What age did your child start "school" in Singapore

[therat]

Pardon my typo error. I meant to say my child will be 6 years old on Jan 17, 2018 (born in 2012).

Which means, she would be attending P1 in 2019. To me, that is falling behind an year. If she were born 2 weeks or so earlier, say around Jan 1 - she would be starting school in 2018, right? So how is this not missing out an year due to a 15 day difference?

I don't understand why you keep on stress on falling behind / missing out an year.

15 day is alot.

If that is your concern, you should change or amend your child birth cerf to 1 Jan.
That's what I heard from my ex-manager. his family amend his birth date early in order "not to miss out an year" at his home town. He is not born in Singapore.

Edit to add on
I read your past posting and know where you come from.
For your information, the ex-manager that I mention was from where you from.

[maidsrch]

SMS - no, not railing. Wanted to get that clarified, so I can decide how late I can start her K1.. in this case at 5 yrs instead of 4 yrs old. Right now, my mindset is that the child should spend most of her time at home playing and learning whatever she can through play. I am not for sending my girl to classes at 18 months, as most of the folks around me seem to do.

therat - Whoa, changing the birth cert ? I am not that stressed!
Being new to the singapore education system and my daughter turning 2, I am just now waking up to the world of pushy parents, the crazy p1 registration exercise and what not. Just want to get my facts straight, is all.
Btw, what do you mean your ex-manager is where i am from ? India?
Doesnt really matter - my baby was born right here in Mt. E.

[sundaymorningstaple]

No problem. Just seemed that way.

[crimsonandviolet]

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.

I totally sympathize with all the stress that you'r encountering. Same for me too, our boy just turned 20mths but stranger thought he's 2/3/4. All questions throw at us has make this relocation easy but reaffirm our belief that Singapore can only be a base for few years before our son's legal school age at US/UK. Simply for the fact that there's plenty to see and experience. However, at the way this is going (utterly competitive society and extremely "UN"child-friendly, we'r seriously considering of moving back in couple of years so that we, as a family can be with our friends again.

Pardon my rant, but if anyone here have lived in the UK and Northwest of US would probably feel the same. We are definitely people person, strong sense of community... jee, this list might go on forever. Whilst in here, be it in CBD where most expat gather, we'r not in the same league aka, not living the lavish lifestyle and in new neighbourhood, the local are not mature enough to socialize on a pleasant level at anytime you interact with them.

The best advise i find is to stay positive and be happy. Only that, with the inner peace and genuine being happy is best for your baby All the best.

[beppi]

the local are not mature enough to socialize on a pleasant level at anytime you interact with them.

With such an attitude, you are better off where you come from and don't have to suffer such "immature" people. And we (plus the locals) also wouldn't have to tolerate you here either!

(Needless to say: By approaching Singaporeans with an open mind and friendly attitude, you won't have any such problems. I know that from my own experience of 12 years living here. I did avoid insular-minded Expats like you, though.)

[sundaymorningstaple]

^^This.

[katbh]

^^^ get out of the CBD then (CBDs in any city are usually pretty unfriendly places if you do not want to get along with your neighbours), get out of the expat haunts...get out into REAL singapore where people absolutely LOVE children. It was one of the reasons why we have stayed here so long. People here think children ARE important and not just an accessory. Why do you think education is so important to them! It is because their children are important to them.

[sundaymorningstaple]

That's why they only have 1.29 per family!

The miniature dog rate is higher! But they do dote on both the dogs and kids they do have. I'll give you that. But I thinks the dogs have a slight edge.

[beppi]

You mean ... these tiny things are DOGS???
I thought they are ornamental rats or other cute vermin!

[sundaymorningstaple]

+1

[ronnio_ron]

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

[ronnio_ron]

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

And ya - i really did not need any expat or local tell me what i need to do with my kiddo...so i guess u shud be making the choices..rather rely on peer pressure....u always know whats best and ur child might actually do well at home.....best

[PrimroseHill]

You mean ... these tiny things are DOGS???
I thought they are ornamental rats or other cute vermin!

Handbag doggies They are vile and scary

[sundaymorningstaple]

^^This!

But pickpockets definitely would stay out of your bag.

[PrimroseHill]

^^This!

But pickpockets definitely would stay out of your bag.

Should be handy in Petaling St