Mummy Littlefire says hello

[Littlefire]

hi all,


hope i am kiasu enough to be in kiasuParents.com :!:
my boys are 4 and 2
anyone can convinced me that a childcare will be more beneficial than a kindergarten? :oops:
i am at lost.....

[Addoil]

Hi Littlefire


welcome! By the way, r u a FTWM? is ur kids yr 2005 & yr2007?

[buds]

[Moderator's note: Topic selected for Portal publication.]


Heyya littlefire,

I'm all up for a Kindergarten programme!
But only if you're a stay home parent or have
a reliable caregiver. Cos kindy prgs are
usually only few hours and solely academic
learning. Children have less clingy issues
due to short hours compared to childcare
esp the full day childcare. So kindy children
adapt slightly faster in my opinion. Less
heart pain for parents, esp those who
cannot stand their children crying for
such a long time.

Childcare has all the care there is to
supposedly substitute home while
parents are both at work with no
alternative caregiver. ie. b'fast, lunch,
snack, sleep time, shower, plus the
academics, etc...

Price wise, kindy cheaper.
Extra $$$ can put in fun enrichment pgrm
for children, ie. ballet, piano, speech & drama, etc

There's also flexi care and enrichment programmes
for \"first time try try\" parents.. Short programmes
to get children used to going to school. Some allow
parent-child lessons for some slots and followed up
with independent classes and parents can move on
from there when children are more confident to
attend proper schooling ie. pre-school on their own.

My 5 cents worth..
Hope it helps.

[Littlefire]

Addoil:

Hi Littlefire


welcome! By the way, r u a FTWM? is ur kids yr 2005 & yr2007?

hi addoil,



i used to be a FTWM, now i work from home.
ya your are rite, they are 05 & 07

[Littlefire]

hi buds,


most people i know feels that kindergarten are better in academic wise. but everytime he stays at home, all he does is play whole day.

[jedamum]

Littlefire:

hi buds,


most people i know feels that kindergarten are better in academic wise. but everytime he stays at home, all he does is play whole day.

sometimes it is really the curriculum issue and not actually whether if it is a kindergarten or a childcare.
my boy attended a pcf kindergarten. my nephew attended a childcare.
I need to do home coaching/get external help to prepare him for P1.
my sis need not do any of such as the childcare's curriculum are sufficient.
one main difference may be that kindergarten students are exposed more to big group learning (>20 kids) unlike childcare students.

[Addoil]

Hi jedamum


my sis need not do any of such as the childcare's curriculum are sufficient.[u]

Some of the mummy I know said that enrichment class still is a must. I wonder is the childcare's curriculum are enough for their preparation to P1. Is any parents here just leave the kids go for child care whole day and do not gv them any enrichment class, are they able to cope with in P1? Mind to share with me. Thks.

[jedamum]

Hi Addoil,


My sis only sign up for Speech and Drama and Keyboard enrichment for her son.

She mentioned that so far whatever covered in P1 class are already taught in K2.

I had a look at the class worksheets that her son took back at then end of K2 and is pretty impressed. However, what is done in class may not necessary reflect accurately the level of understanding the kid has as rarely schools have the opportunity to do revision and need to follow their stipulated themes/topics weekly. Home reinforcement is always recommended. With this note, the school’s materials can serves as a guide for such home revision. However, that is assuming that kids get to bring them home weekly instead of monthly or at the end of each term.

The only area of enrichment that I would let my so go through (if i am in her shoes) is chinese enrichment as I really like the idea of structured learning that specialised chinese enrichment centre provide.

[Addoil]

Hi jedamum


Thks for ur sharing. I think this is good enough for me to ensure that child care's curriculum will provide enough preparation. U r rite, home reinforcement is better than all the enrichment. We still need to put in some effort on it.

Do u work out any time table like what time to read/play/computer games/homework etc

[jedamum]

Addoil,

You are welcome.

As curriculum is pretty important (think we have a separate thread on that), if you are looking at a childcare around your workplace, you may want to chat with your colleagues. If not gather info at KSP forum is your next best bet.

Our timetable (which i think there is a separate thread too! just can't remember where) is usually..to start homework/assignment the next half or hour after food (ie if breakfast finished at 10.15am, start work at 11am, if lunch finish at 2.35pm, start work at 3pm, if 2.50pm to start work at 3.30pm). Reading is required daily. No restrictions on computer as my P1 boy is not keen..he nags at me instead :oops: . No strict restrictions on TV, if i feel its too much, i just ask him to switch it off (it helps that he only watch certain cartoons). Fixed day do fixed subjects so no surprises. I usually see his mood to determine the workload though. Still working on his self motivation though.

No work to be done on Saturday (cos have enrichment) and sunday is for work not finished over the week (if finished, then its free day).

My boy may be just an average learner, but having a structure learning timetable makes my life easier.