Right Brain Development for a Teeny Tot... You've got to be kidding me right??

About 1 month ago, my daughter started on her Heguru class. Google this and you will find information on right-brain development for children. Lauren was 8months when she started the class. As I type this, she has just completed her 5th lesson. Is it beneficial for her? Frankly, I wouldn't know - it's far too early to say.

In Singapore, Heguru is still very new, much 'newer' than it's counterpart, the Shichida method. I wouldn't know the difference between both as I have not tried Shichida myself. So I'm only going to be able to comment on the Heguru Method.

In general, the activities in the class include flashcards, general knowledge (through these flashcards), singing of nursery rhymes in english and chinese (which is better than none only because we almost speak no Mandarin at home), number memory, recognition of shapes, recognition of colours (through the Mandala activity; see below photo), number concept understanding, understanding of more/less, longer/shorter (i would classify this as GK; general knowledge).

Pros:

• Small class (Lauren has 5 other students in the class)


• Teacher takes the time to answer any queries before and after every class.


• 1 teacher & 1 helper to every class. I guess this is a pre-req in order to conduct the class because the class is very fast paced. So much so that if there were only 1 teacher, it would be almost impossible to keep the class running at such a fast pace.


• Does not lock you in a package - it is pay per month as you go. Big plus point for me.

Cons:

• Fast paced - I can't decide yet if this is a pro/con because clearly Lauren is still too young to give me feedback as to whether this benefits her or not.


• W/relevance to the above point, it is fast paced only within each activity. But there is a good spacer/breather between activities as children at her age get distracted easily anyway - so I'm happy that there's a variety of activities. Between activities, approx. 10secs gap. This sounds like a very short timeframe on paper, but in reality, I feel it is ok.


• Lauren gets cranky after approx. 30mins. Most of the other kids do as well. And I have a parent friend in another country taking the Shichida class, who also shared that her daughter can only "tahan" about 30mins. Afterwhich, she won't be able to sit still and she'll have to be coaxed into paying attention in class. So on this point, it is not about the class - it seems their maximum attention span is about 30 - 35mins.

Mandala: This same shape is flashed 3x on a tv screen for the child. Thereafter, the parent holds the child and colours in the various colours at the same time (to show the tot how it is done, i.e.: where the colours go, etc.)



Iroita: This is for shape recognition - parents are given coloured corresponding shapes which are meant to be placed on top of this sheet of paper to illustrate to the child the concept of shapes. 



Number Memory: The child starts off with a blank page. The teacher flashes each line of number 3x - child is supposed to look at the board while teacher flashes each string of numbers. The number is then covered up. The parent is then meant to write the string of numbers in correct order and show the child how it is done. 



I held Lauren's hand and connected the dots with her.

At this stage of 9months, Lauren is obviously too young to speak or show any feedback of any sort. Hence, I am the one doing most of her work in the form of demonstration to her.

When I tell my friends about the activities, they comment that I should be able to do this for her at home, and not have to pay to attend these classes. My response to this would be: at the pace they are going, 2 people are required to replicate the activities. And frankly, if you ask me, you wouldn't have the "heart" to. Why? Because firstly, it is difficult for most people to flash cards that fast (as the teacher flashes the cards, the content on the card is also read out... hence, it is difficult for untrained people to replicate this action). Seocndly, when you see your kid not being able to focus, you get "soft", and most likely also give up and say, ok, let's take a break. So definitely, you need 2 indifferent people to replicate the activities.

Also, the teachers at Heguru have informed me not to expect any "feedback" from Lauren to assess the effectiveness of the class. At her age, it is all about "input" - as she is too young to replicate any movement or vocalise/indicate any feedback. So, in a way, it is the same as saying: "you won't see reap/see any rewards till your child is older. When? We wouldn't know. Until then, you'll just have to keep going for classes".

At home, I teach her about colours (using everyday stuff, coloured balls/coloured pens), about the concept of length, about the concept of few/many. About 2 or 3 times a week, I will test her on colours. Holding 2 different coloured balls or markers in my hand, I would ask her to pick the right colour. She gets it right about 60% of the time. However, because I'm only asking her to choose between 2 colours, the chance of getting it right is also 50-50, which is easily achieved. So... I'm still unconcluded about the effectiveness of Heguru at this stage.

But having said all this, if you ask me, if I would continue her in her Heguru class (because Heguru doesn't require any form of upfront payment and they don't try to sell you package. It is pay per month as you go), I would. :)

At the same time, to give an update on what her "abilities" are at this stage of 8 months & 3 weeks, they are as follows:

• i find she responds to sound quite well - possibly because her eyesight is not fully developed at this stage? I don't know.


• As mentioned, sometimes can pick out the right colour when requested


• can stand, can crawl, starting to furniture cruise. Can't walk yet.


• can imitate "bye-bye" action... sometimes.


• starting to be aware - knows when I'm about to put her into a car-seat and she'll get cranky.


• knows when I'm putting her into her play-yard and she'll get cranky. But when I'm in there with her - she's ok. Maybe because I'm always with her at Heguru? I'm not sure


• knows when I say no to something and she's not supposed to do it. If it's ok with her, she'll agree not to do it and not cry. If she finds it difficult to agree with me, she'll whine and I'll have to eventually take it away from her.

Being a first time parent, I'm not sure if the above is normal/common for a tot her age - so pls, comments are welcome.

**On a side note, my parents think I'm wasting money on these "extra curricular" classes for a child who can't even walk. 

***Parents are not allowed to take any photos in class... hence .. I only have worksheet photos to show. :( Huge disappointment.