My son’s school is using Letterland Phonic. Now, he is in K1 and I would like to send him for additional phonic lesson. I cannot decide between TumbleTots (which use Letterland) and Zoo-Phonics.


Does any parent have some experience to share? Thank you.

Hi, does any parents have comments about TumbleTots @ Tampines? They use Letterland Phonics.


My son is using Letterland Phonics in his child care centre. Will there be any problems if I send him to a enrichment school which uses another kind of phonics?

My son is in one of LV childcare centre in the east. We are charged $1000 before subsidy. On top of that, GST is payable. We also top-up additional fees for Chinese enrichment and music. So, after the additional fees, it cost me around $930 monthly, even with govt subsidy.


I would says that the price is high compare to other childcare centre in my neighbourhood. I always get heart-ache whenever I see the GIRO deduction. However, I still have to say that it is vaue for $$$.

Recently, during my search for childcare centre for my younger daughter, I visited nearly 10 childcare centre in search for more economical type. I shall not name the childcare in this postin, else I be sue. When I visit the centre, I ask my maid to look around for TV and the toilet facilities, while I speak to the teacher.

As I visit the centre AAA during lunch time, I was shocked to see a teacher sweeping the floor after the children had their lunch. Is it a norm for teacher to do this? I thought it should be done by the cleaner Auntie.

While waiting to get enrolment form from centre BBB, I was shocked to see a young girl, around the age of early 20, leaving and children saying goodbye teacher to her. Why am I shock? Cos she was in T-shirt and a short. I thought she would have carry herself better by wearing T-short and pant.

Another centre CCC, which is just few block away, I have been calling the Principal for 3 morning. But I could not find her in the centre. I would not put my child in a centre whereby the principal is always not contactable. What happen if I want to give feedback abt the teacher?

Another centre DDD, I just pop by on Saturday without appt. Guess what I see? I saw a small group of children and also 1 man and 3 woman in their 50s in the centre, sitting and chit-chatting. I did not ask the teacher who they are, but I just feel uncomfortable leaving my child in a centre whereby outsiders can sit inside. Or does childcare centre nowadays employ male teachers?

Some people may think that I am too fussy, too paranoid. But I want my children to be in safe hand. So, I am still hesitating which centre to choose.

In LV, the teacher who distribute food to children will always put on glove. There is no TV for children to watch every morning and evening. Thus, their time is spend playing toys in the morning and exercising in the evening. The centre also serve bread (with strawberry jam, peanut butter) around 5.45pm for those who is still waiting for pick-up by parent. When the teacher is going on leave, she will always send the parent an email informing us and telling us who is taking over for the day. I feel happy to see my son enjoying his time in the centre, despite the high cost.

Hopefully, my children will appreciate my effort when they grow up.

My son is turning 4year-old in 2 months time. I think he is more of ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) than ADHD. I am concern that he is unable to sit down to read and write for more than 15mins.


He is currently in childcare centre with class of abt 10 children. But teacher feedback that he is unable to sit down and listen to lesson and is more suitable for small class environment. I think we need to prepare him for class of 30 children which is very common in Primary 1. Thus, I have got a referral letter from polyclinic to see child specialist at KKH. But the appt date is nearly 5months away.

My family notice that if we do not give my son sweet food, the problem seems to improve. Thus, we try not to give sweets at all. Yakult has become a luxury item for him as it is given only if he can do his writing.

I notice that if when I coach him on a 1-to-1 basis, without my younger daughter disturbing us, he can in fact read aloud for about 2 hrs with me. Thus, I am considering changing him from childcare to 3 hrs kindergarten and spending the rest of the time using personal coaching.

But right now, I am still a FTWM, so a lot of plan need to shelf aside until my hubby is able to support the whole family.

Personally, I feel that my son condition is still quite mild, and if medical intervention or help is render early, I believe he should be alright by the time he start his Primary 1.

At least, that is what I am hoping to see by the time he start his Primary education.

Hi, I am also thinking of working part-time. Currently, I am in the process of discussing with my boss abt converting to part-time.


My job as an accountant require me to use computer fm 8 to 6 (Mon-Fri). Plus, I have to drive my 2 kids to/from childcare every day. Though, I am still consider quite fortunate that I have a maid to do all housework, I find myself too tired to coach my children every day. Does any mummies out there experiencing the same? I wish I have the energy to teach them to do some writing and reading for an hour every day. However, most of the time, due to my tiredness, I just leave them to watch TV and play on their own, under the supervision of my maid.

I wish to convert to part-time job so that I can rest in the afternoon and reserve some energy to coach the children in the evening. Or, can anyone recommend some energy boosting food to perk up energy?

Hi Angela, really envy you have MIL willing to take up the challenge of staying at home full-time to look after your kids. My mom prefer to work and my MIL prefer to play with kids weekly, thus I have no choice but to engage a maid. Now, my elder boy is turning 4yr old soon and my daughter just turn 18mths. I put both in child care as soon as they turn 18mths. By doing this, it keep both parents happy and also reduce our reliance on maid.

Before my daughter went for childcare, I was at my maid’s mercy because we don’t live with our parent. Now that my daughter is in childcare, my maid has become very obedient cos she know we are no longer reliance on her.
If you can, try to put your elder child in playgroup or childcare and have your MIL in charge of picking her. Especially when you have more than 1 kids, you will find parent’s help very useful.

I am think of getting a part-time helper to help me with my 2kids from 6pm till 9pm. Calculating 20working days multiply by 3hrs at $10 per hr, it work out to be $600. Which is only slightly lesser than having a maid.


But getting a new maid and letting her stay at home, doing house work in the morning and doing nothing in the afternoon, except preparing dinner, I wonder if she will be too free and start to think "too much".

I am a working mum with 2 kids, 18mths and 3-1/2yrs. I am thinking of releasing my maid early due to her attitudes, though she had worked with me for 3yr. But I am worried about how to cope without her.


My 2kids are now in full-day care. But my hubby always work late so he is hardly at home to help.

[Moderator's note: Topics merged.]


Hi, does anyone has any comments/experience to share about childcare centre in Tampines? My daughter has just reached 18months and I am planning to put her in a childcare near our place in Tampines. I wondering if PCF or Salvation Army is good?