Mummy & Daddy:

My daughter is almost 2 years old now... And I and hubby was disscuss when is the best timing
send over our child to kindergarten?

To me..I think the best is 4 as I don't want my son to be bored of school once the real schooling starts.

Please remember, starting 2015, 5 year old already Darjah Satu.
So I also dunno how..
Mayb 3 yr old play school?

huh? really ah.....? 5 years old = Darjah Satu?
confirm ah?

I'm not a parents yet but I do helped my mom to jaga anak.
Mostly those kids that my mom jaga, they will go preschool at the age of 5.
And pls keep in mind, if ur child is 3, the immune system still weak and if one kid sick, whole class also will get.

That's what happened to my cousin's son and she ended up stop him going to preschool and my mom took care of him until he's 5 and he go back to preschool.

Just my 2 cents.

Every parents have their very own point of view.

For my opinion, if your child have siblings or cousin to be around all the time at home with him.. should be ok to leave him/her to go to kindergarten at later age. But if he/she is the only child at home... the earlier you send to kindergarten/morning playgroup the better.

As for hygiene issue, yes.. no doubt the kid will get expose to infection from other kids' flu, etc. Therefore you have to be very selective when choosing the centre for your very young child. The motive is to encourage him/her to get frens.. social and induce learning. And half day in the centre won't do very big harm.

Based on my own experience, I sent my boy to half-day playgroup at the age of 3yrs old (last yr).. as he is year end baby.. suppose is just 2yrs+ at that time. Yes... we feel sad seeing him caught flu from someone in the same class and this happen during his 1st mth and it repeated even he already recovered. But to our surprise.. mths onwards.. he dun get infected so easily .. guess is his immune system got train up. Even there are some classmates having flu/cough, not necessary he will kena.
And another achievement you will see is that the child started to do coloring and my son love painting alot. And end of last yr (infact is his 3yrs old sharp), he joined the school concert and perform in the shopping mall dancing on the stage. I was so impress such a small kid could do that.
This year he is 4yrs old .. I have stop sending him to kindergarten for a few mths due to my work reason. And he just resume class 2mths ago, can do simple workbook exercises such as calculating 1-10 items and write/circle the answer. And lately he even can write his own name.. simple English name 'IAN' on all his exercise pages. I have stop buying him toys and have his little library set up.

And for your information, my child is not special good in the kindergarten.. because he have left out in the pass few mths and in average most of his classmates more vocal than him. But if you compare.. someone who started to learn coloring and writing at age 3 .. what will be the progress when they reach age 5 class? and for another kid who just started class at age 5.. guess the teacher will have to guide him/her like a age 3/4 kid. But of coz, there is exception.. unless parents be able to make sure they could do home-kindergarten for their kid .. if do not send in earlier age.

And fyi, my boy only go to those normal kindergarten.. not montessori or watever well known branded kindergarten.. already can see the progression.. coz the younger they are.. the faster they learn. The extra thing I do is buy him workbook and do 1 page every nite and name it as "revision" and he already use to it.. guess enjoying it .. because that is 1 of the moment for us to bond.. as both me and hubby is working daytime.

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Added on May 27, 2011, 8:39 amAs for starting Darjah 1 at age 5.
I guess this won't happen... the govt cannot simply say without the real action plan.

Imagine if they start Darjah1 at age 5... the 1st year they execute this programme.. say 2015.
Can they accommodate the following great batch of students?

2015 (age 5 kid)
2015 (age 6 kid.. coz this group not yet enter std 1)
2015 (age 7 kids .. coz according existing system.. they suppose enter in 2015).
No matter what year they execute this system... they will suddenly have 3x number of kids to settle.. do they have enough classroom/school and even teachers. Hahaha

This post has been edited by cc980024: May 27 2011, 08:39 AM

That's all about i'm worried so.....
My daughter's baby sitter also have take care 3 to 4 child together with my daughter....
during the first few month, she really easy to get sick....and he breathing is sensitive one.....
nowsaday, she is almost 2 years old.....getting less time to sick jor.....

Some of my friend will scared send child early age will getting them to bored of learning at kindergarten so......

I'm also not agree for age 5 to be in darjah one.....its too early and impossible....not good for child also...

first, if you want to send you child to kindergarden, they must be potty trained. Some will not accept if a child is not potty trained.

Also, if you must send your child to kindergarden at age of 3, find them one that is not emphasizing on academic teachings. Cause they are only 3 years old, they should be learning about physical activity, interaction and so on in a fun manner.

I send my kids to real kindergardens at age of 5. At 4, they go to dancing classes and other fun activity classes. This will gradually introduce them to real school. I try not to emphasize too much on academic. I don't mind if my kid grew up and become a hair stylist. As long as they are good human being who contribute to society.

If boring is an issue.. then what about primary, secondary, etc? They have so many years ahead for them to go to school. With addition few years kindergarten won't make any different.
Do delaying another few yrs from school will make the children less boring with primary/secondary?

In fact, if you analyse small kids.. the younger they are.. they more willing to learn and the faster they learn. Hence.. less hazard in teaching them.

And no offence, as long as the kid have similar age kids to interact with him at home, and bbsitter/parents manage to teach at home.. is still ok to stay home.

As for boring or not.. is depends alot on the kindergarten that we choose. Get a centre where they won't force kids to do work.. have extra curricular.. have toys. Even if the child doesn't wanna join the class.. he still have something else to do on his own.. sooner or later he will join the class when he see others studying too and he/she will enjoy the company of frens study together.

actually my nephew started going to kindergarden at the age of 3 and i think it is ok, cos eventhough it's called "kindergarden", but they separate the kids by age, for young age, the teacher is mainly teaching them how to take care of themselves, like how to go to toilet, how to eat properly,how to play with other kids, how to use pencil and something like that, not much on studying. So my nephew actually learn lots of thing at kindergarden and be more dicipline, and easier to mix around with stranger. So don't worry about letting your kids go to kindergarden at young age might cause them to feel bored about schooling.

yup...that is the kind of kindergarden you should send you child to. That is if you are unable or no time to teach your child those things. I understand some parents are very busy. I remember when kindergarden only starts at age 6. That is why they called it pre-school. Then as parents get more and more kiasu, it became 5 and then 4. Now it seems like going to 3. Soon we will have schools to pre-birth babies. "Teach them math while they still in your stomach..." LOL....

i also disagree.. 2015 5 yrs will standard 1. no..no..no..

When choosing the kindergarden was very very important.....

Any suggestion here?

I am confused. Kindergarten and pre-school got difference? I remember during our time, we went to kindergarten for 2 years before entering primary school at 7. We started off at 5 and 6 in kindergarten.

We were planning to send our kid to Montesorri school nearby. I am not sure what is the starting age. The brand is REAL Kids. Not sure if it's good but this brand name been around some time.

I, myself teaches tuition for children. My subject is chinese and mental arithmetic. By experience, I think child brain is only develop to understand and follow at the age of 3+, so I will not be sending our kids to kindergarten that soon. Possibly 4.

Play school and kindergarten not same?

I think nowadays no totally different or separately for playschool or kindergarten jor.....
That's why we need do the research....before sending our child

oh.. which means just the wording was different? =.=

Nowadays they come out with so many naming.. not like our generation.. kindergarten understood by all. But I guess the teaching method is very different from our generation already. So, just survey around and get 1 which suit your needs. Some parents will concern on academic syallabus, some will look into extra-curricular, some will look into proper social chances, some will need to have special needs, etc. Well depends on different parents' need.

Yeah, old days.. we only went to kindergarten at 5 or 6 years old and started Std 1 at 7 yrs old. But I do remember I have friends who started kindy at 4yrs old too and also have some who never attend kindergarten.. straight to Std 1. And my little sister.. only study 1 yrs kindy at age 6.
So.. since more than 20-30yrs bk, we already have this scenario.. those who sent in early age is not kiasu... is just probably parents want them to do something instead of stay home doing nothing.

there are some kindergarden attached montessori on ther brand name. than there was this original montessori that dont use other name except montessori. wouldnt it be better to go to the original one ? anyone of you sent your child to the original one?

Still have original kindergarden in famous nowsaday....?

what's your experience? u have anything to share, sunflower? i prefer some proof to judge first. i suppose you heard or seen something, so u have any folklore to tell the difference?tq

4 Years !

i used to study in an international school.
i start going nursery at age 2, kindergarten at 3 and 4. LOL

my mum told me after i attend classes in the morning i attended playschool because i was active and refused to sleep during the noon. LOL
started grade 1 at 5. LOL!

i think it really depend on the child him/herself.
and i didnt grow up in malaysia. LOL

if your child is the hyper type then why not send him/her to kindy earlier? they can learn things faster that way. i remembered my kindy taught us how to swim and draw using my creative which is splash art. still loving it. <3
but of course, dont force them if they cant. like my sister, she is more a home person, so my parents only send her to kindy at the age of 4.

I was send to day care when I was a year old.
Until 3 years old, then I was put in nursery and started kindergarten when I was 5. Then everyday after kindergarten I was send to day care center until evening when my parents picked me up. lol.

Totally agree with you. We should judge what age to send our kids to playschool/kindergarten based on their readiness... instead of forcing them to those center if they are not ready or keep them away at home even if they are all well ready to learn something new.
I should say.. sending them to school/kindy/playschool... do let the parents see the kid's potential much earlier.

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Added on May 31, 2011, 9:06 amYeah.. not everyone have a choice especially when nobody there to take care of the kids.... so gotta be at the center even at 2mths old.

But I do see the positive side.. some center allow small toddler join the elder kids singing session where this encourage very early learning and this kind of toddler tend to be more vocal and won't shy away.

This post has been edited by cc980024: May 31 2011, 09:06 AM

That's quite true. In my case, compared to my brother, who was enroll in kindergarten at the age of 4, was taken care at home all the while before that, he took quite some time to get exposed to other children. He would cry and refuse to go to kindergarten during the first few months.

But I think because I was sent out earlier when I had not much clue about the outside world, and day care centers also has certain activities plus more kids to play around, so I tend to be more able to mix around with people. My brother now, even though he's 13, he keeps saying he won't make friends with others unless they come and talk to him first.

Agreed with you too, there is this day care, kindergarden and pre-school thingy to differenciate, from my understanding, day care is for baby to 1-3 years old where they will hire nanny at the school and mainly focus on taking care of the babies and small kids whom parents are not free during day time. Whereas kindergarden is for 3-5 years old whereby they will start teaching the kids about dicipline, how to do things and how to play(they play lots of games), then pre-school is for 5-6 years old where they do teach the kids to study or learn to write, to prepare them to go for standard 1. Nowadays especially in big city, both parents are working and really nobody to take care/teach the kids anymore, so sending them to a trusted day care/kindergarden/pre-school is a very good choice rather than hire a indonesian maid to take care of the kids at home.

i sent both my girls to sch when they were 3.
now they r 4 n 3.

i c the difference, it's better as their command of language is better.
the socializin also helps.
find a school that u r comfortable with and can communicate with. it helps.

I send my 2.5yr old daughter to Q-Dxx mid last year, now it's her 2nd year there already
Beginning of this year I also send my 2yr+ son to the same school, now already half year there.

From what i see, they've learn a lot, and I mean A LOT during their school days, they are more independent now, now both of them can hold a pencil properly, and my daughter can write 1-10, A-I without any help at all

Initially both of them get sick quite frequently coming back from school, it's due to most of the time they are holed up at home, with limited contact with other people besides their immediate family members.
My mom actually objected to send them to playschool/kindie so early, as they get sick all the time, but I strongly believed that kids should go out there to mingle with as many people as possible, and yes they'll get sick pretty fast, but that's just the initial stage to build up their immune system.
And now, after my mom sees the drastic change to her grandchildren, in terms of health, language mastering and other things, she even encourage other relatives to send their kids to pre-school/kindie as soon as possible.

After reading all of your views here, I had a chat with my hubby..and after much thought, hubby and I would actually like to try to send our son to a pre-school/play school next year.

Our main reason for sending him is more for interaction with kids his own age (he's about to be 2) and at the same time to have fun and learn new things. As such, any one that you parents would recommend..in KL area (Wangsa Maju, Bangsar or Sri Hartamas area)

My friends was suggest to " Smartreader", but don't know whether got branch in kl area or not...

I did checkout their website..but looks like they mainly focus on reading..I'm looking for a place that has a balance of learn and play.

just to remind everyone... it's very important when your kids are in kindergarden that you decide if he/she will be in chinese / malay school later on as the syllabus is different.... now when kids are in standard 1, the teachers just assume they know everything from kindergarden already. if the kindie teachers don't prompt you remember to ask... my friend just send her boy to chinese school and he got a culture shock... not prep properly lor...

my friend just send her boy to chinese school and he got a culture shock... not prep properly lor..

What's mean for culture shock? Know everything? something like? included what?

Any good kindies to recommend in PJ area?

i send out my elder daughter to playschool when she was 2. it's good to expose ur kids early. so far so good, now she's 6 yrs old. i remember when her 1st time entering pre-school (different school) she really excited to meet up new friends and learn new stuff.but other kids just keep crying and dont want lepas from their parents, and the parents also kept coming to school for 'check up' either they child is ok or not. this is so ma fan.

I think nowadays..after all these recent horror stories of abuse and deaths in nursery...It is good that the parents check on their kids. I think I would do it too..just to make sure..

Yes....im agreed with your point phythia79:-

No matter how my daughter nanny was "sayang" my princess......i'm also will do the checking my daughter's whole body situation every time i bring her back. If find out some different or strange....will asking the nanny in the next day, either she got the bite from "nyamuk" a lot....small problem i'm also keep asking. But it's have the communicate skill lah.

Good communication can maintaince good relationship!

Hmm what age to send...I dont think there is a right or wrong answer here. It all depends on their parents and family lifestyle, some just dont have the time to nurture them, hence sending preschool early would be a better choice for them.

As for my kids, we decided to send only when they were 6 years old. SInce my wife is a homemaker, we thought its better to teach them at home, rather than going to school, although its just preschool, i hate the idea of homework, extreme discipline at such a tender age

They turn out just well, pre school teacher were surprised, at their performance just one year there, and they normally top their class, since they had all learned at home

how do you sent your child off especially the first few weeks. the child tend to cry a lot and as parents it's tough to leave them at early age but got no choice. how is the method use to console them ?

actually 2 - 4 years is the best time for teaching kids cos they will absorb everythng very fast, but surela if send at 2 yrs old, after 4 yrs in the same kindy, doing the same routine is boring. if can, just spend some time 2 hours everyday, teach the kids everything, at 4 yrs old, they will be ready to attend kindy & catching up will not be a problem to them. tq!

I totally agree with ijnek. We did look for several kindies and we started him with You n Me (the right brain centre) then we switched him to Melody at the age of 4. He's comfortable and more "talkative" now compared to previous centre. There's no right or wrong on when to sent or where to sent but I believe that starting them young will equip them with the necessary skills when it's time to enter Standard 1.

i send both my daughters from age 4...my reason is for them to learn n speak mandarin..now my 1st daughter able to speak mandarin well..wat happens if i send her when she's 5 or 6??maybe she can speak..so it all depends on each intention..of course if send early will let the kids to adapt n get along wit other kids as well...

i send my daughter to taska when she was 3 years and a half month.. now she's 4 already.. she love to go to school so much. some kids when the 1st day will feel uncomfortable without parent accompany but not with her.. even sat no school also she nagging wanted to go to school
now i can see a lot of differences and she learn a lot at school too