How much is enough?

[Obiwan]

Very interesting. I am so clueless (at the same time afraid that I'll miss any key dates for enrolment), don't think I had to go through anything like these when I was a kid. I also don't think I could speak anything other than English at that age.

My bub is really young (just 9 weeks tom ), and friends are asking us to put her on waitlist for schools. I haven't looked into it yet to be honest, but is kinda bugging me at the back of my mind. I probably should have it sorted out before I go back to work...

 

[joyofliving]

Can someone please tell me which are the kindergartens which have interviews for a 2 or 3 year old? Or if your child has attended interviews for any of these kindergartens? Are the schools for which interviews held mostly chinese, like Victoria Kindergarten or do other kindergartens also have interviews?
Also how can I find out I live in the the zone for a particular ESF? For instance for ESF in Sheung Wan (To be moved to Stubbs Road next year) would entire HK island would be one zone? That would mean lots of competition and less chances of a child getting in, isnt it? And a child living in Clear water bay or Tsing Yi have more chance of getting admitted? You could PM me if you wish. Many thanks

 

[Obiwan]

Sorry one more question.

My baby was born in Aug 2009, what are the key dates I should remember for schools? Thanks a lot!

 

[reei]

obiwan, your baby born in aug 2009, then you can attend open days at october 2010, and october 2011. then you have to start checking in august 2011, when the forms will be given out and start applying.
though you can only apply 1 year before she goes to k1, i went to open days also 2 years before, because usually all have open days in october, so some dates clashes.. and miss out on some open days,, and if the ones you went to in oct 2010 is not what you like, you can still choose and see in oct 2011.. haha
confusing?

 

[Obiwan]

Thanks reei! Confusing indeed I had to draw a time line haha.

Basically to ensure my kid can attend K1 when age 3 (Sep 2012), I have to start the ball rolling in Oct 2011, for interview (if any) in Dec 2011.

And before that playgroups & nursery are optional and more flexible.

Thank you so much for helping me.

 

[lottieclee]

I have a strong believe that children should be allowed to be children too.

My work is flexible and I am lucky to be able to spend a lot of time with my son. I sent him to playgroup at 10 months, but I took him along when I took the school tour and he wanted to follow all the nursey kids around at the time. I let him go 2 half days a week, so he could play with other children.

When it came to nursery, I originally planned for 3 1/2 days a week, but his school terminated that program and only offered 5 1/2 days this year. Reluctantly, I have him go every morning and he makes friends and attend classes alone. Of course, I had another chose to switch to another nursery, but we decided to keep Gab in the same place because he was familiar with the environment and teachers. He loves it now.

 

[aussiegal]

20 months is so young. My 2 and a half year old only goes 2 mornings a week 8.30-11. He started when he was 2.

I really believe children need 1) to socialise so school is great for that but 2) to learn to entertain themselves, which is where home time comes in. I feel if you put them in an environment where they are told what to do, when to do it, how to do it they will come to need that all the time. Kids need loads of free play.

So i would say just twice a week for at least a few months then you could go up to 3 times. Our 3 and a half year old goes 4 times a week despite the pressure the school puts on us to go 5. What's the point? Does he really need 5 times a week? I work from home, we have a good helper, he can fun with us or god forbid, he can entertain himself with his toys. I always think about what my children will tell their friends when they are older- 'yeah well we were in school 5 days a week from the age of 2...' What is quite normal in HK is so abnormal in most other places in the world. Most people wouldn't understand that it's simply how things are here.

 

[carang]

i think it also depends on how many kids you have.

i have two and they play together ALL the time. they can easily entertain themselves for hours on end. BUT there are no other children in our village during the day, so the only way they get to learn how to play with other children is by going to school or playgroups.

 

[southside852]

when you say "playroups" do you mean ones that are informally formed by mom's or more structured ones where you pay for a program? For my son, he did:

6-12 months: playgroups in our blding, Panda Junction, Music Together

12 months - 18 months: Tutor Time once a week, Kindermusik, Music Together, playgroups with friends that were nanny run and mommy run

18-24 months: Tutor Time twice a week, Gymboree, playgroups, Socatots

There are tons of of classes for younger children (6 months+) - most would be in Central though.