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Best Books for Kids

Last updated: March 08, 20232 Comments

goodnight construction site

Reading to children from a young age is one of the best ways to develop their language skills, imagination, and love of books. I’ve spent an inordinate amount of time reading to my kids, as it was an integral part of their evening (and sometimes morning) routines.

I am a big believer in the power of books and reading, so it was something I did very gladly, although on many occasion I ended up sleeping myself with the book in my hand, after the umpteenth request of “one more book”.

Here are some of the favorite books that I’ve read time and again with my kids.

“Bizzy Bear” series by Benji Davies

The Bizzy Bear series of books, written and illustrated by Benji Davies, are a collection of interactive children’s books that are designed to encourage children to explore, play and learn. The books follow the adventures of a curious young bear named Bizzy as he goes on various activities such as going to the zoo, helping out at the fire station, and building a rocket.

The books are filled with bright, colorful illustrations and simple text that make them easy for young children to understand and relate to. Each book also includes interactive elements such as flaps to lift, wheels to turn and buttons to press, which makes it more engaging and fun for children to read. The books aim to develop children’s fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination and introduce them to different concepts such as counting, colors and shapes. They are a great way to encourage children to be curious and to explore the world around them.

“123 Count with Me” and “A is for Apple”

“123 Count with Me” is a children’s book designed to teach young children the concepts of counting and numbers. The book is filled with colorful illustrations and simple text that make it easy for children to understand and relate to the numbers and counting. The book is interactive and features different activities such as counting objects, matching numbers with corresponding quantities, and identifying numbers in different forms such as numerals and number words.

The book is part of a series of educational books that aims to teach children basic concepts in a fun and interactive way.

A is for Apple” is the other one we bought, and both were used extensively.

The series uses a combination of illustrations, simple text, and interactive elements to help children learn and retain the information. The book is a great tool for parents and educators to introduce children to the concept of numbers and counting and to help them develop the skills necessary for early math education. It’s a great way to introduce children to the world of numbers and to encourage them to develop an interest in math and problem-solving.

“The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle

It was first published in 1969 and has since become a classic and a staple in children’s literature. The story follows the journey of a very hungry caterpillar as it eats its way through a variety of foods before eventually turning into a beautiful butterfly. The book is known for its colorful, collage-style illustrations and simple, repetitive text that makes it easy for young children to follow along and understand the story.

The book teaches children about the life cycle of a butterfly, numbers, days of the week and healthy eating habits. The story is simple and easy for children to understand and the illustrations are visually appealing and engaging. The book is a great way to introduce children to new words and concepts, and to encourage them to develop a love of reading. It has been translated into over 60 languages and continues to be popular among children and parents around the world.

This wasn’t one of my personal favorites, but the kids liked it for an occasional read. It’s one of the most popular and recommended children’s books though.

“Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site” by Sherri Duskey Rinker

A children’s book that takes young readers on a journey through a construction site before bedtime. The story follows a group of hardworking construction vehicles as they say goodnight to the various parts of the site, such as the crane, cement mixer, and bulldozer. The book is filled with colorful illustrations that bring the construction site to life and make it easy for children to understand and relate to the story.

The repetitive text and rhyming words make it easy for young children to follow along and develop their reading skills. The book has a positive message about the importance of hard work and teamwork, while also promoting the idea of bedtime reading. This book is a perfect addition to any child’s library and a great way to introduce them to the world of construction and the hardworking vehicles that help build our communities.

There is a whole series of books around this theme, and I found most of them to be really good. My son surprised me at around 3 years of age by reciting the whole book by heart, which was an amazing experience for me and a testament to how much he loved this book.

“Tails” by Matthew Van Fleet

A book about different animals and their tails, it teaches children about the different shapes, sizes, and functions of tails in various animals. The book is filled with colorful illustrations and simple text that make it easy for young children to understand and relate to. The interactive elements in the book encourage children to explore and learn through play, making it a fun and engaging way to learn about animals and their body parts. The book is a great addition to any child’s library and is perfect for encouraging an early interest in science and the natural world.

“Oscar the Octopus”by Matthew Van Fleet

An interactive book which features different textures, flaps and movable parts that children can explore as they read the story. The book tells the story of Oscar, an octopus who lives in the ocean and explores the different sea creatures that he meets. The book is filled with colorful illustrations and simple text that make it easy for young children to understand and relate to.

The book aims to teach children about the different sea creatures and their characteristics and habitats. The interactive elements in the book encourage children to explore and learn through play, making it a fun and engaging way to learn about the ocean and the animals that live there. The book is a great addition to any child’s library and is perfect for encouraging an early interest in science and the natural world.

“Monkey Puzzle” by Julia Donaldson

“Monkey Puzzle” is a children’s book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler. It was first published in 2002 and is a part of the Julia Donaldson’s collection. The story follows a monkey who loses his mother in the jungle and is helped by a butterfly to find her again. The book is known for its vivid illustrations and simple, repetitive text that makes it easy for young children to follow along and understand the story.

The book is a great tool to develop children’s language and vocabulary, it also teaches children about the importance of family, love and self-reliance. The story is easy to follow and the illustrations are visually appealing and engaging. The book is a great way to introduce children to new words and concepts, and to encourage them to develop a love of reading. It has been translated into many languages and continues to be popular among children and parents around the world.

“8 Little Planets” by Chris Ferrie

The book is an introduction to space and the planets in our solar system. The book covers the eight planets in our solar system and provides basic information about each planet, including size, distance from the sun, and number of moons. The book uses simple language and colorful illustrations to make the information accessible and engaging for young children.

The book is part of the “Baby University” series, which is designed to introduce young children to complex concepts in a simple and accessible way. The series uses a combination of illustrations and simple text to explain scientific concepts to children. The book is also a great tool for parents and educators to introduce children to the concept of space and the planets and to spark their curiosity. It’s a great way to introduce children to the world of science and to encourage them to develop an interest in space and the natural world.

“Press Here” and “Mix It Up!” by Herve Tullet

These are both children’s interactive books that encourage children to engage with the book in a hands-on way. “Press Here” is an interactive book that invites children to press a yellow dot on the cover, which then leads to a series of surprises and interactive experiences within the book. The book is designed with simple illustrations and bold colors that capture the attention of young children. “Mix It Up!” is another interactive book by the same author, that invites children to mix up different colors and shapes on the pages, creating new and unexpected combinations. The book is designed to encourage children to experiment with the illustrations, and to explore the creative possibilities of combining different elements. Both books are a perfect way to engage children’s creativity and imagination, while also helping them to develop their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

These books are not only entertaining for kids, but also educational for them. They help children to develop their language skills, imagination, and love of books. It is always recommended to read with children, to help them with comprehension and to discuss the story and the illustrations with them.

“The Color Monster” by Anna Lllenas

The Color Monster series of books, written and illustrated by Anna Llenas, is a collection of children’s books that aim to teach children about emotions and feelings. The books follow the story of a monster named The Color Monster who is feeling confused and overwhelmed by the different emotions he is experiencing. The books use bright, colorful illustrations and simple text to help children understand the different emotions they may be feeling and how to deal with them. Each color represents a different emotion, for example, the red color represents anger and the blue color represents sadness. The books aim to help children identify and understand their emotions, and to learn to express them in healthy ways. The series includes books such as “The Color Monster: A Story About Emotions” and “The Color Monster Learns to Be Brave”, which are designed to be used as a tool for parents, teachers, and counselors to help children understand and cope with their emotions.

We used one of the books in this series just before my son started school, in order to prepare him for the emotions that he would possibly feel. The other book about basic feelings remained a bedtime staple for several months, and actually helped me to sort out my own feelings together with my son.

Filed under: Parenting & Education, Thoughts & Experiences

Best Toys for Kids – What My Children Love Playing With

Last updated: March 09, 2023Leave a Comment

When choosing toys for your kids, it’s important to consider their interests, abilities, and developmental stage. Look for toys that are age-appropriate, safe, and durable. Avoid toys with small parts that could be choking hazards for younger children, and be sure to read the labels and instructions to ensure that the toy is suitable for your child.

Here are the toys that my kids enjoyed the most:

Newborn to 2 Years

For the early years we were very inspired by the Montessori method of teaching, which also incorporates a certain style of toys. In this method toys are mostly made of wood, are educational and tend to have pleasant colors rather than the garish colors seen on some plastic toys.

While we opted to keep our children home for the first 3 years of their childhood, we opted for hiring a qualified tutor who would come home every day to educate them and thus guide them in their early education and play. Hiring the tutor was one of the best decisions we’ve made with our kids, especially after I saw how many cheaper nannies treated the kids when out and about in Barcelona.

I personally dislike the cheap sounds many Chinese toy sets make and have therefore stayed away from them. Both kids were never really big fans of soft toys, and we ended up being gifted a bunch of those that just lay about unused.

  • Baby Einstein Drums
  • Baby Einstein Musical Toy
  • Baby Einstein Baby Dj
  • Mattel Mega Blocks
  • Woom 1 bike (see notes further below)
  • EverEarth Workbench
  • Wooden puzzles
  • Various Lego Duplo sets
  • Educational animal toys
  • Animal magnets
  • Tangram shapes puzzle
  • Wooden kitchen
  • Chicco Rings
  • Play Doh
  • Janod City and Jungle puzzles
  • Pretend Doctor Kit
  • Tomy Tractor
  • Dobble
  • Melissa & Doug Cars & Trucks
  • Small metal cars (no brand, made in China)
  • Trash Truck (son was in love with them)
  • CAT Dump Truck
  • Various kinds of flash cards (Russian and English)
  • Vtech tiny touch remote
  • Play tive junior activity cube
  • Woomax hammer bench
  • Tegu Swivel Bug
  • Tegu Vehicle wooden magnet blocks
  • Montessori busy board
  • Playmobil my first train
  • PlanToys Crocodile
  • Lego Duplo Train
  • Kitchen cutting board and vegetable set
  • Janod Magnetic Tiles
  • Woomax Xylophone
  • Goula Fruit Puzzle
  • Vtech baby laptop (not used much)
  • Theo Klein 8793 Racing Car
  • Learning Resources Tac-Tiles

We put a strong emphasis on art and physical dexterity as well, so I bought a collection of different balls for them to play with, which they used extensively. For the art aspect, we bought a multitude of coloring books, plain drawing paper, and various painting media such as watercolors, crayons, pencils, chalk etc.

2 Years Onwards

From around 2 years of age onwards, I started to really enjoy building with my son. I found this really enjoyable as I rekindled my lost love for building things with my hands and experimenting with electronics. I was a huge Lego fan as a child, but later on I shifted entirely to playing computer games and forgot all about building physical objects.

Some of the sets in the list are recommended for much older kids, but I have found that if you have the time to play with kids, you can do some really advanced things. You’ll just need to find the most appropriate way to get them involved, and more importantly, make sure that they are not harmed by incorrect usage of the toys (e.g. swallowing small parts, or injuries due to unsupervised play with electronic parts like motors, batteries etc).

  • Woom 2, 3 onwards
  • Learning Resources
    • Scrambles the Fox
    • Botley 2.0
    • Fox in the Box
    • Construction Kit
  • Connetix (better than Magnatiles)
  • Snap Circuits full set
  • Meccano Sets
    • Tractor set
    • Buggy with friction motor
    • Police car with R/C
  • Lego Technic Sets
    • Buggy 42124
    • Rally Top Gear 42109
    • 4X4 X-treme Off-Roader 42099
    • MINDSTORMS Robot Builder 51515
  • Nene Toys Sudoku
  • Diset Sudoku
  • Wooden traffic signs
  • Addo Play Wooden clock
  • Djeco Step by Step animals
  • Play tive cash register
  • Waytoplay Highway
  • Wooden abacus

You also need to take into consideration the differences in character and interests between kids. My son displayed an amazing capacity to concentrate for longer periods right from a very young age, whereas my daughter had more of a wild streak so it was easier to do more physical play with her rather than tasks requiring a lot of sitting down and thinking. This diversity was also great for me as I got to explore more activities rather than simply repeating the same things with both kids.

While as a parent it’s a good thing to strive for a sense of equality between kids, for most people it is simply natural to be more interested in doing things the first time around, hence the first child has an advantage. On the other hand, parents tend to experience a sensation of being much wiser in their behavior around the second kid onwards, and may also have gotten rid of that over-protection instinct or unhealthy fear of the child getting hurt in some way or another. This usually works to the advantage of the younger siblings as they get a bit more freedom. All this to say that each kid’s experience and your interaction with them as parents will necessarily be different.

The Montessori Method

Montessori is an educational approach that was developed by Italian physician and educator Maria Montessori in the early 20th century. It is based on the belief that children are naturally curious and capable learners who are driven to explore and discover their environment.

In a Montessori classroom, children are given the freedom to choose their own activities and work at their own pace. The environment is carefully prepared to allow children to learn through hands-on exploration and discovery. Materials are designed to be self-correcting, so that children can learn through trial and error without the need for explicit instruction.

The Montessori approach emphasizes the importance of developing a child’s independence, self-discipline, and self-motivation. It also places a strong emphasis on respect for the child’s individual interests and learning style.

Why We Chose Balance Bikes

Balance bikes are a type of bicycle that are designed to help young children learn how to ride a bike without the use of pedals. Instead of pedaling, children propel themselves forward by pushing off the ground with their feet.

Balance bikes are often used as a stepping stone for children who are learning to ride a bike, as they can help children develop balance, coordination, and confidence on two wheels. Because balance bikes do not have pedals, children are able to focus on developing their balance and steering skills, which are essential for riding a bike.

There are several benefits to using a balance bike to learn how to ride a bike. Some of these benefits include:

  1. Early start: Children as young as 18 months can begin learning to ride on a balance bike, which can give them a head start in developing their biking skills.
  2. No fear of falling: Balance bikes are low to the ground and have a wide, stable base, which can make children feel more comfortable and confident as they learn to ride.
  3. Improved balance and coordination: Balance bikes can help children develop balance and coordination, which are essential skills for riding a bike.
  4. Easy to use: Balance bikes are simple to use and do not require any special skills or knowledge to ride.
  5. Fun: Children often find balance bikes to be fun and enjoyable, which can encourage them to want to ride more and continue practicing their skills.

Donating Toys

Donating old toys to a worthy cause is a great idea. There are many organizations that accept toy donations, such as toy drives run by schools or local charities. These donations can help bring joy to children who may not have many toys of their own. Additionally, donating old toys is a great way to declutter your home and make space for new items. It’s also an environmentally friendly way to dispose of items that you no longer need. Overall, donating old toys is a kind and generous act that can make a big difference in the lives of others.

In Barcelona, I recommend donating to Ilusions Solidaries.

Filed under: Parenting & Education

Channels to Learn from on YouTube

Last updated: September 12, 20231 Comment

I have always learned best when I am learning on my own rather than at school or in a class environment, bar a few exceptions.

These days we can count ourselves incredibly lucky to have YouTube and other video sites where we can access an incredible wealth of knowledge for free or at low cost.

Since YouTube gets annoying pretty quickly with ads, you can use an ad blocker or just pay for premium. Youtube Premium is cheaper in India, Argentina and Turkey especially.

I’ll keep adding to these as I discover them, and if you have any suggestions just leave a comment at the end.

General knowledge

  • PolyMatter

History

I think it’s very important for anyone who wants to have serious discussions and conversations about important topics to have a good grasp on world history.

So many people form erroneous ideas of how things work just because they don’t have the right background on how we arrived at this stage in our human development.

  • Crash Course History

Finance

  • Whiteboard with your mate Paddy Hirsch

Filed under: Parenting & Education

Should You Vaccinate Your Child? – My View as a Skeptical Person

Last updated: April 03, 202411 Comments

Becoming a parent heralds a time of much learning for the new parents, especially if they haven’t had prior experience with children through other family members or close friends having kids. It can be overwhelming especially in the first few weeks until they get adjusted to the new realities and convince themselves that they can do a decent job of caring for this new person and take important decisions on their behalf.

Perhaps one of the most important decisions you’ll have to make is whether to vaccinate your child or not. I love to dig deep into pretty much any topic that I take fancy with, and so I armed myself with several books for new parents and enjoyed preparing for the arrival of my child and the changes happening in my wife throughout the pregnancy. But when it came to vaccinations, I fell down a very deep rabbit hole.

I decided to start investigating myself to try to come to an educated decision on the subject. I’m an equal-opportunity skeptic. I’m skeptical about alternative medicine, pseudoscience, and quackery; but I apply the same standards of skepticism to conventional medicine.

[Read more…]

Filed under: Parenting & Education

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