Shanghai Mommies Club

critic

Little Wing,

Hope you and Wing Wing are feeling better and able to fly!  I was thinking to take my son to HK for 2 weeks, then, I consider it's too hot (SH is hot but at least the apartment is bigger & can stay home) If we're in HK, I have to take him out everyday, it's quite troublesome.  I've enrolled him to the Chinese course, I spoke to the teachers, at first, they don't want him because he is too young.  Finally, I convinced them to let him try (I told them he's smart & will behave well, not cry....) Will start from next Monday, 9:00am - 10:30am, 5 kids per class.  They said, most parents expect their kids can learn 500-600 words in the stage 1, as my son is younger, they ask me don't expect the same result. Fee is Rmb700/month + Rmb40 material.

I hope him to do one more thing in the afternoon, gym or whatever, will update you.

QQMOMQQ

LittleWing,

Hope you & Wing Wing will soon recover.  

M_Law

hi !!  tingting&hinhinmommy

Is it possible to bring house helper to Shanghai with our family, it is because we go to Shanghai at Mid of August 2005 with my house helper.  Please advice,  (1)  How to pay the salary to her ?
(2)  How long she can stay in Shanghai every time? Is every six months her need back to HK apply China VISA again?
(3) I only buy the Travelsure Protection Plan for she is enough? Now, Hang Seng Bank is promoted is 180days is around HK$1,000-.

   

joannek

I couldn't access BK for many days. I have posted 2 messages tonight and disappeared!  :evil:  It is my 3rd message!

Critic,

It sounds that u won't send the kid to summer school. He must make u busy then.

Littlewing,

Drop us few lines when u have time. I guess u went back on Wed. Take care.

Sandydojo + Other HK mum who will move to SH,

Here are 2 of those baby's stuff companies:
1. 爱婴室 Tel# 63080560 www.aiyingshi
2。 天天乐 Tel#62183881

critic

joannek,

I won't send him to summer class, call me if you'll arrange gathering. It's too expensive in Wunan, it's not worth. They just group all the students together & have different teacher to taking care of them and no English teacher. Why don't I have to pay 4500 for free play?

I'll take him to Si Nan Nursery to register today! My staff told me that is a very good & famous nursery in Shanghai. (I guess it's the oldest). It's owned by government, school fee is Rmb 900 for passport holder.  When I first called them, they told me they are full but I insisted to take him there have a try.  The principal greeted us (she is the kindest principal I've met in Shanghai, I still never meet the one from Wu Nan!) She showed us around and explained their history. In the 50s, only 2 local nurseries can accept foreign kids, one is Si Nan, another is Wu Nan.  Recently, Wu Nan changed to a private school and charge US$500/month.

I've talked to my son's English teacher yesterday as she is leaving and will work in Shanghai Comm Intl School.  She explained that my son's English level is above his peers and next class's students.  They are still learning ABCs and sounds of English.  He won't learn much if continuous stuyding there.... I've told her that I'lll send him to local school, she suggests me to homeschool English at home. (I hope I will have the time to do it!)

critic

Hi all,

today is my first day holiday but has discovered a lot and must share with you:

In the morning, I took my son to register at Si Nan Nursery, the exciting news is if I pay extra Rmb 25/month, my son can stay there until 7:00 pm. (perhaps with dinner too?)  He'll study in another campus which is even closer to our home.  Then, we discovered there's a very nice indoor playground next to his school (they shared the same park). Very clean with air-condition, lots of toys, indoor slides etc... we walked in and the people said the center is only for age 0-3 babies.  My son cried and I asked him, "You asked the teachers to let you play."  My son went to them and said, "I am baby too."  So, they let him go & play. (we suppose have to pay Rmb 8 & they did not charge us).  When we started to play, a teacher approached me & asked where we come from.  She used to be principal in Victoria School in Shenzhen. She said, the center is 卢湾早期教育指导中心 and they have lots of service to provide.

joanne & sandy : I guess, there's 早期教育指导中心 in your area, check and take your baby there, it's so comfortable & very clean.   But the one in my area only open once a week - Friday from 9:00am-11:00am, they have classes for babies, e.g. singing, reading, with instructors to teach you how to sing/massage to babies.

We continous our trip to register the Chinese reading course, the center is nothing fancy. They hire teacher from nursery to teach Chinese, show them flashcards etc..  My son will join 4 other kids. I have asked them to prepare some toys.

Followed by, we went to a baby training center in Chang Le Lu, the center is for new-born babies, very clean & tidy. Nurses are teaching the moms to massage babies. They have speical swimming pools for babies. (I though my son can try but seems not possible - very small).  Sandy, you can call 54035206 - 2042 (maybe it's extension?)  to check the schedule.  They have a playground for babies to learn how to crawl, but I prefer the 卢湾早期教育指导中心, they have created many area for babies to crawl.

Then, we discovered a very big train shop in Xin Le Road. They display a 'real' locomotive with track in the shop and have lots of train sets.

My first day report is done, over!

joannek

Critic,

I went to my son's kindergarten yesterday. There are same numbers of class during summer holiday. However, we will have different teachers in the next 2 mths. As the main campus will be closed in August (we are studying in the 'branch', that's what they call), we may have teachers from the main campus. They have confirmed that foreign English teacher will teach them as normal.

I also confirm that there are 25 kids in the Pre-K1 class, break into 2 groups. Our current English teacher (Australian) will teach them till next Chinese NY. So, we will stay in the same kindergaten and consider to change or not next Feb. BTW, the Pre-K1 class will not teach any writing, artwork, group work and recognising words are the core area. If possible, I will teach him how to write numbers and A-Z from the coming Sept.

Si Nan is a good and famous kindergarten as your friend said. How can u join them easily? Do u need to pay the sponsership fee?

I want to go out but too too too HOT....Anyway, let me know whenever u go to Century Park. The swimming pool in my club house is charged $30/1.5hr. Kid half price. Do u want any gathering next wk? Just worry u r busy as your relatives are in your place now...

LittleWing,

My son likes DWE so much. I am sure he can learn numbers and alphabet easily. Thank you very much.

joannek

tingting&hinhinmommy,

I think Dulwich College and BISS are located in Pudong. You are better to confirm where u will stay frist, at least Pudong or Puxi. If not, there are many American Schools in both Pudong and Puxi. Traffic in Sh is not as good as in HK. It is better to choose one is nearby your place.

joannek

Sandydojo and Critic,

Forgot to let u know that I will take Oliver to Gymboree for an induction course on next Friday. They have rung me for many time. To be honest, I won't join them cos' they are too commercial and with bad attitude. The cheapest class is $135/40mins. I will take Oliver to 早教中心 next Sept, when he is around 1 yr 9 mth old. Tsun Tsun joined the 早教中心 when he was 2 yr old.

Critic,

Would u please PM me the address for the train shop? I would like to buy a set of train to Tsun Tsun. Take care as it is 38C outside ah!

critic

Here's the nursery info:

思南路幼儿园 (will go to this one)
　　思南路幼儿园创办于1956年，是一所在国内外享有盛誉的示范性涉外幼儿园。幼儿园在以儿童需要为核心的教育实践理念指导下，构建了凸现早期综合素质培养的优质教育模式，同时构筑为家长、社区提供指导的一流服务网络。该园素来被称为“未来人才的摇篮”。近年来，幼儿园以脑科学、教育生态学等理论为指导，提出了“教育，从辨别儿童需要开始”的先进教学理念，进行儿童早期的行为养成和思维品质的课程开发与改革，尤其在幼儿早期数概念的教学方面有深入研究。

乌鲁木齐南路幼儿园 (04-05 in this one)
　　乌南幼儿园创建于1956年，是市示范性幼儿园、市课程教材改革研究基地幼儿园，市文明单位和市花园单位等。该园以创办“国际化、精品化的中外儿童乐园”的办园目标，将国际上的先进教育理念融进幼儿园的教育实践中，形成宽松、和谐、开放、能满足幼儿发展需求的保教环境，倡导平等、理解、宽容、接纳和支持的师生关系，注重幼儿的素质启蒙教育和良好个性的培养，重视挖掘幼儿的多元智能和潜能，激发幼儿积极自主地学习。

南阳实验幼儿园 (also considering this one, very close to my office)
　　南阳实验幼儿园是第一批被市教委批准的市示范性幼儿园。幼儿园注重学前孩子良好素质的启蒙教育，注重面向孩子的生活、游戏、运动和学习，注重引进国外的先进教育观念和方案，以正式与非正式活动最优化组合的模式为基础，关注孩子个体良好的发展，激发孩子感受世界的兴趣，形成了“幼儿思维发展见长”的特色，使孩子“健康且活泼、文明能合作、聪颖会思考、自主善表现”。

critic

joanne,

When we registered today, the principal was around and she told me that she accepted my son was because he can communicate very well and talkative.  I guess, one more reason is he is holding US passport & actually they thought my husband is gweloi, because of my son's gweloi look.  Anyway, I like her attitude.  Most principals are very cool. The ayi at the school's entrance is also very nice and keep talking to my son.  She was using a fan and my son kept asking her, "Are you very hot?" "why you have to stay here if it's hot?"  Then he turned to me and speak in English that, "It's very hot because the sun is shinning."

If there's any early education center that I've mentioned in your area, managed by government? I found they are quite professional, better than HK.

I have called another cheating center, so-called "early MBA" and asks for RMB2800/month, once a week, 2 hours/week.  

The train shop address :
100 North Xiang Yang Road (taxi is North Xiang Yang Road / Xin Le Road)  tel. 54031701.

(Close to the Xiang Yang Park) The sales introduce a train set, which is Rmb 290 (with engineer, 2 cars, & tracks). I did not buy because I never buy toys in front of my son and he got 2 train sets at home.

My mom is here on July 15, so if you will arrange gathering, I can come. I want to take him to swim. I'll call Four Seasons Hotel to see if they can monthly membership for the fitness center & pool.

Won't go out, too hot.

angelachan

hi all SH mom,
thanks to critics and joannek for the information.
Finally,  I decided to move to SH on late Sept or early Oct this year .I think I will be a full time mom until my older son go to nusery and I can find a reliable nanny to take care of my few months old baby. I still want to find a partime job in SH if any.
I have not decided which nusery for my son who will be two when he was in SH. I plan to look around first.
I think the international school is toooooo expensive and nusery is just a place for my son to play in my opinion. So i will try to look for those local one as well and of course near to our home. Critic, do you think  si nan is difficult to enter?

For the issue of bringing the phil maid to SH, I have not really ask my agent but I think I will only apply the travel visa for her. I think a working visa will be very troublsome.

Hope to see you all later.

joannek

Critic,

I thought your mum and nieces were here!

How can u find the kindergarten info? I know the early education centre u r talking about (early MBA one). My neighbour (Mrs. NZ) send her daughter to there every Sunday. But she is not joining the eMBA class. The price is as similar as Gymboree. She also takes her daughter to MegaFit on Sat for balle class. You may have a look in MegaFit Puxi. Family member is 10k/yr.

Tsun Tsun has many cars but not planes and trains. I would like to buy something different to him.

Hi All,

Let's have a lunch gathering next week if the weather is fine. How's about Wed or Thur? I can go to Puxi but restrict to Metro Line #2. Let me know which day do u prefer and I will contact Monica. If u don't mind, I would like to meet up earlier, is it ok btw 11:30 and 12?

critic

Joanne,

If Sogo is in metro #2?  If not, you decide.  Any date is OK, my son will complete his Chinese reading class at 10:30 am.

I'm more localize than you, take a look at this website and they have list of local & bilingual nurseries in Shanghai.  

Age 06

After you search from there, you can to search more from newspaper or local education center to see its ranking.  They have diff. cat. e.g. Grade 1, Grade 2 etc...

To be honest, if our kids are going to fullday nursery, why do we send them to more classes on Sat & Sun? Poor kids.....

Angela,
Glad to hear that you've finally decided to come to Shanghai!  I've found a new job and will join on July 18th. Very happy about it and tell you more when you've arrived.

I agreed that the int'l school fee is not worth at all. Most are close to 10,000/month. Not many people can afford unless the company pay for it. The school hour is from 8:30am-3:00pm.  In my son's case, always late to school + b'fast, lunch, nap time in school, you can count how much he is really spending on learning.  Another thing is, they can't learn Chinese is a real problem. Chinese is very difficult to learn.

Are you living in Puxi? which part? From my last year experience, better chose a school very close to where you live, if not, both you & your BB will suffer. Most nurseries will start to accept application in Apr/May each year, I was very late and lucky that they are willing to meet. You must call & push the principal or teacher in-charge for a meeting & must claim how close you live to their school & learn about how good they're.  At the same time, you have to 'sell' how smart is your kid. Finally, my husband's colleague & other gweloi friends taught us but I never use it, is to offer donation to the school. To be honest, I don't mind to buy them English books for the library if they want to, I also want him to read more in the school.

joannek

Sogo is perfect. Let's date Wednesday first. I wish my stroller will be repaired by Tuesday.

critic

joanne,

I can check the school ranking from the below link, it's ranked by Luwan Preschool Education Organization. I guess you can check if there's a same organization in Pudong.

Luwan Preschool Ranking

sandydojo

Joanne, thanks for the contact details for order diapers! It will save my time and energy more!

Critic, I really admire you! How you can found out such alot of nursery and school information! Sound's it is very useful for my little gal, let me check check if any 早教中心 is near my place and the fee is reasonable (as my friend advices me to join Gymbolee but it seems quite expensive!) I am going to copy down your info., and so one day when my gal growth-up, it will be useful for me!    

That's great! I also wanna suggest coming Wednesday to have lunch gathering, as my ayi will come and able to take care my gal! Yes, Sogo is perfect, the dim sum there is delicous, and I can eat more without holding her on my arms this time     So, will we meet at 11:30am?

P.S. I spend an hour to finish this message...as my gal need me to "play" with her all the time