Wentworth Garden Centre: A Birthday Day Out

Isaac's birthday weekend culminated with a trip to Wentworth Garden Centre in Rotherham, a hidden gem of a place with just enough excitement for little children to have an enjoyable day out, especially one who would probably take more pleasure in the discovery of new things rather than the blowing of a  candle.

The garden centre, beautifully set in the historic village of Wentworth has a family farm with a collection of animals that Isaac and his cousin Alex could identify from their nursery rhymes and more. We bought some feeds that they can give to the animals with their hands and they were allowed to sit down on the barn to pat the guinea pigs. A big hit though was the couple of tractors that they pretended to drive (static of course!) and the adventure playgrounds for children of all ages.

The food was of good quality too and we enjoyed a cup of coffee followed by lunch sat under the sun outside the Walled Garden Restaurant. It was definitely a lovely day with plenty of photos to show for it!
 

I'm Raising a Bilingual Child

The first time Isaac demonstrated an understanding of my mother tongue, I was completely beside myself. I was not only fascinated by his ability to learn a language that no one else around him speaks but I was also a little proud of myself, for persevering with the daunting task of ensuring that my little boy will be able to embrace his multicultural identity by being able to connect with his heritage and history in the most natural way.

My husband John is half-English and half-Turkish but does not speak the language, something he had been disappointed about. So I have always hoped that we could bring up a child who would be able to speak and understand Tagalog, the national language of the Philippines where I came from. Before I was able to appreciate what this desire would require of me, I had been (like most people where I came from) disappointed to meet Filipino children brought up abroad who cannot speak their parents' first language. And when I eventually met a Spanish friend in Britain whose children are bilingual, I became more determined to give my child the same gift.

It was easier said than done. Before we had Isaac, we lived in a monolingual household and although my husband and I have been learning Spanish on-off, it wasn't the language by which we communicate. Unlike most Filipinos abroad, I have very little contact with other Filipinos in my community that unless I am on Skype with my family or friends, I didn't have any opportunity to use my language. This lack of practice was what made the task a little harder as I had to consciously make an effort to communicate with my little child, who at first is unable to show any signs of comprehension, in a language that I am getting rusty at.

But perseverance brings rewarding results. At nearly 1.5 years, our little man has been throwing words around in both languages which includes his favourite expressions 'Oh dear!' and 'la na' (no more) although at times he displays preference for one language over another for particular words or activities. Every new word spoken and eventually mastered always bring an unexpected pleasure and a stronger motivation to keep on with what we have started.

I am no expert in linguistics and there is a wealth of information online and from experts about raising a bilingual child but these are just some of the things that helped us in our journey:

Start early. Children's brains are like sponges and they learn languages by absorbing those sounds they hear on a consistent basis. So the more you talk to them and the earlier, the better.

I've started talking to Isaac in Tagalog as soon as he was born and I have discovered that it was the consistency that is helping him associate the words with the object or task. For example, when dinner is ready, I have always said 'kain' (eat) when pulling his high chair out. Nowadays, when I say kain, he would automatically do this himself and climb up on the chair.

One person, one language (APOL). There are many different ways to introduce a second language to your child and we have been advised to use the APOL method like my friend had successfully done. Once you've chosen one, stick to it.

I talk to Isaac purely in Tagalog and his dad talks to him in English and he has been coping well at both. When I'm the one who puts him to bed, he asks for 'gatas' (milk) and when his daddy plays with him he squeals "up, down". When John asks "Where's shoes?", he presents it to him saying "shoes" likewise when I tell him 'suot' (wear, a word he associates with putting shoes on), he gives me his shoes.

Talk, talk, talk. Studies show that parents who engage in one-in-one conversations with their children are much more likely to help their children's language development. I have discovered that when I teach Isaac a new word by meeting his eyes, he is more likely to copy it and after repetition, remembers it. He also picks up random words from conversations, most notably his now famous 'Oh dear!' expression. Talking to him while doing everyday chores also helps with his language acquisition.

Sing plenty of songs, read a lot of stories. Learning another language should be fun and there's no more fun for a child than singing and dancing. Since taking on this project, I have also rediscovered the joys of my childhood through the nursery songs that I have nearly forgotten and that I now sing to my little boy. It gives me pleasure that whenever I sing to him the Tagalog crab song ('Tong, tong, tong pakitong-kitong') he responds by singing the bit of the lyrics he can copy while dancing and pointing at his knees just like I have done when we started practicing the song.

Involve your nursery. I must admit this one wasn't my idea but it had been very helpful to us. We are so lucky that our nursery supports children who are learning to be bilingual and they have encouraged us to make a scrapbook that Isaac can use at nursery with the Tagalog words that he understands and says. At nursery they repeat these words to him and we have been told of how well he has been responding and using it too. But he apparently looks at his carers with fascination every time they attempt to say a word that he seems to know only his mummy uses.

Talk to relatives and friends in the minority language. When we are on Skype with my family, I encourage them to talk to Isaac in Tagalog and sing to him nursery rhymes in our language. It makes them smile whenever he responds but it also makes him more exposed to the language therefore helping him become more comfortable with it. Of course visiting the Philippines where he can actually practice the language would be essential but because we can't afford it yet, he'll just have to be content with his weekly sessions with his virtual family.

Be committed. Raising a bilingual child takes some effort, creativity and commitment amongst other things. But studies have shown that bilingualism has numerous cognitive and social benefits compared to speaking only one language. If you have the time and the patience, it is certainly a gift worth giving your child.

For some great advice on raising bilingual children, go to the experts:
How to Fail Miserably at Raising a Bilingual Child
My Best Tips for Raising a Bilingual Child 
Bringing Up a Bilingual Child
Raising a Bilingual Child
On Raising Bilingual Children

Are you also raising a bilingual child? We would love to find out what it is like for you! Are you also a Filipino expat trying to teach your child our native language? Let us know what your favourite nursery rhymes and activities are, we would love to try them too!

November 2013: I've Been Up in the Air!

Andalusia, a region in southern Spain is my Daddy's spiritual home. He longs for it like a child longs for its mother (which I most certainly do at feeding time) and talks about it with so much passion in his voice and a special twinkle in his eyes. So when it came to booking our first family holiday abroad, you won't need to guess where we headed for. We travelled with my cousin Alex and his parents to visit my Lola Diane in Gibraltar for her 60th birthday. My great grandma and her friend Peter met us there. So did my Tito David. I couldn't wait to see everyone together!

It was my Mama's first time to travel with a British passport and it made all the difference. It took us over three hours to get to Malaga on the plane but I slept most of the time. I borrowed some of Alex's toys to keep me entertained when I was awake because my Mama and Daddy did not bring any at all!

Back in Gibraltar

Gibraltar was where my Mama and Daddy met in 2009 and eventually got married before they moved back to the UK. We saw a lot of people when we were there and met Enzo (who's almost as old or young? as me) and Miguel, who is a bit older. Mama and Daddy took me to places that have been special to them, including the lighthouse where you can see the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. We had coffee with the family in Casemates Square. We went to an evening service at the Methodist Church. And we saw the long queues at the border on our way out, good thing we parked on the Spanish side.



A Villa in Alcaidesa

We rented an apartment in Alcaidesa, just a few minutes away from Gibraltar. It was alright, with a communal pool (which we didn't use) and some lounge chairs (which we did use) in front of the house. But it did feel a bit lonely, you can't see anyone else walking along the beautiful tree-lined trees and you definitely need a car to get around. It just felt like a holiday place, not the proper Spanish towns and villages that we also visited.


Visiting Cordoba

On our holiday, we also drove to Cordoba, an ancient city in the heart of Andalusia that's been declared a World Heritage site with a mixture of diverse cultures to boost. Daddy booked us an overnight stay in a beautiful hotel situated along the walls of the famous Mezquita, a former mosque turned into cathedral most known for its forest of horseshoe arches that has been featured in almost every documentary my parents have seen regarding Islamic art and culture. It was, in a way, a cultural pilgrimage for them, and I enjoyed it too.

We got pleasantly lost in the tangle of the narrow medieval streets around the Mezquita, had tapas in a courtyard restaurant for dinner and walked across the Roman Bridge on our first day. The next day, we went inside the Mezquita, ate tortilla under the orange trees in the Old Town and walked along the medieval wall fortification before heading back to Alcaidesa. We passed through olive plantations along the way and was wowed by the beautiful Spanish sunset, reminding Mama and Daddy of the beautiful life they've had in this country.


Dreamy Walk in Tarifa

On the day before we leave Spain, we went to Tarifa, a beautiful seaside town at the southernmost point of continental Europe. I enjoyed our stroll along the walkway, feeling the soft air gently kiss my cheeks. I was also wide awake as we navigated the narrow cobbled streets, watching a little boy practice his football skills while his mother worked on one of the cafes. On our way back, we stopped off at a viewpoint to admire the Atlas mountains of North Africa right across the seas.

Under the Orange Trees in Marbella

After lunch, we headed off to Marbella, a popular tourist destination in the Costa del Sol. On this trip, we discovered the enchanting old town, a jumble of narrow white-washed alleys and flower-laden balconies. We had a rest under a row of orange trees while waiting for the shops to reopen after siesta so that we can have our yummy plate of churros dipped in chocolate. Then we crossed the road to the open sea, daddy insisting to wheel my pram right on the sand to the amusement of passers-by. There we watched yet another glorious sunset over the horizon. We went home spent but pleasantly intoxicated by the beauty around us. I slept soundly that night.


Goodbye Spain, for now

On the day we left Costa del Sol, we had a last-minute trip to visit Auntie Portia and DJ at Santa Margarita, a largely expat community just outside La Linea for a quick catch-up before rushing off to Malaga for our afternoon flight home. No one was looking forward to it. The thought of the cooler weather was already giving Daddy the blues. It's been a very lovely holiday, although it was a quite busy and sometimes rushed so I’m definitely looking forward to a more laid-back visit next time.

Making Sounds at the Park

Back in Britain, the weather has taken a turn for the worse. Mama and I went on with our daytime walks in the park, which felt rather melancholic now that Lola Ma has already left. The leaves have by then completely carpeted the muddy grounds and the squirrels have become more visible and active trying to increase their stash for the winter.

In these walks, I started babbling , trying to tell Mama that the cold is too much for me and that I wanted to be somewhere warm but I’m not sure she understood because she just carried on taking videos of me and then wheeling me around until I fell asleep. She does that all the time, she tries to get me to sleep while we are out and about because she knows I get fed up with being at home.

Sunday Roast at the Admiral Rodney's

We went out on a Sunday roast date night at the Admiral Rodney, our local pub up in Loxley Road with a wonderful view of the Sheffield countryside. We were given the most sought after table in the restaurant, right beside a log fire that kept us warm and comfortable. I fell asleep on my car seat just before dinner was served which meant peace and quiet for Mama and Daddy for an hour at least. But I did have a taste of the meal in my bedtime milk later on. Yum!

Dickens's Christmas

Kelham Island, Sheffield's industrial museum along the River Don, is annually transformed into the magical world of Dickens at the end of November in anticipation of the festive Christmas celebrations. We went there on one of three days it was open and enjoyed it immensely. The place was packed, with characters dressed in Victorian outfits rubbing shoulders with the thousands of visitors who flocked. They were always happy to have their photos taken too! There were also plenty of market stalls selling Sheffield made goods where Mama and Daddy picked up some Christmas presents for the family. I hope we go back again next year.

Chatsworth's Winter Wonderland

Every Christmas, Chatsworth House in Derbyshire puts on a spectacular festive display with a different theme each time. In 2013, we walked through a dark wardrobe and found ourselves inside the magical world of Narnia based on CS Lewis' The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. It was absolutely fantastic, complete with the White Queen on top of the stairs in the Painted Hall to the life-sized Aslan lying on a stone table  at the library. But I fell asleep half-way through, maybe next year I'll be more alert!


Shopping for a Tree

With Christmas just around the corner, we went shopping for a tree. We found the perfect one at Rhinegold Garden Centre just off Loxley Road and it was a Norman Fir, a firm British favourite and the same specie that my Mama and Daddy has been putting up every year. They are sustainably grown of course which is an added bonus. Daddy put it up on our bay window and they had fun decorating it with lights and balls while I looked on from my walker.


Bouncing, Flipping Pages and Rolling Over

We have certainly been very busy this month with our holiday and days out but I haven't forgotten to learn some important things too. I've been busy exploring my walker, bought from e-bay with our highest bid of £18. It's a fantastic toy, with piano keys playing music and a lot of buttons to press. I've been using it as a bouncer most of the time, with a pillow to hold my weight underneath as I was still too small to touch the floor. I've also started looking at my soft books, turning pages to check out the interesting photos and feel the textures in it. But my most important development this month was that I could finally roll over from my back to my side, not fully yet but nearly there.

Til next month!

October: Autumn in the Air

It's starting to get chilly. I noticed because I'm now wearing thicker clothes everyday when we go out and about and I could also see the changes in the landscape of Hillsborough Park where we regularly go for a walk. The leaves are changing colours, now bright and vivid against the deep blue sky. Occasionally, a dry leaf would fall like a whirling dervish in the air just before it would fall on the ground.

My Mama took plenty of photos, of my Lola Ma and me. At one time I had to lie down in the grass and made to smile, which I did, something they seemed very pleased about so I started doing it more often now.


A Trip to London

On the first Friday of October, we took Lola to the British capital on the train (which broke down halfway through but we managed to get there eventually!). We went on a Thames river cruise, rode the Emirates cable car (and had a nappy change there) and travelled in the metro (thanks to the baby carrier it wasn't stressful). We went up the Royal Observatory in Greenwich Park, admired the treasures of The British Museum and queued to watch the dinosaur exhibition at the Natural History Museum. We had lunch at Regent's Park, took a photo outside the Buckingham Palace, strolled along St Jame's Park, walked past No.10 Downing Street and admired the facade of the Houses of Parliament. Then we watched the sun go down over the Thames before heading back home before midnight on Saturday. I was exhausted but greatly stimulated!

Chatsworth House in Autumn

Straight from London, we went to Chatsworth House in Bakewell on the bus. It took us less than an hour to get there, taking in the beautiful view of the countryside from a double-decker. There was an annual sculpture exhibition on display in the garden and that's where we roamed around while Lola Ma explored the inside of the stately home that's been featured in a number of films and TV dramas.


At the Botanical Gardens

Back in Sheffield, we spent a day at the Botanical Gardens. It's always a magical place in autumn when the grounds are blanketed by colourful leaves and busy squirrels scampering about for food to top up their stash for the long winter ahead. I love the sound of the water from the fountain too and there are plenty of children playing around to keep my senses alert.


Visiting Leeds

We also got on the train to Leeds, to visit Tita Ciara, a family friend from the Philippines who is doing a Masters there. We went around museums and then walked around the shopping district including the Victoria Quarter, a very beautiful shopping centre with upmarket shops.


Chesterfield and the Monsal Trail

One weekend, we went to Chesterfield for the Saturday open air market, one of the biggest in the country. We picked up vegetables from the stalls (cheaper than Tesco's of course!) and got Daddy a new leather wallet for £5. While we were there, we also went inside the church with the crooked spire of which the city is synonymous with.


On our way back, we stopped at Hassop Station cafe for a cup of tea and scones (my Mama's sweet addiction). Fully refreshed, my parents decided to walk the Monsal Trail which felt a bit bumpy and made me fall asleep while cyclists, walkers and horse riders went past. We walked through a tunnel and emerged at the gorge in Monsal Head, looking up the viewpoint where we have been in August. The walk back was exhausting, the return journey took us a good three hours!

Halloween!

Daddy carved my first pumpkin this year, just before Lola Ma flies back home. Mama made a pumpkin pie too. But we had no trick-or-treaters knocking on our doors, that famous American tradition has not been embraced in our neighbourhood. Which is just as well, it always rains on Halloween!


My Own Bed, at Last!

I finally had my own comfortable bed, a present from my Auntie Mel and Uncle Paul (more freebies!). It's still in my parents' room but at least it's more comfortable than the moses basket that I so dislike. I've been settling myself to sleep for awhile now but being surrounded by animal friends - owls, cats, dogs and foxes - that my Lola made for me has been comforting. Plus I now have a musical forest dangling above me and playing classical music to help me doze off. It was bought from a voucher Daddy got for answering research survey!)


Manchester and Good-bye

After three months in Britain, Lola Ma flew back to the Philippines before the end of the month. We've had a lot of fun times together and I knew I was going to miss her, I still do.  We drove to Manchester, walked around the city centre and then took her to the airport for her long-haul flight back home. I wish I can visit her soon.


So it's been another busy month but I'm not complaining. I enjoy my active lifestyle, it keeps Mama fit and me happy with the fresh air and exciting things to see around me! Til next month!