[Bukit Batok/Chua Chu Kang/Yew Tee] Preschools

[blaqueroses]

There is a new school coming up in Bukit Batok. Its call The Moral Childcare Ctr. They are from Viking Road. Thinking of putting my daughter there cause it is so convenient for me. So far i have read good reviews about them.

[buds]

carolsoh:

Dear all,


Any of you have tried or now with Wharton Junior Childcare? How the programme & the teacher?

Hope to get advice from you all.

Thanks
Carol

Hi carolsoh,

Have you gone down to visit them?
I went around recce-in early within
Bukit Panjang, Teck Whye, Bt Batok,
CCK, Yew Tee and Bt Timah cos i'm
from the west. I suppose you are too.

I dunno if this helps.. My visit to
Wharton was a few years back
when my younger girl was 8 mths old.
Ya, i very kiasu so i start recce early
in order to have more choices..

Wharton is located under the stadium
at CCK. A little dim for me upon entry.
Space is clean and learning areas quite
defined. Children having lunch break
were all independent, none crying but
none smiling nor talking either... its like
a really quiet lunch with friends. Teachers
were attentive to watch out for 2nd helping
requests from any students or spillage.
Food i heard, they simply observe no pork
no lard. Mostly Chinese children i saw, not
many from other races. Only spoke to the
administrator so cannot be a judge on the
teaching strength - didn't get to see a class
in session.

Administrator brought us in to a special room
with a multimedia board used as a learning
tool if i'm not mistaken leased from the creative
people at Town for Kids. It is an interactive
learning board, very visual - teachers and kids
can use a magnetic marker to point to right
answers for phonics and maths questions and
will receive compliments from the prgm software.
I liked that. The prgm designed to even work with
music and movement with cartoon characters
dancing or exercising and children will follow the
actions.

The entire space is air-conditioned. There seemed
like a lot of children to a small space. Though not
cluttered some may find it claustrophobic especially
for parents who are more inclined to big wide space
kinda set up. They have their own playground..
Their set up is childcare and last i asked they
do not offer flexi programme.

Forgot abt the fees already but if you're interested
you can call them up to make appointment to see
the place. Bring your child along. It is helpful to
receive feedback here but ultimately you have to
like the place you selected too, and being there
gives you the opportunity to assess the environment,
the teaching staff, safety measures, curriculum and
menu plus not forgetting the transport arrangements.

Not sure if you were looking for childcare or enrichment
programme or kindergarten and not sure of your child's
age either... so i hope this brief commentary on the plc
from sometime back can give you a rough idea of the
place anyways..

Cheerios.

[buds]

carolsoh:

Dear buds,


Thanks for your update, it's really help. Actually i'm looking at childcare for fullday. My child now is with Kinderland N1, overall is quite good but it's just that they don't have phonics at N1. They started at N2. As i know wharton Jr have phonics since N1. Seen quite good.

You're most welcome, hope it didn't come too late as i didn't keep up
with this thread in a while until it came up again today. :oops:

carolsoh:

You didn't mentioned that all kids can't talk at their breakfast, lunch...etc then my child can't make it already co's he like to talk alot.

Once again, thanks for your info, appreciated.

Cheers,
Carol

Hahaahaaa! I am not sure if the kiddies weren't allowed to speak at all
(by the teachers)... but it sure was an awfully quiet and orderly lunch
and we're talking small kiddies form Playgroup to K2 you know... So
mebbe i was too sensitive, but that was my honest observation for u.

Your child can't make it part sure tickled me lah!

Cheerios to you!
:celebrate:

[buds]

carolsoh:

Dear Buds,


Ya :lol: , your updates really helps co's i also don't like dim centre co's it give people a low-spirited feeling. But i just like their phonics session. Maybe just stick to Kinderland 1st.

Actually from your view, for a 3 year old child what they should know. I mean by end of the year is it a must that they should know full set of A-Z, how to count 1-10 or 30, hold the pencil, phonics etc. Sorry for been asking you so many question :oops:

Cheers,
Carol

Heyya carolsoh,

No worries on the questions. I'm cool with it.
We're all here for sharing, aye.

3-year old still quite young, if pincer-grip (for holding pencil)
ie. thumb, pointer, tall man - mebbe can for jumbo crayons
and pencils. If fine motor of child is more advance can do with
usual sized pencils, crayons and other tools for colouring, writing
or painting.

Yes, good if the school and home involvement is covering the
numbers from 1 to 20 at least - recognition of quantity and the
written form and also the recognition of letter a-z (small caps
mastery first preferably) but aniwaes, in N2 (4-yrs old) they
will still revise the same during the first half of the year.

As for Phonics - Kinderland doesn't cover that?
How long has your child been there, and if he's
there for a few mths and happy stay put first lor
and see how the curriculum goes. Talk to the
teacher and supervisor on your doubts k. Always
good to hear from the horse's mouth and not
hearsay. More concrete and will ease your doubts.

Yes, i think dim can be cosy with more yellow lights.
But dim as in eye-sore is kinda a dampening environment.
Mebbe that time of my visit it was lunch time - they
may be exercising \"bill-control\" ie. no need to on so
many lights, can see food and not choke on any fish
bone should be ok liao. Hehehehee..

[buds]

Heyya carolsoh,


From your observations, then i think Kinderland is doing fine.
In 4-mths thats an acheivement on its own being in N1... No
separation anxiety, library visit initiatives (fantastic!) and
already quite a few field trips under your child's belt! Not
bad..

I personally prefer children to learn the letters of the alphabet
first and then followed by phonemic awareness as well... similar
to Kinderland's intent. Better for pre-writing ability and yes also
less confusing.

Town for Kids is good and they have creative methods too plus
the fun and interactive multimedia board approach. But since
your child is happy since the 4mths there, give Kinderland a
chance to show how your child can grow with them and their
curriculum unless other uncomfortable issues arise. And plus
poor thing grandma may be inconvenienced if having to fetch
your child at another centre further up than the current centre.

Just my opinions, decision still yours to make.
No harm visiting Town for Kids for recce sake.
If you need to make the switch eventually, then
by N2 or K1 your child should be older enuf not
to worry abt taking school transport and giving
grandma a break..

Cheerios.
:celebrate:

[buds]

Sorry, forgot to mention...

my kiddies are 7 and 5 now,
going on 8 and 6 by the end
of the year..

[buds]

Heyya carolsoh,


Yes, now si-nang leow (easy already)…
But i still had to undergo the growing
stages from bb until today mah… so i
can understand the struggles of SAHM,
FTWM and PTWM cos i’ve tried each
designation in different phases of my
motherhood.

They both attended kindergarten and
for a very short time in MMI childcare.
But no good experiences to share from
that one so i’ll just stop here. Yes, now
elder girl in P2 and younger in K2.

Looking forward to next year - both in
Primary school and same session…
woohoo… mebbe can go back to work
for a bit, see how…

My area of residence is in the west, yes.
That’s all i can say… Keep some things
mysterious so i won’t be recognised in
my bikini at any of the western pools by
members of KiasuParents. Kekekekeh…

Regards,
Mystery Lady [Hahaa!]

[buds]

Nope, not considering..

Not at all. But if God
grants us with one,
we'll still receive with
open arms.

Cheerios.

:celebrate:

[sunny]

carolsoh:

Dear all,


Any of your child at Sunny Grove or have view their centre before? Any comments on this centre.

Cheers

is sunny grove at limbang? if yes, i went there before to research some time back.

[sunny]

carolsoh:

Hi sunny,


Yes, it's at Lim Bang. How do you feel of the centre? Like their programme, enviroment, teacher...etc.

Cheers,
Carol

i went there abt 1 yr+ ago. the centre is non-air con and it's beside the foodcourt. i didn't ask much about their programme, just know that they used a set of reader, i think it's cambridge and end of the day, the books will be given to the student.

the place is big but with lots of kids, this makes the whole place 'cramp'. when i stepped into the centre, i saw a teacher 'lecturing' the students. when i asked the principal for her view on montessori style of teaching... her reply was like, montessori style was just to teach the students how to wipe the table. :faint:

my visit was about 15 minutes only but that made me decide not to sign my kids up. just my view. no harm dropping by the centre 'cos different ppl sees things differently and expectation is different.