There are many underlying issues when someone goes around cutting/mutilating themselves. I used to teach in an all-girls' school. These were my personal observations and experiences:

1. If they were cutting themselves in areas where the scars can be seen for eg on the wrists or palms, then its highly probable that they want to be 'caught' cuz its a way for them to cry out for attention for their suffering.

2. Then there are others who will mutilate their upper arms or their chests where the scars won't be that visible. Most of them use a razor. They usually start off by experimenting and depending on their threshhold of pain initially, it might start of with a superficial cut and as they become bolder, the cuts increase in number and depth.

This set of flash cards featured the five oceanic divisions for the world's oceanic waters: Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, and Southern.

While we generally describe the ocean as separate, these waters actually consist of one global, interconnected body of salt water. This body of water is also sometimes referred to as the World Ocean or global ocean.

 Thanks reiner for suggesting the topic.

This is a nicely illustrated book with full-page illustrations. With patterned rhymes, plenty of repetition and simple plot make it great for young children.
"Hairy Maclary from Donaldsons Diary series - by Lynley Dodd (from NZ). About a dog and his doggy friends and cat nemesis. For younger kids. Stories are a bit rhyming sort and it's really quite loads of fun (not too wordy). "

Here are some of the suggestions:

1) Magic Treehouse series

This is a very common series that talks about 2 children who go back in time to interesting events that happen in the past. For example: the volcanic eruption in Pompeii and how they try to solve some puzzle there or help someone during their travels.

"Shel Silverstein's the Giving Tree is a very short story carrying weighty message. As an adult reader, I love it very much. ....DS asked me a lot of questions and we had an very interesting discussion about life and relationships. this simple story will stimulate your emotion and discussion....It is about the relationship between a tree and a boy. the tree loves the boy so much that it is willing to let the boy cut down its trunk and make a boat to sail away...
there is a controversy on whether the tree's unconditional love can make the boy happy....
personally feel the simple story depict complexity of life and relationships...." HyperKiasu

While I'm not professional or experienced enough to give good advice regarding story telling targeting preschooler audiences, I would like to share this wonderful clip on how author Mercer Mayer tells his story of "There's An Alligator Under My Bed"; this book is available in the library and I'm sure you will be able to capture your child's attention by reading it the way the author did.

Additionally, if you have difficulty getting your preschooler's attention despite reading to them the all-time-favourite Dr Seuss classic collection, you can try tuning into the following clips for tips (for tips, i meant trying to imitate how the reader read that book ) on how to pace your reading and voice tonation (and also how to pronounce some of the 'nonsensical' words).

Dr Seuss ABC

Once a while credit cards give a really good deal. I quoted this from another blog here.  If you are a frequent AXS user, which many of us are, you will notice this good deal offer till Jan 2011.  Just make payment using your DBS or POSB card and every $50 gives you a chance to win a condominium.  However, many of us fails to see the last wording - Terms and conditions apply.  And as always, you will only find out the terms and conditions later, usually a little too late.

Since I said yes to participate in the FREE draw,I became extremely popular.  I get invitation to all kinds of property prelaunches on office phone, mobile phone, sms, and email.  I have calls from ERA, orange and whatever you can think of.  And the best part is, they love you so much, you decline or unsubscribe but the love notes keep coming. It has been a long time since I felt so pampered.