Playgroup / Kindergarten

I live in Ap Lei Chau. Being half-Chinese, I would like to send my daughter to a Chinese or Mandarin playgroup. My mum takes care of my daughter and speaks to her in Cantonese so I guess she'll pick up spoken Cantonese. My husband is not so keen on Chinese playgroups beacuse he worries that they are too regimented. We haven't yet decided what to do about schools - Chinese vs International. I was thinking Chinese for first several years then switch to International, but then what if my daughter can't get in?


So here goes: some questions regarding my 14 month old daughter.


1. Can anyone suggest some good playgroups in Ap Lei Chau area?


2. We are looking at Woodlands Harbourside in Aberdeen, or Victoria Kindergarten in South Horizons. (is the latter too regimented?).


3. Local DSS versus International or ESF?

Local DSS shools require fees so they are supposed to be less regimented than local schools. Do you think it's better to send a child to an international or ESF school, or are there any good "Chinese" schools? (very broad question I know...)


Would appreciate people's thoughts on the issue.

My 3 children are half-Chinese, half-English. The first 2 went to a kindergarten that had a lot of foreigners but taught in Cantonese. It was a good environment and they learnt both languages equally well. My first 2 went to Cantonese primary schools and I was very disatisfied. The third child is in a local school that teaches in English and Mandarin with a class size of 11 and is a really good school. I am very happy with it. For secondary school my first 2 went to the YMCA and enjoyed it, especially the 2nd child. The YMCA is a DSS school but half of the students are foreigners (or mixed nationality). If you have one child it is o.k. to choose any school but you need to think more if you have more than one child as it can be very expensive choosing international schools.

Hi Gwyneth,


Thanks for your reply!

Which primary school did your third child go to - the one that taught in English and Mandarin?


Thanks for your advice.