Elva Li – Beijing Kids

Big Daddy: The Fatherhood of Yao Ming – Basketball star, philanthropist, conservation ambassador – and dad

morganshang — Tue, 29 Apr 2014 00:00:00 +0000

The following article was written by Elva Li, the deputy managing editor of JingKids (beijingkids’ Chinese-language sister magazine). She and former beijingkids staff writer Oscar Holland recently had a chance to sit down with Chinese sports hero Yao Ming at the opening of his eponymous basketball school in Wukesong – the NBA Yao School.

When writing these interview questions, I fixated on a picture of Yao Ming and wondered about the defining moment of his life. Was it when he joined the Chinese national basketball team at age 18, was voted FIBA Asia Championship MVP at age 21, served as the flag bearer at the Olympic opening ceremony at age 24, or bought the Shanghai Sharks – his first club team – at age 29?

It wasn’t until I met Yao Ming at the MasterCard Center in Wukesong that I got a hint of an answer. As he stooped down to give his full attention to his younger fans, completely unfazed by the flashes of cameras going off all around him, I realized that becoming a father was perhaps the most significant moment of Yao’s life.

Our interview took place at the opening of his long-awaited NBA Yao School, which offers basketball programs for kids and teens from both the local and expat communities. The core values of the school are teamwork, respect, persistence, a positive attitude, punctuality, and efficiency, he said in a speech to the various media outlets and families in attendance. “We hope that the kids can develop social skills and a strong sense of teamwork, and feel the joy that sports can bring,” he said.

We got a chance to catch up with Yao after the speech and ask him about his aspirations for the school, as well as what it means to be father to 3-year-old Yao Qinlei.

What is the goal of the NBA Yao School?
It’s not about training professionals, but getting kids to enjoy playing basketball and achieve all-round development. We wanted to give this chance to a broader group of students; although China has a population of over 1.3 billion, we only have 1,000 to 2,000 registered basketball players.

In addition, students’ fitness levels have been declining in schools over the past few years, which allows the NBA Yao School to play a complementary role in boosting kids’ physical well-being. I have always held the belief that physical education is an important part of a well-rounded education; it completes education just as art does. Physical education not only promotes fitness, but also cultivates strong will.

What is the school’s educational philosophy?
If an excellent basketball player emerged from my school in the future, I would definitely be proud of them. However, the NBA Yao School is more like a “life school.” We want to cultivate kids with communication skills, a desire to make friends, team spirit, a winning attitude, and leadership qualities. NBA Yao School aims to lay the foundation for the skills that best prepare kids for university and higher education.

What will be your role?
Personally, I will take part in selecting basketball coaches, designing the best courses, promoting and operating the school, and evaluating the kids after they go through the program. But the day-to-day work will be overseen by professionals.

In your speech, you emphasized that kids should make more friends. Why?
Most kids nowadays opt to stay within the small circle of their classmates. I had an additional circle when I was young: the friends I played basketball with. As we grow up, we’re thrust into a world of opportunities. We never know who we’ll run into, but when we meet someone for the first time, we should take an open attitude and talk to them on a human level.

Now, kids tend to adopt this attitude [pretends to play on his phone]. Their communication skills gradually deteriorate. It’s only when people are face-to-face – when they can perceive each other’s body language, expressions, even the slightest muscle movement on another’s face – that they can build a more solid friendship. An iPad or an iPhone can never replace sports in this sense, so we believe that the NBA Yao School will be a great platform for developing communication skills.

Three hundred million people play basketball in this country, yet at the Olympics China didn’t win a game. What needs to change in the way that kids are taught basketball to start translating numbers into success?
We have to change the [reason]why they play basketball. Right now, a lot of people – especially the professionals – play the game not because they like it, but because they have to. Their motivation has to shift into real interest…I can’t say [this is the whole reason], but there needs to be more balance.

What has changed the most since you’ve become a father?
Patience. [When my daughter was born], that was the first time I had to be with a child for such an extended period. We were all kids once, but we gradually grew up and matured, learning to do everything at a fast pace and becoming less patient in the process. But when we talk to a child, we have to regain this patience by reviewing what we ourselves learned as kids and pass it on to them. We come to recall the times we were taught by our own parents and pass on this torch of love.

Tell us a bit about your home life. Do you get to spend much time with your daughter?
My wife has more time with our daughter. [Qinlei] is interested in every toy right now; she is really active and won’t stop moving around – but I don’t mean to say she’s good at sports. [Laughs] She’s just over 3 now, and often speaks Mandarin or Shanghai dialect at home and English at her kindergarten. She’s sometimes lost in her own world, talking to little dolls in English – it’s so funny.

Having lived in the US, can you share with us your opinion on your daughter’s education?
First, I hope to preserve her curiosity; that’s what keeps us engaged when exploring and studying. Secondly, I believe in employing the right learning methods and techniques. I think these two factors will allow her to progress on this exciting but arduous journey.

I also believe that sports promote development. I recently spoke with a professor who studies sports theory at a sports university. He told me about an interesting theory: in the course of human evolution, physical activity contributed to the development of our thinking abilities.

Our primitive ancestors had to run in order to hunt, thus developing a system of logic and contributing to the evolution of human intelligence. When they learned to use tools such as wooden sticks or flint, this opened up another way of thinking, and they evolved, step-by-step, into what we are today. Whether in hunting or farming, these basic forms of sport – and more advanced forms like basketball – make us better and smarter. This actually isn’t a new theory, but it sounds novel because we place so much emphasis on studying.

The old saying goes: “All brawn and no brains.”
Don’t forget, it was lazy people who created escalators and washing machines.

I understand that you attended a basketball summer camp in the US at the age of 17?
I was in France at 17, the US at 18. My English wasn’t very good back then; communication was hard despite there being an interpreter present. I had an innate desire to communicate, whether it was in France, the UK, the US, or Africa.

Did you feel culture shock?
It wasn’t that much of a shock because I was too young to understand at the time. Living in Shanghai also gave me the advantage of having exposure to many foreigners, so I wasn’t that shocked to see more. It was also 2000 when I was 18; society was more open by then.

Do you plan to send your daughter to a local public school or an international school?
I believe it would be a combination. I’d like her to get a solid foundation in Chinese culture and language, then experience a more diverse upbringing.

If your daughter decides to become a basketball player in the future, will you be supportive?
She’s too young right now. But I think she needs to do sports; they’re part of well-balanced education. Team sports teach kids how to communicate, be a leader, stay fit, and also face failure. If she eventually makes the decision [to become a basketball player], I will be behind her the whole way.

In China, Yao Ming is said to have “three highs”: high stature, high IQ, and high EQ (emotional intelligence). After talking to him in person, I found that this wasn’t just a media fabrication. He occasionally flashed one of his signature smiles and revealed an easygoing but thoughtful personality. It was clear that he believed IQ plays a decisive role in how a person does something, while EQ plays a decisive role in whether that person will succeed.

During the interview, Yao told us that the first lesson that he learned after becoming a dad was patience. He also spoke about his mixed feelings about the prospect of his daughter inheriting his career and his concerns for kids in the digital age, emphasized the relationship between sports and education, and told us about his philosophy of being the gateway to emotional intelligence.

He gave eloquent answers to our questions while remaining tactful and measured in his responses. At the same time, he had no trouble exchanging banter with the other reporters. If Yao was a teacher, he would make a good one; he has discerned the important of emotional intelligence in a child’s development, which has often been neglected in modern education. Yao is also the ultimate cool dad. Of all his crowning achievements, his daughter ranks the highest.

To find out more about the NBA Yao School’s basketball programs, visit www.nbayaoschool.com.

Photos: MISHKA FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY, and courtesy of NBA CHINA

This article originally appeared on p44-47 of the beijingkids April 2014 issue. Check out the PDF version online at Issuu.com

2014 School Choice Guide Focus: Beijing Bella Growth International Kids House 北京贝拉成长国际幼儿之

beijingkids — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 05:00:00 +0000

For the coming weeks, we will be highlighting local and international schools around Beijing from our upcoming 2014-2015 School Choice Guide, which comes out in early February 2014. Scroll down for more information on how to participate in our annual school choice fair in March 2014.

Bella Growth provides an early childhood education and development for 2-5 years old children. The School follows the National Curriculum of China while combing the Reggio Emilia approach with an American (ESL) preschool phonics curriculum and the best parts of traditional Chinese teaching-learning theories. Children here are guided, rather than instructed, by their teachers, to become confident, respectful, creative, and responsible individuals.

Founding date: June 2012

School type: Nursery through kindergarten

Is the school registered with Ministry of Education? no

Application fee: RMB 500

Capital Levy fee: RMB 3,000 (one-time fee)

Tuition Fees (2014-2015 Academic Year): RMB 42,000/year

Lunch fees: RMB 800/month for three meals and two snacks

Age range: 2-5

Nationality of students: Chinese, American & Canadian

Foreign passport holders accepted? Yes

Local Chinese students accepted? Yes

Primary teaching languages: Chinese and English

Languages taught: Chinese and English

Class size: 14 (maximum)

Teacher/student ratio: 1:4

School hours: 8am-4:30pm

After school activities: dance, crafts, Calligraphy and English

School facilities: Community facilities, including a fitness center and a swimming pool

Total Area of Campus: 250

School nurse: No

Contact: 102, Unit 4, Bldg 4, Yangguang Lijing Xiaoqu, 23 Huangsi Dajie, Xicheng District (8223 1635, 138 0106 5034, 1054282607@qq.com) www.bellagrowth.com 西城区黄寺大街23号阳光丽景小区南院4号楼4门102号

Word from parent:
Our son Chen Chen has been attending Bella Growth for one year already. As time goes by, he likes Bella Growth more and more. We are very happy to see he is growing fast, not only physically but also mentally. We know that’s all because of the attentive care at the school. Li Huimei (Chinese) mother of Wang Di Chen (3)

For more information on the 2014-2015 School Choice Guide e-mail editor@beijing-kids.com and click here to view the 2013-2014 School Choice Guide on ISSUU. For more information on our upcoming School Choice Fair on March 1-2, 2014, please e-mail schoolchoicefair@truerun.com.

Photo courtesy of Bella Growth

2014 School Choice Guide Focus: Yew Wah Infant and Toddler Education Centre 耀华婴幼儿教育中心

beijingkids — Sun, 05 Jan 2014 04:00:00 +0000

Yew Wah international education services are founded upon Yew Chung Education Foundation’s experience in offering quality international education in Hong Kong and mainland China. Yew Wah has developed a unique international education curriculum for young children, we offer a rich, child-friendly, nurturing environment. One English teacher and one Chinese teacher comprise of the teaching staff our international class, which allows children to gain knowledge and experience of the different languages and cultures. We adhere to the child-centered philosophy and advocate protecting children’s rights. We focus on the holistic and harmonious development of children and nurture good learning dispositions for them. We help our students grow up with awareness of independency, environmental conservation and as global citizens. We believe all these will translate into a solid foundation for their sustainable development and pursuit of lifelong learning.

Founding date: September 2010

School type: Local Private School

Grades offered: Kindergarten 2-6

Is the school registered with the Ministry of Education? Yes

Tuition fees (2013-2014 academic year): RMB 80,000 per year

Application fee: RMB 100

Uniform fee: RMB 770

Transportation fee: RMB 7,500

Lunch fee: RMB 5,300. There is the option of Chinese and Western dishes. Vegetarians are catered for; partial organic food

Scholarships offered: No

Age range: 2-6 years

Number of students: 120

Nationality of students: Chinese, Hong Kong, American, Canadian, Australian,

Local Chinese students accepted? Yes

Foreign passport holders accepted? Yes (Copy of one parent Chinese ID certificate if he or she holds overseas passport)

Primary teaching language: Chinese and English

Class size: 15-20

Teacher/student ratio: 1:5

School hours: 8:30-16:15 (full day)

School: playground in the park; music and dancing area; art room; indoor multifunctional area.

Total area of campus in square meters: 900㎡

School doctor: Yes

Contacts: Block F, Honglingjin Park, No.5 Houbalizhuang, Chaoyang District (8581 9223/85818466*817, itec@bj.ycef.com) www.ywitec.com朝阳区后八里庄5号红领巾公园东门F楼

Word from a parent:
My two little boys have experienced a big change in Yew Wah, they are lucky, having teachers who really care for them and surroundings full of love. My boys have succeeded in completing their first important life phase. It’s fantastic to see my kids with smiles on their faces every day, to see them sing and happily dance along to songs we have never heard, to hear them say some English words, to see them draw something new and creative, to see them eat some food they had never tried before, or even call me “teacher” incidentally. We are jealous but very pleased. I want to thank the teachers who give all their love and care to my kids.
Mr. Luo (China), mother of Andy and Kevin (3)

Photo courtesy of Yew Wah

2014 School Choice Guide Focus: Mei Huan Cai Yuan Foreign Language Preschool 美华彩苑外国语幼儿园

beijingkids — Sat, 04 Jan 2014 04:00:00 +0000

Mei Huan Cai Yuan Foreign Language Preschool, MHCY, was opened in November 2011 as a foreign language kindergarten. It is located under the foothill of Yuquan Mountain covering a space of 15,000 square meters, with a construction area of 12,000 square meters. The Summer Palace, Fragrant Hills and Botanic Garden are all located close by. The surrounding areas have the added benefit of giving the school an immeasurable aesthetic value. MHCY is registered with the Ministry of Education and strictly follows the rules and regulations of the state in accordance with the law. We have 20 classes with full capacity of 424 children in total with 146 teachers and staff.

Founding date: March 2011

School type: Local private preschool

Grades offered: Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten

Is the school registered with the Ministry of Education: Yes

School fees (2013-2014 academic year): RMB 6,900 (International Department) per month; RMB 3,660 (Bi-lingual Department) per month

Lunch: Set lunch consulted by Nutritionist

Age range: 2.5 – 6 years of age

Range of classes: Nursery, Primary, Middle and High (Reception) classes

Number of students: 427

Nationality of students: Chinese, American, HongKong and Taiwan

Local Chinese students accepted? Yes

Foreign passport holders accepted? Yes

Primary teaching language: English and Chinese

Class size: 35 children (maximum) and 22 children (minimum)

Teacher/student ratio: 1:5

School hours: 8:00am – 17:30pm

After-school activities offered: Baseball, The Commonwealth Society of Teachers of Dancing (CSTD) course syllabus: Bally, Jazz, Piano; Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) course syllabus: Violin

School facilities: Jin Bo library, theatre, two outdoor playground with protective rubber base (5,000 square meters), arts classroom, bally classroom, clinic, book corridor and vegetable Garden.

School size in square meters: 6,000

School nurse/doctor: 4

Contacts: 23 Beiwucun Road, Haidian District, Beijing (400-065-6006, 8885 4880) www.mhcyedu.com 北京市海淀区北坞村路23号

For more information on the 2014-2015 School Choice Guide e-mail editor@beijing-kids.com and click here to view the 2013-2014 School Choice Guide on ISSUU. For more information on our upcoming School Choice Fair on March 1-2, 2014, please e-mail schoolchoicefair@truerun.com.

Photo courtesy of MHCY

2014 School Choice Guide Focus: Maple Children’s House 枫叶儿童之家

beijingkids — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 05:00:00 +0000

Maple Children’s House is American Montessori School certified and the only early childhood education center started by an international school (Maple International Academy). The classes follow the Montessori principles and offer a world class education for kids aged 0 to 6 years old. At MCH, kids have the ability to explore the natural world with our outdoor patio and 45mu of organic farmland. As a quality control measure, the resources used are professional Montessori teaching materials. The Montessori school offers 10 courses which include Montessori Sensorial Program, Music Culture, Life Art, Jolly Phonics, Science, Happy Kitchen, Virtue Education, Music Theory, and our Pre-Kindergarten. All of MIA classes are taught in English. There is an equal number of Chinese and foreign teachers.

Founding date: 2012

School type: Local school

Registered with China’s Ministry of Education: Yes

Accreditations: American Montessori School (all the teachers are AMS, AMI or NAMC certificated)

Application fee: RMB 680

Tuition Fees (2013-2014 Academic Year): RMB 6, 000 to RMB 24, 900 per course package

Lunch: No lunch for parent-child classes. Pre-kindergarten classes have lunch. Organic food from their own farm.

Scholarships offered: None

Age range: 0-6

Number of students: over 600

Nationality of students: 90 percent Chinese students, 10 percent foreign students.

Foreign passport holders accepted? Yes

Local Chinese students accepted? Yes

Primary teaching languages: Chinese and English

Languages taught: Chinese and English

Class size: 10 maximum for parent-child classes, and 16 maximum for pre-kindergarten class.

Teacher/student ratio: 1:5 in our parent-child classes and 1:4 in our pre-kindergarten class.

School hours: Parent-child classes varies; 9:00 am – 12:30 am from Tuesday to Friday (Pre-K).

Special needs programs: accepts children with special needs

School facilities: multi-purpose hall, maternal and child nursing rooms, maternal and child restroom, patio, and 45mu of farmland

Total Area of Campus: 1, 200 indoor area plus 45 mu of farmland

School nurse: Yes

Contact: Onghui Road Number 16, Four-Ring North Road, Haidian District ,Beijing (5872 0909, marry.ma@mapleacademy.com.cn) www.mch0-6.com 北京市海淀区西四环北路通汇路16号

Word from a parent:
We have been going to MCH for just over a year now. We really enjoy the environment that MCH provides, it is safe, warm and inspiring that ensures a healthy development. Before we came to MCH little Rita was lazy and would not follow games we would play with her, also communicating and understanding her needs lead to a very frustrating time, now we are extremely proud and happy with Rita, she is very receptive to the world, her focus is strong she is independent and thanks to the baby sign program they teach, we can communicate her needs very well, which has reduced the terrible tantrums we used to have with her. Rita is me and my wife’s first child and the teachers are always there to support us with their knowledge and understanding of many issues that inevitable happen throughout a child’s childhood. We love Rita very much and would not trust anywhere else to take her now after many bad experiences in other early years centers.
Drew Delaney (US)Rita Delaney 18 months

Photo courtesy of Maple Children’s House

2014 School Choice Guide Focus: Eduwings Kindergarten 金翼德懿幼儿园

beijingkids — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 05:00:00 +0000

Eduwings is a trilingual international kindergarten for German, English and Chinese kids. Students are 1-6 years old. Following a German Kindergarten curriculum, students are put it in small groups with native speaking teachers for an enjoyable learning experience. The alumni have gone on to attend various international schools such as the German Embassy School, British School of Beijing, International School of Beijing and Chinese Primary Schools. They have two campuses in Shunyi and Haidian Districts.

Founding date: 2010

School type: International kindergarten

Registered with China’s Ministry of Education: Yes

Accreditation: Berlin Education Program (Germany)

Tuition Fees (2013-2014 Academic Year): RMB 58 000/year (Half day); RMB 80,000/year (inclusive of lunch- Chinese and western food homemade by our chef, special food for baby class, uniform and afternoon activities)
Application fee: RMB 4,500

Bus fee: RMB 8,000—10,000/year

Scholarships offered: No

Age range: 1-6

Number of students: 100 (Shunyi campus); 50 (Haidian campus)

Nationality of students: German, Chinese, American, Mexican & Swiss

Foreign passport holders accepted? Yes

Local Chinese students accepted? Yes

Primary teaching languages: German, Chinese and English

Languages taught: German, Chinese and English

Class size: 12 (infant); 15 (others)

Teacher/student ratio: 2.5-6 years old groups 1:5; below 2.5 years old 1:3–1:4

School hours: 8:00am-4:30pm

After school activities: Art, Dance, P.E, Rollerblading, Fun Cooking, Swimming (in summer season), Orff Music, Africa class. Special in Shunyi campus: German Drama, Street dance class;

Special in Haidian campus: Soft ball class.

Special needs programs: Yes. In cooperation with ELG

School facilities: climbing room (Shunyi), indoor playground (Haidian), art and science room, P.E. and dance room, sleeping room, outside playgrounds with sand box and kid´s kitchens.

Total Area of Campus: 4,000 square meters (Shunyi); 1,000 Square meters (Haidian)

School nurse: Yes

Contact: Shunyi campus: Building 52 Merlin Champagne Town, Liyuan street,Tianzhu, Shunyi District (6450 8384, eduwings@126.com) 顺义区天竺镇丽苑街6号美林香槟小镇会所

Haidain campus: No.6 Guangda xiyuan, Wanliu Zhonglu, Haidian District (8257 0436, eduwingshaidian@126.com) (海淀万柳中路光大西园6号）

A word from Parent:
"Though the kindergarten is big, the atmosphere here is like a family. What I also appreciated very much is that our kids are encouraged to explore. The monthly topics give our children the perfect avenue to get information, conversations, experiments, creative and theme relevant field trips.”
Ute Türk (Germany), Niklas, 5 and Louisa, 3

Photo courtesy of Eduwings Kindergarten