5 Tips to Persuade Your Kid Join a Reading Program for KIds

Kindergarten is not all about playing and building things using the toys around the children. Kindergarten is also a place where children are taught the basics of the alphabet, numbers, things, and figures. The preschool reading program has a basic framework aligned to the age of the child. However, there are times when kids are not actively engaged in reading because all they know is play and goof around. How do we encourage them to like and enjoy reading? Can we do it even after school? Do we need to enrol them in a reading program for kids? Fret not! Here are the following tips to encourage your child to join a reading program for children.

1. Make your child feel that it is okay to make mistakes while reading. There are times when a child no longer wants to try reading again because he is afraid to mispronounce a word or because he has no idea on how to say it. When teaching your kids to read, it is always better that you read it first and then read it aloud together. In this way, you have the opportunity to hear and discover your kid’s pronunciation and test his knowledge retention. Make your everyday routine a reading day! You can boost your child’s confidence while reading by asking him to read words and signs while you are in the grocery, in the park or in the streets.

2. Start with the reading materials that would spike up your child’s interest. Perhaps your child has a pet dog, you can start by buying books about dogs. In this way, your preschool kid won’t feel pressured because he might think that you are also interested in what he or she likes without even realising that you are observing and teaching him to read and comprehend.

3. Pay a visit to the library. “I am not fascinated in the huge amount of books inside the library!” said no kid ever. While inside the library, let your kid choose the book that he wants to read. You can read it silently together or just let him feel the crisp pages of the book in his hand. If he is engaged enough, you may raise questions regarding the book and if he answered it correctly or not, you may make a promise to pay a visit to another “cool” library in town.

4. Bedtime stories are very effective. Make it a habit to read bedtime stories to your kids. Remember it takes 21 days to make a habit and children usually mimic other people’s behaviour. According to studies, imitating the sounds of animals by reading the stories tend to stimulate part of the auditory cortex. The child usually remembers these things if done repeatedly.

5. Make it a point to have a reading nook inside your home. It is like a comfort zone but more on the interior aspect. Setting the reading mood of your child is fun. A good headlamp or lamppost would be of great help. Beanbags is also child-friendly and it will make the child very comfortable while reading. 

What to Expect from the Programs in Kindergarten in Singapore

As children reach their studying or learning age, it is suggested that they experience schooling even at a young age. Nowadays, there are lots of day care centers or kindergarten facilities offering preparatory or kindergarten programs. Most of these programs are not boring, but rather very engaging. Here we discover what to expect from the programs in Kindergarten in Singapore. Explore the benefits of these programs and learn about the expectations in an international kindergarten in Singapore.

1. Sharpens academic skills. In every kindergarten program, its goal is to sharpen the child’s academic skills. This includes increasing his interest in reading. Likewise, the program aims to encourage young people to read more and more to improve their comprehension. Letting kindergarten students write also help them communicate their ideas in the form of words. It may be a letter to their parents, friends, or neighbours. Through writng, the students’ emotions or feelings are being expressed without any hesitations.

2. Values fitness and physical activities. Young students love to play. There’s no doubt about that. That’s why many preschool programs cater to their interests in playing and sports. It may be a simple act of role playing or exercises where they have to work on their own or work closely with their classmates. In addition, their interest to play and have fun are not the only things given attention here but also their social and emotional skills are being developed.

3. Boosts self confidence and achievement. Some kindergarten classes include literacy and language arts. This type of approach is a sure way of significantly boosting a student’s self-esteem and his sense of achievement. Students enrolled in this program get to improve their mastery of the English language and even heighten their interest in reading.

4. Improves social skills. Whether it’s a reading class or a physical activity, a kindergarten program is designed to improve and develop the student’s social skills. He is surrounded with different kids who are with the same age as his. He interacts with them and learns how to play with them in a calm, peaceful, and rewarding manner.

5. Teaches the value of respect. When in the class, students, even at a young age, are expected to pay respect not only to the elders, but also to their teachers and classmates. Kindergarten students become more aware of themselves and conscious of their acts. When they see two elders talking, they are advised to stay quiet or when they notice their classmates reading this certain book, they will wait for them to finish it.

6. Exposes to new people, ideas, and concepts. There’s no minimum age when it comes to learning, socialising, or sharing new ideas. Students in kindergarten schools are given the opportunities to meet new people and befriend them. Likewise, it is an appropriate venue to express their ideas, no matter how childish or silly it is.

These are just some of the benefits of kindergarten programs and all of these can be helpful to the children. Other schools also provide support for students with special needs and resources to community support services.

Discover 5 Things About International Schools in Singapore

International schools spread like mushrooms in Singapore. It has been a thriving business because of the positive feedback from the students, parents, and alumni. It is somewhat similar to the junior term abroad being offered by other universities because at an early age, the kids are focused on understanding their classmates’ culture, and individuality. So, what makes an international school? How is this different from the regular school? Do students really benefit from these schools? Here are the factors that make up the best international school.

1. The school should follow a local or an international curriculum from a specific country or has the IB Curriculum as its framework. Most of the international schools in Singapore follow the IB curriculum or the International Baccalaureate curriculum. This type of course acts as the school’s structure in cultivating the learners for every year level. International Baccalaureate offers different types of program such as PYP – Primary Years Program, MYP – Middle Years Program, DP – Diploma Program and CRP/CP – Career Related Program. Some international schools follow other countries’ curriculum (i.e American, German curriculum etc.) because they believe that these types of curriculum produce better results in teaching the young.

2.  The school should have a transition plan for students coming in at any time and date of the year. A transition plan best works for children of expatriates because even if they transfer from half way across the world, they are still able to continue their studies and move on to the succeeding grade level with or with minimal delay in timeframe. The students are able to catch up with the lessons without repeating what they have started in their homeland.

3. The school should have interracial faculties and students. An international school is not called an international school if they only cater to locals. The more diverse the culture is, the more your kid will grasp the concept of belonging and confidence in interacting to different kids from all over the globe.

4. The method of instruction is bilingual or in English. English is commonly used as the method of instruction in international schools because it is understood by many students even if they are of different continents and nationalities. Local dialect can also be used as a form of communication because these schools provide mother tongue programs for kids. 

5. It has a variety of activities related to international studies. Most international schools observe the holidays of each country in respect for individualism and cultural differences. They often hold programs in commemoration of these dates with the participation of other students from different nationalities. These programs help the students to identify and understand these different festivities by immersing themselves in the same.

6. The school has met the standards set by the International Association of School Libraries (IASL). When choosing an international school, parents should take into consideration the following criteria set by the IASL: A moving population (higher than in national public schools), an international curriculum, international accreditation, bilingual language instruction, non-selective student enrolment, multinational and multi lingual student body, moving population, and transferability of students.