i'm looking into pre-nursery for my 20 month old son for later this year. i find that most schools have programs where the 2 year olds go to school ON THEIR OWN EVERY SINGLE DAY of the week!! i am really not comfortable with this. i would like to attend classes with him, 3 times max in a week.
any suggestions or thoughts on this? does the kid need to attend prenursery every day in order to get into the kindergarten we want?
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it's purely a choice of the parents. there are playgroups you can attend with your son that should fit your needs just fine.
however, if the school you are trying to get into has a really long waitlist, then if you can get int pre nursery, then it definately guarantees you a spot into k1 and so forth.
personally, i'm not sending my daughter until she's 3. even then i think it's young.
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thanks, michelley for ur insight.
my son and i attend a playgroup twice a week at this time, but come this september, he needs to move up to prenursery (everyday, alone) if we were to stay at the same school. and all others i have looked into also require kids to go to school alone everyday at 2 yo, with the exception of ims (we are waitlisted).
can u give me some examples of the ones u are talking about, if u can pls?
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which area do you live in?
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Absolutely no need. Our daughters went to playgroup, with parent or helper, from around 2y, but that was 3x/week and 1½h every time. Mostly for socializing.
They then graduated to "stepping stones" at 2y4m, and finally pre-school at 2y8m. This soft start enabled them to start pre-school without any big surprises, but isn't really necessary. By all means let your kids start pre-school at three or four.
What I really like about (their) pre-school is that they are taught to respect other children, to co-operate, to tidy up, table manners. Of course we teach these things at home as well, but another environment, with other children, really helps. In Montessori the classes are mixed age-wise, which I find great. The older kids help the younger ones.
"Academically", my 4½ year old is making real progress on reading and writing. Don't get me wrong, I don't care if she learns now or at 5 or even 6. It's not a competition. However she enjoys learning now, and I'd rather feed he enthusiasm now in cases it mellows later.
Furthermore, they love going!
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I can recommend Baby Buddies as an accompanied playgroup. They have a few locations - we went to the Sheung Wan one. 2 hour classes and a parent or helper attends. We moved just before our son turned 2 so I am assuming it is the same accompanied format for the 2 - 3 year class. Maybe check their website if you are interested.
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Z
16 yrs ago
What I have read is that before 3, kids are better off with more individualized attention [esp. as they are learning to talk], but that after 3 there are things that school can provide much more easily than home [cooperating, taking turns, art, music].
With younger kids, I am a very strong advocate of making their days as similar as possible -- it is empowering for them to be able to predict their day.
For example, my not quite 2yo...
after I wake up, I drink my milk and eat some brekkie;
then I play with Ayi for a bit while Mama is busy;
then Mama will take me out and we'll play together until almost lunchtime;
after lunch I have a sleep, and when I wake up JieJie will be home from school;
we'll have a snack together and then play for a while;
then we'll go outside and play until supper;
after supper, I take my bath;
then I drink some milk, brush my teeth and put on my pjs;
then stories and I play with my doggie until I am sleepy...
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befox
16 yrs ago
I don't think kids need to start school untill 5/6.
Schooling in HK is such a problem, that many parents feel "blackmailed" into putting their kids into pre school to get them into big school later.
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Actually, i'm from Canada, and there, kids go to preschool when they're 3-4 years old. They go for a play, have a good time, socialize and learn rules.
It's not really the age that they attend that is the problem, it's what they are asked to do at school that's the problem. So it's up to the parents to choose the 'correct' program for their children.
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I put my son (who is now 4 and a half) into a kindergarden at 2 and a half years and I actually think it was one of the best things I did. Her went every day for 3 hours. Based on this experience I will definitely be putting my other son into kindy between 2.5 and 3 years old. I know some mums may balk at this but every kid is different and it very much depends on their temperament. I'll admit that the first day was horrific but since then I've never heard him once say he didn't want to go. At the excellent kindy he goes to he has made lots of friends, learn't lots of mandarin, does lots of projects and he has come on in leaps and bounds. I put him in there because I needed time to do chores and I was having fertility treatment. My reasoning was he'll either be being dragged around by me or sitting at home hanging out with a maid (which I did not have at that time). In the end I thought it was better that he was with little friends socializing and having fun. I have absolutely no regrets whatsoever. I also have to say that some of my friends children who only just started school and are 4 or 5 are not settling at all. Just my opinion. I know that certain studies show X and Y, but I know what worked for us.
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