• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Go to Expat Living Hong Kong
Join our Mailing List

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
        • East Coast featureGuide to Telok Kurau on the East Coast
        • speciality movers moving companiesMoving special items from home to home?
        • AIS IBWant to ace the IB exam? Here’s how one girl did
        • White LodgeWhite Lodge’s newest centre is open!
      • View all
    Close
  • What’s On
    • Things To Do
    • EL Events
    • Family
    • Concerts & Shows
    • Wine, Dine & Party
    • Network & Shop
    • Sports & Wellness
    • Exhibitions & Workshops
    • Close
  • Kids
      • Enrichment
      • Kids Things To Do
      • Mums & Babies
      • Schools
      • Tots & Toddlers
      • Tweens & Teens
        • Swim School Singapore10 exciting enrichment activities for kids
        • Pacific Prime babymoon travel insurance woman in poolPlanning a babymoon?
        • AIS IBWant to ace the IB exam? Here’s how one girl did
        • White LodgeWhite Lodge’s newest centre is open!
      • View all
    Close
  • Homes
      • Accessories
      • Decorating Ideas
      • Homes Outdoor
      • Readers’ Homes
      • Shopping For Home
        • Justinas siglap homeInside a colourful 1950s Siglap home
        • Courts Sofa10 sofa styles to suit you and your space
        • Buy cushions and fabric singaporeWhere to buy cushions, curtains & upholstery
        • image-2019-01-316 online stores for furniture & homewares
      • View all
    Close
  • Travel
      • Asia
      • Australia And New Zealand
      • Rest Of World
      • Travel News
      • Travel Tips
        • Central Harbourfont Hong KongThings to Do with Kids in Hong Kong
        • Pacific Prime babymoon travel insurance woman in poolPlanning a babymoon?
        • Europe trip MelindaMelinda’s adventure in Italy and Germany
        • Pacific Prime travel insurance family beach holiday9 FAQs on travel insurance
      • View all
    Close
  • Wine & Dine
      • Asian Cuisine
      • Western Cuisine
      • Bars & Clubs
      • Groceries & Speciality Services
      • Recipes & Classes
        • The Monarchy teamWe check out a cool British-inspired bar
        • Banana cake recipeTea time recipe: Banana cake
        • welsh lamb premium meat delivery onlineWelsh lamb: Where to find and how to cook it
        • Authors of Table TalesAuthor spotlight: Table Tales
      • View all
    Close
  • Style & Beauty
      • Fashion
      • Hair & Beauty
      • Horoscopes
        • BTL Vanquish Me slimming treatment cutis fire and iceHow to target specific problem areas
        • composite facelift dr wong w aesthetic plastic surgeryHow to get a natural looking facelift
        • MAH Collection Resort wearLooking for stylish resort wear?
        • engagement rings singapore gioia fine jewelleryWhere to buy or customise engagement rings
      • View all
    Close
  • Health & Fitness
      • Dental
      • Fitness
      • Medical
      • Wellness
        • composite facelift dr wong w aesthetic plastic surgeryHow to get a natural looking facelift
        • UP fitnessThe benefits of getting in shape with your partner
        • Pacific Prime babymoon travel insurance woman in poolPlanning a babymoon?
        • benefits of drinking water natural springs water deliveryThe natural remedy everyone needs
      • 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

Updated on 11th October 2018 by Monica Pitrelli |

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

About 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

Neighbourhood Guide: What it’s like to live by the river on Upper Circular Road

School trips offered by international schools in Singapore

gems

International schools in Singapore: HUGE GUIDE

Like what you've seen?

Enter your email address to stay in touch!

By subscribing, you'll receive our monthly newsletters and offers, which you can unsubscribe to anytime.

Primary Sidebar

Editor's Picks

Best short breaks from Singapore

Where to live in Singapore expat guide

The expat’s guide to where to live in Singapore

my cozy room

Best Facials Singapore: We review 7 facial treatments!

Journey East Element Sofa

Best furniture shops in Singapore

35 Cool & Fun Things To Do In Singapore

best champagne brunches in Singapore - hilton

Best Brunch Places In Singapore: Champagne Sunday Brunches

What's On

Image of stamp collection at You've Got Mail Exhibition

You’ve Got Mail! Exhibition

The Little Prince_Behind The Exhibition (1). Image courtesy of Singapore Philatelic Museum

The Little Prince: Behind the Story Exhibition

Selling Dreams: Early Advertising in Singapore

Lim Cheng Hoe: Painting Singapore (Singapore River)

Lim Cheng Hoe: Painting Singapore

Five Oxen Wu Guanzhong

Wu Guanzhong: Expressions of Pen & Palette

Passion@KampongGlam

Passion@KampongGlam

Follow us @expatlivingsg

If you have no plans for the weekend, bring the fambam to #prudentialmarinabaycarnival for a blast! Happening till 24 March, the carnival features over 40 exciting rides and games. We had such a fun time last night 🎠🎡🎢 - Anthia
Head online to read our new round up on online stores for furniture like this one from @soulandtables! We're loving this contemporary piece!
Retail therapy that gives back?! We’re on board! We chatted to Leah Lambert in our February issue about @glamorousgiving. Pencil it in for the 20-21st of February. More details online ✨
Celebrate Valentine's with an exquisite five course meal for two at Café Melba for just $88++ PER COUPLE!
That fresh 🍓 tart (and everything else) looks YUM!
#ValentinesDaySG #CelebrateLove #CafeMelbaSingapore #expatliving #expatlivingsg
Wow! I love the look of this underwater restaurant in the Maldives. Lindsay Yap checked it out for us on page 130 of our Feb issue 🌊
Have you made plans for Valentine’s Day? If not don’t sweat it! We have plenty of ideas online or in our February issue 🥰❤️
Drinks tonight? Try Jigger and Pony’s signature creation, Donkey Kong - a banana-infused Monkey Shoulder Scotch!
We're giving away FREE copies of our latest Home & Property Guide for a limited time only! Grab your copy here: expatliving.sg/HPG_IG
Want to look professional and put-together, yet stylish at the same time? @rougesingapore has some of the most comfortable and flattering officewear that'll take you from day to night, office to bar. Digging the fun colours I wore in this mini shoot for our January workwear fashion spread 💃 - Anthia // #expatlivingsg #expatlivingsingapore #expatliving
Discover romantic bars and restaurants, Japan journeys and kid-friendly holidays in our latest issue! Grab your copy here: expatliving.sg/el-shop/
Have you ever been to Japan? Our editor headed to Kyushu and loved it! Her full story online now 🇯🇵
Where’s your favourite spot on the East Coast? This month we chatted to Rachel House and Sam Chapman about the ins and outs of living on Telok Kurau. See page 64 🍃
Gorgeous diamonds don't always have to be crazy expensive - @diamantipertutti is a designed-in-Belgium jewellery label offering modern and well-priced designs that incorporate ethically sourced diamonds 💍 They've just opened their first Singapore store in Raffles City! - Anthia
I’m sure by now you have all seen our cover, but where is this stunning view?! It’s in Italy 🇮🇹 In an area called Puglia which is located in the heel of Italy. More details on page 139 @borgoegnazia
We are loving The Monarchy’s new Quintessentially British Cocktail bar and Ultra lounge, open from 5pm till late Tuesday’s to Saturday’s check them out on the trendy Tras Street #expatlivingsg #themonarchysg #cocktailbar #ultralounge #singapore #hermajesty #trasstreet #peakyblinders #kevinseah
It’s my favourite round up of the year *drumroll* It’s our vegetarian and vegan round up!! Check out the 30 restaurants we chose in our January issue or online 🥰- Michaela
Brilliant weekend at the @SingOpenGolf! Well done @jazzjanegolf on becoming the third Thai champion to conquer the green!
We had a peak inside a Siglap 1950s home this January. We love the colours! 🥰
Early morning prayers. Piercings. Pots of milk. A long procession. To those who aren’t familiar with the Hindu ritual of Thaipusam, it may all seem a strange combination. Learn more about this festival in our things to do section online and head down to see it on Monday (21st Jan)
Throwback to our Christmas fashion shoot for the December issue! We had such a blast at @thesummerhousesg and @wildseedsg 💃
Recently went to South Africa for the holidays and loved it! If you guys haven’t gone you need to. Table Mountain is incredible. Would also recommend a game drive, we loved @amakhala - Michaela
Results are out! Check out some of the best in business based on your votes 👉 expatliving.sg/readerschoice
Get a glimpse into some of the most remarkable interiors of colonial buildings in this new book! To get yours 👉 expatliving.sg/colonialstyle
From all of us at Expat Living - here's to a wonderful year ahead! 🎉
  • Competitions
  • Noticeboard
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy

© 2019 Expat Living Singapore, All Rights Reserved.

Near me
40 km