What Age Should I Send My Daughter To School

[mark100]

My little girl was born here in Thailand and she is now 3 years 4 months old, we have'nt sent her to school yet although we are going to in the next few weeks.

l understand that children start school younger here, but at what age do they start full-time?

My wife tells me that kids go to school from 8.30 in the morning until 3 in the afternoon is this correct?

My worry is that this is to long a day for such a small child, and if it were up to me l would start her full time at 4 years and let her enjoy being a young girl.

The main reason we have'nt sent her before is her health, she has been ill for 3 years now, although we hope she is fully recovered now.

Could anyone recommend a school in Pattaya that teaches Thai/English curriculum and is suitable for a girl her age, and could you tell me the price per term??

Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

[MsFigure]

My own daughter is only a few months older than your daughter, and started her schooling in april.

My husband and I both had the same concerns as you do about what age to start, etc and when we finally did decide to start her at school - it was the best thing we could've done for her. What they actually learn and the fun they have while they do it is priceless. Also my family back in Australia could not believe the difference in her development between the time we visited last and after she had completed just one term.

Daughter started in Nursery - 3 days a week 8.30am to 12.30pm and now the new school year has started, she is now in Kindergarten 5 days a week starting at 8.15am to 12.30pm. Kindergarten also has the option of sending your child 3 full days too - Nursery also has part time options.

The school she goes to is St.Andrews in Rayong (and it isn't too far to drive from Pattaya for those that think Rayong is too far away) and it isn't cheap, but DEFINITELY worth it.

Everything about the school is first class and while my husband sheds a few tears and I have to remove the $$$ from his hand by force when it's time to pay school fees - even he sees the good that she gets out of it and that it is worth every baht. If you're lucky enough to work for a company that pays for schooling you're laughing but if you have to pay out of your pocket, you just have to bite your tongue and pay the money.

You mention you wanted thai/english curriculum so St.Andrews may not be what you want as it is ONLY ENGLISH, but considering that my husband and I are not thai, our only option is an english school... and considering what we've seen and heard about some of the local schools here it's well worth the expense.

The school website has the fees listed and what they offer or you can just send me a PM if you have any other questions.

Good luck and hope you find somewhere good for your daughter

[mark100]

My own daughter is only a few months older than your daughter, and started her schooling in april.

My husband and I both had the same concerns as you do about what age to start, etc and when we finally did decide to start her at school - it was the best thing we could've done for her. What they actually learn and the fun they have while they do it is priceless. Also my family back in Australia could not believe the difference in her development between the time we visited last and after she had completed just one term.

Daughter started in Nursery - 3 days a week 8.30am to 12.30pm and now the new school year has started, she is now in Kindergarten 5 days a week starting at 8.15am to 12.30pm. Kindergarten also has the option of sending your child 3 full days too - Nursery also has part time options.

The school she goes to is St.Andrews in Rayong (and it isn't too far to drive from Pattaya for those that think Rayong is too far away) and it isn't cheap, but DEFINITELY worth it.

Everything about the school is first class and while my husband sheds a few tears and I have to remove the $$$ from his hand by force when it's time to pay school fees - even he sees the good that she gets out of it and that it is worth every baht. If you're lucky enough to work for a company that pays for schooling you're laughing but if you have to pay out of your pocket, you just have to bite your tongue and pay the money.

You mention you wanted thai/english curriculum so St.Andrews may not be what you want as it is ONLY ENGLISH, but considering that my husband and I are not thai, our only option is an english school... and considering what we've seen and heard about some of the local schools here it's well worth the expense.

The school website has the fees listed and what they offer or you can just send me a PM if you have any other questions.

Good luck and hope you find somewhere good for your daughter

Thankyou for your quick reply.

Have to say we are really struggling with choice of school, l've heard so many horror stories, mainly about some of the so-called better schools in Pattaya will have to think about long and hard about this one.

Very hard to let your english values go and embrace the thai way of doing things.

[think_too_mut]

My little girl was born here in Thailand and she is now 3 years 4 months old, we have'nt sent her to school yet although we are going to in the next few weeks.

l understand that children start school younger here, but at what age do they start full-time?

My wife tells me that kids go to school from 8.30 in the morning until 3 in the afternoon is this correct?

My worry is that this is to long a day for such a small child, and if it were up to me l would start her full time at 4 years and let her enjoy being a young girl.

The main reason we have'nt sent her before is her health, she has been ill for 3 years now, although we hope she is fully recovered now.

Could anyone recommend a school in Pattaya that teaches Thai/English curriculum and is suitable for a girl her age, and could you tell me the price per term??

Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

My daughter is exactly the same age as yours and she's been going to school since June this year.

Hundreds of small kids like that, cute as button in their uniforms.

Her progress and change of attitude are tremendous: from being glued to cartoons all day long to relentless coloring of textbooks, writing on the board, drawing. After school, she is delighted to do her homework first (color pictures of fruit and things like that).

The school has one day at the (covered) swimming pool and 1 day of sports.

Hours are 8am (school bus comes to the door to pick her up 7:40 and she is there just in time for national anthem at 8am) and brings her back 15:35. She has so much energy that only another 2 hours at house pool can tire her enough to sleep 8pm.

Edited September 7, 2007 by think_too_mut

[TokyoT]

I actually got my daughter started at age 2. It started out as looking for a day care type set-up to give my wife some free time thru the week - half day a few days a week. Could not find any day care type set-up that I liked. But we did find a school that would allow us to be flexible with her schedule. Started with half days and not every day of the week. It was soon clear that more was better within months she was going Mon-Fri, and then the next term she switched to full days.

She is now three and loves going to school - she is actually home with a bit of a cold today.

[mark100]

My little girl was born here in Thailand and she is now 3 years 4 months old, we have'nt sent her to school yet although we are going to in the next few weeks.

l understand that children start school younger here, but at what age do they start full-time?

My wife tells me that kids go to school from 8.30 in the morning until 3 in the afternoon is this correct?

My worry is that this is to long a day for such a small child, and if it were up to me l would start her full time at 4 years and let her enjoy being a young girl.

The main reason we have'nt sent her before is her health, she has been ill for 3 years now, although we hope she is fully recovered now.

Could anyone recommend a school in Pattaya that teaches Thai/English curriculum and is suitable for a girl her age, and could you tell me the price per term??

Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

My daughter is exactly the same age as yours and she's been going to school since June this year.

Hundreds of small kids like that, cute as button in their uniforms.

Her progress and change of attitude are tremendous: from being glued to cartoons all day long to relentless coloring of textbooks, writing on the board, drawing. After school, she is delighted to do her homework first (color pictures of fruit and things like that).

The school has one day at the (covered) swimming pool and 1 day of sports.

Hours are 8am (school bus comes to the door to pick her up 7:40 and she is there just in time for national anthem at 8am) and brings her back 15:35. She has so much energy that only another 2 hours at house pool can tire her enough to sleep 8pm.

Thanks for replying

[mark100]

I actually got my daughter started at age 2. It started out as looking for a day care type set-up to give my wife some free time thru the week - half day a few days a week. Could not find any day care type set-up that I liked. But we did find a school that would allow us to be flexible with her schedule. Started with half days and not every day of the week. It was soon clear that more was better within months she was going Mon-Fri, and then the next term she switched to full days.

She is now three and loves going to school - she is actually home with a bit of a cold today.

Thankyou for replying

[Neeranam]

My daughter started school at 1 year 6 months, well nursery - from 8 to 4.30.

It's a long day maybe but she is learning and loves it.

[billd766]

I live in Klong Lan Pattana in the central region a long way from the OP.

My son started Kindergarten last November when he was 2 1/4 though I wasn't too happy about it and the hours were 8 am to 3.30 pm though all the children take a slleping mat to school and have a nap for a while.

He was 3 last month and is learning to read the Thai alphabet and also the English one.

When I am in country I take him on the motor scooter (he has his own helmet) and pick him and his friend up in the afternoon by car.

He is quite happy when Dada takes him but cries for a little bit whem Mae takes him and is happy when somebody from or workers take him to school. The tears stop very quickly once he is inside and he is always happy to see his Mum when she picks him up.

He is much happier as he mixes with other children and is more outgoing and I now feel that I was mistaken before he went as I wanted him to be a little boy as long as he could.

[think_too_mut]

I live in Klong Lan Pattana in the central region a long way from the OP.

My son started Kindergarten last November when he was 2 1/4 though I wasn't too happy about it and the hours were 8 am to 3.30 pm though all the children take a slleping mat to school and have a nap for a while.

He was 3 last month and is learning to read the Thai alphabet and also the English one.

When I am in country I take him on the motor scooter (he has his own helmet) and pick him and his friend up in the afternoon by car.

He is quite happy when Dada takes him but cries for a little bit whem Mae takes him and is happy when somebody from or workers take him to school. The tears stop very quickly once he is inside and he is always happy to see his Mum when she picks him up.

He is much happier as he mixes with other children and is more outgoing and I now feel that I was mistaken before he went as I wanted him to be a little boy as long as he could.

Same here. I could have written almost the same post.

Those with kids at nurseries, watch out for one thing: nearing the age of 3, most parents would take their kids to schools, leaving your child with -1 year olds. No peers. Between 2 and 3 years old, there is a wider gap than between 40 and 60 years old person.

[PattayaParent]

Could anyone recommend a school in Pattaya that teaches Thai/English curriculum and is suitable for a girl her age, and could you tell me the price per term??

Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

I too did not want to send my daughter (now aged 3 years 2 months) to school but she had been to a playschool and loved being with other kids so begged us to let her go to schoool when we came here.

She's in Montessori in Nahklua and loves it. It's 5 days a week from 8am to 14:30pm but we only send her 3 days a week (up from 2 days a week last year). Personally I feel that this is too long and am glad she's not there 5 days a week as she is overtired on the days that she has been to school as she's used to an afternoon nap between 12:00 and 15:00. I still have to pay for the full 5 days though.

St. Andrews is good too and I have friends that have kids there but it is very expensive and a long journey to get there unless you are living out that way. My thinking is that as she doesn't need to be at school for a 'quality educaton' just yet then I'm not too concerned about her going to the best school available for now.

We looked at other schools around before settling on Montessori which incidentally is all in English (neither myself or my wife are Thai and my daughter doesn't speak any Thai.)

Pheonix Kindergarden on Sukhumvit Road (U-turn at the first set of lights past South Road going South out of Pattaya). Teach in Thai and English and give Chinese lessons too. New school building, very spacious which is good for the rainy days. They were very flexible with fees regards us not wanting the daughter to be full time and offered discounts. I don't know anyone who has a child there so cannot offer any recommendations.

Aksorn School on Thepprasit (the college is on the main road and the school behind) it was recommended by friends that had their 2 Farang/Thai kids there. A Thai school with an English programme, unsuitable for my daughter, facilities did not look very good.

A school I forget the name of just now, it's left off Sukhumvit just past GreenWay Driving Range, over the railway tracks and turn right. It's in a housing estate and is well signposted. Great facilities, was recommended by some friends whose kids didn't go there but have friends whose kids do. Thai and English teaching and claim to have the most hours per week in English than any other school in the region.

Best Burapha school. Didn't even consider it after the stories I heard about it but a friend has an older kid there (8 years) and reckons it's good. I've also read some good reports (and bad) on it on this Board I think.

There's another one I didn't look at on Sukhumvit Road going North towards Bangkok, on the right hand side, again I've read mixed reports about it and have no personal recommendations. The reports are on this Board somewhere.

As the terms have already started in most schools just a couple of weeks ago you may be limited in your choice to schools that actually have places available.

Hope this helps. Good luck

[PattayaParent]

A school I forget the name of just now. It's name is Wuttichot

There's another one I didn't look at on Sukhumvit Road - International school of Pattaya

Check http://www.pattayanet.com/Pattayas%20Schools/schoolindex.htm

[mark100]

Could anyone recommend a school in Pattaya that teaches Thai/English curriculum and is suitable for a girl her age, and could you tell me the price per term??

Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

I too did not want to send my daughter (now aged 3 years 2 months) to school but she had been to a playschool and loved being with other kids so begged us to let her go to schoool when we came here.

She's in Montessori in Nahklua and loves it. It's 5 days a week from 8am to 14:30pm but we only send her 3 days a week (up from 2 days a week last year). Personally I feel that this is too long and am glad she's not there 5 days a week as she is overtired on the days that she has been to school as she's used to an afternoon nap between 12:00 and 15:00. I still have to pay for the full 5 days though.

St. Andrews is good too and I have friends that have kids there but it is very expensive and a long journey to get there unless you are living out that way. My thinking is that as she doesn't need to be at school for a 'quality educaton' just yet then I'm not too concerned about her going to the best school available for now.

We looked at other schools around before settling on Montessori which incidentally is all in English (neither myself or my wife are Thai and my daughter doesn't speak any Thai.)

Pheonix Kindergarden on Sukhumvit Road (U-turn at the first set of lights past South Road going South out of Pattaya). Teach in Thai and English and give Chinese lessons too. New school building, very spacious which is good for the rainy days. They were very flexible with fees regards us not wanting the daughter to be full time and offered discounts. I don't know anyone who has a child there so cannot offer any recommendations.

Aksorn School on Thepprasit (the college is on the main road and the school behind) it was recommended by friends that had their 2 Farang/Thai kids there. A Thai school with an English programme, unsuitable for my daughter, facilities did not look very good.

A school I forget the name of just now, it's left off Sukhumvit just past GreenWay Driving Range, over the railway tracks and turn right. It's in a housing estate and is well signposted. Great facilities, was recommended by some friends whose kids didn't go there but have friends whose kids do. Thai and English teaching and claim to have the most hours per week in English than any other school in the region.

Best Burapha school. Didn't even consider it after the stories I heard about it but a friend has an older kid there (8 years) and reckons it's good. I've also read some good reports (and bad) on it on this Board I think.

There's another one I didn't look at on Sukhumvit Road going North towards Bangkok, on the right hand side, again I've read mixed reports about it and have no personal recommendations. The reports are on this Board somewhere.

As the terms have already started in most schools just a couple of weeks ago you may be limited in your choice to schools that actually have places available.

Hope this helps. Good luck

Thanks for the info. Mark

[Khun Jean]

My kids will start school when they are six.

Kids are naturally curious and willing to learn anyway and some parental control to avoid watching cartoons all day is good.

In my opinion putting a child in school te the age of 3 is too early. It is a good way when both parents are working but if not then a child can learn a lot from their parents. And bonding with parent and other grown ups will be stronger. The kids also learn from copying adults and being around adults is something that they miss at school.

After other kids come back from school there is enough time to play and socialize.

My kids read /listen to books, like coloring, word and number games, memory, can tell time and are happy to play outside. No pressure for homework or other school stuff.

The plan is to introduce some school like discipline a few months before they go to a real school.

We will set hours when they have to do some reading, counting or whatever subject comes along.

It will make the transfer to a real school easier we think.

Next weekend my daughter (5 year) will go to a classic thai dancing school. She loves music and dance so she will probably like it a lot. This will also give here some experience being in a class where you have to listen to a teacher and being together with other children studying instead of playing.

Looking back i am happy we did not put them in school at age 2-3.

[mark100]

My kids will start school when they are six.

Kids are naturally curious and willing to learn anyway and some parental control to avoid watching cartoons all day is good.

In my opinion putting a child in school te the age of 3 is too early. It is a good way when both parents are working but if not then a child can learn a lot from their parents. And bonding with parent and other grown ups will be stronger. The kids also learn from copying adults and being around adults is something that they miss at school.

After other kids come back from school there is enough time to play and socialize.

My kids read /listen to books, like coloring, word and number games, memory, can tell time and are happy to play outside. No pressure for homework or other school stuff.

The plan is to introduce some school like discipline a few months before they go to a real school.

We will set hours when they have to do some reading, counting or whatever subject comes along.

It will make the transfer to a real school easier we think.

Next weekend my daughter (5 year) will go to a classic thai dancing school. She loves music and dance so she will probably like it a lot. This will also give here some experience being in a class where you have to listen to a teacher and being together with other children studying instead of playing.

Looking back i am happy we did not put them in school at age 2-3.

Thankyou for the reply.

[The Dan Sai Kid]

My kids will start school when they are six.

Kids are naturally curious and willing to learn anyway and some parental control to avoid watching cartoons all day is good.

In my opinion putting a child in school te the age of 3 is too early. It is a good way when both parents are working but if not then a child can learn a lot from their parents. And bonding with parent and other grown ups will be stronger. The kids also learn from copying adults and being around adults is something that they miss at school.

After other kids come back from school there is enough time to play and socialize.

My kids read /listen to books, like coloring, word and number games, memory, can tell time and are happy to play outside. No pressure for homework or other school stuff.

The plan is to introduce some school like discipline a few months before they go to a real school.

We will set hours when they have to do some reading, counting or whatever subject comes along.

It will make the transfer to a real school easier we think.

Next weekend my daughter (5 year) will go to a classic thai dancing school. She loves music and dance so she will probably like it a lot. This will also give here some experience being in a class where you have to listen to a teacher and being together with other children studying instead of playing.

Looking back i am happy we did not put them in school at age 2-3.

Aren't you worried that they will be far behind kids who will be in their 3rd year of school by then?

[legag]

I don't understand parents these days push them kids so hard to be in school. Let them roll the dice and be in the class with the same range age friends!! I will not abuse my kids like this or others.

[think_too_mut]

I don't understand parents these days push them kids so hard to be in school. Let them roll the dice and be in the class with the same range age friends!! I will not abuse my kids like this or others.

What else do you think kids do at school at that age? Labour with showels, in trenches, loading sacks of cement onto trucks?

Of course it is all play, drawing with a touch of reading/writing/counting just comes as a bonus.

At my daughter's school, one day a week is a swimming pool day, they all carry swimming suites in their backpacks.

Another day is sports only - they all go dressed in jersey and sport shoes.

Most of other 3 days are singing, playing, acting, drawing, coloring.

All the things kids do ayway - without being drilled, they get to grasp with basic discipline, consideration for others and that there is "No" that applies to them.

No parents - unless they are child care professionals themselves (providing they have resources and facilities) - can do better than a school.

[legag]

Thank you for the updating. Kids are all grown up now I should have known things changed from back then faster than you blink.

Good for them kids these days to be able to go to such a playing, rolling school.

[PattayaParent]

[quote name='Khun Jean' post='1531553' date='2007-09-12 16:21:57'

Aren't you worried that they will be far behind kids who will be in their 3rd year of school by then?

I too didn't want my daughter to go to school until she was 5 (the same age I went to school). Her mother has been teaching her stuff every day, alphabet, counting, reading colouring, and she is ahead of other kids in her class and ahead of the school curriculum.

So long as the parent(s) take the time to teach and guide their kids and spend time with them I wouldn't worry that they will get behind, more than likely the exact opposite. The main reason my daughter has gone to school is to be able to play with other kids which is not poossible in the environment in which we live, unlike when I was a kid and played with neighbours all day.

[PattayaParent]

A school I forget the name of just now. It's name is Wuttichot

There's another one I didn't look at on Sukhumvit Road - International school of Pattaya

Check http://www.pattayanet.com/Pattayas%20Schools/schoolindex.htm

Sorry, a correction to my previous posting, the school behind GreenWays is Sathit not Wuttichot.

and the International School of Pattaya houses the Wuttichot School.

[Tony Clifton]

We are both at home, and, when we do work, we work at home mostly.

We'll have plenty of time for the lil' one and refuse to send a child of pre-school age to spend precious days with strangers when parent bonding is crucial at that age. Others are not so fortunate and have to work.

Our neighbour has a problematic 6 y.o. daughter from a previous marriage and a new son. A few weeks ago, the daughter ended up going back to her grand-mother who raised her originally. A total disaster, she behaved like a little devil, she would hiss at people like a cat, walk into houses uninvited, disappeared at times. Their marriage was actually at risk because of the little one who even accused her step-mom of extreme abuse when she did not have her way, which was completely untrue.

I find that here, dumping the kids to someone else is quite common. Some do it because of work, while many do it out of simple laziness and dump them with the grand-parents.

[think_too_mut]

I find that here, dumping the kids to someone else is quite common. Some do it because of work, while many do it out of simple laziness and dump them with the grand-parents.

There is a long stretch between "dumping" the kid to betel-nut chewing alcoholic illiterate grandmother and to child care professionals.