My Ramblings

Choosing the perfect preschool must sound like an impossible task however it is not so difficult if you know what to keep in mind and what really matters in the long run. Read this article below by Eshok Valley Preschool to find out the main types of settings to choose from.

Looking for a preschool in Singapore can be a daunting affair with the many preschools providing different aspects of quality education. However, Julia Gabriel Preschool has shown to be one of the best in providing a head start for your child. Do check out their site above today.

Types of preschools

Preschool is a big objective in both the child’s and the parent’s life.  Most childhood experts say that going to a good preschool program aids in promoting a child’s social and emotional progress.  Studies have also shown that children who attended high-quality early education programs are more likely to have better test scores and grades, go to University, and have better-paying jobs. So how do we choose the one that is best for our child? Read more here!

In Singapore, some of the common settings found in preschools are:

• Kindergartens (usually 3-4 hours in the morning OR afternoon);

• Full-Day Childcare (child-minding only)

• Full-Day Childcare (with a preschool curriculum)

• Half-Day Childcare

• Flexi-Hours Childcare

The next thing you need to know is teaching philosophy employed by the preschool. The following article by Karen on Noodle will give you an amazing insight into what you need to know. 

At this point, you might be unsure of what preschool to send your child to. If you are serious about giving your child a headstart not just academically but also in social skills, Chiltern House Preschool is definitely the preschool to send your child to.

The common teaching philosophies

The most common type is the Traditional classroom system having a structured curriculum. The system devises specific objectives which the children have to build their goals around. Learning is through recognition of letters, numeric, various sounds and shapes e enhance problem-solving and listening skills. Hence the activities are teacher-directed which means the teacher passes down a set of instructions and sets the goals to be achieved by the child. In this children are not left so much on their own to explore. The children have to follow a dress code and have to be toilet trained by the age of 3.

The second most common type is progressive in which developmental is prioritized through keeping the teaching system child-centered. Here, the philosophy is that children need to explore and learn through imaginative play, art, and block-building. The progressive classroom is typically set up as a series of “centers” where learning can take place using open-ended materials. Read more here!

The school usually has a play area and an area for painting and a puzzle area. Teachers adapt to these environments instead of keeping expectation from the child for a certain goal. They keep checking up on kids in their own chosen engaging spaces and encourage them to go forward with their own ideas. Now that you are aware of the teaching philosophies available, you have to know about other factors affecting the running of the preschool. This article below by Vanda is sure to help you out!

Other factors to consider

First you need to know if it is government run or private. Most state owned schools do not have the freedom to design or alter their own curriculum.  The next thing is the budget. You need to see how much you can pay for the services of the day care centre, especially if you are on a small budget. The next thing you need to be worried about is the locality. Some people prefer having it near their work place, some near their home? The snacks served also impact your child’s health so they are not to be kept out of the equation either. Ask what type of snack is served to the children and how much time is allotted for naps.

Also need to be checked is whether the school is accredited and a background check is also important to know the school’s reputation. You must also look carefully at the minimum qualifications of the teachers hired, First Aid/CPR availability in case of emergencies and the environment. Determine the pervading atmosphere of the play school or day care centre as you walk around. Is it a place where children are comfortable and taken care of? Do you think it would be the best place for your child to spend his/her early days? Read more here!

Some factors are to be known through observation only. You can simply look around to see the emotions of the children currently enrolled there. Do they look happy and having a good time? Is the infrastructure good enough for your child to play around freely? Do they provide extra curriculum activities such as sports dance or music to support the creative growth of your child? And last but not the least, are the toys provided by the school promoting mental growth?

To conclude, all these multiple factors together determine the quality and suitability of a preschool for your child. Then combine them with your needs to choose the schedule for your child and voila!

If you are facing another upheaval to your family in terms of being pregnant or are currently in need of a child care centre because your extended family or employer cannot offer support, be ready for a hefty monthly cost. Singapore does offer subsidies to the costs and fees charged for a child care centre for citizens who meet specific qualifications. There are also workplaces and children-friendly corporations and businesses that offer child care to their employees.

The cost for a child care centre Singapore offers for infant care, or for children under the age of eighteen months, is extremely high compared to a child care centre for children over eighteen months. On average, a child care centre will be more cost effective for families in Singapore than hiring a nanny or a babysitter, but keep in mind, that it may cost you less for these in-home services for infant care.

A child care centre in Singapore has to offer is not a mere care centre for your children, but will teach, develop and increase your children’s social, emotional and developmental capabilities. Most nannies and babysitters throughout Singapore also are capable of educating and helping your children develop as they age, but may not be the right financial fit for your family.

Nannies and Babysitters

Hiring a nanny or a babysitter if your employer or extended family cannot offer assistance during the infant stages could save you a bundle. An infant care centre in Singapore has are extremely expensive, costing an average of $1.3k to $2k per month. Most nannies and babysitters, for all-day infant services, will charge you between $900 and $1.5k for a live-in rate.

The NTUC First Skool offers costs that are fairly competitive with other child care centre rates for full-time monthly care. NTUC child care will cost approximately $1k to $1.9k per month, but keep in mind, these are schools which teach, train and care for children over eighteen months and will supplement as your children’s preschool.

Average Child Care Centre Costs

The average child care centre costs per month are around $700 to around $800. The government will subsidise costs of child care centres in Singapore if your family meets the requirements. On average, the normal working family could save between $150 to $800 per month off their child care costs.

If you are in need of a child care centre because family or other care providers are not available, there are many options available, depending on your financial situation. Do not leave your children alone without proper care; choose the option that is right for you and your family today.

Once your child is in preschool, you want to make the learning process fun for him or her. For parents, this often means choosing the best toys that serve the double functions of entertainment and education. Boring toys will be thrown away by the child in no time, but you also don’t want to offer toys that don’t have any educational value. Here are some things to look for when you go shopping for toys for preschool children.

At ISS International Preschool, their Early years curriculum focuses on learning from the children’s surroundings, and developing relationships through structured play. Through this, children will develop creativity and confidence to express themselves. For more information, you should check out their website.

Versatility

Some toys can be used in a variety of ways. They can be stacked, arranged on a flat surface, and so on. Also, they can be used for creating different shapes or artworks. This ensures that your child is never bored with the toy. Also, they can experiment and thus learn new concepts. Usually, these toys are simple in the design but offer plenty of methods in which they can be used and arranged. This could include chalk and chalkboard or crayons, crafting clay, bricks, and blocks.

Age appropriate

Most toys today come with tags specifying the right age group of users. This makes it easier for parents to choose the best toys for their child. Do not give into the temptation of choosing toys for older children for your preschool child in the hopes this will boost their learning. Difficult toys will only make the child lose interest in the game. Also, toys for older children may involve safety issues in the hands of younger children.

Child’s preference

Some children like solitary play, others like to run around the schoolyard. So, you have to choose toys according to what your child would like. some children may love coloring books, others could be looking to shape animals from clay, and still, others could be looking for a rocking horse or similar toys. It is important to consider the child’s interests so you can encourage them to use their toys. Also, the toys should tap into an educational topic, which could range from wildlife to architecture.

Miniature sets

Sets of kitchen tools, builder tools, and so on are a hit with children. if you want to spark the joy of learning in a child, these miniature toys can help them do that. The child will get to emulate their favorite adult professionals at their job, whether they find the firefighter to be awesome, or their teacher or their paediatrician. In the process, they learn more about these professions and topics, and this could boost their thirst for learning which can last even until later in life.

Learning a skill is not always the easiest of tasks and it may take a lot of dedication from both the teacher as well as the student to make sure that they pick up what is taught to them to the best of their ability. Although it is the teacher’s job to teach them most of the time, it is also important that the teacher use teaching methods that are appropriate for the child according to their age. Teaching a preschooler using the same methods that would generally be used to teach higher level classes will not be as effective as using methods that will be appropriate for children of younger ages. This is especially true if it is a language that the child is learning. For example, in Mandarin language classes, the kids are categorized into groups according to their ages and the level of which they are in the process of learning the language. Smaller children who are just starting out with their Mandarin classes can take part in the Adult Accompanied Programmes that helps them lay the required foundation of the language. This will ultimately help the child to successfully learn the language.

The Preschool Programmes during activities for toddlers would help to introduce the basics of Chinese culture to the students. It helps them not only learn the language but also know how to recognize and respond to different types of situations that they will come across. This will aid the students taking part in these classes to be more confident in their reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills.

Finally, the School Year Programmes helps the child fulfil all the requirements of the language standards that are usually set by the Singapore Ministry of Education for primary school Mandarin Curriculum.

Though different from the traditional way of teaching, that was usually always more focused on teaching of the theory rather than helping the child practically learn the language for themselves, this method is more beneficial and can help the child to improve their skills to a great extent and also expand their knowledge that would not always be possible in the traditional methods. The knowledge that is gained in this way gets deep-rooted into the child’s mind and this is more beneficial when it comes to teaching a child a skill of any kind. As the child has been able to build a good foundation for their classes they will be more successful with higher level classes.

Visit http://www.chengzhu.edu.sg/mandarin-centre/ OR Apply now.

Enrichment classes and learning:

In developed places like Singapore, children are being sent to enrichment classes even before they can talk or walk. This is done to increase the child’s social interactions. Children tend to learn faster through social interactions and through their encounter with various external stimuli. This way they tend to acquire new skills. During early childhood, children have a very steep learning curve. They tend to pick up the skills that are foundational to their growth in the future. Now the question is whether your child can develop these skills without going to an enrichment class. Definitely parents can provide enrichment activities at home. So why is it that you should arrange for enrichment classes for toddlers?

Why are enrichment classes needed?

Here are the reasons why you should send your child to enrichment classes for kids :

Social interactions are high in these enrichment classes and children tend to learn the most through interactions. Enrichment classes for toddlers ensure that children interact with peers from a variety of background.

Another benefit of enrichment classes is that it helps in the language development of the child. There are playschools that specialise in language development for children. This way the child is exposed to different languages apart from the language that he or she is speaking in, this helps to a great extent in the long run.

It is psychologically proven that children learn the most when they are taught through play and are not under pressure. Seldom can parents arrange for activities at home where the toddler can indulge in song, dance and a messy play. For these reasons enrichment classes are needed.

Another major benefit of these playschools or enrichment classes is that in these classes through the interaction with peers and teachers, the gap in the developmental curve is identified and addressed. This helps the child to have a more holistic growth and progress.

Better prepared for preschool:

Preschool is the step before enrolling into a formal education system. Before preschool, comes the playschool stage. Playschools through their enrichment activities prepare the child for the preschool stage. Prestigious playschools look upon children more favourably who come from well-known enrichment classes. Usually preschools take children on a first come first serve basis, but there are some preschools who like to know if the child has been exposed to a secondary social group before, and being a part of enrichment class always help.

Math, along with science, is considered as one of the most difficult subjects in school. If you ask a number of students, very few would probably say that math is their favorite because a huge number of students actually hate math. The complicated, sometimes long, formulas and solutions make it difficult for students to understand the lessons. However, sometimes it would only take a proper method and a good teacher for students to comprehend and cope up with the lesson. Enrichment class for kids could also help students who are facing difficulties to clear up their doubts and questions that they dare not voice out in the classroom.

Estyn  will tell us about a science, technology, engineering and mathematics enrichment program that drives curriculum development.

A science, technology, engineering and mathematics enrichment program that drives curriculum development

Information about the school

Glan-y-Môr is an 11-16 community focused school in Burry Port with 480 pupils on roll of whom approximately 30% are eligible for free school meals. The school was formally federated with Ysgol Bryngwyn School in 2014 becoming the pioneer pilot for secondary federations in Wales. Glan-y-Môr works in strong partnership both with its primary feeders and with the local FE provider through 14-19 initiatives. The school is currently a pioneer school for professional learning.

Context and background to sector-leading practice

Glan-y-Môr introduced a STEM (science technology engineering maths) enrichment programme in September 2014, initially as an extra-curricular activity to promote transition.  Since then it has rapidly evolved as a key strategy in driving curriculum development to meet the requirements of the new curriculum for Wales. The aim of the programme was to engage and excite pupils about the career paths offered in the fields of science, technology, engineering and maths. The programme is based on the principles of active learning, raising aspirations and increasing opportunities. The school is confident that this STEM enrichment programme is already helping its pupils to develop in line with the recommendations of the Donaldson report and its 4 key principles. The strategies and lessons learned from implementing this successful STEM programme are now being applied to the main curriculum. Read more here.

Glan-y-Mor is just one of the schools that offer enrichment programs for students in different subjects. One of the goals of their program is to encourage students to take a career in the fields of science, technology, engineering and maths.

On a different topic, Esther Duflo will tell us about the new findings on children’s math learning in India which demonstrates the importance of field research for cognitive science. Let us read below.

New findings on children’s math learning in India demonstrate the importance of field research for cognitive science

Cognitive Science is a relatively new field that has made dramatic advances over the last decades: advances that shed light on our conscious and unconscious minds, bring insights into fields from neuroscience to economics, and now play no small role in the development of machines that are smart enough to take over tasks that until now, only humans could perform. 

But cognitive science has underperformed conspicuously in one domain: Its development has brought no clear breakthroughs in an area where it seemed likely to be most useful: human development and education. 

A new report in Science suggests why: Just as clinical trials are critical to enhancing human health and medicine, field experiments are critical to understanding human learning. 

New findings from a team of economists and psychologists at MIT and Harvard, working together with Pratham, a non-governmental organization that seeks to make sure that every child in India is in school and learning well, demonstrate both the feasibility and the necessity of such experiments. Read more here.

The research done has given them methods for assessing children’s knowledge. They said that the research doesn’t tell us how to create better schools, but it gives us the tools to do field experiments that can.

Moving forward, some parents send their children to enrichment classes every week and people are wondering if it is necessary. The aim of education should not just be able accumulating knowledge, but it should be equipping the next generation with necessary skills. So Nirmala Karuppiah, through her article below, will tell us if children really need enrichment classes.

Commentary: Do our young really need expensive enrichment classes?

SINGAPORE: Many parents in Singapore spend weekends sending their young children to enrichment classes.

These classes can take many forms, from early preparatory classes that introduce concepts children will eventually learn in primary school, to broad-based programmes that seek to help young children develop basic motor and social skills, to creative arts classes that encourage individual expression.

However, are expensive, structured enrichment classes really necessary for children in their early years? Would children be left behind, if they do not attend such enrichment classes?

Children are naturally creative and curious. What is more important is for parents to provide them with lots of opportunities to support both their creativity and curiosity in their early years – and this may not involve expensive, structured enrichment classes. Read more here.

Actually, the decision is up to the parents. But we could always save up without taking away the chance of learning from our children. We could actually do it on our own. We could go to the park with our children and let them explore. We could always educate them during simple activities inside and outside of home. Remember that learning doesn’t only take place in school, it can happen anywhere. Math, just like any other subjects, could be learned and enriched anywhere and anytime.

English is one of the most spoken languages around the world. It is becoming a universal language that helps people of different parts of the world communicate with each other. Even in Singapore, English is the language of the government. It is not a requirement anymore but a necessity. In this competitive world, in order to promote your business or even create new opportunities for growth for your career, one has to be proficient in English. There is no compulsion of age for learning anything including English. However, the best age is the kindergarten age. You should get your child enrolled in an English enrichment centre so that they can learn English right from the start and when they grow up, they become great English speakers. 

Benefits of English Enrichment Classes

One of the most prominent benefits of English enrichment classes for your kids is simply the fact that your child will learn to speak English and get better with their vocabulary. They will learn to express their thoughts in English and converse with ease. Moreover, since they will start speaking English from an early age, by the time they grow up, they will also develop an accent that will also help them.

Most of the schools in Singapore require the children to talk in English and if your child does not have any knowledge or concepts of English, they may not be able to study properly. It will also make them shy from speaking in the school and ask questions to the teacher. Not only will they miss out on opportunities to learn but when they grow up, they may also not get better job opportunities.

A young child will discover to carry on conversations with an enrichment as well as initiate greetings and make introductions as though it were completely natural to them. By learning proper speech they will also have the ability to react to all different types of situations, as well as handle negative criticisms more easily and conveniently. The enrichment classes will make them aware of idioms and phrases that will give a new dimension to their English speaking skills.

There are certain times when children have to participate in different debate and speaking competitions. These are not merely competitions but an opportunity to move ahead in life. If they dont possess the required level of English skills, they will not be able to participate actively in such competitions. Furthermore, they will lack confidence that is not easy to develop in the later stages of the life. English adds confidence to the personality of a child. Children who are not hesitant in speaking English are more confident and bold. Both of these traits are required to succeed in life.

These are some of the best benefits of learning English for children. Your child can only get these benefits if you taught in the English enrichment Singapore centre for them. In Singapore, there are many different English enrichment centres that are offering programmes for teaching English. You can choose anyone that you like or suits your budget. However, make sure that the curriculum is comprehensive and the teachers give attention and value to the students learning and motivate them to be open with asking questions without any hesitation.

Toddler years matter a lot because this is when a majority of the brain development occurs. He might appear to be a magnet soaking in all the information he finds and learning at a pace you cannot imagine. The age at which you start proper schooling for your child is always a matter of personal choice. Leaving the academics aside there are lots of other things that your toddler can learn as well. Enter- enrichment classes! They have gained so much popularity simply because they can help keep the toddler engaged productively. They can be fun ways to bring out the hidden talents in the tiny tots.

When it comes to enrichment classes the options are many but what exactly would suit a toddler? That now, is the big question! These are the most complicated years of development. Toddlers know so little yet they know so much! It can be quite difficult to judge what a toddler really likes doing and this is where enrichment classes can be beneficial. Here are the most popular enrichment classes that are chosen for the children below preschool age- these are the ones that suit children below 4 years:

Reading and writing classes

You get to choose these separately or together as one. These would not straight away jump to pushing your child to read large paragraphs. They start slow and they start the right way. The communication skills of toddlers are fast developing. So this would be a great age to teach them reading and writing. enrichment classes for toddlers would all be helpful on using phonics to help them read. But there are also other methods that might be adopted. Reading doesnt just nurture the ability to read. It inculcates in the children a reading habit at a young age, it improves their articulation and grammar and also influences their language skills on the whole. When it comes to writing, the enrichment classes would focus on a fun and interactive way to make the children learn to write. It can, in the long run gradually make the child a good writer as well. And writing is an important part of fine motor development that is pretty essential in the learning years.

Cooking classes

Children love being involved in the kitchen and this is a main reason why kitchen sets and other such pretend play toys are quite popular. Culinary classes for toddlers teach a lot more than just cooking. These classes can also help spark their creativity and at the end teach an important life skill for them as well.

Theater and speech

Theater classes for children below preschool years are found to help them grow and develop intellectually. These classes are known to improve the confidence levels in children. They also learn to be more expressive and learn to respect others and themselves as well. It brings them out of the shyness and makes them more open to accept their life and improves their social skills to a large extent. Drama and speech combined classes can also train your toddler in public speaking. It might help him more than you can imagine and he is never too young to learn to break free of the fear to face a crowd and deliver a performance. Skills acquired here have long term effects on children.

Dance

Toddlers are very active. Dance is a way to positively harness all their energy and channelize it in a productive way. There are also classes specific for various dance forms if you prefer any particular type for your child.

A child must be nurtured by all those that influence him. Learning through effective teaching method helps learn new ideas as well as provides overall development. The effectiveness of activities and teaching methods help make the child more comfortable and open in class. Active participation and decision making skills are also made possible.

Learning is a process of life. Every stage of life we learn new skills and concepts that help us be the best that we can. Effective teaching activities at a young age develop a love for learning. Activities that can be used for effective learning are:-

1) Alphabets and words – activities like spelling out loud, words starting with the same letter, identifying letters by pointing at them, songs related to alphabet sounds can help teach these concepts easily and a regular revision would be fun for the children.

2) Reading – looking around the classroom or on a playground, we see various sign boards and instruction manuals have words. Pointing at alphabets and 2 or 3 letter words can help the child learn easily. Colour variations are also helpful and make the reading process fun. Rhyming words are also fun as children come up with funny words that may not even be a word. This makes the classroom lively with laughter. Games regarding how to roll your tongue, and bite your lip for alphabet sounds can be fun and entertaining.

3) Numbers – counting with the help of tangible objects like buttons, beads or chocolates gets the attention of the child. Asking the children to observe the number of a car number plate, number of eggs in a carton or number of vegetables the child eats for supper are interesting ways to help the child reinforce the concept as well as put it to practice. Counting with the help of fingers is also an effective way of counting. A higher order concept in mathematics for toddlers is contrasting or separating based on groups. A child must be able to separate the spoons from the fork and count the quantity for each set of objects.

4) Forms and colors – apart from drawing shapes, children can cut shapes from magazines or art and craft books with the help of the teacher or parent. Then using those cut outs for a collage can also help improve motor skills. Baking cookies in different shapes are also a fun way to orally drill the concept. Finger painting and play dough can reinforce the concept of colors.

At http://www.chengzhu.edu.sg/mandarin-centre/adult-accompanied-programmes/playclub/, these activities help children enjoy their classes for toddlers .