Kiddizone Kindergarten & Childcare Centre, Batu Caves, Selayang

Providing a better head start

With the noble intention of closing the wide gap of knowledge and skills in preschool children who are getting ready for primary school, Margaret was adamant that the programmes at Kiddizone should help little ones meet all their requirements as preschoolers so that they will get to enjoy a more fruitful and satisfying schooling journey. We asked her what she thinks was lacking in the current preschool system out there and why many parents were left bewildered at how badly prepared their children were for primary school. Her reply took us by surprise, yet made perfect sense.

“On one hand, we have parents who are too relaxed in their attitude towards their children’s early education. They are worried about stressing their children out by sending them to preschool at a young age. I feel that this is a mistake, and that little ones should ideally start on their basic academics the latest by age four, so as not to be left behind in this fast-paced world we live in. We have to make full use of the critical learning period of a child’s life if he or she is to excel in school!”

On the other hand, I sincerely feel that many preschools today also tend to try and pack in too much information into young minds, so much so that it brings about a degree of stress which kids are not supposed to experience at such a tender age. Before attempting to cramp all sorts of everything into their lives in terms of academics as well as enrichment, I would like to see children, first and foremost, be proficient in what matters the most, which is, the basic subjects which they need to excel at in school, and of course, their motor skills as well,” she explained to Kiddy123.

Margaret went on to reveal that these days she comes across young children who can handle phones and tablets very well, but have no skills in, say, catching a ball, or riding a bicycle. She also noticed that kids as young as four were not as active as they should be, and many seem to be in danger of getting lazy, probably due to the recent circumstances of quarantine and lack of physical movement. This lack of agility in children is alarming, isn’t it?

Proficiency in the basics matter a lot!

With the establishment of Kiddizone, Margaret and Vincent are determined to take on the

responsibility of ensuring that preschool students in their care receive the education they need to thrive in their schooling journey starting from having a good experience during Primary 1. As explained by Vincent, the first couple of terms in primary one is when it matters the most for children, for if for some reason they fail to do well during that time, it will be quite difficult to keep them motivated. “A good head start is vital for their future success,” he shared.

Lessons at Kiddizone are designed to be thematic and in line with what students can expect in primary school, making for a somewhat seamless transition later on. As explained by Margaret, due focus is given to core subjects that will be taught at primary school, as well as in basic but important life skills and creative skills, such as arts, music, physical education, etc.

A place where young ones can thrive

It is impossible to miss the fact that the learning environment at Kiddizone is well designed. Spacious yet incredibly cheerful, the preschool is situated at the ground floor, with classrooms categorised according to the students’ ages, and they are K3, K4, K5 and K6. Classrooms are kept small and manageable, with a maximum of 12 students per teacher. Note too, that the entire space is not only conducive and fun, but it’s also fully air-conditioned for students’ comfort while they learn, play and develop.

In the main hall, a stage is set up for performances and competitions to take place, and students get to showcase their skills in singing, poems, and other activities.

Amenities and facilities include a couple of trampolines, tunnel slides, ball pool, sand play, rock climbing wall, LEGO board and even a mini basketball court! Well, we did say it is spacious, didn’t we? To top it all off, an in-house chef sees to the little one’s meals, taking the burden off from parents when it comes to preparing their children’s food.

Kiddizone has indeed set itself apart in its mission to provide the best head start for children as they prepare for what’s waiting for them in primary school!