Mandarin speaking playgroup?

Z

Zee

Registered User
Does anyone know of any mandarin speaking playgroup that does not cost a bomb? Am looking around for one that costs HK$500 or less per month.

My 2 year old is picking up English words at a much faster rate than her Mandarin. Probably because we use more English at home. My Mandarin is "so-so" but I am not able to read it. My hubby speaks good Mandarin but his time at home is limited. Since my daughter loves books, I tried reading books with very simple Chinese words and ended up worrying if my pronunciation was correct:}:}

I am trying to provide a bi-lingual environment for my daughter. A Mandarin speaking playgroup should be a fun way to help her appreciate the language. Will appreciate if anyone could help out here.
 
My 2.5 yr old son goes to the Montessori Mandarin playgroup twice a week (2 hours each). Even though I speak exclusively Mandarin to him, like your daughter, he is also picking up English quicker. This is probably due to the fact that my husband and the maid speaks to him in English and the medium used at home is also English. I am the only one who speaks Mandarin to him at home. I am also looking around to see if there are any Mandarin speaking playgroup for him. Does your daughter go to any play school ?
 
My daughter is in the hkppa playgroup. She keeps asking for her Kindermusik class which just ended its first term. I intend to sign her up for the next 2 terms. Besides these, she is also in a gym class. Another Mandarin speaking playgroup will be just nice to keep both of us busy for the week.

Just out of curiosity, how much does the Montessori playgroup cost?
 
Montessori is $2,500 per month for twice weekly sessions. Which gym class is your daughter in? You can send me an email at [email protected] to let me know details of the gym class. My son might be interested in this.
 
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Playgroups

Zee, I'm one of the mom from bk. My maid and I also speak English to my 1yr old girl. I would like my daughter to live in a trilingual - English, Cantonese and Mandarin environment.

Right now, my daughter only goes to HKPPA hilltots. Which campus do you go to?
I'm also considering Kindermusic, Music Together or MyMusikbox. Any recommendation?
I heard that www.betterchinese.com offer Mandarin class. But I find it too expensive. Not sure if I could find a few more age 1-2 children and form a private session in HK side. Will you be interested during weekdays?


Momo, for gym class, you may consider Gymboree, Gymbaroo, ChildzPlay or MyGym.
 
Hi Val

I take my daughter to the playgroup at Heng Fa Chuen. Did not realize Hilltots have playgroups too. Do you know anything about the Fun with Numbers classes at Hilltots?

Do know know much about the other two music classes. As for Kindermusik, my daughter keeps asking for it. I was a bit worried at first as she was not as participative as the other toddlers. She likes the songs and enjoys the activities in the class so much that we play the CDs at home everyday. Heng Fa Chuen has a music class run by Go Music on Sats. The teachers speak Cantonese and the materials and songs are in Mandarin (from Taiwan). Call Linda/Faye at 23931383 if you are interested . They use the Carl-Orf approach. Too bad I cannot read Chinese, otherwise, I will consider this.

Yeah, I have checked out www.betterchinese.com. Their prices just turned me off.

Yes, I will be very interested in a private playgroup. I prefer weekdays too. I live in Sheung Wan. Where/What is bk?
 
I will start the playgroup at Hilltots next week. So not familiar with Fun with Numbers classes.

Mymusikbox cost 1840 per 8 session. It's more expensive compare to Kindermusik. And Kindermusik also offers at Art Plus(Tin Hau) and Little Dynamic(Causeway Bay). So not sure which class to take.

But I prefer English class during weekdays. So probably not the one at Heng Fa Chuen.

By the way, bk means baby kingdom. I thought I see you there. Correct me if I'm wrong.
 
Of course! How duh can I be??? I was so desperate for information on mandarin speaking playgroup that I went into several chinese websites which I had no clue what most of the topics/forums were}:} Baby Kingdom had several threads on playgroup. So, I got my dearest hubby to help me signed up.

My daughter had her Kindermusik class at YWCA. It cost $960 per term (8 sessions) excluding home materials ($250). YWCA's summer schedule is out but not updated in their website yet. If you are interested, call them at 3476 1340. Oh, you have to join as a YWCA member to take join their courses. It's $200 per term or $500 per year.

Art Plus has a summer programme called Toddler EQ Pre-School. The course description mentioned "Mandarin fun and ....". I think I am going to give them a call over the next 2 days.
 
Zee, what is the telephone number of Art Plus ?

Val, do you know anyone who has attended either ChizPlay or My Gym and any comments on either one ? I have tried Gymboroo with my son when he was much younger but did not find it to be particularly interesting. Also has anyone heard anything about Panda Junction at Lippo Centre ?
 
momo, I had a trial class at gymboree and childzplay. Childzplay has a smaller group ... so more focus. But the facilities in gymboree is better. But my girl was only 11mth at that time. I think it's better if I join the gym class when she can run. In the mean time, I just take her to the park.

My friends prefers gymbaroo or myGym. But they are both in Central. If your child is over 2, I'd recommend myGym. The facilities is good and spacious.
 
Apart from monetary point of view, is there any difference between My Gym and a playground where my son can play with swings, slides etc. I just wonder whether there is any real gain in signing up and paying for play activities where one can get fro free at a playground?
 
momo,

dunno. I hvn't tried myGym yet. But I guess the major differences between any gym and the park is :-
1) safe and clean facilities
2) meeting the same group of kids every week
3) guidance of the instructors
4) songs and massage

But it's costly and you can only go at the fixed time. Park is free and you'd go any time.

Hope the answer helps. But the best way is to take a trail class with you little one. You can decide whether gym class worth the money and time.
 
Hi Momo,

Arts Plus' contact is 28070208 or http://www.artsplus.com.hk/

On top of Val's comments, a faciliated environment has more age appropriate equipments. Besides that, the instructors are trained to provide activities that are appropriate for the toddler's development. The activies are often challenging and safe. Playing in a neighbourhood playground has obvious advantages too. I noticed that my daughter learnt a lot by observing older kids. Only thing is that you need to watch your daughter closely as bigger kids can a little rough at play.

My daughter went for trial sessions at Gymboree and Tumble Tots (not the centres in HK). She liked Tumble Tots. She keeps telling me to take her back to Tumble Tots and not the current gym course she is in. Too bad the Tumble Tots in HK does not hold regular classes. They say they will call me if there is a new class but it has been 3 months now and I have not heard from them.

As Val said, most places offer trial sessions. Just give them a call first.
 
I just join this forum. Thanks for the info. I went to my Musikbox this morning. They have a very nice centre. The charge is reasonable at $1,480 (8 classes). The teachers are excellent. I will have my 3-year old enroll.
 
Mandarin for Munchkins

There is a school called Mandarin for Munchkins . Its different from others (and there really aren't that many good quality ones around) in that the classes are very, very exclusive -- either one-on-one or in groups of no more than 3 kids. This means that each class is designed and can be modified to suit the learning patterns of the group, their interest, concentration levels or whatever.

The best bit is that its taught in your (or the other kids' homes) AND its total immersion -- no adults present in the class -- i.e. no parent or helper (unless you sign up for their parent/child classes) so there is no possibility of reverting to the language you're famiiliar with.

My son just turned 2 and he's started on the classes. Before that I sent him to Tutortime, which didn't work out. Helpers and parents in the class with the kids continued to use English with their children (because they didn't speak Mandarin). It didn't make for a conducive learning environment. And I think the programme wasn't suitable for that age group because it followed a very rigid pattern and didn't change even if the children were screaming and crying from boredom. My son is much more receptive in this new class. As are the other two kids (one also 2, and the other 19 months). After the second class the other two year old starting to repeat the Mandarin sounds already. My son, though not attempting to speak yet, is listening in rapt attention -- HUGE for him cos he cannot, will not, and never sits still. The group only signed up for a two-month trial but we will be continuing with them.

You can contact the teacher -- Kate, to find out more. Her email is [email protected].

Hope that helps!
 
Lucinda,

Thanks so much for the info! And Happy Birthday Elijah! :banana:

Could you give us an idea how much Kate charges?

Thanks
Rani
 
Montessori for infant (Learning Creche)

Momo
I just joined this thread and it has been very useful information as i am also struggling with the idea of including mandarin in my one year old daughter's life.

I have contacted the Montessori program (the one on Caine Rd right?). Is that the one your child goes to? How do you like it? they also have it bi-lingual mandarin/english for 2 1/2 year olds, right?
 
My son attends the Mandarin Stepping Stones at Montessori Repulse Bay (I think it is run by the same group at Caine Road) for 2 hours twice a week. Stepping Stones are for 2.5 year old. I have been speaking 100% Mandarin to my son since birth and he now speaks to me in Madarin only and English to my non-Chinese husband. The reason why I enrolled him with the Mandarin Stepping Stones is because I want him to get Mandarin exposure as much as possible because I believe once he starts school Mandarin will lapse behind as English will undoubtedly take over as the main communication language.
 
Mandarin Playgroup at YWCA

YWCA's Autumn 2004 schedules are out. There is a Mandarin playgroup for 2 to 3 year olds as well as a couple of other Mandarin classes for older kids.
 
The YWCA is about to start a new Mandarin playgroup. It's for 2-3 year olds, Tuesdays from 9.30am-10.30am. 8 sessions cost $1060. It's instructed by the same school mentioned by lucindak in an earlier post. First lesson begins next week (7 Sep-26 Oct). Children should be accompanied by a parent or helper. For more info call 3476 1340 or log on to http://esmd.ywca.org.hk The classes are listed under the "You and Yours" category. Hope this helps.
Lorna
 
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