• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Go to Expat Living Hong Kong
GET OUR NEWSLETTER

Expat Living Singapore HomepageExpat Living Singapore

Moving to Singapore and not sure where to start? Expat Living is the essential lifestyle guide to living in Singapore.

Menu
  • Living in Singapore
      • Living here
      • Neighbourhood Guides
      • Schools
      • Property
      • Work And Business
      • Finance
      • For Guys
      • Environment
        • Chinese New Year lanternsChinese New Year: What to do (and not do)
        • Men’s shirts10 of the best places to buy men’s shirts
        • Hospitals in Singapore patient and doctor hospital roomShould I go to a public or private hospital?
        • Performers Ballet Academy ballet dancer on stage activities for kidsExciting enrichment activities for kids
      • View all
    Close
  • Things To Do
      • Things to do
      • EL Events
      • Calendar
      • Competitions
      • Noticeboard
        • Chinese New Year lanternsChinese New Year: What to do (and not do)
        • bookGreat books: What to read this month
        • super soulGreat podcasts we are listening to!
        • queens gambitWhat to watch – or listen to…
      • View all
    Close
  • Kids
      • Enrichment
      • Kids Things To Do
      • Mums & Babies
      • Schools
      • Tots & Toddlers
      • Tweens & Teens
        • Mark WenzelMeet the new Superintendent!
        • Performers Ballet Academy ballet dancer on stage activities for kidsExciting enrichment activities for kids
        • childrens mental health covidCOVID Fatigue – How it’s affecting us all
        • Tanglin Rugby Club young boy and girl playing touch rugby kids rugby clubs in singaporeKids’ rugby clubs in Singapore
      • View all
    Close
  • Homes
      • Home Decor
      • Readers’ Homes
      • Furniture
        • Bungalow 55Having a party of eight?
        • The Cinnamon roomRugs and carpets – who bought what?
        • 2021New Year’s Tech Resolutions
        • Nassar Persian RugsWhere to buy Persian carpets in Singapore
      • View all
    Close
  • Travel
      • Asia
      • Australia & New Zealand
      • Rest Of World
      • News
      • Travel Offers
        • The Fullerton Hotel kids room tent4 fun family staycays – with deals!
        • Merdeka - Where to stay in ThailandWhere to stay in Thailand, reviews & more
        • Covid-19 travel woman mask airportCOVID-19 travel: What to expect
        • Hong Kong with kids - SuperParkThings to Do with Kids in Hong Kong
      • View all
    Close
  • Wine & Dine
      • Asian Cuisine
      • Western Cuisine
      • Bars & Clubs
      • Groceries & Speciality Services
      • Recipes & Classes
        • LyresDry January: Alcohol-free drinks to try!
        • vietnamese food que beef pho singaporeIn the mood for Vietnamese?
        • Barista CoffeeNew Nibbles: Foodie news!
        • online groceries singaporeTop websites to get your groceries
      • View all
    Close
  • Style & Beauty
      • Fashion
      • Hair & Beauty
      • Beauty Offers
        • Men’s shirts10 of the best places to buy men’s shirts
        • how to look good on zoom face treatments aesthetic clinic singaporeHow to look good on Zoom
        • jewelleryJewellery gift ideas for all budgets
        • Weekend sunday clothesShopping from home – a new online marketplace!
      • View all
    Close
  • Health & Fitness
      • Dental
      • Fitness
      • Medical
      • Wellness
        • Hospitals in Singapore patient and doctor hospital roomShould I go to a public or private hospital?
        • childrens mental health covidCOVID Fatigue – How it’s affecting us all
        • getting fit best gym The Viva Group Pilates And WellnessBest Gyms – getting a fitness regime that lasts
        • how to be happy and maintain happinessDon’t worry, be happy – but how?
      • View all
    Close
  • Shop
    • PRINT MAGAZINE
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINE
    • BOOKS
    • Close
Home » Kids » Enrichment » Can preschool affect your entire life?

Can preschool affect your entire life?

11th October 2018 by Monica Pitrelli 3 Min Read

https://expatliving.sg/preschool-in-singapore-early-education-impacts-shaws/

Studies agree: access to early education can change the trajectory of the rest of your life. In April, the Singapore government announced plans to increase spending on preschool education to S$1.7 billion by 2022. The reason why may surprise you. The decision to nearly double spending on early childhood education was made to address the country’s growing inequality problem.

Shaws Preschool at the beach

Singapore is tackling the very adult problems of wealth and income disparity by going all the way back to the playground. And research is firmly on the government’s side. Studies confirm that high-quality early childhood education leads to better standardised test scores, higher educational attainment and greater income gains later in life. When applied to entire communities, societies benefit in the form of decreased crime, less dependence on governmental assistance and increased overall physical health.

So, what is so special about the first five years of life? Scientists believe the brain develops faster during these years than at any other point in life. The period from birth to age five is critical for developing the foundations for thinking, behaving and emotional well-being. What children see, hear, feel, taste and smell during this time can shape their brains for the rest of their lives. Conversely, lack of adequate stimuli can have a lasting impact, too.

Shaws Preschool painting

This is why preschool is considered to be the great equaliser. K Shanmugam, Singapore’s Minister for Home Affairs and Law, said, “At the point of birth, there is already a gap. That gap widens because of the difference in the families.” Preschool can level the playing field – not because children get earlier lessons in reading, writing and arithmetic as is commonly believed, but by exposing kids from all walks of life to similar stimuli and experiences in their younger years.

“To be honest, teaching the A-B-Cs and 1-2-3s are the easiest parts. Preschool is about providing experiences,” says LIANE SHAW of Shaws Preschool. “Through these experiences, children pick up skills far more complicated than reading and counting. They learn how to socialise with other children and how to communicate, negotiate and work together.”

Access to preschools has an even greater impact on children from lower socioeconomic homes (where there tends to be less access to books, conversations with adults and other educational stimuli). Additionally, preschool programmes must be well-designed to produce the permanent effects found in many of the studies.

“Just being in a room with other kids is not enough,” says Liane. “Structured curriculums built on play, projects and exploration are crucial to the preschool environment. Children can learn so much under the care of trained early childhood experts.”

Liane is a big believer in sensory experiences, such as Shaws’ weekly “Brain and Body” programme, which is designed to appeal to both sides of the developing brain and includes fun, interactive techniques, such as crawling exercises to teach kids about human biology.

“Shaws Preschool offers a twice-weekly Little League multi-sports programme. The kids are having fun catching and kicking balls but they are also learning teamwork, resilience and perseverance. Sports are an excellent tool for learning,” says Liane.

Shaws Preschool foaming

Kiddie fun or learning lessons?

What you see vs what they are learning

Kids splashing at a water table  | The concepts of sinking and floating

Songs being sung in circle time  | Memorisation, rhythm, peer interaction

Children playing board games  | Patience, turn taking, strategy

Shaws Preschool has six campuses across Singapore | shaws.com.sg

Find out more about living in Singapore!

Bumper guide to international schools in Singapore

10 things to consider when choosing a preschool

This article first appeared in the August 2018 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase a copy or subscribe so you never miss an issue!

Categories: Kids Living in Singapore Schools Schools Tags: Preschool Preschool in Singapore Singapore Shaws Preschool

Monica Pitrelli

Monica is an American journalist and lawyer who has called Singapore home for over a decade. She's a mom of three, travel nut and closeted Francophile. She's eaten stinky tofu and been attacked by monkeys - all to get the story. If she had to pick a favorite food (which she would never do), it'd be chèvre, of course.

You May Also Like

childrens mental health covid

COVID Fatigue – How it’s affecting us all

New Year’s Tech Resolutions

contactless pest control and cleaning services Mom and daughter

Get rid of pests and pathogens safely

Primary Sidebar

Editor's Picks

where to buy furniture in Singapore

Where to buy furniture in Singapore – online too!

royal albatross yacht singapore romantic dinner

39 Cool & Fun Things To Do In Singapore

kate marsden facial review iyac med spa aesthetic clinic

Best facials in Singapore: Our reviews!

brunch st regis singapore

Best Brunch Places in Singapore: Champagne Sunday Brunches

hair salon in Singapore before and after

Best Hair Salon In Singapore – Our Favourites

What's On

Singapore International Photography Festival exhibition

Singapore International Photography Festival 2020

Four Letter Work - A Solo Exhibition by I Am Not David Lee

Four Letter Work – A Solo Exhibition by I Am Not David Lee

Stone Stacks Stefanie Hauger solo exhibition Miaja Art Collections

Stone Stacks

ThisConnect - Threading Worlds

ThisConnect – Threading Worlds

Battle between Rama and Ravana Faith Beauty Love Hope Our Stories, Your ACM Asian Civilisations Museum

Faith Beauty Love Hope – Our Stories, Your ACM

Perfect Stranger by Dawn Ng asian civilisations museum exhibition

Perfect Stranger

Expat Living Singapore 🇸🇬

expatlivingsg

Open
We are completely in love with the new Bvlgari Parfum Allegra that lets you customise your own scent...how cool is that! 
 
Step 1 - select your base fragrance 
Step 2 - personalise your fragrance with a magnifying essence 

The bottles are so pretty we want them all 💕 
 
The Allegra collection is available online at bulgari.com/en-sg and in-store at the Takashimaya Department Store from 19th January and if you can’t wait they also have a pop up only for today at ION SKY
Open
Say hello to our latest Kids' Guide! Want a free copy delivered to you? Visit 👉 expatliving.sg/KG and place your order before 30 January.
 
🧸 The guide has everything from finding an obstetrician and caring for your newborn, to fun activities and choosing the right schools for your child. There’s also lots of useful advice from other mums and dads.
Open
We love finding cool places to check out at weekends.

The Whiskey Library at the chic Vagabond Club Hotel is a must for Whiskey lovers. 

Be entertained by bespoke adventures such as specially curated (sung and told) Jazz stories, intimate theatre sessions, book readings, artist evenings, musical showcases, and even independent film premieres whilst enjoying delightful small bites. 

With a choice of over 1,000 rare and unique whiskeys you can even book a cool Staycation so you don’t have to travel home! @thevagabondclub
Open
So if you are still managing to cling onto dry January or still pondering whether to do dry February (like some of us here at EL), then you must check out our round up (link on stories) of alcohol free drinks to stock up on...we also spotted some pretty cool cocktail recipes on the links to help you out🍸🍹
Open
We are on the lookout for cute baby pics for our next issue. Have you or a friend just had a baby? Send over a baby pic with the date of birth and parents names to editorial@expatliving.sg and we'll feature them in our next issue (swipe to see an example of our baby noticeboard). Tag some friends in this post to share their news with us. 

All babies will receive a free personalised print from the gorgeous @hellosammyeve worth $150 (see 3rd pic). 

We just can’t wait to see the pics of those cute bubbas👶
Open
We are craving those pineapple tarts from @littlehouseofdreams packaged in a pretty eco-friendly canister with an engraved bamboo lid.

Check out their pretty gifts, hampers and roasts to help you usher in the year of the 🐂 

15% off regular items and 10% off gift sets until 31st Jan
Open
Hunting for new foodie places is a tough job but someone has to do it! 

Check out our stories link for a few new hot spots to try. There are more listed in our January print issue and others springing up next month!

Tag your favourite hot spots in our comments, we are always on the lookout 👀 🍽🍷🍻🍹
Open
We had some wonderful  celebrations today for our amazing Editor in Chief Rebecca. Happy Birthday and lots of love from all of the EL team ❤️ x
Open
We love cocktails in a can, what an easy start to kick off your weekend. Available in Espresso Martini, Margarita, Pineapple Daiquiri & Negroni - yum!  Order @curatif
Open
Time to get moving!

Our fitness experts share top tips helping to stick to those New Years resolutions 🏋️ 🧘‍♀️ 🏃‍♂️ 

Link in our stories
Open
The rain and cold winds getting you down? A warm beverage and maybe a good book to snuggle up to might just chase the blues away!

If hot chocolate is too mainstream for you, could we offer up this red velvet alternative? @littlefarms have a wide selection of oat milks, almond milks and soy milk options. 

Since it's #Veganuary, we recommend using dairy free milks to recreate this recipe....

2 cups non-dairy milk of choice
4 medjool dates (pitted)
1 tablespoon cacao powder
1/2 teaspoon beet powder

Add the milk and dates into a saucepan.
Heat, over medium, until it reaches a simmer. Add the warm milk with the dates and the remaining ingredients into a high speed blender.
Blend until completely smooth and creamy. Serve and enjoy! 

Image and recipe courtesy of @darngoodveggies
Open
Read our January issue on any device for free! To get started, visit 👉 expatliving.sg/digital/IG
In this issue, step inside a heritage shophouse, find out where our readers buy their carpets and dining tables, discover amazing glamping locations, plus find out how you can win a glamorous home decor prize worth over $7K!
Open
🎉 We're so pleased to announce the winners of our Readers' Choice Awards! Congrats to all the companies who were voted among the best in Singapore, and to the voters who won the amazing prizes. See the full results online now at 👉 expatliving.sg/readerschoice

.
#expatlivingsg #sgbusinesses #singaporebusiness #elsgreaderschoice
Open
What better way to choose movers than to get the inside scoop from happy customers themselves.

We hear from some individuals and families about their successful moves. 

Whether you’re relocating across the globe or just moving to the condo next door, you’re probably going to need some professional and reliable help to pack and transport for you so check out some recommendations in our stories
Open
Now, to start the new year off with a bang, @areteculture is excited to give one lucky winner a home décor essentials package to refresh their space!  Read more about this amazing giveaway here 👉🏻 www.expatliving.sg/comp-arete  #expatliving #singaporelife #areteculture #giveaway #expatsingaporelife #beinittowinit #homedecor #goodluck.
Open
Recently engaged? Check out our recent story on how to find a fabulous elegant dress plus wedding tips and details of some upcoming wedding trunk shows.

Congratulations from the EL team 💍🥂🍾
Open
Whilst we are all keen to stay in bed on this drab morning, it’s giving us time to work on our New Year Resolutions for a healthier 2021. 

Take a look on our stories for some fab suggestions to start the New Year.
Open
Happy New Year from the team at Expat Living. 

Let’s raise a glass to welcome 2021 🥂
Open
As we welcome the start of a new year, it’s time to look back at the year that was. 

Obviously, a standard review of 2020 would be dominated by one global issue, however, we’ve decided to avoid any mention of the C-word and instead, we’re taking a look at some of the other things that happened in 2020 
month by month, from pop culture phenomena to mystery objects in our deserts and skies (full link in our stories)

Enjoy – and have a wonderful 2021!
Open
Cool light shows and fireworks....check out our guide on things to do (link in our stories)
  • Competitions
  • Noticeboard
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy

© 2021 Expat Living Singapore, All Rights Reserved.