need advice- age to start kindergarten

Posted by kilwinning (144 days ago)

First time parent here... My daughter was born at the very end of December 2006. Technically, she can start the ESF kindergarten in September 2009, but she will only be 2 yrs 8 mths old, which seems quite young to be going to school every day. The other option is to delay her entry until September 2010, but then she would be one of the oldest kids in her class. Does anyone have any advice on which would be better- starting school very early or delaying a bit? Not sure what to do and we have to decide by this coming September, so hard to know what she will be capable of a year from now...

(I am based in Hong Kong)

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Tags kindergarten, schools

Posted by ldsllvn (144 days ago)

ours started playgroup in Woodland montessouri at 18 months (but some take at 12) - 3 afternoons (2 hours each) per week, but not on their own - our helpers went with them since I work. They will start going on their own from November, 2 yrs 4 months.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by missdj (144 days ago)

Our daughter attended paygroup at age 18 months, with a parent or helper. She just turned 3 this month and will be attending ESF next month. Since she turned 2 yrs old, she attended pre-school, alone, everyday for 3 hrs. She loved it

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by axptguy38 (144 days ago)

18-24 months for playgroup is fine. I would say that up until 24 months maybe there is not a big point to it. Don't get me wrong, the kids have fun, but I don't think there is a long term difference if they start at 18 months or 24.

Playgroup at Woodland Montessori is with a parent/helper. Stepping Stones (from 28 to 32 months) and then pre-school proper are "alone". So Playgroup is a good introduction to the concept of "school".

There are plenty of MWF or TT options if you don't want to go every day. We haven't started with every day yet, but will next month. Our daughter will then be 35 months.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by cara (144 days ago)

my son's birthday is in february. i DID NOT want him going to "school" until he was 4 or 5 years old. that is how old the kids are in kindergarten in canada, and we turned out ok!

i managed to keep him out until this coming september. he will be 3y7m. i'm quite happy with that. he's been coming with me to the playgroup that i run and he does extremely well. he knows quite a few things that other kids don't (kinds of dinosaurs etc), but he still can't quite remember all of his abc's.

for me, that's not a problem. what IS the problem for me is that my boy is too lazy to speak chinese. he understands A LOT, but refuses to use it. this in and of itself would be ok, except (1) he's half chinese and (2) his paternal grandparents don't speak any english. so i'm afraid that they are all losing out because of my son's refusal. so, we've enrolled him in a local kindie. i've also found that he now REALLY needs the stimulation that "school" will provide.

either way, it is completely up to you. your child being the youngest/oldest in the class is usually only a problem if you make it one.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by SoundsFun (144 days ago)

Sorry, I forgot to mention that I can teach in English/Cantonese/Mandarin, or any combination of those!

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Kim11 (141 days ago)

This is a big dilemma for parents. I have a son who started school every day for 3 hours at 3 years and 4 months and he did fine. But I don't think he would have adjusted well to everyday school at 2 years 8 months. I think he likes and need the relaxed atmosphere of home, time with Mom or whoever is at home with them, doing every day things. But I have a daughter who is now 17 months and I can see that she will probably be ready for some sort of school (whether it is school or more play based learning) at 2 years 8 months. sHe is just more interested in her surroundings, doing things with other and bigger kids and seems more switched on in general.

Also it depends on what type of school they are attending. I think most ESF kindergartens are play based and I have heard good things about them. I would think this is not a problem and would be similar to activities in day care in North America or Australia etc. But some schools are more education focused and do ABC and numbers etc.

But in saying all that my son adjusted well to going to school everyday becuase it was a very strict routine for him. Before we moved to Hong Kong he was in daycare one day a week and always had a problem being dropped off there becuase it was not as often.

I have also discussed starting school in general with my older sister and she says just look at your kids and see what they are like. Like I said I think some kids, especially some girls would really like school everyday.

sorry, that is a bit long winded but hope you can make an easy decision.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by axptguy38 (141 days ago)

"I have also discussed starting school in general with my older sister and she says just look at your kids and see what they are like."

Quite right. All kids are different.


BTW don't give up if the first few weeks don't go well. Very often they don't, even if the first week is smooth sailing. It takes adjustment.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by cd (141 days ago)

You can ask ESF to defer his starting date. My daughter was due to start after Easter when she was 3yrs 2 months, but because ESF had done away with the P17 class it would have meant that she would have been in Kindy for over 2 years. IO spoke to the Kindergarden and asked if I could delay her start until the sept, when she was just over 3 1/2 and they agreed.
My son only did a year and a term in the ESF kindy and that was more than enough. Ask them if you can defer the start until the Jan.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by flowers-daffodil (136 days ago)

cara - i have the same problem with my 2yr old daughter. she doesnt respond to her paternal grandparents when they speak to her in cantonese. i dont know whether to send her to a local kindie or international kindie mainly because she wont learn cantonese at the international kindies. but when primary school comes, i would like her to go to international schools so any local kindie would need to have good curriculum and spoken englsih in order for her to be proficient in english and to attend international shcools. i only speak to her in english and dont know if this will be enough to get her into international schools at the higher primary level. i have a few local kindies in kowloon tong in mind and was wondering which local kindie you chose and what do you intend for primary and above for your son?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by cara (136 days ago)

if you only speak to her in english, she will be fine attending an international primary school.

we looked at a grand total of 3 kindies. 2 were in sai kung and 1 in tsing yi (where my playgroup is based).

we went for one of the ones in sai kung. i chose it for a couple of reasons. (1) i'd seen other mixed kids coming and going, (2) the principal and every teacher that i've spoken to could answer questions in english for me, (3) they had a decent sized outdoor play area, (3) when i commented that my boy still had trouble holding a pencil properly, i liked their answer (of course he can't, he's only 2.5! ~ that was when i first checked the place out!), (4) it will improve his cantonese to the point that he will speak in cantonese to hubby's family.


as to what i intend to do for primary... i honestly don't know yet. we will be deciding between christmas and CNY if we will stay in HK. it will all depend on how well my playgroup is doing. if the last few months are any indication, we will be staying where we are and i will have to decide what to do about school...

i would like it if he could go to the canadian school, but as we live in sai kung country park, i think it is WAYYYYYY too far...i refuse to pay the outrageous fees for YEW CHUNG or HKIS. i would probably go for ESF and have my son get a cantonese tutor or go to cantonese lessons. i might not choose "cantonese" lessons per se, but maybe Kung fu lessons in cantonese or something like that.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by flowers-daffodil (135 days ago)

cara - do you think you can PM me the 2 kindies in sai kung? I used to live in clearwater bay so i know the area and like the environment, if my daughter can learn cantonese and be in a nice area that would be a bonus (some well kindies that i've seen indoor play area, but would rather outdoors). THanks.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by cara (135 days ago)

the kindie that we chose is the big white one on the main road across from HSBC...I'm sure you'll know the one. I have to wait until my boy comes back today i'll have a look at his uniform as i don't even know the name!! LOL!

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by flowers-daffodil (29 days ago)

Hi cara - Hope you are still around?

Have you decided to send your child to ESF primary school as opposed to the other international schools which are more bilingual eg Chinese International School, Canadian School

BTW- do you know the difference between ESF vs ESF private independent school? From the Reconnaisance college website (ESF Private independent) it seems that they teach in english but have chinese too which is different from "ESF" schools which are all about English. Have you considered the ESF private independent school since your son is also mixed.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by cara (29 days ago)

yep, still here...

i haven't even thought about primary school, to be completely honest.
i always assumed that we'd be in canada by then, however, things are looking a little different now and we'll most likely still be here...

i guess i should start looking around, huh?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by flowers-daffodil (28 days ago)

nice to know you are still here,,, can tap in on your experiences and advice

for kindergarten next year, i had to apply this autumn. i know esf is a good school tho no chinese. so thinking whether to keep my toddler in the bilingual environment for kindergarten (at least my toddler can learn some chinese and talk to her paternal grandparents who cant speak english) or go to Esf kindergarten to have a better chance at going to ESF primary.

i guess we can only make the best decisions at the time and make adjustments later if we want our child to speack chinese eg, chinese tutor if i send my toddler to esf

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by cara (28 days ago)

your child has no better chance getting into primary with esf if they have gone to their kindie. so, put that from your mind.

personally, i can't afford esf kindie. i figure, that my son is having a good time at his current school, he comes with me to my playgroups and sometimes sits in on my playgroup's putonghua classes. that's enough for us.

what i can't abide is the homework local schools give and the fact that they seem to try to beat the imagination and creativity out of children as quickly as they can once they hit primary age! that's where i have a problem with local schools.

i'm going to check out the school tha tis affiliated with the kindie tha tmy son attends and see what it is like closer to the time. then i'll check out the esf schools.

i wish i could afford canadian int'l but the fees coupled with the fact that it would take my kids 2 hours to get to school and 2 hours to get home put me off!

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by neenib (28 days ago)

My child goes to Australian International and is the youngest in the class. We have a mid-year cut off as AISHK works on a Australian school year - Jan-Dec.

My child started in Reception 3 hrs a day 5 days a week when at age 4 and moved into Preparatory (Kinder) which is 5 days a week all day (8am-2.45pm). I have to say my child struggled at first, particularly being the youngest in terms of being frustrated that couldn't keep up with other children who some were a full year older. A part of me wished i had waited a year but I'm glad I didn't because finally towards the end of the year everything seems to have clicked.

On a personal note, I think that the children in HK start school way too early. They are only babies really at 2 years old. In Australia we have daycare which is a centre that care for babies and toddlers. Once they hit 3 they can go to pre-school, which is like a preparation for Kindergarten. It's not full on at all.

There is no doubt that HK has a very high level of education and the expectation is put on at a very early age. I had a friend go home who went back into the school system in Australia and she has reported that her child is streets ahead of every other child in that year.

I think it comes down to the child's personality and readiness and only you and an educator can assess that.

But I just think they are babies for such a short time, enjoy that time with them. They won't lose out by waiting another year.

(I am based in Hong Kong)