On Aug 5, China’s General Office of the State Council issued a new policy to waive tuition fees for the first year of compulsory education in China starting the 2025 school year. This means that K3 kindergarten tuition fees are waived for all kids. But what if your child holds a foreign passport or you’ve already chosen a private kindergarten? Here’s a clear, simple breakdown of how Beijing’s tuition waiver policy works for your child’s final year.

As a parent in Beijing, you’ve likely heard the exciting news: The government is waiving tuition fees for the final year of kindergarten. This initiative is a major part of China’s effort to reduce the cost of raising children and make education more accessible.

But how does it actually work? Who qualifies? And how do you make sure your family benefits?

In simple terms, the Beijing municipal government provides funding to cover the standard tuition fee for children enrolled in their third and final year (K3) at qualifying kindergartens.

It’s crucial to know that this is not a blanket “free kindergarten for all” policy. Its application depends entirely on the type of kindergarten your child attends.

The policy applies to two main types of kindergartens:

1. All Public Kindergartens (公办幼儿园):
If your child is enrolled in a public kindergarten, you are already covered. The government directly funds the school to waive the standard tuition fee for K3 students. You do not need to apply; the fee will simply not appear on your bill.

2. All Government-Designated “Inclusive Private Kindergartens” (普惠性民办幼儿园):
These are privately owned schools that have partnered with the government. They agree to cap their tuition fees at a government-set rate in exchange for subsidies. Most private kindergartens in Beijing fall into this category. For these schools, the government provides a subsidy directly to the kindergarten to offset the cost of K3 tuition.

It’s important to note that the policy doesn’t cover all the costs for K3. The waiver specifically covers the core tuition and does not include meals, boarding, transportation or fees for special extracurricular activities. You will still be responsible for these.

Now, here’s how it’ll affect expat families. The policy is based on legal residency, not nationality, which means even if your child holds a foreign passport but is a legal resident of Beijing (typically on a valid resident permit tied to a parent’s visa) and is admitted to a qualifying public or inclusive private kindergarten, they are entitled to the same fee waiver as Chinese citizens. If the kindergarten is on the list of qualifying schools, then getting the K3 fees waived is simple and automatic. You won’t need to fill out extensive paperwork.

So, how can you find out if your child’s kindergarten is already part of the policy? Here’s how to check:

1. Ask Directly: The simplest method. When you are considering a kindergarten or are already enrolled, ask the administration: “请问咱们幼儿园是普惠园吗？” (“Qǐngwèn zánmen yòu’éryuán shì pǔhuì yuán ma?”).
2. Official Government Lists: The Beijing Municipal Education Commission and individual district education bureaus (区教委) publish official lists of all recognized inclusive private kindergartens. You can search online for “北京市普惠性民办幼儿园名单”(Běijīng shì pǔhuì xìng míngbàn yòu’éryuán míngdān) or for your specific district.

This new policy doesn’t mean that all private kindergartens will be included. If your child attends an international or non-inclusive private kindergarten, this government policy does not apply. These schools operate outside the public funding system and set their own tuition fees for all years.

This policy is a significant benefit for families in Beijing. For the most precise and up-to-date information, always consult your kindergarten administration or the website of your district’s education bureau (区教育局).

Images: Freepik

Choosing a kindergarten in Beijing should be an exciting milestone, but for many parents, it quickly turns into a headache. Between comparing curricula and figuring out tuition fees, the process can feel overwhelming – especially in a city with so many options.

The first place you need to start is by visiting the School Profile page on our website, where you can filter the schools. Over the years, we’ve collected the must-know information of kindergartens all over the city, so a few minutes on our website will save you hours of research time.

The profiles break down each kindergarten’s key details: where they’re located, what curriculum they follow, whether they accept foreign students, their primary teaching language or languages, tuition etc. For parents juggling work and family life, this streamlined approach saves precious time and reduces stress.

Once you’ve narrowed down your options, the next steps become much simpler. Create a shortlist of schools that align with your priorities – whether that’s a strong language program, a convenient location or a particular teaching style. Then, reach out to schedule tours. Seeing a kindergarten in person, meeting the teachers and observing the classroom vibe can make your final decision much clearer.

One pro tip? Don’t wait too long. Popular kindergartens in Beijing often fill up fast, especially those with bilingual or international programs. Having all the information up front means you can act quickly and confidently.

Images: Freepik

First-time parents have it hard. Choosing a pre-school for my daughter for the first time was like taking an exam. I researched the different types of curriculums, talked to other parents and tried my utmost to let go on her first day of school.

Now, I find myself in need of a new school for my kid and going through the whole process again, but this time, after seeing how she interacts at school, I’ve got a different take on the various types of curriculums out there available for the early years.

When it comes to early childhood education for the kindergarten age group, several distinct curriculums offer unique approaches to nurturing young minds in Beijing. Montessori, Reggio Emilia, and Multiple Intelligences each bring their own set of characteristics and benefits.

Montessori curriculum emphasizes independence and self-directed learning. Children are provided with carefully designed materials that allow them to explore and learn at their own pace. This approach fosters concentration, discipline, and a sense of order. In a Montessori classroom, children are free to choose their activities, which helps develop decision-making skills and a sense of responsibility.

Reggio Emilia, on the other hand, focuses on the child as a protagonist in their own learning journey. It emphasizes the importance of the environment as the “third teacher.” Classrooms are filled with beautiful and inspiring materials that encourage exploration and creativity. The Reggio approach values collaboration and documentation of the learning process, allowing children to express themselves through various mediums such as art, music, and drama.

Curriculums based on multiple intelligences recognize that children have different learning styles and intelligences. This approach aims to address these differences by providing a variety of activities that tap into different intelligences, such as linguistic, logical-mathematical, musical, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, and intrapersonal, and helps children discover their strengths and interests and develop a more well-rounded learning experience.

In terms of differences, Montessori places a strong emphasis on individual work and self-discipline, while Reggio Emilia emphasizes collaboration and group work. Montessori classrooms are often more structured and organized, while Reggio Emilia classrooms are more flexible. Multiple intelligences curriculums are more focused on catering to different learning styles, while Montessori and Reggio Emilia are more focused on overall child development.

All three curriculums recognize the importance of play in learning, the need for a rich and stimulating environment, and the value of respecting the child’s individuality.

So, when choosing an early childhood education curriculum for the kindergarten age group, it is important to consider the child’s needs and learning style. Montessori, Reggio Emilia, and multiple intelligences curriculums all offer valuable approaches to early childhood education, and each has its own unique strengths and benefits.

Want to know which kindergarten fits your style? Check out our website for information on all the international schools available in Beijing.

Images: Pexels

I thought I knew exactly what I wanted in a kindergarten until I actually visited one with my kid. Let’s rewind… I’ve been writing about international schools and education for years, but when it finally came time to attend my first open house, I was less than prepared.

First of all, it’s a two-parent gig. I love events that are organized and this past weekend, I attended the open day at The Children’s House Montessori and it was so organized that they asked one parent to attend an info session while the other took the baby to one of their classrooms to play. I had decided to leave my husband at home and attend it with my daughter, so within the first 10 minutes, I was already calling him for backup. Thankfully, I had bumped into a friend whose husband offered to take notes while we played with our daughters in the classroom. While the well-prepared pamphlets and brochures are great, I wish I could have listened in on the info session as well.

I realized halfway through playtime that choosing a kindergarten was as important for you as it is for your child. I wanted an international kindergarten for my daughter; that much I already knew. But there are so many of them in Beijing, which one is the right fit for us? The same day that I attended the open house at The Children’s House Montessori, a mommy friend of mine attended another school’s open day and our photos couldn’t have been more different.

We left our shoes at the door and played in a clean, open space with Montessori toys that were minimalistic in color and made of wood. Her photos showed a different picture. They were full of plastic multi-colored toys, parents in plastic shoe covers, face painting, and a mini petting zoo. It’s not to say that one is better than the other, it’s just different and will attract different types of families.

They’re both international kindergartens, but as jingkids has always stressed, the tern international school is so vast in Beijing that you need to learn the subtleties of each program, which can mean a completely different experience for your children. But that’s what open days are for! Both of these kindergartens came highly recommended by our friends, but “just because it’s the right school for your friend’s kid, doesn’t mean it’s the right school for yours,” as jingkids has always said.

My moment of realization came at the perfect time. This weekend’s Jingkids International School Expo (JISE) is a free event where the city’s top international schools all gather in one convenient location where I can browse and get better acquainted with all of them in one day. Then, based on my needs, I’ll set up school visits to find the one that’s right for my family.

So this weekend, armed with my list of questions to ask the schools and a newfound curiosity for kindergartens (must-haves include: in Beijing, uses the Montessori curriculum, close to Chaoyang Park, will take kids under 1 yr old, will have classes on weekdays as well as weekends, attended by like-minded no-fuss parents), I’ll be making my way down the aisles at JISE, scheduling appointments for school visits. See you there my fellow newbie parents!

KEEP READING: Looking for a School? Make Sure You’re Asking the Right Questions

Images: Mina Yan, Courtesy of The Children’s House Montessori

Updating and sorting through the multiple schools in our 2021-2022 School Choice Guide was overwhelming, and this is from someone who already had a school for her kids. From day one my family has loved our choice, yet I couldn’t help second-guessing everything while reading all the summaries and objectives and facilities and various experiences they could have had in the massive number of school profiles we host on our site. My family also had an advantage walking into school choice in Beijing because we knew the approach that works great for our oldest, but how could we choose a school for our 3-year-old without totally screwing up his childhood development?

It’s no secret that early childhood is key in a child’s overall life, and media blasts us with notions of how our children should be learning. “Early childhood development (ECD) is now considered a time which lays the foundation for an individual’s future overall health, happiness, success, and social behavior, according to the Central Asia Institute. “The years of zero to three can be a time of great opportunity – or a missed chance to give a person their best chance at life.”

No one wants to be that parent who didn’t give their kid a better life, but that’s what every advertisement for schools and toys screams at us. If they don’t know their alphabet by age two, they’re behind. If they don’t speak in complete sentences by age three, you must have missed that millisecond when they were ripe for learning. If they aren’t correcting your math by four then forget it, pack up your parenting gear, you just failed.

So how can we throw off the guilt monsters and make a clear choice for our kids, that will keep everyone happy for all of their days? That’s not going to happen merely poring over the 100+ page magazine, although it works as a great foundation. And no one wants to go through the whole process of choosing a school, enrollment, paying for and getting uniforms, getting their kids used to the whole idea, only to realize you made a horrible mistake and do it all over again. Third culture kids have it hard enough with transitions; school seems like the one place we can make it easy for them.

This is one of the reasons why we host the Jingkids International School Expo (JISE) every year, and why we modified this Apr 17 event to tailor it towards parents who need to make those decisions early. Maybe you’re having trouble deciding on a kindergarten, or you just can’t fathom the leap from ECE to primary. Either way, we’re here to help all day long on Apr 17, from 10am – 5.30pm, for free at the Jiarui Culture Center.

Jingkids selected 50 of the top international schools in Beijing to host a booth at this conference, held all day on Saturday, Apr 17. Here you get to really talk to every school representative and ask the hard questions. You get to feel the vibe of the school and collect awesome swag. You don’t feel rushed by the immediacy of the school tour or the sweet little eyes of other students starting at you. You’re able to quickly compare notes from one school to another and return for follow-up questions. Most importantly, you can do all these things at your own pace and with you in the customer role.

1. Is your program play-based, student-driven, or is there a clear curriculum and outcomes for each year?
2. If my child’s birthday is in the first week of school, are they able to be in the older age grouping or do they need to stay in the younger classroom?
3. Do children nap during the school day? For how long? What if they’ve dropped their naps?
4. Do students have access to the school library?
5. Is there Mandarin instruction or is it immersion? What is the experience like for children who don’t know Mandarin yet?
6. Do they have PE, Art, or Music, classes?
7. Are there after-school classes or after-school care available on campus?
8. How much interaction do students have with older students?
9. How are intimate situations like potty use regulated?
10. Do parents have an opportunity to participate in school activities? What are the expectations of hours volunteered and possibilities?
11. How often do parents meet with the teachers?
12. What is the primary method of communication between parents and teachers?
13. What happens in the event of temporary closure due to Covid or otherwise? How is e-learning set up and is it optional or mandatory?
14. What has the school learned from its experience with e-learning for these grade levels?

If you had trouble answering any of the questions above, it’s time for an education refresher course. So head over to the QR code on this poster to register for this event for free!

KEEP READING: What Age Should You Send Your Child to Preschool? ECE Experts Engage on Ideas

Images: Jingkids

When you work with small children there are a few questions you get asked regularly by anxious parents: “What’s the correct balance between structured and free playtime? When should we allow screen time and how much should they get? How should I handle tantrums/boundaries/discipline/timeouts? When should we stop the pacifier/introduce new foods/start giving them chores?” Ok… there are more than a few.

But by far the most asked question I receive as an early childhood educator is “What age should we start preschool?”

Because we know how important early education is to a child’s long-term health, happiness, and achievement, there is a lot of pressure on parents to “get this right.” On more than one occasion I have had anxious, overwhelmed parents (or in some cases parents to be) sit in my office with a spreadsheet of local schools in their hands and panic in their eyes.

As much as I wish I could give these wonderful, concerned and engaged parents a simple answer, it is a complex question with many variables. Ultimately, they need to make the decision that is best for their unique child and family as a unit. But that doesn’t mean they can’t get guidance from people who have been around the track a few times.

I normally start by handing out tissues and, in truly desperate situations, chocolate, to calm nerves. Then we embark on a long conversation about the child’s learning style and interests, the family’s lifestyle, plus any health and wellness factors that might play a role.

But I can’t do all that for each of you through the pages of a magazine. So, to tackle this question I tapped some of my brilliant colleagues here in Beijing for their best advice.

Montessori consultant and author Dr. Paul Epstein, Executive Director of Kindergarten Programs for Ivy Education Group, Ryan Cardwell, and Tina Stephenson, Head of City Campus, Harrow Beijing were kind enough to share their thoughts on the subject. All are excellent educators with a wide variety of experiences, who subscribe to different but equally valid philosophies and pedagogies. Hopefully, this will give you a starting place for making the best possible choices for your unique situation.

Age is just a number and preschool is no different! So instead of using age as a hard and fast rule, are there some developmental markers that suggest a child might be ready for the social and cognitive experiences a preschool setting offers?

Stephenson: Children send a range of different signals about school readiness. However, the messages that children do send are clear if you are watching for them. The first and most obvious signal children send is how quickly and how frequently they become bored at home.

Young children have a strong drive toward messy play, because this type of multi-layered experience is great for their developing brain. If your child always seems to be making messes around the house, that is the way they are telling you that they need an environment that will allow them to engage in messy, busy, and noisy play, the exact type of multi-layered play that good quality preschools provide. They are doing similarly important cognitive work when they build piles, drop objects, climb on shelves, and pull objects from drawers, all of which can be better and more safely managed in a classroom than the home environment. 

Dr. Epstein: Children who are comfortable being in the care of other adults and away from their parents (are showing signs they are ready). Children also get ready for preschool when they are involved with independent activities in their homes. And children who enjoy attending a variety of parent/child classes with other children.

On the other hand, what are some situations that suggest you should wait a little longer to enroll your child in preschool?

Stephenson: A child who cannot get at least 9 hours of sleep per night is going to have difficulty staying awake in school. Children should be able to eat solid food and be feeding themselves most of the time. Also, children should be able to use the toilet independently at least some of the time. When they can sleep well, eat independently, and understand what it feels like to need to use the toilet, then their body is ready for school.

Cardwell: In most of the cases where a child has difficulty making the transition to preschool, it is actually the parents who are not ready to part with the child. For nervous parents who have the ability to keep their child at home with them, that can be preferable. Don’t force it, enjoy your child’s early years!

We all know preschool isn’t just about the child. A family’s lifestyle, circumstances and geographic location all affect how successful a child’s first school experience is. What are some things to consider when deciding to enroll or wait?

Cardwell: Beijing has a myriad of great preschools. Parents are well-advised to choose one near to home. Consistent attendance is also important. If you plan to travel a lot with your child, you might consider delaying entry into preschool.

Dr. Epstein: A most important consideration is the readiness of parents! Are you ready for your child to enroll in a preschool? Why do you want to enroll your child?

If parents decide their family is ready for the wonderful world of preschool, how should they choose which type of program (Traditional, Montessori, Reggio Emilia, Language Immersion etc.) is best for their little one?

Stephenson: I think here in Beijing language considerations are often at the top of the list for choosing schools. As a parent you need to know the language options which are available to you and what you want for your child’s language ability. Do you want your child to speak Mandarin at home but use English for education and later on for work? Then research-based practice tells us that immersion in English in the early years has the strongest outcomes. If you want to keep your options open, then perhaps choose a dual-language school (often called bilingual) although the research on the outcomes of those environments is less strong. 

Cardwell: There is no one size fits all approach to preschool, so I recommend that parents not worry about the curriculum or the pedagogical approach. This is one case in life where how you ‘feel’ about the place is very important. The only way to really learn about a school is by visiting. Make sure that the school will show you classrooms, and if possible, talk to teachers and parents. 

How to Look at a Preschool

Cardwell:

• How is it licensed and accredited? 
• Are the teachers credentialed?
• What is the school’s educational philosophy?
• What is the school’s approach to discipline?
• How much parental involvement do you/they expect or want?
• What’s the make-up of the classroom? 
• What is the teacher-to-child ratio?
• How much free play time do the children have?

Stephenson:

• Usually, the general feel of the school and the appearance of the school environments tells an observer a lot about the school. The school environment may be beautiful but are the children using the spaces?
• Listen carefully to how the staff speaks about children and how they speak to the children. You can also tell a lot about a school based on how the children greet visitors and new children in a school. In schools where the children feel ownership over their space, they will notice and welcome newcomers.   

Dr. Epstein:

• Is it clean? Warm and inviting? Personal?
• What does this school mean by learning?
• How do they instruct?
• Do they personalize instruction?
• How do they encourage children to participate?
• Do they believe rewards are necessary? Why?
• How do they teach children to resolve conflict?

Once you have chosen the school that is right for your child and family, what is one thing you can do at home to help prepare your child in the week leading up to their first day of school?

Cardwell: Talk to your child about what kindergarten will be like to help them start preparing for this big transition. Talk to them about the teacher, the daily school routine, etc. Involve him or her in picking out their school materials (e.g., backpack, clothes, etc.) You can also talk about what going to kindergarten was like for you, as a way to model how your child can share feelings about kindergarten.

Dr. Epstein: Act it out! Practice getting ready to go to preschool. Find out if the preschool does a home visit – does the teacher or teachers meet your child in your home? Can you go with your child to visit the school before the first day?

Stephenson: Make sure you are feeling relaxed, positive, and confident during those first few days and your child will be much more likely to feel the same way. On the days leading up to school, set up a happy and relaxed bedtime routine. Eat breakfast, put on the school uniform, pack the school bag, and leave on time. You do not need to go to school, just go for a walk or to the mall. A few days of practicing the bedtime and morning routines can cut the stress of the first days at school and make those important first school experiences much better. 

What are some other alternatives for parents who choose to delay preschool but still want to have their child participate in social/educational activities to prepare them for their eventual enrollment?

Stephenson: In the early years it is important to provide a wide range of indoor and outdoor play, messy and explorative play, talk based and physical play. The developing brain needs to do activities which are rich in movement, expression, exploration, and communication. Also, whatever activities you choose, it is most important that children enjoy their earliest education experiences. How a child feels about education is as important as the skills they learn, so whatever you choose, make sure it’s enjoyable.

Dr. Epstein: Music, dance, swim, arts-there are many of these parents can go to with their children.

I am so grateful to my fellow educators for sharing their thoughts on this subject. All this information is valid and honest, but it is by necessity general. So, my final tips for school hunting parents are these.

• Get input from the other caretakers in your child’s life. Babysitters, toddler music class instructors, swim coaches, grandparents etc. They may have insight into your child that is helpful and most importantly individualized.

• Get input from your child. If they are always talking about seeing their friends in art class, are fascinated with the calendar on the fridge, or try to participate in circle time when you drop off their older sibling, they are telling you they are ready and eager for a school experience.

• Trust your instincts. You are their parent or guardian, and mother nature equipped you with the best alarm system there is. If you walk into a school and get the warm fuzzies, it’s a good sign your child will feel good there too. If the thought of sending them to any school at all makes you a little queasy it might mean hold off for a little while longer. Ultimately Mensa will not care what age they started school, only that they were happy and successful once they arrived!

Find out more about Beijing’s top international schools at this year’s Jingkids International School Expo (JISE) on April 17.

KEEP READING: The Parents’ Guide To Open House Visits: Navigating Your Way Around Beijing’s International Schools

Images: Pexels

This article appeared in the jingkids 2021 January issue

A while ago, my adorable little nephew Daniel applied to, and was knocked back from, a Montessori kindergarten in London. As a still-wobbly toddler, what questions could he have possibly answered incorrectly to get himself booted out of kindergarten?

As it turns out it wasn’t so much what Daniel said than what Daniel did. He made his first impression at the school by flinging a chubby fistful of sand at a teacher, then pushing another toddler over and stealing his toy. Then he spent the remainder of the visit playing by himself. Pretty typical behavior for a toddler you could argue, but unfortunately not great timing when trying to impress the powers that be.

Concerns that my nephew was a tiny little bully aside, the episode got me thinking, what do schools look for when they meet potential new students, especially when the student is still a toddler?

 The education philosophy of the parents play an important role in choosing a kindergarten and vice versa

According to Ellen Birnbaum, Director of Early Childhood Programs at The 92nd Street Y in New York City during an interview with Parents League, children will be expected to perform a few simple tasks during school visits including writing their name, drawing a person (or in a more advanced case, their family), puzzles or some kind of block design activity, and some sort of language assessment like telling stories or describing photos. If the visit is conducted in a group setting, how the child interacts socially will also be observed by the school staff. Are they sharing? Are they being polite? Are they able to follow a teacher’s direction?

But what about here in Beijing? Tara Gillan, Director of Operations at Beijing International Bilingual Academy (BIBA) shared a bit of insight into what she looks for when they meet the families applying to their Early Childhood Center (ECC) for children ages 2-4 yrs. “The two points that are most important to us when we’re meeting the family is first, are the children socially and emotionally ready to start kindergarten and second, is the family’s educational philosophy and idea the same as that of the school’s,” Gillan tells beijingkids.

Gillan goes on to explain that, especially for young children who are applying to ECC “The parents are the first teachers and the school is the second. It’s a joint team effort between the family and the school to raising and educating a child.” Which means the education philosophy of the parents play an important role in choosing a kindergarten and vice versa. “Otherwise we can’t meet the expectations of the parents,” explains Gillan.

So is there a way (or a private kindergarten hack, if you will) that’ll give your kids boost when it comes to the school visit? Birnbaum explains that it’s important to remember that the visit makes no sense for a young child so instead of a parent ‘preparing’ their child for the school visit, parents should be establishing a good routine with kids at home so that the kids are free to be themselves at school. She suggests reading to them, having real conversations with them where they listen to you but also vise versa, and in general, teaching children to be kind and share good family values. Birnbaum doesn’t recommend telling the kids about the school visit too far in advance because “they have a different sense of time”, but once the parents have told their kids about the visit, it’s ok to set some expectations. Finally, before you arrive, give you and your child plenty of time to calm down and feel relaxed. Your child will feed off your energy, as well as look to you for social cues, so if you’re relaxed and smiling then they’ll feel reassured that they’re not going into a situation where they’re being evaluated but rather a place where they can enjoy and be themselves.

When it comes to wardrobe, there are parents who overdress their kids for the school visit hoping to ‘dress to impress’, but Birnbaum recommends the opposite. Instead of putting kids in fancy party clothes that they’re not used to wearing, she says, keep it simple. Dress your kids in something that they’re comfortable in so they’re not distracted.

Lastly, always remember that the school visit is just a part of a much bigger puzzle. When assessing a child, the school also meets with the parents, and for older children also check tests and reports. At the end of the day, it doesn’t all come down to your child’s school visit so there’s no need to put so much pressure on them.

KEEP READING: Learn More About Beijing International Bilingual Academy (BIBA)

Photos: unsplash
Source: www.parentsleague.org

At the risk of sounding like an old-timer, kids in school have it good. Long gone are the days when education was all books and no real-world experience. Technology is no longer considered a distraction, but an asset and a teaching aid. Teachers have also transformed from monolithic creatures of our deepest darkest nightmares, whose main function is to make students’ lives miserable. Now, students have teachers who not only cultivate a positive atmosphere in class, but also nurture an egalitarian camaraderie with their charges. It is the golden age of education where the ‘cool’ teacher is no longer an anomaly, but the standard.

Teacher, part-owner of Imagination Station Kindergarten, and frontman for the popular Beijing band, Stevie Mac & the Mac Daddies, Steven McKinney certainly fits the bill. With fun as part of his teaching philosophy, McKinney has made it his mission to push the educational envelope in Beijing. “My primary philosophy is to make teaching fun and to always be creative,” says McKinney. “With fun, creative ideas in the classroom everyone wins, both teacher and student alike. I believe that this type of teaching environment will truly help a student realize their potential.”

McKinney’s foray into education was far from an accident, tracing his passion for the classroom back to his high school days when he served as a child mentor and camp counselor, through to college which further cemented his resolve to plunge headlong into education. However, this journey was far from smooth, as McKinney confesses.

“I failed. Miserably, I might add. In the States, I was unfulfilled in my work and personal life. I made some bad choices and lost everything that was important to me. But in that failure, I gained clarity in crisis, which gave me the courage to come to Beijing to start anew.”

This is a testament to Beijing’s ability to attract fresh young minds while acting as the perfect crucible for reinvention and innovation.

Fun is not only an aim for McKinney, but is incorporated as part and parcel of his teaching routine. “My class sings for about 20 minutes every morning which we all love, and we always listen to music during worksheet periods,” explains McKinney.

This love of music extends beyond the classroom, with the weekends dedicated to his passion for music as the frontman for his band. The vintage pop-rock outfit has become a common fixture in Beijing expat circles, even going so far as to perform for beloved Chinese NBA legend, Yao Ming.

According to McKinney, “It’s a blessing to live each day with such fulfillment. Coming to Beijing was a huge leap. Being successful here took a lot of hard work and sacrifice, but was certainly worth it.”

Just like many expats in Beijing, McKinney confesses to an ongoing romance with the city. “I love China and I love living in Beijing especially. I’m an expat who considers Beijing to be home. The city has afforded me many great opportunities for which I am very grateful.”

It is this sort of attitude and a dedication to innovation that’s propelled McKinney and his partners to success in the running of their preschool, Imagination Station, which now has two locations in Haidian District.

For McKinney, between teaching and sharing his passion for music, leaving his adopted home of Beijing is far from likely.

“I learned a valuable lesson about never giving up on your dreams. I can’t pinpoint one moment that made me want to pack up and fly home for good. I have my bad days, sure, but all in all, I love Beijing. I don’t see a scenario where I would voluntarily leave, at least not right now.”

This article appeared in the beijingkids 2020 March – April issue
Photos: Steve McKinney

Raising a family in a bustling city like Beijing doesn’t mean you need to deprive your kids of nature or the joys of inventing their own games free from the distraction of modern technology.

This past weekend, with the official opening ceremony of ibg school, Beijing’s Xicheng District receives a new addition to the choices of schools for children.

Built on the principles of goodwill, gratitude, and growth, ibg school aims to nurture creative young minds who grow to become valued members of society. In a world of constant change, the school values the appeal for education of each child and family. With inclusive services and education, each child will develop a sense of accomplishment. Children will explore and discover the world by themselves by posing questions, and ibg school is a community that fosters the open, considerate, and happy nature in each child. Ibg school places a strong emphasis on emotional as well as physical care. The school’s education system prepares its children to start on a journey of excellence, instilling initiative, kindness, and integrity that they’ll take with them for their entire lives.

Designed by Hibino Sekkei the brand new campus has already received the green building certification of LEED and WELL, officiating them as campuses built to the highest quality standards. The school’s corridors and outdoor platforms are designed to allow children to run through and enjoy the blissful beauty of nature.

Ibg school features immersive art and exercise programs designed for children between the ages of 2 and 6, providing them with educational opportunities in performance and visual arts.

Ibg school aims to build a diverse community cultivating goodwill, gratitude and growth, by providing tailored and immersive bilingual education about culture and nature. Chinese and foreign children between the ages of 2 to 4 are welcome to apply for the 2019-2020 academic year from now until August 31, 2020.

Admission is based on application materials and a successful interview. Ibg school is aiming to build a vigorous and loving community with parents who appreciate the school’s teaching philosophy and offers scholarships for students with an aptitude that fits their values.

Photos: courtesy of ibg school