Christian Childcare in Tampines

[Suz855]

Blurrymum:

Hi any good christian childcare centre in Tampines?

YMCA cc at Blk 855, some of the teachers that taught dd when she was 2, are still there.

Ps, my dd is 11 this year.

[Notksmum]

My boy going Kiddyark PN class this Friday. Tho kiddyark the facilities are not that fanstastic but I am hoping he will enjoy school.


Also they just changed a new Centre Director.

[Vic2009]

Hi Notksmum


Will you place your son for full day in Kiddy Ark?

[Notksmum]

Vic 2009,


He just started on 1 Nov. This is my feedback so far. There are 2 teachers for N2 level. They are not bad. My experience with Teacher Gillian (N1 teacher) and Teacher Ai Fen (N2 teacher) is ok. Teacher Ai Fen is quite caring.

For PN, last week they had 2 to 13 kiddoes which is quite bad. Even though MCYS says 1:8. But I think 2 to handle 16 is too much for PN level. Teacher Lena can handle the kids quite ok. Last week they had a new teacher who is not experienced so they got Teacher Gillian to help out and the Teacher Poh Mei. On day 2, they got another church volunteer to come help the PN class. Too bad my boy joined in Nov, he was suppose to start in Jan so that the cohort will be smaller when some of the kids graduated to N1. But too bad we had to start him 2 mths early.

Their curriculum goes like this:
8am - 8.30am : Breakfast (usually the older kids will help serve the younger ones and there are some Pri school kids who are at the student care section also help out).
8.30am : Assembly. They will sing National Anthem followed by Christian songs.
9.00am : Go class for lesson. [English or Chinese]
10.30 : Outdoor Play (playground for older kids) [This depends but PN class will go for nature walk and return at 11]
11 : Shower time [staggered shower times]
11.30: Lunch
12: wash hands etc
1 - 3pm : Nap
3-4.30pm: Lesson [English or Chinese]
then around 5.30 gather at assemby (music room) either they sing songs (nowadays they practice for their concert) or read books or watch movie and wait for parents to pick up.

They just had a new principal Sharon Chiam. She is quite ok. She told me she hired a new teacher for PN and indeed the teacher turned up for work today at PN. So I am relieved. Another thing is i noticed the teachers are pretty honest. In PN class, there was a boy who was bitten by his classmate (a girl) and the teachers truthfully told his parent when she came to pick him up. At least they do not try to cover up. that's the consolation.

Boy started having severe separation anxiety so my plan is to start 1/2 day then gradually ease him in to full day. For N2, I think at their age, quite ok to go for full day.

Hope this helps. The facilities are not great but I think the teachers are generally responsible and ok.

[Blurrymum]

Thanks all for the reply.! Was so busy can only reply now…zzz. yes, Vic2009 i have heard about Trinity Holy Church, heard was good too. My girl is 10mths old now, intend to put her during 18mth, wonder if there are still vacancy? Think i need to call up. Trinity is a catholic church if am not wrong, does anyone know what is the different between a catholic and christian preschool? Kiddy Ark Childcare Centre is a christian school?

[Blurrymum]

Pardon me, how mummies/daddies out there find christian school? i went to MCYS website to search for the childcare centre, but all the school there are not christian school. BTW, am not a christian myself too. keke. Is there any link or website that have all the list of christian childcare/preschool?

[Notksmum]

hi blurrymum, kiddyark is under the diocese of singapore. http://www.anglican.org.sg/index.php/archives/category/anglican_kindergarten_and_childcare_centers

Its Anglican. Hope this helps.

[Blurrymum]

Oh dear!! Am really a blurrymum! Trinity Holy Church only start from 3 years old…-_-…oh dear…haha.

[Blurrymum]

Hi Notksmum, Thanks for the link. Seems like there are only a few christian childcare in tampines.:( How is your boy with Kiddyark so far? Saw your schedule earlier, it seems like they do not have much activities but alot of music session?

[Notksmum]

hi blurrymum, yes. The curriculum is not that great but I wanted a chidlcare near home with experienced caregivers. At their age, I wasn’t looking for excellence in academia, all I wanted was more for my child to play. I am not sure if they will change the curriculum with the new principal on board. I am also not sure its because its near their "graduation concert day" so there are loads of practice for the concert song.


My son has severe separation anxiety but I guess all kids go thru that. Day 1 and 2 I accompanied him so he was ok. But come day 3, it was bad. He screamed and cried and did not eat a morsel of food since AM milk feed that I gave him before school. So I would suggest, to ease your child in by accompanying for 3 days then 1/2 day for 2 weeks for adjustment. that’s what the teachers advised me. Now, I get my mum to pick DS up at 3pm (after naptime cos mum cannot come before that time). And I noticed that if his dad sends him, he tends to be more "kuai", ah well, my son does bully me. So now i get hubby to send (see no evil, hear no evil so heart not so painful)

DS is most happy during the outdoor/nature walk segment. We suspect he hates being confined to space (which is why he refused to stay in his playyard to play and will protest big time at home). One thing is that DS has grown v attached to Teacher Gillian because she carried him and comforted him from day 2 onwards. So i presume he will gradually get used to the teachers and friends and env soon (I HOPE!). On Day 4, he actually stretched out to her at the door and asked her to carry while still crying when hubby left.

I am aware that the academia is not v strong at kiddyark. I do acknowledge that. For the amt I am paying with subsidy I guess I can’t complain much plus it is really convenient (just next block from mine).

btw, I am also not christian so pls note that kiddyark does teach the kids to say praise during meal times and sing bible songs. If you are ok with that then its fine.