When you think of the Central Business District (CBD), chances are, you imagine the hustle and bustle of businessmen and women rushing to their offices, preoccupied with their work. It probably feels like a place exclusively for briefcase-carrying adults.
But this is no longer the case. There is a new establishment in the CBD, and it is filled with the most inspiring people yet – and they are not the CEOs or corporate climbers. They are children, the next generation, the future: Our Champs.
MindChamps Preschool has opened a new centre at One Raffles Place, outfitted with expansive classrooms, a lush outdoor play area and large indoor gym, and other thoughtfully designed facilities catering to our Champs’ learning experience.
Take a look at five key benefits to enrolling your child into MindChamps in Raffles Place.
MindChamps @ Raffles Place is a proximity to work
Location is one of the key factors to consider when choosing the best preschool for your child. While many parents opt for childcare centres close to home, another option is choosing one near your workplace, which actually makes a lot of sense in terms of logistics.
Nestled in the heart of the CBD, MindChamps @ One Raffles Place gives working parents peace of mind by having their children nearby. Travelling to and from Raffles Place together affords you more convenience, not to mention precious time with your little one.
Read also: Top Reasons to Send Your Kid to a Childcare Centre Near Your Workplace
Sprawling outdoor areas at MindChamps in Raffles Place
There is proven value in outdoor play. Research shows that the outdoor environment, with its open-air, spaciousness, natural sunlight and stimulus, can greatly impact young children’s health and development.
At MindChamps, time spent outdoors is perceived as an extension of meaningful education beyond the classroom. Outdoor time at MindChamps @ One Raffles Place can take place at:
- An outdoor play area of up to 2,000 square feet, comprising of a playground, an eco-garden, and a child-friendly cooking area (for the Gourmet Moments enrichment class)
- The state-of-the-art swimming pool
- The 120,000 square foot rooftop garden
Each section of the outdoor space was intentionally designed with specific benefits for young Champs in mind, such as:
- The playground and swimming pool encourage play, freedom of movement and socialisation (you might be surprised by how many social skills can be gained through interaction on the playground).
- The gardens nurture children’s interest in natural elements such as soil, flowers, rocks and sticks.
- The cooking area imparts practical skills as well as an early interest in nutrition and food preparation habits.
Read more: How Lessons Go Alfresco at MindChamps PreSchool @ One Raffles Place
Spacious, welcoming classrooms conducive to learning
Outside of your home, childcare is the place where your child may be spending most of his or her time. A comfortable learning environment is key in helping children thrive. The classroom setting should be as conducive to learning as possible, giving children the space and ease to participate in dynamic lessons and activities.
MindChamps @ One Raffles Place boasts 6,000 square feet of classrooms with plenty of natural light pouring in from large windows, and an expansive library with thoughtfully curated books to encourage the love of reading.
In the classrooms, there are activity stations, comfortable mats and plenty of floor space for the children to move around freely, as well as tables for them to work together in teams.
The walls are adorned with vibrant artwork and posters so that as soon as you walk into each classroom, a cheerful atmosphere engulfs you.
Read also: 3 reasons why MindChamps’ newest child care center in Raffles Place stands out
An expansive indoor gym awash with natural light
Just like the classrooms, the indoor gym at MindChamps in Raffles Place gets plenty of natural light streaming through its floor-to-ceiling windows.
With its colourful safety padding and fun play structures, the indoor gym is where active play and the research-backed NeuroMooves™ enrichment programme take place.
Exercise benefits learning and memory retention. Moreover, research shows that there is a relationship between certain movements and cross-lateral neural growth. MindChamps in Raffles Place provides a spacious, brightly lit indoor gym conducive for physical fun and learning. Here, children jump, roll over, balance and participate in other fun gymnastic-like moves that give their neural development a boost.
A research-backed curriculum with hands-on learning
Not only is the MindChamps PreSchool curriculum research-backed to ensure effectiveness, but it also incorporates plenty of hands-on learning, which allows students to apply the skills they have been taught in the classroom.
As quoted in a recent Straits Times article, Singapore’s Education Minister (Schools) Ng Chee Meng puts it best when he said:
Students learn by applying and by doing.
With primary schools placing more and more emphasis on hands-on learning, it is crucial for preschoolers to prepare for the road ahead by getting plenty of hands-on learning opportunities.
As with all MindChamps PreSchool centres, MindChamps in Raffles Place follows an expert-approved curriculum encompassing hands-on learning activities that promote academic and life skills, from role-play and arts and crafts to cooking classes and science experiments.
Champs can also look forward to exciting termly excursions, where they get to discover real-world examples of concepts learnt in the classroom.