Ask the Experts

Ask the experts for parenting tips, advice on nurturing kids and early childhood education or tips for primary school education. Read up questions from other parents.

Ask the Experts for Parenting Tips

Have questions on nurturing kids? Let our experts help! Your question might just be selected* to be answered and published in our bi-monthly posting! You can read up on answers for other parents' questions! Use the search engine to find your desired area of concern!

PARENT'S ANSWERED QUESTIONS (BY EXPERTS):

Enrichment
Others

Question: Will STEAM enrichment classes expose my young child to tablets and computers for long hours?

peacelover_

Question: Does signing my boy up for STEAM enrichment classs means exposing him to tablets and computers for long hours? I do not want him to spend too much time infront of computers at such a young a...

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The Expert:

Alicia Chan

STEAM Programme Director

The PLEI Academy
Enrichment
Others

Question: How do I know if my child is ready for Primary 1 next year?

Jojomojo

Ask Yourself These 3 Simple Questions to Find Out if Your Child is Ready for Primary 1With new classmates, new teachers and a new learning environment, your child’s world is about to get a lot b...

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The Expert:

Sue Lynn Lee

Academic Director for Early Years Programme

The Learning Lab
Enrichment
Speech & Drama

Question: My child has mild autism. Will Speech and Drama lessons help?

Ru

Answer: Nurturing communication skills has the potential to help a child with mild autismSpeech and Drama lessons nurture communication skills and have the potential to help a child with mild autism w...

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The Expert:

Sumathi Jayaram

Principal of Julia Gabriel Centre

Julia Gabriel Centre
Enrichment
Chinese Language

Question: Developing love for learning mandarin in young children

LiuRain

Question: My child is very young, only 18 months old. Should I start to cultivate his interest in Mandarin now or later?Answer:Home or family language activities for young children will help to develo...

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The Expert:

Huang Ying

Principal of Chengzhu

Chengzhu Mandarin Centre
School
Pre-school and Childcare Full Day

Question: Should I send my child to full-day or half-day childcare?

StarryStars

Question: I am not sure if I should send my 18 month-old child to full-day or half-day childcare. What are the considerations when making such a decision?Answer: Deciding what programme your 18 month-...

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The Expert:

Iris Lim

Principal of Chiltern House Preschool

Chiltern House Preschool
School
Pre-school and Childcare Full Day

Question: What is the ideal age to start preschool?

Celine_87

Question:What is the ideal age to start preschool for my child? Should I wait till he is 3 years old? He is now 10 months old.Answer:It depends. There is no perfect formula to follow. However, there a...

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The Expert:

Angela Chng 

Head of Professional Practices and Development

NTUC First Campus
School
Pre-school and Childcare Full Day

Question: How to choose a good preschool?

Mr Tan

Question:How do I select a good preschool for my child? What should I look out for and are there any tips for choosing the right childcare centre?Answer: The preschool’s philosophy and practice ...

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The Expert:

Angela Chng 

Head of Professional Practices and Development

NTUC First Campus
School
Pre-school and Childcare Full Day

Question: How to identify good communication channels between preschool and parent?

HappyGoLucky

Question: I believe in good parent-preschool relationship so I can know the progress of my child. Are there standard communication methods in place for preschools to connect with parents or what I sho...

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The Expert:

Angela Chng 

Head of Professional Practices and Development

NTUC First Campus
School
Pre-school and Childcare Full Day

Question: Besides attending full day childcare, do I still need to coach her academically at home?

Lily Mum

Question: If my child is already attending full day childcare, do I still need to coach her academically at home? Or should I just focus on playing with her?Answer: What were the best memories from yo...

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The Expert:

Angela Chng 

Head of Professional Practices and Development

NTUC First Campus
Enrichment
Maths/ Abacus/ Mental Arithmetics

Question: How to prepare my K2 Child for P1 Math?

Johnson

Start with Counting Money & Identifying Shapes and PatternsHaving strong number sense sets the foundation for developing higher-level mathematical thinking inprimary school. It is therefore crucial fo...

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The Expert:

Sue Lynn Lee

Academic Director for Early Years Programme

The Learning Lab
Enrichment
Reading/ Phonics/ Writing/ English

Question: How to prepare my K2 Child for P1 English?

Johnson

Being able to read and write well is part of building a strong foundation in EnglishThroughout preschool, your child will need to build up reading and writing skills (literacy skills) that are pivotal...

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The Expert:

Sue Lynn Lee

Academic Director for Early Years Programme

The Learning Lab
Enrichment
Chinese Language

Question: Methods to make children interested in Chinese Language

Kai Xin

Question:My child hates the Chinese subject and refuses to speak in Mandarin too. How can I make learning Chinese interesting for him?Answer:Encourage the Use of Chinese, A Love for Reading, Role-Play...

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The Expert:

Peggy Gwi

Academic Director

Xin Zhong Wen
School
Pre-school and Childcare Full Day

Question: Prices are kept low for Partner Operators POP preschools but are their teachers and curriculum good?

Peggy Teo

Question:The school fees for centres that are appointed by ECDA as Partner Operators (POP) are really attractive! Is there any compromise in their teachers and curriculum standards or they are the sam...

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The Expert:

Tan Kiah Hui

Director

Carpe Diem @ Nordcom
Enrichment
Speech & Drama

Question: Will Speech and Drama class helps children to be more extrovert and expressive?

ValerieLow

Question:My daughter is shy and not expressive. Will sending her to speech and drama class helps build her character to be more extrovert and expressive?Answer:Speech and Drama Classes can Help Childr...

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The Expert:

Mala Sundram

Head of Department Speech and Drama, Readers and Writers

Julia Gabriel Centre
Enrichment
Others

Question: What is the difference between Speech and Drama classes and Phonics classes?

Annie90

Question: How is speech and drama classes different from phonics classes? Which is more beneficial for my child?Answer:Children will Benefit from Both Classes Depending on their NeedsPhonics classes a...

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The Expert:

Mala Sundram

Head of Department Speech and Drama, Readers and Writers

Julia Gabriel Centre
Enrichment
Chinese Language

Question: What should I look into when choosing Chinese enrichment centre?

Rainielove

Question: There are many Chinese enrichment centres in Singapore. What should I look for when choosing the right centre for my child?Answer:A Relaxed, Fun-filled Environment is KeyPeople are realising...

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The Expert:

Huang Ying

Principal of Chengzhu and Mandarin Programmes

Chengzhu Mandarin Kindergarten
Enrichment
Academic

Question: Will it be too early to enrol my 1 year old child to enrichment classes?

Marcuss85

Question: Is it too early to enrol my child who is only 1 year old to enrichment classes, especially the English or Mandarin classes? Answer:Children should begin Learning a Second Language As Early ...

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The Expert:

Huang Ying

Principal of Chengzhu and Mandarin Programmes

Chengzhu Mandarin Kinddergarten
Enrichment
Academic

Question: How to prepare my child for Primary 1?

Tan Kin Swee

Question:How can I prepare my girl who is in K2 now for Primary 1? How much should she know? Is there any guideline for what she must know? Answer:Look Closely at Classroom Skills to Prepare Children ...

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The Expert:

Sue Lynn Lee 

Academic Director, Early Years and Lower Primary

The Learning Lab

Need more advice on Early Childhood Education or have questions on Primary School Tuitions?

From education related to advice on parenting, our experts are here to help! Just send over your question(s) and if they are selected, we will find suitable industry experts to help answer and publish them. Otherwise, search and read up on questions from other parents and the advice they received!