Early education matters: studies have shown that 85 to 90 percent of brain development takes place from birth to age five. The decision of choosing a kindergarten best fitted for a child can add additional stress for expat parents living in Beijing, struggling to differentiate the options in a foreign country.

On paper, the cost of public kindergartens in Beijing - which average around 1,000 yuan per month - is significantly cheaper. But while public kindergartens are more affordable, space in reputable ones is competitive among locals, and foreigners must pay huge additional fees, if they can even land a spot.

Many expat families opt for the private options. Irene Wei, a 29-year-old Beijing resident who is planning on conceiving soon, has already started research on school availability with her husband, saving up for their future child's education.

"A few years back, in my childhood, there were very few choices. Now you have not just private versus public, but different types of each. It can be confusing," she said. 

The types of early childhood education available in Beijing are much more limited than in the West. Here is an overview of the types of schools that are available.

Bilingual kindergartens

The pros of an early bilingual education are obvious. The best time to learn a foreign language, according to researchers at the University of Washington, is between birth and the age of seven. Almost all international private kindergartens in Beijing offer bilingual options; both foreign and local children are accepted.

For example, Children's International Bilingual Academy (CIBA), located in Shunyi, uses an integrated international curriculum based on American and British national standards. Tuition at CIBA ranges from 55,000 to 67,500 yuan per year, not including lunch and transportation.

Although monolingual English schools are available, they are essentially for Chinese kids learning English.

Montessori kindergartens 

Some of the bilingual schools use the method based on the teachings of Dr. Maria Montessori, stressing the use of all five senses. The method focuses on helping children grow more, and in a turn from tradition, students do not sit just listen to the teacher. Many Montessori schools do not use textbooks. While some studies have shown that the Montessori method gives students an academic edge, nothing concrete has been proven. 

In any case, the Montessori method is widely offered in Beijing.  The International Montessori School of Beijing (MSB) is the only one that is a member of the American Montessori Society. 

Tuition at MSB, founded in 1990, ranges from 91,000 yuan to 140,000 yuan, depending on the age group and half or full day registration. Other schools have similar price tags. One-year tuition at the Little Village Montessori School of Beijing, for example, located in Shuangjing, comes at 81,600 yuan, separate from the application fees and lunch fees. 

Integrated/dual-mixed programs 

It's not uncommon for many schools now to feature a mix of methods. The American International Academy of Beijing (AIAB), for example, is a bilingual Montessori kindergarten that teaches both the Montessori curriculum and the Chinese National Curriculum. Tuition begins at 77,000 yuan, for the full day session.