Comments on: preschool predicament

By: Christianne

Christianne — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 21:24:14 +0000

Really, 4-year-old kids can write in English and Mandarin? Amazing… The kindergarten system in Germany sounds similar to preschools/daycares here in Sweden, where the emphasis is on creative and outdoor play - I think they are formally taught reading and writing at age 5 or 6.

I’m sure Jan will catch up very soon, and he has an advantage over his classmates here, because they might have never had the opportunities for play that he had… just make he doesn’t lose that fun-loving spirit by taking him out often for family free time

By: Hsien Lei

Hsien Lei — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 08:22:43 +0000

I can’t wait to hear more about your life in Singapore esp. Jan’s experience in school. One of these days, I will end up living there and I’m a little worried about what it will be like for Stephen in school. Don’t know if we will opt to send him to local school or American school…. :/

By: Linnor

Linnor — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 19:59:10 +0000

Kids are like sponge. They will assimilate everything quite easily. Jan will catch up in no time.

By: analyse

analyse — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 08:58:41 +0000

im sure he will adjust himself in no time. i think it’s better nga in that direction, my niece left the phils when she was 4 years old and she knew a lot already, she even knew how to write her name na, and then, arriving in an american school (in japan), wherein it was more play than learn, as in bored sya and she wanted to go home..

By: ruth

ruth — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 00:49:01 +0000

hi tin: that’s what i’m hoping. he is such a curious child and with the right approach, i know he can be an eager learner. i just hope he adjusts to the structured learning, with space left for creativity.

meeya, oo nga, hindi SYA ang insecure, and i hope he never feels that way. it’s probably not that different than the more competitive schools sa pinas. it’s just that it’s a big change from what he was used to in germany na puro laro lang the whole day, the emphasis being more on developing social skills and preparing the kids emotionally and psychologically for school.

rhada: tumpak. i’m happy that he’s found friends agad (dun sya sa makukulit napadikit, parang magnet, haha); i think for him, that’s one of the perks in going to school, yung playmates.

che: am not sure sa lugar nyo dyan sa bayern, pero dun kasi sa previous kindergarten ni jan, they didn’t think that a vorschule program was necessary. so it was perfectly fine going to first grade na zero knowledge. pero i know that in other cities, kids have the possibility (optional lang) of going to a vorschule at 5 yrs old. personally, i think that the years prior to school are better left free. there’s enough time for learning from grade 1 onwards.