The Big Kindy Search Continues

Since my last The Big Kindy Search post, I have been looking around for kindies and been visiting some.  Here's my feel about them all.

1) Tadika Diyana

Read good reviews about this and decided to check them out, though out of our way and far from home.  I love how the price is quite ok but still a bit on the high side (you can check it out at their website).

I visited the premise and I really love how it is run like a mini primary school.  It's huge, with its own hall, field and canteen, although downsize version and it's just like a school.  Not like a bungalow with rooms as classroom.  

However, I have decided not to send my girl because they will be moving to Sungai Penchala (further up from TTDI, near to the Penchala Link), which will be much further from our home.  Though they do have transporters, but I feel very wary about sending my 4 year old (next year) to a transporter.

What I like about Tadika Diyana is they have 2 medium, English and Chinese.  Chinese medium is in the afternoon session.  And the administrator whom I spoke to, kinda discourage me sending my girl at 4.  Though they do cater 4 years old but she mentioned it's better to let them play at home.  Which I kinda agree too.

Their website is very detailed and neat.  You can find a lot of information there.  I especially like kindy that have their own website or FB page because now, everything is about IT.  If they don't have a website or FB, it just shows that they are still very traditional orientated.    

Tadika Diyana follow Malaysian school holidays.

2) Tadika Chim

I have been thinking about this kindy the most.  My sister used to attend this one.  So you can imagine how many years they have been running.  First, they are quite close to both workplace and home.  My parents really encourage me to send my girl to this one.  Price is also quite reasonable, cheaper than Tadika Diyana.

Upon our visit, found that the security is very tight.  You need to register with the guard in the kindy before you are allowed to walk in.  However, the principal or whoever that I spoke to was a bit unfriendly.  I spoke to her through the window, like drive thru, but this is walk thru?  And the compound has no grass, the playground was on concrete floor.  

What really turn me off was how the teachers were shouting away.  Classes were ongoing but you can't hear the children at all because everyone was shouted to be quiet.  My girl got scared and told me she wants to go back. 

Oh, there is also a Chinese altar in the compound and also in the balcony.  If you don't mind, then it's fine.  

It's true this is a traditional kindy and very academic.  Lots of homework and lots of spelling.  Some parents said their child very naughty, after going to Tadika Chim, became so much better.  I guess it really depends.  The medium is both English and Chinese and they have 2 sessions.  Morning and afternoon.

Btw, this kindy have no website or FB.  Everything is still very traditional.

They follow Malaysian school holidays.

3)  Tadika Didik Johan

Located at SS2, I like their method of teaching that everything is hands on.  The reviews has been quite good also and it is actually cheaper than Tadika Chim.  The cheapest so far.  They too follow Malaysian school holidays.

The location is also quite near to my home but a bit difficult to get to as it is opposite the LDP where our home is.  So to get there in the morning, we could get caught in a jam.  

They have an FB page.  They are also semi traditional.  The classroom and everything in the kindy is very much a double storey semi D house.  They reared chicken and planted some cotton plants to encourage children to be out in the open more.  The children would feed the chicken and water the plants.  I was also informed by the principal that they have gotong-royong too where all the kids are expected to help out.  I really like the community feeling and everyone to come out and go places.

They don't have separate mediums in the kindy.  Everything is taught in English, but Chinese and Malay are taught as a subject.  Only 1 session as the rest of the day is daycare.  

The number of students in this kindy is quite high.  20 to a class.  The principal is also very friendly and talked to my girl and got her to interact more.

I am super keen to send my girl to this one.  But, she didn't like this.  Instead she likes another kindy which I will elaborate more in the next one.

4) Big Apple Eduworld

Started in Ipoh, they have recently open a new franchise here in SS2.  Yes, this is a franchise brand.

Since they are very new, everything in the premise is brand new and so my girl really love it.  What she love the most is they have separate toilets for girl and boy and it's this tiny toilet bowl for kids and so cute.  

This is located opposite the Durian makan place in SS2 and so it is along the main road.  If not mistaken, it used to be one of those Bridal Studio.  During school days, they will open both gates where you can just drop off your kids and drive out.  Like a drive-thru.  

The premise is not very big, and currently not many kids are in there as they are very new.  The price is almost like Tadika Diyana.  They don't follow Malaysian school holidays.  They also have 2 mediums, which at 5 years old, parents have to decide which medium.  It's all in 1 session only and the rest of the day is for daycare.

Their website have some funny malware that I cannot access when I am in the office as it is blocked.  They also have an FB page.  

I too like this place a lot though it is a bit more expensive.  Good thing is they don't go by term.  So you can withdraw anytime and don't have to pay in advance.

The other pre-schools that we visited only at the gate and didn't go in where as follows:

Summer Academy at Damansara Utama

I read good reviews about this so decided to ask them for the fees.  It is quite expensive (4 digit).  I decided to drop by after visited Tadika Chim since it was nearby.  But found that it is very difficult to access due to the gated community funny system.  When we reached the semi-D house, found it is quite isolated, located at a dead-end and facing an empty land.

Their website is outdated and last updated in 2012.  So, it was a turn-off for me.

Tadika Littlebell at Damansara Utama

I have called and asked for prices and their fees are quite reasonable.  However, my mom didn't like the premise at all.  It looks rundown and located at the dead-end, very quiet and not secured.

Tadika Sri Nobel at Kelana Jaya

International pre-school, so the fees are on the high side.  The premise is huge, like a mini school, but I didn't go inside.  Just outside.  

I think I have finished my kindy rounds.  And now we have to decide which kindy we will chose.  I personally love Tadika Didik Johan.  They have recently changed owners and now it is a young owner who response to FB Messenger.  They prefer the hands-on method in teaching, rather than purely academic, which is something I really love.

I do not like conformity which is something that Tadika Chim is practising.  Eduwis too.  I saw the change in my nephew after attending Eduwis.  He became less of a talker and was always afraid to voice out because there will be punishments.  He still a good boy, very good with his studies and courageous during his public performances.   I am not sure what, but I feel the method used to make them memorised and memorised and if made mistakes they get punish, that kind of thing makes him turn off and refused to tell us things that he thinks would make us report to his teachers.  

Perhaps it is just me.  I was scolded all the time and bullied when I was in primary school because of my size.  Teachers would also scold carelessly and I can still remembered them.  I can't express myself freely and when I did, I was almost sexually harassed.  Because of this, I became a scaredy cat.  Refused to talk.  Refused to open up.  Refused to take risk.  Because afraid anything I do, would result in bad consequences.  

I really do not wish my girl to be like me.  She is currently happily expressing herself through songs, all self-made.   She also talks with confidence and full of innocence and wisdom.  

So, I am searching for a place where after going there, my girl would not change her personality but would become better.  Brave to speak her mind and smart enough to know the consequences of her actions and imbibe good moral values where no racism and everyone is the same.  So I would prefer a kindy with mixed race.  Some how I do feel learning centers have more benefits which I am looking to than a traditional kindy.

But then again, some parents really love this kind of conformity which they equate to discipline.  

I also like Big Apple Eduworld, but the premise in SS2 is so new, hardly any students, that makes me think twice if the children get the same as those in the HQ in Ipoh.  

So no conclusion yet.