What's For Kindergarten Kids?

Dr Colleen Drisner spent three years as Head of Student Support and Wellbeing at the Canadian International School (CIS) before assuming her current role as Primary School Principal at the Lakeside campus this year. Originally from Canada, she has also spent 16 years in China as a teacher, IB coordinator and principal at an international school, and as a teacher trainer. She shares her insights on what to look for in a kindergarten.

What do you think is the most important factor in early childhood education?

Learning is a social endeavor. The foundation for success lies in the development of a student’s personal, social and emotional wellbeing. To foster a child’s academic abilities, you have to be able to “see” the whole child – then you’ll know best how to encourage them to learn.

What should parents consider when choosing a kindergarten?

Look for a focus on helping children “learn how to learn” by guiding them to develop their own voice and interest in learning. This helps to develop positive attitudes, habits, and learning styles, which in turn develops strong foundational skills such as numeracy and literacy.

Purposeful play and inquiry-based learning engages children and triggers their curiosity, allowing them to hone their critical thinking skills, excel at collaborative work and solve problems creatively. For example, with water play, they can learn all about volume and capacity through a hands-on process.