Pre-schoolers role-play to improve social, emotional skills

New approach trialled as studies show kids struggle to regulate emotions, manage outbursts

- Shermaine Ang

What should children do when some in their group want to go to the zoo, while others want to go to the playground?

What should they do if their group runs out of supplies?

These are some problems preschoolers here are being presented with in school to challenge them to come up with solutions as part of a new approach to equip them with skills they need to thrive in school and beyond.

Through role-playing, for instance, children get to practise problem-solving skills and are given chances to make decisions and take responsibility for them.

Games where they jump when they see pink cards flashed on a screen, dance when they see blue cards and freeze when they see white cards help train their working memory.

The new approach, called Enhancing and Supporting Early Development to Better Children's Lives (Easel), was developed in the light of local research studies which have shown a gap in preschool education here - that children have trouble regulating their emotions and managing outbursts.

Easel project director Cheryl Seah said that while early childhood education in Singapore has focused on literacy and numeracy skills, research has found that children's social and emotional regulation skills lag behind their academic readiness.

She said "child-led" learning - as opposed to "educator-led" learning - can encourage children to explore and experiment.

"If they don't face challenges and they're being instructed about the ways to behave, I think we might bring up a generation of children who may not be so adaptable and flexible and resilient in the long run."