Preschool options for just turned 3 year old?

[seattleite]

Hello,
I will be moving to HK at the end of June with my two children, who by then will be just-turned 3 years old, and 9 months old. I have read a ton of threads regarding schooling options but there's so much information that I just decided to post my specific questions.

Regarding my newly 3-year old, what kind of preschool options are there near Tung Chung or Discovery Bay? Are there waiting lists for preschools? I have seen posts with several preschool names, but when I look them up, none of them are near where we most likely will be living (we haven't found a place to live yet but we want to be close to the airport for my husband).

I've read about preschools/playgroups-- are these interchangeable or will my 3 year old be too old for a playgroup? What is a playgroup, exactly (in HK terms)-- does it mean the same as what I'm used to in the US (a bunch of friends with kids the same age that get together on a regular basis)? Maybe a playgroup is right for my younger one?

I'm not looking for any type of rigorous program for my daughter, just something where she will interact with other 3 year olds and do arts/crafts, practice ABCs, etc, get to run around and play games, and will allow her to learn classroom skills.

I know I can probably get a better understanding once I actually arrive in HK, but I'd like to know what I can expect going in.

Thank you!

 

[MommyTo3]

Tung Chung and DBay both have a Sunshine House Preschool.

 

[mabHK]

me too!

We are not sure yet what our actual move date will be, but i also have a three year old (and a 2 yr old) and am trying to figure out the preschool thing. it looks like 'playgroups' here are a bit more organized than in the states - seems like they have drop-off ones for the older kids - almost like an in-home nursery school? Anyway, I am with you - we are most liekly going to be in Discovery Bay as well and i think the two main options are Sunshine and Discovery Minds...

 

[jenayds]

Hi again Seattleite,

In Discovery Bay there are quite a few playgroups. The word means different things at different places, I think. Some playgroups operate in a person's home; some are Montessori type things; at Discovery Mind Kindergarten 'Playgroup' is the class for 2-3 year olds, but it's like preschool in that you drop the child off at 9 and pick them up at 12. I'm not that familiar with the DB playgroups as I live in Tung Chung.

In Tung Chung there are a few preschool options. A three year old would go into K1 in August/Sept 2010 at Sunshine House (SSH) or Discovery Mind Kindergarten (DMK). I have a son at each and much prefer DMK. They are both English-medium schools. SSH have Mandarin classes every day; DMK has a bilingual stream where there is a Mandarin-speaking teacher and an English-speaking teacher in the class at all times. I think they alternate days in terms of who leads circle time, activities etc. There is another English-medium preschool called Greenfields (under Caribbean Coast), which I have heard mixed reports about. However I think it may have improved recently.

There are also a couple of local kindies which are Cantonese-medium, if you want your child to learn Cantonese. I'm not sure of the names off the top of my head, but some of my friends send their kids to these schools and are quite happy with them. I think communication with parents could be an issue though (notes in Chinese etc; not sure if everything is translated).

Discovery Bay also has a DMK (the original) and a Sunshine House. A new shopping area is being built there and apparently a Montessori preschool may be opening there.

This has probably already been mentioned to you, but planning ahead for schooling options for your child is very important in Hong Kong. It is extremely difficult to get a place at the two English-medium primary schools in Discovery Bay, so you will need to apply to all the international schools you can. This may be a reason to live in Tung Chung rather than DB, as Tung Chung has the MTR and is easier to get to/from than DB (especially if you get seasick on ferries, like I do!).

For ESF schools, you can only apply the year before your child starts Primary 1. If your child is now 3, they would be starting at ESF when they are 5, which should be Aug/Sept 2012; so you would be putting in applications for ESF schools in Sept 2011. Other international schools have a more usual waiting list system, so for them you just need to get the kid's name down ASAP.

Good luck with the move! If you want any more specific info on Tung Chung, feel free to PM me.

 

[seattleite]

Jenayds, thanks! Your info is much appreciated. Thanks for taking the time to spell it out. Trying to piece it all together from bits here and there was driving me crazy, taking too much time, and left me wondering if I was inferring correctly! I'm going to visit my husband for a week in May and that's when we'll be searching for a place to live. I think it will be good to actually see these neighborhoods in person.