The Future is Hands-On: How to Choose a Preschool in the Age of AI

We also live in a tech revolution which is transforming all aspects of our lives including working, communicating among others. Yet, possibly, the most radical changes are taking place within a field that is usually not a topic of debate as to the future: early childhood education.

The stakes are so high as far as parents of the so-called Alpha Generation (those who are born completely during the 21st century) are concerned. The children will live in the world where Artificial Intelligence (AI) is omnipresent. They will find themselves in a job market where 65 percent of the positions that they would occupy in future are yet to be created. In this regard, the model of education established in the past, the memorization of facts and their iteration, is not only out of date, but also out of existence.

How then do we equip our youngest learners to this uncertain future? The solution is a change in the passive approach to learning to the active approach of hands-on learning. It is about discovering a preschool environment which provides high-tech literacy and high-touch human relationship.

Need to find a friendly local centre or something more cultural? The main points of selecting a school are unchanged: Is the curriculum future-ready? Does the environment encourage nurture? And does it suit the logistical reality of family life?

The Neighborhood Advantage: Location Strategy

When in search of the so-called ideal school, the parents tend to commit the mistake of believing that the longer the commute, the better the school. In their minds, they visualize that the ideal schools are concentrated in the city centre and not near the residential heartlands. But the veteran parents will explain that logistics is one of the major elements of the success of a child in education.

The child who takes an hour in a car seat in the morning is less energetic at school than the child who enjoyed a relaxing breakfast for ten minutes. That is why the possibility to find a high-quality childcare sengkang is a strategic choice of the families in the Northeast.

Decentralization of the higher education system implies that the best curriculums can now be found just a few steps away in your neighbourhood. The Cambridge Pre-school at Sengkang is the best of both worlds. They offer the future oriented rigorous curriculum that is required by parents and all that is situated in a facility that is easily accessible.

This availability opens up to improved parent-school alliance. Fathers and mothers feel more connected to the day-to-day life of their child since parents tend to attend school activities when the school is within a distance of their residence, talking to the teachers who dropped off their children, and attending school events. It also helps to facilitate play dates with classmates that live in the neighborhood, helping to establish the social bonds that are very important in the emotional growth of a child. As parents select a school in Sengkang, it is no longer considered that they are settling because of convenience; they are merely streamlining the routine of a child to succeed.

Globalization of Culture Fluency

Whereas other families may emphasize on proximity, there are those that emphasize on cultural specificity. Singapore is an international business and to most expatriate families a connection with home culture is a must. On the same note, a lot of the local families are looking outward towards also having a more international outlook on their children.

Such a demand has brought about special programmes that incorporate local curriculum requirements and specific cultural pedagogies. One of the most notable examples is the delivery of a japanese kindergarten experience in the situation of Singapore.

The curriculum in the Cambridge Pre-school in River Valley is structured in such a way that it honors and incorporates Japanese culture. This is not just a mere language teaching. It entails exposing children to the ideals that constitute Japanese early childhood education: respect, discipline, mindfulness, and appreciation of nature.

To the Japanese family residing in Singapore, this centre is a safe haven where their child is able to speak their native language and hold on to their traditional festivals. To non-Japanese families it presents a glimpse into another perspective of viewing the world. This is the setting that children in this environment develop what is referred to as cultural code-switching. They understand that there are other rules and norms in different cultures and they know how to deal with it with ease. This diversity awareness and appreciation is a soft skill that will prove to be vital in the global workforce in the future. It is about bringing up children not only smart, but wise to the surrounding world.

The strength of Thinking with hands

No matter what is the spot of the school location, what cultural taste it has, the most important thing is the curriculum. What do children know in an era of AI?

It is agreed by progressive educators that we must shift to iSTEAM (Innovation, Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) rather than STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math). It is important that there is the introduction of Innovation and Arts. It means a shift between knowing how the world works to inventing new ways of how the world should work.

Parents seeking a steam preschool in my area are seeking an environment that can make them curious. They desire a school where children would be asked to ask the question why. and "What if?"

The iSTEAM method used in Cambridge Pre-school is aimed at creating Future Skills. These are critical thinking, problem solving and teamwork. This could be depicted on a normal day as a bunch of children attempting to construct a home of a toy animal out of recycled materials.

To the commoner, it appears to be play. But when you really take a closer look you find the gears turning.

● Science: They are experimenting on the materials that are waterproof.

● Engineering: They are working out how to make the roof not fall on top of them.

● Math: They are testing how big the animal will be to fit.

● Arts: They are also adorning the shelter so that they can make it friendly.

● Innovation: Once the initial design fails, they brainstorm.

This is dubbed as Thinking with Hands. It is the remedy to the inactive screen consumption. Through the use of the senses of touch, the children remember better and have a better grasp of the concept of physical objects. In addition, they get to know resilience. They get to know that failure is one of the steps on the way to success. This attitude- the growth attitude is probably the greatest gift we can ever give a child.

The First 1,000 Days: It All Starts Here

This high level of thinking is based surprisingly early. It is not when one is in Kindergarten; it is when one is in the infant care centre. The initial 1,000 days of the child's life (after conception and up to the age of two years) are known as a rare opportunity in the development of the brain.

Premium infant care Hougang is a vital puzzle to parents living in the Hougang and Serangoon area. The Cambridge Pre-school at the Kingford Waterbay understands that an infant does not only wait to grow up but is an active learner from the first day.

A good infant care environment should be characterized by an environment that is rich in sensory experiences but is low in the stressful environment. It is where teachers (a portmanteau word of educator and carer) are trained to pick up the nuances of babies.

Relationship-based care is the key in the Kingsford Waterbay centre. The educarer is likely to spend as much time as he can with the same infant and develop an atmosphere of trust. This attachment is vital. Once the infant feels secure and lovable, the oxytocin is released by their brain, which facilitates growth and learning. Their brain secretes cortisol when they are stressed or ignored, and it suppresses the development.

Infant curriculum implies the use of simple yet deep activities: tummy time to develop the core strength, sensory play with non-toxic materials to explore the textures, and continuous verbal interaction to develop language routes. Parents who select a centre that values such developmental milestones will be assured that their children will start the toddler age with a healthy physical and emotional base.

Choosing the Right Path of Your Child

A preschool is one of the major decisions that a parent makes when their child is still in infancy. It may be overwhelming but it is better to concentrate on the essentials.

The future will be of those who are capable of improvising, collaborating and evolving. So, you must make sure that the school you attend will be able to develop these skills. It needs to be the place where technology is applied as a creation tool rather than a consumption one. It needs to be a place respecting culture identity and encouraging worldwide perspective. And, in practice, it must be the place which goes into the life of your family and the everyday routine there is a delight and not a curse.

Be it the convenience of one of the hubs in Sengkang, the special cultural immersion of River Valley, the progressive iSTEAM curriculum or the tender care of an infant centre in Hougang, choices that parents have today are more than ever before. The point is to see beyond the surface and say: Does this place where my child lives prepare my child for the world of yesterday, or the world of tomorrow?

With the focus on active learning, emotional safety, and skills to prepare for the future, you can be sure that you provide your child with the best possible start in life. The digital age is not only real, but it is promising.