Renowned American psychologist Howard Gardner said, “A child can develop multiple intelligences through a combination of nature and nurture.” Here in Singapore, Mosaic Preschool is using different educational approaches, including play-based learning and co-curricular learning through play activities, to nurture multiple intelligences in early childhood learners.
Executive Principal CRYSTAL TAN tells us more.
What does multiple intelligences refer to?
Howard Gardner, a cognitive psychologist from Harvard University, developed the Theory of Multiple Intelligences. He suggested that each person has eight different relatively independent intelligences – Linguistic, Logical/Mathematical, Spatial, Bodily-Kinaesthetic, Musical, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal and Naturalist – of varying degrees of proficiency. Each individual’s learning style is unrelated to the area they’re the most intelligent in.
Gardner believes that schools should look at a child’s holistic development and assessment by not being confined to one specific method of teaching. There are many different ways that children learn concepts or skills; it can be through visual, auditory or kinaesthetic learning, for example. Some of the popular educational approaches adopted by early childhood institutions in Singapore include Montessori, Reggio Emilia and play-based learning.
Why is it important to nurture a child’s multiple intelligences?
Because it strengthens their potential to build mastery while also helping those aren’t as strong in certain areas to develop confidence and expertise. With the multifaceted exposure, learning is enhanced.
For example, a student may absorb a concept well through a particular approach but that same child may learn even better and enhance his or her learning through another approach. We should move away from the idea that children can only learn in a particular style as it’s limiting his or her capabilities and potential.
At what ages do schools begin to do this?
There’s no particular age group for starting to nurture a child’s multiple intelligences. However, the impact is bigger when a child starts early; knowledge is further strengthened and retained further.
At Mosaic Preschool, we begin with children from 18 months, and continue all the way up to six years.
What are the ways in which Mosaic Preschool does this?
#1 Our unique early childhood curriculum incorporates different methodologies to nurture multiple intelligences. In the morning, there’s play-based learning and projects. In the afternoon, children have co-curricular activities that encompass the Montessori method and the wider range of different enrichments to heighten their holistic learning. Through interactive hands-on early childhood play, our preschool children build critical skills and gain competencies.
#2 We marry the Early Years Foundation Stage – the UK’s national framework – with Singapore’s NEL curriculum. We specially curate our early childhood programmes to provide opportunities for our preschool children to heighten their 21st-century skills to grow into confident and curious leaders. These include making their own decisions, unleashing their creativity, public speaking and practicing problem solving.
#3 We embrace and celebrate diversity with over 20 nationalities at the school. We believe that the unique experiences and cultural backgrounds of every child will benefit all our learners. We also have a holiday exchange programme for children of different nationalities from other international early childhood schools to experience a summer or winter exchange at Mosaic during their vacation break.
What are some of the co-curricular activities that are popular with students?
There are 17 different early childhood play enrichments to choose from, grouped according to children’s milestones and age groups. There are five to seven programmes daily. The children or parents select the programmes, and the programmes are customised and unique to each child.
The following programmes are a big hit with our students:
Coding Class
Children’s critical and inventive thinking are developed when they configure and construct their own robot followed by coding the robots to move and carry out missions. This integrated curriculum emphasises the development of the child’s intellectual capabilities to think critically, creatively and inventively. Apart from spatial and mathematical concept, the child also develops resilience in problem-solving as well as igniting their curiosity to venture into new challenges.
Cookery Class
Children whip up different cuisines – making a mess is part of the fun. They’re involved from the preparation work right up to exploring different cooking methods.
Little Olympiad Science Club
Learners engage in different science experiments to learn about scientific facts and knowledge. It excites them to witness the cause and effect of things; that’s how they make inferences and reasons about things that happen around us.
Chinese Immersion
The focus is on introducing the Chinese culture to our students through dramatisation, games and cultural arts. Learning Mandarin is no longer a chore as it’s fun with exciting activities.
Smart Start Programme
This programme offers more formal activities for older children that strengthen their speaking, reading and writing components in their language pursuits and numeracy knowledge. The syllabuses are challenging and provide an extra perk to formal learning in elementary school.
Each year, we innovate and design new programmes for our students; our upcoming new programmes include Calligraphy, Wushu and writing classes.
Nurture your child’s multiple intelligences at Mosaic Preschool
Curious to know more about the play based learning and co-curricular enrichment at Mosaic Preschool? Get in touch with the team at info@mosaicpreschool.sg. Or book a tour of the school and bring your child along to experience learning through play on the campus.
mosaicpreschool.sg
Bukit Timah campus: 896 Dunearn Road #05-01 | 6909 0470
Eunos campus (opening May 2022): 168 Changi Road #05-01 | 9615 3641
Don’t miss our huge guide on preschools and kindergartens in Singapore! Plus ideas on fun things to do and top places to go this weekend with the family.
