Ask And Learn

Choosing a preschool can be a mindboggling process. Experts point out nine important factors to consider.

- Sasha Gonzales

Enrolling your little one in a childcare centre helps his well-being and development in a number of ways. It teaches him social skills, like sharing, resolving conflicts and listening to others’ viewpoints. It also helps him gain self-help skills, like feeding himself, getting dressed and taking care of his possessions, and assists with cognitive, physical and creative growth.

Childcare centres are different from kindergartens in that they offer a full-day service, from 7am to 7pm. The latter offer three-to-four-hour programmes.

Ruth Chia, senior manager of Programmes, Child Support Services, at NTUC First Campus Co-Operative, says the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) has set criteria for childcare centre operators and issues licences to ensure they are met.

These include staff qualifications, as well as the learning programme and environment, health, safety and administration of the centre. 

When it comes to choosing the perfect childcare centre for Junior, here are guidelines to follow:

1 Decide what your child needs

Before you even start researching childcare centres, Ruth says to ask yourself these questions: What kind of childcare or environment are you looking for? Do you picture your child in a busy, active place with many children, or a small, nurturing environment with just a few? Are you looking for a particular educational philosophy? What are your child’s specific needs – toilet training, napping or socialising?

“You may wish to identify the most important aspect of preschool you believe your child will benefit from,” adds Yang Chien-Hui, senior lecturer, Early Childhood Education Programme, SIM University.