IS IT COMPULSORY TO ATTEND KINDERGARTENS BEFORE P1 ADMISSION

[Rosmary]

Hi,


Anyone can advise me on the above issues ? Is it compulsory to attend K2 before admission to Primary one ?

[schellen]

No, it is not. According to MOE, compulsory education starts from above 6 to less than 15 years.


Basically, it just means that the child must attend P1 to about Sec 3.

However, unless you have a very good reason or alternative like home schooling, it is best to enroll the child in a kindergarten or childcare centre that has a K1/K2 class. This is because kindy prepares the child for primary school. Not just academically but also socially and emotionally. The child learns exactly what is required for the foundation years in primary school, adapts to the routine/timetable, picks up the do’s and don’t’s of behaviour in class and school and learns to make friends.

If the child misses out on this, it will be very tough for him/her to adapt and cope with primary school syllabus and environment. He/She may stand out and this may affect his/her psychological well-being even more. This may also affect his/her social status.

So even if the child is academically prepared for school, measures must be carried out to ensure that he/she can fit into the school’s setting. This is what kindy and childcare can do.

[smurf]

dun think it’s compulsory, but it’s good to attend, unless there is someone who can homeschool the child.and also, the child needs to learn how to socialise too.kindy provide the environment, social and acedemic.


if dun attend, the parent or whoever is taking care of the child needs to be very hardworking.

When I was in P1, one of my classmates, heard that she didn’t attend kindy, most of us already knew how to count and write alphabets, but she didn’t seem to know all that and I often saw her very ‘blur’.

[schellen]

I think back when we were kids, not attending kindy was still okay since teachers were expecting this and ready to teach us from scratch. Now, this is no longer the case. P1 goes at a very fast pace, even for ordinary neighbourhood schools, so the child will be lost and may even feel demoralised and give up. P1 will start with what they covered in kindy but this "easing in" part will be over very soon, and the "new stuff" will come in.


Also, back then, children played a lot and so social skills would’ve been honed along the way. Nowadays, children play less and with fewer people and/or fewer children so the opportunity to practise and polish such skills is lesser.

[smurf]

No leh…i remember at that time, that little gal was like secluded from us. while we were playing, she was very quiet. but i agreed on the academic part, it wasn’t as stressful as now.

[mummydearest]

yes i think socialisation is an important point that homeschooling may not be adequate in providing unless u have like 12 kids??


my sis in law used to stay in australia and her 3yr old child (only child) was so shy and tempermental when she first come to sg…cos she only hang out with mommy and some friends…

so my sil enrolled her in camps for holidays …she get to meet other kids and play…it’s not the academic camps type just skate camp …and also
now she’s attending daycare and have friends…she speaks more and is more confident…so i believe ur kid must really socialise one…helps in their learning process

[Parent1]

Is it worthwhile to pay for my kids to attend branded kindy, eg modern montessori international?

[schellen]

smurf:

No leh...i remember at that time, that little gal was like secluded from us. while we were playing, she was very quiet. but i agreed on the academic part, it wasn't as stressful as now.

Is it? Maybe she's the introverted kind or she didn't play with many children. Cos I played with a lot of children and everywhere in and around the blocks my aunt and grandma stayed in when I was in preschool.

[smurf]

i dunno, i only know she didn’t attend kindy.

[schellen]

Parent1:

Is it worthwhile to pay for my kids to attend branded kindy, eg modern montessori international?

This will depend on you. If you think it is worthwhile, you will pay. If you think no, then you won't.

My DD attended kindy in 2 different childcare centres. They weren't branded and had no other branches or franchises. I felt that what was more important for her was a caring environment that developed her social and emotional skills among children and teachers. Academics-wise, I can handle but since she is an only child and the only grandchild, opportunities to be with other children when with family are rare or nil.

Of course, this is only my POV so do ask around and read around this forum to find out more. It also helps if you know what you want your child to achieve at the end of kindy and what kind of pri sch you're aiming for. Also factor in your child's abilities and potential.