What we teach our children and how they’re taught has to keep up with the times, and goodness, how those times have changed! There seems to be so much to learn and what’s more, little ones today need to know way more than we ourselves ever needed to as kids.
While some of us may not have even attended kindergarten before entering school, kids today are expected to start schooling with literacy skills and not as a blank slate to be filled in from scratch, hence, skipping kindergarten and preschool seems out of the question.
Still, kindergartens and preschools are not the only forms of early education today. More and more Malaysian parents are also enrolling their children into enrichment classes, and we’re talking toddlers and babies even.
What exactly are these classes about and what do they offer?
First and foremost, a child has to be ready to be enrolled in an enrichment center. Other than listening to instructions, a child who is in a classroom full of other children will have to learn to socialise, mingle, and interact with them. Some parents will have to either bring their little one to an enrichment center a few times before the child can adapt to these new environments and requirements, or they may even choose to find another enrichment center, one which the child is more comfortable with. Once the little one seems keen on attending classes, it should be smooth sailing from there.
Language Development
A language enrichment class once a week will allow your toddler the opportunity to become fluent in a second (or third) language very quickly!
A platform for better coping ability
While there are a plethora of classes to choose from, many of these classes are mainly focused on prepping up little ones so that they’ll have better adapting and coping skills in kindergarten and school later on in life. They achieve this by enhancing the educational development of children in a fun, interactive way with learning activities such as language, reading, writing, basic maths, phonics, music, art, and even brain training programmes.
Scientific researches have concluded time and again that early exposure to learning gives children a head start and a better chance of excelling in school. That’s why we find a rising number of enrichment centres, especially ones that focus on preparing children for school, engage all sorts of techniques to help little ones acquire the ability to focus, process, and remember information easily.
Easing the transition into kindergarten
Easing a child from a twice-weekly enrichment program to daily kindergarten classes will be a much more seamless process. The child will also begin kindergarten in a positive and confident attitude as he or she would have already been familiar with basic social skills and educational classes such as drawing, reading, and counting in a classroom environment.
Choosing an enrichment center can be challenging though, for there are so many available! The best way to go about it is to first research the many enrichment centres available around your neighbourhood and check out what they have to offer.
Where making a mess is allowed
Young children just love to discover and learn through messy play, the kind that might not be encouraged at home. At enrichment classes, the staff is professionally trained to inspire your children to be proactive, regardless of the mess!
Making a choice
If an enrichment center is going to be part of your little one’s precious childhood, be sure that you’re making the best choice for your child.
You can do that by ensuring the following:
- The centre should include engaging activities such as storytelling, singing, and outdoor playtime.
- Learning activities should be stress-free, play-based, and meaningful so that your child can have fun while learning in a relaxed, entertaining atmosphere.
- The teachers should be passionate about their work and engage with children in a loving, respectful manner at all times. Check the credentials of the teachers and trainers before enrollment.
- Check out the classrooms and play centre for any safety hazards or hygiene issues.
Well-rounded
The enrichment centre you choose should ideally include the development of your child from physical, cognitive, emotional, and social aspects.
Featured image source: iStock
