by on 14/11/2024 251
Highlights |
|
What comes to mind when thinking of a high-quality childcare centre? Some might say a warm and welcoming environment and a beautifully designed space; others may think of caring and nurturing caregivers, or enriching programmes that prepare children for the next stages of their development.
Super Buddies Childcare Centre, Kelana Jaya has all these qualities, and more. Founded by three friends and long-time childcare professionals, their aim was simple: to create a space where babies and children are free to be themselves and grow in a gentle and nurturing environment.
Super Buddies Childcare Centre caters to babies from two months old, and children up to 4 years old. The centre’s design reflects the founders beliefs in gentle, nurturing methods – interiors are spacious, welcoming, and feature lots of natural wood furnishings and a bright and soft palette, which immediately envelops visitors in a warm and calming atmosphere.
Large windows and glass doors allow natural sunlight to shine in, and they do not use fluorescent lights which tend to be harsh and strenuous for young eyes. Furniture and materials are also child-sized to encourage independence and empowerment, while a wooden climbing frame and indoor playground with artificial grass emulates the outdoors, providing children with opportunities for physical movement and activity.
At the infant nursery, dimmer lights and soothing white noise is used as babies tend to be sensitive to noise and light. Caregivers are trained in rocking, swaddling, tapping motions to put babies at ease, on top of gentle massages to relax them. Infants and toddlers get to move around too with a padded modular gym set which helps in their gross motor development.
To ensure the highest standards of safety and hygiene, all areas are equipped with CCTVs, and there are child-safety gates as well as high power points. The centre conducts temperature and physical checks daily, while materials, furniture, and flooring are cleaned at least twice daily, with air purifiers to ensure the air quality is always clean.
Super Buddies isn’t a place where children sit quietly in rows. As a play-based learning centre, they are involved in lots of hands-on activities and focus on play as their main medium of learning. The framework is based on the British Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum, which covers seven important areas of development:
Communication & Language
Personal, Social & Emotional Development
Physical Development
Literacy
Mathematics
Understanding the World
Expressive Arts & Design
Children may start the morning with a block building activity, painting with friends, or listening to stories. Of course, this play has a purpose, as they are also picking up important skills such as literacy and math through their activities.
There are dedicated learning corners too, such as the pretend-play corner where they get to dress up and enact roles, improve their speech and socialise with peers, as well as a reading corner when they need some quiet time. The centre also organises weekly walks for the older children in a shaded outdoor piazza area and plans special themed activities such as pool parties and picnics.
Super Buddies provides options for half-day (7:30 am – 2:00 pm) and full-day (7:30 am – 7:30 pm) care, so parents can choose the best fit for their family. The day’s schedule blends learning, play, and rest in a way that gives children the comfort of routine while allowing room for flexibility.
Children need a nutrient-rich diet to grow well, which is why Super Buddies makes nutritionally balanced meals daily from scratch in their in-house kitchen.
A typical main meal would incude two types of vegetables (such as broccoli, carrot, spinach, capsicum, zucchini, tomatoes, or mushrooms), a protein dish such as chicken, fish, tofu, eggs, or even tempeh, and a carb dish of rice, noodles, pita bread, or tortilla wraps. All meals are made from fresh, whole ingredients, and at snack time, you’ll only find fresh fruit like watermelon, papaya, or apples – no processed snacks in sight.
For infants and toddlers, meals are prepared without added sugar or salt, giving them the best start with wholesome, naturally tasty foods. Super Buddies supports Baby-Led Weaning, a modern approach that skips pureed foods and goes straight into solids, with accommodations made to fit the needs of the child.
Rather than have an adult spoon-feed them food, babies are trusted with the ability to feed themselves (supervised by caregivers), and lets the child touch, taste, and explore the textures and flavours of different foods, which builds independence and may help with picky eaters. The centre also offers full support for breastfeeding mothers, handling chilled and frozen breast milk with care.
Finding the right teachers and caregivers can be a difficult task, and at Super Buddies, they’re careful to hire people who match the centre’s philosophy of kindness, calmness, and creativity. Teachers here have diplomas or degrees in Early Childhood Education, have completed the Kursus Asuhan Permata (KAP), and have experience in play skills, infant care, and child development.
Class sizes are kept small, with a 1:3 ratio for infants and a 1:5 ratio for older children, ensuring that each child gets the attention they need. Staff are as comfortable leading singalongs as they are planning sensory play activities, creating an environment where learning is always fun and child centred.
Super Buddies believes in keeping parents close to the action, so they use an app called Class Dojo to give daily updates on each child’s schedule, including nap times, diaper changes, and meals. Through weekly photos and notes, parents get a window into their child’s day, even when they’re at work.
Super Buddies also hosts family-friendly events, like the Mid-Autumn Festival celebration, where families joined in for food, lantern walks, and messy mooncake dough play. These events build a strong community where families connect and share special moments with their kids.
Super Buddies Childcare Centre offers an experience that goes beyond simple childcare. The children here are free to explore, learn, and feel safe, surrounded by caregivers who respect their natural curiosity and individuality. For parents, it’s a comforting choice—knowing their little ones are spending their day in an environment that is loving and thoughtful.