simple2005:

Reading to them is v important, but we also make it a point to speak in proper sentences and (try to ) avoid 'baby talk'.


To tell if the child is picking things up, it's not about the vocabulary, but how they eventually pick the right words to use in each situation. The vocab should follow naturally, even if they may be a bit 'behind' at first.

BTW, we didn't send the kids to enrichment centres at that age.

Cheers,
PTLee

Uh, do you spend equal time on mother tongue as well?

jojoberry:

thiasy:

Just to add on, don't focus too much on English reading & neglect Chinese..It is equally important.. I used to read only English books to my elder son. Now @ 2 years old, he read chinese words with English accent. My hubby and I got a shock on how bad his chinese pronunciation is. Now, Im trying v hard to make up for it.. but he's not so interested in Chinese books. Now I make sure i sing chinese nursery rhymes every night, hope he find Chinese language equally interesting.

hahah. oh yes man, this is another difficult area to target.
How old is your elder boy now? Is he catching up well?

Thanks Mommies.. I guess this is really the way to go .. Have found an enrichment that focus on reading, build interest in building and linking to reality.


I guess I will use this method for now, and join the enrichment by 3yo..

I think starting should be as early as possible.

my 5yo is able to pick up reading by 3ish.. really a comforting thing for us. but 2yo is avoiding..
I bring them to The Tots' Classroom and apparently, for 5yo kids.. they have this course that teaches the kids 'Natural Reading'.
For my boy, reading came natural but I thought it is useful for a lot of mommies out there whose kids are struggling.

I'm enrolling my 2yo to the language class as soon as she turns 3. You guys might want to check that out as well..

Thanks mommies.. I'm starting to do this 2 days ago. Will update on the results.. It gonna take probably some time but I guess it will train her on the listening and focusing.


Brought her to an enrichment centre nearby and that was what the teachers said there as well. So guess this is the way to go. :snuggles:

Does anyone of you bring your kiddos to any enrichment centre at this age?

Noreen Azli:

Hi Mommies,


I'm new here.

My family and i just moved back to Singapore after almost 2 years living in UK.

I'm currently looking for a good English Enrichment programs in the East for my 5 years old daughter who is struggling to adapt with Singapore education system and also a toddler playgroup for my 19 months old baby girl. I really appreciate it if any of you can give me any good recommendations... Thanks

Hey Noreen!

Welcome back to SG! :rahrah:

I've just gone for a trial class in an enrichment centre in Bedok North - The Tots' Classroom.

I quite love their teaching method - create opportunities to play so that the kids will be interested to learn. This is something really unique in Singapore.

My DS is coming to 5 this year and I've let him tried the Thinking Child & Communication Child which let him go through fun activities while learning. Parents are allowed to join in the classes, so I participated and it is pretty good.
The teachers will lead the activities, and for every new activity, they will briefly explain to me the objectives. At the end of it, they want me to re-cap with the kids at home.

I've also enrolled my 3 yo to the Physical Child and basically, there are a series of activities to keep her interested. True enough, she got so happy at the end of the class.

You might want to call them for free trial classes as well.

maisy:

Hmm ... I have differing views based solely on my own experience.


My child has been with Lcentral for almost a year ... still can't blend words .. so don't even talk about reading! When i asked the teacher for feedback, she'll go \"oh he's a lovely boy and is doing great!\"

I decided to send him to another centre (parallel-run) just to see if there's any difference (or if there's any problem with my son) ...I insisted on sitting in to \"monitor\" ... the teacher taught him blending & decoding in the 2 lessons that i sat in & he seems to be learning fine... he can read words (not sentences yet) straightaway during the lesson itself via blending (eg tip, top, op..cat, dog).
Before that, i tested him those words at home, he couldn't say these words (despite attending Lcentral for so long)! ... The teacher even emphasized on vowels & consonants sounds in the class. And my son can tell me he didn't know a,e,i,o,u are called vowels... etc ...

(the 2nd centre) Teacher commented that my son has only \"basic phonics\"(ie knows the sounds of specific alphabets; mostly consonants but clueless on some vowels) but is learning fine otherwise. Teacher then asked me if I have specific concerns for insisting to sit in (and explained that usually parents can't sit in), I then told her it is because he has been with another enrichment centre (i didn't specify which & she didn't ask) for almost a year & he seems stucked! The teacher opened her eyes wide, and said \"oh u mean he went for enrichment for almost a year? and after so long, still cannot blend words nor read?\" All I could afford was a forced smile and I asked the teacher \"so u think u can help him?\" Teacher further commented \"bcos his phonics is very basic i initially thought his only phonics exposure was at school.. but he learns well..so u r welcome to \"test\" him at home yourself after few lessons; if you decide to sign up.. he should be able to read in sentences soon..he has no learning issues\"

I've since withdrawn him from Lcentral!

Maybe Lcentral works for the primary school level... but definitely not the preschool level... or rather, they teach too slowly for preschool level... i mean, how can a child not be able to read Cat , Dog , Sit after 1 year of enrichment?!!?! ie perhaps I am expected to commit a year's of fees before my child can read words? And perhaps another year's fees before he can read in sentences! Or maybe it is just not meant for my son! Whatever the reason, Enough money wasted in the 10 months he was there! I'm out!

Just sharing my experience.

Hihi

Sorry I'm a lil late as I only joined the forum recently. Can I know where's this other enrichment centre? Can pm me the details?
Thanks so much! :celebrate:

Katetay:

Hi all,


I will read books to her from now on.
Also I would like to know must use flash cards to recognize words anot?

Thanks all mummies for the advice.

Helloo!
How's your girl's reading? What did you use during this period?
My boy who is going 5 was pretty easy during the earlier stage, adopt reading on his own.. that's such a comfort and relief thing to me and my hub.
But for the lil one, we can see some difference despite still a lil tot. so now, we are exploring various methods to bring out interest in her..

Hmm, I totally agree with slmkhoo. I focus on introducing 'new' items to the my two babies when they were below 2, observe their improvements and where their eyes focus at. I will repeat some activities for them to get used to the movements.


Now that they are 2+ and 5, I bring them to enrichment classes to improve their motor skills and social skills. :rahrah:

Hi mommies


Do any of you have reviews on The Tots' Classroom?
Got their leaflet recently and wonder if anyone has experiences? I think it is a new enrichment centre for 2-6yo. Their courses are quite unique, like sociable child, or physical child which trains his/her physical aspect?

Couldn't find much on google but managed to see it in facebook. They have free trial classes and am thinking to try for my two kiddos. But thought of asking you all if anyone has experiences with it..

:thankyou: