I learned from friends around me that it is not a norm for a 5 year old to be hanging around at home after school. Time after school is spent attending classes, enriching the mind, learning something new in a structured manner.
The mummies are tired from sending and fetching their kids to and fro lessons but they have no choice. It’s life.
I was assured that I will soon understand, from parents around me, why everyone is kept busy this way.
Perhaps I am too near sighted
Or maybe I have yet reached that point
Or worse still, I may be out of sync with the real world
This is what I understand from my 5 year old …
that Play Is A Serious Business
and My Life Revolves Around It
Hi Rachel
not all parents are like that. Only apply to those kiasu and richer ones, I guess. For mine, it is a norm to be at home after school… sometimes even no school, just home. I have granted Xuan nearly 3 weeks of unofficial home leave after her recent bout of flu. She is still at home, only returning to school next week
Rachel : hey Tin, thanks for sharing. I agree that these classes are expensive and that is probably one of the reasons why many are complaining that it is expensive to have kids.
wow, that is a long break that u r granting her, she must be loving it so much!.
Mal is so lucky to have you people as parents (you are so insightful, Rachel!) He is indeed having a ‘rare’ childhood that is not filled up with lesson after lesson!
Many of my friends talk about all the courses their kids go to. Everyone is saying about giving their kids a “good headstart”. Some even seek my opinion about certain methods they come across. Frankly I can’t give them any cos I don’t know much about them as I have NEVER been actively searching for a “good headstart” for Will. Apart from a stint at Pat’s School House (cos I taught there), Will has attended zero courses.
I’m so happy his childhood revolves around our home, the playground, the pool, the zoo, the library…etc other than private schools.
Rachel : hey Nic, thanks, I felt really flattered. Frankly speaking, for someone who have gone thru early childhood studies, I think u have lots of good advice for parents. A blog like this serves as a good place to exchange thoughts and ideas and I really appreciate your sharing.
Oh and you taught in Pat’s school, a very branded preschool, then again, I realised that many tend to correlate how good a preschool is by how much the school fees is.
Will is lucky to have such a knowledgeable mum, like u
Off topic:
Mal, would you mind take some pictures of your storage area?
We are doing renovation somewhere in Sept and will like to build some storage area to keep Yvette’s toys.
Thanks
Rachel : hey sunflower, Mal’s room is rather simple. I got most of my stuff from ikea except for a 12 bin organizer which I like very much, from Target when we were in the States. You can find this organzier here http://www.target.com/Kids-Storage-Furniture/b/ref=sc_pgb_r_5_0_10323431_1/188-0192502-8745960?ie=UTF8&node=3073811 under Whitmor Kids’ 12 Bin Organizer. I think the Pastel one will be very nice for a girl’s room.
From Ikea, I have a small Billy bookcase for his books and those boxes with roller wheels for his bigger toys. Apart from that, I also have a small antique looking wooden chest, about knee high, which comes with doors to keep the mess away from sight. Let me know if u still want a photo
hi rachel, realised i’ve not invited u to my blog yet. can i have your email pls? thanks!
Rachel : hey yi huey, my email is haifangsee@gmail.com
Wow, that very nice. But I would guess I need to spend a lot to ship them to Singapore. Thanks for sharing.
Oh yes, did you fix that (12 bin organizer) yourself?
No, I don’t need pic anymore. Thanks
Rachel : yes, need to self assemble the 12 bin organizer. I think you can find something similar like this from Ikea too.
Hi Rachel
Indeed to a child nothing is more important than playtime. I don’t think Mal is missing out on anything at all.
Every moment, Ethan will ask “Mommy (or Daddy) play with me”, from the moment he wakes, return from playgroup to after meals….His ‘job’ is to ‘play’ and mine to play with him…hehe
yes, playtime is indeed important! but please, don’t over indulge! Deshane (in P1 now) is so angry everytime i ask him to do some work, which i think is not a lot at all, due to my inconsistent teaching.
other than his sch homework, which i think is not a lot! he has many assessment books, which are pretty much untouched, and regretably past his level… ha.. i’ve been lazy, or giving him too much time to play. He does ok in English and Maths, but Chinese…. *sigh, it’s a real challenge, to the extend, I have to resort to having a tuition teacher to interest him in that subject.
I think to help them assimilate into the mainstream sch, which is unavoidable unless u plan to home sch for a long long time, it’s good to incorporate some time for study, prob when in k2 lah… although most will advice earlier… i still think they need time to play.
i think Mal is no where lacking in these enrichment classes! He has a very creative and interesting mummy to enrich him! His choice of interests are much more advanced than many his age. Ask any 5 year old or even 10 year old about planes, i think Mal will easily ramble on and on and captivate the other. Cheers to mummy’s good work!
Rachel : hey thanks for sharing and your early warning ! Will bear that in mind. Thanks!
Agree with Hoonie…
My sister (HOD in Pri school), my in laws (primary school teachers) have all told me tales of how advanced the primary school syllabus is, and how, many children just couldn’t cope when they get to primary one.
I think what’s important is to get a good, not too play-based school for the children before they reach primary 1 (ha, I simply go to the school my sister sends her 3 children to. she has done the homework for me
). The school can be more academic based, so that afternoons, weekends can be enrichment of other kinds – dancing, theatre, swimming, art and crafts, time with mummy and daddy, etc. I do not agree with sending children to academic based enrichment programmes… but non-academic ones.. they should go, for the social setting, and also becos when they reach primary one, they will not have the time to indulge in these that often anymore.