Why It Matters

Early-years education, that is. Find out how these schools inspire and encourage the littlest of learners.

- Sara Lyle Bow

Kinderland Preschool & Kindergarten

“Finnish researchers from the University of Helsinki found that infants are capable of learning at a very young age, and were already learning in their mothers’ wombs,” explains Charlotte Wong, Head of Infant Care & Toddler for Kinderland Educare Services. She cites early exposure to music, for example, in increasing abilities in many areas, including temporal and spatial reasoning as well as skills critical for learning math concepts. (Read more about Kinderland’s infant care programmes for children aged 2 months and up on page 29.) Likewise, all of Kinderland’s outlets aim to promote and support the development of self-help skills in children. Its Yio Chu Kang campus, for instance, features a self-help kitchenette, which motivates children to take pride in their achievements (e.g., serving themselves, clearing their trays), and is a developmental milestone for children aged 4 to 6 years old. (www.kinderland. com.sg for locations)

Australian International School

The Early Years program at Australian International School (AIS) is inspired by principles of the Reggio Emilia philosophy, which emphasises natural, child-led learning. The focus is on learning through play – children think they are just “having fun”, when actually they are learning new things every day through playing and exploring.