re: SM
amy,
share with u how i choose the classes for my boy... I exposed my son to classes which are academic (BJG, SM,etc), music and movement (KM, Seimpi), Gym (My gym), Speech and Drama (GUG, Julia Gabriel and soon Zoo phonics)
my boy is attending SM this term. I had originally wanted to send him there even before he was borned! See how kiasu this mummy is lah. But I subsequently do GD method with him as I was quite apprehensive about the ESP part of the SM (without knowing much about it though) since we are christians and I want him firmly rooted in christians values only...
Later I brought him to BJG when he was 4 mths old which mainly practised the GD method, plus photographic memory, and the thing I like best is their gym (brachiation ladder!!!). I just went 1 trial cos I wanna see if I am doing the right thing at home only hehee... thereafter he was taught by me at home which I believe to be the best. Subsequently at 9mth old, I sent him back there again but that is more for social interactions
He is attending SM now cos I want to find out more abt what they do exactly in SM classes. The fees is very exp and just for this term I spent more than $1.1k (cant remember exact).. cos still got registration fee and all those stuff. U can get back part of the cost ($170 i think) after attending for 4 terms... I feel he was not ready for the class since it is mostly lots of little activities that require the child to sit still and do... which is very daunting task for my VERY ACTIVE boy. hehee... he has improved much over this one term to be able to sit there to do part of the activities but i still feel the activities can be better done at home with lesser stress with me... so i am suspending him this term and continuing next year when i feel he is more ready. The fact is they teach almost the same thing for the same age group for the few terms.. and thus, u only need to attend 1 term per age group to learn the ropes and DIY at home
So next year when he is more ready and has crossed into 2 year old then i will bring him again to get new ideas haha
What I learnt this round is how to train him in LM, ESP. The others I already know how to teach before the class. Btw, u can read Tony Buzan's Brain child for more ideas too ... very good book though i still cannot finish reading so many books ..sigh
For babies as young as 4 mth.. frankly its the parents that will do the activities... the babies will just sit in your lap and watch since their motor skill is limited. Hmm.. prob more involvement in flashcards and listening to those foreign songs and maybe the sawako. but all these can be done at home which is more impt..
Most of people I know recommended sending the child at 2 year old for better results. Else u just imagine if they cant stay still to do those multiple small activities... hehee nitemare since the fees is so exp.
Frankly its more cost effective and rewarding/enjoyable to send young babies to music/movement class OR BJG (cos they have flashcards, gym and music+movement + motor skill dev, good mix).
Methods like SM and GD are better practised at home with mummy and thus it can be less stressful. Go to classes for social interaction and what we cannot achieve at home just with mummy alone
I may send joelle to BJG just to have some fun interacting with other babies (and use their brachiation ladder) this or next term. When she reaches 6 mths, I will send her to Marsden swim school that Samuel is attending now... I love their swim class. Samuel is going to julia gabriel, zoo phonics (maybe) next term.. and prob start mandeville or semipi music school also. I want him to learn suzuki violin first then join the piano class. I believe strongly in physical development and music immersion from young. I leart music from young too...
