LIFE IN MEXICO: Kids - Schooling, Care

[losguerra]

Experts - Can offer your advice on these or any other issues related to this topic?

What are schools like in Mexico?

How much does it cost to put the kids in a private school?

If we live in a city, how much does child care cost?

My kids don't speak Spanish! What can we do?!


Have questions or advice about a different topic related to life in Mexico? Check the master list (http://immigrate2us.net/forum/showpost.php?p=148907&postcount=1) for all the threads about life in Mexico!

[losguerra]

DeBenny had a good idea for a site that can help kids familiarize themselves with the culture and traditions of Mexico in a fun and interactive way.

Okay...so while I was doing some research I came across this website, I checked it out... http://www.elbalero.gob.mx/index_kids.html

It is created by the government of Mexico for kids...It introduces children to Mexico; it has recipes; talks about the culture; goes over common myths and legends; games and toys; traditions and holidays. Check it out. Many of the I2US have children and we must not forget that this is going to be a drastic change for them as well. A site like this will be helpful for them to become a little acquainted to culture and traditions in Mexico. What do you all think?

[DeBenny]

For those parents that enjoy singing nursery rhymes to their children (or at least would likt to learn some) here is a site with nursery rhymes from Mexico (http://http://www.mamalisa.com/world/mexico.html) and if you want to have more of an international knowledge of nursery rhymes go here (http://www.mamalisa.com/world/atoz.html)

[slvjvm922000]

Well i just want to share some info on living at the border and take ur children to school in the US. I take our children to school in el paso everyday because we feel that the education is better in the united states then here in mexico. I use a address in el paso so they can go to school. u have to use an address in el paso or u can pay 685 dollars a year to put them in school. I met a lady that let me use her address but now my dad lives in el paso so i can use his. i would do anything to have the kids in the school where they are. It is alot of money to pay to put them in school. u have to have a phone from the united states also so if in case of an emergency. i cross with my kids everyday over the free bridge we leave here at 6am to make sure we get over in time for school. there is alot of children in school in el paso that cross daily from mexico.


In regards to childcare in mexico there is a place here in cdj that we actually looked into for our youngest son it would cost us 1200 pesos a month to put him in childcare from 7am to 4 pm. but in the united states it would cost us 90 dollars a week so it is alot cheaper here in mexico.


I also would recommend if ur children dont speak spanish to start teaching them. because it is going to be really hard for them if they come here and they dont speak it. our children speak both english and spanish and i am so thankful they do because even in school in el paso most of the kids speak spanish. try each day to teach them a few easy words.

[ourboys2]

I also would recommend if ur children dont speak spanish to start teaching them. because it is going to be really hard for them if they come here and they dont speak it. our children speak both english and spanish and i am so thankful they do because even in school in el paso most of the kids speak spanish. try each day to teach them a few easy words.

You are so right on this, my son is doing okay in school in Mexico, but it was very hard for him to adjust to school in a different country, not to mention in a totally different lanuage. He does not go to school anywhere near as often as back home, but i still send him to get the most out of living here. He is also using the 3rd US material at home. His hardest subject is math, go figure.

He now speaks, reads and writes both languages just fine. I am pretty proud of him. :thumbup:

As for my 3yr old twins they are learning Spanish and English, but they mainly speak Spanish. We will be getting them the Disney English course to be sure they speak both languages correctly. I speak to them all in Englishm, but since the main language here is Spanish, I want to make sure they learn both properly.

[ourboys2]

What are schools like in Mexico?

Wow!!

First off the public school my son goes to is very Catholic based.

They have more days of than days they actually go to school.

The teachers are very stricted and demand respect.

Parents go once every 60 days to be repremanded in front of all other parents about our kids inappropriate behavior. I got to go very often at the beginning of the school year, because my son forgot to go potty before class, pushed another kid, grabbed his pencil back from another kid, drank another kids juice, and other very serious issues like this.

The kids pridominatley wear uniforms to school.

The kids also must take thier own lunch to school, plus thier own toilet paper.

[carlosalica]

Whem we were in Mexico my than 4 yr.old went to a public Mexican school, kinder.
Same as our boys, she had a day off more than she actually went to school.
She had to wear uniforms and because it was a kinder a little apron on top. We were only going to be there a few months so we asked the teacher and she was able to just wear street clothes with the little apron on top. (so ask,.,. the uniforms can add up if you'll only be attending for a little while.)
We had the choice of morning or afternoon we were night people so the afternoon worked out better for us. The teachers were all very nice to us.
Cost: Living on mexican salary I think it is really expensive.. We payed $5pesos a day for lunch.. but not really for lunch they used that money for bathroom repair, and other stuff. And also $40 pesos a month for the teachers salary etc.
For lunch:
Each kid took a different day of the week and brought food for the entire class. When it was my daughters turn we took sopa de fideo with some coke to drink, very simple.

And like ourboys said the whole thing is very catholic based. Our friends's son graduated and they even had a catholic misa.
Oh and my daughters homework was just a notebook that they sent home every night with some letters to copy or something else.

[Family]

Our daugther went to public school in Guerrero. It is very different to the US school system. Our daughter did not speak much Spanish. The school setting is much more formal than here.

To register for school, you need the childs birth certificate and your proof of address. Your child will be given books for free and you are responsible for supplies, just like here. The school she went to had desks in them that were from the 50's and were with little light. The only teaching materials that the teacher had was the chalkboard.

I went to school everyday with our daughter and most days my MIL came with too. Unlike here, at lunch most of the mothers walked to the school to bring food. The school day was from 9-1 pm or 5-9 pm. It depended on the childs work schedule. Remember, many children work at a very young age.

I joined the parent teacher organization in order to find out more about the school. If you do this, I would go with a member of the family so that you are more accepted.

[Serendipty]

If you're having hard times especially with all this going on, your mexican hubby/wife can apply for benefits for your child since they are his/her children, and if they qualify then your child will get help with living/food/health benefits even education wise such as an allowance every month for books/uniforms. I know it seems odd, but sometimes you got to do it. KWIM?

Cruz will be starting preschool this school year, and he is VERY ready. He has picked up the Spanish language with ease, and now it's time to learn it on paper.

It was so hard during my one visit watching him get sad when it was time for his little (older) friends go to school. I plan on shipping a special Spiderman backpack/notebooks that I had been saving for him.

The uniforms where they are in outside Leon, Guanajuato are tan pants, or shorts, white shirts, and dark navy blue vests (jackets in winter). Every Friday is casual day.

I know Cruz will get money for lunch or a sibling, or my MIL will take him one.

I feel deep apperciation for my family in laws, but I feel so sad because I want to be the one taking the lunch or helping will his schoolwork.

[paradise7n]

Hi Serendipity, I am so sorry that your family is split apart at this time. I have a little boy named Cruz as well! He is two, and will also be spending time in Mexico while we wait out the backlog and hopefully eventually get approved. :wave:

[pistolera]

Experts - Can offer your advice on these or any other issues related to this topic?

What are schools like in Mexico?

How much does it cost to put the kids in a private school?

If we live in a city, how much does child care cost?

My kids don't speak Spanish! What can we do?!



SEDESOL (department of social development) instutited a program called Red De Estancias Infantiles. that's a web of childcare services. In my home town of Zacatecas they have about 20 of them, most of them charge between 100-200 pesos a week. this is program is also a business opportunity for those who qualify.

they also have private schools tailored to teach children in english language, most of them are of catholic principals, for example Sor Juana Inez de la Cruz. I belive the semester costs 3000NMX for primary school not sure of other schools.

Zacatecas is very friendly and not as dangerous for extrangeros like Mexico city. like most cities they tend to have zones with higher rate of crime. Do like the locals and stay away from them after dark.