Professional Sharing
How Children Grow and Learn: Early Experience Matters
Written by Emeritus Professor Marjory Ebbeck, this expert article delineates the neuroscience behind children’s growth and learning, and how early experiences foster their early development. This article also recommends that parents and educators provide secure attachments and safe environments for young children to self-discover. In doing so, children have the opportunity to explore, learn and grow at their own individual rate.
A Pilot Study of Singapore’s Young Chinese Parent’s Perceptions, Attitude and Behaviours Towards Bilingual Learning
Written by Assistant Professor Aw Guat Poh, Dr Connie Lum, Peng Xuan-hui, Chen Yuan and Tong Qi-ying, this paper describes and examines parents’ attitude, perceptions and behaviours towards bilingual education in Singapore. Through the findings, this paper offers insights on the impacts of the “English knowing bilingualism” policies on parents’ linguistic choices and behaviours. It also highlights common misconceptions on bilingual learning, where further research was suggested to explore and investigate these findings deeper.
Readiness of Early Childhood Professionals in Singapore to Take on a Leadership Role
Written by Emeritus Prof Marjory Ebbeck et al., this paper discusses the readiness of early childhood educators in embarking on leadership roles. It also presents the factors that motivate or discourage educators from taking on such positions. Based on the findings obtained from an online survey and a focus group discussion, this paper offers recommendations with regards to organisational support that would foster and develop leadership in early childhood professionals.
Singaporean Parents’ Views of Their Young Children’s Access and Use of Technological Devices
Written by Emeritus Prof Marjory Ebbeck, Associate Professor Bonnie Yim, Yvonne Chan and Mandy Goh, this paper reported Singaporean parents’ and caregivers’ views on their young children’s access and use of technological devices. Along with the emerging use touchscreen devices, views on the benefits and risks of touchscreen devices were specifically sought and reported as well. Results show that a relatively sizeable number of children were exposed to and used technological devices in their daily lives. This paper also highlights key implications and considerations for parents and educators to inform them of ways to better guide their young children in navigating the pervasive digital space.
Literacy development at the Little Skool House Report (Time 4)
Written by Dr Seetoh Peipei and Dr Connie Lum, this report discusses how Little Skool House’s curriculum influences children’s language trajectories in English and Mandarin. This report follows the fourth phase of this literacy development research, in which the children’s receptive and expressive (vocabulary) language development are evaluated at the start (January/February) and end (November/December) of their Primary One school term. Parents’ perception of Little Skool House’s curriculum and their children’s adjustment to primary school as well as their social skills development are also examined in the report.
A Philosophy on Child Development from Birth-to-Three
Written by Dr Geraldine Teo-Zuzarte and Lye Yu Min (Senior Manager for Thought Leadership Development), A Philosophy on Child Development from Birth-to-Three outlines NTUC First Campus’ philosophy on Child Development and offers a framework for raising a Happy Child. The article also presents the Singaporean context in which early childhood education and development takes place. This covers socio-cultural influences on parenting, changing family profiles and household arrangements, shifting demands for childcare and kindergarten services, and the expansion of national policies to support early childhood development.
Interview with Eunice Tay, Awardee of the ECDA Outstanding Early Childhood Teacher Award 2018
Awardee Eunice Tay, who is currently a Deputy Centre Lead at My First Skool (MFS) PCC 07, shares with us her journey as an early childhood educator. Tay discusses how she navigates working with young children and their parents, as well as implementing NTUC First Campus (NFC)’s relationship-based curriculum (RBC) in her practice.
Generativity: Establishing and Nurturing the Next Generation
Written by Cheryl Ching, Caymania Lay, Hia Soo Boon, Dr Thang Leng Leng and Thian Ai Ling (NFC General Manager of My First Skool and afterschool), this paper describes and explores an intergenerational (IG) collaboration programme jointly developed and piloted by National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Health’s Silver Circle Senior Care Centre (SCC) and a co-located childcare (My First Skool) in Singapore. The IG programme was designed to meaningfully engage seniors and children through mutual participation in activities and ongoing interactions. This paper provides details on the development, interventions and lessons learned from a senior care perspective as well as discusses the benefits such IG programmes have on the functional abilities and wellbeing of seniors.
Temperament: The Basis of Our Personality – A Topic of Interest to Parents and Teachers
Written by Emeritus Professor Marjory Ebbeck, this expert article highlights the importance of identifying a child’s temperament and its influence on early education and development. Understanding children’s temperament can help parents and teachers recognise and understand underlying factors that facilitate or hinder healthy development. This article also provides insights and expert’s advice on the implication this brings to parents and educators alike.
新加坡华裔家庭幼儿英汉双语学习环境调查 (A Survey of English-Chinese Bilingual Learning Environment of Children from Chinese Families in Singapore)
Written by Dr Connie Lum et al., this paper describes and analyses Singaporean children’s English and Chinese bilingual learning environment through a survey administered to their parents. It reported that parents with higher English proficiency levels tend to be more willing to communicate in Chinese to their children. Yet, results also showed that parent’s English proficiency levels are negatively correlated with the frequency of the children’s use of Chinese language. Through the findings, this paper presents possible explanations for the results obtained and suggests that Chinese parents have the capacity to create a conducive bilingual learning environment in their families.
Teachers’ versus parents’ perceptions of professionalism of early childhood teachers: A mixed-methods study
Written by Dr Tzuo Pei-Wen, Dr Tan Liang See, Dr Liang Jyh-Chong and Yong Foong Ling (NFC curriculum specialist), this paper highlights the differences in how teachers’ and parents’ view the professionalism of early childhood teachers (PECT). A mixed-method research is conducted on 219 parents and teachers from multiple preschool settings to investigate the gaps in the perception of PECT. As such perception gaps form obstacles between the two parties, the paper puts forward ways in which these views could be aligned and how teachers can foster better school-home partnerships.
Relooking Assessment: A Study on Assessing Developmental Learning Outcomes in Toddlers
Written by Emeritus Prof Marjory Ebbeck, Dr Geraldine Teo-Zuzarte, Cynthia Tan and Mandy Goh, this paper reported reports on a research study in Singapore that investigated curriculum effectiveness using developmental learning outcomes as a means of assessing children. The research was devised to examine if eight specified broad developmental learning outcomes could measure the effectiveness of the curriculum by assessing children's learning as shown in qualitative data. Practical examples showed evidence of children's learning and the role of the educator in facilitating and documenting developmental learning outcomes.
Early Experiences Matter: A Relationships-Based Curriculum for the Birth-to-Three Age Group
Written by Emeritus Prof Marjory Ebbeck et al., this paper reported a relationships-based curriculum and how it extended the active involvement of the infants, toddlers, and young children (up to the age of three) in their learning. Conducted over a year using a well-tested, traditional before-and-after methodology, children were observed to show significantly improved active involvement.
故事教学促进幼儿学习华语兴趣之行动研究 Story-based Learning to Enhance Interest in Chinese Education for Pre-schoolers – An Action Research
作者：林美莲博士、Lynn Heng、寇烨、杨雅茹【摘要】本行动研究以“故事教学促进幼儿学习华语兴趣”作为课题开展，分析并探讨新加坡学前华文教育的现况。研究者通过多种形式的故事教学，提升幼儿学习华语的兴趣和效果，促进幼儿语言能力和身心健康的¬全面发展。本行动研究通过 “策划、行动、观察、反思” 这一行动研究法，探讨与改进教师在故事教学中采用的方法，以及各种故事教学法的有效性 Written by Dr Connie Lum et al., this article describes an action research which analysed the current situation of Chinese Language education in Singapore’s preschools. It reported how interest in the learning of the Chinese language can be enhanced through the use of story-based learning activities.