• 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
        • Repton Schoolhouse Singapore kids outdoors play-based kindergartens in SingaporeWant your kids to learn through play?
        • Keppel BayThe best places to watch the sunset
        • V dayValentine’s Day gifts & date ideas
        • 28 HK drinkNew bars and nightspots to try!
      • View all
    Close
  • Things To Do
      • Things to do
      • EL Events
      • Calendar
      • Competitions
      • Noticeboard
        • royal albatross yacht singapore romantic dinner39 Fun Things To Do In Singapore
        • Keppel BayThe best places to watch the sunset
        • East Coast park beachThe best parks for picnics in Singapore
        • V dayValentine’s Day gifts & date ideas
      • View all
    Close
  • Kids
      • Enrichment
      • Kids Things To Do
      • Mums & Babies
      • Schools
      • Tots & Toddlers
      • Tweens & Teens
        • Repton Schoolhouse Singapore kids outdoors play-based kindergartens in SingaporeWant your kids to learn through play?
        • East Coast park beachThe best parks for picnics in Singapore
        • Weekend sunday clothesShopping from home – a new online marketplace!
        • brain mappingThe benefits of brain mapping for your child
      • View all
    Close
  • Homes
      • Home Decor
      • Readers’ Homes
      • Furniture
        • dining room table –Dining tables – where did you buy yours?
        • furniture direct from the manufacturerHome furniture for indoor and outdoor
        • Dining roomsDining furniture that will have you drooling!
        • La Panache bone inlay consoleGorgeous home décor gift shopping online
      • View all
    Close
  • Travel
      • Asia
      • Australia & New Zealand
      • Rest Of World
      • News
      • Travel Offers
        • Glamping Time + Time NsoloGlamping: The best kind of camping!
        • 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
      • View all
    Close
  • Wine & Dine
      • Asian Cuisine
      • Western Cuisine
      • Bars & Clubs
      • Groceries & Speciality Services
      • Recipes & Classes
        • Kopi breakfastAll you need to know about kopi
        • Oh my goodnessHow to eat clean in Singapore
        • 28 HK drinkNew bars and nightspots to try!
        • Afterglow by Anglow vegan30+ fantastic vegetarian and vegan restaurants
      • View all
    Close
  • Style & Beauty
      • Fashion
      • Hair & Beauty
      • Beauty Offers
        • Facial at homeStay at home facial products – reviewed!
        • fashoionShopping in Singapore – Fashion News
        • Weekend sunday clothesShopping from home – a new online marketplace!
        • Work wear singaporeWhat to wear to the office in 2021
      • View all
    Close
  • Health & Fitness
      • Dental
      • Fitness
      • Medical
      • Wellness
        • nutritionist in singaporeRoot cause medicine
        • Oh my goodnessHow to eat clean in Singapore
        • frequent urge to pee overactive bladderHow to treat that frequent urge to pee
        • kidsHelping our children deal with stress
      • View all
    Close
  • Shop
    • PRINT MAGAZINE
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINE
    • BOOKS
    • Close
Home » Living in Singapore » Schools » 2 things parents forget when picking a preschool

2 things parents forget when picking a preschool

11th October 2018 by Monica Pitrelli 3 Min Read

https://expatliving.sg/tips-picking-a-preschool-integrated-international-school/

What do parents prioritise when picking a preschool for their kids? Location, curriculum, price and personal recommendations, to name a few. But what about personality? Before you schedule a round of preschool tours, add these two oft-neglected considerations to the list – your child’s personality as well as your own.

IIS preschool teacher and child
Checking out recycled bottles in the mini-herb garden

#1 Ask yourself – what would your child want?

“First and foremost, parents should choose a preschool based on their child’s personality,” says Dr Vanessa von Auer, founding Principal and CEO of Integrated International School. “You know your child best. Some children will adjust to a routine of preschool of any size quickly, and others who are used to being with mum and dad most of their days need a more family-oriented approach.”

Think about how well your child adjusts to schedule changes, new people and social environments. Has your child had the same primary caretakers since birth? Is she an only child without much exposure to other kids? If the answer is yes to either question, perhaps a smaller school may be in order.

“The advantages of children attending a small, intimate preschool is that the type of close interactions and attention they receive will ultimately assist them in cultivating independence and confidence,” says Vanessa. “Smaller schools like ours do this especially well because our teachers have the time and resources to make toddlers feel safe.”

IIS preschool teacher child
Dr V and a Little Tyke student in the school’s Ocean Snoezelen sensory room, a first among international schools in Singapore

Parents of four-year-olds usually have an acute sense of their child’s likes and dislikes –kids have a way of making sure of that. But how do parents of very young children factor in personality when their child can barely speak?

Vanessa, who is also a child psychologist, recommends finding a school that focuses on play-based learning combined with a Multiple Intelligences teaching approach. You may not fully understand your child’s disposition at 18 months, but you can see signs of how they approach learning as early as infancy.

“Some babies enjoy textures more, some enjoy visual materials like books more, some really perk up when they hear music, and others prefer building. So, when kids enrol in our Little Tykes programme at 18 months of age, our teachers can assess what learning approach would be best suited for them as they get to know each personality.”

Little Tykes is IIS’s newly launched nursery programme for kids 18 to 30 months old. Vanessa, or Dr V as her students lovingly call her, takes a hand-on role in the Little Tykes classroom, assisting until new students have securely settled into their day-to-day routines.

#2 You – the parents – matter too

It isn’t all about the kids. The parents’ needs and preferences are key to a good preschool fit as well.

Is it important that you’re able to enter the preschool to see teachers and your child’s classroom on a daily basis? Do you prefer a quick, teacher-assisted drop-off so you can get to work or another child’s school on time? If you choose a preschool that doesn’t match up with your personal values, the adjustment period will be longer for parents, too.

IIS preschool teacher child
Dr V and a student in the Little Tykes programme in the school’s outdoor recreation area

“Some parents need more frequent communication with the teachers than others. Some would like their toddler’s milk warmed up at school, or for their children to be allowed to bring in a ‘comfort toy’ from home,” says Vanessa. She designed Little Tykes to accommodate requests like these to ensure the entire family feels comfortable.

For this reason, the nursery programme also offers a “phasing in” adjustment period where parents are welcome to stay at school until their child is settled and confident to say goodbye to Mum or Dad.

The Little Tykes programme is currently accepting children from 18 months to 3.5 years.

Written in collaboration with
Integrated International School
41 Sunset Way, #01-01 Clementi Arcade
6466 4475 | iis.edu.sg

Read more in our Schools section!

What after-school activities are best for your child?

Free water-play areas the kids will love

Categories: Kids Living in Singapore Schools Schools Tags: Education Integrated International School Living In Singapore Preschools

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

The benefits of brain mapping for your child

La Panache bone inlay console

Gorgeous home décor gift shopping online

Woman using phone mobile banking bank for expats

Which bank should I choose in Singapore?

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 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

Stone Stacks Stefanie Hauger solo exhibition Miaja Art Collections

Stone Stacks

ThisConnect - Threading Worlds

ThisConnect – Threading Worlds

#DrivingTomorrow pop-up exhibition by Porsche Singapore

#DrivingTomorrow pop-up exhibition by Porsche Singapore

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
If you’re looking for fun and memorable ideas for Valentine’s Day gifts or dates, we’ve gathered some that will earn you major brownie points. 

Flowers, staycations, workshops, spas, jewellery, romantic meals and even bungy jumping, we’ll let you do the choosing – or should we say wooing!

Take a look at the link on our stories ❤️
Open
Get our February issue delivered to you! To order, visit 👉 expatliving.sg/mag/ig

In this issue, go behind the lens and meet a couple who married under COVID restrictions, check out Greek restaurants for your Valentine’s Day dinner (and what to wear for it!), shop for fun kids’ furniture and find out how to win some stunning jewellery!
Open
Friday Giveaway! 

We love competitions and we have a fantastic 1-night stay in a Family Suite up for grabs with complimentary breakfast for 2 adults and 2 children at the InterContinental Singapore. 

To stand a chance to win, all you need to do is tag friends, follow @expatlivingsg and @interconsin on Instagram, then click on the link in our stories to enter. 

We will choose a winner on 5th February, so hurry and enter now. 

Good luck!  #intercontinentalsingapore #expatlivingsg #expatlife #singapore #intercontinentalLife #relax #vacationlife #staycation #win #familyfun #beautifulhotels #funhotel
Open
If the men in your life don’t like shopping around too much you can save your sanity by sending them the link to our article on the 10 best places to buy shirts 👔 

The link is on our stories
Open
Don’t we all love a home makeover! 

If you are looking for some easy, low-commitment ways to spruce up your home for the new year we have six tips on how to do a home makeover from Caroline Chin Geyler (link on our stories) she’s the founder and principal stylist of award-winning interior styling firm Arete Culture. 

The company is a four-time Gold Winner in our Expat Living Readers’ Choice Awards (2017-2020) in the interior design and home styling category so they certainly know their stuff. 

As well as some fab tips she’s offering a special Chinese New Year makeover offer, too. At last our homes can look as stunning as these do @areteculture
Open
Guys: did you know that your skin is structurally different from that of ladies? For most men, androgen (testosterone) stimulation results in skin that’s thicker and tougher than women’s skin. This also means you might need something more than just your wife’s, mum’s or sister’s moisturiser or face wash! 

Lumin was founded on this concept; this California-based online store offers simple yet effective skincare for men, tailored to different skin types and concerns. So, whether you’re looking for a good face cleanser or a moisturiser for men, this is one brand to check out.

To differentiate Lumin from other men’s skincare brands, founders Richard Hong and Darwish Gani flew to South Korea to work on formulas that benefit the thicker and more stubborn skin constructs of men. Most of the ingredients used are powerful plant-based extracts like ginger root, rosemary, coffee and shea butter. The paraben-free and cruelty-free brand also makes a point of avoiding unnecessary nasties commonly associated with popular off-the-shelf products.

If it’s your first time shopping for men’s skincare, you’ll be glad to know that the Lumin experience is simple and fuss-free. Just fill out a brief questionnaire and you’ll get a personalised skincare regime that’s suited to your skin type and lifestyle. You can choose to go with a one-time purchase or have your products delivered on a subscription basis. Alternatively, shop from the curated range of skincare sets catered to different budgets and preferences.

Read about our readers review on our stories
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
  • Competitions
  • Noticeboard
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy

© 2021 Expat Living Singapore, All Rights Reserved.