BedokAmerican wrote:I get asked at least once a week where my son goes to school. He's 19.5 months old and doesn't go to school or to any enrichment center. He goes to weekly music classes at the
condo, a structured playgroup and sometimes an additional unstructured one. We also play, swim, look at books, practice letters, etc.
Some people seem taken back and concerned when I say he's not in a formal school. However, he doesn't pay attention for most of the structured things he goes to anyway (toddlers, particularly boys, hate sitting still) so spending loads of money on school doesn't make sense.
I realize some schools in Singapore will start taking kids at 18 months or earlier but I didn't think he'd need school until he was 3 or 4. I hope what he's already doing is enough and I don't want him falling behind, but I also don't want him having a mid-life crisis before age 10.
It's almost as if there's "peer pressure" to get your kid into school as soon as possible, even among some expats. Seems insane. Has anyone else found things to be this way?
When did you send your kids to school in Singapore? If they started really young, did they get much out of it?
Thanks.
Hi BedokAmerican,
Well few things before I rant - I am Bedok expat father with a 2yr 10 mnths old daughter and decently well-off, but no the lavish options available kind, if u get my drift....
My daughter was extremely active and i started her off in a playgroup while she was 1.5 yrs old mostly because we needed to get her steam blowing in the right direction, rather than break stuff at home....this worked out all too well, primarily by now she loves going to school and secondly she already has been in school for over a year....part KL, part Singapore....
this has really helped for her to make frnds, meet new ppl and give her mother some time to get house work done by the time she is back at noon...
she now goes to a local school in bedok and is extremely happy about it...hope this helps where you may also think about playgroups or schools.
the school my daughter goes will give certificates, is registered with the authorities and will be used for when she joins a primary school....
hope this helps...
Ron