When the Ocean Recedes...

Green Sea Anemone

Acres of rocky land gets exposed as the tides of the pacific ocean recede in Moss Beach, California. This little hideaway is a protected area, called Fitzgerald Marine Reserve. Very rarely does one come across a warm sunny Saturday afternoon with a negative tide in this area. Well, if you do, you have hit the jackpot!! We were there recently on such a wonderful day and were rewarded with hours of exploration and some great pictures.

Acres of rocks - Home for a thriving marine ecosystem

 Moss beach is a small town close to Half Moon Bay, California. About an hour's drive from most parts of Bay Area, it is a place to be if you have the slightest interest in marine organisms. An outdoor classroom for people of all ages, Fitzgerald Marine reserve is a home for several rock dwellers from sea anemones, to harbor seals.

If you plan on visiting, first check the tidal chart for a day when the tides dip below 1.0 feet.  Be there at least an hour before the low tide, as the parking fills up quickly. Bring sturdy shoes with good grip (many rocks are very slippery) that you don't mind getting wet. Near the parking area, there is a small ranger station (mostly closed). They have many informative flyers outside that you can pick. Restrooms and lunch tables are also located here...

Walk (or skip) along the walkway to get to the wooden platform. Climb a few rocky steps to get to the sandy beach.

A small creek flowing through beautifies the scenery. This also allows for plenty of safe water play.

Creek flowing into the ocean

A small fallen tree across the creek forms a bridge. An ideal place to practice balancing acts. This tree can serve as a bridge or a pretend pirate ship... Here, only your imagination is the limit.

A bridge over the pretend raging rapids

As you explore, you would come across some unique and interesting stuff... The Sea Anemone's tentacles may look smooth, but feels very stingy.

Sea Anemone closing into a green bulb as the water recedes

Hermit Crab

A variety of sea stars in various colors

Sea Stars

Tons of Purple Sea Urchins, clinging and hiding in the rocks

Purple Sea Urchin

Sea Urchin Shell

A Porcelain Crab

Sorry for this dead guy

I learned very interesting things about Mussels and Barnacles

Mussels and Barnacles spawning ground

On the coast, I found many intriguing things...

Swept off by the tide

Moon Rock???

And don't forget those mighty mammals - Stay at least 100 yards [a football field length] away from them... They are here for pupping and nursing... So STAY AWAY...

Harbor Seals

As a bonus to all this, an all-natural drift-wood play area. See my son practicing his problem-solving skills as he emerges from his "cave".

Pretend cave

Natural Monkey Bars

Remember these basic ground rules while Tide-pooling,

• Watch your step. Do not damage the fragile marine ecosystem
• Touch and feel, Do not pull anything from the rocks.
• Pick up animals only if they are loose. Put them back exactly as you found them.
• Stay 100 yards away from marine mammals
• Do not take home souvenirs.

And explore to your heart's content!!!

--Renuka Sivarajan.

A Mobile Museum - Our presence at CCPPNS 64th Annual Convention

On the Friday, 22nd of March 2013, we started at 6:00 AM from Fremont, California  to attend the CCPPNS (California Council of Parent Participation Nursery Schools) 64th Annual Convention held at Oakland, California. We had a booth along with the other vendors. The most interesting and fun part was that we had two exhibits set up in the child care room - A mini mobile museum. We had a bird seed table where the children played scoop and pour. An art project with finger painting which was also a fun experience. We happily brought out the child in ourselves as we worked with the children at these exhibits.

The bird seed bin was an instant hit. Children enjoyed scooping, pouring, measuring, counting and comparing as they played.













  


A make-shift sign hanging above the bird seed bin.

Hand printing and finger painting... and of course, painting with a roller...

The set up at our booth

We spoke to teachers, parents, and community members about our dream and received some volunteer sign-ups. We also passed out flyers for our next event, a free puppet show at Fremont Library. Overall, it was a busy and fun-filled day of meeting, greeting and playing.

--Renuka Sivarajan.

Paint a Positive Picture

A few days ago, my toddler was kneeling on my computer chair and was pulling out keys from the keyboard placed on the table. Yes he can absolutely does that!!! I am sure most parents with the deadly combination of a curious toddler and a laptop (or keyboard) would have experienced this scenario. I was at the kitchen sink doing the dishes and the dad was busy too, doing something, I just don't remember what. He noticed the mischief and he called out "Don't do that". As expected the little boy continued his task smiling at his dad... Now dad raised his voice, "Cheechu! (that's my boy's pet name) Don't do that!" No effect. Dad's voice became louder and panicky as he said, "Sricharan!! (his real name) Don't do that!!" No effect again... (I'm sure you expected that).

When I heard dad's voice growing louder, I stepped back from the sink to peek at what was happening. With wet and soapy hands, I was unable to pick him up immediately. A light bulb went on in my head... Let me use one of a techniques I learned in my Guidance and Discipline class.... I said firmly, "Sricharan, keep your hands on the chair." He stopped and looked up at me. I repeated the same words. He was still looking at me with his fingers poised on the key board. I repeated again firmly, this time at a slower pace. He slowly removed his hands, placed them on the chair and looked at me. Voila!!! The technique worked again!!! I smiled and said, "Thank you. Now come here and help me do the dishes" (an attempt to distract him). He carefully got down and ran smiling towards me.. I smiled savoring the moment of triumph... Alas, it did not last long... Now I had to deal with a toddler "unloading" the dirty dishes from the dish washer.

Hmmm.... Anyways, let us now focus on the technique I used. It is called Positive Picture. Instead of saying what you don't want the child to do, you say exactly what he or she has to do. In other words, you paint a "mind-picture" of what is expected, using your words. You may say something like, "Hang on tight" to a child hanging from the monkey bar, instead of "Don't let go". Or, "Walk beside me" instead of "Don't run". This is a lot easier said than done, especially in the moment of panic. Interestingly, it works well in older children and adults too! This way, you sound more assertive, than dismissive...

Just for some grins and giggles, let's try a few scenarios. What can you say instead of,

"No Splashing in the bath tub."
"Don't jump on the couch."
"Don't be late for dinner."

How easy or difficult was it? Share more situations if you have painted "Positive Pictures".

--Renuka Sivarajan

Mini Wilderness in the Heart of the City

Did you know that there is a place called Stiver's Lagoon in the heart of Fremont which is so serene that you will forget that you are in the middle of a busy suburban city? Here you can smell the trees, hear tree frogs croak, experience nature, find some unique native vegetation, get muddy in a dainty little creek, climb trees and walk along a easy, short uncrowded trail. This place is just beside the Aqua Adventure Water Park near the intersection of Grimmer and Paseo Padre in the city Fremont, California. Yes... It is right there... You park in the Aqua Adventure parking and cross a creek on a wooden bridge to get there.

The bridge leading to the Nature Area

The trail is very toddler friendly (except for the occasional poison oak along the edges), that you can let them loose and allow them explore and get dirty.

Fallen trees to play on...

Lots of dirt to dig into...

Varied plant life to explore...

 

Trees to climb on...

A small creek to jump into and get muddy...

Just one word of caution about the poison oak and how to identify it.

Next time, I would go there with a blanket and picnic lunch, to relax, explore, get muddy and have fun with my children.

--Renuka. Sivarajan.

Pick your battles!!!

"Pick your battles huh?" easier said than done. I'm sure many mothers would share my view. My 18 month old is currently in this phase of "Exerting Independence" and it is driving me nuts!!! He says "No" to almost everything... even to things that he wants. Sometimes, a conversation would go like this.
"Mama water"
I get down on my knees, "You want to drink water?"
"No"
"You touched water?"
"No No"
"You want to play with water?"
"No"
"You want to take a bath?"
"No"
"Your clothes are wet with water?"
"No"
"So, show me where is the water"
"No"
"Okay, here you go take your sippy cup"
"No"
I leave the sippy cup on the floor and move on and he says, "Mama water" again!!!
Sometimes it is plain frustrating.... Thanks to my early childhood classes that I calm down and decide if it a battle I want to fight...

Of course, a toddler drinking out of the toilet or running across the driveway (yes, he does both!!!) are absolute nos... and those are the battles worth fighting for sure. But when he says no to milk, water, nap time, bedtime, brushing teeth, or wearing shoes, how do I know if I should start a battle?

I use the technique I learned in my Guidance and Discipline class. I ask myself three questions before I decide..

• Is it life threatening?
• Is it morally threatening?
• Is it  extremely unhealthy?

If the answer to any of these three questions is "YES", I battle it.. else I try not to.. As I said in the beginning, it is easier said than done... However, I make a conscious effort... After all, practice makes us prefect. Doesn't it?

Renuka Sivarajan

Confusious said....

It is an old thought... Proved true...
Found this video interesting... Check it out!!!

Dear Friends of Kimbookai:

I was privileged to take part in an art get-together for children at the Amia Bakery in the Fremont Hub. The little art class was conducted by Moitreyee Chowdhury, board member of Kimbookai Children's Museum. She first sat with the kids, whose ages ranged from 20 months to eight years old, and read a book about art to them. She asked them a penetrating question: what activities and features would they like to see in a children's museum. I loved one of the answers of a sweet, brown-eyed little girl: "People," she said. Along with that the children wanted turtles and tigers and bones and dinosaurs and blocks.

Then the kids sat at tables and with the most charming concentration drew with wrapped attention until they stood back and surveyed their masterpieces. These were hung up in a great display area in the bakery in beautiful red frames. I encourage you to go see for yourself -- and help yourself to one of the yummy pastries, cakes and pies in the bakery.

It was a fabulous way to spend a Sunday morning.

Shirley Gilbert