Brother and Sister, 18 Months Apart, at the Same International School
Hi, I’m Saori. I’m raising three children in Penang, Malaysia, and sharing the real story of our education migration.
Our eldest daughter, Hikari, was born in 2018 and is in first grade. Our eldest son, Zen, was born in 2020 and is in kindergarten. These siblings, 18 months apart, attend the same international school.
Today, I’ll talk about what life is like at an international school with this specific age gap, the different personalities we’ve seen in our two children, and how we support them as parents.
Completely Different Adaptation Speeds
Even though they go to the same school, Hikari and Zen adapted in completely different ways.
Hikari is more of a cautious type. When entering a new environment, she starts by carefully observing her surroundings. When she first started at the international school, she barely spoke for weeks, just quietly listening to the teacher.
Zen, on the other hand, is the type to dive right into the classroom from day one. Even if he can’t communicate with words, he makes friends with gestures and smiles. His teachers often say, “Zen is the class mood maker.”
It amazes me every day how two children from the same parents, raised in the same environment, can have such different personalities.
Different Ways of Spending Time at School
Hikari is now in first grade, where reading and writing lessons are in full swing. For her English phonics lessons, she brings home a small book every day and practices reading it aloud at home. She has a strong desire to “not make mistakes,” so her voice used to be very quiet at first.
But lately, she seems to be gaining confidence. The other day, she happily reported that she raised her hand and gave a presentation in class.
In Zen’s kindergarten class, learning through play is the main focus. Through block play and pretend play, he’s naturally picking up English communication skills. He imitates his teacher, gives instructions in English to his classmates, and sings songs—absorbing the language while having fun.
The Unique Benefits of Siblings
There are also many great things about having siblings 18 months apart at the same school.
First, drop-offs and pick-ups are done in one go. Since they go to the same school, our morning routine is simple. Seeing Hikari and Zen walk to school together gives me a sense of security.
Another benefit is that the older child naturally passes on information about school rules and teacher personalities to the younger one. I often see Hikari teaching Zen things like, “That teacher is nice,” or “You line up here for lunch.”
The younger child seems to feel less anxious about new environments because they can watch and learn from their older sibling.
What We Focus on as Parents
Because our children have such different personalities, our support as parents also needs to be tailored to each one.
For Hikari, I make sure to acknowledge her “accomplishments” with encouraging words. Since she has a perfectionist streak, I repeatedly tell her, “It’s okay to make mistakes.”
Zen is the type to jump into challenges, so I try to create “time to calm down and think” for him. He can be impulsive, so I want to help him develop the habit of taking a moment to pause.
We also make it a point not to compare the siblings. We never use phrases like, “Hikari can do it, so why can’t you?” I want to create an environment where each child can feel their own growth at their own pace.
Observing Different Growth at the Same School
Even at the same school, the expectations are different depending on the age. In Hikari’s class, they’ve started assignments that require writing simple sentences. Her English writing is still a work in progress, but I can see her improving a little every day.
In Zen’s class, the focus is on recognizing the alphabet and reading/writing simple words. He has many opportunities to naturally encounter letters through play, and he seems more interested in “speaking” than “writing.”
It’s said that the younger you are, the faster you absorb a language. In fact, Zen’s English intonation is more natural, and his pronunciation is clearer. On the other hand, Hikari has a higher concentration for learning and is more advanced in understanding grammar.
The Real Cost of Education
When sending two children to an international school, the cost is a major concern. The annual tuition for an international school in Penang is around 40,000 MYR (approximately $8,500 USD) for kindergarten and around 50,000 MYR (approximately $10,600 USD) for first grade.
At an exchange rate of 1 MYR = 40.18 JPY (as of June 2, 2026), the total for both children is about 3.6 million JPY (approximately $24,000 USD) per year. While this is not a small amount in Japanese yen, compared to private elementary schools in Japan, I feel the cost-performance is not bad, considering the English-speaking environment and international education.
Looking Ahead
Hikari and Zen will only be at the same school for a few more years. Eventually, they may choose different schools based on their aptitudes and preferences.
For now, my role is to watch them grow, supporting each other as siblings. I want to create an environment where they can develop their individual personalities without being compared to each other.
If you’re considering an education migration and are worried about whether sending siblings to an international school is too difficult, I understand. It certainly has its challenges, but there are also many benefits that come specifically from having siblings.
I hope you can make the best choice for your family’s situation.
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