Kids.Cartoon n Movie: Cloud Bread

Title: Cloud Bread

Genre: Fantasy Adventure (3D)

Target audience: 3-6 years old

“One rainy morning, a tiny cloud was caught on a tree branch outside our home. My little brother and I removed the tiny cloud very carefully so it wouldn’t blow away, and gave it to our mom. Mom kneaded it in with the bread dough and put the loaves in the oven. After it was well-baked, the sweet smelling bread was so light it floated in the air. That is how our adventures with Cloud Bread began.”

This TV animation series is based on the twice award winning book written and illustrated by Hee-na Baek. The book Cloud Bread was voted the “Best Picture Book of 2006” by The Bologna Children’s Book Fair.

Cloud Bread is a story about Hongbi, an imaginative and loveable 7-year-old girl kitten. With her keen observation and fertile imagination, she and her 5-year-old brother, HongShi, go on adventures around their neighbourhood and school.

The stories tell simple tales of day-to-day life, dream fantasies of children and on their learning about life, responsibility and schoolbook lessons. Each story is set out to promote creativity, strong social values and educational information. For example, if Hongbi or Hongshi makes a mistake, they will be guided to realize their mistakes through the intervention or positive behaviour of other people like parents, a teacher, or friends. They will then reflect on themselves.

Positive guidance is vital in early childhood education. With the positive guidance from adults, children will grow into a well-nurtured person.

Kids.Arts n Crafts: 5 Skills Children Can Learn From the Arts

Skills	Activities
Creativity	Reciting a monologue in different ways Create a painting that reflects a memory Improvise a rhythm of a piece of music
Confidence	Delivering a message through theatre Creating an art work using freestyle
Problem solving	Using clay to create a sculpture Portraying an emotion through dance
Perseverance	Practicing musical instruments
Focus	Participating in any art activities (as mentioned above and others) can improve the children’s abilities in concentration and focus in other aspects of life

The environment at CECE encourages creativity through learning and application

Be Inspired: How Children Succeed – Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character

More info

“Why do some children succeed while others fail? Why is it, exactly, that poor children are less likely to succeed, on average, than middle-class children? What can we all do to steer more kids towards success?”

“How Children Succeed introduces us to a new generation of researchers and educators who, for the first time, are using the tools of science to peel back the mysteries of character. Through their stories—and the stories of the children they are trying to help—Tough traces the links between childhood stress and life success. He uncovers the surprising ways in which parents do—and do not—prepare their children for adulthood. And he provides us with new insights into how to help children growing up in poverty.”

Author Paul Tough said: “A lot of what we think we know about the effect of poverty on a child’s development is just plain wrong. It’s certainly indisputable that growing up in poverty is really hard on children. But the conventional wisdom is that the big problem for low-income kids is that they don’t get enough cognitive stimulation early on.”

What we’re finding out now is that in trying to protect our children, we may actually be harming them. By not giving them the chance to learn to manage adversity, to cope with failure, we produce kids who have real problems when they grow up. Overcoming adversity is what produces character. And character, even more than IQ, is what leads to real and lasting success.”

Be Inspired: Teachers’ Dedication towards a Better Generation

Teaching is a profession that has often been overlooked for its value. As we advance in technology, many of us leave behind the sense of gratitude towards our teachers who’d taught us in our life, especially when we are already out of school. Up to this day, how many of us actually thank our teachers for their dedication in imparting knowledge and skills in us, even if it is just a little gesture in our heart?

Teachers are like mothers to us when we started our education at nursery, daycare centre or kindergarten. For at least 12 years in school, we were nurtured into achievers by these amazing people who don’t ask anything in return. Deep down in their heart, they only have one wish – that is to see their students excel in their life.

Have you let your teachers know how wonderful they are and because of them, you are who you are right now? As the saying goes, “it’s never too late” to speak your mind to them.

*Teacher’s Day in Malaysia falls on May 16.

Find out more on the importance of training for preschool educators here.

Be Inspired: The Most Wonderful Woman in Our World - Mother

Be grateful for the home you have, knowing that at this moment, all you have is all you need.
~Sarah Ban Breathnach

On the second Sunday of May each year, the whole world comes together to celebrate the wonderful dedication of a very special woman in our life – Mother, Mama, Mum, Mom or in any way you address this special person.

This year, Mother’s Day falls on 12 May.

Mother raised us up with unconditional love and unimaginable personal “sacrifices”. She was the one waking up in the middle of the night to feed us when we were just an infant. She was the one taking care of us when we were sick. She was the one carrying us in her womb for 9 months and going through the pregnancy and delivery to bring us to this world.

What do you have on mind to celebrate this wonderful day? No matter what it is, celebrating the dedication of Mothers shall go beyond this wonderful day…

Wishing all Mothers a very Happy Mother's Day!!

World Education: Pre-primary Education in Finland - Learning by Playing

According to Finnish education policy, a child who turns seven years of age is required to start his compulsory education. In the years that precede it, it is upon the child’s parents to decide whether to participate in pre-primary education.

The local authorities have a statutory duty to arrange pre-primary education and to make decision on the venue of the learning – in a school, a day-care centre, a family day care place or any other appropriate place.

Pre-primary education is provided free of charge, with qualified instructors who hold kindergarten teacher or class teacher qualification. Under the Basic Education Decree, classes are conducted for a minimum of 700 hours a year. Private basic education providers may also offer pre-primary education.

Free school transportation is provided to preschoolers who live beyond five kilometres from school or who are required to travel along dangerous route. Preschoolers are also entitled to a day-care place which charges an income-based fee.

The essential of Finnish pre-school education is learning by playing - to instill a better understanding on the differences between human beings, and between right and wrong through peer group while adopting basic knowledge and skills for their age. They will be exposed to local and national culture, nature and their own immediate surroundings, and how to cope with everyday life situations.