在BeijingKids上看到的一篇文章Learning Options for Preschoolers，作者Kaatje Schreurs Harrison。文章在帮助家长们根据自己的预算和孩子的教育发展需求在各类幼儿园（比如国际幼儿园、本土中文幼儿园、双语幼儿园等）选择问题上给出了比较中立的分析和建议，值得一读。时间关系实在没有时间翻译全文了，把最后一段总结的草草翻了一下。 

 When you are sending your pre-schooler off to school, and plunking down the equivalent of university tuition for the privilege, you might be wondering if the education of a 3-year-old is worth that kind of money. In Chinese culture, the focus on academics begins very early, partly due to the competitive nature of higher education and all its associations with advancing the standard of living. Here in Beijing, the scope of the options – international schools, local kindergartens, or local schools with international flavor – create a wide array of choices when looking for the right school.

There are so many different learning styles and programs: Montessori, Reggio Emilia, bilingual, Chinese traditional kindergarten. When I first arrived here, I had no idea what these terms meant. Wasn’t pre-school purely for socialization with other children?  While socialization is indeed one of the most important aspects, these play-based learning environments help develop many other important characteristics, such as independence and confidence. Pre-school education also prepares a child for primary school, and can nurture a lifelong love of learning.

 

Importance of Childhood Education
Paula Zhou, Head of School at The Children’s House Montessori Kindergarten, believes that the first six years of a child’s life is critical to personality development. Instilling confidence, independence and a love of learning create the foundation for being good citizens in the world, she says. “[Early Childhood Education] cannot just be about academics. A more holistic approach to developing children to take care of themselves, help others and take care of their environment creates the foundation on which academics come so easily. Later, it doesn’t matter what professor they have, their love of learning and confidence will allow them to succeed wherever they are.”

Cheryl Smith, head of ECE at Yew Chung International School, believes that beginning school at an early age helps the child separate from the family in a relaxed environment and prepares children for Year 1 and later.  “Early Childhood programs complement and work alongside parents in giving children a well-rounded education experience,” she notes. 

Tamara Sharp’s three-year-old son, Harry, goes to Yew Chung International School. At 2, Harry was an advanced child, speaking articulately. Sharp wanted to broaden his horizons, as well as avoid having his ayi spoil him. Although she herself had dreaded school as a child, and feared Harry would have a similar experience, she says, “He just blossomed. Going to school really developed his self-esteem, confidence and independence.”

Preschool Options
Aside from the larger international schools, there are local Chinese kindergartens and locally run multicultural schools. Local Chinese kindergartens may be difficult to find and require a Chinese-speaker to arrange admission. There are private kindergartens as well as kindergartens attached to primary schools. Some programs require an adult to accompany the child and are more play- and song-based, while others are more academic-based. As the children get closer to primary school age, the academic focus intensifies. 

Sara Manley, an Australian mother of two, sends her 3-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Persie, to a local Chinese kindergarten near her house in the CBD.  Persie goes three mornings a week, accompanied by her ayi. Manley says, “It’s a good social outlet for her. She comes home happy and singing songs from the classes.”  She notes that her husband’s company will pay school fees, but only for compulsory education, which in Australia does not include preschool. Manley was able to find the school through word-of-mouth, from another expat neighbor who sends her son there. She pays RMB 600 for 10 sessions.

Locally run multicultural schools, an option for parents who are hesitant to send children to local kindergarten and want to avoid the fees of expensive international schools, have English or bilingual programs and often cost about half (or less) of that of the international schools. Maggie Hu, head of Harvest Kindergarten, says that because their school is a mix of foreigners and Chinese, it is a balancing act to meet the needs of parents requesting more academic learning and others wanting children to have a fun, play- and game-based learning experience. A compromise is reached by using play, games, and art, as well as giving homework like coloring or number matching.

Bilingual programs at the preschool level involve English and Chinese spoken in the class by teachers or aides who are native speakers. Preschoolers pick up language very easily and naturally, especially when conversing and interacting with a native speaker. At this stage, most learning comes from singing songs and listening to stories. Formal language lessons normally come at later stages. Smith says that having two fully qualified teachers creates a learning environment where children can absorb language and lays a foundation for becoming bilingual adults.

Montessori or Traditional
In any preschool search, you will undoubtedly encounter a range of Montessori-based teaching options. The Montessori Method is based on the work and research of Dr. Maria Montessori, an Italian physician whose observations and work (in the early 1900s) with children resulted in a philosophy of education where children are encouraged to learn from a prepared environment. This environment encourages self-motivation and independent learning that focuses on practical life activities, the senses, language, mathematics, culture and creativity. 

Every Montessori school has its own interpretations of this philosophy and how its own routine and structure shape the school day. Most, however, include practical life activities such as setting the table, clearing up your dishes, taking out and putting away your own work, as well as developing grace and courtesy.

In this self-directed learning environment, the use of specialized concrete materials also facilitates learning writing, reading and mathematics. Elena Lukyanets’ son, who just moved from a Montessori environment to the Reception class at the British School, is academically prepared for the transition. (Other schools that offer the Montessori method include Etonkids and the Family Learning House.)

“When you think of Montessori, you think they are just playing, but he actually can read and write pretty well,” Lukyanet says. For instance, younger children build reading, writing and mathematics skills with hands-on learning – they may use a moveable alphabet to spell out words matching a picture of an animal or abacus-like instruments to count from 0-10,000.

The difference from traditional teaching lies in the child-led nature, as opposed to teacher-led structure, but instead of complete free play, children are provided with specialized materials with a specific teaching purpose. Zhou notes that while Montessori is play-based, complete free play is not ideal. “Children have so many sensitive periods where concepts are absorbed. If they have to be ‘learned’ later, it is much more work,” she says.

Reggio Emilia and Howard Gardner’s multiple intelligences theory have similar philosophies that include independent work, integrated education areas and stations for children to initiate their own play and develop their fine and large motor skills, with teachers co-exploring and guiding. Each school has their own approach to teaching children and early-learners with varying degrees of teacher guidance and play. Visiting schools and observing their particular approach is the best way to determine if their method of teaching is right for you and your child.

Advice on Choosing a School
With the dizzying array of school options available, it is possible to find the right school for your needs and budget. Naturally you’ll want to select a school that is convenient to get to from your home. Teacher turnover and the support of the administration for the teachers are also important considerations.

All of the administrators I spoke with said it is most important to find a school where you and your child feel safe and comfortable and has a warm and friendly environment. No matter which school your child attends, know that preschool prepares your child for a lifetime of learning and allows for a smoother transition from home into a larger learning environment. So your child’s college fund, I mean, preschool tuition, will be money well spent.

幼儿园选择问题上的建议

在北京各色幼儿园中，总应该能找到适合您需求和预算的一所。一般来说家长更想选择离家近的学校。教师的收入和教师管理的支持力度也很值得考虑。

所有和我聊过的幼儿园负责人都表示是否能让您和您的孩子都感觉舒服安全且有一个温馨和友好的环境是幼儿园选择中最需要考量的。无论您的孩子最后选择了哪所学校，记住幼儿园（学前）教育将奠定您孩子终身学习的基础，也是孩子从家庭步入更广阔学习环境的起点。所以，您为孩子花在幼儿园上的钱是值得的。

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评论BY豚妈：

虽然比较客观，但还是看得出来本文的倾向点是让家长在幼儿园选择上别吝啬钱。这个问题要分开来看待，一方面不能轻视学前教育，但要注重教育方式，不是学术考试式的；另一方面也不能一味追求“不上最好就上最贵”。我还是坚持一点的是，孩子小的时候，最应该的是玩乐，学什么不是目的，但不能完全不学东西。强调会让孩子英语多好，多学多少知识的幼儿园都是瞎掰！另外，幼儿园学费不是家长攀比的筹码，没有最好的幼儿园只有最合适的幼儿园。

其次，国外幼儿园没有那么复杂，就像上文一个国外妈妈说的，幼儿园不就是找个孩子们互相交际玩乐的地方吗？怎么变得那么复杂无从选择了呢？我觉得很多中国商家是比较阴险的，把学前教育复杂化就是想多收钱。幼儿园不就是让孩子们互相交际玩乐的地方吗？什么时候演化出那么多花样？不是说服务或者教学多样化不好，而是没有必要蔚然成风。好嘛，现在好像不打个双语，缺个国际，少个蒙氏，这幼儿园就没法见人似的。有必要吗？不过这事儿不能全怪商家，这有人愿打就有人愿挨啊。就是有那么多家长，多么多么看中孩子上了学每天能学几个单词能说几句英文能做几道算数，还逼着幼儿园每周公布学习单。有这种畸形的市场需求才进一步催生了不伦不类并因此漫天要价的幼儿园的出现。

最后，我同意北京那么多幼儿园一定有适合我们的，但我不同意有适合我们的我们就一定能上得了。截止今天，豚的幼儿园还没有着落。合适的报不上，不合适的也都不好报。中国幼儿园资源严重匮乏ING..北京政府承诺的未来五年，投入50亿，新扩建600所幼儿园什么时候才能实现？？？？！！！！！！！