5 Ways Attending Playgroup in Singapore Encourages Positive Behaviour in Kids

August 24, 2017

Your little one might not be old enough to attend nursery school or preschool in Singapore, but you feel that it is time for he or she to be exposed to a fun learning environment outside of the home. For children starting from 18 months up to 3 years, a playgroup can be a great option.

Toddlers who are cared for by a stay-at-home parent, grandparents, or a caregiver enjoy plenty of individual attention, but they could also benefit from a few hours of playtime with children of their age to improve their social development. Quality playgroups do not merely provide “babysitting services,” but rather offer more structured lessons and fun activities to teach and encourage positive behaviour in kids.

How joining a playgroup in Singapore can reinforce positive behaviour in your child

Being immersed in an environment that provides safe and stimulating group activities, with the supervision of caring and attentive teachers, will boost your child’s communication skills, language development, cognitive learning, and self-confidence – which all contribute to developing positive behaviour in young children.

Here are five key ways that attending a playgroup in Singapore encourages positive behaviour in kids:

Engaging in social, cognitive, language, and physical activities for well-rounded development

In a playgroup, your child starts by playing alongside their peers. As they become familiar with the faces of their friends who they see regularly, they may begin to show concern or empathy. For instance, when they snatch a toy from someone, and that person cries, they see the consequence of their action. In a playgroup, children explore their emotions and cope with their feelings in a group setting, learning how to cooperate, communicate, and comfort.

Some playgroups in Singapore provide multi-sensory experiences such as music and movement, physical activities, story time, and arts and crafts. These fun and engaging programmes strengthen children’s cognitive, physical, language, and fine motor skills as well as their creativity. Part of what makes a child happy is receiving adequate age-appropriate stimulation; and the happier a child is, the more likely he or she exhibits positive attitude and behaviour.

Gaining independence and confidence

If your child has been pampered by his or her grandparents or enjoy the undivided attention of a parent or caregiver, then stepping into a playgroup setting would be an adjustment. However, as a parent it is important for you to understand that this is a normal transition and actually contributes to their growth, equipping them with the valuable ability to adapt outside of their comfort zone. You may very well be surprised by your child’s resilience, and given time, he or she will thrive in different environments.

In a playgroup, they will learn how to trust their teachers. Receiving praise and positive reinforcement from adults outside of their family members is like getting an extra boost to their confidence and sense of accomplishment.

Read also: 3 Ways MindChamps Provides the Best Childcare in Yishun for Your Child

Following instructions and learning good manners

From learning how to follow simple instructions such as queuing, washing their hands, staying in their seats, and keeping away their toys, children will get the opportunity to practice socially appropriate behaviour in a playgroup. Good manners are reinforced effectively when they are also prompted by the teacher, and when they witness their friends using “please” and “thank you” as well. Children learn from one another, buddies motivate buddies.

 

Fostering love for learning

Does your child get bored with his or her toys easily? When your child steps into playgroup, he or she not only gets to play with different toys but with other kids as well, amidst rotating activities. There may even be learning themes that change from week to week or bilingual programmes such as lessons in Chinese. Talk about making learning fresh and interesting!

Most playgroups in Singapore are equipped with a variety of age-appropriate toys, art materials, and activities that incite kids to put on their curiosity caps and explore. A mix of structured and free playtime fosters an early love for learning.

Read also: 8 Ways a Chinese Playgroup in Singapore Differs From The Norm

Preparing them for preschool in Singapore

Attending a playgroup improves your child’s readiness for nursery school and preschool in Singapore, where the learning environment is more structured. Children who attend playgroups in Singapore are already familiar with the concept of following a routine, which allows for a more seamless transition to nursery school and preschool in Singapore.

The Creativity and Theatrical Strategies in the MindChamps playgroup programme offer expertly-crafted, theatrical-centred activities. If your child is exposed to story time and music in playgroup, he or she will be heartened by the continuation of play-based learning in nursery schools in Singapore. The MindChamps PreSchool Curriculum uses Narrative Intelligence strategies to help children learn through storytelling, while enthusiasm for lifelong reading and writing is nurtured in playgroup all the way through preschool and beyond. 

Join the playgroup programme at MindChamps to give your child an early start to a Champion’s learning journey!

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