We've already completed 10 days of our camp and we're super happy. We are always looking out for exciting things to do. If you've missed our previous updates, here you go.
Day 11: More cooking and grating coconuts
Niall has never complained about chores. He in fact loves being a part of everything at home. We've never had a maid at home. Yes, shocking but true. So all of us at home share responsibilities. While he usually operates the washing machine, cleans the restrooms, and swabs the floor, he has always shown an interest to cook. Now with all of us at home, we don't just eat together but cook together. Niall prepared a raw banana dish with help only in cutting. We follow the OPOS way of cooking. Easy peasy for children as well. Do read up about it.
Coconut is an important ingredient in our cuisine. So here's Niall learning to grate a coconut the traditional way from dada dearest. If you ask a Mangalorean, they'll say it's a life skill. We can't do without coconuts.
Day 12: More painting and the fan club increases
It's now confirmed. Niall prefers painting to drawing. Ever since his first "good" sunset painting, he's been asking for more painting sessions. After a long day at work, we were still able to squeeze in time for this painting. For long, we allowed his painting and drawing to be spontaneous. We still do most of the time because they are accompanied by a hundred stories. But it's recently, that we started engaging in a little structured art to inculcate a few techniques and most importantly the art of patience.
Mama and Niall enjoyed doing this night sky of Mount Fuji. It wasn't as easy as we thought it was. It had our favourite elements - a volcano and cherry blossoms. Niall completed the cherry blossoms with a combination of brushwork and fingerprints. If you know me, by now you know that this painting session was accompanied by a mini class on volcanos and Mount Fuji. Yes, I won't disappoint you. Moreover, Niall enjoys contextual learning. Both of us are loving this time!
Day 13: Niall, Kannada, flour and loads of fun
When Niall was around 3, my mum began sending him to the nearby store to buy some stuff. His task was to walk to the store, request the shopkeeper in Kannada, pay, and then walk home with the item. In the cutest way, he would say "uncle, ondu packet mosaru kodi" or "yeradu motte kodi" (uncle, a packet of curds please) That's where his class in conversational Kannada began. He today understands anything spoken in Kannada but is shy to speak.
We're now guiding him to recognize letters and write them so he can eventually read boards. So here's something fun we did today. We got this idea from Niall's school - Aurinko Academy. Quite a lot of practice happened until the two got bored. Knowing the local language is a must. Don't you think so?
Day 14: Painting beyond the canvas
When the boy is on a painting spree, be quick to get some pending work done. Our composting khamba needed a facelift and we just couldn't get ourselves to do it. Today we had the time, paint and the painter. Dada dearest gave us a class on the different kinds of paint and how different it is from painting on paper. Niall did most of it before his pups came along and then he was gone. Dada, on the other hand was waiting for one of us to give up. He said this kind of painting brought back a lot of childhood memories.
Being Good Friday, we had two online church services to attend and a whole lot of Bible stories to talk about.
Day 15: Getting familiar with kitchen ingredients
Today Niall was introduced to various ingredients in the kitchen. Surprisingly he knew quite a few. We got our containers out and one by one he touched, smelt and tasted them. It was quite a simple activity but the learning was immense. From spitting out tamarind to asking for a second helping of cinnamon to fighting over why I gave him pepper, this activity activated all the senses and brought forth so many emotions.
Thank you all for following my updates every day and encouraging me with your kind words. Many of you had questions for me. Let me try answering some of them.
Happy Easter to all of you. Oh and before I forget, we have an update on the 8 pups Niall had adopted. Two are missing and two are really sick. He just fed them separately and I hope they make it through the night.
That's not all. This camp just got a lot better. Catch up on the rest of the camp using the links below.
Day 11: More cooking and grating coconuts
Niall has never complained about chores. He in fact loves being a part of everything at home. We've never had a maid at home. Yes, shocking but true. So all of us at home share responsibilities. While he usually operates the washing machine, cleans the restrooms, and swabs the floor, he has always shown an interest to cook. Now with all of us at home, we don't just eat together but cook together. Niall prepared a raw banana dish with help only in cutting. We follow the OPOS way of cooking. Easy peasy for children as well. Do read up about it.
Coconut is an important ingredient in our cuisine. So here's Niall learning to grate a coconut the traditional way from dada dearest. If you ask a Mangalorean, they'll say it's a life skill. We can't do without coconuts.
Day 12: More painting and the fan club increases
It's now confirmed. Niall prefers painting to drawing. Ever since his first "good" sunset painting, he's been asking for more painting sessions. After a long day at work, we were still able to squeeze in time for this painting. For long, we allowed his painting and drawing to be spontaneous. We still do most of the time because they are accompanied by a hundred stories. But it's recently, that we started engaging in a little structured art to inculcate a few techniques and most importantly the art of patience.
Mama and Niall enjoyed doing this night sky of Mount Fuji. It wasn't as easy as we thought it was. It had our favourite elements - a volcano and cherry blossoms. Niall completed the cherry blossoms with a combination of brushwork and fingerprints. If you know me, by now you know that this painting session was accompanied by a mini class on volcanos and Mount Fuji. Yes, I won't disappoint you. Moreover, Niall enjoys contextual learning. Both of us are loving this time!
Day 13: Niall, Kannada, flour and loads of fun
When Niall was around 3, my mum began sending him to the nearby store to buy some stuff. His task was to walk to the store, request the shopkeeper in Kannada, pay, and then walk home with the item. In the cutest way, he would say "uncle, ondu packet mosaru kodi" or "yeradu motte kodi" (uncle, a packet of curds please) That's where his class in conversational Kannada began. He today understands anything spoken in Kannada but is shy to speak.
We're now guiding him to recognize letters and write them so he can eventually read boards. So here's something fun we did today. We got this idea from Niall's school - Aurinko Academy. Quite a lot of practice happened until the two got bored. Knowing the local language is a must. Don't you think so?
Day 14: Painting beyond the canvas
When the boy is on a painting spree, be quick to get some pending work done. Our composting khamba needed a facelift and we just couldn't get ourselves to do it. Today we had the time, paint and the painter. Dada dearest gave us a class on the different kinds of paint and how different it is from painting on paper. Niall did most of it before his pups came along and then he was gone. Dada, on the other hand was waiting for one of us to give up. He said this kind of painting brought back a lot of childhood memories.
Being Good Friday, we had two online church services to attend and a whole lot of Bible stories to talk about.
Day 15: Getting familiar with kitchen ingredients
Today Niall was introduced to various ingredients in the kitchen. Surprisingly he knew quite a few. We got our containers out and one by one he touched, smelt and tasted them. It was quite a simple activity but the learning was immense. From spitting out tamarind to asking for a second helping of cinnamon to fighting over why I gave him pepper, this activity activated all the senses and brought forth so many emotions.
Thank you all for following my updates every day and encouraging me with your kind words. Many of you had questions for me. Let me try answering some of them.
- Yes I do work during the day. But set aside some time every day depending on the activity.
- No, I don't have a list. I just plan my day and choose one task or activity that can be made exciting. Sometimes I pick something different to dodo outside of my routine.
- I spend anywhere between 30 mins to two hours depending on the activity. Most of the activities I plan are after 7 pm. Niall and I have painted past midnight too.
- I post on social media to help other parents and that also motivates me to make each day interesting.
- No, I am not going out of my way. All our children deserve our time. I have just hyped it into a summer camp to keep Niall interested.
- Yes, Niall does more than this in a day. He helps with chores, plays, wants to be read to, does some puzzles, spends some time in prayer, plays with his brother and stretches each meal to two hours.
- Of course, he watches TV, but in installments. But all put together not more than 1 hour of screen time and that includes tabs, mobiles and tv. Yes a lot of drama happens when it time to turn off the TV. During school time he gets two hours of screen time every week and we've all made peace with that.
Happy Easter to all of you. Oh and before I forget, we have an update on the 8 pups Niall had adopted. Two are missing and two are really sick. He just fed them separately and I hope they make it through the night.
That's not all. This camp just got a lot better. Catch up on the rest of the camp using the links below.
Activities of Day 26 - 30 (coming soon)
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