by on 06/05/2024 2192
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Young parents today have it tough. Most households have two working parents, and not everyone is blessed with childcare support from extended family members.
Many parents turn to childcare centres to help look after their infants and toddlers while they’re at work – but finding the right one can feel like a challenging task.
Do Re Mi Baby & Child Care Centre aims to set parents’ hearts at ease by providing meticulous care for their precious little ones, and nurturing them during the most formative stages of their lives.
Newly opened within a gated and guarded community in Bandar Bukit Tinggi 2, Klang, the centre provides childcare services for infants and toddlers from as young as two months to four years old.
Catering to parents who may work longer hours, the full day programme starts from 8am and runs until 7pm from Monday to Friday.
Co-founder Miss VV Loo has close to a decade of experience working in taskas and is trained with the proper Childcare Course (KAP) certification.
Movement is one of the cornerstones of a child’s development. Do Re Mi Baby & Child Care Centre enables this by providing spacious outdoor areas that offer plenty of room for physical activity.
Miss Loo reiterates the benefits of being outdoors: the children are not only getting fresh air and sunshine daily but can also develop their confidence and observational skills. The centre’s front lawn is blanketed in a carpet of grass, in the middle of which sits a whimsical playground set.
A lot of thought has been put into making the environment as conducive as possible for little ones.
Gentle, tinkling music sets the tone as soon as the children step into the premises, where they are greeted by a warm and soothing colour palette that puts them at ease.
Against this neutral backdrop, they are naturally drawn to the colourful learning objects and materials that are neatly arranged on shelves and in corners.
Moving on to the first floor, which houses the infant group, we can see that everything is kept spick and span.
Surfaces are spotless, and rooms come equipped with air purifiers, water filters, and sterilising devices. There are also facilities for nursing mothers who wish to store milk for their babies.
Safety is the number one priority here: there are CCTVs throughout the premises, and the staircase features a child-proof gate and lock. Even the walls are padded with soft material to ensure safety.
The first few years of a child’s life are extremely important to instil a lifelong love for learning, which is why Do Re Mi promotes comprehensive, whole-brain development through a mix of Montessori approaches and play-based activities.
Through weekly themes, the children are exposed to different areas of development and learning, including the three main languages (English, Bahasa Melayu, and Mandarin), Mathematics, music and movement, arts and crafts, and more.
Learning is made fun through educational toys, which allow children to identify and link concepts such as colours, shapes, and sizes, in addition to songs, games, and storytelling.
Practical life is another area which the centre focuses on. For example, the children may do tasks such as cutting fruits and pouring water in order to hone their fine motor skills.
One key feature that differentiates Do Re Mi from other centres is its screen-free policy.
Often, children are given devices from a very young age, and while this may work to keep them occupied, it can have negative impacts on a child’s development and ability to focus.
Instead, Do Re Mi keeps children engaged throughout the day with fun activities and free play.
It’s in the little things that the centre’s extra care and thought shine through – something as simple as providing an extra meal for the children.
“Instead of the usual three meals a day, we provide four meals, which is breakfast, lunch, tea, and dinner, so parents need not worry about preparing meals after they return home from work, and they’ll get to spend more quality time with their child,” Miss Loo explains.
The food is cooked fresh in-house daily, with no MSG, less salt and sugar, and no processed items. They use organic vegetables, and fruits are given as snacks in place of candies.
At the heart of it all is a commitment to providing the best care for children in their early years – and that starts with ensuring its staff is well trained and equipped. The caretakers here are all qualified with either a minimum of a diploma in Early Childhood Education, certificate in Childcare, or Montessori experience.
From dedicated staff and beautifully designed and safe spaces to thoughtful extra touches like providing an extra meal and long day care hours, it’s clear that Do Re Mi puts a lot of care and thought into providing excellent childcare services.
It’s more than a place where children can be watched over, too – with a variety of enriching activities, parents can be assured that their little ones are growing and learning every step of the way.