Teachable Moment: Honesty is the Best Policy

Last August 2013, my husband composed an e-mail to CEM (Center for Education Measurement) stating that he was following up the approval of his submitted test items that he made about Grade 3 Science for next year's Achievement Test. His e-mail was immediately acknowledged and he was informed that the test items were approved.

I: "Papa, it's finally done! Congratulations! Did you delete the soft copy?"

Hector: "Yes, Ma! It's done!"

Kuya Ross: "Mama, what is Papa doing? What soft copy did he delete? What is it all about?"

I: "Anak,  Papa was invited by CEM to write test items about Grade 3 Science to be taken by students in the Philippines. According to the contract, once those test items were submitted to CEM, Papa should delete both his soft and hard copies and he did it!"

Kuya Ross: "How would they know if Papa really deleted them? They were not looking?"

I: " Anak, we have to be honest. Being honest means you should be true to your words and actions. You have to do the right thing even if nobody or regardless who is looking. The test that Papa made will be taken by you too next year. Papa could have saved a copy for you so that you'd know the answers but he didn't because that was cheating! Cheating is wrong, right? What he did was he kept his promise to CEM and followed the contract."

Kuya Ross: "Oh, I see."

I: " When you see money in your classroom, will you keep it?"

Kuya Ross: "No, Mama. I will give it to my teacher so that she can ask or look for the owner of the money."

I: "Very good! It's the same as what Papa did. It's an act of honesty. When we are honest, Kuya, people will trust us. God will be happy too because we are doing the right thing."

Kuya Ross: "Yes, Mama. I'm so proud of Papa."

I: "We are proud of you too, Kuya. You have to keep it in mind so that when you are already a dad, you'd know how to teach your kids."

Kuya Ross: "Yes, Mama. Thanks!"

The smile on his face showed that he was happy with what his Papa did.   

Experience is really the best teacher at the right place and time. 


    

Courtesy: http://www.nadiyahvidsten.com

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FRESH FROM THE PRESS! Making Meal time, Nutrition Time for Your 3 to 5-Year-Olds

Is meal time with your three-, four- or five-year-old becoming like a game of tug-o-war? While you try to creatively present their meals, your three-year old starts to be picky with food, your four-year-old selectively eats vegetables or probably requests the same type of food over and over, and your five-year-old is glued to the television or would rather play than eat. Parents not only battle for their child’s attention during meal time but also worry if they are able to give them the right kind of food and nutrition to support their growth and development.

Ms. Tiffany Santuyo, a registered nutritionist and dietitian, explains that this is an essential stage for building your child’s healthy eating habits.  Ages 3, 4, and 5 is when the child is at their most active and their curiosity is at its peak, thus, it is critical that a healthy eating habit is established to support this development phase.   

Parents are responsible for what their child eats, scheduling their meal times within the day, and making it enjoyable for their preschoolers.  Menu planning will help parents face the everyday challenge of preparing food for their children. It helps make sure that the meals they prepare are balanced, and has the perfect combination of meat, dairy, rice & grains, fruits and vegetables so as to provide the right mix of brain and body building nutrients they need.  Parents will also see that planning ahead saves time, energy, money, and produces less waste.   

“The key to menu planning centers on the following principles: strive for balance, emphasize variety, add contrast, think about color, and consider eye appeal,” shares Ms. Santuyo. “For parents’ easier reference, Alaska NutriBuild 345 has introduced the Alaska NutriBuild 345 Nutriplate, which is a tool that gives parents a visual representation of the kind and amount of food that are appropriate for their child’s age and needs,” she adds.

To add, Ms. Santuyo emphasizes that menu planning also includes meal time schedules. “Remember, your preschoolers need structure, routines, and limits.  As such, it would help to plan regular meal and snack times.  You can reserve 20 to 30 minutes for regular meal times and 10 to 12 minutes for snacks,” she recommends.  

She also suggests that meal time with the whole family helps establish their child’s healthy eating habits. “You and your whole family must set a good example on eating healthily as children learn by imitating the people around them,” Ms. Santuyo explains.

To give them a more concrete example, Ms. Santuyo shares a sample menu that parents may serve their preschoolers.   

Power Packed Breakfast:

½ slice papaya

1pc scrambled egg (with or without meat bits)

1/2 cup rice

1 glass of milk

Yummylicious Lunch:

Pork Sinigang (2 pieces meat and at least ½ cup vegetables)

1/2 cup boiled rice

1 pisngi of a ripe mango

Awesomeness Dinner:

1 small size fish fillet

1/2 cup chopseuy

1/4 cup sweetened Saba (w/ or w/o sago)

1 glass of milk

Milk is still an important part of your child’s diet.  As parents carefully plan the nourishment they give their child, they are also responsible for giving the right milk support to help provide the nutritional requirements for their pre-schoolers’ growth and development, as solid foods alone may not be enough.  Alaska NutriBuild 345 is packed with minerals that support the rapid demands for physical growth and endurance.  It has FOS/Inulin that activates intestinal functions, assist in digestion and reduces the risk of constipation and diarrhea.  Alaska NutriBuild 345 also contains E.F.A. or Essential Fatty Acids that are important for normal growth in body and brain development, and a mixture of Iron+Zinc+Iodine, which supports the development of brain functions.  In addition, it has Choline and Taurine which helps in the development of cognitive and memory functions, and DHA/ARA that support healthy vision and cognitive development of young children.  All of these are essential to support the needs of your growing 3 to 5-year-olds in order for them to be mentally alert and be able to adjust to their physical growth requirements.

The ages 3, 4, and 5 may be a period of slow-physical growth for your child, but this is when learning and acquisition of skills is at a fast pace. When you see your three-year-old assemble puzzles or your four-year-old use table utensils like an expert, or your five-year-old do broad jumps, these are great developmental milestones for your little ones!   So, support your child’s development by establishing his healthy eating habits, including a milk appropriate for their age like Alaska NutriBuild 345, para ang mga milestones ng anak ninyo ay ma-achieve!

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Our Three Basic Rules for Our Son's School Success

I worked as a grade school teacher in an exclusive school for boys for five years before I decided to be a stay-at-home-mom. I've seen students excel and fail. I felt proud when my students excel because it meant that my mode of  teaching was effective but my heart broke to see some of my students fail after doing different interventions to help them.

Frankly speaking, I understood more the situation and feelings of my students when my eldest son, Ross, started to attend school.

I realized that school pays an important part in students' development but parents' behavior have a greater impact in their  children's behavior towards school.

Our children is the reflection of our behavior and attitude--- the way we treat others, our concept of right and wrong, the consistency of our actions with our words, our ways of dealing with anger, and most importantly, the way we give expectations.

According to Mimi Hudson, Director of Community Programs, Family Services of North Shore, parental expectations affect our children's motivational and self-expectations. Our children succeed if given realistic expectations and they fail when faced with unrealistically high expectations. Their failure is due to pressure, anxiety, and discouragement when they don't live up with their parents' expectations.

In line with this, there were moments when my husband and I talked about how we were raised by our parents. To cut the story short, we realized that we enjoyed school and succeed because our parents guided us well.

To help Ross enjoy school and succeed too, we set three basic school rules for him. We still remind him everyday to follow these rules before sending  him off to school. We also ask him to repeat them as we speak so that he would remember them by heart. What is good about him is he never complains and does his best to practice them.

1) BE GOOD

"One should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself."---Confucius, Golden Rule

^{We say that..."If you are good to others, they would be good to you. But if you are bad to others, they would be bad to you."}

^{We always remind him to treat everybody with respect, kindness, gentleness, patience, and courtesy. He must be grateful when people treat him kindly. He has to use "Magic Words" (polite expressions) in talking to his classmates, friends, teachers, and other members of the school community.} 

^{We teach him the importance of sharing by offering his food during recess and lunch time or lending his school materials in case one of his classmates forgot to bring his own.  It is also nice for him to take an active part in giving his time and resources in outreach programs and activities. When his classmates ask for help,  he should be ready to give a helping hand.} 

^{He must religiously follow the "Clean As You Go" campaign in school. He should help in keeping his surroundings clean to lessen the load of the staff in keeping the whole school clean and tidy.}

^{In group activities, he must see to it that each of his classmates have a share in the doing work.} 

^{He must act like a gentleman too. As early as now, we teach him proper decorum in public and ways of showing high regard to the elderly and women.}  

^{2) DO YOUR BEST}

^{"Follow excellence and success will chase you..."--- Ranchoddas Chadchad, 3 Idiots}

^{How we say it... "Study not just to memorize and get high grades. Getting high grades is good but going to school should be for the love of learning and understanding. Know what is important and essential.  Do your very best in your studies and success would surely come."}

^{We  encourage him to study very well to be accomplished in the future. We teach him to know how to explain things in his words and help him study in his own pace.}

^{We don't pressure him to get awards or be included in the honor roll. If he gets one, it would be a great blessing and his hard work would be highly appreciated. If he gets low in his tests or makes mistakes, we always tell him that it's okay as long as he learns something from the experience and do his best next time.}

^{We are very fortunate that Ross is driven when it comes to his studies. His hard work gets positive results and it gives him more inspiration to do his best in everything that he does.}

^{3) ENJOY}

"Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your actions."---Dalai Lama XIV

^{How we say it... "Happiness is a choice. It is only you who can make yourself happy. Have fun learning and make friends! Do everything that would make you happy as long as you don't hurt others or break school rules!"}

^{Aside from telling him that his academic performance is his topmost priority, we also let him try different activities like sports, art, music, and other foreign language that he finds engaging and enjoyable. We make sure that these activities would not hinder his focus in academics. We support him all the way to make him a well-rounded person. We let him make his own choice. We are always around to guide him and not to dictate what he should do. We also involve him in decision-making when it comes to his studies. It gives him the sense of responsibility and confidence.}

^{Ross enjoys school so much. He looks forward to it everyday! Every night when I tuck him to bed, he would tell  interesting stories about new things he learned from his teacher,} 
topics that he talked about with his friends, 
his new endeavors, and new books that he read from the library.

Above all these, it is very important that we, parents, practice what we preach. Being role models to our kids is still the best way to teach them just like our parents did.

   

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Four Reasons Why MILO is Good for Kids

I remember the days when my brother and I indulged in our favorite chocolate drink, Milo. Our day was never complete without it. We also ate it as our dessert, scooping heaping spoonfuls straight from the can! Oh, how we loved savoring its rich chocolatey taste! Not only that, we knew that we were gulping and eating something healthy and nutritious.

It's never a surprise that for 49 years, Milo is still one of the top well-trusted and well-loved brands here in the Philippines!

Winning energy and chocomaltee goodness in every cup of MILO

 

Manila, Philippines, November 5, 2013 – For 49 years, MILO has championed health and wellness for generations of Filipino families with quality products that boast of big flavors and wholesome energy-giving nutrients. According to the recent Kantar Worldpanel Brand Footprint 2013 study, MILO has consistently ranked in the top 5 brands in the Philippines for both rural and urban households, cementing its reputation as a trusted and well-loved brand by kids and adults alike.

Having established itself as a local favorite among the youth, MILO does more than just provide a healthy source of energy for kids, but also advocates holistic development through sports. As a testament to MILO’s invaluable commitment to serving Filipino households, the brand shares the top 4 reasons why MILO is good for kids.

Breakfast is always better with MILO

Taking a full and nutritious breakfast before heading to school is essential in replenishing a child’s body and mind after a long night without food. Studies have shown that starting the day with a good meal has a positive impact on alertness and concentration, and helps establish a positive attitude towards different activities.

Pairing a well-balanced breakfast with MILO can help ensure that kids are prepared both physically and mentally for a full day ahead. Not only does a glass of MILO with breakfast in the morning sustain the body with lasting energy, it also helps invigorate kids to start the day early and accomplish more.

MILO packs natural energy-giving goodness

Fortified with essential vitamins and minerals, MILO is a reliable source of wholesome energy and nutrition for kids. MILO contains the malt extract PROTOMALT, a mixture of different types of carbohydrates that provide energy and nutrients that the body needs, and ACTIGEN-E, a combination of B vitamins and micronutrients and a source of Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, Vitamin C and Magnesium, to help optimize the release of energy from protein, carbohydrates and fat in food.

Nutritionally balanced and certified by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), MILO also has Protein, which is crucial for building and repairing body tissues, Calcium for strong bones and teeth, and Iron for red blood cell formation, to help provide the nutrients a growing child needs on a daily basis.

MILO is big on cocoa, big on taste

A winning combination in itself, MILO is not only a nutritious drink but a delicious one as well. Formulated with all-natural ingredients including cocoa, milk and malt, every serving of MILO packs the rich chocomaltee taste generations of Filipinos know and love.

“For over four decades, MILO has been and continues to be the preferred drink of kids, ages 7 to 12. It is actually the big chocomaltee taste that makes MILO such a hit among the kids of today, and so nostalgic for the kids of yesterday,” said Janice Yang, MILO Brand Manager, Nestle Philippines.

MILO inspires young athletes to pursue their dreams

Engaging kids in physical activities like sports builds physical stamina and strengthens their mental and social capacities. Kids can also develop character-forming values such as discipline and camaraderie from sports, helping them become champions on and off the playing field.

The MILO Summer Sports Clinics, MILO-sponsored Basketball Efficiency Scientific Training Center (BEST Center), National MILO Marathon and MILO Little Olympics all aim to develop young athletes and discover the next generation of champions. Many of today’s Filipino sports heroes are graduates of MILO-sponsored sports programs, including former SMART-Gilas Pilipinas team captain Chris Tiu, tae kwon do champion Japoy Lizardo, tennis pro Johnny Arcilla, WNCAA gold medalist MVP Princess Gaiser, and basketball phenomenon Kiefer Ravena, among others.

By providing an opportunity for the youth to showcase their athletic talent and skill, MILO comes full circle and reinforces its commitment to holistic youth development. “With the huge success of our youth sports events every year, MILO goes beyond being kids’ favorite chocolate beverage brand and becomes a platform through which young Filipinos aspire to achieve greatness,” added Yang.

“As we come closer to our 50th year serving the Philippines, we are very proud of the trust accorded to our brand and to our programs. We remain optimistic and hopeful towards the future of MILO and of our commitment to the youth.”

For more information, log on to the MILO Philippines Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/milo.ph) and follow MILO on Twitter (@MiloPH).

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About MILO

The MILO brand is the world’s leading chocolate malt beverage that can be prepared with hot or cold milk or water. Given its popularity it is a “must have” product for food service operators particularly in Asia, Africa and Oceania.

MILO also promotes participation in sports through its Summer Sports Clinics, MILO-B.E.S.T. Center Training Program, MILO Marathon, and MILO Little Olympics. The leading beverage brand believes that these contribute to the holistic development of Filipino champions in sports and in life. 2013 marks MILO’s 49th year in the country.

About Nestle Philippines

Nearly a hundred years after it first started operations in the country, Nestle Philippines, Inc. (NPI) today is a robust and stable organization, proud of its role in bringing the best food and beverage throughout the stages of the Filipino consumers’ lives. The Company employs more than 3,200 men and women nationwide, and is now among the country’s Top 10 Corporations.

Driven by its mission to nurture generations of Filipino families, Nestle today produces and markets products under some of the country’s well known brands such as Nescafe, Nido, Milo, Nestea, Maggie, Bear Brand, Nestle and Purina, among others. Its product range has expanded to include coffee, milk, beverages, non-dairy creamer, food, infant nutrition, ice cream and chilled dairy, breakfast cereals, confectionery and pet care.

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My Simple and Practical Storage Tips

Storing food and other home materials is easy to manage by following these practical tips.

- Buy food storage containers like microwavable plastic containers or freezer-to-oven casserole dishes. You may also reuse plastic ice cream containers, screw top glass or plastic jars for storing refrigerated and non-refrigerated food. 

I prefer transparent ones because food items are easy to see. When using opaque containers, make sure to label them what's inside and when it's stored using masking tape and permanent marker to avoid spoilage. This also applies to clothes, linens, rags, toys, and crafting materials for easy location. You might also like reading Practical Tips on How to Organize Stuff at Home.

- Use clothespins or binder clips to seal packages of partially used food items.

- Empty shaker bottles of some spices can be filled with flour, corn starch, salt, sugar, pepper, or your own mixed spices for mess-free flouring or seasoning of meat, drinks, or other food items.

- Wire and plastic mesh baskets or bags can be used for fruits, root crops, vegetables that need air circulation like onions, potatoes, and garlic. You might also like reading My Simple Rules in Food Storage at Room Temperature 

- Empty mineral water and juice bottles can be used again for storing water or juice but make sure they are made of virgin plastic material. To make it safer, use empty glass jars or bottles. Do not store poisonous substances like kerosene, gasoline, alcohol, and liquid cleaners on empty beverage bottles to avoid accidental poisoning.

- Knives should be placed in their holders to avoid making them dull. Keep them away from children's reach.

- Store heavy cookware in the lowest portion of the kitchen rack to avoid reaching up further.

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My Basic Clothing Care

I am doing the laundry right now and I think of sharing some of my practices on basic clothing care. I got positive feedback on my article Tips on How to Make Laundry Smell Fresh & Clean Rain or Shine! Hope this will also help you moms out there to make doing the laundry hassle-free!

We are all aware that buying good clothes is a big investment. Proper care after purchasing and before, while, and after using them is a must to extend their longevity. 

Here are some of my practices on basic clothing care:

• The button will stay longer if you dab clear or colorless nail polish at the center of the button to seal the threads.

• Lint removers are readily available in the market. In case you don't have your own, you can make one by rolling up a glossy magazine and wrap adhesive tape around it with the sticky side out. Roll it over lint, hair, and thread. You may do it repeatedly until they are removed.

• Rub a candle against zipper teeth to keep it working smoothly.

• Do not  dry clean clothes made of jusi, pina, and silk. Hand wash them with mild soap and water. You might also like reading How To Care For Your Jusi Barong.

•  When bringing soiled clothes to a dry cleaner, pin a note to each spot explaining what substance it is to call the dry cleaner's attention. Make sure to bring with it the different accessories like belts, scarves, etc. to make sure that the outfit remain the same color.

• Soak yellowish white clothes in vinegar for 15 minutes. The acid removes yellowish discoloration. Rinse just before soaping with detergent. You may also do this on your white or light colored canvas shoes but make sure not to expose them in direct sunlight because it can aggravate the yellowish discoloration of your shoes.

• Faux leather should be cleaned with  mild soap and water applied with a damp cloth. You might also like reading Quick and Effective Way to Clean Leather Using Household Products.

• If you are going to use a stain remover, test it first on the hidden part of the clothing to avoid ruining the entire garment.

• For stubborn wrinkles on clothes, hang it on a shower rod over the tub or big basin with hot water. The steam will remove the wrinkles.

• For wool or velvet clothes with cigarette or tobacco odors, run hot water in the tub or big basin and add vinegar. Hang the clothes on the shower rod and close the bathroom door. The vinegar in the rising steam will remove the odor of smoke.   

• Always hang clothes zippers and buttons closed on the hangers that fit the clothing. Make sure that sleeves, shoulders, creases, and collars lie flat into place. These will keep clothes in shape.

• Store beaded, sequined, embroidered clothes flat to avoid distortion of  their shape.

• Ties should be gently hand washed with mild soap and water. Please don't wring it after rinsing. Just hang it immediately to avoid distortion of their shape. It saves you time and electricity too because you don't need to iron them.

• Soak socks and clothes with stubborn dirt or mud on a detergent solution with baking soda and vinegar for 15 minutes then hand wash until the dirt is removed. Rinse thoroughly. 

 

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