upcoming events

September 22, 2023

5 Tips for Choosing a Child Care Centre

As a working parent, you know that one of the most important decisions you can make is choosing a childcare centre for your little one. You obviously want to choose what’s best for them – but there are just so many factors involved that it’s overwhelming! 

Luckily for you, we’ve rounded up five tips below that’ll help you get through the process. With these, you should easily find the right child care centre for your growing child.

1. Do your own research 

Don’t just rely on best-of lists online! If you know of other parents with children of similar ages or older, go ahead and ask for their recommendations. Chances are they have their own good (or bad) experiences to share about different centres. 

And if you’re new in town, you can check the listings of centres recommended by government agencies such as the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA). You can also check with your OB-GYN or with fellow parents you’ve met during birth classes. 

Making a checklist can also help you narrow down your options. This checklist should consist of all of the most important qualities and factors for your consideration, such as location, accessibility, cost, schedule and more. This way, you see where your priorities are, making it easier to decide and look for options that are in line with what you need.

2. Plan a visit

Once you’ve shortlisted all the child care centres that you’d like to consider, set up a time to visit them. If you can manage it, try to do this unannounced – this way, you get a real, casual feel of what each centre is like during school hours. 

Aim to observe for at least 30 minutes and imagine your child in the setting. Would they be comfortable in that space? Would they be safe while also being allowed to grow? You can actually observe the children at the centre to make this easier. Do they look happy, engaged, and comfortable? 

Observing the teacher also helps. How do they approach the children? Are they attentive and responsive? You’re looking for teachers whose interactions with the children are warm, respectful, age-appropriate, and always at eye level. 

And last but not the least, check that the centre is clean, healthy, and child-safe for your baby.

3. Ask the right questions 

To get to know the childcare centre better, it’s important to ask comprehensive questions. Here are some of the most important questions you can ask the school for a start:

Question: What’s your cost (tuition, application fee, miscellaneous fees)?

If they’re way out of your budget, you can cross them off your list quickly and conserve energy that way. That being said, it’s best not to make the budget the main deciding factor when it comes to choosing a child care centre. 

After all, you still want to look for a high-quality childcare provider. When a child care centre is costly, it’s usually because they hire highly experienced and certified teachers to plan and conduct activities that will help in a child’s holistic development (check this, of course!). You also have to factor in the paraphernalia that the child care uses for their learning activities. Better, more cutting-edge tools tend to cost more!

Question: Is there a waiting list? 

Some child care, especially those targeted at infants and younger babies may have waiting lists. So if you have a younger child, it’s better to start looking earlier.

Question: What’s your accreditation? 

Now, it’s worth noting that this doesn’t directly affect your child: an accredited school doesn’t necessarily guarantee that your child will get the teacher’s full attention in the child care. However, as a parent, it can bring peace of mind when you know that your child’s school is of a higher standard, and is licensed and registered.

Question: What’s the teacher-to-child ratio? 

Babies and young toddlers need a lot of attention, and if a teacher has too many children to see to, that can result in one child not getting enough oversight or care. To ensure the utmost safety and support for your child, it’s good to know how the facility sets its limits for how many children each teacher has to look after. If you don’t know what a good ratio might be, the ECDA has set the teacher-child ratio for different age groups here.

Question: What’s your child care policy? 

It’s important to share the same parenting philosophies with your childcare provider on topics such as discipline. Do they do time-outs? How do they manage the children’s behaviour in class? 

Furthermore, you can ask questions such as: Is the TV used all day? What snacks do you provide? When are naps offered? If a baby is being fussy, how do you put them to sleep? If they diverge on too many things from your own policies, you may want to look elsewhere.

4. Know the warning signs 

Look out for any red flags such as children who may be unengaged or staff who don’t try to engage with the children. A lack of structure to the programme in the centre can also be a red flag. Check too that teachers are responsive to children’s requests. 

One of the warning signs that may be surprising to you is when the room is too clean and organised. While cleanliness is important and a must, children should be allowed to explore, play, pick up things, play with toys, create and investigate – in short, be active. So a little mess is good sometimes (and expected)!

Moreover, when looking at these signs, it’s important to trust your gut. It doesn’t matter that it’s a popular child care centre that everyone around you is raving about if you feel something’s off about it. Look elsewhere if something in you is saying it’s not right!

Remember, a child thrives (and deserves to be) in nurturing conditions. And if you think that the place isn’t for your child, explore other options until you find the one you feel most comfortable with.

5. Familiarise yourself with their programs and activities 

You should also ask what programs are currently being offered to the children. Take the time to find out what lessons are being taught and if they’re age-appropriate. Ideally, you want a good balance between learning and play.

Some centres may offer school-readiness programs and a variety of enrichment activities, which may be something that you want for your child. Another point you may want to check about is whether or not there’s regular feedback provided so you can keep track of your child’s progress.

Ready to explore? 

The tips above should give you an idea of how to find the best child care centre for your little one. And if you find yourself still struggling, try visiting one of our own centres to get an idea of what to look for. My Little Campus is trusted by many parents like you for several reasons, and seeing them for yourself can give you a good reference for what to seek.

Our curriculum has been specifically designed for all-rounded development, for instance, which ensures every part of children’s growth is accounted for. We prepare children not just to achieve academically but also to thrive in life’s many other endeavours, and that’s something you can look for in a centre.

In any case, you can also contact us to learn more. You can also register your interest in our own preschools and even schedule a tour of one of our centres, to see if it’s what your child needs!

September 21, 2023

Tips for Overcoming Separation Anxiety on the First Day of Preschool

Congratulations – you’ve reached another milestone with your child starting the first day of preschool! 

Unfortunately, as joyous as this occasion sounds, it often comes with a lot of crying, uncertainty, and anxiety on your kid’s part. Having spent their early years primarily around their caretakers and spending time at home, many children simply don’t know what to expect in school. 

This can become a big source of separation anxiety when they finally have to enter preschool. As a parent, though, you can do a lot of things to help. Today, we’ll give you effective strategies that can make the first day of preschool more comfortable – for both you and your child. 

1. Visit the school 

Before the school year starts, try bringing your child to the school. Familiarising them with all the activities as well as the people will definitely help to ease the anxiety. It doesn’t need to be a trip into the school from the start either: it already helps to start casually pointing out the school to your child whenever you drive by. 

When talking about your child’s school, say its name and say things like this: “Next week you’re going to My Little Campus and you’re going to play with all your friends! Isn’t that exciting?” This way, you build up familiarity with both the word and idea of “school”. Choose to associate positive words and feelings with the school as well so that they think well of it before they even go!

2. Schedule play dates before the school year 

While some of us enjoy meeting new people, others may not. This is true of children too. Some children may find it hard to socialise with other kids. That’s why it’ll help if you can set up playdates with some of their classmates or get them used to meeting new people. This way, when the big day comes, your child can take comfort in seeing a familiar face or two in school from the very beginning. 

You can set this up with a family friend who goes to the same school, or coordinate with another child’s parent. This way you’ll be able to meet the other parents as well!

3. Establish a goodbye routine 

Creating a goodbye ritual (kiss on the cheek, or saying “See you later, Anna!”) can help to decrease children’s anxiety on the first day of school. It’s a great way to create familiarity and comfort, giving them a clue of what’s about to come.  

Moreover, it’s important that this routine should be quick. If you dwell too long on it, your child might be preoccupied with your presence, causing them to cry and panic instead.  

4. Practise being apart 

This is important if you’ve never spent extended time apart from your children. Start with short intervals – 5 to 10 minutes – in which you run an errand or take a quick jog while a family member, friend, or sitter looks after your child. 

You can gradually acclimate your child to the separation by slowly increasing the time you’re apart. Try going to playdates at a close friend’s house or leaving them for the whole day at a relative’s house, for example. You basically want to ensure they’re taken care of even as you get them used to the distance from you.

This way your child will feel less anxious when they’re apart from you while at preschool. 

5. Let your child know when you’ll come back 

It’s important to be specific with your child when discussing your return. You can say things like “I’ll be back after nap time!” and that gives them a nice sense of expectation as to when you’ll actually come back. 

If you’re wondering why our example uses “after nap time” instead of an exact hour such as 3 PM, it’s because most children at this age wouldn’t understand what 3 PM means yet. It’s important to provide specifics in a way that they can understand. 

6. Go to bed early

Hungry and tired kids are cranky and clingy kids – and that’s behaviour you don’t want (especially) on their first day of preschool. 

To avoid this, put them to bed early so that both of you can wake up early and refreshed. Waking up early also means that you’ll have time to prepare a big, nutritious, energy-boosting breakfast for your child. This way, you prepare them for school both mentally and physically.        

Plus, it enables them to go to preschool early and with a calm state of mind. It also gives your child more time to settle in before the other children arrive. 

7. Get them excited on the way

On the way to preschool, say positive and exciting things like this: “I’ll bet you’ll eat lots of yummy snacks today!” or “You’ll probably make a new friend!” In other words, start the day right by ensuring they go with a positive mindset. 

It’s important to not suggest negative reactions at this point too. For example, don’t tell them things like “Don’t cry when I leave” because that’s just more likely to give them the idea of actually doing it. The same goes for making comparisons (e.g. “Your friend Hannah never cries in school”). Be positive all throughout!

You can even continue the positivity by giving them a reward after school for making it through their first day – perhaps their favourite snack or a new toy.  

8. Bring a security object 

Comfort objects, such as a child’s favourite plushie or blanket, can give a real sense of security to a child when placed in an unfamiliar environment. So, if the school allows, let your child bring their security object to school. 

However, if they don’t have any, you can technically make something right there! Give them a photo or your own hanky that they can keep until you meet again. 

9. Keep a positive mindset 

Children are far more sensitive than most realise. Your child can pick up your mood and will take cues from you, so as much as possible, ensure that you keep your cool, always smile, and be confident. When they see you being positive in both speech and body language about going to school, they’re more likely to do the same

Help your child become a confident, independent individual

Leaving your child at preschool for the first time can be tough on both you and them… but it’s necessary, as it’s the way your child discovers the world outside of your home and begins to learn independence. This is why it’s so important to choose a good preschool too: with one, you know that you can let go and trust that your child will be in safe hands. 

Are you ready to give your child the opportunity to learn self-reliance and independence in a safe and secure environment as well? Contact us! My Little Campus is a childcare provider in Singapore with dedicated teachers committed to helping your child reach full potential. 

We can show you how we guide the little ones in our care through key milestones, including that very first day of preschool. You can also take a look at our facilities to see what your child will have access to if you register. And of course, you can ask us all of the questions you like about how we help parents through these early years – so, reach out now!

August 7, 2019

What is the Best Age to Start Kindergarten?

Enrollment for primary education at 7 years old is made compulsory for every citizen of Singapore. Due to the competitive nature of its educational systems and increasingly academic subjects taught in schools, some parents begin early education plans as they are concerned or confused on when and what age should their toddlers enroll into reputable kindergartens and preschools.

According to Ministry of Education Singapore, the holistic development of children is the most vital at the preschool level and by the time they leave kindergartens to pursue primary education, children must already possess self-confidence, social skills and be equipped with necessary basic academic knowledge. With the grade classification provided by the Singaporean government, the recommended kindergarten age should begin by the age of 4 years turning to 5 years as K1 and K2 is for children aged 5 to 6 years old.

Developments and Growth in Children

Every child’s growth is different. Speed and skills vary, and a child’s inclination changes over time. Some will be stronger in hard skills, and for others, soft skills will be their advantage. The best age for enrolment may differ due to the circumstances observed in the child’s developmental stage.

Since kindergartens have their own daily activities for children to follow through, children are expected to be well-behaved throughout the classes with minimal interruption. The preschools syllabus and education consist of learning English as the first language and building a foundation in the Mother Tongue. Alongside mastering the ABCs and 123s, children acquire soft and hard skills and most importantly, it is preparation for formal education after kindergarten.

Is Early Enrolment Better for My Child? Should My Child Be Older or Younger?

There is a noticed trend where the cut-off age for attending kindergartens has been lowered by parents who are becoming more competitive to prepare their children for primary schools. The age of children starting preschools or kindergartens vary due to privately established institutions which gives them different access to accept enrolment of many different age groups of children starting from an early 3 years old and above. However, the school fees may cost more as the schools have to care for their young ones who are mostly not potty-trained and with only basic communication skills.

Skoolopedia reports that more and more kindergartens are accepting children from the age of 3 years, which even parents believe is the golden period for children to finally explore and inquire about the bigger world outside of their original home environment. Do note that this is not available at most preschools and that the recommended age by the government is still 4 years old.

In conclusion, education in Singapore is really being looked upon as something that is worth the time spent researching and planning for your child. Due to a competitive education landscape, it is no wonder that children are encouraged to learn as early as possible and as much as they can to give themselves a better standing.

What’s most important is that as a parent, you have the most intimate and best understanding of your child. Both you and your child must be psychologically, academically and emotionally ready to start kindergarten before embarking on this educational journey.

Read more about our Kindergarten Curriculum here.

August 7, 2019

Is My Child Ready for Kindergarten?

How ready your child is for the first level of education is an important factor that can determine the smooth transition into a larger educational and social environment, starting with a kindergarten school. If your child is not ready or unprepared, it may negatively influence his or her perception on school and this can also affect motivation, social relations and self-confidence. Being prepared does not only refer to funds and finances set aside but also whether the child is socially or emotionally prepared for this next step. Hence, it is the parents’ duty to soundly judge if their efforts are optimum in preparing their child for kindergarten.

The most basic method to measure kindergarten readiness is cut-off dates. That is when your child turns 4 years old in Singapore, as laid down by the government and kindergarten operators. Based on the grade classification in Singapore, kindergarten years can be divided into two grades: K1 is for 4 to 5 years old and K2 for 5 to 6 years old. This is considered as the most appropriate age to attend kindergarten.

However, behind the scenes it is different. Parents are the best persons to determine whether their child is ready for kindergarten because they can gauge by everyday situations intimately how their child interacts with others and adapts to new environments. If you are still unsure on whether your child is ready, it is wise to consult your child’s paediatrician, playgroup teachers or caregivers to obtain a second opinion.

How Do I Prepare My Child for Kindergarten?

Parents can help their children by preparing them during their nursery years of up to 4 years old. This can be achieved at home and in preschool. Create opportunities for conversations between you and your child, provide ample time for play and remember to keep learning fun and relaxed to keep your child engaged and positive towards learning.

Exposure to New Environments and Peers
You can also consider frequent exposure to different social environments from as young as less than a year old, so the child would not feel awkward and unsafe when meeting new faces in new situations and in foreign surroundings. Bring them out to libraries, museums and other social events. Set up playdates with other children of similar ages and attend workshops or events as a family to nurture a confident and socially adept child.

Reading Aloud to Acquire Speech and Comprehension Skills
Seek to expand their learning horizon each day by teaching new things or sharing wide conversational topics. One way to do this is through reading aloud to your child. Make the sessions fun and interesting by including play time, hands-on elements and singing nursey rhymes. Rhyming helps as a basis of language and memory development. To make the idea of school more relatable, parents can choose to read aloud books that talk about going to school – some suggestions can be found here.

Help Your Child to be Psychologically and Emotionally Prepared
Lastly, encourage your child to anticipate kindergarten. Show to them where their future school is, tell them about the class timetable and arrange for them to visit selected kindergartens during open days. Talk your child through the various feelings involved and pay attention to the words they use and their emotions towards the matter to know how best you can support your child in this school transition.

What Skills Should My Child Have Before Kindergarten?

Self-care and Awareness Skills
A child is expected to already possess basic skills such as dressing oneself, to use bathrooms on his/her own, and to be able to clean up after oneself. The child also expected to know some personal information like name, birthday, parents’ names and/or contact numbers, and be able to recognise his family members.

Academic Learning Skills
A smoother transition into kindergarten would occur if he possesses other learning skills like being familiar with the alphabet, understanding word rhymes and have a certain amount of vocabulary, spelling his or her names, using a correct grip when holding writing materials, bouncing a ball, identifying shapes, counting to ten and more. If you required a more detailed list, this article has more information.

Social and Emotional Skills
Another aspect that is not less important is a child’s ability to communicate well with other adults and their peers. A child must also be able to listen to lessons and observe basic rules like sitting still and following teacher’s directions. Emotional readiness is also important. Is your child able to get along in a group? Can he/she transition easily from one activity to another? Is he/she independent and curious enough to separate from you for an extended period? These are questions you should consider aside from your child’s academic progress.

What is Done at a Kindergarten Screening?

Some kindergartens require a kindergarten screening session or a readiness test to be conducted before enrolment. At these screenings, you may need to bring along your own identification card and residential proof and your child’s identification documents and health records, especially vaccination and immunization. Among the skills assessed are self-care skills, language skills, cognitive, gross and fine motor skills.

These screenings are conducted for the kindergarten to see if your child is developmentally ready to start school, to help familiarise your child with the kindergarten environment and classrooms and also for parents to see if the kindergarten is a good fit for their child.

Now that you have a clearer picture on what to look out for in your young child, take some time to find out more about these aspects and seek help where needed in guiding your child. After all, creating a conducive learning environment at home to prepare the child is no mean feat. Letting your child meet his/her peers also has the benefit of parents meeting others going through a similar life stage. As the saying goes, ‘it takes a village to raise a child’, and that is no different even in Singapore. We wish you all the best in this journey of growing with your children. Applying the above for your child is just the beginning.

Read more about our Kindergarten Curriculum here.

August 7, 2019

Is it Compulsory to Send My Child to Kindergarten?

The official primary school age in Singapore is seven years old. Preschool and kindergarten attendance before primary school are not compulsory but due to the rigorous nature of education in Singapore and to empower younger generations through education, the government and various community groups highly encourage parents to send their children for kindergarten education as much as possible.

The benefits of attending kindergarten far outweigh the cons as enrolling in preschools can improve the child’s chance to succeed in later years, especially if they are from families that lack financial stability. Excelling in education from a young age is one way to mitigate this. Thus, the government provides support through subsidising kindergartens operated by the Ministry of Education and childcare centres operated and regulated by the Early Childhood Development Agency for children younger than 7 years old.

Is it Mandatory to Go to Kindergarten?

Hence to the above question, we can positively say it is not mandatory as with legal consequences, but unless you want to deprive your children from learning opportunities, then you may choose not to send them to any. When you and your child are ready to embark on the education journey, that is a good time to commence enrolment. In fact, children should achieve certain key stage outcomes after kindergarten years. Holistic development of Singapore’s future generations is of utmost importance because the government knows that the best investment it can make for its people is through education.

Other than building their self-confidence and enthusiasm for life-long learning at kindergartens, children should master language and communication skills, learn how to share and relate with others, have their curiosity aroused, know the rights from wrongs, develop physical coordination and motor skills suitable with their age, cultivate healthy habits and many more. It is not to say that a home environment cannot provide the same growth opportunities for children, but in kindergartens all the above are considered as part of a child’s individual growth objectives and monitored closely by caregivers and teachers at the kindergarten.

Can You Skip Kindergarten?

Skipping kindergarten education is not usually advised. In a country so focused and committed in education, leaving out the early years of education for a child is an equivalent to giving them a hard start in life. For every day that their peers are developing various life skills in a growing environment with trained teachers and caregivers, the child will be limited to a solitary home environment. A high margin of subsidy is available and more information about it can be accessed here. Though it is difficult for some, financial support is available for parents to truly give the best they can for their children.

How Can I Enrol My Child into a Kindergarten?

In Singapore, you may need to register early, around March or April the year before your child is estimated to start preschool. The preschool education can begin as early as 2 years old, attending what we call nursery schools or childcare centres, until they are 4 years old (N1 and N2 respectively). Then they may continue with kindergarten education (of K1 and K2) for children aged 4 to 6 years old. The school fees range depending on the type of kindergarten school. On the year they turn 7 years old, they can embark on their primary school education prepared and with ease and confidence.

As loving parents, we want to give our children the best start possible in life. Despite the rigorous and competitive education system, this fact also shows that much emphasis is placed on the importance of education. Through the aid of government subsidies and the large number of kindergartens available to the population, our young children can build strong foundations with an early head start.

Read more about our Kindergarten Curriculum here.

August 7, 2019

How Much Does Kindergarten Cost in Singapore?

The high costs, quality and standards of living in Singapore are no secret. Likewise, education in Singapore can come with a considerable price tag too. Preschool education is largely subsidised by the government and the differences in cost are mostly due to the choice in preschool type and if additional enrichment classes are included in the costs. These choices require informed financial decisions and possibly even starting an education fund for your child as soon as he/she is born.

In this article, a variety of information on costs and prices of preschool fees have been collated to give a broad overview and help with planning for your child’s kindergarten education. Kindergarten refers to programmes provided for K1 and K2 children aged 4 to 6 years old or when parents deem their young child ready for kindergarten education.

Government-Operated Kindergartens

There are several early childhood programmes available in Singapore, each with a different range of fees. Government-operated programmes are the most affordable due to the subsidy provided. These are known as Ministry of Education (MOE) kindergartens.

For the 4 hours half-day programme (2019 and 2020), Singaporean citizens are expected to pay S$160 per month per child, and S$320 for permanent resident children. If you are sending the child for the full day programme, there is a KCare programme operating from 7 AM to 7 PM with costs ranging between S$325 to S$386.

ECDA Anchor Operator Kindergartens

Another type of early childhood education available in Singapore is childcare centres regulated by Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA). This government scheme of Anchor Operators (AOPs) provides support to childcare and kindergarten operators to help keep fees affordable and increase access to quality early childhood care and education, especially for those in the lower income group.

Government grants are given to help offset staff wages as the maximum fee collected per child monthly for kindergartens is capped at S$160 (excluding GST). For young parents who are just starting out in their careers and life, you can apply for financial assistance provided by the government through Kindergarten Fee Assistance Scheme (KiFAS), Kindergarten Care (Kcare Subsidy) and the Start-Up Grant.

Private and International Kindergartens

International kindergarten refers to an early childhood education centre that follows external curriculum and develops its own programme separate from the government’s education approach. They usually have their own holistic educational methods and systems. Some even accept children younger than 4 years old into their kindergarten programs. Thus, the fees are usually higher that government subsidised preschools. Moreover, they operate without subsidy from government.

Be sure to check that their kindergarten programmes are accredited by the government. Monthly kindergarten fees can vary from S$800+ to S$5,000+. This amount does not include registration fees which can go as high as S$4,000.

Average Prices of Kindergarten Fees

Based on the price ranges above, the average kindergarten fees in Singapore is a bit high on the scale. Below is a comparison table of what will cost you on average monthly and annually, based on which preschool programme you choose:

Preschool and Kindergarten Programmes	Full day per month on avg.	Half-day per month on avg.	Annual Costs
MOE Kindergartens	S$375.00 (childcare)	S$150.00	S$4,500.00
International Kindergartens	S$9,600+ to $60, 000	S$9,600+ to $60, 000	S$9,600+ to $60, 000
ECDA Anchor Operator Kindergartens	S$720.00 (childcare)	S$160.00	S$8,640.00

Remember that the cost shown does not include the costs of transportation and transit, and possibly other fees such as registration fees, uniform and material fees. The amounts shown in the table are the prices before GST (Goods and Services Tax) which will add to the final amounts paid in the end.

Knowing this beforehand may help to save parents trouble later. Early planning will help to alleviate the brunt of financial burdens young families may face as they raise children. The cost of kindergartens in Singapore has changed over the years with higher subsidies from the government to better support parents who seek quality education for their children.

Read more about our Kindergarten Curriculum here.