Choosing excellent preschools for your kids

Choosing excellent preschools for your kids

FOCUS ISSUE: Preschools -- Sunday Oct. 3

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.