In search for a kindergarten

We are thinking of putting Sean into a full kindergarten next year. One thing is because I'm getting busier and don't have as much time as I used to with him. He also looks to be growing out of the current playgroups he is in. So therefore we've been checking out kindergarten this week.

Our criteria for a kindergarten:
1. Experienced teachers who are well-spoken and have warm personalities.
2. A good system which teaches well but nothing too academic because we feel that it's still important to have time for play and reflection.
3. A good level of discipline but not too harsh. Discipline is still important but it shouldn't be meted out in a harsh manner that it suppresses the personality of the child.

All these will result in
4. Children who are warm and friendly. So we also want to see the children who are studying in the school because they will be the community of students that we want Sean to be friends with.

And last but not least

5. A place that Sean likes. So his personal judgment is still taken into account.


We went to see 3 kindergartens this week and including the kindergarten that Sean attended before, they rank in this order:

1. Fairfield (British system)
2. Nakorn Sari (I think British system)
3. Beaconhouse (own system)
4. Madeline (Fungates)

Unfortunately, we went to Beaconhouse and Madeline on their open days and could not see the children. But they did not meet our first criteria.

We like the feel and teachers of Nakorn Sari but criteria no.3 is not met, which is I think the reason Sean does not like it despite the friendly and cheerful teachers over there. Actually Nakorn Sari seems like a really fun place but every time we even pass the school, or the other day when we went for the Lantern Festival, Sean always comments quite emphatically " Don't like this school."

So at the moment, our current choice is Fairfield, which seem to meet criteria 1-4.

Sean did not say whether he likes it or not, which is why we're still going to look at a few other kinddies:

5. Sri Nobel (Fungates)
6. Juara Cerdik (Fungates)
7. Tadika Diyana (not sure yet)
8. Peter and Jane (maybe)

With the Fungates system, I'm just wondering whether it's just too academical? It feels a bit like a factory system where the children (crammed in a class of 25) are fed academics subjects throughout the whole morning. I can see that by the time they leave at 6 years old, they will have learned quite a lot.

However, does this system take away creativity because everyone has to do the same thing at the same time? I know that will be what they'll have to do once they get to Standard 1, but they are only little kids now, and isn't this the time when they can relax and play?

I can't make up my mind about it yet because we have yet to see children in the school setting. So hopefully when we see the next few kinddies later, we'll be able to make a better judgment.