All About Montessori

[Kabby]

poppyqueen:

Hi hi!


I'm really in a dilemma whether to bite the bullet and send him in here. On one hand, i believe the montessori approach of \"unstructured learning\" is more suitable for my son and will cultivate his interest as he is quite strong headed and doesn't like to be taught the traditional input way. However, on the other hand, the cost is ghastly and it's only for 3 hours.
I would also like my son to be in a CC setting, where he can learn to feed himself, settle himself to sleep etc and generally be more independent. Currently, he's too cosseted and overprotected by my ILs & hubby, eg not allowing my son to walk for more than 10 mins for fear of him hurting his tender soles nor allow him to mess up and feed himself even he expressed interest in self feeding. Drives me a bit nuts! Now my son no longer has any interest to take the spoon as and quietly be spoon fed .I feel their overprotectiveness is detrimental to the natural development of my boy. :stupid:

Alternatively is to send my son to a half day cc and then let him attend the 2 days a week Montessori program. Any views on whether a 2 day a week, 3 hours Montessori will still be effective?

Is there any current review on the MMI @ Phoenix too?

thanks for sharing! seems like the third one sounds the best too! they have 2 days a week kind of programme?

how old is your son now? my dd is 14mth old. She wants to hold the spoon herself too, and she loves to finger feed finger food (ie anything not porridge or soupy). But it is super messy. I guess I am only partial Montessori here cos I let her try feeding herself, but only the last portion in the bowl.

Cos if she starts with the full bowl, her control of the spoon is not that great yet and it will result in flinging motions, sending the porridge or soupy rice flying all over the place, onto the sofa etc. I feed her half of it then allow her to continue herself for the remaining bit, at least, not that much wastage of food and not that messy.

[poppyqueen]

Hi kabalevsky,


My son is just 1 months older than yours.

Yup, they have 2, 3,4 days program at $875,$1125 and $1325 for a term of 10 weeks too.
I just wonder whether 2 days will be sufficient?

Hehe, i don't let my son self-feed when the bowl is full too. Firstly, the meal is just scopped up and i'm would always test-taste to ensure it's not too hot. Secondly, he has no interest in fiddling with the spoon yet. He has a more pressing need to fulfill his hunger ~Lol~ . It's only up to the point where i see that he's quite satiated that i'll hold the spoon out to him to take and \"pretend-play\" eating with the food. He doesn't know how to hold it the correct way though. He always use the convex side to scoop and then put into his mouth to munch. It's so adorable to see him pretending to munch away while i knew nothing much was in his mouth. Children.. :lol:

[Kabby]

poppyqueen:

Hi kabalevsky,


My son is just 1 months older than yours.

Yup, they have 2, 3,4 days program at $875,$1125 and $1325 for a term of 10 weeks too.
I just wonder whether 2 days will be sufficient?

Hehe, i don't let my son self-feed when the bowl is full too. Firstly, the meal is just scopped up and i'm would always test-taste to ensure it's not too hot. Secondly, he has no interest in fiddling with the spoon yet. He has a more pressing need to fulfill his hunger ~Lol~ . It's only up to the point where i see that he's quite satiated that i'll hold the spoon out to him to take and \"pretend-play\" eating with the food. He doesn't know how to hold it the correct way though. He always use the convex side to scoop and then put into his mouth to munch. It's so adorable to see him pretending to munch away while i knew nothing much was in his mouth. Children.. :lol:

My dd's coming to 15mth, so maybe our kids' age are quite close actually. Yours born in Feb also?

Ya, they are so so adorable. :love:

At this stage at least. I hope she'll be easier to handle than the boys at the terrible twos stage.

[poppyqueen]

Mine's in Jan


I don't know leh..My DS is my first and only child currently..nothing to compare. But i know he's quite a handful. :lol:

Is your DS your only child too?

[buds]

kabalevsky:

I am really keen! I am still doing my reading up slowly, squeezing in some time each day aft the kids are asleep. Am inspired by Jules also. She has read and shared a lot here as well.

Jul04 is an extremely keen parent and also definitely a fast learner. :salute:

kabalevsky:

I am reading \"Tomorrow's Child\" magazine also. Quite impressed that there are schools that carry on Montessori right up to Grade 12. Wow, if only there were such in Singapore and not expensive. Just dreaming....

Do know that not everything written can apply in our current day and time for much has
evolved since the time the writings were published. Cultural Studies extend up till Geography
hence it can go up that far. In our dot, this isn't something i'd place my bets on for i cannot seem
to believe that it can be catered to the typical Singaporean love for academic drilling and
performance. Look at all the enrichment centres growing like mushrooms out there! :faint:
While there are children who do indeed need the extra external coaching, a good handful
are just placed to really come out tops! Different strokes for different folks.

I am already quite happy that the Teach Less Learn More implemented by MOE is complementing
similar holistic learning experiences my children are enjoying now even in Primary School. :love:
They definitely learn a host of other skills that textbook-learning cannot provide.

kabalevsky:

If I can dream on, I'd want to set up a school myself.

Aaah.. definitely something more tangible ... so :ugogirl:
I've had that dream for the longest time. :rotflmao:
It always ends up the same.. that at the end of it...
i wake up and it still is a dream. :lol:

kabalevsky:

Thanks for answering my other Qs!

Most welcome. :celebrate:

kabalevsky:

I also read about implementing the Montessori principles and beliefs in the home. So i am trying that out in baby steps. Whatever that I also believe in.

Baby steps it is then! :celebrate:

kabalevsky:

Also read on Waldorf and Charlotte Mason. I know :offtopic: so won't elaborate here. But I am full of awe... Trying to incorporate what I myself believe in, and trying out, but also trying to make sure it is not in conflict but in harmony so that my kids don't end up confused.

In the absence of a prepared Montessori environment, you can still bring Montessori into your
home and your child's life by allowing for independence and the exploration of learning. The
mundane things we do daily and take for granted like sorting utensils, pegging socks, using
chopsticks, working with lock and key are some of the most beneficial activities for children.
Allow for independence when you can and invite them to share those mundane stuff you do
and you'd be surprised at how much they can actually learn from those daily teachable
moments.

kabalevsky:

alas, my ds1 is already 8yo. some things i wish I had done earlier! it's already my 3rd kid and last one liao... hope not too late for my oldest... some of the changes did have positive effect.

You sure it's the last one? :evil:

kabalevsky:

your kids must be really fortunate to have you as mom! you probably did all the right things from the start!

Being a parent and educator does not equate to the same thing.
That said however the educator part does come in useful as added advantage.
So, i share what i know and what i can here when i have the opportunity to.
As a parent, i have my trial and error days.. (still do) and i'm still learning as i go along. :hugs:

[seablue]

Hi, my girl is 2 this yr and I am considering to place my girl in Josiah Montessori for full day. I was told montessori children hv more difficult in settling in primary school and they are less vocal? Can anyone share with me?

I hv visited the josiah millenia. Children are very independent and well behaved and teachers look stern too. Just want to justify if its worth paying $1200 every month.

[buds]

poppyqueen:

Hi hi! Just a short intro ..I've been lurking around this forum and looking for a PG or childcare for my son when he's 18 months. Really love KS parents! A wealth of info!

Hi there poppyqueen and welcome to the Montessori thread. :celebrate:

Yer nick reminds me of prince poppycock on America's Got Talent!
Love him! :please: Who would reali know this rocker's alter ego is
reali a budding opera prince! :salute:

poppyqueen:

And Buds, been following your threads. Really love your sense of humour as well as generous sharing of knowledge! Been following your contributions to the Yew Tee/ CCk/Bukit panjang thread as <surprise surprise>, i'm staying in bukit panjang! :lol: Sad to see you have moved North. Otherwise, i would love to join your private Montessori group session too. :evil:

Yes! Yes! Buds here!
Thanks for your note. Very touched.. :please:
Just to caution you that i AM this gila in reality too! :rotflmao:
Yah, used to stay there and recce to find the good centres there like
looking for a needle in a haystack boy. :roll: In the end, taught them the
Montessori part myself and shoo-ed them off to kindy. Best decision ever. Now,
gotta do ground work all over again for North side. :frustrated: He's only 3 mths i know. :lol:

If i may be honest, the Hongsan stretch reali didn't leave that much of a good impression with
me and i have similar sentiments as per your feedback posting on your preschool shopping
there. Aaaahh.. :idea:... Springfield Montessori... this one i've not seen but from how you
have detailed it, i am already impressed. Since i do share similar thoughts on your other
two finds... i suppose our expectations of a centre are somewhere there lar hor. :lol:

Is this Springfield pricey.. cos it sounds pretty branded you know... ...
and when you say near Dairy Farm, where exactly is it?

poppyqueen:

Alternatively is to send my son to a half day cc and then let him attend the 2 days a week Montessori program. Any views on whether a 2 day a week, 3 hours Montessori will still be effective?

Can also dear. :hugs: Better than nothing but instead you're trying to get the best of both
worlds for your little one. Buttercups Monte in Holland does a kindy approach but
heard it offers longer hours. Do check that out if you're keen. Price i think should be
around 1200 thereabouts... but hor dunno per month or per term. Sorli. :salute:
But i do know i prefer kindy set-ups rather than the childcare ones. Aniwaes,
for stay-home-parent like me i honestly do not need the care part at this
point.

[Tika]

Hi buds,


Its known that you stay not in the east (browsed through the thread), but by any chance would you be familiar with Beehive Montekidz in Tampines?

Or anyone else has feedback?

I've been to see the Directress. The school is pretty small, some would say cramped. The directress said she's very hands on with the older kids cos she wants to make sure they are well prepared for p1. Any mommies with kids in that sch?

[buds]

Sorry Tika, i have no knowledge of that centre nor have i heard of any friends

in the East mentioning it. One that came out with good reviews was The
Learning Curve @ Tampines Mart. It was reviewed as a centre that was
able to retain staff from first day till today. If there was staff turnover
it’s very low. Quite a few teachers received accolades in preschool.sg.

[Kabby]

poppyqueen:

Mine's in Jan


I don't know leh..My DS is my first and only child currently..nothing to compare. But i know he's quite a handful. :lol:

Is your DS your only child too?

sorry sorry, i am too blur. ya, should be jan if your ds is older than mine. :stupid:

my dd was born early Feb.

I have 2 other boys ahead of her. that was what i meant by, hopefully she'd be easier to handle than the boys. not boys in general (cos i have seen very gentle boys), but my own boys. haha. mine are active and rowdy. at least one of them is super active.

don't worry, your ds is a typical normal boy!