Sending 2 Year Olds to Kindy??

I just visited the Mead Johnson forum. I love to check out the forum to see if there is anything new I can learn from other moms or if I can even help out some. A really good forum especially for new and young moms. Lots of information and sharing.

Anyway, as I was saying, I was checking out the Child's Learning & Education category. I found quite a few moms who are really concerned about their children's learning and education. I can understand the feeling. I too am worried about my children's studies, whether they can cope in primary.. whether they can are at least on average with their classmates...and my son, if he can survive primary school, chinese primary school, that is. I'm not exactly diligent in coaching my children. In fact, I'm definitely nowhere near some mothers who are totally devoted to coaching their children. I really admire their patience and stamina. I only start home lessons with my son when he started kindergarten at 4-years-old. At least with the help of his teachers, I'd just reinforce the learnings. I'm surprised when I read that some moms want to send their children to kindies at 2 years .. want them to learn ABC and 123 and upset that their kid couldn't. I'm just thinking that are moms of today putting too much demands on our children? When I was blogging or commenting in forums about teaching and coaching and signing up classes for my son some time ago, some moms actually advised me not to put too much pressure on my kids, but to let them enjoy their childhood. I don't quite know how to balance. I still send my 5-year-old son to E.nopi, Art classes, which I'm not regreting. And I'm already thinking about Cosmotots for him. I tried art class for my 3 year old son, but he's too young to sit still. I suppose it is no harm to teach and attend some light classes for young children if they are fun and entertaining. But for 2 Year Olds? Maybe some fun stuff like Gymboree? Music and singing? And of course there are some institutions like Shichida who boast that they can help children and even infants - that's for you to decide, really. I seriously don't think we need to pressure 2 year olds for actual serious studies. The last thing we want is to frighten them off studies. Most kindergarten offers 3 year old classes - just singing, fun basic ABC and such - more of a play group or day care. The serious learning in kindies starts at 4 year old. Even so, the 1st few months are only concentrating on prewriting skills.

So, is it really good to force studies on children as young as 2 Years Old? Unless it is for day care or playgroup, I feel that 2 years is too young. However, us moms can always introduce the concepts to them earlier without exerting pressure. I'm just only starting on my 3-Year-Old Raymund.

That's just my views :)