Most desired school for 2yr old?

[Gabriel ma]

mosmom,

That's very true in HK. We get pressures from our friends, our work peers when we talk about which KG that our kids going to. Most of my friends (90%) sent their kids to those famous private KG (e.g. Kentville, St. Catherine's, Victoria...etc). Unavoidably, we are competing with each others.

 

[carang]

i have had a few comments at my playgroup (all from local mums) that they are concerned that the kids "play too much".... the class is 1.25 hours long and we spend no more than .25 hours "playing"! the rest of the time is "doing work", making crafts, singing, dancing and story time....

 

[lesliefu]

yes - nursery may be a waste of time, but as a teacher myself I see how much "work" gets done. I believe that there are benefits to "play" that are overlooked by parents do not see the educational value of it...YES, there are benefits to play...belows a short article I read regarding this topic...

Developing through play

CHILDWISE by RUTH LIEW


PLAY is fun. Children need to play as much as they need food, shelter and clean air. Children do not need to cram their minds with information. When they play, they learn to be resourceful and seek out the right kind of information for use in their play.

In many homes today, children have more toys than their parents ever did but sadly, the toys are mostly remote-controlled or high-tech in nature. The places they play in are limited and structured. By the time they reach school age, children play only games arranged by their schools or clubs. They hardly make up their own games or play freely with their friends.

Play spaces at home, usually arranged by adults, have stuffed animals, board games and store-bought toys all kept in plastic storage boxes. Some, kept high up on the shelves, are inaccessible to young children. They have to rely on adults to get the toys. When adults take over what children can do for themselves, they will lose opportunities to be creative and imaginative.

Unfortunately I think it is the system that is making us all nervous and uptight about sending our kids early to school....unfortunately from the schools point of view, they find it much easier to screen applications (some schools have over 200 applications for 10 spots) than interview each student, that's simply not possible. This is the easiest for them. Therefore, unless the culture of the schools change, there is really not much us parents can do but to make sure our kids are given the best chance to get into a school that fits their learning type. Would I send my 2 year old to a nursery? From a teachers point of view, yes. Would I take my kid out of school to leave for a family vacation? Probably. Would I question the amount of learning at the school? No because learning does not only happen within a school setting. But, then, why send your child to school, isn't that ironic? Yes, but society is built that way and to not follow the norm puts you at a disadvantage, to me it's as plain simple as that.

 

[carang]

leslie...
we all agree. a child's work IS play... it's many of the "local" parents that can't understand this concept...

 

[Tong.kate]

Hi, all

just want to share that I, myself, a working mom who has a son, (turn to three very soon). I do think attend playgroup is worth, particularly when you have only 1 child and no experience to deal with toddlers. Joining playgroup, allows child can freely exposure different items and social. You also can see how teacher lead the session, how other parents interact with their toddlers, how your toddler behave. Sometimes, it will provide you a good insight that some areas which you may overlook, or some areas you find yourself overworry. Some playgroup, like offered by good kinder, do offer sand, water play, arts (painting in the wall)...etc. I really think it is very good exposure and I enjoyed a lot. As a working mother, most of time, my maid accompany my son to join the playgroup, she took a lot of picture and let me see, I can see my son enjoyed so much. If you have 1 child and want to get more exposure to your child and yourself, it is not bad to join playgroup. I personally find the playgroup in a kindergarden with outdoor playgroup is good. It is best to attend 2-3 times per week, as child will enjoy/learn a lots in a familiar environment. (Jointing different playgroup in every day is not very good.) Some claim that you can self organize playgroup, which is good provided you can have a quite stable member (including adult and child) and hold it regularly.

This is my personal view. And I really enjoy to review his picture/video taken in his playgroup. Anyway, give yourself a try, then you will know whether you buy the concepts of playgroup/pre-nursery or not.

Cheers.

 

[carang]

hi kate,
i agree with you. there is nothing wrong with playgroups at all.
where the problem lies is with parents competing to get their children into a "good" kindergarten, so they can get into a "good" primary school, so they can get into a "good" secondary school etc....

the pressure placed on some children is phenomenal and not good for their development.

parents are concerned that their children are "only" playing. they don't understand that when a child "plays" with blocks, he/she is learing spacial awareness and honing hand-eye coordination etc.

THAT's where the problem lies, not with joining playgroups.

have a great christmas!

 

[Dr.Mickey]

Gabriel ma,

Same as you that my work peers always talk abt which KG that our kids going to. As a mother of three, sometimes I can feel the 'pressure' from them and moms of my kids' classmates coz just like what you said 'unavoidably, we are competing with each others.'

So far as I know, not all the local mums here are keen in putting their '2 yrs old' toddlers to PN. I agree that PN is not a must for toddlers to enter any famous KG. Like my twin daughters, they did not join any PN before they went any K1 interviews but they got offers from all 'famous KG'. However, I agree that someone said the importance of 'playing'... toddlers at this age need lots and lots of 'playing'...they are learning through the playing time/ singing time (see Montessori...), an so on...

There's a question always in my mind that reminds myself how to plan the ECA for my kids...'will a kid start to learn Maths when he turns 1 or 2 MUST be better than when he turns 4 or 5 as normal???'

wish you all a happy new year.

 

[Gabriel ma]

Gabriel ma,

Same as you that my work peers always talk abt which KG that our kids going to. As a mother of three, sometimes I can feel the 'pressure' from them and moms of my kids' classmates coz just like what you said 'unavoidably, we are competing with each others.'

So far as I know, not all the local mums here are keen in putting their '2 yrs old' toddlers to PN. I agree that PN is not a must for toddlers to enter any famous KG. Like my twin daughters, they did not join any PN before they went any K1 interviews but they got offers from all 'famous KG'. However, I agree that someone said the importance of 'playing'... toddlers at this age need lots and lots of 'playing'...they are learning through the playing time/ singing time (see Montessori...), an so on...

There's a question always in my mind that reminds myself how to plan the ECA for my kids...'will a kid start to learn Maths when he turns 1 or 2 MUST be better than when he turns 4 or 5 as normal???'

wish you all a happy new year.

Yes, HK moms/ kids are getting too much pressure. BTW, I have tried to teach my child by Montessori but I never got the time.