FantasyLandDreams:

Hi-5 launches 1st preschool in Singapore:

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/e ... -singapore

MerlionInGermany:

[Moderator's note: Topics merged.]


Hi,

What's the difference between childcare ceters, preschools, and kindergartens? Are they generally the same thing known by different names?

I read the MCYS regulates the childcare centers and MOE regulates the kindergartens. But one can also attend kindergarten in a childcare center?

So for example, for a 4-yr-old who is in Nursery in a childcare center, and a 4-yr-old who is in Nursery in a preschool....do they do the same things?

Thanks.

lyra:

Hi! Maybe u can consider sending ur child to half day CC and then u can send her to enrichment courses either in afternoons or weekends? I guess for a young child, he or she may not need too many enrichment programmes yet. I sent my son to half day cc and he's learning quite a lot there, especially the life skills like eating on his own, washing hands, etc. But then I'm a SAHM mom so I already taught him a lot before he was sent in, and in the afternoons, he get a lot of \"enrichment\" at home too as we do colouring, singing, reading, etc. You can also spare a few hours at night to do these activities at home with your child. Its almost like enrichment programme already... Enrichment programmes at this age is also for about 1 hr and its mostly parent accompanied.

I think a childcare/preschool has to be an environment where teachers are caring and loving. There was once I brought my son (18 month old) to look at a childcare centre nearby our house. The teacher seems to be shouting instructions and having a stern expression when teaching chinese. It doesn't look enjoyable at all. I had wanted to let my son see older kids learning so that he will feel excited about going to school but after he saw the teacher, he told me \"No no no\" when I asked him if he wants to go to school. I saw the same teacher bringing kids out to playground and she's shouting and scolding most of the time. Also, there's only one teacher to about a class of 15+ kindergarten kids. No assistants to help look out for the kids. So I decided this childcare is out of my consideration although its really at a convenient location for me.

I enrolled my son in another childcare when he's 20month old. I peep in many times, without my son noticing and I saw that the teachers are caring, giving hugs and guiding the children although the number of children in the centre is a lot, and can seem chaotic at times when new children join the centre and are crying for their mummies. There is one teacher whom I saw scolding a boy who likes to throw tantrums but otherwise, there are no serious scoldings, and I saw the teachers trying to pacify the boy and guide him although he's not cooperative. Another good point is that the centre is new so its clean and neat, and the toys and books are new. Unfortunately, they still do have incidences of HFMD. I guess this is unavoidable. I put my son in for half day only, so I guess he won't get it so easily since he did not sleep there, and he don't have the habit of putting objects into his mouth.

I chose a childcare for half day because I couldn't find an enrichment centre or playgroup that can take in drop off children for few hours nearby. I guess a childcare for 4 hr is similar. My husband also wants to let our son learn to be independent, to eat on his own, and be away from mummy for a few hours without fussing. I'm SAHM expecting a second baby soon, so actually this is a better choice because when I bring my son home in the afternoon, he's already fed, showered and ready to sleep soon. One good thing about the centre is that they make sure he eats and drinks water regularly. He enjoys the food there.

DaddyCircle:

After reading so many posts in this forum and checking out on the information in the respective centers' website ... I am starting to get quite confused and worried over my 9month old DD enrolment .... :scared:


If I wanted my DD to start \"schooling\" at 18months, the option should be Playgroup in Childcare (half-day) where $150 can be claimed. But the worry and horror of risking my DD to frequent illnesses and risk of HFMD made us guilty and indecisive over it. Its just too expensive and inconvenient for us to bring her to those expensive playgroups scheduled in those commerical centers ... *sigh*

Should we decide to keep her at home till 3yo, we will still need to send her to either a Kindergarten (3hr) or CC (half-day). In this case, we have to accept the fact that she will need to face risks of frequent illnesses and HFMD (bobian liao) ... the question is then focus on the enrichment classes issue for my DD. Kindergarten 3hr dont include enrichment and we will need to bring her to outside centers for these classes as compared to enrichment classes incorporated into CC (half-day) in same venue. But the cost of CC are currently very expensive (more than Kindergarten fee) even though enrichment class fees for both are quite same. So end of the day, CDA account will dry up very fast and monthly (term) school fees will become very taxing ... :scared:

No wonder so many Singaporeans are not having babies .... its really getting very very expensive lately .... :moneyflies:

JJ_T:

:love:


anyone registering kids into enrichment programmes, as in shichida, little neuro tree etc..

have just enrol my kid into shichida but the waiting list was long needs to wait till oct then can join.

anyone wana share their experience with me

WanYee:

For first time parents, it is certainly not easy deciding on an appropriate school for your little one, with the variety of choices available in the market. How we made the decision on where to send our 18-month boy, was based on our needs.


1. We are both working parents - we needed to make sure that our boy is well-taken care of in the day hence we chose a preschool/childcare centre, which operates from 7am-7pm. On days that my parents-in-laws can pick up my child earlier, it's a bonus coz my boy would get home earlier at 4pm. Other days, he goes home when we knock off.

2. We wanted a school with good curriculum - of course, the school curriculum has to cater to our children's development stages and eventually prepare them for Primary School. Taking a look at the type of children's work displayed in school for all levels, it will give a good idea on the level the children are at. I must say, we were reasonably impressed by the works of the children in my boy's school - from the English 'essays', Chinese 'essays' to the creative artwork...at K2 level, some children can write very well in their 1-2 paragraph 'essays'! Although my boy is still in the Playgroup class (for 18mths - 2years), he has been learning a lot from both his English and Chinese teachers and I'm sure he will learn more in time to come.

In my son's school, enrichment programs are also included, like gym classes, cooking sessions, creativity & theatrical strategies... The good thing is, we didn't need to pay additional fees for these programs. I know there are schools where enrichment programs are payable separately, which will add on significantly to the school fees. For us, having the enrichment programs included meant that our son will be exposed to different varieties of programs, without paying more. It's evident that he likes his gym classes and cooking sessions coz he would repeat the actions at home from time to time.

Also, we wanted to make sure we chose a school which did not use TV during the 'free' time to occupy our child. Even if it's educational program, we think TV time can be done at home with supervision and not in school where they are to interact with their peers. TV is no-no in our son's school.

3. We wanted a school which can instill good habits and values to our child - since our boy has started school, he's learnt some good stuff like weaning off his pacifier, learning how to eat and share his toys and showing affection to his friends. Some of his friends have also started toilet-training, which is the next thing I want start my boy on. Of course, there are times when children of this age misbehave...like my boy hit his friends and bit them, the teachers made sure he stops his aggressive behaviour and apologise to his friends for causing pain to them. I know he remembers his teachers' words coz he will repeat them at home.

4. We wanted a school with good, clean environment and a vibrant atmosphere - visiting the school before enrolling your child is always a good way to assess things like how the children behave, what is the children sleeping on (I personally prefer the mesh cots that my son's centre uses), the kind of toys used in class, cleanliness of classrooms/toilets etc. I liked what I saw in my son's school - the children were very happy, chirpy and polite - which I believe,says a lot about the school's culture.


After weighing various considerations, we sent our son to MindChamps PreSchool. As they are also under MCYS, we could enjoy childcare subsidy and use the CDA account for deductions. Overall, we are rather happy with our choice.