treat and of course, toys for Christmas. Chocolates, gummies, and a whole multitude of sweet goods are on display to attract the kids and other sweet-toothed adults. Toy trains,
rc trucks electric toys, dolls, or toy pets are also jostling position with the sweets waiting to be wrapped and make it under the Christmas tree. The next eight weeks or so will definititely be busy in these areas. You could almost imagine the laughter and joy for those who are successful to get something and the tears and agony of those who can’t convince mom or dad to grab something.

The kitchen is perhaps one of the businest part of the house. It starts early in the morning, gets busy throughout the day and ends late in the evening for the last coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. Cupboards or cabinets open and shut many times as things get taken out and packed in every so often. Things get stacked low under cabinets and also stacked way high sometimes needing sturdy step stool to reach things. It is busy not just because moms stay in it to do all of the above. It is busier because the kids, and the dad sometimes couldn’t wait and sneak into the kitchen to ask if the food is ready. It is a very busy room.

It is often portrayed in movies how children tend to ‘fear’ dentists or dental procedures. And with that we may start thinking whether the fear in real life is actually ‘inspired’ by what kids see on television or on the movies. And this is where the suggestion to bring kids to a dentist in their early years to rub out this fear. Parents need not wait until something needs to be done. It can start from a simple check for the child to experience sitting on ‘the chair’. So the next time, kids won’t jump out of the same seat when the dentist starts to bring out his dental supplies for say, a routine cleaning. Our kids reacted differently to this. But now, both of them now find going to the dentist as just another trip to the dentist.

When I was a kid, I have always heard of stories about fathers having sons give out swisher sweet cigars. Now I’ve seen many sons born but realise I have yet to find first hand accounts of this ‘hand outs’. So at this point it maybe safe to assume this is no longer current practice (at least in the cultures I have been exposed to). It may even be easier to find someone tweeting a child’s birth!

Nowadays it is no longer surprising to find kids playing with touch devices such as iPods, iPads or other similar tablets and gadgets. Just head out to your usual foodcourt and I’m sure that in no time, you’ll find one. Younger kids could be spending more time in games while older kids are on to music (yes, even accessorized by earphones or with portable speakers) or also games, or both. Whatever the driving force is, the future seems clear on the usage of these devices by kids of the current and future generations.