Hah?! Not yet go to school?
Saturday, 25 February, 2006
Parenting | 笔者: Twinsmom
Yesterday I brought the girls to 1U Kidzsport, while the girls happily playing in the playground, I having some casual conversation with some of the mothers there.
Then there was this mother of a almost 2 years old toddler, asked me how old are my girls.
“They are consider 4 years old this year, but they born in the end of the year, so they just three years and 4 months old.”
“Oh, three years old already? they looks very tall on their age. So? they go to school already.”
“Ah, no, not yet, they will go to kindergarten next year, for two years.”
“Hah?! They not yet go to school? they already four this year!” She was totally surprise, with her eye wide open.
“Emm… I think two years in Kindergarten is enough for them.”
Then we changed suject.
She was not the only one gave me that “surprise” look, some of my friends, and some of the mothers I barely know.
I know I talk about this a number of times, I still think my girls needs only two years of kindergarten (count themselve lucky, their mother never attent kindergarten). But I think the stress of early education in the recent years have had a great impact to a lot of young mothers, that was why she is so surprise my girls still stay home at 4.
Well, to me if the mother is working, should be OK to send the kids to nursery as early as two or three, after all they have company, and learn soemthing in the same time.
but I am a SAHM, what for to send the girls to nursery in the early age? serve no purpose for me, really don’t see the point.
BTW, the lady I talked to is a SAHM too, may be send the toddler to nursery so can have some time for herself.
Ah… I can’t wait for my turn next year.
oh, now the trend is going the kindy/pre-school for more than 2 years? didn’t know about this at all. 2 years not enough meh? how many years they want it?
i prefer your way, maria. i went for 2 years … it turned out fine. see how great i am … haha…
enjoy more time with your girls … later you’ll have to share them with many ppl, like the teacher, the school mates … no longer yours, solely.
One of my friend’s mother also told me to send my girl to nursery when she reached two, I just smile and kept quiet. No plan yet, as she is just 1.5 year only.
I only enter kindy at 6 yrs old back then.
i totallky agree with u lar..what for send kids to nursery so early??? aigh…those kiasu parents ar…aighh…
>> Greenapple, your are right! I better enjoy the time that the girls still think “Mommy is always right” moment, othewise later they might be like my friend’s kids “Mommy, you are wrong! teacher said cannot like this this this, have to be that that that…”
*sweat*…
>> Jefferene, I actually like those fun and play session, which the mommy/daddy can join in too, those I don’t mind. but hand my kids to someone in the early stage really not what I want, unless I am working, then no choice lor.
>> Milly, sometime not all because of the parent kia-su, it could be the parent want some time off for themselve, can be very stressful watching the kids 24/7. hahaha… see? if I got money may be I think the different way
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I think of sending Xuan to kindergarten/pre-school is because he is so lonely at home. I want him to meet more people other than his daddy and mummy.
U see, we here no relative and don’t have many friends, people he met are very limited. He now 2 yrs old, but tend to be very unfriendly and shy. But, but until now I still haven’t send him to any playgroup or kindy yet. ai… u know very well what is my problem right?
yeah loh not so early for them lah…
I agree with Maria, but if can teach by ourself is no problem then is oklar.
I send my son to nursery cause i really dun have time to teach him and i cant too cause he wont sit down let me teach him -.-’, and that time my maid just went home i need to takecare the twins by myself so very hard to teach him.
Now i just let him go join some friends at nursery and i can teach my gal at home. If my son at home i cant teach them at all, he want mommy attend to him all time.
Do u teach ur girl at home ah? writing or drawing? I’m sure singing & playing computer sure learn alots liao lah…hehe
Just wondering lah..Frankly speaking, I donno how to teach SQ oso..:P ..I thinking of 2 years kindergarden oso..but didn’t teach her at home, will it abit waste of time for just playing at grandmother’s house?????haii..donno lah…lucky I still have another 1 – 2 years to think about this…hehe
You should say your gals are attending top, best and smart school with 2 to 1 teacher attention. It is called TwinsMom Home School!!
>> ShiauLin, your case is more tough, really not easy for you to make the change, If I am in you situation I also don’t know what to do, join playgroup need to travel far, I afraid not only you tire, Xuan will be tire too.
>> Leecs, My sister Bridgette let her son stay home on the last semester on his second year of kiddy, reason? “以后有排巨读，系屋企玩吓先。” (in the future he will need to study a long while, now stay home play first.)
>> 1+2mom, 鱼与熊掌不可兼得吓？
>> msau, at home with them, I draw with them lor, write? not that much lar. emm… recently read for them (even though most of the time, they read to me in alien language), and teach them alphabet, number, and and start teaching them to spell their name.
last time when I was young, I remember my mom teach me from the newspaper, point to the words, and ask me to follow, may be your mom also can do the same? you will be amaze how the kid can pick up.
>> Michelle, I say man…. now I wish someone ask me the same thing and give me a “surprise” look. Thank you, thank you
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yeah lor… if the girls go school liao… lagi boring and lonely being SAHM
anyway… I also plan to send my son for a max of two years only (if possible one year) for his kindergarten
Kindergarten isn’t for everybody. I was a really shy kid so i had no friends and hated it…but read a lot of books at home so learned a lot anyway even after dropping out. Plus, a study found that daycare can be pretty stressful for young kids. Not to condemn people who put their kids ina nursery cos they have to work…but just thinking that if you don’t have to, then don’t lah. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4261120.stm
In terms of learning, I don’t think they’re in any way behind by being at home, its only the social skills that make us worry a little bit sometimes yes? Sometimes I worry that my girl is too shy etc from just being at home with me all day but then I think “What the heck, 2 years should be more than enough to learn “social skills”. At home, I let her set her own pace for learning, eg. when she starts showing interest in alphabets, I teach her that, when she starts showing interest in numbers, I teach her that. Now she’s beggining to show interest in telling time, writing and forming words so I teach her that but she is the one who takes the initiative to write and she doesn’t get pushed to do homework at such a young age. Usually I just guide her along but she learned her alphabets, numbers and now writing mostly on her own by trying out herself and asking for help when she doesn’t know how to.
I also got that surprise look too!
Wien is 4 this year, no school yet, plan to enter by next year!
>> Egghead, actually after almost four years staying at home, I kind of look forward for next year, I will have few hours of free time to do something I like, eg. sleeping
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>> Megabigblur, thanks for the article, feel motivated being a SAHM
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yah, I came accross a article about nursery caused damage to kid in MalayMail last week too. but some family just can’t have only single income to sustain their commitment, so no choice and resort to sending the child nursery in the early age.
>> MG, *hi-5*, we have almost the same way to interact with our kids.
hehehe… then how about me? no kiddy before, how about my social skill then? but have to admit I felt lost on the first day in standard one, standing like a log during reset (whao, who say my memory is bad). but then I got a “boyfriend” soon in the end of the day, and till graduated hahaha… how cool.
>> Jesslyn, hahaha… so see the answer Michelle gave? next tiem someone give surprise look to you again, may be you can use that answer too hehehe…
Maria, my gal is oso 4, I’m a FTWM and I still have not send her to nursery or pre-school yet. I oso think dat 2 years will be enough for her. Like what I’ve commented in Shopping Mom’s blog:
“It’s true dat parents are the culprits in stressing their kids to have good grades. Seems dat the kids are being compared by the parents. Come to think of it? Sending them to tuition even when they are in kindy (true, I have frens doing dat). Homework, homework and homework. I think the kids will go ‘gila’. Poor kids.”
Yippeee! Maria, we are not alone. Hands and legs up for what Michelle mentioned.
Actually I was planning to look for a playschool for Zara to attend next year.. not for studying, but more for picking up social skills, having group play with kids her same age..
In our society, the thing is we don’t have much play group organised by parents. If we have, then play school is not necessary. I know in other countries, kids just go to play group, and do the same thing as what you will do in play school.
>> Tracy, my SIL who migrated to Australia told me that the nursery and kiddy in down under, not so stress on the study, but a lot playing. Whereas in Malaysia kiddy alrealy have to go for tuition, scary? and one of my friend even “threaten” me — if I don’t send my kids to nursery now, they going to need tuition in kiddy! wha cheh… thanks goodness I have all of you here fro the feed back, hahaha… otherwise I will send them to nursery liao
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>> Zara’s mum, Whne you chose the nursery, look see on their curriculum, I check out some nursery before, they have homework! even though not compulsorily finish it, but still… imagine some others mother compare with you about the kid’s “homework”.
)
Oh, make sure their place are clean, especially some have water playing actitvity, make sure their pool are being clean every session. And brace yourself and Zara of any infection, my SIL#2 told us her daughter’s nursery not aware of one of the kid got HFM diseace, and let the kid come to nursery! (sorry lar, not mean to scare you, but just a reminder