Mandarin speaking playgroup?
- Thread starter Zee
- Start date
momo,
dunno. I hvn't tried myGym yet. But I guess the major differences between any gym and the park is :-
1) safe and clean facilities
2) meeting the same group of kids every week
3) guidance of the instructors
4) songs and massage
But it's costly and you can only go at the fixed time. Park is free and you'd go any time.
Hope the answer helps. But the best way is to take a trail class with you little one. You can decide whether gym class worth the money and time.
dunno. I hvn't tried myGym yet. But I guess the major differences between any gym and the park is :-
1) safe and clean facilities
2) meeting the same group of kids every week
3) guidance of the instructors
4) songs and massage
But it's costly and you can only go at the fixed time. Park is free and you'd go any time.
Hope the answer helps. But the best way is to take a trail class with you little one. You can decide whether gym class worth the money and time.
Hi Momo,
Arts Plus' contact is 28070208 or http://www.artsplus.com.hk/
On top of Val's comments, a faciliated environment has more age appropriate equipments. Besides that, the instructors are trained to provide activities that are appropriate for the toddler's development. The activies are often challenging and safe. Playing in a neighbourhood playground has obvious advantages too. I noticed that my daughter learnt a lot by observing older kids. Only thing is that you need to watch your daughter closely as bigger kids can a little rough at play.
My daughter went for trial sessions at Gymboree and Tumble Tots (not the centres in HK). She liked Tumble Tots. She keeps telling me to take her back to Tumble Tots and not the current gym course she is in. Too bad the Tumble Tots in HK does not hold regular classes. They say they will call me if there is a new class but it has been 3 months now and I have not heard from them.
As Val said, most places offer trial sessions. Just give them a call first.
Arts Plus' contact is 28070208 or http://www.artsplus.com.hk/
On top of Val's comments, a faciliated environment has more age appropriate equipments. Besides that, the instructors are trained to provide activities that are appropriate for the toddler's development. The activies are often challenging and safe. Playing in a neighbourhood playground has obvious advantages too. I noticed that my daughter learnt a lot by observing older kids. Only thing is that you need to watch your daughter closely as bigger kids can a little rough at play.
My daughter went for trial sessions at Gymboree and Tumble Tots (not the centres in HK). She liked Tumble Tots. She keeps telling me to take her back to Tumble Tots and not the current gym course she is in. Too bad the Tumble Tots in HK does not hold regular classes. They say they will call me if there is a new class but it has been 3 months now and I have not heard from them.
As Val said, most places offer trial sessions. Just give them a call first.
Mandarin for Munchkins
There is a school called Mandarin for Munchkins . Its different from others (and there really aren't that many good quality ones around) in that the classes are very, very exclusive -- either one-on-one or in groups of no more than 3 kids. This means that each class is designed and can be modified to suit the learning patterns of the group, their interest, concentration levels or whatever.
The best bit is that its taught in your (or the other kids' homes) AND its total immersion -- no adults present in the class -- i.e. no parent or helper (unless you sign up for their parent/child classes) so there is no possibility of reverting to the language you're famiiliar with.
My son just turned 2 and he's started on the classes. Before that I sent him to Tutortime, which didn't work out. Helpers and parents in the class with the kids continued to use English with their children (because they didn't speak Mandarin). It didn't make for a conducive learning environment. And I think the programme wasn't suitable for that age group because it followed a very rigid pattern and didn't change even if the children were screaming and crying from boredom. My son is much more receptive in this new class. As are the other two kids (one also 2, and the other 19 months). After the second class the other two year old starting to repeat the Mandarin sounds already. My son, though not attempting to speak yet, is listening in rapt attention -- HUGE for him cos he cannot, will not, and never sits still. The group only signed up for a two-month trial but we will be continuing with them.
You can contact the teacher -- Kate, to find out more. Her email is [email protected].
Hope that helps!
There is a school called Mandarin for Munchkins . Its different from others (and there really aren't that many good quality ones around) in that the classes are very, very exclusive -- either one-on-one or in groups of no more than 3 kids. This means that each class is designed and can be modified to suit the learning patterns of the group, their interest, concentration levels or whatever.
The best bit is that its taught in your (or the other kids' homes) AND its total immersion -- no adults present in the class -- i.e. no parent or helper (unless you sign up for their parent/child classes) so there is no possibility of reverting to the language you're famiiliar with.
My son just turned 2 and he's started on the classes. Before that I sent him to Tutortime, which didn't work out. Helpers and parents in the class with the kids continued to use English with their children (because they didn't speak Mandarin). It didn't make for a conducive learning environment. And I think the programme wasn't suitable for that age group because it followed a very rigid pattern and didn't change even if the children were screaming and crying from boredom. My son is much more receptive in this new class. As are the other two kids (one also 2, and the other 19 months). After the second class the other two year old starting to repeat the Mandarin sounds already. My son, though not attempting to speak yet, is listening in rapt attention -- HUGE for him cos he cannot, will not, and never sits still. The group only signed up for a two-month trial but we will be continuing with them.
You can contact the teacher -- Kate, to find out more. Her email is [email protected].
Hope that helps!
Montessori for infant (Learning Creche)
Momo
I just joined this thread and it has been very useful information as i am also struggling with the idea of including mandarin in my one year old daughter's life.
I have contacted the Montessori program (the one on Caine Rd right?). Is that the one your child goes to? How do you like it? they also have it bi-lingual mandarin/english for 2 1/2 year olds, right?
Momo
I just joined this thread and it has been very useful information as i am also struggling with the idea of including mandarin in my one year old daughter's life.
I have contacted the Montessori program (the one on Caine Rd right?). Is that the one your child goes to? How do you like it? they also have it bi-lingual mandarin/english for 2 1/2 year olds, right?
My son attends the Mandarin Stepping Stones at Montessori Repulse Bay (I think it is run by the same group at Caine Road) for 2 hours twice a week. Stepping Stones are for 2.5 year old. I have been speaking 100% Mandarin to my son since birth and he now speaks to me in Madarin only and English to my non-Chinese husband. The reason why I enrolled him with the Mandarin Stepping Stones is because I want him to get Mandarin exposure as much as possible because I believe once he starts school Mandarin will lapse behind as English will undoubtedly take over as the main communication language.
The YWCA is about to start a new Mandarin playgroup. It's for 2-3 year olds, Tuesdays from 9.30am-10.30am. 8 sessions cost $1060. It's instructed by the same school mentioned by lucindak in an earlier post. First lesson begins next week (7 Sep-26 Oct). Children should be accompanied by a parent or helper. For more info call 3476 1340 or log on to http://esmd.ywca.org.hk The classes are listed under the "You and Yours" category. Hope this helps.
Lorna
Lorna