by on 18/06/2024 894
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Located within the bustling neighbourhood of Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI), Miracle Tots Early Learning & Childcare Centre is an exceptional early learning and childcare centre that embraces the Finnish educare (education and care) philosophy.
Catering to infants aged three months old and children up to four years old, the centre provides a nurturing and calming environment, where young minds are empowered to reach their full potential.
Finland’s early childhood education system is widely touted to be one of the world’s best, with a holistic, low-stress approach that focuses not just on academics, but a child’s overall development and wellbeing. The first six years of a child’s life are the most formative, which is why the Finnish curriculum emphasises play-based activities and learning at an individual’s pace.
Miracle Tots embodies these philosophies to a tee. Its Finnish education programme is a play-based curriculum that seamlessly blends learning with play, allowing children to learn through sensory games, musical activities, crafts, and various forms of expression, both verbal and bodily.
Children enjoy fun lessons with specific learning objectives, but rather than learning by rote or memorisation, they actively construct their own knowledge through exploration, experimentation, and project-based learning, whilst guided by their teachers.
This child-centred approach is crucial in nurturing creativity and critical thinking skills, and helps to develop their linguistic, mathematical, and scientific skills in ways that traditional approaches may not be as effective at achieving.
Miracle Tots offers full-day programmes catering to infants (3-15 months), and half-day and full-day programmes for toddlers (16 months-2 years), playschool (2-3 years), and pre-school (3-4 years). The centre maintains low child-to-educator ratios, ensuring personalised attention and care.
Infant care goes beyond basic needs, incorporating music and movement, storytelling, and sensorial activities to engage their fine motor skills and ensure the children reach their developmental milestones.
Educators at the centre are not just certified professionals but passionate individuals who genuinely enjoy seeing the development of young minds. The use of the Finnish-based HEI Schools Toolkit provides teachers with detailed activity plans, ensuring structured and enriching sessions.
At the same time, the curriculum also integrates local lifestyles and elements which celebrates multiculturalism and teaches children about the diverse cultures of Malaysia.
Communication with parents is seamless and responsive, facilitated through an app and regular progress reports. Miracle Tots also provides ad-hoc advice to parents, building strong relationships and offering support especially for first-time parents.
Miracle Tots distinguishes itself from traditional nurseries and preschools with its unique design philosophy. Recent studies have highlighted the benefits of soothing colours and calm learning environments—referred to as ‘low-load’ environments—in improving cognitive functions and helping children focus.
The centre’s calming design is immediately evident upon stepping into the premises, which carries earth-toned colours and lots of light wood. This creates a warm and homely atmosphere that contrasts sharply with the bright and stimulating environments of traditional childcare centres.
The centre spans three floors, each thoughtfully designed to cater to different age groups and activities. The lower floor, for example, is dedicated to infants, and features cosy cots, a padded play area, and gentle tinkling music that sets one at ease.
The second floor, for children 16 months and older, sports an open concept. This design serves a dual purpose: children learn discipline and boundaries within their respective spaces, but they also get to mingle with other age groups for certain activities, which teaches them empathy and contributes to their overall socio-emotional development.
This floor also features a large glass window that offers panoramic views of the greenery outside, allowing children to feel connected to nature while in a comfortable, air-conditioned space. Rounding off the facilities here is a messy playroom, complete with a rack stocked with various wooden blocks that the children can use to put together their own projects.
Meanwhile, the top floor is a massive play and activity area, equipped with a climbing wall, a long sensory wall, and a large wooden playground set. There is also a stage for storytelling, performances, and role play sessions.
Safety and cleanliness is paramount at Miracle Tots, and is not just done for the sake of ticking off boxes. Every corner of the centre is monitored by CCTVs. Aside from safety gates, the centre also has child-sized handrails along its staircases, which Kiddy123 finds to be a nice and subtle touch showing the centre’s commitment and thoughtfulness to safety.
Meals for the children are cooked fresh in-house daily, ensuring they enjoy a balanced diet. Additionally, Miracle Tots uses a unique Ozone Air Sanitation system, a water-based technology which converts water and generates it into safe ozone (O3) for air sanitation. Thanks to the system’s antimicrobial and antibacterial sanitisation capabilities, it minimises the risk of illnesses and ensures that the children can fully enjoy a secure and clean environment.
Miracle Tots’ is one of only a handful of centres in KL that offers a Finnish programme–but its commitment to providing an exceptional early childhood educational experience goes beyond its curriculum. It's in the safe and calming environment it provides, as well as the nurturing atmosphere, where every child is seen as a unique miracle, ready to explore, learn, and grow in a world of constant change.