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title: Mama Joan's Musings
---

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Select Category Preschooler Learning and Development learning & development Developmental milestones Reading Toys

![](https://mamajoanmusings.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/pexels-photo-3661473.jpeg)

### [Getting ready to raise bilingual children?](https://blog.mamajoan.com/getting-ready-to-raise-bilingual-children)

Yup, you can’t escape this in Singapore. Our children need to be proficient in English and a second language. Do you still remember the good ol’ days where we have to memorise 汉语拼音， 汉子， 成语 ? Take on 听写 and 作文？Can you imagine going through this once again?!!

[Joan Tan](https://blog.mamajoan.com/author/joan-tan) 

[Read More](https://blog.mamajoan.com/getting-ready-to-raise-bilingual-children)

![how-to-make-child-comfortable-with-babysitter-uae-745x400](https://blog.mamajoan.com/hubfs/Stock%20images/how-to-make-child-comfortable-with-babysitter-uae-745x400.jpg)

[Reading](https://blog.mamajoan.com/tag/reading)

### [6 ways to nurture your baby’s or toddler’s love for reading](https://blog.mamajoan.com/6-ways-to-nurture-your-babys-or-toddlers-love-for-reading)

If parents develop an appropriate environment at home that fosters a love for reading, then teaching toddlers to read can be easy. And once a child learns to read, other important components of learning, such as spelling and even writing, naturally follow.

[Joan Tan](https://blog.mamajoan.com/author/joan-tan) 

[Read More](https://blog.mamajoan.com/6-ways-to-nurture-your-babys-or-toddlers-love-for-reading)

![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1402/8033/files/PlayNlearn_grande.jpg?v=1509353935)

[Preschooler,](https://blog.mamajoan.com/tag/preschooler) [Learning and Development,](https://blog.mamajoan.com/tag/learning-and-development) [Toys](https://blog.mamajoan.com/tag/toys)

### [5 places to get educational toys in Singapore](https://blog.mamajoan.com/5-places-to-get-educational-toys-in-singapore)

**Read Time ~ 3mins**

Play is such an important aspect of a child's formative years (18 months - 6 years). While there are many ways in which you can attempt to  [make play meaningful](https://blog.mamajoan.com/play-development-of-preschoolers) ,  play can typically be categorised into 3 types 

[Joan Tan](https://blog.mamajoan.com/author/joan-tan) 

[Read More](https://blog.mamajoan.com/5-places-to-get-educational-toys-in-singapore)

![](https://blog.mamajoan.com/hubfs/Kids%20develop%20through%20play.jpg)

[Preschooler,](https://blog.mamajoan.com/tag/preschooler) [learning & development](https://blog.mamajoan.com/tag/learning-development)

### [5 fun ways to build motor skills for toddlers](https://blog.mamajoan.com/5-fun-ways-to-build-motor-skills-for-toddlers)

**Read Time ~ 3mins**

Any activity, organized or unstructured, your child finds fun and enjoyable is considered play. But play is much more than just a fun activity for your child! While playing, children learn and develop important **fine** **motor skills** (alongside many others) which they will continue to use throughout their lifetime. 

[Joan Tan](https://blog.mamajoan.com/author/joan-tan) 

[Read More](https://blog.mamajoan.com/5-fun-ways-to-build-motor-skills-for-toddlers)

![](https://blog.mamajoan.com/hubfs/Stock%20images/Happy%20cute%20child%20playing%20and%20having%20fun%20at%20kindergarten%20with%20colorful%20balls.jpeg)

[Preschooler,](https://blog.mamajoan.com/tag/preschooler) [Learning and Development,](https://blog.mamajoan.com/tag/learning-and-development) [Developmental milestones](https://blog.mamajoan.com/tag/developmental-milestones)

### [Is my kid falling behind?](https://blog.mamajoan.com/is-my-kid-falling-behind)

**Read Time ~ 3mins**

As parents we are often worried about whether our children are meeting the essential developmental milestones expected for their age. As a reference, we would compare our children with other children of the same age. 

[Joan Tan](https://blog.mamajoan.com/author/joan-tan) 

[Read More](https://blog.mamajoan.com/is-my-kid-falling-behind)

![](https://blog.mamajoan.com/hubfs/Toddler%20throwing%20tandrm.jpg)

[Learning and Development](https://blog.mamajoan.com/tag/learning-and-development)

### [5 positive reinforcement ideas for kids](https://blog.mamajoan.com/5-positive-reinforcement-ideas-for-kids)

Parenting is tough, and it is easy to fall into the trap of focusing on the ways you want your children to change rather than emphasizing all of the good in their personalities, behaviors and character. 

[Eileen Beh](https://blog.mamajoan.com/author/eileen-beh) 

[Read More](https://blog.mamajoan.com/5-positive-reinforcement-ideas-for-kids)

![](https://design-assets.hubspot.com/hubfs/Stratus/clouds-2.jpg)

[Preschooler,](https://blog.mamajoan.com/tag/preschooler) [learning & development](https://blog.mamajoan.com/tag/learning-development)

### [How do kids develop through play](https://blog.mamajoan.com/how-kids-develop-through-play)

Play is all about having fun! Any activity, organized or unstructured, your child finds fun and enjoyable is considered play. But play is much more than just a fun activity for your child! While playing, children learn and develop important skills they will continue to use throughout their lifetime. 

Before deciding how to play with your preschoolers, it would be ideal to first understand the how meaningful play can help with the different types of developmental milestones.

[Joan Tan](https://blog.mamajoan.com/author/joan-tan) 

[Read More](https://blog.mamajoan.com/how-kids-develop-through-play)