Distance Vs Curriculum: Which is More Important When Choosing a Preschool?

June 21, 2019

It’s time to choose a childcare centre for your precious children – but you are overwhelmed with options. There are so many schools of thought and so many different curricula. Which is the best option for your children?

On the other hand, you wonder if you will be able to squeeze another destination into your work commute. What if the best kindergarten in Singapore is one that will add a significant amount of daily travel?

Choices, choices! We take a closer look at some popular preschool options to help you narrow it down, as well as what you may want to consider when taking distance into consideration.

A closer look at the Montessori classroom

The Montessori approach has long been popular among many parents. Their method of education is based on self-directed activity, hands-on learning and collaborative play. They believe in scaling playgroup items down to child-size, so as to fully involve children in the usage of the things around them.

Montessori schools in Singapore are usually child-led, whereby children are given the experience of discovering the answer for themselves. Toys and learning tools in these childcare centres are often open-ended, allowing for a wide range of interpretation during play.

The Reggio Emilia-inspired approach in childcare centres

Reggio-inspired playgroups in Singapore are known for how peaceful they look. With a strong focus on natural light, order and beauty, their rooms are often seas of calm. The Reggio Emilia approach believes that children are capable of constructing their own learning and that teachers are simply guides.

They also believe that social collaboration in groups is crucial in the process of learning, where each child is an equal participant and their thoughts and ideas equally valued.

Read also: Bilingual Preschool Vs Chinese Preschool: Which is a better choice for your child?

How language immersion preschools work

In a language immersion childcare centre, all or most of the classes are conducted entirely in a language that is not the child’s first language. This works very well with young children to help them absorb the usage of the language naturally and organically.

As the second language is infused into the curriculum, preschoolers from as young as 18 months soak it in by listening, speaking and learning it as part of their daily lives. This builds a strong foundation in that language, dispelling parental fears that they are not themselves able to impart the language to their offspring for various reasons.

The S.M.I.L.E.S.™ curriculum in MindChamps PreSchool centres

The MindChamps S.M.I.L.E.S.™ curriculum is built upon the unique 3-Mind education model. This model delves deeper into the Champion Mind, the Learning Mind, and the Creative Mind. The curriculum seeks to help children express themselves confidently while being able to quickly pick themselves up from adversity and grow from it. It builds a lifelong love for learning and nurtures the creative passion in every child.

In MindChamps PreSchool, children benefit from the Crafted Play™ model of learning where teachers guide students through crafted activities while allowing them the leeway and freedom to derive creative meaning and imaginative learning from them.

MindChamps PreSchool believes strongly in their Enquiry Teaching and Learning™ approach, which hands children an active role in their own learning process. Teachers craft lessons around the children’s observable interests, integrated with the sensory, motor, intellectual, linguistic, emotional and social elements for holistic learning and development.

Read also: The Ultimate Guide to Preschool Lessons That Are Inspired By Inquiry-Based Learning

Taking distance into consideration

How far you are able to travel every day is a personal choice. Most parents find it much easier to pick a childcare centre that is near their homes, workplaces, or perhaps the home of a caregiver, such as a grandparent, who can help to pick the children up on busy days.

When schools are close by, total travel time is reduced, which can be an important consideration for those who are already on the road for long periods. However, this may mean some compromise if the childcare centres located conveniently do not really tick all your boxes.

Others may place more importance on picking the perfect school even if it means going out of the way. After all, many childcare centres have bus services which can pick up and drop your child off. Furthermore, when you find a school that meets all your needs, it can be very difficult to let go of that dream.

Written by JoBeth Williams

 

Are you looking for a preschool in Singapore for your child?

With MindChamps PreSchool centres which are dotted all over Singapore, there most likely is a centre that is conveniently located for you, be it near your office or your home.

Book a centre visit now!