3 kids under 5 - help!

[fionam100]

Hi
We have just moved to Singapore along with our 3 kids aged 4,2 and 8 months. We are staying in a Serviced Apartment and are currently looking for accommodation and a good preschool.

We are finding life difficult mainly due to the difficulty getting around in the heat with 3 small kids (middle one refusing to walk, too hot, baby crying, fighting over seats in taxi etc, etc). We are also finding it difficult finding a good pre-school which is near a place to live and also has some shops etc nearby. Does this kind of place exist? or do we really need to think about getting a car (my husband is on an unpaid fellowship so we had hoped to avoid it).

Does anyone else with 3 young kids have any tips on easy ways to do things, places to go, things to do etc. Any information would be gratefully received.

Best wishes, FIona

[sprite]

Please tell me you are looking for a maid to help you.

[ozgirl]

Hi Fiona

You sound like I sounded almost a year ago when I moved to Singapore except I had 2 children aged 1 & 2.5 years and my older one stopped walking for about a month when we arrived. Hence it was very hard for me to go out with both in taxi's as they would both fall asleep and then I was stuck getting up to the condo with them plus the groceries.

We chose to live central at River Valley Road, I have medical, groceries, taxi rank and all services within 20 metres of our condo and it has helped me so much.

I enrolled my oldest in a kindy 3 mornings a week which is only a 200 metre walk away so sort of managed.

The only problem I have is that we are in a condo and not a house with back yard or atleast a ground floor condo with small courtyard. My children are very active and miss not being able to go in and out.

I now have a live in helper which has made our lives so much easier. I have an extra pair of hands during the day, makes life so much better.

If you chose to get a house you will probably need to go a little further out but you may need a car depending on where you chose to live.

I find that I do not miss having a car and I am only a few dollars away from everything in a taxi.

I do grocery shopping without the children or with just one and I either do it on a weekend when my husband is home or send my helper to do it.

Don't know if I can PM you or not or vice versa, if you would like further info leave your email and I can contact you that way.

All the best and good luck.

[*sasha*]

Hi Fiona,

Welcome. I have 4 kids under 5yrs: a 4yr old girl, 2.5yrs old twin boys & 1 yr old girl. We do not have a car nor a maid & travel mostly on the MRT or taxis.

I completely understand what you go through with your kids:) I finally got a 2nd hand Peg Perego stroller as it has a board for an older child to stand on. So what I do is: strap my youngest in stroller & the other 3 kids takes turn to stand on the board or holding on either side of the stroller.

As in getting in taxis, we too started out with the kids fighting: who sits where etc. They are now appointed where they sit & they wld now happily wait their turns to get in taxis & sit where they are supposed to. And shd anyone of them want to change the seating arrangement, this is to be discussed before we get on the taxi so there is mutual agreement btw the 3 older kids:) The youngest is happy to be on my lap.

At the moment we are renting a place in Toa Payoh which I find is really excellent because its quite central lcation-wise. Also its got everything here that I need ie: supermarkets, food courts, banks, shops, train & bus interchange etc etc

But having said that, we had a problem looking for a good preschool arnd the area for our then 3yr old daughter.

She attends school at Novena which is just 1 train stop away frm home. There are quite a few established schools in the Novena/Newton area such as Eton House, Pat's Schoolhouse, Modern Montessori, Learning Vision, Growing Up Gifted, Cambridge etc. There are also plenty of housing arnd the area, mostly landed housings & condominiums.

Maybe you'd like to consider these areas?

Hope this helps!
Hv a great weekend

[delrouge]

Hi,

I've 3 children under 6 y.o. too. You don't have to live in an exclusive area as singapore is quite safe. Introduce the children to libraries which are scattered all over singapore. The one in woodlands is very children friendly. Also attend small gatherings with other moms wif children so they can interact and makes it less stressful for you. A place where there's direct buses to places you are likely to go with the children. I think you need to talk to a property agent on where is a convenient place and i personally don't think orchard nor the likes are very suitable though.

Sorry for bragging and Welcome to Singapore.

[fionam100]

Thank you everyone for your replies. Actually it has helped just hearing that others have been down the same road and none of you sound insane and seem to be coped fine.

Unfortunately we can't get a maid as from what I understand my husband would need to be employed - he is an unpaid research fellow.

Will persevere looking for a good place to live - and will check out Novena and River Valley Road.

love Fiona

[jochick]

Glad I'm not the only one. Just arrived on Sunday from the UK with three boys (4.5, 3 and 1). Luckily the older two aren't too bad at walking, but I'm not finding the streets very pushchair friendly. Have needed to adopt an interesting technique on the escalators!!

Have just agreed rent on a place on the East Coast. Rents seem a bit cheaper out there and it the area feels less hectic. Let me know if you end up out that way!

Jo

[Harjit]

Hi

We are moving out there in Jan from London. I have 2 boys (2.5 years and 10 months) and so would also want to be near good nurseries/amenities. How are you finding the east coast, jochick? Anyone else recommend the area where they are living and if so, where??

Would also love to hear from anyone who might be interested in meeting up once we are out there. We have never been to Singapore and so don't really know where we should be looking to live! Really looking forward to coming out there though.

thanks!

[ffsgrelier]

hi
Have moved from th uk to sg early april. Am proud mother a 2 boys (7 and 5) and one little princess born here 3 months ago. am living near river valley and liking the area very much. Close by is Robertson Quay which is a lovely (lively in the evening) family area along the river with a promenade ideal for pushing buggy, kids ridding scooters and bikes. very central with bus and mrt at chinatown and clarke quay. Not too sure about nurseries / pre schools but most have their own bus system which picks up the kids at the door of the condo or house for a small fee. Worth checking out.
As for meeting people, there are lots of ways, this forum included and singapore is not that big . Plenty of lovely and friendly people out here.
best of luck for your move.

[jochick]

Hi Harjit,

We are very much enjoying the East Coast. It is quieter than some of the areas nearer town, and a little cooler with the breeze coming in from the sea. We can walk to the East Coast Park, which runs alongside the beach and is great for cycling/rollerblading.

Lots of kindergartens around here and I've already found a few playgroups popular with expats.

I guess the disadvantages are that it is further out from town, and we have to walk just over 1km to get to the MRT. Buses are quite good however, and taxis are so cheap here compared to the UK. Rent is a bit cheaper too.

If you're looking for a quieter life with more space around the condo it could be for you, but if you enjoy the hustle and bustle of city living, you may want something a bit closer to town. I moved here from UK countryside, so it all feels like city living to me!!

Good luck with your decision!

Jo