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Out-of-the-Box Learning written by JB Lazarte |
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But why Kinderland? What does it offer,
anyway? With more than 40 kindergartens and learning centers scattered across countries
such as Singapore, Indonesia, China and Malaysia, and a sterling track record of
‘laying the first solid bricks’ in the education of countless children over the
years, Kinderland’s own brand of ‘enjoyable learning’ is fully secure in
its place in the pantheon of global brands. And if you will ask Elena Tan Yu Coyiuto,
founder of Philippine Academic Center for Enrichment and Self-Actualization (PACES) under
which Kinderland Philippines is established, she will tell you “a strong educational
foundation is very, very important. We are making long-term and priceless investments in
the future of our youth.” Indeed, compared to other countries, much work is to be
done to upgrade the educational system in the country. And what better place to start than
in early education? It’s a big field Kinderland Philippines seems bent on
seizing. Filipino Youth on the Spotlight “Filipino children need to be removed
from the ‘box’ and treated as unique individuals,” explains Kinderland
director Theresa Castillo, endearingly called “Tere” by her friends and peers,
at Kinderland’s spanking new campus at the Xanland Place, just across Ateneo de
Manila’s Gate 3. “Children are traditionally made to fit a school’s
curriculum. We believe it’s a mistake. The curriculum should fit the individual
child’s needs.” At Kinderland Philippines’ first campus
in Katipunan, everything fits the prestigious Kinderland corporate image—from the
furniture, to the toys, to the children’s uniform and the latest teaching materials
and aids. And when it comes to keeping the curriculum completely in sync with today’s
kids, the Kinderland franchise is known for its exhaustive ways and means to keep up and
stay ahead of the pack. Kinderland provides a comprehensive early childhood program based
on current knowledge of child development—a program that is constantly monitored for
its degree of efficiency and relevance. “Although basically our curriculum closely
follows that used in Singapore, our international panel of curriculum specialists has
designed a more appropriate curriculum for the local setting to answer the unique needs of
Filipino children.” Such is Kinderland’s
business—providing early childhood education that works, that really works. And the only way to do that is to
constantly evolve, to ceaselessly probe into the psyche of the child and see what learning
method fits each generation. An accomplished child psychologist herself, Tere emphasizes
that the first round of education a child receives is very important. “Filipino
children need a place of learning that allows them to be excited about learning in itself
and not be pressured about achieving a certain grade,” she says. “In an exciting
place of learning, children are motivated to learn. As children are motivated to learn,
they explore their surroundings and discover new things on their own. This motivation
extends through the child’s lifetime.” “Often, during the early stages of development, children are already fatigued and over-stimulated by the pressures of traditional preschools,” Tere adds. “How can one expect children’s thirst for knowledge extend through their grade school, high school and even college years if in their first few years in school they are already tired physically, mentally and emotionally?” Believing in every child’s potential to
be the best he or she can be, Kinderland leaves no stone unturned in striving to preserve
the excitement and wonder of childhood, which, the institution hopes, will ensure that the
children become lifelong learners themselves. “We provide quality early experiences
that have a powerful impact on the child’s growth, development and learning. By
developing a sense of autonomy and responsibility in these children, by providing rich
opportunities that foster independence and encourage the development of moral values and
decision-making skills, Kinderland makes learning an enjoyable and rewarding process for
all children.” Building the Future, One Child at a Time What’s so special about Kinderland is
the meticulous attention and expertise it applies in the creation of its unique
curriculum, called the KinderlandProgram. At its core, the KinderlandProgram effectively
combines innovative concepts in educating kids and makes learning truly enjoyable, such as
enmeshing mathematics and scientific concepts with fun games, multi-sensory activities and
meaningful exercises using materials from the children’s environment. Its
Activity-Based Language Studies Program (ALSP), for example, lets children to learn
languages other than English through fun and effective ways such as songs, drama, movement
and penmanship exercises. Couple that with the Technology Integrated Learning (TIL), which
uses specially selected software that gives kids a technological headstart, and learning
becomes much more effective. Kinderland also has a whole-person approach
in teaching children the importance of physical fitness through its KinderFit Program,
where kids learn to feel good about themselves as they increase in strength, ability to
control and manipulate their bodies. Moreover, Kinderland also puts a high
premium on the individual child’s creativity. In its creative curriculum, children
not only learn the rudiments of music theory but also develop right brain creativity and a
stronger sense of teamwork through ensemble playing. Because the children are allowed to
express themselves and explore their creative skills, they develop lifelong love and
appreciation for music and the arts. Most importantly, what sets Kinderland apart is its strong emphasis on parental involvement. “We believe parents are our valuable partners in education,” Tere says. “They are the child’s first teachers. We encourage them to actively participate in our center activities such as talks and family recreation.” Only the most competent teaching staff is
selected to deliver Kinderland’s innovative teaching methods. Tere is proud of the
quality of her professional team. The head teachers have master’s degrees in
education from the University of the Philippines (UP) and the assistant teachers are also
graduates from UP and the University of Asia and the Pacific. Tere explains that her
staff’s exposure to preschoolers, even to special children, has allowed them to place
a premium on—and to effectively respond to—the unique needs of each child in the
classroom. What’s more, Kinderland regularly sends trainers from their renowned
training unit, the Singapore-based Kinderland Learning Centre (KLC), to update the local
teachers on latest developments and further hone their skills with Kinderland’s
methods. What can be more reassuring to parents than a childcare center they can really trust? Is learning really about answering questions or about asking even more? “This is where my heart is,” Tere says. “Kinderland upholds the same philosophy I believe in and it is quite a challenge to transform ideals into reality. Besides, those more than 90,000 students that have benefited from the Kinderland early childhood educational system for more than two decades can’t be all wrong, can they?” Tere and the founders of PACES believe, of course, that they are absolutely on the right track. - END -
Copyright (c) 2004 by Joe Bert G. Lazarte
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