Washing Machine

Ying Ying loves to play with the washing machine! She likes to put all sorts of things inside (like cloth hangers, socks and toys) and touch the buttons above. Just the other day, I got her to help me load some of the clothes from the laundry basket into the washing machine and she was very enthusiastic. (heheh) She also likes to look at the clothes spinning inside the machine. It is a good thing we have a front loader instead of a top loader - it is easier for her to see and understand how our clothes are being washed.

Actually, we have two front loaders - the older one kept leaking and took too long to complete a cycle. It was costly and not cost-effective to repair so I bought a pretty plastic tablecloth and voila, converted it to a kitchen sidetable. That's another good thing about front loaders - you can put things on top. (heheh) Anyway, when Ying Ying first started exploring the kitchen, she peeked under the tablecloth and was delighted to discover there were not one but two washing machines in the kitchen. She kept going from one machine to another and back again to see if they are really the same. It was quite funny actually!

Ying Ying only started coming into the kitchen recently because previously we set up a safety gate to bar her from entering due to safety reasons. But a few days ago, I took it away because she attempted to climb over many times and she nearly succeeded thanks to her regular climbing practice at the playground and gymboree. Otherwise, she would keep crying frustratingly "mama...mama...." at the gate, which is very distressing to listen to, esp if you are the mom. So now I just let her wander in and out whenever as she pleases. It makes everybody happy this way, including hubby who doesn't have to try ways and means to distract her away from the gate.

Of course I made sure I cleared away all the potential hazards like placing the rubbish bin in the common toilet and keeping the door closed. I also ensure there is no sharp objects in the lower kitchen drawers (thank goodness we do not have many) which she loves to pull open. It is also better this way too cos I can keep an eye on her while I prepare meals or hang out the laundry. Much safer than leaving her alone in the living room or elsewhere in the house. Before that, I used to have her sit on the high chair as I complete the chores but it was a real challenge keeping her occupied and she kept standing up and doing dangerous stunts like reaching out for things beyond her reach.

Interestingly, there is a song called washing machine in her kindermusik class and we always have lotsa fun singing it. The lyrics goes:

We are clothes in the washing machine,

we wriggle and giggle until we are clean. (x2)

Then our mama shakes us up to dry,

and hangs us on the clothes-line high!

p/s Ying Ying is wearing shoes in the pictures because we were getting ready to go out but it took a while (as usual) because we kept forgetting this and that. So our friend took the opportunity to run into the kitchen to play! :D