Blog - The Learning Basket

Yellow Ball: An Exercise in Perspective

February 21, 2012 by The Learning Basket 2 Comments

I screamed in surprise when I saw a copy of Yellow Ball while rummaging through a dusty box in my favorite used bookstore. Why wouldn’t I? It was one of four books in Before Five in a Row’s book list that I (or should I say, my kids) did not yet have. Out of print, it is being sold at Amazon for $45 up. And the tag said 49 pesos – just a little over a dollar. I screamed again. … [Read more...]

Quiet, Intimate, and Memorable Birthday Parties

February 9, 2012 by The Learning Basket 6 Comments

A birthday party is now like a wedding or a corporate event – a big production number. There are all kinds of “suppliers” vying for space in a child’s special day and a slice of the proud parents’ budget. There are caterers, coordinators, and stylists making sure that the venue looks beautiful and picture-perfect. There are magicians, bounce inflatables, face painting … [Read more...]

Seven Ways to Travel the World Without Leaving Your Home

January 26, 2012 by The Learning Basket 4 Comments

We just read the classic The Story About Ping by MarjorieFlack. It’s about a duck named Ping who lives in a riverboat on the Yangtze River. He almost becomes one family’s dinner when he gets lost one day but finds his way back home to his family. Good books can take us to distant times and places. The week before Chinese New Year, Little T and I went to China with Ping. … [Read more...]

Classic, Inexpensive, Natural Toys

January 23, 2012 by The Learning Basket 3 Comments

While looking for “natural” toys for Little T, I remembered the mini-palayok (clay pot) set that I had as a child. My cousin and I would actually light a fire and cook some rice in it… together with some leaves and flowers. I further traveled down memory lane and recalled a small broom I used to have, just perfect for my small hands. Last year, I searched for these toys from … [Read more...]

Love Songs for My Children

January 15, 2012 by The Learning Basket 10 Comments

I have a love song for each of my children. When they are distressed and bawling their hearts out, I gather them in my arms and I sing to them “their” song. When they are sleepy but fighting to keep their eyes open, I sing them to sleep. When my heart is overflowing with love and a million “I love yous” is not enough, I sing. I sing my love, I sing my joy, I sing, I … [Read more...]