Reviews of Preschools at West Coast Singapore, Part 2

So, we decided to visit more preschools to ensure that we have found the perfect one for our girl. You can read about our earlier reviews here

1) Star Kidscampus

Blk 509 West Coast Drive, S(120509) 

Half day, $650 before subsidy

This is the first childcare located in HDB we visited. The husband was a bit receptive upon arrival. We visited slightly before 9am and the children were having breakfast. From 9-9.30am, they assembled for National anthem, reciting of pledge and singing and dancing activities before breaking out into their respective classroom. Our girl enjoyed herself during the singing activity.

Environment is very clean and neat, airy and non air conditioned. The principal Yan Qin mentioned she used to work at MindChamps and Cambridge. She gave us a very assuring feeling that our girl will be in good hands. Hence, this center is in our shortlist.

2) YWCA
Blk 510 West Coast Drive #01-315 Singapore 120510
Half day $555 (YWCA member), $560 (non-member) before subsidy. Membership is $25/yr. The Senior teacher wasn't around when we visited as they have an excursion. We were allowed in to view the premise.The toilet is very spacious, with 2 shower facilities and many cubicles similar to MindChamps and Little Skool House at Kent Vale. However, the toilet is a little stinky. We also noted there is a library for the children and the children will sleep in air conditioned room for their nap.

When we passed by the center on another day, we noted that the children were a little rowdy compared to Star Kidscampus.

3) Modern Montessori
12 West Coast Walk, #1-05 West Coast Recreation Center, Singapore 127157
Half day $1230.50 
Center is clean but their fees are on the higher range.
 
4) Amar Kidz
8 Jln Lempeng, Singapore 128796
Center is a bit messy when we visited.


After visiting so many centers, we feel that we have to be realistic about our expectations. These are the criteria we looked out for when choosing a preschool:

1) Proximity to home or workplace. It must be convenient for us to pick our girl up.

2) Budget.

3) Clean and tidy. Safety is important to us.

4) Welcoming and friendly environment. Look out for any children who cry excessively, are the children rowdy and the teachers are unable to control them etc

5) Students: Teacher ratio

6) Comfort level with principal and teachers

You can also read this link for the preschool landscape in Singapore.


Love,
Sherlyn   

Free Gift Pack for 2016 babies: National Library Board

Reading to your baby is good for her development and promotes parental bonding time. Below is free gift pack for babies born from Jan 2016 onwards.

The Baby gift pack contains 3 board books, Reading is Fun! Booklet, A Guide for Reading with Little Ones DVD, Height Chart and Rhymes and Fingerplays for Little Ones.

For more info, pls visit http://www.nlb.gov.sg/NewsAnnouncement/tabid/225/announcementId/185/Default.aspx#.WGM-_H0nnLo

Love,
Sherlyn

Reviews of Preschools at West Coast Singapore

Our girl will be turning 18months and we have been researching about preschools near Clementi/ West Coast. The husband and I have conflicting views on sending our girl early to childcare as he felt children tend to fall sick more often in childcare and our girl will be in better care under the grandparents' supervision. I feel that starting early will be beneficial to our girl as she can interact with other kids, learn to be independent and pick up soft skills etc. There were not much reviews except at Kiasuparents, singaporemotherhood forum. First, we shortlist the centres within walking distance to our home via https://www.childcarelink.gov.sg/ccls/home/CCLS_Home.jsp. We shortlist those centres with 24months license tenure.

We have visited the following childcares:

1) Pat's Schoolhouse, Jubilee Park (http://www.patschoolhouse.com/centres/pats-schoolhouse-jubilee-park)
31 Jubilee Road. Singapore 128583
$1391

This is the first center we visited and leaves us a very good impression. This also set a high benchmark when we were shortlisting other preschools. We visited on their Open Day and the staff were very welcoming, they encourage us to participate in the activities eg balloon flour stress balls, rainbow parachute game. Pat's Schoolhouse uses letterland approach in their curriculum.The place seem a bit rundown and their fees is very high for the small teacher: student ratio.

2) Mindchamps @ West Coast Plaza (https://www.mindchamps.org/preschool/westcoastplaza/)
$1904.60 Full day, $1690.60 Half day

Quite impressed with this center too. They have a gym room and high tech attendance taking machine. Teacher: student ratio is small too and there were a lot of cubicles in the toilet and shower facilities is good too. Outdoor play is @ nearby Clementi Woods Park.

3) Town for Kids Preschool (http://www.town4kids.com/sg_preschool_locations.htm)
338A, West Coast Road, Singapore 127393
$1000 for half day before subsidy

As my in law place are nearby, we noted that the principal is usually at the center most of the time whenever I passed by the center. They are using Montessori approach. The center looks clean but a little run down. We observed one of the Chinese lesson in progress, the teacher spoke very faintly. Hence, we were not really impressed with the quality of teaching. However, there were a lot of kids at the center and the kids look happy.

4) Posso Preschool (http://www.possopreschool.com/visit-us/)
30 West Coast Rise, Singapore 127473
$1400 for half day before $150 subsidy less $250 for no Saturdays, less $50 for GIRO deduction and less $50 for regular social media posting.

The center looks a little run down from outside. However, when we were in, the place seem to have undergone recent renovation, it also looks clean and neat. There's a Trampoline which I think the kids will love it. Uniform looks nice too but it's very expensive @$60/set and we also need to purchase PE attire. 

We noticed that one of the teachers change a kid's diaper in front of the class instead of going to the toilet. The older class were having baking lesson. The Chinese (PRC) teacher has a very negative behavior as she kept asking the children to sit properly in their seats. Some of the kids forgot to bring their food containers and she told them repeatedly they will be the last to take the cookies. We also overheard her telling the class that she hope they will do well for next week Chinese test. This deters us from considering to place our girl there. Other than these signs, the environment seem good.

5) Little FootPrints (http://littlefootprints.com.sg/)
6 Jubilee Rd (S) 128531
$700 before subsidy  

We tried to call the center to arrange for a center visit over 2days. However,  nobody answered the call and left voicemails were not returned. We decided to pop in without appointment. We felt unwelcome as the principal did not allow us to explore anywhere beyond the office and front of classroom. 

6) Genesis Child Care Pte Ltd (http://genesisgroup.sg/)
2A Jubilee Rd, Singapore 128524
$610 after $150 subsidy

Center looks a little run down and the place seem small. There is only 1 small toilet. They have been in the industry for more than 27years and it is mainly through word of mouth recommendations. The mattress looks old and we were shocked that we need to pay $38 for mattress, $13 for the mattress cover. Think I can get 3 seahorse foldable mattress at this price.

7) Big Foot Preschool (http://www.bigfootpreschool.com/)
196 West Coast Rd, Singapore 127375
$700 before subsidy

This center was taken over in late 2015. Center is managed by Rai and we felt comfortable talking to Rai as she seem very passionate and knowledgeable. The center is a little run down and we noted that the stairs is painted dark brown, this might pose as a safety concern. We visited around late afternoon when the children were having afternoon tea. We noticed that one of the children was crying when we first arrived till the time we left. The teachers just let him cry. Hence, this puts us off slightly as we felt that the teacher could have taken the child aside to calm him instead of letting him cry excessively. There is currently 1 child in the toddler class and he is joining the older children. We felt that this arrangement is not good as they are of different learning pace.

8) Little Skool House @Kent Vale (http://www.littleskoolhouse.com/workplace-centres/the-little-skool-house-at-kent-vale)
101B Clementi Road, Kent Vale Staff Housing, 129798
$813.20 before subsidy
 
This is a workplace childcare. The center is really huge and the teacher :student ratio is large too. Outdoor play area is also big and they have a lot of good tricycles. Center is managed by Xueting and she seem very passionate and knowledgeable. She was taking the children's temperature herself on arrival where she could have asked her staff to do it. The husband seem to be pleased with this center but they were in the news for highest HFMD outbreak in May 2016.Only deterring factor is that they only have full day care and it is not near our home or our in law place. Hence, fetching our girl before 6pm will be challenge. 

Hope you find this post useful.

Love,
Sherlyn 

First Birthday Party

Hi everyone
As promised in my previous post, I decided to do a My Little Pony theme for my girl's one year party. We have booked the Condo's Multi Purpose Room.

I was contemplating doing a Descendants of the Sun (DOTs) following the Korean fever but decided to stick to a kids theme. Below are the items I've gotten:

1) Balloons
Happy Birthday
1 (75cm pink)
Rainbow
Double sided tape

2) My Little Pony Balloons

I filled the foil balloons with helium gas at SKP @$5.50/pc and I got the balloon weight @$0.50 each.

Other places where you can fill up helium gas are florist, party supplies store, Mini Toons. Spotlight has helium tank rental.

3) My Little Pony Cake Toppers

4) Birthday Cake from Bengawan Solo
Bengawan Solo just came up with My Little Pony character cake. Hence, I did not use the cake toppers which I bought. The cake is really moist and yummy.

5) Candy Table
Yan yan, fruit juice gummys, marshmallows, Gareth Caramel Popcorn

6) Goody bag
We decided that we do not want candies, chocolates, biscuits for our goody bags, it's every kid's delight and every parent's horror. Instead we wanted to give something useful. Hence, we have gotten mosquito patch and bubbles from party store.

I've gotten the goody bag pack from Daiso.

7) Caterer: Ronnie Kitchen
This is my first time using them and I chose based on many positive recommendations in foodline.sg. Their service was very good and they are very punctual. However, the quality of food can be improved eg some of the deep fried items should be kept in warmer.

8) Activities
We wanted to keep the kids occupied while the adults mingled and eat. Hence, we thought of setting up goal post for the boys, horse rides or colouring pages. However, we didn't provide in the essence of time.

Hope you find this post useful in planning for your kid's first birthday party.

Love,
Sherlyn

Planning for baby 1st birthday

I've been researching for ideas for my girl's first birthday party. As much as we love her and would like to throw her a fun and memorable party, we are also very careful not to be too doting parents. We are unsure if we can raise/ maintain the bar as she grows older. She might expect a holiday, expensive presents when she's older and won't be able to treasure the value of money.

Here are some ideas I've shortlisted:

Venue
1) Condo Function Room
Usage of pool

2) Civil Service Club Bukit Batok Children Party Room
The children indoor playground is just next to the party room, can keep the kids entertained.

3) Hotels

Theme
I've attended a lot of children parties and some were very well planned. As an adult, I enjoy myself very much, I think the kids will love it more.

1) Animal/ Farm
2) Cartoon character

I am considering to do a movie screening using projector.

Food
1) Ronnie Kitchen
2) Neo Garden
3) Meihao

Cakes
1) Cake Avenue
2) Sweetest Moments
3) Pine Garden
4) Bengawan Solo. Didn't know Bengawan has character cakes and price is really reasonable. The cakes are good too. 
5) Prima Deli
6) Swenson
7) Jelly cakes by Mr and Mrs James Chan. Hp 97887807/96350758. Healthy and cooling treats for the little ones.

Balloons and Deco
I'll be getting the balloon deco from Taobao, table cloths from Daiso.

Goody bags
Kids love goody bags. We have decided no unhealthy candies, biscuits and chocolates. Instead, we are considering stickers, Disney character plaster/ mosquito patch/ self inking stamps, bubbles, some DIY craft.

I'll share some of my purchases in my next post. Stay tuned.

Love,
Sherlyn 

Recommended Books for Babies

Hi everyone
Sorry for the lack of updates. My baby has just turned 10 months and I've been googling list of books for babies. Here are some recommended titles:

1) The Very Hungry Caterpillar
By Eric Carle


2) My Very First Mother Goose
By Iona Opie

3) Goodnight Moon
By Margaret Wise Brown


4) Guess How Much I Love You
By Sam McBratney


5) Dear Zoo
By Rod Campbell


6)  Good Night, Gorilla
By Peggy Rathmann

Youtube video:

7) Are You My Mother?
By P.D. Eastman

8) Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
By Bill Martin, Jr. 


Youtube song
 
As usual, I've gotten some of the books at Taobao, please click on the links above. Hope you find this post useful.

p.s. please get board books for your younger ones. My girl has torn a few of the books. :(

Love,
Sherlyn