by on 07/08/2017
When we met Ms Yap Mei Lee, we were a little surprised that Kinderland Puchong Utama’s youthful-looking owner and principal spoke with such confidence and assurance. After all, she has been in the kindergarten business for only four years… However, upon interviewing her, we found out why. Her preschool is supported by programmes that are the result of continuous research and development by Kinderland’s in-house early childhood professionals over the last 38 years. Integrating proven education methodologies from the West with Eastern philosophies of morality and interpersonal relationships, these programmes have been successfully used by franchisees all over Singapore, China, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Cambodia, besides Malaysia. Good reason for confidence!
Ms Yap’s love for children had motivated her to study for her Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) and to teach in various kindergartens over the years. However, her real success story started in 2012 when she set up her own kindergarten using Kinderland’s Integrated Learning Approach. The Theme-Based Curriculum provided a gradually expanding learning experience for her students, from the youngest to the oldest, with an emphasis on hands-on learning.
There is a strong focus on music to enhance language literacy. This is the only preschool we have seen so far that incorporates a music course as part of its syllabus. Besides the usual Music & Movement lessons with percussion instruments, Kinderland’s Children Music Programme provides their students the opportunity to experiment with simple musical instruments, while the younger kids enjoy early exposure to music appreciation. Including music in the school curriculum also helps children to improve their concentration and memory, ability to express feelings better, understanding of the basic rudiments of music, ability to read music scores and appreciation of teamwork.
The kindergarten also has a specially designed health and fitness programme for young children, its KinderFit Programme, which develops self-confidence, responsible habits, team spirit, and a positive attitude towards a healthy life-style.
Another thing that makes Kinderland Puchong Utama stand out is that every one of Ms Yap’s teaching staff is an ECCE diploma holder. “I know how important it is to have trained and qualified staff. Parents have placed their precious ones in our care and that is a huge responsibility. I prefer to pay extra for my staff to ensure that the children have the best care possible,” explained Ms Yap.
News must have spread about Ms Yap’s kindergarten because she soon found that she had no more places for children whose parents wish to enrol them. “I was running out of space as parents even wanted me to take in their pre-nursery and nursery-age children,” said Ms Yap. This prompted her to set up a nursery beginning 2016 in an airy corner house on the same row as her kindergarten, with lots of space for the younger children.
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