It pays to be a kiasu parent.
We are screwed this time round, when it comes to search for after school care. Actually, can't blame myself, because I never really think that we will put Lynn in after school care when she starts P1. So I didn't start researching much earlier.
Recently, I became very concern about what she does in her free time when she is not with me due to her high astigmatism. I used to think that I can't control every detail and should "close one eye" if she's not spending quality time when she is with other caregivers. However, when she need to wear specks of 200d at the young age of 6, my heart's really broken. I know I shouldn't, but I feel this unhappiness with other caregivers (like daddy, grandmas, childcare teachers). I came to realised that Lynn watches a lot of TV with WK's mum.
I casually brought up the subject of whether to put Lynn in after school care to WK some time back. If not for the reasons above, I'm not really in favour of putting Lynn at after school care. As usual, his first reaction is no, Lynn can just come home after school. I didn't push it since I'm really half hearted. I don't know what goes through WK's head, but suddenly, a few weeks back, he said that he passed by one at the CC nearby, and maybe we should start looking.
These few days, we visited a few, including the one at the CC nearby. Suddenly it struck me that a good after school care, like a good child care, has a long waiting list. Both of us struggled with the fact that we have to put her up at the one at the CC. It is NOT BAD, quite good/well run, but it is not what I'm looking for.
Sigh.. I really regret. This really teach me a lesson, that I need to be more proactive when it comes to raising our kid. Need to continue our search for a more permanent solution.
5 comments:
u can just start with the one near to CC while searching for somewhere which suits ur criteria. honestly, i think after school care is quite good for Lynn as she gets to do her work in a condusive environment. & yeah... watch less of TV too.
I don't have good opinion of after school care. I feel that child care (3 to 6 yrs old) are generally well run in Singapore. Most decent/mid range ones have a good mix of serious teaching and creative free play.
However, for after school care (7 to 12), they are in general too "focus". Like the one at the CC, it's very "well run", cos it has school work time from 230 to 330 (1/2 hour tea-break) and then tuition from 4 to 6. I thinks this is absolutely crazy! These kids are only 7 years old, after 6 hours of school in the morning, another 3.5 hours of work + tuition in the afternoon????
Actually WS, I really just want to sell the TV. I don't mind Lynn "nuai" at home from 3 to 6pm, cos it's what kids should do at this age (not every second of their time should be "productive"), but problem is she will watch tv from 3 to 6...
I like the one at block 85. After school work's completed, its only free play. But its FULLLLL.
Yes, to control kid from watching TV is a difficult task when grandparents are around.....
Just a thought, maybe you can install IP camera (like the one in my house) where you can see what lynn is doing at home. Sometimes I do see my kids watching TV and I would call home to tell them to switch off the TV. It is also good coz I can view them from my phone and laptop wherever I go, even when I'm on overseas trip
agree tat we shld not pressurise the kids too much with work & work. esp when they r at tis young age.
i think there shld be a balance. if there are sch homework to be done, they shld finish it before they explore other things such as "nua-ing", watching TV, reading books, sleeping, playing, etc...
i like how Grandpa used to teach me and bro. when we are back from sch, we need to finish our sch homework after having lunch. it is only aft tat then we can choose to do watever we want to. eg: go out to play, watch tv, sleep, etc. he gives us a schedule. in tis way, we are more organised and discipline.
not saying tat bro and i r very very discipline but i think this kind of time management helps in some way.
if the one at CC is not so ideal, try others when is available.
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