Future development

"Parents have the right to choose the kindergarten they think is best for their kid. But parents should also understand that English is only a communication tool - it doesn't account for everything in a kid's future development," warned Xiong.

"Kindergarten education doesn't advocate formal study, and the students' childhoods should be carefree. However, faced with the pressure of entry examinations for school and the slump in employment, parents are increasingly concerned about preparing their kids for the competitive atmosphere, even at the kindergarten phase.

"Without reforming China's current score-oriented selection system, children will not have a carefree childhood. An increasing number of regular kindergartens will imitate the total-immersion model of teaching English or become bilingual kindergartens to attract parents and make a profit," said Xiong.

The number of kids studying overseas in the post-primary school period is also soaring.

"No free time and a world full of exam papers and scores: That's not the sort of life I am willing to impose on my daughter," said Zhao Zidan whose 4-year-old child studies at an English-immersion kindergarten.

"My husband is from overseas and we will move abroad in the years to come. Several of my daughter's classmates are in the same position," she said.

Zhouwu Zhengwang is one of them. Although he is only 5, the boy has already visited the United States and speaks better English than most kids of the same age. "I like the US and my parents said they will send me there to play baseball," he said.

According to Yuan Ailing, professor at the School of Educational Science at South China Normal University in Guangdong province, the aim of education in the preschool period is to help prepare the kids and develop good moral standards, a lively mind and cultivate interests.

"Parents should understand this. If the kids can study English to a decent level, it's fine. But if they spend too much time and energy on it, while neglecting to cultivate other aspects of their lives, it will be a failed investment," she said.

Tuition fees

"Our current annual tuition fee is 73,500 yuan ($11,719). But next year we will have to increase it to 88,000 yuan, because the rent is set to rise," said Muffy's Kung. "I would say we are the middle of the pack. There are definitely more expensive kindergartens, just as there are some that are cheaper. We are in the regular market," he said.

As a reporter, I have visited several kindergartens of this type in Beijing. Annual tuition fees are generally between 70,000 and 140,000 yuan, excluding the cost of meals.

"Golden Cradle is just next door, but my annual income wouldn't even begin to cover the fees," said Chen Xin, 28, who works for the Beijing Meteorological Bureau. Data released by the Beijing statistics bureau show that in 2011, the average annual wage in the Chinese capital was 56,000 yuan.

"Golden Cradle is for rich people, I think. Luckily I can send my son to a kindergarten affiliated to my work unit, which works out much cheaper. But how can migrant workers afford to send their kids to a good kindergarten?" asked Chen.

There is a severe shortage of kindergartens in China. According to the Beijing Education Yearbook 2011, Beijing has 1,245 kindergartens, which teach more than 270,000 students. Pupil numbers are set to grow too, as the city recorded more than 190,000 births in 2011.

A note of caution

"The main function of a kindergarten is to cultivate a healthy character. Over-expensive, luxurious kindergartens don't benefit kids at all, in my opinion," said Chu Zhaohui, a senior researcher at the National Institute of Education Sciences, who added that the quality of tuition and an enlightened teaching concept are essential to a good kindergarten.

"I should say that nowadays many parents are irrational in their choice of kindergarten. Also, many have been duped by some so-called bilingual or English-language kindergartens, which often have fashionable names, but just employ a few temporary foreign teachers. As far as I know the majority of the foreign teachers in kindergartens have no teaching qualifications, so it's hard to guarantee that the kids will receive quality tuition," said Yuan.

Contact the reporter at [email protected] and [email protected]

Mo Jingxi contributed to this story.