Despite the fact that schools across Mainland China have started opening their doors, some as early as Mar 13, there’s seemingly no end in sight for Beijing’s youth, who are itching to get off e-learning and into the classroom. 

Yesterday, Beijing’s Education Commission stated that the time still isn’t right to announce a plan for a return to schools in the Capital, however, they did concede that “The Municipal Education Commission has an overall plan for the start of school,” adding, “There are detailed plans for starting school in batches, grades, and phases.”

So while it seems that a plan has been worked out, various factors still preclude an official announcement. For instance, given that the impacts of COVID-19 are continuing to ripple across Beijing, both in terms of imported cases and asymptomatic transmissions, it’s still too early to guarantee the safety of children and staff in a school setting. Additionally, it will take some time for school personnel to sanitize their facilities and come up with preventative measures that ensure the school remains virus free

Aside from that, the Commission did offer some insights regarding a tentative timetable and making up for lost class time.

According to Li Yi, Deputy Secretary of Beijing’s Education Commission, with the exception of students in graduating classes, so those in 9th and 12th grade, there is no intention to carry the school year into summer, or require kids to attend school on Saturdays and Sundays.

Moreover, Li reiterated the fact that schools will be opened gradually, by grade, and that preschools will likely be the last to open, due to higher standards of virus protection. Additionally, parents should talk directly to schools regarding refund policies.

As for extracurricular learning facilities, the ministry also indicated that after-school and private part-time education organizations shall remain closed until further notice.

Photos: Feliphe Schiarolli via Unsplash

For our column, Ask an Educator, we turn to educators, whether teachers, tutors, or principals, to answer frequently asked questions from parents. To send in your question, email danielkippwhittaker@beijing-kids.com.

This week, our question is: “How can I help prepare my child for preschool?” Answering for us is Alicia Carey, Nursery Teacher at 3e International School.

Going to preschool for the first time is a major step for a child. As a teacher, I am often approached by first time parents with many questions on how they can help prepare their little ones for this new experience.

Below, I have listed the ten simple tips that will help ensure a smooth transition to preschool that I share with parents and which might work for you and your child as well.

1. Take the Time to Talk with Your Child

One of the most important things in helping your child prepare for preschool is to have a talk with him or her ahead of time. With a positive attitude, explain to your child what is going to happen in school. For instance, you can say:

“This year, you will be going to preschool! At preschool, you will learn new things, meet new friends, play on the playground, eat snacks, sing, dance, and have lots of fun!”

Also, the night before, you can say “You are going to have so much fun tomorrow!”  Be excited about preschool! If your child sees that you are excited, he/she will be excited too!

2. Establish a Schedule/ Rules

Once you have enrolled your child in school, it is important to establish a schedule according to your child’s preschool schedule. Following a daily schedule will not only help prepare your child for preschool, but also with understanding the basic habits and routines necessary in school, such as washing hands before eating, washing hands after using the toilet, tidying up the play area, and much more. If you do not have a schedule or a set ground of rules at home, it will be difficult for your child to adjust to routines and rules in preschool.

3. Read Books

Prior to preschool, I highly suggest parents to read books about starting school with their child. This will help the child understand what to expect. During the reading, you can ask your child how the main character is feeling and why. Allow your child to express his or her feelings about starting school and then remind them that there is nothing to worry about.

Here are a few books that you can read to your child to help them get ready for preschool:

‘Preschool Hooray!’ by Linda Leopold Strauss

‘Froggy Goes to School’ by Jonathan London

‘My First Day at Nursery School’ by Becky Edwards

4. Work with Your Child on Fine Motor and Social Skills while Meeting His/ Her Personal Needs

Although it is not a requirement, it would be a good idea to help your child with their fine motor skills before school starts. Activities using play dough, puzzles, crayons, building blocks, paints, and scissors are excellent in enhancing your child’s fine motor skills.

As for social skills, play groups, indoor playgrounds, and Gymboree are great opportunities for interacting with other young children. You can also teach your child the importance of engaging in positive play and sharing with others. With regards to meeting personal needs, you can help your child to become independent in toileting, eating, and changing his/her shoes.

5. Take Your Child to Meet His or Her teacher

Before the beginning of the school year, schools will often host an ‘Open House’, which gives families an opportunity to meet the teachers. It is good for parents to bring their child along with them to school.

Once in the classroom, allow time for your child and teacher to get to know each other. Do not worry if your child does not communicate with the teacher immediately. It takes time for children to establish a relationship with an adult outside of the family unit.

6. Explore the Classroom with Your Child

It is never a good idea to drop your child off in an environment with complete strangers. Most early childhood educators recommend that parents spend time (between 15-30 minutes) exploring the classroom with their child. When you see that your child is comfortable in the room, you may exit the room quietly. However, if the child is having a difficult time, you can ask the teacher to stand next to you as you say good-bye to your child. From there, the teacher can play and read books to the child to help him or her stop crying.

7. Expect Separation Anxiety

It is considered normal for children to go through separation anxiety during the first couple of weeks when dropped off at school. Of course, there will be plenty of tears, but the main thing for parents to do is to remain calm and stay positive. On your way to school, remind your child how much fun he or she will have with their new friends. When it is drop off time, make certain to reassure your child (with a smile on your face) that you will be back at the end of the day to pick them up. Keep your good-byes short, simple, and sweet. The longer it takes for you to say good-bye to your child, the longer your child clings to you, thus making it hard for you to exit the building.

8. Resist Re-entering the Classroom

As hard as it is to hear your child crying and screaming at the top of their lungs, try not to re-enter the classroom. The moment the parent enters the room, the child will feel comfortable again, knowing that mommy or daddy is there. This will make the transition process go on longer than expected. Again, reassure your child that everything will be alright, and you will be back at the end of the day to pick them up. Trust your child’s teacher!

9. Transitional Objects

Providing your child with his or her favorite blanket, toy, family photo, or book is a great way for him or her to cope in the classroom while parents are not present.

10. Be Patient

Since preschool is a major step in a child’s life, parents need to understand that it will take time! Some children are able to transition easily, while others may take a while. For children having a difficult time adjusting, the best thing for parents to do is to stay positive and communicate regularly with the teacher. Together, we can come up with a solution for handling your child’s transition phase.

Photo: courtesy of Alicia Carey

This Week on BJK Online is a weekly roundup of the articles and other essentials published on our website.

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Two months after arriving in Beijing last year with a toddler and a baby in tow, I finally convinced my husband to let me send L1, our older toddler, to the private local preschool in our building.

My husband’s arguments against sending our older daughter were valid, but I was getting so stressed that I couldn’t even think through those arguments carefully. It also didn’t help that we were having Ayi issues. And so he reluctantly agreed.

Two months later, my family and I were much happier than before. I was less stressed, my husband heard fewer complaints and could focus on his work better, my younger daughter could peacefully nap in the morning while my older daughter learned to adapt to her new environment and slowly started enjoying Chinese. It took a while, but we eventually got there.

READ: How Do I Choose a School for My Child? Taking your first steps towards answering the million-dollar question

So what were some of my husband’s worries? And what is it like sending your kid to a local preschool?

1. Breakfast and Lunch is provided

And while I was getting to know L1’s potential school-to-be, I was surprised to see that they also provided breakfast AND lunch. We had to pay extra, of course, but it was definitely something we didn’t have back home. We usually had to prepare our children’s food or ask the help to bring them over during lunch time.

“How do you know the food is clean?” asked my husband once. According to the teachers in my school, the vegetables they use are from their own farm. A few months later we all actually took a trip to that farm for a school event.

If the quality of food is something you worry about as well, don’t be afraid to ask the school where they source their ingredients, even if it’s just for your peace of mind.

2. Fapiao

One of the reasons we moved our daughter to another school was because her school couldn’t give us a receipt that said “Tuition Fee”. When L1 became eligible for schooling reimbursements, we asked the school if they could provide us with Tuition Fee receipts. But because they weren’t an official school, they could only provide receipts that said “Training Fees”.

This wasn’t acceptable in my husband’s company, however, and so we moved our daughter to a different school.

3. Air Purifiers

4. They sometimes have classes until night

Many of the families who send their young children to these private preschools do it out of necessity. For families with working parents, these private preschools allow them to return to work while outsourcing childcare to a school. These preschools know it, and some have services where they can watch the children until early evening. For an additional fee, they can also provide dinner for the children.

5. Daily Pictures and Updates

At L1’s first school, they asked the parents to download an app. There they would upload photos of our children, their curriculum, photos of their meals, and more. This is something we didn’t have back home, but seems to be more common here in Beijing. And so every few days I would show my husband this app, and he would worry less about his first child and her new school.

6. Chances of Viruses are Higher

6. The Culture is Different

What are other factors parents should know before enrolling their children in a local private preschool? Share your tips in the comments section below!

Photos: Flickr, Mila, News1130.com, and Philippe Put (Flickr)

Jackie is a mom blogger over at Bringinguptheparks.com. There she writes about her family’s life and adventures in East Asia.

Although Catherine O’Regan, preschool teacher at Beijing Collegiate Academy International School (BCAIS), can be considered    fresh in our eyes after only having spent a year in Beijing, when it comes to knowledge of diversity, she is no spring chicken. O’Regan, who is proud of her Irish heritage, had not only taught back home, but also worked at an asylum center, which taught her there is a wider world of diversity she had yet to explore.  Realizing she needed a change, O’Regan looked to China, a country that had always interested her, and ended up in Beijing.

“Catherine O’Regan, preschool teacher at Beijing Collegiate Academy International School (BCAIS)”

What was your favorite subject when you were a student? Why?
Irish (or Gaeilge) had always been my favorite subject because I loved learning the language, history, and culture of my country. I attended an all Irish speaking primary and secondary school, with teachers who have always been very passionate about the Irish language, telling us some of the folklore and piseogs to keep us engaged.

What did you want to be when you were a kid? What other career options did you explore before teaching?
I have always had big dreams of being in a girl band! Spice Girls, B*witched, and Cleopatra were my idols but, unfortunately, I realized I couldn’t sing or dance so I put an end to those fantasies. Before teaching, I spent some years as a nanny and working in retail in small stores and at stadiums for hurling and football matches.

How would you (or your students) describe your teaching style?
I focus mainly on a play-based/child-centered approach, which incorporates inquiry-based and cooperative learning. This means that I lead some activities and lessons, giving the children guidance and direction in specific areas, such as introducing a new topic, physical health, early literacy, and numeracy. They also participate actively in their own learning as individuals and with their peers in the classroom, exploring and expressing their learning in their own unique ways to become competent, independent, and capable learners.

What are some of the topics you cover?
As part of the curriculum, there are thematic units that help children develop in four main strands: independence and interdependence; communication; enquiry; and physical health and well-being. I also supplement the curriculum with addition lessons or activities in literacy and math. Our current unit is This is Me, helping children transition from home into the preschool environment through lessons and activities about their homes, families, looking after themselves and others, and how they are the same or different to others.

What topic was the most challenging to cover with children? Why?
Learning about different countries was challenging. We used images, globes, and maps to show children where China and Ireland are, as a starting point. The children found it difficult to understand that there was more to where they live than just their homes and the school. It is a topic that we’re still working on as part of our unit.

What topic was the most interesting to your students? Why?
Feelings and emotions was a topic that really interested the children. They loved learning about each emotion and getting time to express themselves. They were given time to create emotion puppets, use role-play, song, and dance to express their feelings. The children were very engaged and creative throughout the emotions topic.

How do you encourage your students to be passionate about learning?
I use resources and materials that children can relate to as part of my lessons. For feelings and emotions, I used images and video clips from Inside Out, to introduce each emotion and to help the children understand how each feeling is conveyed. After the initial introduction, children can explore and express the topic in their own ways, which encourages them to be passionate about any topic.

What class project in your teaching career was the most meaningful to you?
In Ireland, I spent time in a center for asylum seekers. One of our main topics was helping the children learn and understand diversity. Each child was able to speak about the differences they saw in the town and its people compared to their hometowns, how the houses and people looked different, and how people dressed, spoke, and acted differently. It made me realize that these children knew more about diversity than I did, and that it’s not enough to understand diversity but to also be more open and accepting of people’s differences.

This article originally appeared on page 37 of the October 2016 Issue of beijingkids magazine. Click here for your free online copy. To find out how you can obtain a hard copy, contact distribution@truerun.com.

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF BEIJING COLLEGIATE ACADEMY INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL (BCAIS)

For our column, Ask an Educator, we turn to educators, whether teachers, tutors, or principals, to answer frequently asked questions from parents. To send in your question, email jessicasuotmaa@beijing-kids.com.

This week, our question is:

“How can a preschool-aged child benefit from guided art classes?”

Answering for us is Lia Tedjokusumo, Art Director at Papp’s Tea and Art Educator at Blue Bridge International Education.

I have taught art classes to children as young as 18 months and as old as 15 years since 2014 when I first joined the Blue Bridge Art Educator team. However, there’s something special about my junior 1 and 2 classes that fueled my dedication to the specific levels of younger  students.

The benefits for a preschool aged child taking guided art lessons are abundant. As art educators, we’re not only focusing on the process of creating an artwork and the end result of having a finished product, but we also design the class to have a simple, fun, yet firm structure that will allow our students to develop independence, self-esteem, and social skills.  We aim to stimulate creativity at a baby-speed, where things are not rushed but can be naturally learned and practiced.

Why is baby-speed important?  Children can practice fine motor skills and positive coping mechanisms through art lessons.  I believe in learning prudently, which is what I saw in the children as they evolved class by class. It takes time, repetition, and a stable environment for children to build self-esteem, discipline, and independence.

Art classes allow young children to accomplish without unnecessary pressure. A lot of my students will seek approval for their work, and I always express to them that there’s no good or bad artwork; there’s only “your own” artwork, with less or more practice. What you do will never be the same as what others do, even if you try to copy each other’s work or technique–that’s the beauty of art lessons!

During art classes, students can also learn English while doing something they enjoy. Learning English in an art class is very different than learning English in a regular language class. The material might be less, the vocabulary taught might be simpler, but this makes it easier for young children to remember them. Even now, whenever any of my students tells me something they remember from a previous class, I get emotional (on the inside).

Photos: courtesy of Lia Tedjokusumo

When I was a kid, “young learners” didn’t have their own summer camps. There was preschool and kindergarten that continued over the summer in the service of working parents, and then there were half-day classes for a number of activities for parents who stayed home (but wanted to send their children out). Yet, those existed all year long and were not especially designed for summers.

Today, and especially here in Beijing, schools are out for the summer, but offer a variety of different ways to keep your child busy without being in a “school” environment.  As a new parent, I see this as a chance to allow our children to experience new activities, to try out new schools and campuses, and to discover where my child’s natural interests take him.  Summer is the best time to dapple in activities before making them year-long (or life-long) hobbies!

AEA US Embassy Camp, Jun 16-Aug 15
Ages 4-12. The American Employees Association Summer Camp is an American-style day camp with weekly themes, hosted by AEA (affiliated with the US embassy).  Each year, the themes are changed to incorporate current trends and children’s interests.  The daily program is filled with fun, songs, games, and activities which are related to the weekly themes.

• Early bird discounts till May 31. The camp will be hosted at Beijing City International School from Jun 16-Jul 4 and then from Jul 7-Aug 15 at 3e (info@aeabeijing.net, 8531 3349)

HoK Around the World, Jul 4-15
Ages 3-6. Children joining the camp will first get to make their own passport as they’re going on a trip around the word!  What should they pack in their suitcase? Where are they going? They better explore maps and world objects. Then off they go around the world, at each destination they will explore the culture, songs, language and food in a fun and captivating way using games, music, art, geography and science. There will be a whole host of activities to keep the children’s minds and bodies active this summer.

• RMB 2,200/week (full day). RMB 1,350/week without lunch (half day). RMB 1,720/week with lunch (half day). School bus transportation for an additional RMB 200/week. (contact admissions@hokschool.com, 400 650 7747)

CISB Kindergarten Creative Camp, Jun 27-Jul 15, Jul 18-Aug 5 Ages 1.5-6.
The Canadian International School of Beijing’s Kindergarten Creative Camp allows children to learn and discover phonics/reading, chinese language/culture, music, and enjoy a creative English workshop, arts and crafts, swimming, and physical education.

• RMB 4,550-12,600 (half day), for 2-6 weeks. RMB 6,850-19,850 (full day) for 2-6 weeks.  Application deadline May 27. Discounts for CISB, ISNS, CCSC students. Fee includes tuition, materials, snacks, and lunches. Possible transportation. (contact summeradmissions@cis-beijing.com)

Ivy Academy’s Summer Camps, Jul 4-Aug 12

Ages 2.6-8. Ivy Academy offers eleven (11) camps at five (5) different campuses. The overall camp selection are: Creative Art Camps (East Lake, Central Park, Ocean Express, Orchid Garden); Science Shenanigans (East Lake, Ocean Express) wherein children will delve into the world of hydroponics, botany, recycling and reducing waste; Get Active (East Lake, Ocean Express) wherein campers can play sports such as American flag football, basketball, soccer, and bowling; and Chinese Culture (Central Park and Lijing) wherein the topics include traditional art, traditional folk crafts, Chinese calligraphy, and children will make traditional snacks by themselves. Through hand-painted Beijing opera facial makeup, crafts, calligraphy, painting, cooking classes and other activites, children will have the opportunity to understand the profound traditional Chinese culture, and visit the courtyard and Beijing Hutong.

• RMB 2,480-7,200/session/2 weeks. Early bird discounts available for Ivy students (contact: camp@ivyschools.com)

Atelier Summer Camps, Jun 27-Jul 26
Ages 5-12. Atelier Art School will be running funny, creative, and inspiring artistic summer camps for one thematic week.  The themes include a Cubism Workshop where children will make collages, draw a cubist self-portrait, and a cardboard sculpture of a music instrument; Hokusai and Japan where children will discover Japanese engraving, learn about daily life in the 18th century, and realize a wonderful book inspired by Japanese art; Egyptian Civilization where children will learn about Egypt, build a model pyramid, make their own papyrus and write hieroglyphs on it; Africa where children will discover Africa as a continent, its different cultures and habits while engraving savannah animals, making patterns like the clothes of Zulus folk, and African mask collages; The Little Prince wherein children will discover the novel by Saint Exupery and learn new techniques by building a helix plane, understand the work of the illustrator and how to use water colors, and finally build imaginary planets using papier-mache; Around the World in Eighty Days wherein children will discover various cultures and civilizations by following the story in Jules Verne’s novel and making their own travel book with a map, pictures of the characters, and learn how to make pop-up books, different paper textures, and stamps.

• RMB 1,500/week, session. Morning session for 5-8 year olds. Afternoon session for 9-12 year olds. Note that the Sanlitun campus sessions begin on Jun 27 and end on Aug 26, while the Shunyi campus begins on Jun 13 and ends on Jul 22. See their website for a detailed schedule of when each theme is taught. (contact@atelier.cn.com, 132 4018 490, 6416 1614).

That’s Mandarin! Chinese Summer Camp, Jun 13-26, Jun 27-Jul 10, Jul 11-24, Jul 25-Aug 7, Aug 8-21
Ages 5-17. That’s Mandarin offers several different camp options to suit any family!  There are morning camps, day camps, and full day camps.  For older children, there are also homestay camps, and if you’d like in on the fun—family camps! Camps can be two week long or four week long. The full-length program includes intensive Chinese classes with cartoon class, reading and writing, and topic based oral lessons.  Each week has three days of cultural activities, including traditional Chinese calligraphy, opera mask painting, cooking classes, Chinese knot making, and mahjong. Fieldtrips and excursions are also available for Beijing, such as the Great Wall, Ming Tombs, Confucius Temple, and Beihai Park.

• For Beijing camps, contact: info@thatsmandarin.com (5218 6432). For the Shanghai camps, contact: info.shanghai@thatsmandarin.com (6452 0017).

ClubFootball Summer Camp, Jul 5-Aug 24
Ages 4.5-16. ClubFootball has been around since 2001, hosting football classes and camps that promote coordination and teamwork. This summer, their coaches will have week long summer classes for players of all skill levels, or minimal three-day intensive workshops, depending on your child’s schedule.

• RMB 800-1,500/week. Camps will be held in Chaoyang Park, Olympic Forest Park, Zhongguancun, Wangjing, Lido and Shunyi (coaching@wanguoqunxing.com, 5130 6893)

The Children’s House Summer Camp, Jul 11-Aug 18

Ages 1.5-6.  The Children’s House Summer Camp will be hosted at the Kempinski and China World campuses. Daily programs include nature arts and crafts, music, story tales and lots more.

•  RMB 1,500 (half-day), RMB 2,000 (half-day + lunch), RMB 3,000 (full day) for a session (one week). 10% discount if you sign up for all five weeks. (contact: info@montessoribeijing.com, 6505 3869 or 6465 1305) 

Photo: Pixabay

Last week, we paid a visit to Jazzy Preschool, a small private school open since the end of 2012. We are greeted by the owner Jazzy, a cheery woman whose Chinese name is Zhimin Huang. As I’m given the grand tour of the surprisingly spacious apartment that has been renovated into a bright, cozy, and welcoming space for little ones, Huang schools me on Jazzy Preschool’s philosophies.

What makes Jazzy Preschool different is its emphasis on exposure to not two, but three languages from a very young age.  Jazzy students are between the ages of 1-3 years old and being such young learners, the school does not conduct formal language lessons instead opting for a combination of music, dance, and Total Physical Response methods (TPR) to language learning. Organized and informal play as well as daily reading circles in each language are incorporated into detailed lesson plans throughout the day.

The small female teaching staff consists of three teachers, each representing their respective languages of English, French, and Mandarin. All teachers have a background in childhood education and experience in the field.  “Everything we do is for education,” Huang explains. “Learning three languages is great, however it’s not the primary objective.”

Huang holds that after three months, many children are able to understand a lot of direction in second and third languages and many children can actually speak a few words in the other languages themselves. That being said, Huang is adamant that there’s more to her school than language learning. As a mom to two young children, she recognizes the necessity for kids to learn how to live responsibly with other kids and learn how to do simple things for themselves through repetition and positive encouragement from their teachers. “The kids want to learn to speak because they play with and stay with their teachers often all day and they are the ones taking care of them,” she says.

An ayi cooks all the food in house, serving up vegetarian meals and a diet very low in sugar.  With approximately 30 students coming from about 10 different countries (and approximately 20 students present per day), Huang feels that Jazzy Preschool is a environment suitable for anyone who wants their child to be exposed to a more intimate and new approach to education and daycare.

For more information about Jazzy Preschool please email jazzy@jazzypreschool.com

McGraw-Hill Education, which publishes educational textbooks and magazines, recently announced it would be further expanding into China by becoming partners with Beijing-based specialist infant education company Baby Care.

McGraw-Hill has revealed its digital international curriculum programs will help with English learning. The programs have been licensed specifically to Baby Care’s training centers across mainland China and it is thought that the specialist “education solution” will benefit over 123,000 students.

The new online learning program for Chinese preschool students will be designed by both companies to aid learners with English, art, math and various other subjects.

According to McGraw-Hill Education International President Talia Griep, the aim of the online program is to “help young Chinese students build English language and other developmental skills that are important to their becoming well-rounded learners and ultimately successful in today’s global economy."

Photo by San Jose Library via Flickr