New childcare centre in Segar Road aims to instil love for nature
New childcare centre to inculcate love for nature by using park space
For children enrolled at NTUC First Campus' My First Skool in Segar Road, going to pre-school is a natural thing.
The 3,000 sq m centre in Zhenghua Nature Park was officially opened yesterday with space for 400 children.
There, outdoor learning is incorporated into the children's curriculum - part of a pioneering initiative.
A partnership between My First Skool and the Nature Society (Singapore), called Every Singaporean a Naturalist, will see children appreciate nature by using the park as their classroom.
As part of the initiative, children will monitor the 35 species of birds in the park and its surrounding nature reserve.
At the centre's opening, Minister for Social and Family Development Desmond Lee said the Government is looking at more opportunities for pre-school children "to not only learn in the classroom but to also enjoy the great outdoor classroom, such as in nature areas and parks".
He said: "Going outdoors has many benefits compared to just learning in the classroom. You make use of nature, you make use of biodiversity as a teaching tool, using nature to teach about values, to teach about certain behaviours and principles you want to bring across."
The new campus is the second large childcare centre to be located within a park.
The first is Skool4Kidz Campus @ Sengkang Riverside Park.
Experts have said outdoor experiences help children develop independence, resilience and problem-solving skills.
Ms Thian Ai Ling, deputy general manager of My First Skool, said: "We developed these programmes with the deep appreciation that outdoor and nature-based learning is important for holistic and healthy early childhood development - from building resilience to developing collaborative and communication skills, as well as a sense of curiosity and care for the community and environment.
"This also provides both physical and mental health benefits, assists gross and fine motor development and develops in our young children a lifelong love of the outdoors."
As with other such centres run by anchor operators, monthly fees at the Segar Road centre are $720 for full-day childcare, $1,275 for full-day infant care and $160 for kindergartens.
The new childcare centre has been welcomed by parents such as Madam Idirah Norain Mohamed Ali, 37.
Said the administrative assistant : "My five-year-old daughter comes back and tells me about the rain system, sunbirds and ants.
"It's great that she's learning about the world that we live in from young."
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