Posted by
MayC
19 yrs ago
Hi, I have a 15 month old baby girl at home. I've been told to start looking at preschools for my little one. I saw that for most of the schools, you must apply as early as a year in advance and are usually interviewed shortly after. I am really worried.
Would my little baby be able to sort shapes, colours etc etc at such a young age? I mean, I know she still has a few months to go... but she's only just started walking a month ago and is saying "no no" whenever I get her to sort shapes. I hate to think what they are going to make her do 8-9 months from now. Or is it too early to worry?
Then going to school at 3???? Isn't that WAY too early? I can understand at 5 years of age, but 3?
I do apologise for my ignorance but I would appreciate it if you could share your experience. Thanks.
Please support our advertisers:
sub
19 yrs ago
Surely the interviews are not a test of the child's ability, but more an introduction between school-teacher-parent-child, to get to know the school, etc.
I can't imagine any good coming out of testing a child's ability for shapes at that age, crazy to pigeohole at that age. If it is anything like that I would refuse to take it too seriously.
My children are both in full time preschool here in China- aged 2.5 and 4. They love it. I was worried at first but it has been really good for them. I still think the days are a bit long (9am til 5pm) but they have a nap and morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea.
They way I see it, it is not much different from full time daycare back home, but a slightly more class setting, with ages separated (the schools are also bigger here, so the classes have to be broken up somehow).
They get little report cards which are funny to read (Jade is very good, but likes to run up and down with her friends instead of sleeping, loves dancing, she is our princess, we love her), but there is no real pressure - occassional weekend homework for the 4 y old, but it consists of things like naming things you see in the park and drawing the picture and naming the colour (eg, leaves, green, rock, brown..) ..takes all of 10minutes.
Please support our advertisers:
MC
19 yrs ago
MayC, most of the pre-schools in HK have a first come first serve system. When they say "interview", it is just a matter of getting to know or take a look at the children like sub said. Only when school interviews for reception class which normally starts at 4 (interview at 3.5) will it then invovle sorting out shapes and stuff. By then most children know how to do it. My daughter went to Woodland Montessouri when she was 18 months till 4. Hope this helps. I do recommend you to submit your applications early and ask the schools about their waiting list if there is any.
Please support our advertisers:
well i know some of the well known schools are more likely to 'choose' the parents not the child on their financial background,areas they lived at,not as so much as the children themselves.the children mabbe lead through a musical session,some snacks,story-telling,all in about an hour or more.
Please support our advertisers:
Not to sound harsh, but interviews are sometimes also used to sort out those who are possibly ESN or ADHD, etc. Not all schools have the staff and training to handle such children, and they'd rather not take them in.
Michael Chan
www.senseimichael.com
Please support our advertisers:
Hi I am an ESF early years teacher and we also interview early. The interview should be really low key really just maing sure your child will cope in an english speaking school. So they will probably have a little chat over some toys, watch your child play and read some stories to see how they respond. If it is any more formal than this I would question whether you want your child to be a part of that kind of environment. If you want any more advice on age of entry and what appropriate then please feel free to email me directly.
Frances Hurley
Please support our advertisers:
MayC
19 yrs ago
Thanks so much, Frances. I have sent you a private mail.
Thank you all too for your input.
I must say that the system here is quite tough.... subjecting a toddler to an assessment to see whether or not she's good enough, regardless of how basic the assessment is :-( My baby already has to go through a lifetime of that...... next, I wouldn't be surprised if there are schools for under 2s or from birth :-(
Please support our advertisers:
cd
19 yrs ago
My daughter never had an interview to get into an ESF kindergarden. But once you we were offered the place we only had a week to let them know and send in $8k, which was a bit of a shock.Originally my daughter was offered a place last April, but I phoned the school and said I thought she was still too young, so they reoffered the place for sept. The Interview my son had for P1, was as Francis said, very informal, listening to a story, playing with toys and lasted barely 15 mins. Don't get stressed out.
Please support our advertisers:
dear all,
i would like to get more info on the these school interviews. i work at an education centre and the parents there have told horror stories about these interviews. esp. for entry to P1, parents begin compiling their children's portfolio (containing various certs and reference letters) VERY EARLY (from birth?!)
any additional info is appreciated.
Please support our advertisers:
My two year old had 7 interviews in all of the kindergartens that I chose for next september, when she turns three years old. Each of these kindergarten, has 3 years of education to offer, until preparation of the entrance exams of the primary schools that I have picked. They provided to me the statistics of the number of graduates to get into the primary schools.
Therefore, unfortunately, unless you are planning to send your child to international schools, your child will be subjected to these entrance exams and interviews if you pick a famous name brand traditional local school.
My daughter has been attending a playgroup at an international kindergarten since 17 months, and for her interviews in Nov 2005, she did SO well... all of the schools accepted her for Sept 2006. But I know many friends who also tried the same kindergartens, but are kept on waiting list. My daughter had to answer questions from "What colour is this?" "Please give me the Red block, the blue block, the yellow block..."
"Which animal flies? " Which one swims?" "Who drove you to this school today?" "What is your name?" "How old are you? " ... and at the end of each interview, they give the child a candy, or a sticker.... and if your child forgets to say "Thank you" Your chances of getting in the school will be greatly diminished.
It took 3 months of preparation for my daughter and I for these interviews.
It's terrible, disgusting, and I hate it... but unfortunately, that is the education system of HK..... first come first serve, and very competitive.
I was 2 weeks from my delivery day for my 2nd child when we did all these interviews too..... tough luck.
Please support our advertisers:
Dear Katetam,
I have sent you a PM.
Thanks,
hkrcac
Please support our advertisers:
Hi,
Can anyone show me an insight on how old is supposed to join a playgroup and how long the lesson would be?And at 3 years old they will do an interview for kindergarten?
Thanks
Please support our advertisers:
Wow I am a teacher in a kindergarten, I teach the 2 year olds. And I have seen enough to decide that my child will stay home with our amah until he is ready for school. Hopefully by then I can stay home with him in the mornings and homeschool whilst getting social activities through other means. I like the idea of him learning to do life things and getting taught along the way.
All of the above comments make me more and more interested in homeschooling.
I am from New Zealand and I have a two year old and a one year old, they love to PLAY together and don't need formal education as far as I'm concerned to learn the things they need to learn at their ages.
if anyone is interested in the homeschooling site I have just been connected to it is nice to meet other mums taking a different approach.
Popstar yes your three year old will need an interview.
Play groups can mean anything from a five day a week classroom situation like I teach, half day or full day. Or a hourly session where you have to accompany the child, usually that is for under twos though.
Please support our advertisers:
I was thinking that children in HK are going to school at a very young age.... some go to "playgroups" at 1 year old..... but since my daughter has gone to playgroups and then pre-programme classes for almost 18 months before going to Kindergarten.... I am now quite convinced that there are benefits in sending little ones that early to classes.
Of course, the school and teachers are a big factor.
My daughter in comparison to those friends and people I know who has kids that keep their kids at home until 3 years old... with no class environment, adjusted a lot more slow, and with behavioural problems, as well as learning problems MUCH more frequent and longer than those who went to playgroups PRIOR to going to K1.
My daughter also was a lot more prepared in interviews for K1 b/c she went to playgroups/nursery for about 8 months prior to the interviews. She didn't cry, she wasn't nervous about being interviewed or questioned by a "teacher", and she understood the meaning of "discipline" and "having manners" at this early age. She sits down properly and listens to what the "teacher" is asking, and upon finishing the interview, a big smile, thank you, and pushed back her chair. She even says' Tidy up". She wasn't distracted by other children in the room interviewing at the same time....
I am a piano teacher myself of over 17 years, I have taught all ages, and see that if a child has classroom experience, being with others in a group, at around 18 months of age.... until 3 years old. It's a significant contribution to their development emotionally, cognitively, and in many ways, physically. The kids who attend playgroup has very good motor skills too.
I would highly recommend choosing a playgroup/nursery that has limited number of children in a class, preferably under 10. I think the worse thing to have to worry about is the germs and virus that gets passed around within the class room at this young age. But, if the school maintains a top notch hygiene policy, it really isn't that big of a problem.
my second child is now 1 year old, I am applying for him in about 2 months for the 18 month programme.
Please support our advertisers:
I am so glad that my kids had their early years in the UK ... 'Mother & Toddler Group' one or two mornings per week for a couple of hours with me ... 'Playgroup' at the age of 2.9years for 2-3 morning per week 9.30-11.30 (as long as they were out of nappies) ... 'Nursery' at the age of 3.5 years, 5 mornings per week ... 'Reception' at the age of 4.5 years ... And finally "School" starting during the term in which they turned 5 years old.
I find it hard to understand why most people in HK refer to everything prior to 5 years of age as "School" ... Surely it's not?
I find it unbelievable that some babies are in 'School' every day of the week before they're even out of nappies, or able to feed themselves, or go to the toilet. I totally understand that there are mothers here who need to work and have to put their children into some form of daycare at an early age ... but there are also a lot of mothers here who don't work, who seem to want to get them off their hands at the earliest opportunity.
Gherron, I think you've got the right attitude, my kids spent a lot of time with me as their main carer, but they still had a lot of time to play and to socialise with other children ... the fact that they weren't in "School" from the age of 1 or 2, certainly had no ill effect on their development ... no behavioural problems, no learning problems, no bad manners ... in fact, quite the contrary compared to a lot of kids that I come across in HK ... I also work in education, so I see it with my own eyes on a very regular basis.
Please support our advertisers:
I disagree that sending our "babies" to "school" before 3 years old is a way to get them "off our hands". The playgroups require a parent or a guardian/helper to be with the child throughout the classes. I attend the classes with my baby, and I thoroughly enjoy it, and so did my daughter. She liked the playtime, storytime, outdoor time, field trips, snack time, the little toilets, everything is in her size, and she adored her teacher. The school has teaching materials, toys, books, music classes, outdoor toys and little tikes cars... ets just a lot more stimulation than staying at home. After the 2 hours at playgroup, my baby slept, and eats well. On the days we DIDN'T go to "school", a lot of energy has to be spent thinking of stimulating activities and where to go, and what to do.... for her day!
I think whether to send your child to school before age 3 is entirely up to you as the parent, and I think it also has a lot to do with the child's personality, and abilities.
Please support our advertisers:
Thank you gherron,for answering my question :)
It is very much appreciated.
Please support our advertisers:
Katetam, if you re-read my post, you may realise that I am not actually referring to playgroups like the one you attend with your own child, I imagine these to be similar to the groups that I used to attend with my own children ... I am referring to one's that many babies/children attend, in some cases everyday, without their mother/helper from a very early age ... and there are quite a few of them.
Please support our advertisers:
Sapphire, I too was only referring to those "playgroups" that has an adult accompanying them. It's funny though that you mention classes for less than 3 years old.... I have been told by ALL the learning centers, schools that I bring my daughter to prior to 3 years old.... they all say by laws of HK... no child under 3 years old can be in a classroom setting by himself without a parent or guardian. Wonder under what laws these schools are using...(which I also know many of them) have NO parent in the class ... even when the child was under 3 years old age.
Please support our advertisers:
Dear Katetam,
I have sent you a PM.
Thanks,
hkrcac
Please support our advertisers:
Dear Katetam,
I have sent you a PM.
Thanks,
hkrcac
Please support our advertisers:
Hi Sapphire and Katetam and others.
I like to have these discussions because I am torn at times as to what I should do with my children. I adore how social and energetic my son is.....but I abhor how he can be labelled "naughty" because he is so energetic. He is not ADHD, he is not disobedient, he is two and he will do what you ask if you get his attention.
As I work with two year olds in a class of 22 that will soon go up to 30 plus inthe new year with one Chinese teacher with me.....you can imagine my hesistation to put my child in this classroom environment. I had him with me in class the first 3 months, it didn't work because he got too tired by one and needed to go home for his nap earlier than when I finished work.....and because beyond learning how to sit nicely and be "good" I really feel the school is missing the creative and play elements of development.
I want to stay home with him and do classes in the morning with him and his brother and then afternoons do fun group class activites or just the playground etc. But I have to work part time and mornings is the only time I can do that.
I really want a playgoup where our helper can take the boys in the mornings cause they are such social boys who love everyone they meet and take to other kids really well. They play really well with others cause previously we've always lived in a commune type setting.
So we're in culture shock here with the isolation and the style of childraising.
Ummm Katetam I have never heard of that law you mentioned..can't be a serious one cause all the schools I've looked at have a nursery class for 1.9 months or 2 up. I get the feeling that expat areas have a very different feeling in education than the more Chinese populated areas like where I live.
Please support our advertisers:
Tutortime, and Anfield International both have playgroups and pre-programmes where there has to be an adult with the child in the classes. The maximum class size is 10 in a class for Anfield, and 15 for TT.
Please support our advertisers:
Hi cd,
I have sent you a pm.
Thanks
Please support our advertisers:
:-))
18 yrs ago
Gherron, you are right, the HK education system can be a bit of a culture shock!
The most shocking example of the prevailing mentality in Hong Kong that I have seen is a community centre near where I live advertising a "course" entitled "Preparation for kindergarten interview". The course was advertised last August and targeted at "students" who would be applying for K1 the following year, i.e. kids who at that time would be between 1yr 7mo and 2yr 7mo. In four sessions kids would be coached on how to perform well in K1 interview (as Katetam describes), and at the end they were given a mock interview and parents given a VCD of their child's performance!
The sad thing is that this is probaby useful if your child is applying for a kindergarten in the local system whose "graduates" progress to primary schools and then secondary schools where most kids get good enough grades to get into university. The pressure for academic achievement starts unbelieveably young.
The good news is that if you have the luxury of choice, there are many international schools who don't play this game. ESF will take your child so long as English is their first language (or so long as their Chinese is not good enough to survive in the local system). There are no entry tests apart from informal interview to establish language level.
Please support our advertisers:
We applied for several kindergarten in the local system, after 1st visiting the schools, they all told us they need to have an interview with our daughter, but they always mentioned 'don't worry, very casual'. And it turns out they basically want to see her, and observe how she is generally, I mean they didn't ask her to sort out any shape, or name color or anything like that ! Amd she's 2, so she could maybe do it (depends on her mood actually !). They just gave her some toys and let her play with them, and also she sat in the class and followed everyone when going to the toilets very happily and the teacher showed her how to use the child-sized basin to wash her hands, and ou daughter was very happy. So I don't know which local kindergarten really apply 'interviews' before K1. Am actually more concerned about interview that my daughter might face next year to enter ESF since we are French and she'll do her K1 in Cantonese school. We speak a lot of English at home but still this interview is much more worrying to me than the interviews she had to join the local system.
Please support our advertisers:
You must be logged in to be able to reply.
Login now
Copy Link
Facebook
Gmail
Mail