Moving to CM with a two-year-old

[wildwildbill]

Looking at a return to CM for a year or so with the family, including my two-year-old daughter. I have lived and worked there a couple of times and my wife is local but wondering what we need to consider to make it a great experience for all now we have a little one. Any advice from those in the similar situation would be great. Particularly interested in the following:

 

Where's a good location to live and what should we look for in a house (probably around 10K budget)

Good value pre-schools

Parks and places to visit

Healthcare 

[AlexRich]

I love the place but would only stay there for 7-8 months per year. Why? Pollution ... it's pretty awful. Good luck whatever you decide.

[rogeroc]

I absolutely would not bring a 2 year old to CM between end Jan and May if you don't have to. Pollution !!!

[wildwildbill]

Yes, remember the air quality isn't great during the burning season. Have they not put a stop to that yet? 

[Bob12345]

3 hours ago, wildwildbill said:

Yes, remember the air quality isn't great during the burning season. Have they not put a stop to that yet? 

Impossible to stop as nobody listens to what government officials say and a good load of it comes from across the border.

[prism]

Not going to get much of a house for 10K in town, a bit out of town, yes. Are you going to have transportation? Maybe Mee Chok area or towards Hang Dong.

The pre-school/nursery I sent my kids to has since changed hands so I can't make a recommendation but don't cheap out.  I'd try one that has monthly rates first and see how your child enjoys it. Here's a few: Tonkla (clean campus), Little Stars,  Super Kids,  Kiddy Bear, Genius nursery (cheap), Kiddie Daycare (Expensive but has monthly rates). 

Parks and sidewalks are scarce in CM. Plenty for a family to do here though. Lots of good restaurants. 

Healthcare is good here. For our kids we've been going to Dr. Saipin  at Chiang Mai Ram and have been happy with her. 

It's smoky around here in around March but the rest of the time the Air quality is reasonable. We've had to keep our kids indoors on a few days with the air filter on or take a trip down to the coast.  

 

 

[cyberfarang]

4 hours ago, wildwildbill said:

Yes, remember the air quality isn't great during the burning season. Have they not put a stop to that yet? 

The lifestyle for you and your family`s stay in Chiang Mai depends on how much money you have. If low on funds, how do you suppose to support yourself and family here? Would you be working, with a proper work permit?

 

The kind of expectations you have mentioned in your OP for a family of 3, being realistic, you`re probably looking at 80000 baht a month. If you can`t manage that, then best not to even consider bringing your 2 year old daughter here.

[sammieuk1]

I rent  a brand new 3 bed 3 bath detached house in Hang Dong 10,000 pm close to Makro its very good clean modern estate on the final approach to CM airport noise don't notice  air quality never seams a problem but not much for kids I have a 3 year old and 100mbs fibre sorts him out just fine .

[Zendo]

  Come to san kampaeng, very good place to be. For your kid i recommand sukpraseud pre school, nice staff.. Not very costly and they Just build new swimming pool and facilities.

 

My kid Just Start his second year there and speak good Thai now !

[rogeroc]

11 hours ago, wildwildbill said:

Yes, remember the air quality isn't great during the burning season. Have they not put a stop to that yet? 

 it always surprises me that some people on Thai Visa who live in CM minimize the pollution issue. You can smell the burning in the air, you cannot see Doi Suthep and it can be 3 months, not just a few days in March.

 

i have no medical evidence or knowledge that this is harmful and i personally have not experienced any obvious bad symptoms from it. However it is clearly there and as i do not have to i will not be in CM in this season. Also it is not uncommon for the temperature to be in excess of 40 degrees for days on end in March / April.  

 

I only write again because i would not want you to minimize the pollution risks.

[Trujillo]

Give the kid to the grandparents to keep for you and you can go visit every 2 or 3 months. The Thai neighbor does this and everyone seems happy. 

Grandma and grandpa can pre-school her up, there are no parks (weren't you here before?) and she ought to be covered by national health insurance. 

10K rent? Yeah, that's possible (8K is about the minimum) but you'll most likely have to invest in all the appliances and some furniture and transportation. But you know all this, right? 

[wildwildbill]

15 hours ago, Zendo said:

sukpraseud pre school

Any link for this? Just had a quick Google and couldn't find it

[wildwildbill]

18 hours ago, prism said:

 I'd try one that has monthly rates first and see how your child enjoys it. Here's a few: Tonkla (clean campus), Little Stars,  Super Kids,  Kiddy Bear, Genius nursery (cheap), Kiddie Daycare (Expensive but has monthly rates). 

 

Thanks for these. Probably just looking for my daughter to attend a couple of half days a week. Is this possible or are they expected to attend daily? 

[wildwildbill]

10 hours ago, Trujillo said:

Give the kid to the grandparents to keep for you and you can go visit every 2 or 3 months.

Thai style? Ha ha! No the whole idea of the trip is to spend more time together as a family and to get out of the UK rat race for a while. 

[AlexRich]

20 hours ago, rogeroc said:

 it always surprises me that some people on Thai Visa who live in CM minimize the pollution issue. You can smell the burning in the air, you cannot see Doi Suthep and it can be 3 months, not just a few days in March.

 

i have no medical evidence or knowledge that this is harmful and i personally have not experienced any obvious bad symptoms from it. However it is clearly there and as i do not have to i will not be in CM in this season. Also it is not uncommon for the temperature to be in excess of 40 degrees for days on end in March / April.  

 

I only write again because i would not want you to minimize the pollution risks.

BANGKOK: -- Due to constant exposure to seasonal smog, residents in Chiang Mai face twice the risk of lung cancer as people elsewhere, a Chiang Mai University medical lecturer said yesterday.

The annual risk rate for lung cancer among the population in the North is now 40 per 100,000 people - compared to 20 per 100,000 people in other regions, said Assoc Professor Phongthep Wiwatthanadej.

Up to 600 Chiang Mai residents will face lung cancer risk each year, out of a total population of 1.7 million people living in this northern province.

Phongthep said his theory was not supported yet by any research, but said the constant smog exposure had subjected Chiang Mai locals to lung cancer risk, especially those living in Saraphee district, where the highest risk rate was reported.

The rate suffered by women in the district was one the highest in the world, he said without elaborating.

The doctor was speaking at a local seminar held by Chiang Mai University to address the ongoing smog, which is now covering the province more heavily, causing greater health concerns for locals.

More and more cases of hospital treatment for those suffering from smog are reported, which mostly involves respiratory problems and irritation to patients' eyes.

The other provinces affected by the smog, which is caused by forest and manmade fires, are Lampang, Lamphun, Uttaradit, Phitsanulok, Sukhothai and Phetchabun.

Part of the smog is travelling from Burma.

Duangjan Arphawatcharut, a CMU researcher, said honey producers and bee farmers suffered a 70percent loss in revenue after flowers bloomed for only two days before the smog hit the North.

Global warming had been already disturbing the bees' activities beforehand.

In neighbouring Chiang Rai, the safety status will be announced in areas where dust density exceeds a safe level of 200 micrograms per cubic meter.

The existing dust density level is now far from reaching that stage but local civil disaster officers are monitoring the situation.

-- The Nation 2009-02-19

[Zendo]

On 06/06/2017 at 2:23 AM, wildwildbill said:

Any link for this? Just had a quick Google and couldn't find it

here it is :

 

https://www.facebook.com/1257831340915117/

 

really nice place with good people and many activities to be part of if the child wish.

 

This is not an international (overpriced) pre school and there is around 99% native thais kids there.

The kids are expected to be there 5 days a week, from 8h,8h30 to 15h,15h30 but of course you can do as you want...

My kid choose :  english, chinese, taikwendo, music, computer, swimming pool.. and some trips outside the school sometimes.

The cook make special meals for him sometimes.. when he refuses some thai food, people take good care of our kids : Great !

 

We bring him every morning ourselves by car, but the school bus are available and just stop 30m away from our door, but I feel not comfortable with this school buses on thai roads, really not safe i my opinion, too many kids packed into one van and the drivers are often clueless of roads rules so I cannot let the life of my kid in their hands.

 

 

 

 

Edited June 7, 2017 by Zendo

[tyznd]

On ‎6‎/‎5‎/‎2017 at 8:11 AM, prism said:

Not going to get much of a house for 10K in town, a bit out of town, yes. Are you going to have transportation? Maybe Mee Chok area or towards Hang Dong.

The pre-school/nursery I sent my kids to has since changed hands so I can't make a recommendation but don't cheap out.  I'd try one that has monthly rates first and see how your child enjoys it. Here's a few: Tonkla (clean campus), Little Stars,  Super Kids,  Kiddy Bear, Genius nursery (cheap), Kiddie Daycare (Expensive but has monthly rates). 

Parks and sidewalks are scarce in CM. Plenty for a family to do here though. Lots of good restaurants. 

Healthcare is good here. For our kids we've been going to Dr. Saipin  at Chiang Mai Ram and have been happy with her. 

It's smoky around here in around March but the rest of the time the Air quality is reasonable. We've had to keep our kids indoors on a few days with the air filter on or take a trip down to the coast.  

 

 

Don't believe anyone who says "it's smoky around here in around March but the rest of the time the Air quality is reasonable".

 

This year I started tracking the seriously unhealthy PM2.5 levels starting in mid-January when on 16 January levels where already in an elevated state that one should avoid.   Now we are still getting unhealthy levels of PM2.5 on 7 June. 

 

So unsafe and unhealthy levels of air pollution aren't just for a short period that you have to avoid.  More like 5 months or so, which is way too long for me and I would think anyone else who is concerned about their health or their family's.  Best advice, pick another location as there are plenty of option you can find.

[Puwa]

Neighborhoods, schools, houses-- these are all practical matters which you will sort out without too much trouble. Another question is how long you plan to stay.  Coming with a two-year-old, you've got 8-10 years before Chiang Mai schools, even the good international ones, go pale compared to educational opportunities back home.

 

We arrived with a three-year-old, enjoyed an 11-year run, then moved back for education reasons. Honestly, it wouldn't have hurt if we had come back 2 years earlier. Today, our local (free) public high school, an eight-minute walk out the kitchen door, offers better classes and better teachers, is better organized and run, provides laptops, has a proper library, offers clubs and groups galore, and points the way forward, to university and beyond, far more helpfully than any of the CM international schools.  Greater diversity too, in that our local mechanics and firemen send their kids to the same school, alongside doctors, lawyers, teachers, and everyone else. Our son comments how much he prefers it to school in Chiang Mai-- academically, socially, day to day. He actually thanked us for moving back because he likes his new school so much. 

 

By all means, avail yourselves of everything that is enjoyable in Chiang Mai-- food, weather, swimming, mountains, elephants, cheap nannies-- while you can, and be ready to make the right choices for your child whenever that time comes for you. Good luck!

[wildwildbill]

On 6/7/2017 at 11:51 AM, Puwa said:

Neighborhoods, schools, houses-- these are all practical matters which you will sort out without too much trouble. Another question is how long you plan to stay.  Coming with a two-year-old, you've got 8-10 years before Chiang Mai schools, even the good international ones, go pale compared to educational opportunities back home.

 

We arrived with a three-year-old, enjoyed an 11-year run, then moved back for education reasons. Honestly, it wouldn't have hurt if we had come back 2 years earlier. Today, our local (free) public high school, an eight-minute walk out the kitchen door, offers better classes and better teachers, is better organized and run, provides laptops, has a proper library, offers clubs and groups galore, and points the way forward, to university and beyond, far more helpfully than any of the CM international schools.  Greater diversity too, in that our local mechanics and firemen send their kids to the same school, alongside doctors, lawyers, teachers, and everyone else. Our son comments how much he prefers it to school in Chiang Mai-- academically, socially, day to day. He actually thanked us for moving back because he likes his new school so much. 

 

By all means, avail yourselves of everything that is enjoyable in Chiang Mai-- food, weather, swimming, mountains, elephants, cheap nannies-- while you can, and be ready to make the right choices for your child whenever that time comes for you. Good luck!

So you moved from CM to the UK with your teenager or the other way round? 

[AlexRich]

On 6/7/2017 at 5:51 AM, tyznd said:

Don't believe anyone who says "it's smoky around here in around March but the rest of the time the Air quality is reasonable".

 

This year I started tracking the seriously unhealthy PM2.5 levels starting in mid-January when on 16 January levels where already in an elevated state that one should avoid.   Now we are still getting unhealthy levels of PM2.5 on 7 June. 

 

So unsafe and unhealthy levels of air pollution aren't just for a short period that you have to avoid.  More like 5 months or so, which is way too long for me and I would think anyone else who is concerned about their health or their family's.  Best advice, pick another location as there are plenty of option you can find.

 

I made a similar comment earlier in this discussion. I love CM but for me you can only really stay there 6 months of the year and remain healthy. I would never take a baby to live there permanently ... both for health and for education reasons, as another commentator has just detailed.

[Bill97]

So you moved from CM to the UK with your teenager or the other way round? 

I am guessing neither, I think he is a bloody Yank.

[Puwa]

41 minutes ago, Bill97 said:

I am guessing neither, I think he is a bloody Yank.

Corrrect on both counts, but to answer the question, we moved to Chiang Mai when our child was 4 and left when he was 15. (I think the "Bloody Yank" is either a new Burger at the Duke's or an unfortunate mishap at your local rub n tug.)

[Loaded]

On 7/6/2560 at 5:51 PM, Puwa said:

Neighborhoods, schools, houses-- these are all practical matters which you will sort out without too much trouble. Another question is how long you plan to stay.  Coming with a two-year-old, you've got 8-10 years before Chiang Mai schools, even the good international ones, go pale compared to educational opportunities back home.

 

We arrived with a three-year-old, enjoyed an 11-year run, then moved back for education reasons. Honestly, it wouldn't have hurt if we had come back 2 years earlier. Today, our local (free) public high school, an eight-minute walk out the kitchen door, offers better classes and better teachers, is better organized and run, provides laptops, has a proper library, offers clubs and groups galore, and points the way forward, to university and beyond, far more helpfully than any of the CM international schools.  Greater diversity too, in that our local mechanics and firemen send their kids to the same school, alongside doctors, lawyers, teachers, and everyone else. Our son comments how much he prefers it to school in Chiang Mai-- academically, socially, day to day. He actually thanked us for moving back because he likes his new school so much. 

 

By all means, avail yourselves of everything that is enjoyable in Chiang Mai-- food, weather, swimming, mountains, elephants, cheap nannies-- while you can, and be ready to make the right choices for your child whenever that time comes for you. Good luck!

"offers better classes and better teachers, is better organized and run, provides laptops, has a proper library, offers clubs and groups galore, and points the way forward, to university and beyond, far more helpfully than any of the CM international schools."

 

What International schools did he go to?

[Puwa]

6 hours ago, Loaded said:

"offers better classes and better teachers, is better organized and run, provides laptops, has a proper library, offers clubs and groups galore, and points the way forward, to university and beyond, far more helpfully than any of the CM international schools."

 

What International schools did he go to?

The good one 

[Loaded]

5 hours ago, Puwa said:

The good one 

So your experience was limited to one school?

[Puwa]

11 hours ago, Loaded said:

So your experience was limited to one school?

Through direct experience of having a child enrolled, two schools; through indirect knowledge gained from decade's worth of friends and other parents sharing their views, most of the others. 

[XGM]

56 minutes ago, Puwa said:

Through direct experience of having a child enrolled, two schools; through indirect knowledge gained from decade's worth of friends and other parents sharing their views, most of the others. 

Feel free to elaborate, why the secrecy...?

[Puwa]

6 hours ago, XGM said:

Feel free to elaborate, why the secrecy...?

Not trying to be cute, it's just that there are many threads, past, present, and surely future, comparing and inevitably arguing over CM international schools. I thought it would be more relevant to the OP to raise a different question.