Parents always have this big headache when come to the time to decide the right nursery for their pre-school children. I was one of them last year when I was required to decide which nursery is right for JY at age 3.
I’ve been surveying around my housing area for FunGates and Montessori nurseries. I prefer nursery regulated by a proper system rather than those home operated nurseries. After months of surveying and site visiting, I made up my mind on FunGates. Now it is JY’s second year with his FunGates nursery and I’m very happy with it. In fact he is very happy with it too. He loves his school so much, that there was once I overslept, he woke up crying, blaming me for not waking him up on time to go to school (which in fact it was just a little bit later than usual, and he still made it to his nursery just in time before the school starts)! *wink* *wink*
The reason why I have chosen FunGates:
1. I love the fact that they make learning process fun for the kids. They do a lot of teaching through experiments or hands-on exercises and somehow the kids enjoy it.
2. The founder is a Malaysian, and I would think she know best what is required for a kid to be well prepared for Malaysian education system.
3. All the teachers are required to attend a week training every year in the Headquarter besides their basic starting training, and I think this is a good practice. At least every year the HQ will have a checked on the teachers’ quality in the nurseries that practice FunGates. On the other hand, I found out that there are so many nurseries out there (I mean in Malaysia of course) that claimed to be adapting the Montessori system, but there is no regulating body. For example, it might be true that the principle is a Montessori certified child educator, but the rest of the teachers are just the apprentice of the principal that didn’t undergo full systematic and proper training or certification. Undeniable, there are good Montessori nurseries too, and it is only the matter spending the effort to identify them.
4. FunGates prints their own books (as to introduce the children to book concept, rather than just paper printouts and filing), and they have a complete series of books (English, Chinese, Malay, Mathematics, Nursery Rhythm, and some fun activity books) which work together very effectively with their teaching apparatus.
5. For families that forced to undergo relocation due to career requirement of the parents, you can switch your kids to any other FunGates nurseries anytime. You no need to pay the registration fees and your children is able to adapt to the new nursery pretty quickly. This is due to all FunGates nurseries are using the same text books, uniforms, sleeping bags (if you send the children for childcare), and even the annual events such as sports day, concert, and test schedule.
6. Again I love the open concept teaching method in FunGates. They don’t have classrooms in FunGate nurseries. In fact they’ll make partitions in between classes, and you can actually see and hear each other while you are attending classes. Their purpose is to train the children to stay focus even in an environment with lots of distraction. At first I really have a bit of doubt on this as they are just young children whom are easily distracted. But to my surprise, I visited my son in the school before while they were having classes, and the kids are really disciplined and focus to their own class teacher’s instructions! Another advantage of open concept according to my son’s principle is that she can anytime walk around and at a glance she can see all the teachers and children. Therefore she knows what is going around, are the teachers treating & teaching the children in a correct manner etc. That is a fantastic idea!
By the way, I may have missed out some facts on FunGates or some of you may think that Montessori is better, please share your thoughts with me and the readers of this blog and I am sure everyone will be grateful.
For more detail information, here are the links to Montessori Malaysia and FunGates:
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stacey : I brought my son to Shining Glory at Taman Lestari Perdana. Is this the same centre you are saying about? Am still trying to search for nearby schools. Any suggestion?
Hi All,
Ekids – sri bintang, teachers ok? i heard my neighbour complaining their syllabus.
my son will b turning 5 next year. Considering to send him, either smart reader (selayang) or green apple (Selayang Jaya) can anyone give me some opinion.
May I know is there any fungate kindy in Penang? I was very impress with the fun gate’s system as I sent my two girls to Shining star before.
Did your girls went to Shining Star at Cheras, Taman Billion? Can you please share your experience with me?
Catherine – The last time I ask, there is no fungate kindy in Penang, but not sure if they expand to Penang now.
There’s one Fungates in Penang right now.
Just opened this year- brand new.
It’s called Tadika Era Sinaran in Butterworth, Penang.
You can check them out at their Facebook page =)
Hi Catherine,
There is a kindy called Tadika Rajawali within a church called Penang Christian Centre which uses the Fungates method. However, you’ll need to register very early to secure a place. I registered my daughter after a few months of celebrating her 1 yr old birthday (in 2010) for 4 yr old class in 2013 but she is on waiting list & can’t be confirm as their intake for 2013 is already full at that time.
Does anyone know about Sri Johan (fungates system) in Kota Kemuning ? Is their teachers there good & experience ??? Pls advise ….
I was thinking whether to send my son to fungates in Kota Kemuning ? Anyone there know about their teachers experiences ??? I heard they have exam for 4 years old and above…. Will it be too stress for the kids ??
Can anyone tell me where I can find Fungates kindy in Klang, near Bkt Tinggi and Bdr Botanik?? Thanks a million!
Has anybody heard abt chrisdale at tmn megah Kepong? Tis is another system with 4 branches now. Founder n some teacher are from qdees previously. Is tis kindy ok?
Hi, I’m planning to send my son (2 years 4 mths old) to Shining Star. Do you think it is too early to send him there? Can they really take care of my son? Can anyone share your experience with Shining Star in Cheras, Taman Billion?
Foo – I have a colleague whom send both his boys to Shining Star in Cheras. So far he seems to be quite satisfy with the kindy. Maybe you check out their teacher-student ratio for your son’s class (if you enroll him) just to make sure the ratio is small, then at least the teacher can pay more attention to the children.
Dear All. Bandar Mahkota cheras, susu& Madu fungates program seen good. I can see my son 4 year old little bit changes after 5 month. But later i don’t see any progress and looks normal. Is this cause of year 4? How about year 5&6 program..Is this give good basic for kids before move to primary school? any idea
Arban – So far my son seems doing fine in primary this year. But I think the teachers are very important, not just depending on the system itself. So if you find your son is not making any progress, maybe it is good to check it out with the center?
Any recomendation for Pre-school around Cheras / Sg.Long area?
Tiffany – I didn’t survey that area before, but if you are asking about Fungates, I have a friend sending the son to Shining Star in Cheras which he has quite a good comment on that center.
Tiffany if you are looking for pre-school with fungates system try susu & madu at bandar mahkota cheras very near sg long.Hope you already found one. Fungates is the best!
My 4 yrs & 6 yrs old girl start their kindy at GloryKid kepong, today today is the 4th day. My 6 yrs old seem happy with it but my 4 yrs old one started to cry the 3rd day and today (4th day) too. I really hope they can enjoy their learning there.
Miki – Wish your kids have a great time in their learning adventure!
Dear mummy, can anyone recommend..what are the good enrichment classes for 4 yrs out there? Art, Music, etc?
Miki – I would think art and music are very good for the kids to express themselves and also train their concentration. I did send my sons for Speech & Drama too, and they love it.
Hi kidsdreamwork, which & where the speech and Drama class you have sent your sons? i Send my girls for trial at Bluebricks at Kota D’sara but both of them were very reluctant to go for 2nd class. It’s quite far too. Where yours?
miki-My sons attend the Speech & Drama class at Lorna Whiston. So far both of them enjoy the class there. Maybe you can try that?
Thanks so much for the info. which location you are going? Melawati or TTDI? May be I should let them try. Just wondering how you find out all these centre? I always lack of this info.. Thank you for sharing…
Miki-You are most welcome. We are all here to share as parents aren’t we?
I send them to TTDI as when they started with the center there is only one at TTDI, the Melawati branch hasn’t start operating yet. I found this center from Internet and seems like a lot of good comments. After doing some research asking around and also visiting the center, I decided to let the kids try the class. Glad that it turns out great for them
May I know green apple address and contact number?because I stay around selayang and I want send my 4years old girl go there.thanks.
Hi,
As all young parents do, I am also looking for kindies that suit best for their children. I would prefer my child to have an enjoyable environment to learn and socialize. Also , i would think laying a good EQ foundation (confidence, independence, handling stress…) is as important as academically for my child. Thus Montessori is still best choice for my child. I am staying in Kepong, would like to ask for recommendation of montesorri school nearby or other school that emphasize on EQ development? Pls advise. Thanks
What are the good kindergarden/ nursery around Sri Petaling or Taman Esplanad for 4 yrs old. Any idea if Smart Readers is good.
Kavita-I hope someone else here can share with you on kindy around Sri Petaling or Taman Esplanade as I never survey there area before. But so far I think Smart Readers is not bad. I have some friends giving good comments about it.
Kavita, I’m looking for a monte or kindie for my 3yo girl around Sri Petaling / Kuchai Lama. If you could find one pls share it with me.
KidsDreamWork, do u mind to share with me FunGate’s fee? I saw one in Kuchai Lama but wondering is it very expensive. I don’t really go for “brand”, hygieneness & safety must come first.
Cyndie-As far as I know the Fungate’s fee varies between centers which follow the syllabus. But if not mistaken among the centers the fees is roughly around RM460 for a full day class (8.30pm-3.30pm)
Btw..just to update that my 2 little girls enjoy their time at Glorykid since day one. I feel relief.. esp for 6 yrs old girl. It’s not easy to find her a suitable school after she had the nightmare at Sunny Boy last time. So far she enjoy going to school, even told me she hopes she can go to school over the weekend too. Thanks kidsdreamwork (Ai Ping?) for sharing the info of this kindy.
Miki-Glad to know that! Really hope your girls will enjoy their learning journey there. I like to chat with my kids when I pick them up after school to find out their daily routine and happenings in the school. Sometimes through the chat you can find out a lot of things, and there might be things that need parent’s attention so we can handle it immediately. Kids are suppose to enjoy their learning journey and not being scare of going to school. Wish both your girls a happy learning and growing with the kindy!
Thanks. Yes i do chat with them after school hope to dig some news on what’s happening in the classes.
In glory kids, unfortunately some parents are very rude when dropping their children in school. They are rushing for time, sometime I can’t understand why can’t they come a little early rather than drive so rudely. It makes a nice morning turn bad especially in front of their children. They even raise their hand, showing the bad sign on other car/ parent. Miki and ai ping, have u all seen that? Am I paranoid?
Loo – So far I haven’t bump into that kind of situation, probably because I’m not the one sending him to the school! I think no matter how, we shouldn’t do that especially in front of our kids!
Finally the school gave notice on parking issues. It is better now.
I am undecided which nursery to go, is Glory Kids really good? But the number of students for 4,5,6 worry me though my daughter is 3 this year.
SS – Actually I find the number a bit too much for age 4, 5 and 6 too. Last time when my boy first started with the kindy the ratio is much better.
At the same time I am considering Smart Nuri Kindergarten at Sri Sinar but does not hear much comment…
Hi All, I am looking for kindy for my son next year when he 4 year old. I am staying at Kepong, i saw some comments above about GloryKids quite good, just want to confirm the GloryKids that mentioned above is refer to GloryKids Kepong? Thanks.
KidsDreamWork: Talking about Fungates teaches phonics differently, is this something good or not? Will this confuse them for future education says the closest one in primary? Anyone has their child in fungates going primary to share?
Hi All, anyone have any comment about FunKids Tmn Segar Perdana which uses fungates system too.
In fact, my 2 daughters are studying there. This is the 2nd year for my eldest daughter attending FunKids. However, she doesn’t like going to school lately & is looking forward for school holiday. We ask her why. She told us her classmate I totally like FunGates System just would like to know if any parents also have their kids there can provide some insight on what’s going on in school.
Sorry accidentally press the submit button. Let me continue. Initially my daughter said classmate bully her then the following week she told me sadly her teacher call her rubbish girl during class. She’s no longer enjoying going to school. I’m going to clarify with the school in teacher’s remark but just would like to hear any comment if any about FunKids.
My son will turn 3 years in Oct this year. He is taken care by my nanny. Was considering to enter him 1/2 day to EKIDS kepong coz it is near to my nanny place. Didnt check out others kiddy. Stil worry if i wil shld check my son now or wait until 3 years…
May I know if there is any fungates in sri damansara, selayang or kepong area?
sheryl – I don’t think there is a fungate in Sri Damansara or Selayang. Unless a newly open ones. In Kepong area yes. You can always call their HQ to check on the nearest fungate nursery.
Any reviews about Ekids in Sri Bintang? i went this morning,as they are one teacher and half helper to 24 students, as the helper need to take care 2 classes, so i call it half. they use simple and short partition to split that 2 classes, would it be noisy or makes the class messy? please advise as i am changing my 4 year old girl to another nursery as she is consider active type!tq
PC – Yes, the short partition is the practice across all fungate nurseries. They claimed that this train their children to pay attention to the teacher even at a very distracting environment.
Hi, does anyone heard of Tadika Montessori Children Garden at Bdr Sri Damansara? Any comments on this kindy? I’m planning to send my son there.
Cherry – Personally I think this kindy is quite satisfying. And recently they are introducing Cambridge University’s English programme for children in their school too.
My daughter now is almost 3 years old and attending Q-dess, I am thinking to shifting her to fungates next year, can I have some comment, and may I hav klang fungates contacts and it’s Evaluate? Thank you very much.
Actually my daughter studying Q-dees have the improvement & result very well too, but i am thinking may be fungates is more better place for her, am I right? Please advise.
Hi, anyone have any comments on Tadika Pintar Ria in mutiara damansara and Tadika Sri Nobel in Kelana Jaya. Both uses the Fungates system. Am planning to send my boy to either one next year. Are the rates all the same in different fungates centers? Anyone know what is the current rate? Thanks.
Hi, thanks for sharing, just wondering if there’s any FunGate branches in Penang Island? Or do you hv any recommendation for similar programme in Penand Island which is not academic intensive? My son is 5 years old.
Hi, i am looking for a preschool for my 4yrs old son. He is currently with a kindy at menjalara forb full day. Sometimes he told me that all teachers always angry of him, he asked me why must go to school everyday. Then, i asked him is that alright if i change new preschool for him, he said don’t want to change school, i guess he is a type of kid that don’t really get used to new environment easily.
Regarding the sunny boy kindy at bkt maluri, my friend recommended me to go to this kindy, i called the principle, she sound impatient when i asked her more about the preschool environment and syllabus. At last she said that if i don’t have own transportation, don’t send to her kindy, her kindy nly for those who have own transport. I felt so angry after she said that, this kind of attitude, how can i expert she can teach my son well in terms of behaviour and discipline.
I have visited few kindy at sri sinar and sri bintang, but that are not fulfil my requirements. Does anybody can recommend me any good preschool ard menjalara, bukit maluri and sri bintang, sri sinar?
Thanks.
Emily
Hi,
Would like to know any good preschool around sri bintang, sri sinar, menjalara and bukit maluri? Have you heard of The star children house in menjalara? Any comments on this school?
Emily
Hi,
I am looking at Ekids Sri Bintang website now, it looks great! But, i have not personally go there to check it out. Does anybody send the kids there? Does their syllabus able to prepare the kids to chinese primary school? This is one of my concern too.
Hi PC,
Have you enroll your girl to Ekids Sri Bintang?
May i know where is Tadika Montessori Children Garden at Bandar Sri Damansara?
synlim – This is the address of Tadika Montessori Children Garden:
2 Jalan Kenanga SD 9/7, Bandar Sri Damansara, 52200 KL.
And to be more precise, the new English programme they are having is Cambridge Young Learner English (YLE), under LPC.
Hi all, thanks for sharing all info. There is brand new fungates called Tadika Era Sinaran at Mak Mandin,Penang. In fact, i have already registered (for 2013) my 3yr old girl at D’monte Sungai Dua, but, it seems fungates is more interesting. Mayb will pay a visit to Era this week. Can anyone please advise how is the programme in D’monte? Thanks.
Wonder anyone know Daffodils Garden in Pj SS1? Any info to share?
Hi , I am looking for kindy for my gaughter next year when he 4 year old. I am staying at taman bukit serdang. Would like to ask for recommendation Montessori School nearby? Pls advise,thank you!
hi all, glad this discussion is still active
searching the whole web for pintar ria mutiara damansara n didnt find anything useful about it, planning a trip over to visit it n the lil’ footprints at ara damansara, i very much like fungates system compare to montessori, i used to be a teacher at 1 of the fungates kindy n montessori kindy so i got 1st hand experience as what both system are like 
by the way anybody know about the daffodil garden preschool near seapark secondary school? thinking of sending my 2yo boy there 1st in august b4 starting at fungates leh really hard to decide as i went to daffodil garden n quite like that place, my husband like best is all the teachers seem old, lolx old ppl more sayang children wor he say, but i couldn’t let go fungates leh cos i like their open concept, own school books, yearly trained teachers, teacher-student learning apparatus, computer & science class, weekly join classes for interaction n many more ….but will give daffodil garden a chance as they allowed parents to sit in for 1st few days 
will update all of you when my son enrol ya
hi,
anyone knows this tadika diyana at ttdi?is it good?
thanks
Hi all, anyone come across kiddies patch in desa park city? Mind to share, please. TIA.
Fungates opened in Sri Damansara. Surveyed and spoke to the principal. Currently, my girl is 5 and plan to enrol her next year to fungates. By doing that there may be concerns on, kindly share your experience.
(1) Any trnasitional problems on a child from montessori to fungates method? For example, maths were taught different at montessori. Will the child be able to cope?
Thank you.
Hi..anyone sent their kids to smart reader ? according to them also learning thru fun & games..sounds similar to fungates. any comments ?
to danielle
went there with my husband to look at tadika diyana, b4 that i already visited their website, when we went it was in between morning school ends n afternoon school starting, mostly all the cars stop to pick up/send kids are expensive cars with expensive car plate number, the school is huge compare to the normal kindy we went to, went in to their office n b4 arriving i’d called them. ask them a few question n they reply in unfriendly manner =.= keep asking me check their website, saw a teacher teaching ballet look very young, left didnt hv a tour as i plan n i’m not impress so for me tadika diyana is out of my list.
to mich
don worry, children adapt fast juz that when u send her to fungates learning a new method in maths, at home u hv to follow fungates method to enforce so that ur child will get used to it n wont be confuse.
Anyone know got any fungates in Penang Island?
Penang Mommies, can share any good kindy in Penang Island near Gottlieb, Tg Tokong or Tg Bungah area???
Hi, my son is with Montessori Children’s Garden, BSD, so far so good …. They prepare pretty nice decent meal …
i am choosing between qdees at puchong wawasan or fungates at BK5. Any commets??
Hi all, can anyone pls recommend good kindly & nursery for my daughter in pj area I.e tmn sea / ss2 / tmn Megah.