The Growing Emphasis on Early Childhood Education in Singapore

Like most adults, you must have fond memories of preschool days but can’t recall much apart from taking turns in a game, singing songs, making friends, and getting dirty outside. Present-day early childhood education is a bit different, as most parents prefer to send their little ones to a reputed playgroup in Singapore. Such a professional setup prepares the child for school and has a major impact on the child’s school days and adulthood.

Early childhood education primarily includes activities that are fun. Hence, many parents overlook the importance of early childhood education. It’s a known fact that young children learn best from play, and starting early, like sending them to a preschool, sets them up for success in life and school.

Growing Emphasis on Early Childhood Education

What is early childhood education?

Early childhood education (ECE) is an official term for teaching young kids, especially in the age bracket of zero to five years. It includes formal and informal education programmes that focus on growth and child development. Children at these ages are entirely dependent on their parents or other adult caregivers (like extended family members, teachers, babysitters, or day-care providers).

A playgroup that follows a specific preschool programme in Singapore includes a wide range of activities designed to promote a child's cognitive and social development. Some programmes focus on school readiness and academics, while others concentrate on whole-child development that emphasizes mental and emotional preparedness.

The importance of early childhood education

Often, parents, community leaders, and other educators dismiss or devalue the time spent in a playgroup in Singapore as “simple playtime”. They have the attitude that whatever happens in a preschool or a playgroup doesn’t matter, as learning begins once the child enters kindergarten. It is a big misconception that is surrounding ECE.

Young children have incredibly impressionable and elastic minds that constantly soak up information from their surroundings and learn from interactions and experiences. They are born to learn, perceive, imitate, experiment, and explore. Hence, ECE is important for a child.

How does ECE help young children?

The purpose of a preschool programme in Singapore is to provide children with strategies that help them develop the emotional, social, and cognitive skills needed to become lifelong learners. Key skills that a young child learns through these specifically designed programmes include:

1. Language and literacy:

Language work as the foundation for development of literacy skills. Learning to communicate through gestures, sounds, and words increases a child’s interest in books and reading. This helps the child to understand what they are reading.

2. Cognitive development:

A child care centre in Singapore provides young children with a stimulating environment to enhance their cognitive abilities during their preschool years. An effective childhood education encourages the child to explore their surroundings, which fosters curiosity and a sense of wonder. Imaginative play, such as pretending to be a teacher or a doctor, encourages the child to exercise creativity and develop imagination. A few of the programmes focus on problem-solving, which helps develop critical thinking. Activities involving storytelling, music, and dance boost imagination, listening ability, motor skills, and self-expression.

3. Social growth:

A preschool provides a safe and nurturing environment for the young students to develop their social and emotional skills. Such an environment encourages interaction with peers, teachers, and caregivers to build meaningful social connections and relationships. Further, it helps young students learn to share, take turns, and cooperate effectively, which could be the biggest challenge for young children to learn.

4. Emotional growth:

Early childhood educators promote students’s emotional growth by teaching them identify and express their emotions in a healthy manner. The child also learns to manage their feelings and resolve conflicts peacefully. It helps boost a child's emotional intelligence, which is a necessity for successfully navigating relationships and developing strong social bonds at any age.

Childhood learning programmes are dynamic, challenging, enriching, and carefully planned. In most cases, stakeholders like curriculum developers and teachers, incorporate songs, books, games, toys, experiences, and nature exploration into the daily plans of a class or group.

Parents these days understand the importance of early childhood education and hence emphasize sending their kids to a playgroup in Singapore. If you are a parent and wish the best for your child, then you must start searching for a good preschool in your locality.