http://www.kidsahoy.net/ KidsAhoy.net: Your one-stop online portal for the Filipino Global child! en-us 2009-10-01T00:00:00+01:00 Wanted: Writers/Contributors http://www.kidsahoy.net/content.asp?ContentId=888

Kids Ahoy's FREE online portal is dedicated to helping define what good parenting means to parents raising global Filipino children. A Filipino global child is one raised with local roots and global dreams.

In the Articles section, therefore, we are especially inviting you -- parents, teachers and kid-lovers -- to write on any experience which details the dreams, rewards and challenges of bringing up and teaching our children to be global citizens raised the Filipino way.

Some topics include, but not limited to, parenting and teaching children: (1) across cultures, (2) away from home, (3) with environmental activism, (4) about faith(s) & spirituality , (5) through the creative arts, (6) through homeschooling, (7) through established educational systems and (8) with special needs. Please refer to the much more in-depth categories line-up for more ideas.

As pioneers of this worthwhile endeavor, we have a unique and exciting opportunity to collaborate and form a unified "village" online and offline for Filipino families worldwide. We would appreciate your support in building a strong foundation for this online portal. We hope to "populate" it with your valuable and meaningful insights and experiences as soon as we launch.

If you would like to contribute an article or articles, please email us as soon as you're able at kidsahoy@yahoo.com. Articles or entries may also be cross-posts from your other blogs as long as they are originally written by you. All submissions are subject to final approval.

Though we can't offer financial incentives for contributors at this time, you can count on the fact that we will strive to make it worthwhile for you to contribute to this project as our trailblazing partners.

Thank you for your cooperation and support in advance! We will be announcing the url address at launch in the next few weeks. Feel free to forward this to your contacts who may be interested to contribute relevant articles so they too may join in this exciting e-village we are trying to build together!

Sincerely,
Joanne Parsons
Founder/Owner, Kids Ahoy!
0920-5178127 / kidsahoy@yahoo .com
http://www.kidsahoyshop.com

]]> Press Releases 2008-10-18T05:45:50+01:00 We are your one-stop online portal for the Filipino global child! http://www.kidsahoy.net/content.asp?ContentId=613 This site is best viewed on Internet Explorer. MABUHAY! TULOY PO KAYO! Kids Ahoy's online portal is dedicated to helping define what good parenting means to parents raising global Filipino children. A Filipino global child is one raised with local roots and global dreams. This 'e-village' empowers all Filipino parents and kid-lovers worldwide to contribute & share in the responsibilities of raising such a child by proactive participation on this portal and through personal interaction. About Us Kids Ahoy Admin 2008-10-14T03:34:06+01:00 Privacy Policy http://www.kidsahoy.net/content.asp?ContentId=353 Here is our position on the privacy of any data you submit to the site. About Us 2007-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 Great beyond here we come! http://www.kidsahoy.net/content.asp?ContentId=1099 The KidsAhoy.net online portal for the Filipino global child is finally LIVE! Mark today, NOVEMBER 16, 2008 as the beginning of endless and exciting possibilities for Filipino kids and families worldwide. We have great expectations and we are certain you have too so let's make this a wonderful first-step for Filipino kids and families online and offline.

We would like to acknowledge the following trailblazing partners who contributed to the initial content of this portal on its historic launch:

Parents, Educators & Kid-lovers

Aia San Diego, Educator-Kids Ahoy

Cherie McCosker, Educator-Barefootprints Outdoor Adventures

Cherry Lynn Gernandizo, Mom

Ipat Luna Severino, Mom & Nature Advocate

Jennifer F. Ramirez, Mom

Joel Yuvienco, Dad & Educator-HSG Mentoring

Kamille Malvarosa, K.A. Volunteer

Leland Pasion, Educator-Barefootprints Outdoor Adventures

Mary Claire Silvestre, Working Mom

Melissa M. Wang, Mom & Educator

Nina Saldana, Working Mom

T. Ruanni F. Tupas, Dad & Educator- National University of Singapore

Tessa Yuvienco, Mom & Educator -HSG Mentoring

There Antonio, Mom & Educator - H.A.T.C.H. Education

Victor Villanueva, Dad & Educator -The Builder School & Readability Center

Mom Diaries

Mommy JP, Working Mom

Michelle Padrelanan, Homeschooling Mom

Kid-bloggers

CJ, Maia, Justine, Alon, Reanna & Aaron

Online Portal Administrators

Joanne F. Tupas-Parsons, Momtrepreneur, kid, play & reading advocate

Eddie L. Parsons, Working Dad

Thank you for recognizing the value and significance of this worthwhile endeavor and for your continued support and proactive participation with Kids Ahoy.

SIGN-UP FOR A FREE ONLINE MEMBERSHIP NOW!

Important: Watch out for the roll out of the 2nd phase of this portal to include an Online Auction, a Shop/E-commerce, our very own Wiki feature to name a few. Check back for regular updates and in the meantime, register for a free account and enjoy browsing your new, one-of-a-kind Filipino parenting & education online home!

]]> About Us by Mommy J. 2008-11-13T09:23:15+01:00 Mother-Daughter Duplicate http://www.kidsahoy.net/content.asp?ContentId=1235 It's oh so cute seeing parent-and-child tandem looking so much alike! Lorelie Lorelie 2009-06-09T07:25:18+01:00 On being a Stagemom http://www.kidsahoy.net/content.asp?ContentId=1234 I, like more than a thousand mothers on Multiply, am part of a group called stagemoms. Being part of the group made me realize that there is nothing wrong with being a stagemom. We're all trying to raise superstars. You know my own daughter can end up being a school librarian but be a superstar at it. (OK, I'm not the showbiz kind of stagemom. :p). It's fun to be part of the group. There are a lot of grounded mothers out there. And there are, surprisingly, a lot of encouraging and inspiring people in the group too.

But in the two years that I have been interacting with different kinds of moms here on Multiply (not just in the stagemoms group) I noticed that some parents can be intensely competitive. There's nothing wrong with being competitive. I'm an underachiever so I really appreciate people who always put in a little more effort in all their endeavors than probably needed. But as stagemoms, we all have to evaluate as to what end we are joining (and dying or killing for) all these contests and activities. Are we doing all these to showcase our child's talents? Are we forcing our own dreams on our children? Is it for fun? Do we join contests so that our kids will gain confidence? Do we like the prizes we get from the contests? Do we want to show other parents that our children are better than theirs? Are we using the contests as stepping stones for a possible career in entertainment? Do we join contests and activities so that we and our children can meet other moms and kids with the same interests as ours? Do we want fame and fortune for our children so that someday we won't have to work our asses off? Personally, I wish Nicole would learn how to sing so that I wouldn't have to send her to college. I will be what Mang Gerry is to Regine. Hehe. I'm just kidding! Or am I? Tomorrow I'm purchasing a dram so that Nic can practice singing neck-deep in water.

Remember, we all need to do it for the right reasons. There is an art to it. If we do it the wrong way and for all the wrong reasons we may end up being negative forces in our children's lives instead of positive ones. It's probably a little hard to imagine or accept for some stagemoms but even with the best intentions, we CAN totally fuck up our kids' lives.

We just all have to CHILL and really think about it. If an activity ceases to be an enriching activity for you and your child then you should just forget about it and find other activities that are really worth your money and your time.

Being a stagemom should not be about YOU. It should be about your child.
Your child's life is his/her own journey.

Being a stagemom: Do it for the right reasons. Have fun with it.

Reposted with permission from Mommy Razz:
http://sweethopia.multiply.com/journal/item/319]]> Parenting 101 by Mommy Razz 2009-05-02T05:46:03+01:00 When crisis brings out the creativity in parents http://www.kidsahoy.net/content.asp?ContentId=1233

When the US economy took a really bad turn this year, many are now dreading the onslaught of 2009. Not surprising to think each one of us can already feel the crunch of the crisis. As a parent, my worst fear is to not have enough resources to bring up my daughter -- a sentiment, I am pretty sure, is shared by all the parents all over the world.

I wouldn't say though that feeling the crunch just began the past few months. When I made that difficult decision to go freelance, I knew that the payoff with my daughter was in the financial aspect. For the past years, when she wants me to buy her something, the request always goes this way:

"Mama, when we have extra money, can we buy this?"

There are times when this line pinches my heart. I don't want her to feel deprived in any way. But this is the payoff that I had to accept if it meant me having more time to focus on her especially in her early years. I had to cope with that dilemma if it meant being able to mentor her in her early years in school. This is in the hope that she grows up to be a more EQ-tic over IQ-tic child.

Now, however, I am very thankful that it will not be much of an adjustment for her as this recent crisis looms over us all. It is such a relief that she is you could say a low-maintenance child who loves bread over cakes and other junk foods, water over softdrinks or even juice and household stuff as toys over the expensive ones.

In times of crisis, it helps to have a kid who does not crave for the expensive for nothing hurts us most than seeing our children being deprived of what they want most...or having a hard time coping with changes that we need to impose on them during tough times.

Yet I have realized too that in times of crisis, we parents have the opportunity to teach our kids the more important things in life. Right now we are not just facing a financial crisis. We are also barely coping with environmental concerns and political tug-o-wars. This is the best time to slowly make our children realize the gravity and urgency of facing these problems even at a young age since it will be them who will bear the full impact of the inevitable consequences of all those. It's now or never.

When I was shopping for a gift for my daughter, I wanted one that she can learn from and at the same time easy on the budget. I was cruising through Toy Kingdom (and bruising through their price tags) when I saw a couple of boxes that were shoved carelessly in one corner. It was quite difficult to notice if you are just looking through the shelves. But these boxes caught my eye.

Paper Recycling Mini-Factory

So many things were running through my mind when I saw it. One, will it really work. Beating old paper to the pulp is quite difficult without using a blender. Two, will Reb even appreciate it? Three, how much???

The first question can only be answered when we finally use it. So I just prayed that it will. The second, well, it uses water so she will definitely love this. Plus it means recycling a lot of her old doodle notebooks and coloring books...as well as old newspapers and even used Christmas wrappers. I also think Reb will love writing on paper that she made herself.

As for the third concern...it was only around P500 plus.

On Christmas Day, I found out the answer to the first question. YES. She did enjoy it. We got some hand and arm exercise while tearing old paper into small pieces. Reb got her natural high from stirring the pieces of paper in a bucket full of water. We had more exercise using the paper blender. It was a great experience to go through the whole process. She just can't wait to use the paper she made.

Throughout the whole experience, the one thing I realized is that during tough times, there will always be a way to enjoy without spending as much...and even learn something in the process. I was telling her why recycling is important as we made our first batch of paper. I told her afterwards that now we don't need to buy expensive paper to make cards. Moreover, we saved some trees from being cut by using used paper to make new ones. We did not even use an electric blender to crush paper to the pulp (no added cost from Meralco).

This is just one simple way of turning a crisis into a learning experience for the kids. When we need to cut costs, it doesn't have to be at the expense of the kids -- meaning they do not need to suffer. But that can only happen if they begin to understand just why things need to change.

At a time when we need to spend less, it may be a good idea to spend more with the kids. That means more time to explain and teach them the value of coping with the ever-changing times in our lives. You may not be able to afford PSPs or Wiiis at this point yet time spent with them just may be less expensive but more rewarding for the whole family.

I hope everyone had a blessed Christmas and will remain prayerful in 2009.

------------------

Non-multiply members may email their comments to an.saldana@gmail.com.

Reposted with permission from Mommy Nina. Originally posted at
When crisis brings out the creativity in parents

Nina Saldana is a writer/editor for almost two decades now. Although all her working experience is in business writing, what she really loves to write about is life and people, and everything else in between. She is doing freelance work (writing, editing, web design, among others) to hopefully have more time with her daughter.
Email: an.saldana@gmail.com Mobile: +(63-920) 4007045

Website: http://rebnin.multiply.com

]]> Miscellany by Nina Saldana 2009-05-02T05:33:51+01:00 Kids Ahoy's Summer Play Club Explained... http://www.kidsahoy.net/content.asp?ContentId=1232 Kids Ahoy's Summer Play Club Explained...

Joining our Play Club this Summer gives you a chance to sample and preview the reasons why both Kids and Parents LOVE to experience Kids Ahoy! For a most economical amount, we are sharing this wonderful opportunity to kids to come together in a fun way! From Tuesday to Friday (3-5pm) there'll be a variety of activities scheduled which will be facilitated age-appropriate free play & activities. 16hours may be consumed from today til end of Summer.

A typical schedule for your child, depending on your availability would be:
Week 1: He/She comes on a Tuesday to do arts & crafts for 2hours (2hrs)
Week 2: He/She comes on a Friday to enjoy a Storytelling/Show & Tell day (2hrs)
Week 3: He/She comes during Board Games Day (2hrs)
He/She comes back on a Wednesday during the Outdoor Play & Games Day (2hrs)
and so on until you consume or finish your 16hours of Playtime. You have the entire Summer til May 30th to avail of your 16 play hours (Tues-Fridays, 3-5pm). If your child loves to come often, you may opt to renew your Play Club Membership.

Aside from the 16hrs play time, you will be able to get additional benefits such as 15% off on Kids Ahoy in-house created programs (12-sessions), & priority inclusions in our Free demo classes, Media exposures & exclusive events throughout the Summer!!!

So, come on over and let's get this unique Summer play opportunity going! Enrollment going on until April 4th! Please don't hesitate to consult with us via email, phone or better yet, visit us today!!!

CLUB INFORMATION
2-12yrs, 3-5PM Tues to Fri
P1500 only 16hours of playtime consummable between March 10-May 30th.

SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES
TUESDAYS: Arts and crafts activities
WEDNESDAYS: Outdoor play & games
THURSDAYS: Board Games FRIDAYS: Storytelling/show and tell

OTHER BENEFITS You get 15% off (on 12 sessions in-house created programs) & priority inclusions in our Free demo classes, Media exposures & exclusive events!!!

Let the children play! For inquiries, email: kidsahoy@gmail.com
Or call (02) 473 7896 and look for Teachers Thea or Aia.
To better serve you and your child, Email inquiries will be prioritized:
SUBJECT: Kids Ahoy Play Club/Programs Inquiry
Pls include:

Name of Child, Age: Name & Contact Info of Parents (email, mobile & city location)
Interests of Child:
Preferred Schedule/Availability:
How did you hear about us?

VISIT: http://kidsahoy.multiply.com/photos/album/135 for details on each program.

]]> About Us Kids Ahoy 2009-03-31T19:28:58+01:00 Little Caine http://www.kidsahoy.net/content.asp?ContentId=1230 Mommy Mhel, thanks for sharing this very reflective article. You are such a vigilant and proactive mom for first, giving your child varied experiences and two, for taking the time to pause and observe your child closely.  Based on our times with Caine, I definitely can't generalize and say she is generally cranky, stressed out kid.  Being a kid, (just like grown-ups too) she may have her moments but never lose patience in supporting her especially when she's having her cranky moments.  This will be the basis of her knowing how everyone will react when she's having such times.  Ang bata naman talagang nagiging cranky na kung pagod, gutom, may gusto pero hindi alam kung ano, or inaantok na.   Suggest ko lang, baka kailangan din may designated quiet and relaxing time...you know just a simple day with just her and her family quietly bonding as well. Maybe a chance to re-energize.   and don't you worry about her not being able to focus on one thing. remember she's just 4 hehehe  eh kung ang grown-ups nga nagkakaproblema din ng ganyan di ba?  This is kids dabbling stage so let them dabble all they want.  Pretty soon...she'll be able to pick and choose what she'd really want to get into.   You know what I suspect??? ask me next time we see each other at a Kids Ahoy event.  Usap-usap tayo.  But guess what?  She's normal and thank goodness for that huh? :=)     Mommy Mhellai 2009-03-01T09:40:21+01:00 Appreciated http://www.kidsahoy.net/content.asp?ContentId=1229 Thank you Dear Teachers for giving this wonderful insight. This may be a late response but I really agree on what you have said. It is really how they picture their subject and put an image to it. It doesn't matter if a dog will look like a cat or a flower would look like more of a sun. I have learned to appreciate everything she is writing. I even take a picture of it and see how her strokes develop through the months and years. Sometimes she is not consistent with her descriptions, she tends to change her mind whether that particular object is a someone or a something but nevertheless, I keep it so she may enjoy looking at it when she grows up.       Mommy Mhellai 2009-03-01T02:08:19+01:00