RRMummy:

:scratchhead: who unlocked this dusty thread?

clarabella:

H2O:

My son came and ask me this question.


why is caterpillar with 1 t and butterfly is with double t.
Why do they start to share t? Single or double t?
any clues? :?

Hi H2O

My guess is :idea: :
- the word 'butter' follows the English spelling rule of doubling a consonant after a short, stressed vowel, hence it's spelled with double 't's after the vowel 'u'.
- caterpillar... I think there is only one 't' due to the origin of the word. It appears to have come from an old French word 'catepelose' and was first recorded in English (sometime in the 15th century) as 'catyrpel'.
So from the outset there is only a single 't'.
Hope that helps!

It seems that many words which don't follow the 'rules' come from other languages, so finding the origin of the word helps me to provide an explanation to my kid who always wants to fit things neatly into categories. The inconsistencies in English words really drive him bugsh*t!

tamarind:

shylyn,
Can you view the photo now ? The cover says \"My First Scrabble\".

I saw My First Scrabble at both Kiddy Palace and NTUC Hypermart at Jurong Point. NTUC is selling $5.00 cheaper at $39.90, you can find it at Section 10 under Toys, together with other board games.

There are a total of 15 word cards ( a few words a card). But actually we can also let the kids spell any words using the colourful letter tiles. For very young children, we can start with 2 letter words like is, am, in, it, etc, then go on to all the 3 letter words.

csc,
Yes definitely can keep for grandchildren

H2O:

My son came and ask me this question.


why is caterpillar with 1 t and butterfly is with double t.
Why do they start to share t? Single or double t?
any clues? :?

smurf:

thanks tamarind for the website. my boy knows this website, but he didn't really like it.hahha. wonder why. :?

shylyn:

tamarind:

Shylyn,

Here's the box.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3363/3256121091_24351d64e8.jpg\">

I help you to look out for it when I go shopping.

Hi Taramind
Hmm..unable to view the photo leh..wonder why..btw, thks for helping me look out for it..let me know if u happened to see it somewhere..gam xia! :lol:

buds:

Heyya guys,


POPULAR and Metro has this.
You guys Jurong people can find
it at JP's Toys R Us, shud have..
Biggest toys store wud have everything
right? Tamarind, how much you bought
that, mebbe for people who wanna
compare prices.. Thanks in advance.

tamarind:

Shylyn,

Here's the box.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3363/3256121091_24351d64e8.jpg\">

I help you to look out for it when I go shopping.

buds:

The word \"bush\" for example, only the /sh/ is
a phonetic combination - but the /b/ and /u/
put together is actually - baaa sound.

buds:

Reading is the key to improve children's
vocabulary, so must try to read to them everyday
and also get them to read to us!

buds:

Most time nowadays, parents are too focussed on achieving these
milestones faster than the child's age and hence this creates the so-
called very advanced child.
The more parents find their child can do certain things ahead of peers
their age, the more they push the limits... and slowly the children have
less of the time for their childhood to really enjoy being the child that
they are...

buds:

But as for writing, its a physical
process where if he's still of a child's age, he'll be able to carry out
child related activities. Prior to that will also include fine motor skills/
games like lacing, beading, playing pick up with chopsticks, feeding
himself and many other activities that can strengthen the childs fingers
to the pencil grip/pincer grip - thumb, pointer and tall man.

buds:

legible and able to put words from
his mind/reading onto print..

buds:

As a safeguard to keep child's interest in reading but yet trying to nurture
the writing process, i wud suggest to introduce both on a level scale and
not so much more reading activities than written activity. Provide oppor-
tunities if not for writing, at least colouring, shading, cutting, tracing shapes and pictures... etc.

buds:

I always remind parents - teach everything age-
appropriately. Like the slogan says, everything in moderation is fine
and healthy. As too much of something/anything may pose side effects...

tamarind:

smurf, shylyn,

I bought the Scrabble for Kids at Kiddy Palace

shylyn,
My kids play with it whenever they like. My older girl can spell independently without any help. My younger boy is very motivated to try on his own and refused any help from me. Both of them spell using phonics. No memorizing needed.

buds:

Didn rcv reply PM. Many apologies. Bummed with 2 not so well kiddies
and an extremely busy hubs this week. Plus lately with P2's teacher out
since last Friday, P2 has been bringing back LOADS of work, like can you
believe it? 8 pages of Maths homework??? All in the same workbook?
Gawd, is the substitute even doing anything? P2 is only too happy to do
it with me, cos she says in school the class is given only 10 minutes to do
5 pages or else, NO RECESS!!!

buds:

Ok, now the good part... been doing research on how to best answer
some of the questions being posted to me the best i can. Some of which
are pretty challenging too... a bit rusty now i suppose, not being back to
the actual circle, hahaa... BUT i know i'll be on track soon enuf, esp when
my kiddies are better (in health).

buds:

Think can only see you guys again next week by the looks of it.
I try to read up to catch up but may need actual sitting time to
reply to all... Late better than never? Can like dat or not?

buds:

As for reading, the earlier the child starts his foundation... the faster
he will read coherently.... clearly... This is a cognitive process. The
stimuli he receives from caregiver or early playgroup may enhance
his ability to read at a young age. But as for writing, its a physical
process where if he's still of a child's age, he'll be able to carry out
child related activities. Prior to that will also include fine motor skills/
games like lacing, beading, playing pick up with chopsticks, feeding
himself and many other activities that can strengthen the childs fingers
to the pencil grip/pincer grip - thumb, pointer and tall man.

buds:

Children who are exposed to some phonics and
also are early readers to simple books will be
able to manipulate this material with much enjoy-
ment. If child is only exposed to Phonics but doesn
read a lot, may not be able to make out the words
efficiently. Reading is the key to improve children's
vocabulary, so must try to read to them everyday
and also get them to read to us!

shylyn:

Wonder what is the normal age for a boy to develop his fine motor skills such that he can control his pen and write properly. Recently, I noticed my boy being able to trace accordingly (if he put his mind at it) and he is able to write 'T', \"E\" & \"I\"..he is trying to write his name but appears like lines/strokes on the paper. In fact, previously, he will shiver when he is holding his pen..scared us..cos tot what is happening until i realised that he is trying to write but his fine motor skills r holding him back.

tamarind:

shylyn, I think the majority children should be able to write well after 5 years old. But every child is different and some are able to write since well since 3 years old or even younger. I heard early childhood experts say that we should not make a child write too much if his fine motor skills are not good enough. I think I need buds to confirm whether this is true or not.

shylyn:

[....... a few suitable game sets for him...

trying to search for Buds's recommendation of the bus game..
but didn't see it leh..anyway, also intending to get Scrabble as well..