See, this is the flower and wind chime for mom!

Happy Mother’s Day to all moms too!

I have all these questions in my mind early when I was expecting my Baby Moon. I was thinking what language I should focus on her and talk to her since young. I have seen many young parents from Chinese educated talk with their children in English and I was wondering this is a correct method of raising the kids especially we are Chinese.

I always understand English is an important language and it becomes more important when kids grow up and enter into corporate world. Like many other parents, I also hope my children good in English, not only good but excellent. However, I have decided to speak Mandarin with my girl instead of English. These are some of the reasons of mine:

I’m from Chinese educated and not really good in English conversation especially come to casual talk at home. I don’t want to “input” her with improper English (in Singapore, called Singlish) and affect her later study of proper and formal English. Besides, our friends in different nation are so keen in learning Mandarin, I should not have reason not to let my girl master our own language.

When the first day Baby Moon went to nursery, I had a bit worry she couldn’t understand what her teachers were speaking to her. All the while, she only chance to “get in touch” with English when watching her favourite “Barney” and “Hi 5”. After seen her well behave and likes to attend school, I believe she copes well and just need more time for her second language.

Of course I also hope that she can do better with English, but recently she is picking up more words and sentences in Mandarin. I don’t want to confuse her, so I insist to teach her words in Mandarin and speak proper Mandarin.

I’ve done some searches in Google and found a very good site about Multilingual Children. It gives me lots of information about raising children in multi languages, you should also read their articles at Multilingual Children Association:

• The Pros and Cons of Raising a Multilingual Child
• 10 Myths You Will Be Told About Multilingual Children
• Language Systems and Why Your Family Needs It?
• 10 Steps to Raising a Multilingual Child
• When is The Best Time to Start?
• How to Start Older Kids on a Foreign Language

Once enrolled in school, it’s difficult to have long holidays, that’s the reason I let her enjoyed a long holidays in Malaysia before she starts her N1. We did some preparation before the first day. Two weeks ago we started to tell her about going to school, learning, reading and having fun with the friends. We let her has the mind preparation to school. And of course my brother and sister who are studying and staying with me have shown her good examples of going to school. Therefore, she never refuse to the idea of “studying” and “schooling”.

Last Sunday, Mummy and daddy brought her to get a new school bag and a pencil box. Her grandma said she doesn’t need the pencil box at her age, but I still get her one. Hehe..

Baby Moon first school bag, cute?

Pencil box and stationery are in a set, but.. principal says they have provided.. errr...

We bought this year ago and now is the time for show.. hehe..

I like my school bag! "Practice" the night before to school

We wake her up 7.30am in the morning and she is quite happy with her first school day.. We bring her for breakfast before school, just worry that she might not get used to the new environment and refuse to eat there.

Yeah~ I'm going to school!

We reach the Center around 8.30am and Baby Moon wants her grandma to hug her. But she seems happy with her teachers and new friends. Teacher just get her some toys and she starts to enjoy her toys and forget about us. We leave her alone and go home after one hour.

I'm busy playing with my teacher and new friends.. Haha..

Now is my reading time.. The book is so interesting..

Her uncle (Mummy Moon’s brother) goes to peep her around 10.30am and find that she is enjoying teacher’s story telling. No sign of separation anxiety!

So, we go and fetch her at 12pm. She has finished her lunch and can’t wait to wear her new uniform before home. She says bye to all her new friends and teachers..

Bye teachers and friends! See you all tomorrow!

I'm so tired! I slept at 1.30am last night.. Zzzzz

Baby Moon is too tired and fall asleep before she takes bath. Today she just behaves and done well for her first school day.. Hope that the next day and the rest of the days she will do the same and enjoy her new school life.