Recently I received request from some moms wanting to know how I homeschool. What I can do is to share what I did with my eldest daughter from 3-5 years old, and along the way, tell the things I do with my son now, who is turning 4 years old. Below suggestion are all based on my experience for your reference only - remember, every child is different.
I believe before a parent wants to homeschool his or her child, he or she must first understand each child’s personality. Therefore, parent should start by preparing themselves first before the child. There are books I read before doing homeschooling, and I strongly recommend parent to do the same:
‘Personality Plus’ by Florence Littauer. This book is a must to help you understand your child, along the way it helps to understand your spouse, even your boss!
‘Dare to Discipline’ by James Dobson. This book gives you some foundation you should have when training up your child.
‘Bringing Up Boys’ by James Dobson. This book is for parents who have boy or boys. A must- read especially if you think your boy is very naughty or out of control. This book makes me understand that boy is boy. They are designed to challenge, to survive. They are surely more hard to manage. Understand that they are different from girls, so we don't force them to behave or response like girls do. Don't take away the differences!
‘How to Raise a Positive Child in the Negative World’ by Zig Ziglar. This is an additional reading if you have time. It let you understand the world your child is having now is different from yours 20, 30 years ago.
to be continue...
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Monday, November 10, 2008
Plastic (Resin) Water Bottle
When I look at the water bottle at home, there are Code 1-PET (mineral water bottle) that I throw away after first used, there are Code 5-PP (polypropylene), and Code 7-PC (polycarbonate) that I bought for refill of water. Even my baby's feeding bottle is using Code 7-PC.
Recently after the Melamine issue, I finally decided to search information to find out the safety of using plastic water bottle. Many years ago, I heard that it is not safe to reuse, but how true is it?
After some research, the symbols at the bottom of the plastic bottle (consists of a triangle recycle symbol, a code number inside, and an acronym below the symbol) is to differentiate different type of polymer of the plastic. Manufacturer printed it not for consumers, but for easy sorting for their recycling purposes.
Until today, people disputed for years over the safety of using it:
(1) the chemical concern
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical concern for water bottles, especially those intended for reuse and made of PC (code 7). High temperatures and bleaching (some even said frequent cleaning) are believed to increase leeching of BPA. The health impact for humans is disputed.
(2) the bacteria concern
Users are warned regarding risk of bacteria that may develop in the bottle between uses. It is recommended to clean the interior with warm soapy water and let 100% dry before re-filling.
(3) the environmental concern
Plastics are durable, and they degrade very slowly. In some cases, burning plastic can release toxic fumes. Besides, manufacturing of plastics often creates large quantities of chemical pollutants.
Many health-conscious and environmentalist are going back to glass containers. At the end of the day, final decision is still in my own hands... to use or not to use? to reuse or not to reuse? to throw or not to throw? to clean or not to clean?
'And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Kepp on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks.' ~ Luke 11:9-10
Recently after the Melamine issue, I finally decided to search information to find out the safety of using plastic water bottle. Many years ago, I heard that it is not safe to reuse, but how true is it?
After some research, the symbols at the bottom of the plastic bottle (consists of a triangle recycle symbol, a code number inside, and an acronym below the symbol) is to differentiate different type of polymer of the plastic. Manufacturer printed it not for consumers, but for easy sorting for their recycling purposes.
Until today, people disputed for years over the safety of using it:
(1) the chemical concern
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical concern for water bottles, especially those intended for reuse and made of PC (code 7). High temperatures and bleaching (some even said frequent cleaning) are believed to increase leeching of BPA. The health impact for humans is disputed.
(2) the bacteria concern
Users are warned regarding risk of bacteria that may develop in the bottle between uses. It is recommended to clean the interior with warm soapy water and let 100% dry before re-filling.
(3) the environmental concern
Plastics are durable, and they degrade very slowly. In some cases, burning plastic can release toxic fumes. Besides, manufacturing of plastics often creates large quantities of chemical pollutants.
Many health-conscious and environmentalist are going back to glass containers. At the end of the day, final decision is still in my own hands... to use or not to use? to reuse or not to reuse? to throw or not to throw? to clean or not to clean?
'And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Kepp on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks.' ~ Luke 11:9-10
Friday, October 10, 2008
What is 'Poison Milk' (Melamine)?
Everyone is concern about the poison milk issues, but not many actually know what it is all about. Info below came from forwarded Chinese emails which I translated to English. Hope it can benefit more to understand..
1.毒奶粉到底是什麼？What is in Poison Milk?
就是「三聚氰胺」。這是化工實驗室裡的「三聚氰胺」～
It is Melamine from the chemical industry.
「三聚氰胺」原本是做什麼用的呢？它是一種工業原料主要是用來製作「美耐皿」碗盤～
What is Melamine originally for? It is one of the industrial ingredients to make plastic plates/bowls..
還有家裡裝潢一定會用到的「美耐板」～
And the artificial wood we use during renovations..
大家明白了嗎？「三聚氰胺」是一種工業原料，根本就不能吃！
Is everyone clear now? Melamine is a type of industrial raw material, uneatable at all!
2.為什麼「三聚氰胺」會出現在奶粉裡？
Why Melamine is in the milk powder?
奶粉是由牛奶製成的，牛奶最重要的營養成份就是蛋白質。「三聚氰胺」跟蛋白質一樣含有「氮」～
偷加「三聚氰胺」，製造廠商可以省下牛奶的用量、降低成本。
Milk powder is made by cow's milk, and the most important nutritional ingredient in milk is protein. Melamine and protein both contains nitrogen.
With Melamine, manufacturer can cut down the amount of milk used, plus reduce cost.
下面都是「三聚氰胺」，是不是跟奶粉很像？它沒有味道，所以不容易發現。
These are all Melamine, aren't they look like milk powder? It doesn't has smell, so is not easily notice.
3.是怎麼發現的？
Then how people find out?
2007年 美國貓、狗暴斃，在中國製的寵物食品裡發現「三聚氰胺」
In year 2007, cats and dogs in US died, they found Melamine in China made pet's food.
2008年開始 中國嬰兒腎結石病例異常增多
Beginning of year 2008, too many kidney stone cases found on China babies.
2008年8月 中國三鹿奶粉被檢驗出「三聚氰胺」
August 2008 Melamine was found in China's milk powder.
2008年9月 紐西蘭總理要求中國政府處理
2008年9月21日 台灣爆發多種食品含有「三聚氰胺」
September 2008 New Zealand president ask China government to look into it.
21 September, 2008 Taiwan discovered Melamine content in many food products.
4.吃／喝了會怎麼樣？
What happen if consume Melamine?
「三聚氰胺」結晶會留在腎裡面，形成結石，堵塞腎小管。結石很痛很痛，結石的人尿不出來，腎臟會水腫。
Melamine will crystallized and stay in the kidney, forming kidney stones, causing blockage. The affected person cannot urinate, feeling very painful. Kidney may become edema.
雖然結石可以動手術拿掉，卻會對腎臟造成不可恢復的傷害，到最後腎臟失去功能，就必須洗腎，否則很快就會因為尿毒症死亡。洗腎是什麼呢？其實正確來說，應該叫做「洗血」就是把身體全部血液，抽到外面繞一圈，經過機器過濾再送回去。
Although kidney stones can be removed by operation, it weaken the kidney or cause it to loose its function of cleaning toxic. Dialysis is needed. Meaning 'washing blood' by drawing the blood to go through a filter machine then pump it back into the body.
為什麼嬰兒最嚴重呢？因為腎臟很小，此外，嬰兒只喝奶粉，所以腎壞掉的速度是最快的。
Why babies affected the most? Because their kidney are small, besides, babies purely drink milk, therefore the speed of kidney destruction is the fastest.
中國目前已經有1萬3千個受害的嬰兒住院。
There were already 13,000 babies affected and hospitalised in China.
'The LORD said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground. Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.' ~ Genesis 4:10-12
1.毒奶粉到底是什麼？What is in Poison Milk?
就是「三聚氰胺」。這是化工實驗室裡的「三聚氰胺」～
It is Melamine from the chemical industry.
「三聚氰胺」原本是做什麼用的呢？它是一種工業原料主要是用來製作「美耐皿」碗盤～
What is Melamine originally for? It is one of the industrial ingredients to make plastic plates/bowls..
還有家裡裝潢一定會用到的「美耐板」～
And the artificial wood we use during renovations..
大家明白了嗎？「三聚氰胺」是一種工業原料，根本就不能吃！
Is everyone clear now? Melamine is a type of industrial raw material, uneatable at all!
2.為什麼「三聚氰胺」會出現在奶粉裡？
Why Melamine is in the milk powder?
奶粉是由牛奶製成的，牛奶最重要的營養成份就是蛋白質。「三聚氰胺」跟蛋白質一樣含有「氮」～
偷加「三聚氰胺」，製造廠商可以省下牛奶的用量、降低成本。
Milk powder is made by cow's milk, and the most important nutritional ingredient in milk is protein. Melamine and protein both contains nitrogen.
With Melamine, manufacturer can cut down the amount of milk used, plus reduce cost.
下面都是「三聚氰胺」，是不是跟奶粉很像？它沒有味道，所以不容易發現。
These are all Melamine, aren't they look like milk powder? It doesn't has smell, so is not easily notice.
3.是怎麼發現的？
Then how people find out?
2007年 美國貓、狗暴斃，在中國製的寵物食品裡發現「三聚氰胺」
In year 2007, cats and dogs in US died, they found Melamine in China made pet's food.
2008年開始 中國嬰兒腎結石病例異常增多
Beginning of year 2008, too many kidney stone cases found on China babies.
2008年8月 中國三鹿奶粉被檢驗出「三聚氰胺」
August 2008 Melamine was found in China's milk powder.
2008年9月 紐西蘭總理要求中國政府處理
2008年9月21日 台灣爆發多種食品含有「三聚氰胺」
September 2008 New Zealand president ask China government to look into it.
21 September, 2008 Taiwan discovered Melamine content in many food products.
4.吃／喝了會怎麼樣？
What happen if consume Melamine?
「三聚氰胺」結晶會留在腎裡面，形成結石，堵塞腎小管。結石很痛很痛，結石的人尿不出來，腎臟會水腫。
Melamine will crystallized and stay in the kidney, forming kidney stones, causing blockage. The affected person cannot urinate, feeling very painful. Kidney may become edema.
雖然結石可以動手術拿掉，卻會對腎臟造成不可恢復的傷害，到最後腎臟失去功能，就必須洗腎，否則很快就會因為尿毒症死亡。洗腎是什麼呢？其實正確來說，應該叫做「洗血」就是把身體全部血液，抽到外面繞一圈，經過機器過濾再送回去。
Although kidney stones can be removed by operation, it weaken the kidney or cause it to loose its function of cleaning toxic. Dialysis is needed. Meaning 'washing blood' by drawing the blood to go through a filter machine then pump it back into the body.
為什麼嬰兒最嚴重呢？因為腎臟很小，此外，嬰兒只喝奶粉，所以腎壞掉的速度是最快的。
Why babies affected the most? Because their kidney are small, besides, babies purely drink milk, therefore the speed of kidney destruction is the fastest.
中國目前已經有1萬3千個受害的嬰兒住院。
There were already 13,000 babies affected and hospitalised in China.
'The LORD said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground. Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.' ~ Genesis 4:10-12
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