Preparing School for 3 years old

Summer holiday is ending and we are now preparing stuffs for Stacy to go to school. In France, children go to school at 3 years old. Unlike Singapore, children or even toddlers go to school before  they are even 3. We are anxious parents. Haha

We managed to enroll Stacy in an English and French speaking Montessori school as we thought it will benefit her better as we will still need to go back Singapore after ken's work contract ends. The school fees of cause come with a price - yes, price is money.  We have to scrimp a lot to put her in this school. In France, the privilege of studying in a public French school for young children is free. Private French school is what I heard is around 100 plus Euros. International school is out of question for us as it is very costly. We are definitely lucky to get something 'decent', speak both English and French and 6mins drive from where we stay! Yippee!

So we received this email from the school telling us what to prepare and bring on the first day of school. I'm not sure whether it is like that for most schools but definitely Singapore school system for young children are not so complicated ... Or maybe we are just being 'pampered' in Singapore? I always thought that children just need to show up in school and that's it? No. Haha. Read the list below:

For all the children :

• Slippers, marked with the child's name
• Rain boots, marked with the child's name
• Sneakers and sweat pants for P.E. to be left at school, marked with the child's name
• 2 boxes of tissues
• 2 kitchen rolls

For the 2/3 years old:

• 1 packet of baby wipes
• 1  packet of cotton wool - large square
• 1 napkin with elastic, marked with the child's name
• A change of clothes
• For those who nap, 1 blanket and 1 pillow, marked with the child's name
• 1 small notebook

For the 3/6 years old:

• 2 packets of baby wipes
• 1 napkin with elastic, marked with the child's name
• A change of clothes
• For those who nap, 1 blanket and 1 pillow, marked with the child's name
• 1 plastic folder - A4
• 1 blue plastic folder with plastic sleeves
• 1 red plastic folder with plastic sleeves

Ok, weekends is shopping for the above items. Not that we don't have some of these items but things like slippers, rain boots, sneakers and sweat pants that need to be left in school, surely we need to get extra so that Stacy can wear these during non-school days. I guess stationary shops will run out of blue and red plastic folders as ALL the children needed to buy this. Hehe. 

Another thing on the email, which is very important. It also mentioned buying your child a school insurance and presenting the documents on the first day of school. What?! We got to buy our own insurance? Ok, in Singapore school system, during registration, when the schools request for the child's birth cert, health booklet, etc, they are also using it to buy the child's insurance for you. So we only knew about this recently and only a few days to settle the insurance part before school open on Tuesday! Aiyo!

Stroller or baby carrier?

Today a friend asked whether the use of stroller in Singapore is better or using a baby carrier to get around is a better choice. She asked these questions as it arises from a petition going on the internet about allowing unfolded stroller up into buses. In Singapore, a lot of people take the public transports so at times, it can be really crowded. Of course, the bus company rules that stroller (except wheelchair) must be folded before getting on the bus. Now, when a mother hands are full with shopping bags, carrying the baby, tap the ezlink card, etc etc - the stroller better be a one-hand easy fold version.

When Stacy was born, we used a baby carrier more than the stroller. Singapore has become very crowded with people and pushing a stroller around, especially in a shopping mall is never easy. You got to wait for the lift to go to another floor and the mall could be 4, 5 level high, which means waiting time could be long and when the lift door open, it is crowded with people.  And when Stacy grew too heavy for the baby carrier, husband and I will take turn to carry her - once in awhile use the stroller. So that's why our first stroller was still very new looking.

After Erica was born, we bought a 2nd baby carrier and another easy one-hand fold stroller (we decided to give away the first stroller). Getting around Singapore, in the car, taxi, bus or train - baby carrier still seem to be the easiest for us but not our back and shoulder. Haha.

Until we come to France, every parents seem to be using the strollers. Baby carriers, only seen on foreigners like me. Lol. Everyone or most people have a car, getting around from one point to another with kids were easier. Just pack the stroller in your own car and go. As buses are not as crowded like Singapore, unfolded strollers are welcome on the bus and even trains. I see that it make sense too, especially during Autumn/winter, you will be wearing thick padded winter coat, it is abit uncomfortable to strap babies in the baby carriers.

So I started investing in a double stroller - baby sits infront and toddler sits behind with the option to stand too. Very sturdy stroller, very easy to maneuver the children around. Bad side, is that it is a little bulky to fit in the car. Now another problem comes, Baby Erica has grown and wants to walk on her own and wants to do what Stacy does. Both fight for the seat behind because she can stand on it too. So my grocery time or going to the park with them can take ages to reach....

I use the baby carrier to carry Erica when I take the bus and Stacy will walk. Sometimes, Stacy is really tired and wanted to fall asleep as the bus journey is long but I have to force her to walk home. I felt sorry for her and regret not bring the stroller. But the bus that I usually take, need to climb a flight of stairs, cross the bridge and then reach the bus stop. There is simply no ramp for the stroller. Seriously, it's for the fit and able people or you find an alternate route.

So stroller or baby carrier for me? I simply have no idea which is better

Singapore vs Toulouse

Was on a holiday back to Singapore for 3 weeks with my family after 9 months away. Haiz... Time passes and now we are back to Toulouse again. I'm really homesick n misses my parents, siblings, aunt and Koffee. Even my very cool husband misses his parents too and keeps telling me he must be getting old. Haha

Photo of my beloved

I miss the food in Singapore. The convenient of buying food just across the street from my house and oh well, so cheap at SGD3 for a packet of chicken rice. The food centres close late too - nearly midnight. Means you can get your craving satisfied in the middle of the night.

Here, hungry in the middle of night? Cook it yourself. Hehe. Seriously, I think my weight went down after I stay in France. In Singapore, shopping malls and everything else mostly open everyday, especially weekends (it is the most busiest). In Toulouse, shops and malls are close on Sunday. Well, they emphasize on 'family time'. Some shops even have lunch hour - will be close for 1.5hr or so. Most play areas (example, indoor playground) are only open on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. As Wednesdays are a non school day for young kids. When my family first came to Toulouse, we got a shock when we go shopping and to run errands. We took awhile to get use to their lifestyle and respect it. Fortunately, our favourite pizza shop is open on Sunday. Yippee!

I would say if in doubt of the opening hours of the places you like to go, check out their websites or phone them before leaving the house to avoid disappointment.

The great things about living in France,  we get to drive out to other parts of france and even to Spain. Travelling to Europe contries are so much nearer now!