HK Preschool - Royal Ascot

sandythepooh

Hi MayAnne,

We two are morning session gals, browsing BK during the day  

I don't think lauguage is a barrier to pui pui, as she's smart..... if you feel that she's not comfortable in Chinese environment, probably she's taking her time to adjust, coz Eng is her mother tongue.  It's normal for kids at their age to play alone and agree with Joey, they'll figure out their own way to communicate.... like HH, he seldom talk either, but still survive among the peers

To me, the teaching approach and environment between local and international schools are quite different and I guess that're the points that you have to consider.  In Hong Kong, some local schools can be really "traditional", one way teaching, no opportunities for kids to explore, no activity.....but I think HKPS is ok in this sense to provide kids a balanced learning life......I know some international schools also teach Chinese and maybe you can explore that as well.

Don't worry.... just give some more time and see..... I'm sure you can make the right choice for pui pui    

sandythepooh

joey,

won't you scare that we'll tell the teachers      

Enjoy today

joeykcwu 寫道:
Haha, we are going to Disneyland tomorrow!  Wai Wai will not go to school!       

sandythepooh

YCT,

yes, please let us know how much we should pay for the BBQ      

sandythepooh

Hi, everyone

It's quiet today......

Anyone knows the updated news of Yanyan? Hope she's discharged from the hospital and home now...

MayAnne

Hi everyone,

Thank you so much for all the good advices I have been getting regarding schools. I'm so lost especially when I only went to school at the age of 6. So everything is very new to me and I am very grateful to all your replies.

To Joey, you are quite right. It's only been 3 months since Pui Pui was exposed to Cantonese and she's already improving to the level that she's comfortable talking in Cantonese (although not as much as English). I should give it time and with the help and support from all of you, she may do very well. I guess she's only 2 and still developing her language (and social skills).

I know she doesn't still understand quite a lot of Cantonese but like what you (Joey) and Sandy have said, kids have their own way of communicating with one another (probably at their age, play is more important than talking).... and yes, Sandy, I agree that HKP does offer a balance between the carefree environment given to international students and the disciplining that is required for the local students. I wonder if they have primary schools that have such a balance too?

Pui used to go to TutorTime and the rules were more relaxed. It's good in a way because the kids are more confident. Pui even stood in front of the class or beside the teacher and did all actions to songs. At HKP, I heard she was told to go back to her chair. There's no right or wrong, it's just different ways on teaching. I know I'm very relaxed with pui in regards to her eating (she's had lobsters, abalone, crabs, peanuts, chicken feet etc) and I do let her run around barefooted in shopping centres and let her eat food that's fallen onto our apartment floor.... there was even a time when my british friend took her son and Pui Pui out shopping and our kids pushed a cardboard stand full of hair accessories on the floor. Good grief, thank goodness I wasn't there!!!

HKP local stream is good in that it helps Pui get used to the local disciplining which I think is quite important also.

To ChunYuMommy, fortunately I'll still keep her here for primary school. I'll only take her to Sydney when she's 13 (for her secondary schooling and above). Hopefully by then she'll have the basics in Cantonese that will last her her lifetime. Fingers crossed I don't expect her to read chinese literature unless she's interested. I learnt Mandarin in the latter half of my primary schooling (for 3 years) but sad to say that I didn't understand what I was reading. I just read the pinyin like it was in English.

To GaGa Mummy, if I look at her current circle of friends, I must admit that her English speaking friends only talk in English. While they get taught Mandarin at school, I doubt any of my friends' children know it well. I'm very happy knowing you guys... because now Pui Pui also has Cantonese speaking friends

What we would like is for Pui to concentrate on her Chinese first before she goes to Sydney. All of you are pretty good. You can speak three languages: English, Cantonese and Mandarin. I'm hoping the same for Pui Pui. I know if she goes to International, her mandarin isn't going to be good because they don't speak it daily and she'll only really have English. But by going local, she could have both Cantonese and English, and if I'm lucky she'll have Mandarin too This is the benefit of being in HK. But I do worry sometimest that when she goes back to Sydney, she won't be fluent in English. Ah... so much to think about.

Thanks to all....

BTW, Pui counts in Chinese with an English accent. Sounds so weird......

MayAnne

Hi Joey, do tell us about your trip to Disney. I haven't been yet

Sandy, yeah, looks like we are the DAYTIME servers of Baby Kingdom. Hee hee.

May123, is everything okay? As Sandy have said, we've missed you.....

ChunYuMommy

Hi All,

Chun Yu hasn't got any new story books yet since he had returned books last thursday, if there is no story reading scheme in school this week?

MayAnne

There is. We got ours last Friday. They only give out on Fridays so if Chun Yu was absent on Friday, then they may skip giving him new books. That happened with Pui Pui. She was away from school for many days and then we had to read the same books to her from the previous week.

GaGaMummy

ChunYuMommy 寫道:
Hi All,

Chun Yu hasn't got any new story books yet since he had returned books last thursday, if there is no story reading scheme in school this week?

Hi ChunYuMommy,
Ga Ga has received the new story books last week.  I think the teachers might have missed putting them in Chun Yu's school bag.  You may ask the teachers tomorrow.

金毛B媽

MayAnne

Don't think too much.  Kids know how to adjust their language in front of different group of people.  If they talk to foreigner, they speak English.  If they talk to Chinese, they change to speak Mandarine or cantonese.  

I remember I read the article which said the child under 6, their memory is so strong to store the different kind of language.  If parent want to their childred speak fluent of several language, they need to let the childred learn before 6 years old.  

That why I let Rocco to studying Int'L class.  I'm not sure this is true or not.  Let see the future    

金毛B媽

YCT

could you pls pm your bank account to me.  I want to tsf the BBQ $$ to you

Once again, thank you so much

MayAnne

Got two questions - so sorry.

First question:-

Pui Pui doesn't like her blankets. She keeps kicking them off so that in the morning when it gets cold, she has nothing covering her.

In the past I put a sleeping bag but now she doesn't want one and can unzip to get out of it. In Sydney, we have a reversible air-conditioner/heater or a gas one that is quite safe... just press the button and the heater is on. We also have carpets to keep our feet warm in Sydney. But here in HK, the fan heaters or the enamel heaters are so dangerous to put on while she sleeps. So what can we do to keep them warm especially when winter is approaching? At the moment, I get up several times a night to cover her (and to pick her up when she falls out of bed and onto a mattress).

Any input will be so helpful to us.....I don't even know if this is one of the reasons she keeps getting sick. Thanks.

Second question:

We are going to a wedding in January. Now that Pui Pui's older, we need a seat for her and she may nibble at the food on the table. If she gets a seat and nibbles on the food, do we have to pay extra HK$500 for her?

We went to a wedding last month and only paid HK$1000 for hubby and myself... but Pui Pui also ate a bit of the food.

MayAnne

金毛B媽,

Yes, I've read that too so it's an excellent idea to get our kids learning many different languages.... that's why I chose the local stream. She gets lots of English at home and I'm hoping Cantonese at school.... (and a bit of Putunghua as well).

I really think that Chinese is a harder language to learn than English. English is hard because you have past, future and present tense. But when you learn the technique, it's quite easy. Even the grammar's not too hard. Pui Pui's learning all of these through conversations now but as she gets older, I can't wait to teach her the proper way. I already have materials from my school days. Maybe your kids can come join too at the appropriate age. Hee hee.
Chinese you need to memorise.... and it's better done early. The older you get, like at my age, I cannot remember all the strokes no matter how hard I try. It's sooo easy to forget a week or two later.

sandythepooh

MayAnne,

pui pui's sleeping habit is quite similar to Hayhay.... his sleeping position and direction is changing every night and I'm much lazy than you.... I seldom check on HH at night and only rely on my helper to put HH's blanket on (but I know she rarely do that too, as she sleep so sweet)..... so I'll make sure HH have enough clothes on even he kick away the blanket (I let him wear sleep suit, vest or thick pyjama) and use the pillow/stuff animals to fix the blanket..... the ceramic heater that I'm using now is quite ok (except that you need to turn on a humidifier as well) coz it's surface is not hot, have the function that the power will automatically turn off if the machine tip-over..... I have a cat at home as well and so far I find the heater is safe to my cat and HH.  Here's a similar one [click here] and you can find similar product in any electric applicance shop.......

For your 2nd question, if I'm in your case, I may give $1,000 or $1,200......  

YCT

Hi all buddy      long time no see!

I disappered since the computer networking occur error.

MayAnne, I haven't any ideas of local/internation stream to you coz their advices are as same as what I expressed.    To me, both English and Mandarin are the most important nowadays.

YCT

金毛B媽 寫道:
YCT

could you pls pm your bank account to me.  I want to tsf the BBQ $$ to you

Once again, thank you so much

Pls check PM!

YCT

joeykcwu 寫道:
MayAnne, I think most of our classmates have been visited Disneyland before.  This is the second time for Wai Wai.  Quite nice there.  Although it is not so big, my two kids like to play something again and again!  Even taking photos with some characters, they like to stay there to watch!  Will send you pictures if you want.

How about other classmates experience in there?

We just visited Disneyland for the first time on Yan Yu's birthday (Sept/15).  Since we arrived there very late, around 12:00pm, we haven't enough time to play all the games (just played Merry-go-around, little fly elephant & Winnie the pooh talk stories) and take photos with all characters (just took with Chip 'n' Dale which they're just at the lobby of Hollywood Hotel).  On that day the weather was poor, fell some rain, Yan Yu slept around 5pm so we have to back to hotel, extremely exhausted! :cry:  So my suggestion is take photo with all characters first, then play games.

may123

好耐冇上來了,因近來真的好忙,好忙

焮焮星期日出左院,其實那一日佢於早上都仲有少少燒,但之後退左.,我就堅持要佢出院,醫生話有機會會發高燒, :tongue: 但我諗佢幾日以來都是低燒,病情穏定,都係出左院,好開心,到今日佢都沒有再燒,我諗佢好返晒了,但為左比佢休息下,呢個星期比佢係屋企

仔仔呢,而家都係屋企,因焮焮未出院時,仔仔發燒,其實我諗係比我傳染到佢的,因我一 心諗住我成日係醫院陪焮焮,,所以有一日輪到焮爸睇焮焮時,咁我就同個仔出街玩,即日發燒, 原來我自己都發緊燒,到今日,我都唔敢話比焮爸聽

呢幾日沒有工人,中點又未找到喎,而我又係一個唔鐘意做家務的人,總之真係好辛苦啦

希望雨過天清,可以同焮焮仔仔週圍去街玩