Her choice of books from the library - A lot of non-fiction, some light-hearted ones, a comic (Santa's pants) and Martin Luther King Jr? Her school is having an "African" theme this whole term and they have been teaching her about the dark, and courageous sides of Slavery, treatment of black people... and Ku Klux Klan. KKK scared her so much she woke up one night screaming. Not very impressed that they teach her about racial tension and violence at such a young age (6-7YO). It is not that I want to bubble wrap my child and shield her away from it, but for a 6 year old, they still cannot mentally understand some things. There is no reason to teach them about racial issues, which I feel will further make certain children feel more "aware" of how different they are, in terms of colour of hair, skin and facial features. I know that most kids are still "colour-blind" at this age, so let them have an innocent childhood - they can learn it at 10YO when they are mentally more mature!


Anyway, it is interesting to see what she chooses at the library and I am partly glad she doesn't just go for the Horrid Henry series (which she is very into since last term). LOL!

"Flies like the smell of rotten meat"

So the things Shean Wenn learns from her books. We have been going to the library very often this summer holidays despite being busy with the house move and visit from her grandparents. I find she tends to love reading non-fiction to fiction although she does like her "Horrid Henry" books (to my dismay!).


Horrid Henry, really? What do you learn from it? I notice the books makes her laugh, so at least she is finding humour from it. But what she really learnt from the non-fiction books are most useful of course.

During tonight's dinner, she asked me this very earnestly.

 "Mummy, ... do I smell like rotten meat?"
"No, of course you don't. Why do you say that?"
"Because I saw a few flies flying around me all the time, why? And flies like the smell of rotten meat."
 "Oh silly, it's because they are hovering around the rotten banana (that her grandparents left on the table - one left from the bunch. Her grandparents have gone to Spain for a short holiday)."

Shean Wenn enjoying her book about Insects! Eeek.. Geli! 

Shean Wenn smiled in relief. I smiled because I found it funny! She often comes up to me with funny facts like that. Just like the one about the Mimic Octopus - which she said she watched from Octonauts. She said there is this octopus who can change its shape into  "a few eels", "a zebra fish", and something else. I had to google about mimic octopus before believing her! Wow.. more facts of the day.

Early reading : Recommended blog read

As a long-time reader of Lilian's blog, I have, at times refer to it for inspiration for "educating" Shean Wenn on various subjects. I just recently found an article that she wrote about her techniques of teaching reading to her kids. Her eldest son started reading at 3YO and Sean, her second son started reading at 3+.

Wrong Side of Thirty: For Stef: About early reading

Thanks for the insights, Lilian.