Choosing excellent preschools for your kids

Sudibyo M. Wiradji, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Early childhood education programs provided by preschools and kindergartens undoubtedly offer an opportunity for children to develop their full potential.

Studies have consistently indicated that starting children in early education programs will improve their independence, self- confidence and language development, in addition to the improvement of social skills and interest in learning.

More importantly, early education programs also provide the children with foundations for academic learning in later stages of their education.

In Indonesia, there are many excellent preschools to choose from. Some of the quality preschools are run by international schools. They include the long-established Jakarta International School (JIS), the Gandhi Memorial International School (GMIS), the British International School (BIS), the Australian International School (AIS) and the Jakarta Montessori School (JMIS).

Most international preschools offer early childhood education programs for children aged three to five. They use English as the language of instruction.

The Jakarta International School (JIS), for example, offers a rich and engaging early childhood program for children aged three to five years in a safe and nurturing environment.

"Our program looks at children in a holistic way and designs developmentally appropriate activities that promote their intellectual, language, physical, social/emotional and aesthetic development," said JIS director of public relations William Woodruff.

The core curriculum provided by JIS, which has a campus on Jl. K.H. Muhasyim, South Jakarta, include the language arts, math, science and health, social/personal skills, art, music and physical education.

The school provides a variety of teacher-designed learning activities for children to give them the opportunity to practice and improve skills in all developmental areas.

"A balance between teacher-facilitated activities and those which are child-initiated are evidenced in all classrooms," he said.

Currently, as many as 90 preschool students from 30 different nationalities attend early education classes at JIS.

The British International School (BIS) that runs Pondok Indah Early Years Center on Jl. Metro, South Jakarta also offers a curriculum primarily designed to encourage children to experience the joy of learning.

"At BIS, we lay the foundations for a life-long love of learning," BIS preschool director Frank Znideric said.

The school emphasizes acquiring social skills and learning through guided play activities in the early stage of education. "But when children are ready, there is ample provision for them to develop their reading, writing and mathematical skills," said Znideric.

The school nurtures children's reading and writing skills in various ways. For instance, by providing a setting in which children listen to and re-tell stories, listen to taped books and read notices and labels within the classroom, he said.

With outstanding early years experience, children are expected to have established solid foundations on which they can build and be ready to enter formal schooling, said Znideric.

Meanwhile, pre-school children at the Gandhi Memorial International School (GMIS) are exposed to an international perspective so that they gradually become aware of and are sensitive toward children from different countries and cultures, and religious and ethnic backgrounds.

As an International Baccalaureate (IB) school, the GMIS aims to develop each of its students as a "whole child". Therefore, its educational programs are tailored to meet the social, physical, emotional and cultural needs of every child. "We believe in the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi, who once said: "By education I mean drawing out the best from the body, mind and soul of the child," said A.P. Singh, the GMIS principal.

There are also a number of internationally franchised preschools in Jakarta. Preschools of this category include Child Development Center and Kinderland, which are both based in Singapore.

The Cambridge Child Development Center (CCDC) in Jl. Pejaten Raya, South Jakarta provides child-care and early learning programs for children aged 18 months to six years old.

The school offers a curriculum designed to foster holistic development of children.

"Our wide range of preschool enrichment programs afford an excellent ground for children to develop their cognitive, physical, emotional and social skills as well as their self- esteem and personal attributes," said CCDC franchise consultant Dini Novita.

The school uses English and Chinese as the languages of instruction. "We also use Chinese as a language of instruction because it is one of the languages used among businesspeople in the world," said Dini Novita.

Other well-known preschools include Discovery Center, Kiddie Planet and Bambino Preschool. Although managed by local education professionals, such preschools have also followed international curricula in their education programs.

Established around 14 years ago, Discovery Center also offers early childhood education program for children aged one to five.

The preschool provides 11 learning modules where children develop academic skills in different areas, such as language, math, science, writing, shape/color/size, computer art, puzzles, building materials and lessons from practical life such as pouring, spooning, buttoning and lacing.

In the language center, for instance, toddlers learn vocabulary by touching and feeling available objects as they practice the names of the items and the sound of the letter.

"Over time as the child learns more and more sounds he or she can begin blending them into three-letter words, such as cat and bat. Eventually, the child moves into beginner books," said Discovery Center owner Beth Sang.

Currently, Discovery Center has a campus in Menteng, Central Jakarta and another one in Cipete, South Jakarta, with some 50 students from many different nationalities.

Like Discovery Center, Kiddie Planet also offers a curriculum primarily designed to foster the academic development of children so that they will become an independent and confident individuals with high self-esteem.

Kiddie Planet's Montessori section director Reshma Bhojwani said that several elements of the Montessori curriculum were included in the preschool's curriculum.

"Our method of teaching encourages children to conduct their activities based on the materials they choose. In this way the children can enhance their self-confidence because they can do it by themselves," said Reshma.

The preschool, established in 2002, currently has 135 students from many different nationalities.

Kiddie Planet has its campus on Jl. Agung Timur 9, Sunter Podomoro, North Jakarta.

Meanwhile, children who attend Bambino Preschool are encouraged to initiate and maximize their learning experience.

To stimulate children's learning, Bambino Preschool applies real-life related themes. "For instance, we regularly invite parents to have special programs here, such as story telling, painting and cooking demonstrations," said Bambino Preschool's director Djoe Sik Tjhan.

The preschool is equipped with a computer room, a library, two playgrounds, a gymnasium and a drama area.

Set up by the Bina Tunas Bangsa Foundation, Bambino Preschool has over 80 students from 20 different nationalities.

Bambino Preschool's campus is located on Jl. Brawijaya Raya No. 4, South Jakarta.