Korean Job Discussion Forums

[pixel8]

Can someone recommend and describe good playschools for my 3 year old? If possible, please provide website or contact no's.

Much appreciate it.

Thanks

[pixel8]

No parents of toddlers here?

[spark05]

Hannam Dong, Yongsan-gu
http://www.franciscanschool.com/introduction.html

Shindang Dong, Jung-gu
http://www.nsis.or.kr/index.php

Not in Kangnam, but you can do a search on Naver or something for international schools, maybe more will come up. I don't know where those schools bus to. Otherwise I'm sure there are a ton of 유치부, English speaking preschools, in Kangnam. They're all going to be twice the rate of your average Korean preschool. Bambini, Wonderland, Kids College are all English speaking preschools.

HTH!

[milf]

I too am interested in toddler playschools.

What's NAVER?

"Bambini, Wonderland, Kids College " .... are they common? I have yet to explore much and haven't seen such.... are they in Kangnam? Or should I google?

[chiaa]

There are a few in the Itaewon area.

Rainbow:

My son is going there but we are considering pulling him. The owner is well a b*tch, but the teachers are absolutely wonderful. They are all Philipinas and one African lady. 100% fluent in English. My only problem with the place is my son goes there two times and then is in the hospital for five days with pnuemonia (sp?). I understand kids get sick from kids but this has gone on for three months in a row. I am wondering how often they sanitize the place (I am not one of those over protective crazy parents. If he gets slugged in the eye, I first ask what he did to the other kid).

The Francescan (sp?) in Hannam takes kids 30 months and up. It is a bit on the expensive side but not as much as the place below.

PSA, they have two locations. One in Apgujeong and one in Yongsan. I believe Yongsan is only Kindie age kids but Apgujeong with take kids at 30 months. They only have full day classes from 9-3 and it costs 900.000 or so per month. I feel at 30 months there is no need for a kid to be gone that long five days a week when there is someone at home to take care of him and well the price is just nuts.

There is another school right near the Hyatt Hotel. It is on the top of the hill not down the bottom. I do not have any information about this place.

Now that summer is here, I would not mind starting a play group. Everyone can meet at a park say once a week or twice a month. PM me if interested and we can get something going. I know a bunch of parents around the Itaewon area so we can get a nice group together.

[pixel8]

Gosh... considering this forum is about schools and teachers, this topic seems blank.

[milf]

Hi pixel8, yeah... this topic does seem 'blank'.

Anyway, I've done some digging.... have found the following :-

1) High/Scope located in Seocho area
2) Barney house in Apgujeong area

Both costs about 870,000 and initial cost of 45,000/200,000.

There are probably more but will require more digging.

[milf]

Some gyms for children... but not sure about their programs or costs.... here are the links :-

1) http://www.thelittlegym.co.kr/index.asp
2) http://www.gymboree.co.kr
3) http://www.my-gym.co.kr

[pixel8]

Great info, milf.

The prices seem steep. I'm hoping for a more local level of rates.... or is that impossible?

[jade]

Rainbow kids is great my sone is also there. Owner seems OK to me. And the African teacher I thought was American actually. Kids are always sick this is normal and how they build there imune system so the docs say anyway. Just dont let them give you antibiotics and chest exrays every time as you probably know they are a little over the top with this here. The school at the top is Early Learning Childhood Center which is the most expensive in town but your toddler must be toilet trained to be elegible. Around I mill a month. And there is a waiting list and other requirments.

[squidward]

I see this thread is pretty old but it would be great if anyone had some more recent info. I am looking for a more informal drop-in sort of place around Kangnam for my 3 year old, rather than full time school. Gymboree at City Center looked pretty good but they only had Korean speakers.

[everything-is-everything]

[alice_w]

You might have better luck asking on the Expat Parents Forum:
http://expatparents.50.forumer.com/

[PatrickGHBusan]

[northway]