Kitakids Preschool, Bangsar and its sunny, spacious play areas remind me of the difference between wearing a pair of PVC shoes and a pair of leather shoes. The PVC pair constricts our feet to its shape while the leather pair expands to allow our feet to breathe comfortably and to grow (where the feet of children are concerned). Kitakids Preschool, Bangsar is the leather pair.
Its educational programmes, which cater to children 2 months to 6 years, focus on each child’s interests and development rather than on a rigid syllabus that aims to test the child’s performance. The programmes are underpinned by a forward-looking curriculum that is in line with the 21st century educational needs. Children can build a strong foundation for future learning by exploring STREAM – Science, Technology, Reading & Writing, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics – preschool skills and concepts through fun activities. The class schedule is flexible, allowing younger children to start with a 2-day week and gradually increase to a 5-day week depending on the child. (However, the minimum of 4 days per week is required for children attending their kindergarten programme.) Even its daily routine is flexible and responsive to the child’s individual needs.
We have provided a 2-day, 3-day, 4-day and 5-day week fee structure for parents to choose from because we want children to start with us as young as possible. The first five years of a child’s life are really important and early exposure to play-based learning will help a lot in the child’s developmentKitakids Preschool Director Aqilah Che Azizuddin
“Our focus on play-based learning and the child’s interests are what sets us apart from other childcare centres and kindergartens. Here, we allow the child to naturally progress through their own developmental milestones. We do not start with workbooks, so some people see what we do as merely play. However, there is a purpose to our play-based learning; there is always intentional teaching behind the play… and the teacher’s job is to make sure that it is fun!” Looking at the happy, cheerful faces of the children and their absorbed pre-occupation with the activities that were being carried out, Kitakids’s teaching methods seem to be working very well.
According to Ms Aqilah, when she opened her centre two years ago, parents were initially not comfortable with Kitakids’s programme. She smiled, “In our exam-oriented country, parents feel better when they see ‘real work’ being done. It took about a year for our Malaysian parents to acknowledge that early childhood care and education should always be about the child, not about preparing them to score marks in school later on. We assure them that our well-trained teachers will help their child to achieve globally recognised academic standards with our programmes.
“And besides the academics, their child will learn self-reliance and problem-solving skills, know how to look after his or her own belongings, use the bathroom independently, be able to express emotions appropriately, and deal with competition and conflict. He or she will also form friendships, and experience a year full of discovery, fun and real personal growth,” added Ms Aqilah.
Kitakids Preschool believes that childcare and education shouldn’t be about business but about children. It’s all about the children: from the child-friendly menu to the carefully designed programmes and the purpose-built facilities. The educators are mindfully selected for their warm characteristics to support the preschool’s family culture and are continuously trained for quality education. Everything is lovingly crafted to give children the best education and care. Through graduation, Kitakids will grow into individuals who:
- are physically growing and developing;
- have a strong sense of identity and are confident, involved learners;
- have a strong sense of wellbeing;
- are effective communicators; and
- are connected with and contribute to their world.
