Kindergarten for 2 year old

[yoho]

Hi, all,

I am looking for an international kindergarten for my 2 year old. Anyone has good recommendations?

I was looking at Rosemount Kindergarten at Ettrick Terrace. Any comments on that kindergarten?

Have done some research, and looks like majority of the International Schools only takes 3 year old onwards.

Thanks!

[scarbowl]

I'd suggest "home schooling." A 2 year old should be home with (preferably) a parent and not be warehoused with a stranger.

Not what you want to hear, most likely, but please think about your child's needs rather than your own. He/she's only 2, right?

[missis]

I disagree. When I was in Tokyo with my 2 yo I put him in pre-school for 2 mornings a week. I didn't, and still don't, see it as "warehousing him with a stranger". He was a very active, happy child and both he and I benefitted from it. It was just 7 hours each week.
On the other hand, if OP means every day then I'd say wait until next year then!

[QRM]

Agree with Scarbowl, Gymboree at Tanglin Mall worked very well for us you have to be with the kid but its a fun way to let them play and socialize.

[jancieisoverseas]

Hey There,

Sending you child to school at 2 is really a personal choice. For some it works for others it does not. Yeah I have heard great things about Rosemount and that it is a nice homely school. This all said it sounds from your email your not ready to put your child in school. My advice, and take it or leave, would be wait another 6 months and see how you feel.

JC

[yoho]

Hi, all, thanks for the reply. Any suggestion is welcomed!

I thought to put him to kindergarten not for my benefits. The main purpose is to let him play and socialise with children of the same age as him, at the same time he can learn something. Cos' I feel that what I can teach him at home is very limited and not structured.

So it is not a good time to put him to kindergarten when he is 2 year old? Was thinking to put him there for 5 mornings, seems that it is not a very good idea. Maybe I shall start with 2 mornings first.

[QRM]

The main purpose is to let him play and socialise with children of the same age as him, at the same time he can learn something. Cos' I feel that what I can teach him at home is very limited and not structured.
.

A two year old does not need a structured environment, they are going to spend the whole of their grown up life in a structured environment so whats the hurry? When you say you are limited at home thats already being negative, just taking them for a walk in the park, along the beach, to the zoo, aquarium, library, science centre, changi airport buttefly park, swimming, ice skating, kite flying, birdwatching, prawn fishing, yellow car counting, sitting down and both reading a book, even shopping for vegis at the local wet market will teach them and YOU so much more. Meet other Mums with the same age kids and do the trips together. I read there is a group excersie meet up, using the kids are part of the workout routine. Even a bus ride is an eye opening experience for the kid, When my kid was two she loved the rocket ship adventure, which was nothing more than the pan pacific outdoor glass lifts. The kid is a clean slate its up to you what you want to make of the relationship. Fob them off on others or be part of them growing up? You always keep hearing old folks on their death bed wishing they spent more time with their kids....

[sundaymorningstaple]

That is one of the beauties of not owning a car here and using public transport like the buses and MRT (NorthSouth & EastWest lines). (buses are better though). Taking the kids from the age of 1+ and actively engage you kids the whole trip with whats outside. You cannot do that while driving your own car (well you can but that's not a very smart thing to do and rates right up their with putting on your makeup and talking on your cellphone while eating your McD's brekkie and driving on the CTE. My kids loved to go for bus rides, and a lot weren't even Air conditioned back then. By two my son could name damned near any piece of heavy equipment he could see and my daughter knew almost every fruit & vegetable in Tekka and by the age of 5 she knew them in both English & Mandarin. Structure? Nah. What they need is engagement. Big difference.

[missis]

While I agree that taking them out and about is of course beneficial I also think mixing with other children is good too. My son was not "fobbed off on others" and I actually find that quite a nasty, unnecessary thing to say. Get off your high horse! We were in Japan and I found it hard work keeping my very active son entertained 7 days a week (and at that time he was up at 5am every morning - but that's another story). He loved his pre-school and (apart from the first day of course!) never had any problems with it. I'm sure when I have another child here I'll look into pre-schools here too.

[QRM]

I can see a bit of a time issue if you have three kids and no help or the kid is a bit.. what the PC term these days "a bit of a handfull"?, but most expats have home help to do the chores.

You end up with all the fun bits about looking after a kid, find me a normal kid that is not active? Mixing with kids is very much part of the whole growing up experience, which is why I recommended Gymboree and meeting other mums/dads. A two year old can only just walk, put it this way ask a two year old would he like to be stuck in a detol smelling room with plastic toys or be out and about with his parents we all know the answer.

I like my high horse, its a tough job getting up in the saddle but once there the view is stunning.

[road.not.taken]

Kindergarten can have several interpretations, but for people from the US, Canada and most parts of Europe it means compulsory education beginning around 5 years of age. I think the OP is looking for a pre-school or a day care center where a two year old can learn to socialize and play. I'll go on record: a 2 year old does not belong in Kindergarten. Full stop.

[missis]

I can see a bit of a time issue if you have three kids and no help or the kid is a bit.. what the PC term these days "a bit of a handfull"?, but most expats have home help to do the chores.

You end up with all the fun bits about looking after a kid, find me a normal kid that is not active? Mixing with kids is very much part of the whole growing up experience, which is why I recommended Gymboree and meeting other mums/dads. A two year old can only just walk, put it this way ask a two year old would he like to be stuck in a detol smelling room with plastic toys or be out and about with his parents we all know the answer.

I like my high horse, its a tough job getting up in the saddle but once there the view is stunning.

His room didn't "smell of detol" and he wasn't stuck inside it, they had a lovely playground and a wonderful "teacher". I didn't have help with the chores (not affordable in Tokyo) and the only time I had to do said chores was when he spent the (repeat) 7 hours a week at the pre-school. I agree that there is a lot more to do out and about here in Singapore but please don't condemn people for choosing a pre-school for their 2 year old on a couple of mornings a week.
Maybe we should just agree to disagree on this...

[MinniMe]

Ups, touchy subject I see

I have put my both kids to Kindergarden (2-3 days/week) when they were 2 yrs old.

For us major reason: learning English, which we don't speak at home

2nd big reason: my younger one got so frustrated at being at home in the mornings while big sister was at school that it became almost unbearable, and in the afternoon she was so horrible to her big sister. I put her to a playgroup 3 days/week, and she's so much happier.

So, maybe I'm a bad and lazy mom, but this has worked for us perfectly. And I really don't care what the others think about me

[kwy]

Agree in part with most of the posters above.
We applied the same logic as MinniMe, sending our boy two mornings a week to chinese immersion class at 2 years old because we don't speak it at home. The class is full of expat kids whose parents just like us thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to expand the child's mind with another language.
It is play based and I consider it to be kind of baby sitting in chinese.
He loves it.
MinniMe I doubt anyone would think of you as a bad lazy mum.

cheers all

[samsarah]

It's very interesting to read the views of all. I'll like to share from the view of a pre-school teacher. I work in a Montessori Kindergarten where we have children from 2-6 yrs. I don';t think this is isolated only to a MOntessori school, but the program for a 2 year old comprises 3 hours of engaging activities in a free and prepared environment. I often see that these very young children do enjoy school after they overcome the separation anxiety. And they do progress very well... not simply the academically but emotionally and socially as well