The Human Rabbit

Cafe Hunting: Halal BRGR Cafe

9:36:00 AM

Why my child is a phone-less kid?

1:09:00 PM

In this millennial century, you can't avoid from exposing your child from technologies. It's a matter of how much of exposure. Well, in my case, VERY MINIMAL.

I don't expose Isa to gadget, not until he was 1 years plus. Reason being, I'm a kiasu mum. I guess I read too much of medical articles and watched YouTube on the effect of device towards the development of your child. But I am no extremes. Don't worry. I'm still flexible like that. Isa has not seen handphones until he is big enough to understand certain things.

How did it started?

I introduced YouTube to him when he was around 1 year 3 months until recently when I noticed that he was way too attached to the phone to the point he started to throw tantrums. But I limit the usage of handphone only during free time. Meaning when Juan and I are sitting down on the couch. Not during meal time or bed time.

It started with Barney video and gradually we moved to other children's video. It was okay at first until I noticed that he wants to watch it before bed time too. At first I thought because it was quite new for him but gradually it became every night at one point. Then it went to meal time. He wants me to put the phone on his high chair so that he could eat and watch it at the same time. That was when I told Juan that we need to put our phones away whenever we are home. This need to stop.

I started detaching Isa from this habit by playing with him. Either with his toys, or play chasing around the house or introduce books to him. So now whenever we are at home or when my parents come around, we put all of our phones away. We only check it whenever he didn't notice or when we're in office or out or when he's asleep.

I noticed that he's more interested in reading, he's closer to Juan and me and also we noticed new things about him. Things that we might not notice if we're still engrossed with our own thing. He is now learning a few new words aldo some 'masuk angin' pronunciation. In my opinion, child below 2 years doesn't need any exposure to tech. They need hands on activities to sharpen their motor skills.

Too much of anything can be bad. You need to monitor and read your kid's change in behavior. There are too much of violence and inappropriate content on the Internet nowadays and children are at risk of mimicking these behaviors.

"Technological interactivity can never replace human interaction as current technology cannot replace the human element of interaction between parent and child."

I can't deny that technology makes life easier but there has to be a limit. Technology has its pros and cons on a child’s development. It is impossible to completely restrict the use of technology, it is the responsibility of the parents to strike a balance. Here are a few tips:

1. Switch off the TV and put away your phones during meal times and encourage conversation among one another.

2. Remove any gadgets, especially TV and laptops from bedrooms.

3. Introduce traditional games back into your child’s playtime such as hide and seek, Scrabble, chess, congkak etc.

4. Get back to nature. Bring the family for fishing or hiking. This is something I'm still struggling to do cause I am not a nature person. Gosh...Mosquitoes.

Backpacking to Thailand with a 1.5 year old child

11:00:00 AM

Homestay in Ayer Keroh, Melaka

travel 11:18:00 AM

When was the last time.........?

celebrations 10:33:00 AM

This post was drafted while I was watching #engkauyangkupanggilibu Ariani Mother's Day campaign.

I rarely take photos with my mum. But I do have many photos with her as a kid. I have always talk about my dad. But behind the scene, my mum is the person who make sure that everything in the house run smoothly. From preparing our meals to sending us to school. Everything has to be done by her. This is because my dad were not at home, due to work commitment that requires him to travel. So basically it was only me, my sister and mum. Mum has been managing everything on her own. Dari drive kereta to riding bike to send me to music school. Jatuh motor pun ade but nothing serious.

My mum doesn't really give in, in arguments. I definitely took her trait too. Stubborn. So most of the time, her children and husband will have to give in. Despite all that, mum has been working real hard. To make sure that the household is managed properly. She makes sure that everything is in order, until today.

Even when I have a kid now, she would call to ask if there's any help needed. What her cucu eat, how's his nursery, has he bathed, etc.

We fought a lot during my teenage years. We couldn't really see eye to eye. It was so bad to a point that my dad has to come back to resolve the issue. I couldn't understand the things that my mum had to do or imposed on me because at that point, it felt like I was being tied down, not being able to have the freedom to express myself. Everything has to be done in a certain way.

It was then.... But today, I started to understand all the rules and regulations that my parents enforced on me. It was to make sure that I do not deter from my purpose and goal, being disciplined. I bet if it's not because of my parents being strict on me, I wouldn't be where I am today. I may or may not understand why, but one thing for sure, I'm so grateful for those beating I got from my parents, especially from Cik Timah :-)

You may not understand why you have curfews, why you can't go out with that hot dude from school, why you have to go extra tuition, why your pocket money can't be increase, why this and why that. But believe me, you'll thank your mum once you've grown up and have a family of your own. For now, just tahan je....

Happy Mother's Day, mummy....