New Words

Here is video of Calleigh's new favorite word, "Bubble". She says a lot more babble these days but when asked to repeat words, she is doing well with repeating.

There are a bunch of other words that she can repeat when asked.  Here are some that we have been teaching her:

Wow
WooHoo
Bubble
Boo
Ma Ma (We ask her to say Mommy)
Da Da (We ask her to say Daddy)
Ya Ya (Her Nanny's Nickname)
Peep Peep for Bird
Yeh Yeh (Grandpa in Chinese)
Mah Mah (Grandma in Chinese)
May Yee (Cousin Maci's name in Chinese, she can't get the "c" sound yet)
Josha (Cousin Joshua)
O (Auntie Cathy)



Hmmm....Early Education
In Hong Kong, parents are crazy about getting  and early education start for a child. Culturally, it's about giving their child the best options in the future and bragging rights when a child can play the piano at 6 years of age or getting into a school that is highly competitive. I have researched a school that teaches right brain thinking and it's not cheap. Theory states that young children, 5 and under, have a great capacity to learn quickly and read without having to understand phonetics. But does this really matter? Does this really help? What's many don't know is that comprehension does not happen until after 5. So basically, a child can talk but not really understand what they are saying or how to structure sentences.

For me, I decided that Calleigh will learn just fine, but in her own time. I'd rather her gain some street smarts and experience life from her current perspective. Adults need to remember, the stimulation level for a child is off the charts. Everyday they are experiencing and absorbing something new. Lately Calleigh has been having play time with other kids in our building and it's really encouraged her to speak and do things differently. There is a saying, you are who you choose to surround yourself with in your life. So true.