Looking for the best kindergarten programme in Singapore for your little one? There are lots of preschools across the island, each with their own teaching philosophies and methodologies.
The most common thing among kindergarten programmes in Singapore is the holistic approach to education. This type of education focuses on educating children beyond academics and addressing that young learners have social, emotional, and psychological needs.
We’ve put together a quick guide to holistic kindergarten programmes in Singapore to help you fully understand how this approach works and what makes it special.
What is holistic education?
At its core, holistic education is all about acknowledging that children are “whole persons” with different needs outside of academics and making sure these needs are met.
It focuses on creating a supportive, positive community that motivates young learners to explore on their own and get to know themselves while building relationships with people around them.
Because when children are encouraged and taken care of emotionally and socially, they perform better academically and excel in other aspects of life.
Holistic education recognises that social and emotional skills aren’t always taught at home, so kindergarten programmes are there to help parents in this area.
What are the strategies used in holistic education?
The primary goal of holistic education is to cultivate a growing child’s social, emotional, mental, and psychological attributes.
It does so by providing young learners with plenty of opportunities to develop their skills and get in touch with their feelings. It’s crucial to have a safe, comfortable environment that motivates children to use their individual strengths.
Holistic kindergarten programmes in Singapore are guided by an overarching philosophy, but teachers may employ different strategies to build a holistic learning environment. These may include:
Connecting with students on a deeper level
In a holistic environment where teachers can foster strong bonds with students, their latter’s overall performance is positively affected. Any student who feels safe and supported has a higher chance of achieving success.
Teachers build strong connections with students by addressing each student’s strengths and weaknesses and responding in a sensitive manner.
Encouraging children to take on leadership roles at school creates communication and trust among their peers and enhances their motivation to explore outside their comfort zone.
Encouraging students’ self-confidence
For children to believe that they can succeed, teachers build their self-confidence by giving them multiple opportunities to explore their strengths and discover new things in a number of ways.
Teachers are aware that each student has unique strengths and skills, so they make sure that the lessons are aligned with everyone’s level.
Teaching emotional reflection
In a holistic kindergarten programme, teachers have to look past academic performance and nurture the emotional and mental well-being of every student.
As much as possible, teachers squeeze in time for emotional reflection in children’s daily routine to give them time to reflect and contemplate.
Another way teachers incorporate empathy is by presenting stories with different perspectives on various social issues and encouraging students to form an opinion.
What are the benefits of holistic education?
Improved academic performance
By incorporating various learning styles and cultivating a supportive environment, children are motivated to do better at school. With enough emotional and mental support comes outstanding academic performance
Enhanced emotional wellbeing
Students are more likely to develop stronger confidence, self-awareness and a sense of responsibility in a supportive environment that takes care of their social and emotional learning.
