All About Montessori

[buds]

Lingz:

HI,


Anyone has any views on Little Wonders Montessori, especially the Jurong West Branch? I was considering this branch but their reply to my email query make me think twice. Firstly, not all my queries were answered. Secondly, the English was not proper and no designation was stated at the end of the email.

How about the branch @ Woodlands?
Anyone has any children there?
Can share feedback?

[keas]

Hi Buds,


Thanks for your thoughts.

I’m not satisfied with the way the current childcare which my son is in do toilet-train. They let them wear diapers as per normal and the only thing they do is bring the child to the toilet every now and then to ask whether the child want to pee/poo. I wonder how the child know. I believe in letting the child wet himself without any diaper and he’ll learn better. I cannot do it alone at home since my child is in childcare and the school let him wear diaper all the time. But since we are withdrawing, I do not want to talk too much about it, and also the teacher did not seem enthusiastic on this, unlike another school when I asked about toilet-train. I know seeing is believing but fromt he way they talk, you could really see that they were earnest.

I definitely want to try CS Monte, BUT now thinking again when my son will need to spend the afternoon with maid before we come home from work. Not really comfortable with that yet, and left only a few days to think, haiz…

[buds]

Hi keas, different centres will have / offer different methods to wean the

children off diapers. Some centres do not mind children go commando...
heheee.. (without diapers) and get them to put on briefs and remind them
every 15mins if they feel and have a need to go and some others may use
pull-ups as training routine similar to wearing briefs. Sufficient manpower
is also important. the main teachers can't be bringing the same child to the
bathroom to change every single time the child-in-training has an accident.
This will disrupt her lessons and her attention on other children in the same
class.

Yes, i do agree... some teachers are earnest about this process and some
others aren't exactly enthusiastic to help parents out with it. But to tell you
the truth, it is a lot of effort on the teacher's end. Well yes... since you are
already within the withdrawal phase, there isn't a need to discuss further on
this. In future, do take time to discuss with teachers in detail with regards
to your expectations on how you'd prefer it done and also take the time to
listen to how they've managed with their ways as well and then come to a
compromise. Childcare centre teachers really have a lot on their plate and
if parents take the time and effort to sit down and discuss it will take a load
off both parties and also avoid future misunderstandings, especially when it
comes to individual expectations.

My girls were in afternoon sessions when we decided to put them into one,
so that i could have time off in the afternoons with my girlfriends and the girls
are nicely tuned and prepared for P1's afternoon session when the time came.
It was also more convenient for either of us to fetch them. (Hubs after
office hour... and me after all chores done and dinner all cooked.

There were times when hubs took half day, we went off to see a show
and had early dinner at a restaurant after which we went to fetch the girls
together. :love:

So far, we have managed without a maid whether during the time i was working
or not.

Dunno how yet with #3 coming soon...

[jedamum]

buds:

Hi keas, different centres will have / offer different methods to wean the

children off diapers. Some centres do not mind children go commando...
heheee.. (without diapers) and get them to put on briefs and remind them
every 15mins if they feel and have a need to go and some others may use
pull-ups as training routine similar to wearing briefs. Sufficient manpower
is also important. the main teachers can't be bringing the same child to the
bathroom to change every single time the child-in-training has an accident.
This will disrupt her lessons and her attention on other children in the same
class.

OT, but i agree with buds.
ds1 toilet trained using cloth diapers ie wet himself to be aware of needing to go toilet.
ds2 toilet trained using training diapers ie i remind him if he wanted to go toilet every few blocks of mins.

i would prefer children using training diapers in CC, cos i think if they are to let children go commando style, the hygiene level of the sch may drop if several children have several accidents a day.

OMHO.

[Fizz]

Hi


Can anyone share about MMI Bedok? My child seems to be unwilling to go to that cc every day but I see that the child is happy in the class. I also have good vibes about the cc but then again, I might be wrong too, as a parent did mention that there were a lot of complaints from other parents (I seldom mingle around).

Thanx.

[keas]

Hi Buds,


Again, I need your advice. Are you still at home? Or have you \"check-in\" to hospital already?

I have registered my son with Amazing Star Monte. However, I have one concern that from 5 or 5.30 pm onwards they will just let the kids watch TV. Do you think there is any way I can ask them not to let my kid watch TV? I know it's a bit inconvenient because if he is not watching TC he will be kind of isolated...but still.. do you have any suggestion on this?

Btw, we were thinking of fetching him early but after much considering, we have registered for school bus and the bus only fetch them at about 6pm.

Thanks in advance!! :love:

[buds]

keas:

Hi Buds, again, I need your advice. Are you still at home? Or have you \"check-in\" to hospital already?

Oh hi keas! Me popped oredi but still have to go up and down hospital
for awhile.

keas:

I have registered my son with Amazing Star Monte. However, I have one concern that from 5 or 5.30 pm onwards they will just let the kids watch TV. Do you think there is any way I can ask them not to let my kid watch TV? I know it's a bit inconvenient because if he is not watching TC he will be kind of isolated...but still.. do you have any suggestion on this?

You are right on one thing.

If they acceed to no TV time specially for your child, he WILL be isolated.
That means one teacher to tend to your boy. Unless they have other
students whose parents have requested for no TV as well to be
grouped together, i suppose in your case it's like when in
Rome, one has gotta do what the Romans do... Can't
beat them so no choice gotta join them.

I have worked with centres who allow for both, TV and non-TV time during
dismissal. In a Montessori set up children are allowed to work on materials
on the shelves independently but minimal supervision as the teachers got
to get ready for closing time as well and pack their stuff too, to quickly go
back once the last kid is picked up so they too can spend time with their
family and get dinner ready.

As for TV time, parents can ask the nature/genre of CDs or TV programmes
the centre allows the children to watch. I ever personally donated a great
lot of quality CDs and DVDs for my girls' centre since i couldn't control the
TV time as they do not have enough manpower... so it's a win win situation
in my case... with just a small contribution on my part. Plus, the centre more
than appreciates the gesture.

keas:

Btw, we were thinking of fetching him early but after much considering, we have registered for school bus and the bus only fetch them at about 6pm.

School bus is good. Rain or shine your son will arrive in school and reach
home on time every day. My girls loved taking transport! They liked
the idea of travelling with their friends every single day! :love: My only
concern for transportation services is they must have an assistant on the
bus to watch over the children at all times.

keas:

Thanks in advance!! :love:

You're always welcome! :celebrate:
Congrats btw in getting into Amazing Star despite the long waitlist.

[buds]

Buds wishes all Montessorian parents a very Happy New Year!


Here's to our children... :celebrate: ... who will hopefully garner in the
best experiences of their lives with quality Montessori education, be
guided by the most passionate of teachers and all the love ....the best support from us... their parents. :celebrate:

[keas]

Hi Buds,


Happy new year!

Congrats on your new baby. How is he? A boy right? I remember I read somewhere that your new baby is a boy :love: correct me if I'm wrong.

And thanks so much for sharing. I think I will need to talk to the teacher some time later, cos today is only his first day at school. He's doing fine so far, I'm glad.


By the way about transport, he is the last kid to be picked up in the morning, and he is also the last kid to be dropped off from the bus. Do you think it's just fair? Or can I ask for any earlier drop off? Cos I think the difference is quite big. In the morning there are only 3 or 4 kids on the bus. And it takes him less than 10 mins to reach schoo. But the returning trip takes 40-45 mins, and we are living so near to the school.

What do you think mommies? Please share your thoughts. Thank u!

[buds]

keas:

Hi Buds,


Happy new year!

Hi keas, Happy New Year to you too dear!

keas:

Congrats on your new baby. How is he? A boy right? I remember I read somewhere that your new baby is a boy :love: correct me if I'm wrong.

Thank you. :love:

Yes, you are right... this time it IS a boy! He's still in hospital..

keas:

And thanks so much for sharing. I think I will need to talk to the teacher some time later, cos today is only his first day at school. He's doing fine so far, I'm glad.

Good then, very happy to hear he's doing very well for his 1st day. :hugs:
Yes, do give it some time since it is only day one. Give the place a chance
to show you how they care for your child for a bit longer.. observe all their
other usual routines and practices before you diplomatically approach the
issue on your preference for no TV, for your son.

keas:

By the way about transport, he is the last kid to be picked up in the morning, and he is also the last kid to be dropped off from the bus. Do you think it's just fair? Or can I ask for any earlier drop off? Cos I think the difference is quite big. In the morning there are only 3 or 4 kids on the bus. And it takes him less than 10 mins to reach schoo. But the returning trip takes 40-45 mins, and we are living so near to the school.

It is not about fairness honestly but the route. You may want to find out
which is the route they are taking within the loop of that few children. As
for my experience, if my girls were last to be picked up, they would
usually be the last to be dropped off. Frankly, the first trip \"going\" to the
centre you child is already considered good to be picked up last which
means he has more time to get ready from home as compared to the
other children who take the same transport. Guess to be fair to the others
and i presume also based on the route, he is then; the last to be dropped
off.

keas:

What do you think mommies? Please share your thoughts. Thank u!

Personally, i think the main thing is if your child is in good hands, let it be.
In fact, from experience i do find that the journey may get 5 to 10 mins
faster as the school days continue. Call it first day jitters if you wish..
Do give them (transport operator) some time to get their schedule in
rhythm. I gave mine a month to manage their schedules till it was perfect.
They took less time and was punctual to a \"T\". Hope this helps.