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Singapore’s Best Chinese Playgroup

Singapore Playgroup Review – Hanziland’s Mandarin Through Play

05/02/2019

My two and a half year old Bubby has been attending a Mandarin Chinese playgroup since the tender age of 11 months. Yes, I was perhaps a tad enthusiastic! Although my husband speaks Chinese, I can’t, so our home is pretty much English only. However, I am cognisant of the fact that a baby’s brain absorbs languages like a sponge and I wanted Bubby to have every opportunity to speak Chinese and appreciate her cultural roots. One of my biggest regrets is in my inability to speak the language despite being Eurasian, and I didn’t want my daughter missing out on opportunities I wish could have had.


Our First Playgroup

Our first school was quite well organised, with a dedicated teaching staff and an enthusiastically-delivered curriculum. Unfortunately, the schedule was very tiring for both Bubby and I. Classes were twice a week, beginning at 9 am, and I begged the school to make an exception for us so we could attend just once weekly, but they refused. To be frank, I could tell my little one was not keen on the playgroup, so I seized the chance and withdrew her.


The Path to a New Playgroup

A few months later, I hired a young Chinese lady to come to my home on a weekly basis to spend an hour and a half reading, speaking, singing and just spending time with Bubby. By this point, Bubby was 18 months old and not particularly receptive. So I set about finding another school that was easy to get to and was just once a week. Fortunately I found a wonderful teacher named Zoe through At Libitum where she was running Chinese programmes for older children (you can read all about At Libitum’s musical playgroups here). We started chatting, and I mentioned that I would love a Chinese playgroup for toddlers. Well, my prayers were answered! Zoe was thinking of starting just such a group.


Hanziland’s Mandarin (Chinese) Through Play

After Bubby and I returned from a Sydney trip in April 2018, I enrolled her into Zoe’s new toddler playgroup. It was lovely! Zoe is a passionate teacher and her dedication shines through. Best of all, the children seem to genuinely enjoy her classes as do the parents. In fact, I was having dinner with good friends last night whose son had attended the playgroup and is now in the class for older children. We all remarked upon Zoe’s attention to detail and the amount of hard work and effort she puts into each and every lesson. My friend also said that she wishes she had language teachers like Zoe, who would have made learning not only possible but also pleasurable.


Zoe’s playgroup is carer-accompanied so I learn a little Mandarin too. Each week she sends the songs the children are learning so they can sing at home. She also gives parents a colourful handout at the end of each lesson so they practice the language throughout the week. I always say “wash your hands” and “brush your teeth” in Chinese to Bubby now, and she knows how to refer to those younger and older, as well as many animal names. She can also count up to 10 and do the Chinese hand signs too.


The class itself is for one hour, and during that time there is storytelling, song and dance, and art time. Classes are kept deliberately small so each child receives ample attention. I must also add here that the other parents and carers are very friendly and there is a very inclusive feel to the group.


Added Bonus

The playgroup is held at Kaboodle. After class, the children are invited to spend as long as they want in the Kaboodle play area at no added charge. It’s fabulous. Typically, we spend an additional 45 minutes to an hour there. I recharge with a nice coffee and biscuit (Kaboodle makes a fabulous cappuccino) while Bubby plays with the huge blue foam blocks, fun slippery dip, and playdough, among many other things. I really should do a post on Kaboodle, as it is a worthwhile outing for families with young children.


Hanziland’s Contact Details

I can’t sing Zoe’s and Hanziland’s praises enough. If you are keen to have your child learn Chinese, then I recommend contacting Zoe through her website or by email: zoe.liu@hanziland.com. You can also call her on +65 87279689. Classes are held at Kaboodle, 88 East Coast Road, #02-05 Katong Square, 423371.


The above review has NOT been sponsored in any way. I have been truly impressed with Zoe’s playgroup and I am grateful that my young daughter is being exposed to the Chinese language in a fun, friendly and non-threatening environment. 


If you have any questions about Chinese Playgroups in Singapore or would like to leave a message, I’d love to hear from you in my comments section below. 


Until next time,


Love, Mei-Ling x


Singapore Mummy Blog Chinese Mandarin Playgroup Singapore Review Katong
Singapore Mummy Blog Chinese Mandarin Playgroup Singapore Review Katong

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