IS IT COMPULSORY TO ATTEND KINDERGARTENS BEFORE P1 ADMISSION

[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.

[Parent1]

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.

Thanks a lot for your advice and sharing your experience.

[buds]

Parent1:

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

Just like how schellen said... reali depends on what you want your child to
achieve during her preschool years... there is no doubt that the MMI
syllabus prepares children for primary and its education encompasses
other areas that normal pre-schools may not go deeply into for example,
softskills, geography but you have to zoom in to the individual centre of
choice to observe the centre enviroment, attitudes of the staff and
and to talk to the manager to gauge the kind of rapport she has with
parents. For pre-schools with a big household name, the franchisees
can be quite outta the loop and may manage differently than the main
branches.

You should also look up the history of the methodology which is aplenty
on the web to understand how and what the children will be taught in the
centres. Take up a trial lesson and see for yourself how your child's future
teacher engages the children in her class. If you wish to participate in our
past and recent discussions with regards to Montessori, you may wanna
read up http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=906.

PS : Another thing too... appreciate if you can report your presence at
the Newbies thread http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewforum.php?f=28 We wanna know more about you! Click
\"New Topic\" and post a brief intro of yourself, k.

Looking forward to it, Parent1.

[schellen]

Parent1:

Thanks a lot for your advice and sharing your experience.

You're welcome! ^_^

[Parent1]

buds:

Parent1:

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

Just like how schellen said... reali depends on what you want your child to
achieve during her preschool years...

I am grateful for your kind & generous advice. This must be one of the best website in the Lion city. It's good to see so many concerned & experienced parents & grandparents come together to share their hard-earned insights from the paper chase & rat race.

Do kids who have gone thru' considerable hardship and deprivation in their life tend to take their learning process more seriously & are more resourceful & independent than their peers who have had a sheltered life?
I admire those kids who can juggle their studies & house work, while their bei-du mama slog as cleaners in the hotels or operators in the factories.

Many parents, like me, want to let their kids enjoy what we didn't have as kids: plenty of toys & books, branded clothes & shoes, mobile phone from primary school, eat out at good restaurants, maid, door-to-door fetching, tuition on any tough subjects up to A level. Over-compensating?

[cnimed]

Parent1:

Many parents, like me, want to let their kids enjoy what we didn't have as kids: plenty of toys & books, branded clothes & shoes, mobile phone from primary school, eat out at good restaurants, maid, door-to-door fetching, tuition on any tough subjects up to A level. Over-compensating?

Hmm, I must say I don't feel as though I lacked anything as a child even though we lived the lives of the typical HDB heartlander. I thought no tuition is happiness?! :? My children have no branded clothes, toys/books are selective and many from library, and they take public transport with me. I don't feel sorry for them at all.