Every parent knows that choosing a preschool in Singapore for your child is no easy task! As much as you want them to have a unique competitive edge, you also want them to be able to enjoy being a kid and appreciate the learning process.
This is particularly why some parents consider international preschools in Singapore. Besides the advantage of a multicultural childhood experience, there are more unique benefits to choosing this type of preschool that you wouldn’t know until you see the results yourself.
Here are the primary reasons international preschools in Singapore are the best option to kickstart your child’s academic journey!
- Competitive, global curriculum
The first thing you have to know about international preschools is that they follow another country’s curriculum, usually from the US, Australia, or Canada.
Many foreign curricula are integrated with several educational practices and philosophies from more than one system to give young children the best of everything.
For example, Lily Valley’s curriculum is Reggio-Emilia-inspired, and includes a combination of the best international holistic enquiry and play-based approaches as well as Singapore’s Nurturing Early Learners (NEL) framework.
Besides strengthening children’s cognitive abilities, these foreign curricula provide children with a broader, more well-rounded learning experience that goes beyond the classroom and helps inform their identities as global citizens.
- Exposure to cultural diversity
It’s mostly expats and parents from foreign backgrounds who send their children to international preschools.
In such a culturally diverse country like Singapore, it’s important for preschoolers to be open-minded, learn inclusivity, and respect other people’s heritage.
Exposure to different languages, traditions, and customs trains young children to be more receptive to other perspectives at a young age. The day-to-day interactions with their peers from other backgrounds also allow them to have a deeper understanding of cultural differences.
Additionally, engaging with people from other cultural backgrounds allows children to discover new problem-solving skills. It gives them the understanding that there isn’t just a single way of resolving problems.
The earlier a child realises this, the earlier they learn to come up with new ideas, throw out the rule book, and trust in their own capacity and decisions.
- Multilingual education
Speaking more than one language is a competitive edge in a highly globalised world.
Although many preschools teach children to become bilingual, international preschools give them the opportunity to learn other languages beyond English and Mandarin.
Engaging with teachers and students who speak other languages enhances not only their communication skills but also their critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. It’s also been shown that being multilingual helps young learners acquire superior writing and reading skills.
Lastly, bilingual or multilingual children are afforded more advantages when it comes to academic and professional opportunities.
- Humble, culturally-sensitive upbringing
A common virtue of international preschools in Singapore is the commitment to showing love and care for the world, regardless of our cultural differences.
Through the fundraisers and community events that these preschools regularly hold, children develop the sense of responsibility to advocate for other people and make a difference in their own way.
- Smoother transition to overseas schools
According to a UNESCO report, about 21,666 Singapore students are studying overseas as of early 2023. Many students remain keen on pursuing an overseas education and obtaining a degree from prestigious international universities.
Sending your child to an international preschool in Singapore can help with a smoother transition to an international school setting when the time comes.
Being acquainted with a global curriculum, instructional methods, and different cultural atmosphere, and speaking more than one language will give them that leg up to easily adapt and thrive in an overseas school.