Singapore is a wonderful place to raise kids, not just because of its booming economy, friendly climatic condition but also because of its educational system. You see, Singapore embraces bilingual education systems. This means that kids can learn two or more languages. If your child can learn Mandarin and English for example, he will be open to more opportunities and develop faster.

Raising bilingual kids is not the same as raising a kid who speaks one language or is learning how to speak only one single language. Learning Malay, Tamil or Chinese for kids should start at a young age. Truth be told, you are going to have to put in more work, to ensure that your child grasps both languages and becomes fluent in them.

The following article by womensweekly sheds light on 7 proven strategies for raising bilingual kids in Singapore.

7 EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES FOR RAISING BILINGUAL KIDS IN SINGAPORE

If you primarily speak English at home, it can be hard to get your kids to pick up Mandarin as a mother tongue language. There seems to be two extremes when it comes to speaking Mandarin fluently and doing reasonably well in the Chinese language at school. Read more here.

You likely now know some effective strategies for raising bilingual kids like starting early when they are young; been positive regardless of how quick they grasp the language, regular exposure to the language you want them to learn, making the process fun, having realistic expectations, and many more. To get the most out of these strategies, you first have to learn about a thing or two about language education in Singapore.

The following article by Wikipedia discusses some important things you need to know about language education in Singapore.

Language education in Singapore

Singapore embraces an English-based bilingual education system. Students are taught subject-matter curriculum with English as the medium of instruction, while the official mother tongue of each student. Read more here.

You surely now know the best approach to take if you want your kids to learn a second language in Singapore. If your kid is struggling with any of the languages you want him to learn. Let’s say Chinese, for example, you should consider enrolling him into any of the best Chinese enrichment classes in Singapore.

The following article by theasianparent unveils some of the best Chinese enrichment class in Singapore.

Best Chinese enrichment class for your child

More and more parents are sending their children for Chinese enrichment classes at an early age these days to get a headstart in Chinese language learning. Check out where the best schools are and what they have to offer to your children. Read more here.

You likely now know some of the best Chinese enrichment centers in Singapore like Tien Hsia Language School, HUA Language Centre, Berries Language Centre, Chengzhu Mandarin Centre and so on. No doubt, these centers are great and they have the tools to teach your kids how to speak Chinese, but before you enroll your kid into any of them, it is wise you visit them in person to get a picture of their learning environment, curriculum and so on.

Final note

Raising bilingual kids in Singapore is by no means an easy task. Without help, you are going to struggle and encounter countless roadblocks. Thankfully, there are effective strategies that can help your kid become fluent in both languages.

If for some reasons, your child has a hard time learning how to speak Chinese and you have tried every teaching approach you know, but aren’t getting the results you seek, then you should consider enrolling him into any of the many Chinese enrichment classes in Singapore.

Chinese is a popular language that is spoken by millions of people around the world. Teaching your kid how to speak and read it will not only open him to more opportunities but will also help him develop faster, as he will be able to memorize thousands of Chinese characters.

Teaching your kid how to speak Chinese is one thing, teaching him how to read fluently is another. As you probably know teaching Chinese for kids is a challenge for most parents. So, if you don’t use the right approach it may take a longer time to teach your child how to read and speak in the language.

The following article by Chung Tzemin sheds light on some fun but effective way to help your child learn to read Chinese.

Help your child love reading in Chinese

As parents, we do our best to not only give our children what they need, but also to make them happy. Their happiness is our happiness! Anything that stresses them stresses us out, too—including “having to” learn Chinese for kids.Read more here.

You are likely now abreast with some effective ways to help your kid learn to read Chinese. But have you ever wondered how long it will take your kid to learn all the Chinese alphabets? Unlike other languages that have a handful of alphabets, Chinese characters run into the thousands. So it is going to take your kid a while to master them.

The following article by Quora discusses some important things you need to know about the Chinese characters. It is also going to give you insight on how long it is going to take for your kid to master the most of the Chinese characters.

How long does it take for a Chinese kid to learn all of the Chinese alphabet?

And Kangxi was the 4th Qing Emperor, who ordered the compilation of an epic Chinese dictionary, which is the basis of modern Chinese. As far as I know, nobody learns Chinese by memorizing 214 radicals. You will gradually get to know all of them from reading a lot.Read more here.

You likely now know that Chinese has up to 50 thousand characters. You also now know that your child won’t be able to master them overnight. To help hasten your kid’s Chinese learning curve, you have to enroll him in a Chinese tuition class. Singapore is presently home to many of these classes.

The following article by littlestepsasia unveils some of the best mandarin classes for kids in Singapore.

Mandarin Kids’ Classes In Singapore

Nǐ hǎo! Learning Mandarin can be as easy as 1, 2, 3 for your little sponges with the right tools. Whether you’re looking for a class or app for your kids to practice their language skills or want to get your toddler interested early.Read more here.

You definitely now know some of the best Mandarin kids’ classes like Chengzhu mandarin centre, Beijing language school, Berries language centre, little Mandarins, Jiang education centre and many more. Granted, all of these centers are great. But not all of them will be able to address the unique needs of your child. To choose a good one, you have to discuss with parents whose kids are enrolled in any of these learning centers to learn if they are doing a good job.

Final note

Chinese is a tough and complicated language to learn. Teaching your kid how to speak and read it is definitely going to be a challenge, but there is hope. You see, there are a handful of effective techniques you can easily apply to help your child learn quickly and become proficient in the language.

As previously mentioned, your kids aren’t going to become a fluent Chinese speaker overnight as there are thousands of characters for him to master.

To help your kid learn quickly, you should enroll him into any of the many reputable Chinese classes in Singapore.

Schools teach children different topics form several subjects in school, mainly Math and Science. However, some other lessons such as Chinese language are also offered. In Singapore, schools use different languages in their curriculum. Some are all-English, all-Mandarin, and some are bilingual. However, sometimes parents still enrol their children to enrichment classes in order for their children to have a better grasp of a certain language, but today we are going to focus on the Chinese language. For enrichment classes for children of all ages, from 6 months to 12 years, you can go to Chinese enrichment classes at Chengzhu. 

There are many programmes, from a Mandarin kindergarten to holiday programmes. If you are serious about your child mastering the Chinese language you should definitely check them out.  Now, let us first see some of the best tuition and enrichment centres in Singapore for every age.  Sassy Mama will tell us about it.

Best Tuition and Enrichment Centres in Singapore for Every Age

We’ve rounded up the best tuition and enrichment centres in Singapore to foster a love of learning in your little ones! Did you know tuition is a billion dollar industry in Singapore, mama?! Blame it on kiasu parenting, blame it on an unrelenting academic culture, or blame it on an unparalleled commitment to learning and academic excellence — whatever the reason, there are now more than 600 tuition centres registered with the Ministry of Education — and that doesn’t even include small-scale home tutors. “Tuition” and “Enrichment” can mean very different things to different people. Perhaps your child is struggling in a particular subject and needs help keeping up. Perhaps you want to make sure your little one is well-prepared for the rigors of primary school. Or perhaps you just want your tiny tot to find learning fun and enjoyable — believe it or not there are plenty of programs out there for toddlers (and even babies) that focus mostly on singing, dancing, arts and creative expression rather than rote learning. Read more here If we are trying to look for the best tuition and enrichment centre for our children in Singapore, we have already provided some above for you to choose from. Their location and official websites are already provided for your convenience. Now, let us talk about 10 ways your kids can love Chinese by the Contributors of Singapore Motherhood. 10 Ways your Kids can Love Chinese Learning Chinese does not have to be dry or difficult. The literacy experts at KidStartNow, a Chinese enrichment school, share 10 ways to help your kids start loving Chinese.

Be patient and encouraging

The first and most important tip: realising that getting comfortable with Chinese takes time, especially if your kid currently lacks confidence in Chinese. The process of helping your kid love learning Chinese will takes months, not weeks. So when your child refuses to read a Chinese book or speak Mandarin at the start, do not worry or express displeasure as this is normal. Instead, praise your kid for baby steps (e.g. saying a word in Chinese) and encourage him or her to keep on trying.

Read Chinese books with your kids

Reading helps kids develop a love for languages and is an important step to helping them become effectively bilingual and confident Mandarin speakers. Select wholesome and age appropriate books – good quality picture books help pique interest in younger kids, while a strong plot will keep older kids enthralled.  Read more here. Being patient is really important. We all know that learning a language is difficult that is why we should encourage and help them instead of being impatient.

When your children reach primary education, a different approach will be used in teaching the Chinese language. School Bag will tell us about it and will also give us tips on how parents could support their children.

How Parents Can Support Their Children In The Learning of Chinese Language in Primary Schools

In primary school, your child will be taught the four basic skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. In addition, there will be an emphasis on spoken and written interaction skills. A differentiated approach has been adopted in primary schools to cater to the needs of children with varying language abilities. Interesting instructional materials and activities are used to engage your child in the learning of the Chinese Language. As a parent, you can help your child by adopting a positive attitude towards learning Chinese Language and providing a conducive home environment to use the language. Here are some tips on how you can support your child’s learning:

Interact with your child in Mandarin and encourage the child to verbalise his/her thoughts in Chinese Language. Be nurturing and provide support and encouragement along the way. This will boost your child’s confidence in using the language. Read more here.

One of the tips provided above is to interact with your children using the Chinese language and letting them speak their mind using the Chinese language as well. In this manner, learning would be easier and mastering would be faster. Choosing the best enrichment class would also be a big help because a big part of their learning happens in school. Parents should be prepared and involved throughout the learning of their children.  

Located in Singapore, the Chengzhu Mandarin Centre was founded in 2012. With a holistic approach, education & parenting work together to bring out the individual potential of each child. The toddler enrichment class in Singapore are based on the Julia Gabriel methodology of teaching. The teaching philosophy is dramatically different than traditional education where students may spend a good portion of their time being passive listeners. Then they receive assignments to take home and complete alone. The Julia Gabriel methodology believes in making learning fun and interactive. Lessons are taught with the use of puppets, song, role playing, drama, music and more.

The Chengzhu Mandarin Centre has taken this philosophy and adapted it to their Chinese enrichment classes and programmes that emphasize the appreciation and knowledge of the Chinese culture and its Mandarin language. Singapore is a very unique island state. On the United Nations Human Development Index the nation ranks eleventh in the world.

Multiculturalism is one of its core principles, as evidenced by the fact that Singapore has four official languages, Mandarin, English, Malay and Tamil. While the Chinese residents appreciate the diversity, Chinese parents want to ensure that future generations can speak Mandarin fluently and have comprehensive knowledge of Chinese culture and traditions. These parents are thrilled to discover the Chengzhu Mandarin Centre.

There are two programs for young children that are adult/parent accompanied sessions. The first programme, Play Nest, is for ages six months to eighteen months. Knowing that language develops in young minds long before they can actually speak, the sessions focus on language stimulation with interactive fun with parents, teachers and the children. The benefits of this early introduction to Mandarin and cognitive learning are seen when these little ones move up to the next level, Play Club, for ages eighteen months to three and a half years.

At the Play Nest level, students begin to learn key words and phrases. Music is used to emphasize the natural rhythm of Mandarin. All the lessons are presented using arts, crafts, music and most importantly, fun. The children know they are having fun. In this nurturing environment, learning happens organically. Parents taking part in the sessions teaches the children as well as the parents. They learn a lighthearted, effective method of communicating with their children.

When these young students go home, the parents are capable of reinforcing the lessons learned at the Centre. The sessions take place twice a week and last for 90 minutes to two hours. In Singapore, all curriculum in the schools is based on English. The programmes at the Centre will enable these students to be truly bilingual and fluent in English and Mandarin.

Learning a second language could be quite difficult for some students. Learning could be fun, but students wouldn’t feel it if teacher won’t do something different to make the children enjoy. If the teacher only does pure talking without extra activities that could keep the child in focus, then learning would be difficult and boring for the student. However, there are a lot of ways of keeping the children engaged and making them enjoy while learning another language.

At Chengzhu Chinese enrichment classes are available for children of all ages, from 6 months to 12 years. There are many programmes, from a Mandarin kindergarten to holiday programmes. If you are serious about your child mastering the Chinese language you should check them out.

Chinese language lessons are one of the things that could be offered in enrichment classes. Open Schoolbag will tell us about six enrichment centres focused on the Chinese language for Singapore kids.

6 Enrichment Centres for Singapore Kids focused on Chinese Language

We remember that besides enrichment classes for English Language which we previously introduced under 6 Enrichment Centres for Singapore Kids focused on English Language, there are also enrichment classes specially meant for the Chinese Language. Likewise, we have done a scan and highlight interesting things about the programmes. Oh yes, the most interesting discovery is that not all Chinese language enrichment centres have a Chinese name! Here, we present you with a few to get you started on the array of choices available!

Chengzhu Mandarin Centre 成竹华语中心

Located at Rochester Mall, the centre for Chinese Language belongs to Julia Gabriel Education. Chengzhu covers a range of programmes all the way from 6-month olds! Focusing on the Chinese culture, the programmes feature activities like Chinese Orchestra, paper cutting and traditional Chinese dances.Read more here.

Six enrichment centres are mentioned above including their location and what we could look forward to about them. It is amazing to know that each enrichment centres have their own creative way of teaching just like Apple Pie who lets their students learn Chinese through theatre roleplaying. In relation to that, Linda Mandarin will tell us about tips on having fun while learning Mandarin.

Tips On Having Fun While Learning Mandarin Chinese

Learning Chinese in Singapore can bring lots of fun to you! Whatever your learning style is – reading, listening or talking, there is a lot of learning options for you to choose from. With the Chinese characters, tones and pronunciations, people often think that learning Chinese is something so hard that they do not even want to attempt to learn it. However, this article is here to tell you that learning Mandarin can be interesting and very rewarding in more ways than one.

Mandarin Chinese is a language where you will always be learning. Anything is possible, follow your heart and achieve your dreams! What’s more, the Singapore government is actively encouraging Singaporeans to brush up their Mandarin skills. Did you know that you can learn Mandarin with your SkillsFuture credits at a subsidised rate? Make use of all these amazing resources given to you and pick up some skills today! Read more here.

According to what was mentioned above, we should learn Mandarin with friends, watch movies in Mandarin, eat out in Chinese style, and we should be abundant with learning materials. In addition, Selina Altomonte will tell us about Chinese language lessons for kids using the power of play.

Little Mandarins Singapore: Chinese language lessons for kids using the power of play

Ten years ago Ying Ying Miller was looking for a holistic, engaging way for her child to learn Mandarin in Singapore and took things into her own hands by launching her own school, Little Mandarins. Now well known for its positive teaching approach and beautiful setting where kids can get out in nature while they learn, Ying Ying is proud to have led the way by doing things differently.

Please tell us a little bit about yourself…

I am a Malaysian-born Chinese, married to an Englishman. My parents insisted we all learn Mandarin from a young age. Apart from English, Malay, Cantonese and Mandarin, I’ve

dabbled in Czech, Thai and now French. My husband’s work has brought us to live in many cities, including Lausanne, Prague, London, Bangkok, Manila and here in Singapore! Read more here.

Children love to play and it would be a good way in order to encourage them to have Chinese language lessons

They enjoy playing and they will surely enjoy learning Mandarin if we incorporate it with play. We should consider their nature in order to be successful in educating them. If we apply all the tips mentioned above, then it will surely be easier for you to teach and for them to learn. It is also important that we choose the right enrichment centre that could do the best teaching for them.

English is a global language and its significance cannot be denied. Being a parent, you have to make sure that your child learns the language that can open endless opportunities for them in the future and if your child is not aware of English language, there are chances that your child may not be able to compete in the highly competitive job market in the future.

In Singapore, there are many different English enrichment centres. However, you have to choose the one that offers maximum benefit to your child. Following are some things that you need to consider in an enrichment centre in Singapore in order to make sure that you are giving the right direction to your child.

Established and Trusted

As mentioned earlier, there are many different English enrichment centres in Singapore but not all of them are trusted and established enough. You have to choose the one that is trusted by most of the heads of English Language departments and have been serving for quite a long time. These are the institutes that can ignite the love for English in children.

Qualified Educators

There should be no compromise on the professional backgrounds of the teachers at the centre. You should ascertain the qualifications of the teachers at the English enrichment centre to make sure that your child learns English the right way.

Student to Teacher Ratio

In an enrichment centre, there are many kids learning at the same time at the same place. You should make a visit to the centre to get a glimpse of the student to teacher ratio. The lowest the ratio, the more personalised the instruction. There should be small classes with a maximum of 10 students in each class so that the teacher could pay attention to all the students equally. It will also allow your child to ask questions without any hesitation.

Comprehensive Curriculum

You should know if the programmes being taught in the English enrichment centre are aligned with the syllabus prescribed by the authorities. MOEs syllabus is very comprehensive and is quite common among local kindergartens and even primary schools. You should make sure that the curriculum is up to date and it is taught in an interactive way so that your child learns it the right way by taking a deep interest in the language.

Fun Activities

You are not sending your child to an English enrichment centre to punish them or make their life miserable but to make them learn a language that is going to benefit them when they grow up. You should know that there are certain fun activities available that are aligned with the curriculum. This will not make your child get bored of the learning process but they will actually enjoy it.

Focused Approach

The teaching approach of the teachers should be focused and dedicated. They should be welcoming to all the questions and help the child on an individual level to make sure that there is no ambiguity left in the childs concepts of the language. Step by step teaching should be the main concern of the teachers and that will make the child learn quickly and improve their language skills as well.

These are some things that you should know in order to choose the right English enrichment centre . Other than these, the premises should be clean and with a friendly environment.

It is never an easy job being good at something when someone new comes along with a proven record of accomplishment and magic to boot. If you are looking for holistic Singapore Kindergarten education for your child, do consider Chiltern House.

They have engaging activities to grow your child, and have good facilities to support your child. Do visit their website above.  For a teacher there are three simple rules to being the best – here they are. Availability From a student’s point of view, a teacher who is always available is someone who they can relate to, rather than someone who is around for a while and disappears.

At the kindergarten school, children have certain expectations from an educator – like a person who will never leave, someone who understands her/him and so on and so forth. In a simple manner, a teacher who makes the time to create an interesting class for her/his students will always be expected to be available. The reason is that the teacher will be sought after, always.

Knowledge Base An educator with detailed information about the subject is the person that children will need to be in touch with, should their grades falter. Methodology matters for teachers who would like to impart skills to their students. In the early years, rudimentary lessons are of prime importance for a child to understand, recall and retain. This will go on with her/him later on; hence, it is of utmost relevance for an educator to provide a good groundwork for the class that will better their skills and knowledge base in the later years.

Having read until this point, we hope that you have realised that kindergarten is not a trivial period for your child, and you should pay utmost attention to the quality of kindergarten you intend to send him/her to. Check out Chiltern House today to find out more about Chiltern House’s activities. Understanding Kids always respond to a kind voice. A teacher who has a voice that is stern will be quite a scary person for a child. On the other hand, a teacher who is soft and has a kindly manner will be relatable as there is no fear.

The idea of being understanding is not to permit kids to throw tantrums. The idea is to stop them from doing so with a firm tone but understanding the reasons why the child is acting up. Given the fact that perps are everywhere, it is quite necessary for the teacher to be vigilant and ascertain why the child may be moving away from her/his normal way.

A Good Teacher – Summary Being a good teacher requires a good educational background in the domain of teaching. Aside from this are the three points mentioned above – understanding, availability and knowledge base. A good teacher will have these three rules covered in their personal pedagogy. Once they get it right, which can take time, especially with young students, they will make their way to becoming the best teacher.

Over the past few decades, there has been a shift in having kids. Earlier men and women married when they were in their 20’s but through the years, the yearning to start a family has shifted gears. Some assume that kids born to older women face health problems but that may be hearsay. Nevertheless, it is wise to note that while these statistics may be out there, some proven and some not, empowering a child with the right dosage of education helps in brain development. Enroll your child into Chiltern House Child Care Centre.

Mathematics
Numbers and calculations are not everyone’s cup of tea, but whether parents and children like it or not, children have to learn to calculate. At childcare institutes like Chiltern house, kids learn the rudiments that start from counting numbers. Once they have digested this, they learn the art of subtraction, addition, multiplication, and division. The methodology is easy early on so that learning does not cause the child to resent the subject but develop a thirst for the number game.

Science
Teaching kids the basics like flora and fauna helps them understand the differences between the two and man as a greater being. Along the journey into the science stream of early learning, they learn about the differences in climate, the environment, the sun, stars, and galaxies. While this may get confusing to them, props help, highlight the information much better, primarily since kids always respond well to visual stimuli.

Communication
The key to getting by in life is based on the communicative skills of the individual. In the early years, the necessity to learn a language plays a vital role. The teacher instills a deep sense of learning through the letters of the alphabet. Once children learn, understand and digest the letters, the next step is making words, forming sentences and getting the tone and phonetics on point. In multilingual schools children as also taught in another language aside from the home language. It makes it easier to communicate with their peers in either of the two languages.

Play Time
The old tale of all work and no play, do make kids lose attention and cause their brains to freeze which results in boredom and even acting out. Playtime is time allotted in the syllabus where children get to run around with their classmates in the field. Sports are encouraged right from athletics, playing hockey, football, playing on the swing, swimming, just throwing the ball to each other and generally enjoying time away from persistent information. As they challenge themselves and each other, they learn to share and to build up a rapport while they make friends. The cutest part in any childcare center in singapore is seeing kids make friends and giggle with each other!

Extra Curricular Activities
There is a firm belief that children have unseen talents that come to the fore at the most inopportune times. The theatrical bent is innate with most kids, as they know how to bend a situation to benefit them. Using drama in this context helps children in the early years to work on their acting skills and hone their talent. Plenty of kids prefer arts and creating something from scratch. That is where painting with watercolors, sketching with a pencil or using clay to create something unique comes into focus. The idea is to keep the mind going full steam ahead as children use various props available to them that invariably improves in the development of the brain.

An Analysis
Innumerable methods are available today that help kids reach their greatest potential. A child who may not have the skills to be great in science may be great at poetry. The idea is never to ridicule kids, ever, especially in the early years, it impairs their ability to think, work and improvise.

The trend of sending children to daycare is increasing more than ever. Taking care of the toddlers becomes very difficult when parents have to go to work. The policies of most of the workplaces also do not allow for women to take long leaves. While all these factors force parents in sending their kid to preschool, they can tend to be reluctant. However, there are several reasons as to why you can actually send them to daycare without worrying at all.

There are many preschools in Singapore like Chiltern House. So how do you choose one that is the best for your child? You should look at curriculum, quality of teachers and most importantly, the general ‘feel’ of the centre which you should get for yourself by going down to the centre. Check out one such preschool, Chiltern House here today.

The following article by UNICEF Philippines talks about the benefits of daycare.

Benefits of Pre-school for children

The brain develops at its most rapid pace in the first few years of life. Young children’s brains develop rapidly, with neurons forming at 700 to 1,000 new connections per second. These connections help develop a child’s physical and mental health. Read More Here!

Essentially, early exposure and stimulation can kick-start development among children. It is important to play and talk to the kids and encourage them to learn numbers, alphabets and shapes. Pre-school has all the necessary amenities and trained staff that can help children in learning as opposed to teaching them at home. Moreover, the quality of primary education also decides the kid’s performance in school. This is why you should ensure that the place you are sending your kids to is credible. Kids who go to preschool have high numeracy and literacy skills. They can easily gel up with fellow students and interact well. Sending your child to preschool will improve their social skills, set the right foundation for long-term learning, and helps them in all rounded development. The following article compares pre-school vs. preschool.

Pre-school vs. preschool

Most children begin school at the start of the school year in which they turn five, so when your child is three you may begin researching local primary schools and making your application. Many primary schools also offer pre-school education for children aged 3-4 years, and may suggest you move your child there before you make your school application. But is this right for your child? Let’s explore your options. Read more here!

The module of learning at the primary schools is far different than that in preschool. Preschools are more focused on individual needs of the kid. The staff gauges the interest of the child and then decides how to go about teaching them. However, pre-school has a set pattern that is followed for all students alike. The kid is less likely to make the most of pre-school as it is not based on their specific interests. Preschools have a wider time span for which you can send your kids. However, pre-schools have shorter duration post which you must pick them up. Thus, preschool is a better option if you believe in natural and effortless learning. Moreover, each kid is paired with the mentor of their choosing who the point of contact is for you. The below article by May Bulman at independent.co.uk explains why children are better off at preschools than at home.

Why are children better off at preschool than home?

The study, by researchers at the London school of Economics and Oxford University, found children aged between two and three tended to be more stimulated at preschool due to the interaction with new children and adults, which helped their development. Read More Here!

Even the researches have shown that sending kids to preschool helps in developing the essential skills. It is always a good idea to send them to preschool instead of keeping them at home. The initial years are very crucial to the development of a child and it is important that you expose your children to all activities like playing and the like. Some researchers suggest that sending your kids to the playschool can make them more aggressive as they grow up. However, it is not essentially applicable to everyone. Kids who are exposed to a caring environment while growing up usually turn out just fine. You simply have to find the right type of preschool for your little one. Ensure that the staff is well trained and your kid is all set to go.

Thus, it is always best to send your child to the preschool rather than keeping him/her at home. The initial years are crucial for overall development of the child. The kids are indeed better off at preschool as they get trained by experts. It affects their overall ability to learn new things and helps them in future.

Being a parent, we want the best for our children. We work hard to provide them with all the best things that we feel are essential for their better growth. However, in doing so, we unintentionally neglect them and focus more on earning money and finding the right services for them. In order to provide the child with the due care that they need and still providing them the services and things that they need for their development – a superb child care centre in Singapore is a must.

It is widely believed that sending a child to a child care center, day care or a preschool or hiring help takes away the love and care that the child deserves. However, it is not the reality. The child, in fact, gets more love of the parents as well as other people that make them feel loved and important to so many people around them. Moreover, they learn on how to read and write and get the solid foundation that helps them in the later stages of their educational career as well.

Benefits of Child Care

Some of the best benefits of child care are:

Social Development In a child care center, your child gets a chance to interact with other children of the same age group that helps them develop social and interpersonal skills. Not only do they play together, but learn together as well. The child learns how to share with others, greet others and learn some other traits as well that is not possible to learn at home.

The sense of Independence When your child spends some time in a child care center, they get to learn how to stay independent and do their normal course of work on their own. Of course, they are continuously being watched by the teachers and other staff but the feeling of staying away from the parents really help them generate some self-confidence.

Learning The basic idea of child care centre is to make the children learn from the teachers all the time even during the play session. This enhances their learning skills and they also utilize their creativity in the activities that are performed in a child care center.

Child Care in Singapore: The Costs

Childcare is one of the best options available to you where your child gets tons of benefits other than care and attention. In Singapore, there are following types of child care options available to you.

Preschool or Child Care centre

You can opt for either full-day or a half-day childcare program. Based on your chosen program and the age of your child, the average cost is around SGD 1.5K per month.

Babysitters

You can easily find babysitters or nannies in Singapore. The cost of these differs based on their experience and another factor. However, the starting price is around SGD 1.7K per month, quite higher than a preschool.

Based on the above costs, it is obvious that a preschool or a child care center is the most cost-effective option. Not only is it a cost effective option but there are other benefits as well. If you hire a nanny or a babysitter, the child does not get the opportunity to play with other children and interact with them and that is one of the best aspects of child care center that outshines babysitters or nannies.

It is wise to choose a childcare centre in Singapore . It is not about the cost but the better growth and development of your child.

Singapore has 4 languages used in the country. However, English is the most important one. It is the language used all around the world. It is also the official language of Singapore government and offices. Schools use English as a medium of teaching as well. It is essential for you and your kids to learn the language for ease of communication and quality education.

English enrichment in Singapore is not a difficult job. You can find many schools and institutions that offer it. However, some factors are important to be considered when looking for English enrichment in Singapore. It is best to let your toddlers begin at a young age since that is the age when children learn the quickest. If English is not the first language spoken at home, English enrichment centers will play a vital ro

1. Interactive

Any learning process becomes easier if its interactive and fun. Children learn best when they are interested. Research the chosen English enrichment in Singapore to make sure that they offer fun learning activities. It is a new language for the kids therefore it is very important to use methods that will ensure that the accurate meanings of new words are remembered by the children. Reading, writing and comprehension activities can help with the language fluency. But other interactive activities are important for a long lasting and effective teaching method.

2. Committed

Do not choose an option that is near your home or for some other benefit unless you are sure that the place is specially focused for English enrichments for Singapore toddlers. A focused and committed institute will be willing to change their teaching plans according to different children. This will make sure the proper learning of the new language. Commitment is important on both sides of the party. Also make sure the teacher to student ratio is small. Fewer the student, more the attention to individual students. Lower number of students also allows the margin to personalize teaching methods according to student requirements.

3. Established

Experience is vital for any field. Dont experiment with a new foundation. People in a well established English enrichment course will have proper qualifications, they will know different methods for efficient learning and hence, it will be a trustworthy option. A good enough place will not just teach your children, but the love for learning a new language will be ignited. This will guarantee that the children learn with confidence and interest. They wont feel forced to be in a room full of words alien to them. An established institute will have the ability to develop interest instead of intimidating your child.

4. Qualified

You can not trust someone to teach a language if they are not fluent themselves. For a good English teacher, it is important that they have qualification in the language as well as experience with teaching. A past where they have worked in an environment where the English language use was necessary is the kind of experience an English enrichment teacher must have. Other than Bachelors or Masters in English, if the person has studied in a country where English was the first language, that could also mean they can be trusted to be capable of teaching.

5. Curriculum

What exactly will be enrolled in enrichment classes in Singapore ? Will they teach enough to allow fluent everyday conversations, or enough to allow reading at the preschool level? Get answers for your questions. The curriculum of the center should follow the MEO syllabus guidelines.

Research your options before you take any decisions. It is a big step in your childs learning process. Consider all important points before taking the last step.

As parents, we would want our children to have the best. We would do everything we can just so we could send them to school for them to have a good and proper education. They learn several things in school like alphabets, counting, drawing, reading, and such. However, there are other important things that our children can learn in school and it is performing arts. One platform for children to hone their speech and drama skills is at learning center such as Julia Gabriel. The benefits of performing arts such as drama would be our focus in this article.

To start, Washington Christian Academy will first share to us five great ways performing arts can benefit your child.

5 Great Ways Performing Arts Can Benefit Your Child

If your child has a busy academic schedule, enrolling them in performing arts may seem to come down the bottom of the priority list.

But there are many reasons why performing arts should play a key role your child’s education, be it in school or as an extra curricular activity. In many studies, researchers are now linking involvement in the arts to better child development and higher student achievement.

HIGHER ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

Studies such as this report from the Arts Education Partnership suggest schoolchildren exposed to drama, music and dance are more proficient in reading, writing and math. In countries with the highest rankings in math and science, such as Japan, Hungary and the Netherlands, arts and music education form a mandatory part of the school curriculum. Children also learn to take instruction from adults and respect authority. Read more here.

According to the article, performing arts can make your children build up confidence and self-presentation. Exposing your children to early activities which involve performing arts can really boost their confidence as they will be interacting with people a lot. Now, let us proceed to discussing the benefits of dramatic play. Let us read about it in Sarah Punkoney’s article below.

THE INCREDIBLE BENEFITS OF DRAMATIC PLAY

WHAT IS DRAMATIC PLAY?

Dramatic play is s a type of play where children assign and accept roles and act them out. It’s pretending to be someone or something else. Someone different and new like a supervillain, or someone well known and familiar like mom. Sometimes children take on real-world roles, other times they take on fantasy roles. Either way, it is play that involves breaking down the barriers of reality and results in serious and natural learning.

EXAMPLES OF DRAMATIC PLAY

• a child who pretends to feed and rock a doll to sleep
• a child who pretends to fix a leaky faucet in the play kitchen
• a child who pretends to be Spot the dog and plays fetch
• a child who stirs counting bears in a bowl to make bear soup Read more here.

So given above is a whole lot of information about dramatic play. We have the definition of dramatic play, some examples, its types, the benefits it can give, and how you could encourage dramatic play. For more reasons on why drama is good for children, let us also read Lucy’s article below.

Why is drama good for children?

As Principal of a drama school, I’m asked this question a lot. And I could write a book on the many reasons why drama is so excellent – not just good ? for children. But for this blog post, I’ll focus on just one benefit; and that’s the improvement drama can make to a child’s oral communication.

At school, there’s an emphasis on children learning to read and write and rightly so, as these are fundamental skills. But where’s the interest in how well a child is communicating and how clearly and confidently they are speaking? If you consider how much we communicate orally, interacting with friends, family, colleagues and strangers, then it seems odd that more emphasis isn’t put on this in schools. Read more here.

That one benefit discussed above is that drama can help improve children’s communication skills. It will teach them how to speak clearly and loudly. It will also train them on having proper eye contact with the audience while speaking in front of people. These simple things are important and it will be good for children to learn them early as it will be useful for them in their future schooling and careers as well.

Parents in Singapore can opt to homeschool their kids or enrol them in a kindergarten for children. At least 98% of Singaporean parents take their kids to kindergarten. Joining kindergarten is the first step children take away from the security of their home and venture into the world. Kindergarten is also the beginning of a child’s educational journey. 

For most parents, the question is not whether to enrol their child in kindergarten, but which kindergarten is most suitable. Singapore has several private kindergartens for children, and parents are often overwhelmed when it comes to choosing one. After all, this is the first time the child will spend hours away from home, and they want to be sure that their kids will be in safe and caring hands. 

If you have a child ready for kindergarten, you can make the selection process easier by looking at what the various kindergartens have to offer. 

Learn more about private kindergartens for children here: https://brainfit.com.sg/brainfit-kindie/

Is the curriculum holistic and age-appropriate?

This is one of the most crucial things to look at when seeking a kindergarten for children. A good private kindergarten Singapore should help a child grow into a well-rounded individual. The best way to know if your child will develop holistically is by looking at the curriculum and seeing what impact it is likely to have on your child. 

Some of the areas you need to consider include your child’s social and psychological development, creative expression, numeracy knowledge, language development, literacy, and development of motor skills. Preschoolers tend to have an active imagination and are curious about the world. How does the school curriculum cater to the growing need for discovery in your child? The kindergarten’s teaching style should also be age-appropriate. 

How much does the kindergarten charge to train and educate your child? 

Private kindergartens in Singapore have different fees. The cost varies significantly, with some fees being quite affordable, and others prohibitive, depending on your budget. This is critical because if you choose a kindergarten you can barely afford, you will have a difficult time raising the fees and this will have a toll on you. In the end, you will end up frustrated and miss out on the positive changes in your child.

You should instead pick an affordable kindergarten. Granted, the cost of education and care is not the only priority, but it is an important one. It would help if you also appreciated that there are no guarantees that the most expensive kindergarten is the best one for your child. Sometimes, the price difference could be linked to the brand and location, and not necessarily to the quality of care and education that your child receives. 

A kindergarten should enhance a child’s personality.

Your child’s personality is his unique trait and can be great at helping you choose a kindergarten for him or her. Some children enjoy playing a lot, so you can opt to send your preschooler to a kindergarten that uses the play-based curriculum to impart knowledge on the little ones. All preschoolers are curious by nature, whether the child is outgoing or reserved. If you are concerned about your reserved preschooler fitting in, you can opt for a small kindergarten that will help him socialize without the process being too overwhelming. 

You should take the time to find the perfect kindergarten for your child. The various kindergartens have their strong and weak points. However, you can find a balance when you choose one based on your child’s strengths. 

For years, kindergartens in Singapore were only run by the private sector. However, in 2014, the first five kindergarten’s under the Ministry of Education opened its doors to kindergarteners.

An initiative by the Ministry of Education (MOE), the first five MOE Kindergartens in Singapore (MK) started operations in January 2014. There are currently 18 MOE Kindergarten branches islandwide and this number is expected to increase to 50 by 2023. MOE Kindergartens have garnered attention as it is an initiative launched by MOE, and the priority that its students receive during the primary school registration scheme.

If you are considering between enrolling your child to an MOE Kindergarten and a private kindergarten or preschool, here are some factors that outline how the two options differ.

Affiliation to Primary Schools

One advantage of enrolling your child in an MOE Kindergarten is that they receive priority under Phase 2A2 in the Primary School registration exercise for the school that the kindergarten shares its premises with.

This means that MOE Kindergarten students will be registering in the same category as children whose parents or siblings have studied in the same school. Children whose parents are staff members – instead of joining the later phases where registration is based on distance of their home to the school.

Preschoolers in private preschools and kindergartens do not currently enjoy such privileges for admission to primary schools.

Location

Currently, you can find majority of MOE Kindergartens within the area of selected primary schools. Those that are not will progressively be shifted to nearby primary schools. This is to facilitate a smoother transition to primary school for preschoolers. However, some travelling may be needed as most primary schools are nestled deep within residential estates.

You can often find private preschools like MindChamps PreSchool in prime locations around Singapore. These locations may include shopping malls, business parks or within walking distance of MRT stations. Enrolling your child in a centre near your home or workplace makes drop-offs and pick-ups more convenient.

Academic Calendar for kindergartens in Singapore

MOE Kindergarten in Singapore offers a four-hour programme in two sessions: morning (8am to 12pm) and afternoon (1pm to 5pm). You may choose to enrol your child in either session.

The kindergartens follow MOE’s calendar for school terms. This means that there will be four major vacation periods that add up to about three months. This is not in addition to other scheduled school holidays and rest days on Mondays when a Public Holiday falls on a Sunday.

Private preschools operate year-long and offer full-day (7am to 7pm) as well as half-day (7am to 1pm) programmes. On average, there are seven centre closure days which include three half-days on the eve of major festivals.

Fees and Subsidies

MOE Kindergarten charges $160 for Singapore Citizen children and $320 for Permanent Resident children. Families with a gross household income of less than $6,000 can apply for the Kindergarten Fee Assistance Scheme (KiFAS). For MOE Kindergarten fees are payable during school holidays.

According to the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA), the average fee for full-day childcare programmes in private preschools starts from $1,087 and can be as affordable as $720 before subsidies (Anchor Operators) to as high as more than $2,500 per month.

As a reference, MindChamps PreSchool charges $1,885 for a full-day programme that includes meals, naps and showers. There are no additional fees for enrichment programmes as it is already included in the monthly fee.

The fees are before the Basic Subsidy of $300 and Additional Subsidy in which families with gross household incomes less than $7,500 are eligible to apply.

Teacher-Child Ratio

MOE Kindergarten adheres to the stipulated Teacher-Child ratio set by ECDA, which is 1:20 for Kindergarten 1 and 1:25 for Kindergarten 2.

In comparison, MindChamps PreSchool has a small ratio of 1:11 for Kindergarten 1 and 1:12 for Kindergarten 2. Kindergartens in Singapore with a smaller ratio can provide more individualised attention and care.

Quality of Kindergarten Teachers in Singapore

Before teaching at MOE Kindergartens, potential teachers undergo an eight-month-long MOE Kindergarten Teacher Training Programme that includes practicum and on-the-job training.

Teachers in private preschools are required to possess diplomas or degrees in Early Childhood Education. All teachers in private preschools have Child First Aid certifications. Certain private preschools have specially designed in-house teacher training programmes. For example, MindChamps PreSchool teachers undergo up to 200 hours of proprietary training and education, regardless of previous experience or qualification.

Curriculum

MOE Kindergarten incorporates two core programmes in its curriculum. The HI-Light Programme supports the holistic development of children in six learning areas – Aesthetics and Creative Expression, Discovery of the World, Language and Literacy, Motor Skills Development, Numeracy and Social and Emotional Development.

The Starlight Literacy Programme aims to nurture early childhood bilingualism and offers English along with three Mother Tongue Languages, Chinese, Malay and Tamil. Preschoolers build their language and literacy skills through games, activities and reading out loud in front of peers.

Good private kindergarten for children to devise their own curriculum. MindChamps PreSchool bases its research-backed curriculum on the S.M.I.L.E.S.™ environment. The unique curriculum is the result of over a decade of research and development in psychology, neuroscience, education and theatre. Inspired by the bamboo plant and its strong foundation of roots and tendrils, there are 10 key roots which are learning and developmental strategies aimed at nurturing intellectual and social growth.

MindChamps PreSchool prepares children for the future and equips them with the skills, flexibility and mindset to thrive in a rapidly changing environment fraught with uncertainties.

Enrichment Programmes

MOE Kindergarten does not provide additional enrichment programmes during its four-hour programme.

Private preschools in Singapore offer enrichment programmes in its curriculum for children in the playgroup, nursery and kindergarten levels. At MindChamps PreSchool, the enrichment programmes available include Creativity & Theatrical Strategies™, Gourmet Moments™, NeuroMooves™ and Music for the Mind™ – which are offered at no extra cost.

Application

Applications to MOE Kindergarten in Singapore are conducted once a year for children who will be attending Kindergarten 1 the next year. Parents can register online over a specific four-day period, and in person at the schools on a stipulated date.

Only Singapore Citizens (SC) and Singapore Permanent Residents (SPR) may apply for a slot in MOE Kindergartens. Applicants will receive the outcome of their application via post. As MOE Kindergarten follows the MOE school calendar, it begins lessons in January.

Private preschools do not typically have restrictions on nationalities and registration can be done at any time, depending on vacancy. After successful enrolment the child will join the class either at the start or middle of the month.

Open Houses

Open houses are a great way to speak to the educators and view the facilities of the preschool before deciding whether to enrol your child. During open houses, you can clarify your doubts on any aspect of the programme.

MOE Kindergarten conducts Open Houses at the start of the year before accepting registrations.

On the other hand, MindChamps PreSchool holds month-long Welcome Days three times a year. By appointment only, these Welcome Days showcase the preschool’s state of the art facilities and qualified and dedicated educators.