On a quiet street in Taman Puncak Kinrara, a long dormant dream is stirring. What was once a lofty ideal has now become reality in the form of Tender Tots Preschool. “I have been involved in Early Childhood Education and Care for almost twenty years now……,” says Madam Samantha Too, the principal of Tadika Dunia Ria Kanak-Kanak. Principal Sam, as she is fondly referred to by her students and teachers alike, is soft spoken and humble. A person who, when you meet for the first time, will immediately put you at ease with her ready smile and easygoing demeanor.
“Did you notice how quiet and peaceful this vicinity is?” asks Principal Sam. Immediately the weight of her words hit me, what an odd place to have a kindergarten, almost in the middle of nowhere! Seeing the perplexed look on my face, Principal Sam explains, “Children are just what they are, children. Childhood and growing up is one of the most precious and important times in a person’s life. They need to be free to learn, to explore, to make mistakes and to grow.”
The realisation dawns on me and I can’t think of any better place for a kindergarten than amidst Mother Nature and her paradise of wonderful creations and it is so quiet and peaceful here at Tender Tots that it is almost serene.
A typical day at Tender Tots starts at 8:00 a.m in the morning and ends at 1:00 p.m for the half day students and 6:30 p.m. for full day students. All students wash their hands before and after school and their temperatures are also taken and recorded daily. Healthy and nutritious meals for breakfast and lunch is prepared fresh daily according to a carefully planned and prepared menu.
Tender Tots provides a holistic preschool education that is well structured but at the same time enjoyable and fun. Core subjects such as English, Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin, Science and Mathematics are taught via the B.E.E.S programme. There is also a Science Discovery class that encourages parents and child integration with a multitude of hands-on projects. Enrichment classes such as Budding Beans (an English conversational programme), Taekwando, Music and Movement and Arts and Crafts are also incorporated into the curriculum.
The entire breadth of the curriculum includes multi-sensory instructions. Children are exposed to sensory stimulation in a structured, repetitive way by participating in sensory integration activities. Examples of such activities include water, sand and tunnel play, just to name a few. Exposing young children to actively use their senses as they explore through these activities are vital to developing their brains. Over time, children are able to carry out more complex tasks, as well as strengthen their cognitive skills, fine and gross motor skills, communication skills, social skills and problem-solving skills. Not to mention, this is all in the name of fun.
The fun never stops in this sanctuary of knowledge. When the students are not in their classrooms, they are having their water play or sand play sessions or they might be away on an excursion to The National Zoo, Bank Negara or having a picnic at Bukit Jalil. All these activities have been planned well in advance and there are lessons and themes to be learned before, during and after the trips. Activities are also organized to commemorate special days such as Hari Merdeka, Earth Day, Mothers’ Day and Children’s Day. On such days, parents, teachers and children come together to celebrate and enjoy the day as one. The days are just packed.
“We’re so busy watching out for what’s just ahead of us that we don’t take time to enjoy where we are” – Calvin & Hobbes by Bill Watterson from the book “The Days Are Just Packed”.
At Tender Tots, Principal Sam hopes to put the joy and the laughter back into every student’s precious childhood years. A lofty ideal indeed. But without dreams there can be no hope of a reality. So, please dream on, Principal Sam.
Click here to view the latest Sin Chew Daily report about the precautionary measures taken by the school to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
