How much $$$ do you spend on your Pre-schooler?

[patlee1990]

Hi all,

I just want to make comparison and comment that is this school is overcharged?
My kid is attending Montessori Pre-school. The school charges everything, nothing is free.
1)\tSchool charged $80 for kid concert held in auditorium includes 1 CD, buffet and transportation for all kids to auditorium
2)\tConcert costume at $50/- per kid. I can see some are ready made i.e.bought from M’sia. some are made to order. (all costumes are very common, my sis told me her son also wore the same costume before and my neighbour also told me his son school also have such costume during her kid concert in school and the costume price they paid to school only $20+
3)\tPhoto took during full dress rehearsal concert per pc sold at $2.50 5R size.
4)\tI also noted that their stationary etc bought from m’sia that ok but the exercise book use is malay word written for name, subject, class on the cover page. Why they do this when this is a English and Chinese speaking school with 99% Chinese kids. Kid need to recongise the english word not malay!!!
5)\tEnrichment class – speech and drama @ $250 per term (12 lessons) what I found and heard from other friends are -$200, $170 and one even only $120 per term.
6)\tSchool class photo taking plus Passport size - $50 per kid – one class group photo & portrait both in A4 cardboard stand. 1 pc portrait appox 5r size and 4 pcs passport size photos. Developed with fuji print. What I found and heard from others kid in their school are – 1 pc group class in cardboard stand $8 and another friend’s kid, same 1 pc class group photo with stand plus 4 pcs passport photos only $16/-. (my friend use it to make her kid passport)
7)\tNeed to contribute food or goodies for moon cake festival, x’mas, Chinese NY, Even for Children day.
Can anyone feedback what your child get in their school and prices paid for above or any other event.
I know nothing is free in this world but they really seem overcharged. Also upon graduate do you pay for taking graduate photo, rent the hat and clothes? I heard this school needs to pay but I yet to find out. Also we do pay for school excursion like to the farm, fishing etc at approx $25 each,
And about the photo my kid took, passport size photo taken but cannot be use for Passport cos is blue back ground. When they said passport size isn’t we straight away think is meant for doing passport? I questioned about it, but the principle argues that it said passport size it does not said for passport. I feel is really waste of money to do a passport size and cannot be use it for passport, Cos is total $50 for this package. Can anyone help how can I fight for my right?
Of course am thinking changing school too but not so soon cos no child care nearby. I just need general comment what you mother think.

[EASON MAGPIES]

GSK:

EASON MAGPIES:

[quote=\"mamachris\"]Btw, I would like to share with all a cost effective method for kids to learn Phonics :lol:


Phonics:
When son was 2 YO, I started to expose him to http://www.starfall.com for phonics and got a Audio CV on phonics from Popular bookstore. We have the cv played in the car every times he is in the car ride every morning and evening for him to sing along. Guess what, he was able to pick up phonics very well! He is able to read on his own now and dare to try to pronounce new words. My #2 now is only 1.5YO learning to talk is also trying to sing out the phonics 'A' 'C' 'D'...etc!

Investment less than $20 and it is like attending classes everyday!

I want to thank mamachris. This website that you have posted months ago came to my benefit. Now everyday as dw to play it to my kid also. 1 letter a day. She seems to like T the best...

I will look out for CD at popular too...

Hi Eason Magpies
So hv u found the CD at popular? I ask the staff, they said only have the VCD type for phonics.

Hi Mamachris
Can u share with us the title / publisher of the CDs?

Thank you
gsk[/quote]Hi

I did not find any of the CDs. I bought a few packs of Flash cards though.

I was wondering if anyone here would like to sell me their 2nd hand flash cards.

Me and wife too lazy to make our own. Actually we tried but guess both of us not that good with arts and craft so was not very successful.

[EASON MAGPIES]

patlee1990:

Hi all,

I just want to make comparison and comment that is this school is overcharged?
My kid is attending Montessori Pre-school. The school charges everything, nothing is free.
1)\tSchool charged $80 for kid concert held in auditorium includes 1 CD, buffet and transportation for all kids to auditorium
2)\tConcert costume at $50/- per kid. I can see some are ready made i.e.bought from M’sia. some are made to order. (all costumes are very common, my sis told me her son also wore the same costume before and my neighbour also told me his son school also have such costume during her kid concert in school and the costume price they paid to school only $20+
3)\tPhoto took during full dress rehearsal concert per pc sold at $2.50 5R size.
4)\tI also noted that their stationary etc bought from m’sia that ok but the exercise book use is malay word written for name, subject, class on the cover page. Why they do this when this is a English and Chinese speaking school with 99% Chinese kids. Kid need to recongise the english word not malay!!!
5)\tEnrichment class – speech and drama @ $250 per term (12 lessons) what I found and heard from other friends are -$200, $170 and one even only $120 per term.
6)\tSchool class photo taking plus Passport size - $50 per kid – one class group photo & portrait both in A4 cardboard stand. 1 pc portrait appox 5r size and 4 pcs passport size photos. Developed with fuji print. What I found and heard from others kid in their school are – 1 pc group class in cardboard stand $8 and another friend's kid, same 1 pc class group photo with stand plus 4 pcs passport photos only $16/-. (my friend use it to make her kid passport)
7)\tNeed to contribute food or goodies for moon cake festival, x’mas, Chinese NY, Even for Children day.
Can anyone feedback what your child get in their school and prices paid for above or any other event.
I know nothing is free in this world but they really seem overcharged. Also upon graduate do you pay for taking graduate photo, rent the hat and clothes? I heard this school needs to pay but I yet to find out. Also we do pay for school excursion like to the farm, fishing etc at approx $25 each,
And about the photo my kid took, passport size photo taken but cannot be use for Passport cos is blue back ground. When they said passport size isn’t we straight away think is meant for doing passport? I questioned about it, but the principle argues that it said passport size it does not said for passport. I feel is really waste of money to do a passport size and cannot be use it for passport, Cos is total $50 for this package. Can anyone help how can I fight for my right?
Of course am thinking changing school too but not so soon cos no child care nearby. I just need general comment what you mother think.

Wow...this school sound very scary. I guess you really got to PAY a LOT to go to this type of \"branded\" school.

Must consider twice for my DD now 11 months...

[keenDaddy]

I think such charges are probably quite common nowadays. Some of the higher end preschools are charging even much more.


>1) School charged $80 for kid concert held in auditorium includes 1 CD, buffet and transportation for all kids to auditorium
With $80, how many guests does the school allow?
For my child’s year end concert this month, we are paying $55 which includes 1 CD, 4 tickets and buffet lunch. It is held at a CC 'though.

>5) Enrichment class – speech and drama @ $250 per term (12 lessons) what I found and heard from other friends are -$200, $170 and one even only $120 per term.
Is the enrichment conducted by the school itself or an external provider? If it is an external provider, it will be more expensive - e.g. S&D provider like Acts Of Life charge about $100 per month.

[hercules]

keenDaddy:

S&D provider like Acts Of Life charge about $100 per month.

My child also under Acts of Life but the centre only charging $60, once a week lesson. Maybe that $100 is for twice a week lessons?

[hanahana]

Hi. My child is attending a montessori school, too.

Our expenses are almost same as yours.

1) We paid $150 in total for year-end concert.
Ticket per adult: $20 (I bought three pax.)
1 VCD: $30
Transport for child on: $20
Costume: $40

6) $20 for class photo and 2pcs of personal photos
About $20 for each excursion…

Yes, nothing is free or cheap… The school is really good, but the fee is high(3hours class: $1500/term), which is same as full-day child care centre.

[quote="patlee1990"]Hi all,
1)\tSchool charged $80 for kid concert held in auditorium includes 1 CD, buffet and transportation for all kids to auditorium
2)\tConcert costume at $50/- per kid. 3)\tPhoto took during full dress rehearsal concert per pc sold at $2.50 5R size.
6)\tSchool class photo taking plus Passport size - $50 per kid – Also we do pay for school excursion like to the farm, fishing etc at approx $25 each,

[EASON MAGPIES]

My baby Grace just almost completed her little Neuro Tree course at Jurong East. To be very honest because of her age (only 11 months now) we can see much effect of the course.


Little Neuro also just changed their name. I think now should be different management.

Now DW is considering not to continue there for next term but to go over to Kinder musik to try because she heard from friend that it is good and fun.

Anyone can advise me what you think?

I also posted before if anyone want to sell their old used Flashcard at discount pls PM me…still looking for cheaper flashcards.

Thanks !

[patlee1990]

Hi,

Thanks for those shared your opinions.
This not really a high end school but i think if branded with Montessori, fees etc usually not cheap.

[Darkcoco]

phankao:

golfer:

currently , i m spending $600 / mth for my kindergarten children. hope when they enter primary level , the expenses will reduce?

Should be reduced, lah.

Our 2yo ds has 1 music play class and 1 chinese playgroup for abt a total of S$250pm.

But our 3 older kids(pri/sec) total only S$1000 and not much classes!
dd - zero classes
ds1 - violin + chinese tuition
ds2 - science tuition + 2 chinese music instrument lessons.

And school fees so cheap. Sec only like s$20pm, and pri even cheaper, right?

Oh, I almost forgot. All 3 have Karate, but that's only S$60 for 10 weeks for each child. Not expensive lah.

Hello GrandMasterII,

Need some advice from you, my son is K1 this year at Carpe Diem but last day is end of Feb'11.
I have the following calculations:

Option 1

-To find a childcare centre/ preschool with school fees (inclusive of subsidy) + school bus (if any) in total of not more than S$600.

-Add Speech & Drama enrichment S$120/ month.
-Add FasTracKids S$170/ month.

Total for option 1 is S$900/ mth.





Option 2


-Just sign up for MindChamps preschool for S$1000/ month (after subsidy).,
But not enrichment classes.


I really like MindChamps as it's just walking distance from my home, but the schools fees are cut throat for me as I could not afford to have any additional enrichment programmes for my boy.


Hope you could give some sugguestions..
:?:



Mummies here in this topic are welcome to share your experience with me too. Appreciated.

[mummylin69]

hi darkcoco, no experience to share with u as my gal is only 8 months old now. however, i have already asked myself abt the 2 options u posted and i am taking option 2 when she reaches pre-nursery level.


back to the original intend of this thread,

DD - 8 months
infant care - $650 (aft subsidy)
gug - $190 (starting next month but will only be taking 1 term)
shichida - $280