What is being a KiasuParent?

[fo12eal]

Kiasu:-


1. Just because your cousin’s children learn piano, you also want your child(ren) to learn even though they might not be interested. Worst of all, add in another one - violin lesson

2. Having K1 lesson in 2 different place. Morning and Noon session

3. Just because you hear say this enrichment lesson is good (thanks to media or even kiasu friend or colleages say so) you send your children there too.

4. Before baby is born, already enroll baby for a programme age 6mth to 18mth (on waiting list) to a branded play group.

[jedamum]

super_dad:

We do need to be good models for our children.

I strongly agree on this.
Recently, my boy has been 'picking' on my 'double-standards'....ie why I asked him to let his younger brother watch dvd when he is in the midst of his tv programme and that I refuse to let the younger brother watch dvd when I am in the midst of watching my tv programme. :roll:
Cannot bring him shopping too...ie 'why mummy said she like the dress she can buy, why mummy said didi like the book, can buy, but why I said I like the toys, I cannot buy.' :roll:

[tamarind]

\"kiasu\" means \"scared of losing\" in Chinese. Many parents are scared of losing to their friends and relatives. The biggest problem is when parents start to compare their kids. They become kiasu.


Teaching the child new knowledge and skills, simply to enrich the child's life, is not being kiasu. If the child is capable to learn to read at 1 year old, then teaching him at this age is also not being kiasu.

fo12eal:

2. Having K1 lesson in 2 different place. Morning and Noon session

:shock: Shocking. I wonder how a child can survive this ?

[jedamum]

tamarind:

fo12eal:

2. Having K1 lesson in 2 different place. Morning and Noon session

:shock: Shocking. I wonder how a child can survive this ?

tamarind,
this is not uncommon. it is similar to childcare arrangement too, except that it is cheaper and that the mum/maid need to send and fetch twice a day. if you consider the workload of some pcf or kindergarten (that some of us claimed is not doing enough for academic preparations), it may not be stressful for the kid to attend both sessions.
to some parents, it sure beats leaving the kids at home with the maid.

[tamarind]

jedamum,

I thought a child that age should still be taking afternoon naps ? It will be very tiring to attend classes both in the morning and afternoon. My girl’s K1 class is 4 hours long, I cannot imagine if she does another 4 hours in the morning.

A child should have time for free play. Staying at home with the maid or grandparents do not mean they are doing nothing. They can learn a lot of things through free play.

[kaitlynangelica]

tamarind:

jedamum,

I thought a child that age should still be taking afternoon naps ? It will be very tiring to attend classes both in the morning and afternoon. My girl's K1 class is 4 hours long, I cannot imagine if she does another 4 hours in the morning.

A child should have time for free play. Staying at home with the maid or grandparents do not mean they are doing nothing. They can learn a lot of things through free play.

Hi tamarind,

I tot you mentioned you gal also does attend some enrichment class in the afternoon? I had a friend who's kids attended PCF in the morning and then attended enrichment from Mon to Fri in the afternoon. The maid ferried them by taxi.

Also, the kid tends to pick up a lot of bad grammar from the maid and sometimes the grandparents as well.

[tamarind]

kaitlynangelica,

My kids only go to Chinese enrichment class once a week on Saturday only, 1 hour 45 minutes During weekdays, they only attend nursery/kindergarten in the afternoon, no other enrichment classes.

My concern is that the child will not get any rest if she attends morning and afternoon kindergarten everyday. I think full day childcare is still relatively better, because they have nap time in the afternoon.

[kaitlynangelica]

tamarind:

kaitlynangelica,

My kids only go to Chinese enrichment class once a week on Saturday only, 1 hour 45 minutes During weekdays, they only attend nursery/kindergarten in the afternoon, no other enrichment classes.

My concern is that the child will not get any rest if she attends morning and afternoon kindergarten everyday. I think full day childcare is still relatively better, because they have nap time in the afternoon.

HI Tamarind,

You are really good! I had a quick look at your blog. You teach your kids so well! I tried teaching my k1 gal but found it difficult so I bit the bullet and sent her off to a more expensive kindergarten this year. She has improved but i wish that I could have taught her myself. Would have saved so much money. It's because of the financial factor that all these years, I have hesitated to have a 2nd kid. Really ex if you want to send them off to expensive schools like Pat's and all the enrichment classes. I know of pp who spend 1k a mth on each child and they really stretch themselves!

[tamarind]

kaitlynangelica,

My boy is the blur blur type, cannot focus in class. If I send him to class, he will also not learn much. So I have to think of ways to teach him at home. He needs many repetitions and lots of one to one attention. Other teachers will not have patience with him. I let him attend nursery only for the social interaction.

Its great that your girl can learn well in her kindergarten It is worth it if she is progressing well. I knew someone who spent more than $2000 a month on his girl, but still complaining that she does not know much.

[nat_mom]

Actually i think that there is no harm in going for enrichment classes at K1 or K2 level, as long as they enjoy the classes and doesn’t find it stressful. I strongly believe in character building, hence i made sure that my gal goes to a pre-school that emphasizes that. I want her to start learning the correct values since young as I believe it will go a long way for her. This week she is re-visiting "responsibility" in school and parents need to co-ordinate with the school as there is some homework for us to reinforce on that. As she is with my parents from Mon-Fri, i think my parents had indulged her too much by doing everything for her.When she comes home on weekends, i made sure she sticks to my house rules. Since 5, she has been vacuuming and mopping her room on Sat (although i do have a part time helper) and she keeps her toys, books after finishing etc. Academic wise, i do not need her to be the best, i believe that it’s ok as long as she has done her best. So far, she’s ok as she’s disciplined and focused.