[Hougang/Punggol/Sengkang] Preschools

[mum2jj]

Thanks Fuzz, it’s easy to get caught up in the rat race and miss the forest for the tree. Nobody likes to be seen as slack, as not doing enuf for your kids, but what if we have gone in the wrong direction in the first place? Don’t we all wish never to see the day when it suddenly dawned on us that what we have sacrificed and causing much misery and pain to our kids were all in vain? I don’t like what I’ve seen mainly in 2 areas:-


1. The endless assignments: from school, from enrichment, from parents, be it writing practice or requiring cognitive thinking.

2. Parents who "air-brush" their children’s homework, telling them what answer to write, how can the kid learn? How can the teacher tell who are the truly brilliant ones?

So even if your kid got into a good school becoz of the stellar air-brushed grades, he may suffer becoz he will struggle. I myself don’t take well to pressure, being constantly at the bottom of my class erodes my confidence. Some may never recover from the trauma of being inferior.

You are also instilling the wrong values, that it’s alright to sacrifice other aspects in life to reach your goal (good grades) – this is what they see in China in a lot of top universities, brilliant undergraduates who are selfish, inconsiderate, not charitable and not civic-minded. Worse of all, they don’t know how to handle any set-back, and an important part of learning, is to learn from mistakes.

[Vevey]

hapydino:

hi fellow parents


am having difficulty finding a kindy for my daughter (born 2007) for next year.. so far am on 3 waiting lists namely YCK Chapel, Kinderland and Sunflower..

there is a PCF near my place (Fernvale) and was told they only offer Tamil as 2nd language?!?!

no wonder past yr been seeing this grandpa bringing 2 toddlers take bus to nearby Serangoon North for kindy..

hopefully can find a kindy soon else have to opt for half day CC to get the 3 hours nursery 2 which is going to be expensive factoring in nanny, half day CC and school bus..

R u v sure? DS1 graduated from Blk 303 PCF last yr & some of his classmates opted to transfer to the new centre near Fernvale Pt (same principal) when it opened early last yr, & Chinese & Malay were taught leh.

Anyway DS2 who just turned 3, has been w Kindertots in Fernvale Pt since he was 19mo upon a friend's recommendation.
Other than no in-house toilet (due to building constraints), I like the enthusiatic & caring teachers. The sch is also v flexible & able to accommodate my timing (i need the whole a.m. free for DS1 & to do housework etc) by letting him attend N2 Chinese b4 the starting of his N1 class (no Chinese lesson).
Details here: http://www.kindertots.blogspot.com

[hapydino]

Hi Vevey


My DD was with KinderTots for 1 year (2009)… 2010 i switched her to AppleTree in Fernvale Link…

She was with Teacher Adil when she’s in KinderTots… Only good point i can think of is Teacher Adil is generous with her HP number and I can sms her for updates and she will ‘entertain’ me…

AppleTree is totally different… and they only offer N1 so now on the lookout for next year’s kindy (N2 to K2)…

[Fuzz]

mum2jj:

You are also instilling the wrong values, that it's alright to sacrifice other aspects in life to reach your goal (good grades) -- this is what they see in China in a lot of top universities, brilliant undergraduates who are selfish, inconsiderate, not charitable and not civic-minded. Worse of all, they don't know how to handle any set-back, and an important part of learning, is to learn from mistakes.

I can't agree with u more. I think this is something alot of parents have neglected in recent yrs, n thankfully i think we're more aware of this now. hopefully we will remember that these basic values are more important than stellar grades.

i teach older teens, n this is what i've observed. they are more confident, outspoken n creative than teens of my time - which is great. but many of them are also pampered, have poor work ethics n expect things to be handed to them on a platter. don't get me wrong. i'm v fond of my students and they have many strengths too. but i find that they lack some of these basic values. And at that age, it's a bit hard to help them change.

that's why i think it's so important to lay the right foundation for our kids from the start. but yes it's a struggle trying not to get caught up in the rat race cos we always want the best for our kids!

[Cayla]

Janet222 & HeyHoe:


So so sorry for this super late reply. Firstly I am very new here, secondly I am super busy with my work.

I did submit the application form to loving kids and paid $60 for admin fees after the visits to those CCC. My husband and I thought Qdees is quite good, in terms of the teaching system?.. I cant really remember what did the lady who showed me around told me about it, as it was a few months back.

A few days ago, we drove passed Character Montessori along Punggol Road and we went in to enquire also… Haha… really kiasu (its me, I must admit).
I like the environment better than Loving kids. It is spacious compare to Loving Kids. The centre manager, Jennifer showed us the place and explained & answered all questions very professionally as well. Impressed. As my girl will be going to a full day class, I hope to give her more space and not those HDB kinda CCC which I’ve seen, was quite small as there are many partitions. Guess to accommodate more kids, they have no choice? And not denying need to make money as well, for sure.

Character Montessori is at $877 per month, compare to Loving kids $350+? Therefore I am still in a dilemma which is better for my girl and if anyone can share their experience with me, that will be great… As I am a newbie here and also first time mother (inexperience).

Thanks all.

[chic_savvy]

Heya, any reviews on Apple Tree in fernvale? My son’s going there next year.

[hapydino]

chic_savvy:

Heya, any reviews on Apple Tree in fernvale? My son's going there next year.

hi, my daughter is there since Jan this yr..

so far change 2 teachers liao.. my purpose is merely to let her mingle and socialise so curriculum wise, cannot expect too much..

[Vevey]

hapydino:

Hi Vevey


My DD was with KinderTots for 1 year (2009).. 2010 i switched her to AppleTree in Fernvale Link..

She was with Teacher Adil when she's in KinderTots.. Only good point i can think of is Teacher Adil is generous with her HP number and I can sms her for updates and she will 'entertain' me..

AppleTree is totally different.. and they only offer N1 so now on the lookout for next year's kindy (N2 to K2)..

Lol...then we might hv seen each other b4, as DS2 is in both sessions of the Playgroup. :celebrate: Or was she sent & fetch by nanny?

All along, I wanted DS2 to go to PCF Buangkok from N2 (nearer, more exposure & better disciplined) but still on waitlist. If really no vacancy, will stick to Kindertots for another year & register him w 303 PCF from K1.

[mrswongtuition]

Vevey:

hapydino:

Hi Vevey


My DD was with KinderTots for 1 year (2009).. 2010 i switched her to AppleTree in Fernvale Link..

She was with Teacher Adil when she's in KinderTots.. Only good point i can think of is Teacher Adil is generous with her HP number and I can sms her for updates and she will 'entertain' me..

AppleTree is totally different.. and they only offer N1 so now on the lookout for next year's kindy (N2 to K2)..

Lol...then we might hv seen each other b4, as DS2 is in both sessions of the Playgroup. :celebrate: Or was she sent & fetch by nanny?

All along, I wanted DS2 to go to PCF Buangkok from N2 (nearer, more exposure & better disciplined) but still on waitlist. If really no vacancy, will stick to Kindertots for another year & register him w 303 PCF from K1.

303 PCF is it at Punggol? or SK?

[jeanng79]

I just registered my 3 year old son in Character Montessori and he will be starting school in Oct. Previously, he was at Kinderland in Woodlands (Near my mom's place). But because I will be taking care of him now, so decided to switch him somewhere nearer to us.


Agreed that CM's fees is abit high but I have no better choice cos most of the centres are already full. Brought my boy down to view the centre and he quite like it. Another thing I like abt CM is they have a variety of enrichment classes.

I guessed at the end of the day, parents dun mind paying high school fees as long as they know their kids are well taken care of.

Cayla:

Janet222 & HeyHoe:

So so sorry for this super late reply. Firstly I am very new here, secondly I am super busy with my work.

I did submit the application form to loving kids and paid $60 for admin fees after the visits to those CCC. My husband and I thought Qdees is quite good, in terms of the teaching system?... I cant really remember what did the lady who showed me around told me about it, as it was a few months back.

A few days ago, we drove passed Character Montessori along Punggol Road and we went in to enquire also.. Haha.. really kiasu (its me, I must admit).
I like the environment better than Loving kids. It is spacious compare to Loving Kids. The centre manager, Jennifer showed us the place and explained & answered all questions very professionally as well. Impressed. As my girl will be going to a full day class, I hope to give her more space and not those HDB kinda CCC which I've seen, was quite small as there are many partitions. Guess to accommodate more kids, they have no choice? And not denying need to make money as well, for sure.

Character Montessori is at $877 per month, compare to Loving kids $350+? Therefore I am still in a dilemma which is better for my girl and if anyone can share their experience with me, that will be great.. As I am a newbie here and also first time mother (inexperience).

Thanks all.