Kindergarten
Location of Kindergarten
Kindergartens are usually located in every housing district, at the heart of the town centre. This allows for easier access by residents around the area, providing parents easy reach of the pre-school education.
Many kindergartens in Singapore are owned and operated by the People’s Action Party (PAP), the community foundation of our Government. The PAP Kindergarten could easily be found scattered throughout the town centres, catering to the needs of the residents.
Other kindergartens are usually private-owned or operated by religious bodies, such as the Christian missionary groups. However, all kindergartens in Singapore have to register with the Ministry of Education and abide by the guidelines that the Ministry of Education has set. Such a rule results in the curriculum that is taught to the children being largely similar.
Activities in Kindergarten
Many activities are carried out during kindergarten classes, which usually last for three to four hours each day, five days a week. These activities are in place to develop the child as a whole, accomplishing the aims that the kindergarten has set out to achieve.
Language Classes are taught to the young children to equip them with the basic essential skills of communication. The trained teachers would engage the young children in interactive activities that would hone their language skills. It is believed that through these fun and interactive activities, children would be able learn most effectively and pick up a new language easily.
Information Technology classes are also conducted in the kindergartens for the children. These classes serve to teach the young children the basics of the computer, teaching them how to switch on the computer and how to recognize parts of the computer. Through these classes, the child would be equipped with basic information technology skills, allowing him to employ the use of computers when he needs them in primary school and onwards.
Basic Mathematics would also be taught in the kindergarten to equip children with the ability to count. As a foundation for Mathematics is needed before enrolling in primary schools, the kindergarten provides the framework for this foundation, teaching students to count in numbers and basic addition.
Appreciation of art and music would also be taught to the children in the kindergartens. Through interesting musical instruments, the children would be exposed to the world of music and learn more about the wonders of music. Art would also be taught to the children, where they would learn to draw and colour appropriately. Art competitions are frequently held as an avenue for children to demonstrate their artistic capabilities.
The lesson that children look forward to most would definitely be that of playtime. During playtime, the teachers would usually bring the children in their class to a nearby playground, where the children would be let free and allowed to mingle amongst themselves. This is usually the most fun activity for the children as they can not only get to interact with their friends, but also have their own time to play. Through these lessons, the children would learn about social skills and about movement and outdoor fun.
Conclusion
Kindergartens are private schools that do not come directly under the Government’s regulation. Hence, it is not compulsory for all Singaporean children to be enrolled in kindergartens.
However, as kindergartens provide an excellent environment for children to pick up essential skills such as literacy and counting, most parents would prefer to enroll their children in kindergartens, so as to better prepare them for their future in primary schools.
