Tadika Happy Sunshine, Taman Desa (Part 1 of 2)

Apparently, they used to be with the Smart Reader program. Anyone has any idea what this is anyway? And they were named Tadika Terhebat, now it's Happy Sunshine aka Tadika Sinar Ria.
I have several issues with this place....

1. They're not equipped to care for a baby or toddler.
There's a room on the first floor that they said will be converted into the baby's room. They'll get a playpen if I were to send my child there, 6 months old then. They don't have the knowledge to care for a breastfed baby or handle expressed breastmilk. Yes, I know it's not rocket science and it's something they can pick up if told what to do with EBM.

2. I browsed the kitchen and noticed packs of Knorr ikan bilis stock.
I questioned that. Why are they giving MSG to children is beyond me. The principal said the children will not eat bland food. Does anyone out there think children need salt, sugar and MSG in their system at a young age?

3. They were operating without the approval from Jabatan Kebajikan and at that point, the application was in process. Fast forward to end of 2011, I was told they got the license sorted out.

4. A little too Mandarin oriented for my liking although I do wish for my child to be exposed to the language.

5. My baby will be the only baby with little company. There is no dedicated childminders for babies

6. Babies are not taught anything. No program, no structure.

I like Reanne. She's friendly and chatty. She seems like someone with much patience. They currently have 32 students and I suspect they will accept more children by the look of how enterprising Reanne is. Unless they also plan to hire more teachers or childminders and expand the double storey link house to a bigger place, it's cool. The place is neat, clean and not dusty. I'd consider sending my child here though, if he was older.

For babies, the rate is higher - RM550 a month as opposed to RM750 a term (3 months a term) for the older children.

Fee Structure below

Fun D Mental, Taman Desa

Ms. Gip is the person behind Fun D Mental. I appreciate her effort in returning my calls and spending the time to talk to me over the phone prior to meeting up. She had told me that she accepts children who have reached at least 2 years old but I thought I'd check out her set up anyway. The nursery is in Tiara Faber and I think to get to her nursery from the lobby needs some getting use to. One would have to get a parking at the visitor's car park then get to a stairway that leads to the nursery. It's not exactly spacious, the nursery/ daycare centre. There are 3 classrooms, the bathroom is like a communal bathroom in a condo, there's another room which is for storage. A Chinese lady teaches the children Mandarin and then there are 3 other Filipina helpers. It's a no fuss, no frills sorta daycare. It's a place I'd send my child to if it's only for a half-day stint which is till 12.30pm. Tuition classes are in the afternoon and I'm not sure what ages are the students for that. I didn't get to ask about the registration and miscellaneous fees but monthly fees is in the range of RM500 - RM700 a month for full day.

What I like is, Ms. Gip speaks well (English) and they also expose the children to Mandarin (There's only 1 other teacher). The children also get to do some other fun activities such as sprouting beans. Wish this place was more spacious though. Because this is an allotted room for a daycare, so they just have to work with what they've got. Other than that, it's a pretty decent daycare centre with only indoor facilities.

Chrisdale, Taman Desa

Correct me if I'm wrong.

Fries and sausages are foods toddlers and young children should be encouraged to eat.
(I guess one would be depriving one's child of junk food if the child doesn't get to have sausages and fries.)

Parents shouldn't think twice when asked to pay RM72 for books to be read to their kids. Books with contents like "I am Jo Vee" "My name is Jo Vee".
(Don't they share books? What happened to reading nursery rhymes and storybooks?)

Parents should not object to paying RM22 for a set of sportswear, regardless if your child is under 2 years of age.
(Because your child could possibly do the hoola hoops at 1 and a half years old.)

I have a huge issue with Chrisdale being irresponsible with what they serve the children. Please, let the parents be the one to decide if their kids should be given 'treats'. I can understand that it's a business that they're running and they must meet a certain target or profit margin. If you can justify what you're selling, by all means go on and make a sale.

I was told by the principal that if I enrolled my baby, he'd be with the 3yo class. What's wrong with this picture? Let me tell you. The classrooms have tables and chairs. I don't see my child even at 1 and a half years old be in the same class as the 3 years olds. The older ones are more mobile and can be rough. Good thing about this, my child may learn faster from emulating the older ones.
At my visit, the principal wasn't interested to even get to know my son. I didn't sense at all that she and the teachers had the passion to care for children. You'd know, wouldn't you... if someone was good with babies or kids?

There are 2 transport providers who serve the school.

By the way, what's the big deal about the swimming pool being the USP?

Chrisdale

29, Jalan Bukit Desa 3, Taman Bukit Desa, 

Off Jalan Klang Lama, 58100 Kuala Lumpur

Fee Structure and Schedule for toddlers/ 3 yo class. Daycare schedule to be inquired within.
Fees to be paid every term which is Jan, Mar, June and Sept.

Muzikgarten at Life Symphony in Taman Desa

The founders, Patricia and Victor are one of the friendliest people you'd know. They offer one time trial class for free. Some places charge a fee for trial classes ie Musichaus in Sunway Giza or Muzikgarten in Fit4Two in Bangsar Village II.

There's nothing fancy about this place but I say it's good especially if you wanna expose your baby or toddler to music and let him/ her develop social skills with other children.
Small classes. For infant/ baby class, currently 3 babies, with one of them moving up to the toddler class by the end of 2011. The teacher who chairs the classes may look a little intimidating as she doesn't smile very much. But I personally think she's cool.... she's not harsh or anything like that.
There's registration fee and you're encouraged to buy the music tools for hygiene purposes.
1 wooden rattle
1 pair of sticks
1 chiffon scarf
RM40

The copy of CD with the songs would cost more.

RM80 a month, once a week which is on Saturdays and the class lasts for half an hour.

Tadika ABC, Bangsar

I came across this place and saw the banner that says that they accept babies from 2mos. I thought what luck. So I pulled over and rang the doorbell at the gate.

An Indian lady walked out to open the gate for me and asked me, "Yes? What is it?"

"Hi, I'm here to check out your place and this is my baby. He's 2 months old."

"Eh you should make appointment with me."

"OK, sorry. I thought I'd drop by since I was in this area and happen to see your sign that you take in babies. Do you want me to come another time?"

"Sigh Come la come. You have to wait for me. I'm very very busy now."

I pulled out my camera and took a few photos of the kitchen and living hall. The walls and ceilings had children's craft and drawing hung up. I thought they were pretty cool. A Caucasian kid was standing around and he said hello to me. His dad came at the front gate to get him soon after. That lady was in the kitchen feeding a kid and even then she didn't have the most kind and polite tone of voice towards the kid. And she went on rambling and I mean grumbling and ranting about God knows what. I have selective hearing. Lady noticed me taking photos of their place and told me, "Hello! Stop taking photos. Who gave you permission to take photos?"

"Sorry. But why can't I take photos?"

"It's our rules."

"OK." I kept my camera away.

I asked to view the place on the first floor. She was extremely reluctant and went on to say, "How can you not make appointment with me?? I'm so busy. Today I have so much to do. The children are all sleeping upstairs. You cannot go upstairs."

"I'm already here. If you wanted me to make it another day, you can say so. But I'd like to take a quick look."

Long story short - Not exactly spacious upstairs. Babies sleep in cots and the bathroom was not tidy and the toilet wasn't flushed. There was an Indian childminder in the baby's room. Then I shortened the viewing and said, "Why don't you just give me a copy of your fee structure."

Her grumbling and lecturing didn't end at that point and she went on about she had to go the bank and how I made her late, that someone's in the hospital, so on and so on. I stopped her and told her, "My dad had just passed away. Am I taking things out on you? You're not the only one who has busy or bad days. Is it necessary to be so rude? You're very rude." She looked at me and toned down, said she's sorry. But she still didn't stop. What the hell is wrong with this woman?! And she's what.... the manager of Taska ABC? That's the sort of tone of voice she uses around children, to a parent, to a potential customer? That's just an excellent role model. My last question to her was if they're registered with the Health Ministry and Welfare Department.

She shut up? Finally??

I was later told by a friend that there was HFMD outbreak once and they didn't inform the parents about the situation. Hence, the outbreak. Can you say negligence?

ABC Nursery & Kindergarten

111, Jalan Ara, Bangsar Baru

03-22822300 

RM1200 monthly  

There's registration fee and some other cost involved. 

Judith Child Care Centre, Taman Desa

First visit: Jan 2011

This was one of the first places I checked out. Someone told me about this place and she sends her 2 year old here.



My first impression of this place had quickly gone to hell with the lady who manages the place.... her name's Stacey.... she's not the most welcoming and well-mannered person I know. Am I the only one who thinks that having a blur-tooth device stuck to your ear is weird? OK, that's not what's important.

It's a split-level double-storey link house that has a long driveway. I thought they could get the exterior painted as the walls and its surroundings were looking tired. As I entered, I saw about 6 babies and newly turned toddlers hanging around in the dining area. There's a bedroom on that level and it's right next to the spacious kitchen.
Good natural sunlight permeating in as it's a corner house with good amount of windows.
You don't get traffic noises although it faces one of the main roads in Taman Desa and it's also next to a public school.
There were two English speaking Filipina helpers. The TV was switched on and the babies were watching TV. Ahem. I made a comment about that and I was given a reply that the babies don't watch TV all day.


Stacey said they give fish, vegetables, cereal and porridge to the babies to eat.
Then I asked to view the place upstairs and I saw at the living hall, a few older children between ages of 3-4 sleeping on the floor. I was told they're toilet training them and they sleep on the floor without mattresses so they don't wet the bed. I took a peek into the bedrooms where the older children were taking their afternoon nap. I'll find a picture of the kind of bed for toddlers they use when I can find it.
The classroom where supposedly storytelling and music are conducted isn't very roomy. Not sure how many kids or babies can fit in there considering there are boxes of toys and some books stored in there as well.

I asked what they do if a child falls sick.
Reply: They call the parents and ask if they can be given PCM or taken home.

Do you know how to handle EBM?:
"Yes, just bring over we put in the freezer or fridge. We're use to it."

What do you do with the babies? What activities do you do to involve them?
"I talk to the children a lot you know? When I bathe them I talk to them, I got music class, I read to them."


And one of my more crucial questions.

What happens if I am late to get my baby? There'll be days where I may be required to work long hours or I could be stuck in the traffic jam.
Reply: "NO NO NO... please don't do that. 6.30pm is the latest and I don't allow parents to come any later than that to pick-up their children. We also wanna go home."

Seeing that their not flexible about timing, I had to look at another option.

Another observation - A newly walking baby was curious and she wanted to come close to me and my baby. The safety gate was latched on and Stacey said in a not so sweet and friendly tone to the baby, "Say please! I know what you want. Say please first."

2nd visit: Months after in 2011

Apart from all of that, the only differences I noticed were:
Most of the babies I saw in January have either moved to the toddler class or are not with Judith anymore. There were 2 babies. One 2 mos, the other 4 mos. The babies sleep in the playpen or the cot, by the way.

There was only Stacey and one helper. So it was 2:25 children.

Meals now don't include fish apparently. The parent can bring over for their child. 

Judith Child Care Centre

84, Jalan Desa Maju, Taman Desa, 

Jalan Klang Lama, Kuala Lumpur, 58100

03 7981 9019

016 227 2409

Fee structure:
450 monthly for babies
(I will update this post with more details on fee structure)

Time: 7.30am-6.30pm Mon-Fri
Breaks: Public holidays (Wilayah), 2 weeks in December, 10 days for Chinese New Year.

My requirements

Here's a list of what's ideal to me, in no particular order.

1. Good hygiene and cleanliness
2. Menu - Proper and balanced meals provided
3. Budget - Monthly fee of RM500-RM700
4. Location - Close to where I live (Taman Desa)
5. Christian caretakers
6. Education - Be it music, books, reading to, flash cards, etc
7. No TV
8. No more than 10 children in total
9. Grouped by age
10. Some knowledge on medical emergency
11. Method of disciplining the children
12. English speaking with some Mandarin
13. Policy of caring for sick children
14. Registered with the Welfare Department/ Kebajikan Malaysia

The start of my search

Let me begin by telling you that my baby boy was born in November of 2010.
In preparation for going back to work, I had started my search for a nanny when my boy was a coupla weeks old. The first thing I did was to Google, of course. And left messages in forums and blogs with the necessary details and requirements.

Nothing came back.

And my search for childcare centres and nurseries began promptly after.
Then I stumbled upon this. I dunno who the author is and it was written about the same time when my research about childcare in Taman Desa started. I suggest you take some time to read it before you go on with my posts.

Kindergarten in Taman Desa Malaysia

(Please mouse over)