How does your child spend his/her time during this MCO Period? Sharing you some awesome list of ideas to assist your child to spend his/her time wisely

Since many kids are/will be home from school, sharing an awesome list of ideas from a parent who homeschools.

Online resources:

  • BrainPop
  • Curiosity Stream
  • Tynker
  • Outschool
  • Udemy
  • iReady
  • Beast Academy (Math)
  • Khan Academy
  • Creative Bug
  • Discovery Education

YouTube Channels:

  • Crash Course Kids
  • Science Channel
  • SciShow Kids
  • National Geographic Kids
  • Free School
  • Geography Focus
  • TheBrainScoop
  • SciShow
  • Kids Learning Tube
  • Geeek Gurl Diaries
  • Mike Likes Science
  • Science Max
  • SoulPancake

Lots of board games, library books (and Kindle), tinkering/upcycling with household junk, etc.

Some resources to help with kids at home:

*Scholastic has created a free learn-from-home site with 20+ days of learning and activities.

https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome.html

*Pretend to travel the world..Go on a virtual tour of these 12 famous museums.

https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/museums-galleries/museums-with-virtual-tours

*This is the awesome free curriculum that we use. Everything from preschool activities to 12th grade is here!

https://allinonehomeschool.com/

*List of thinking games by grade: https://allinonehomeschool.com/thinking/

[2-6 Years Old] Click here immediately to find out more about how to TRANSFORM your child’s CHARACTER and build a STRONG FOUNDATION for a BRIGHTER FUTURE

[6 Years Old and Above] Click here immediately to find out more about how to TRANSFORM your child’s CHARACTER and build a STRONG FOUNDATION for a BRIGHTER FUTURE

More awesome free learning websites:

https://www.starfall.com/h/

https://www.abcya.com/

https://www.funbrain.com/

https://www.splashlearn.com/

https://www.storylineonline.net/

https://pbskids.org/

https://www.highlightskids.com/

https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/

https://www.coolmath4kids.com/

http://www.mathgametime.com/

https://www.uniteforliteracy.com/

http://www.literactive.com/Home/index.asp

http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/

https://www.switchzoo.com/

https://www.seussville.com/

https://www.turtlediary.com/

https://www.e-learningforkids.org/

【2-6岁】点击这里以了解如何塑和蜕变造孩子的品格,及打造更坚实的课业基础

【6岁以上】点击这里以了解如何塑和蜕变造孩子的品格,及打造更坚实的课业基础

The COVID-19 Pandemic, 10 Ways to Foster Good Hygiene Habits in Kids 病毒来袭,帮助孩子养成十大良好的卫生习惯

中文版

Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic causes huge panic globally, especially those with kids at home. Coronaviruses are a large group of viruses that causing respiratory ailments. There is no vaccine or any specific treatment available. The virus spreads through coughing and sneezing, personal contact with an infected person or touching an infected surface, then touching the eyes, nose or mouth.

During this stressful time, parents are worried about kids’ health and safety. Rather than worrying and anxious, parents should teach their kids how to protect themselves. Let’s tell kids what to do to prevent virus infection and maintain community health.

  1. Frequent hand washing.
    • Wash for at least 20 seconds, suggest singing ABC alphabet songs while washing hands
    • Proper steps of handwashing:-
      Wash palms > Scrub each finger and between fingers > Rub back of hands and between fingers > Rub thumbs > Rub back of fingers > Scrub nails on palms > Wash wrist > Dry hands with a clean tissue
  2. Sneeze or cough into a tissue or one’s arm (do not cover mouth and nose with bare hands).
  3. Do not touch eyes, nose, and mouth (the virus can be transmitted through mucous membranes).
  4. Do not touch public facilities or shake hands (the virus can spread through contact).
  5. Stay at home.
  6. Wear a mask.
  7. The first thing after going home is to wash hands carefully with soapy water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  8. Do not share foods and tableware during school.
  9. Stay hydrated.
  10. Seek for doctor consultation immediately if one is ill.

Children understand the world through parents. For parents, modeling good hygiene and lead by example, such as frequent hand washing is the best way to get kids to do the same.

[2-6 Years Old] Click here immediately to find out more about how to choose the best learning environment for your child.

[6 Years Old and Above] Click here immediately to find out more about how to choose the best learning environment for your child.




病毒来袭,帮助孩子养成十大良好的卫生习惯

新型冠状病毒(COVID-19)来袭,造成全球大恐慌,尤其家中有小孩者更是担忧不已。这是一组可导致呼吸道疾病的病毒,暂无疫苗,无任何具体治疗方案。而且人与人之间通过咳嗽或打喷嚏、与感染者或受感染的表面接触、通过眼睛、鼻子或嘴巴进行传播。

在疫情持续当中,家长都很担心孩子们的健康与安全。与其担忧和焦虑,家长更该教会孩子如何自我防护。那让我们来告诉孩子如何尽自己的责任以预防病毒感染,保护好自己,维护社群健康。

  1. 勤洗手。
    • 至少清洗20秒,建议边洗手边唱ABC字母歌(差不多20秒)
    • 正确洗手:-
      洗手掌 〉洗手掌侧指缝〉洗手背侧指缝 〉 洗手指背 〉 洗拇指 〉 洗指尖 〉 洗手腕 〉 擦干手
  2. 打喷嚏或咳嗽时,用纸巾挡住口鼻,也可以抬起手肘来掩住口鼻(不可以用手挡住口鼻或者不遮挡口鼻)。
  3. 不要随意触摸自己的眼睛、鼻子和嘴巴(病毒可通过粘膜传染)。
  4. 在户外不要随意摸公共设施,也不要握手(病毒可通过接触传播)。
  5. 尽量不出门。
  6. 出门要戴口罩。
  7. 外出回家后的第一件事是认真用肥皂和清水或含有酒精的洗手液洗手。
  8. 上学期间不共食也不公用餐具。
  9. 保持身体水分充足。
  10. 生病马上就医。

孩子通过父母来理解世界。父母保持言行一致,以身作则,演示良好的卫生习惯(勤洗手)就是让孩子养成良好卫生习惯的最好方法。

【2-6岁】点击这里以了解如何寻找最好的学习环境

【6岁以上】点击这里以了解如何寻找最好的学习环境

Benefits of Small Group Learning for Kindergarteners

Overcrowded schools make it difficult for kids to have a conducive learning environment. There are many downsides to crowded classrooms and schools.

In such learning conditions, children will find it difficult to understand what is taught, educators cannot pay enough attention to all the students, and it can get really stressful and tiring for both students and teachers.

There is also the issue of quickly contacting certain transmissible diseases from a sick kid. The disadvantage of large-group learning is endless.

On the other hand, small-group learning is the exact opposite of large-group learning. In fact, small group learning for kindergarteners has so many benefits — and that’s what this blog post is all about.

Below are the benefits of choosing a small group kindergarten in Malaysia for your child.

1. Kids Are Safe and Healthy

The kids are healthier and less exposed to infections. Since the classrooms are not crowded, there’s more room for proper ventilation.

2. Learning is Flexible

In a small group setting, learning is a personalized experience. It means that if a child doesn’t understand a particular concept, topic, or subject, he/she can easily be spotted, and special attention is given to ensure that he/she understands the lessons.

Students can learn at their own pace.

3. Enhanced Learning

Kids not only learn more in small classes, but they also learn faster. It also means that the school syllabus will be completed quickly.

Learning is enhanced by the confidence that the kids develop. The kids are encouraged to share their opinions and ask and answer questions, which also benefits their peers.

4. More Effective Feedback System

Small group kindergartens do not rely solely on marked homework to check if a child fully understands what’s going on in class. It goes beyond the usual A to F grade and a score out of 10.

In a relaxed environment, kids will get instant feedback on their ideas and contributions as they participate in discussions and classwork. Hence, if they make a mistake, it can be easily noticed and corrected immediately.

5. Develops Social and Teamwork Skills

A small group learning environment encourages teamwork. As a small group of kids, working to solve the same problem, or working towards achieving the same goal or project will put them in a position where they have to socialize.

They learn more when they interact and support one another. Thereby building both educational and social life at the same time.

6. Ideas Are Shared

In a small group learning environment, there is more time for the kids to share their ideas and describe their perspectives in the way they understand.

They can dive into where these ideas come from and express their thoughts. It means even shy students have the chance to embrace their opinions and share them with their peers.

7. Focus on Learning

In small groups, there is less distraction. It means the teachers can spend more time teaching the subject and less time trying to get back the attention of those who are easily distracted.

8. Classes Become a Community

Since the kids in the class are not many, they can connect more closely with their peers and become more confident and comfortable in sharing their ideas and perspectives.

These connections lead to lasting friendships. The kids are taught to respect and connect with peers from different cultures and backgrounds – a skill needed in the 21st century.

These are just a few benefits of choosing a small group learning environment for your kids.

The kids who learn in such a situation are usually smarter and more confident than their peers in a crowded school — and they can perform exceptionally well as they go higher in their education.

What to Do When Your Child Won’t Go to Kindergarten

kids crying at library

Most kindergarten kids look forward to going to school or a daycare centre. For some, not every single part of the school day is enjoyable. But, generally, kids like to spend time with their friends at school.

On the other hand, there are kids who just dread going to school. For these kids, going to school may become so stressful that they begin to throw tantrums on school days. They usually come up with symptoms such as headaches, stomach pains, or even chest pain.

Before we go on to uncover the ways you, as a parent or guardian, can employ to get your kid to go to kindergarten, let us quickly look at common reasons why your kid doesn’t want to attend kindergarten – and the symptoms you are likely to observe.

Why Kids Refuse to Go to Kindergarten

In Malaysia and all over the world, there are simple identifiable triggers for a kid’s refusal to go to kindergarten in Kuantan. Some of these common triggers include bullying, a death in the family, relocating to a new neighbourhood, staying at home for an extended period of time, etc. 

Following one of these triggers, especially if they are associated with the child staying home with you for some time, your child may not want to go to school anymore. 

kindergarten

Symptoms of Refusal to Go to Kindergarten

In addition to throwing tantrums on school days and crying when it’s time to go to school, as earlier mentioned, you may get vague complaints like:

  • Headaches
  • Leg pain
  • Nausea
  • Chest pain
  • Dizziness

It is possible for them to have these problems and may not have anything to do with their refusal to go to school, especially for kids with a medical condition. 

However, a good sign to know that these complaints are caused by their refusal to go to school is that they get better later in the morning after your kid understands that he can stay at home.


What to do when your child refuses to go to kindergarten

  1. Talk with your kid

    Have a conversation with your child about what’s bothering him. Be careful not to force the conversation if it doesn’t seem to be making headway. Some kids may not be able to describe what’s going on with them.

    However, the goal is to make him understand that he can conquer this problem and that you will be there to help him get through it.

  2. Don’t make staying at home so much fun

    Make him understand that if he’s truly sick (especially when he’s throwing those tantrums), he will have to see a paediatrician, stay in bed to rest, no TV or video games, etc.

  3. Stimulate a Learning Environment

    If he ends up staying at home, and you know he’s not sick, make him read his books, study, sit upright at a desk, etc. Get a trusted friend or relative to watch them, if you must leave the home for work or something else.

  4. Check for Physical Causes

    If your child regularly complains of physical symptoms, such as the ones discussed above, have him checked by his paediatrician.

    There is a high chance that nothing is wrong with him, but you don’t want to make that assumption and find out that you were wrong.

  5. Enlist support

    Finally, consider allowing someone else take your child to school until the situation is resolved. Sometimes, it could be separation anxiety with the mother.

    In this case, allow the father, a friend or a relative to take the child to school until he has made a successful re-entry into kindergarten.

In a Nutshell 

It is usually disturbing to see your child so distressed about school. In a situation like this, try to remain calm and supportive, but ultimately firm.

If your child attends a Preschool in Makhota Cheras, Kuala Terengganu or any place in the world, follow these tips and there’s a hundred per cent chance your child will overcome this anxiety.

A Parent’s Role in Early Childhood Education

preschool students

As a parent to a preschool or kindergarten-aged child, you are looking to provide for them the best educational experience that you possibly can.

While much of this is done through finding the best available daycare centre or school in the area, you must also believe that your role as a parent is to be the first and best teacher that your children will have.

You play a vital role in the preschool and kindergarten era in your child’s life and here are some of the best ways you can make an impact on their educational experience.

Do things together

This one may seem easy, but it bears repeating. At these developmental ages in daycare, preschool, kindergarten and on you should be reading with your child each and every night.

This will help build up their vocabulary and allow for the child to begin to understand what each of the letters does and how they fit into becoming words.

You should also be cooking with them and having them gain more experience with numbers and counting. In this time, you will be showing your child how learning can extend beyond the classroom. 

How does your child learn?

While you child is at daycare, preschool or kindergarten, they occupy themselves with one of the many activities available to them whether it be reading, blocks, or playing make believe.

If your child favours using the blocks, be sure to get a set for home so that they can continue to use the most active part of their brains to continue learning at home. If they value reading time, continue to read with them each and every night.

Buy a copy of their favourite books from school and participate in the book fair if your school has one. If your child loves to imagine, join in on their fun and be robots, cartoon characters or whatever they like with them.

Practice makes perfect

Many daycare, preschool, and kindergartens are very hands-on and appreciate the parents being kept in the loop on the learning curriculum.

It is possible when you first visited these schools to make sure they were right for your child, and that they gave you an idea for what will be taught.

This gives you the opportunity to work with your child on what they will be learning and what they may be learning in the future. The ability to continue on what has been taught in school will help your child retain the information.

Connect what they learned to everyday life

Being able to connect what your child learns to their everyday life will allow for them to establish early on in their lives that school is important and will teach them more about the world around us.

Children are naturally very curious so being by their side when they are doing something will give them more reasons to practice, and more reasons to continue to pay attention in school. 

Connect lessons to the global life

We all play a part in our global community and you can show your child just how their educational journey fits in during the grand scheme of things.

While the news might be ungraspable for your small children, you can still let them into other events and start a conversation with them about what they heard or even instil the lessons from stories they know into the large scale events they may have encountered in school. 

In a Nutshell 

Early childhood education is one of the most important parts of a person’s life. For young children, having their parents by their side is extremely important.

Parents can do more in offering the child encouragement, appreciation and love by spending more time with him/her.

This plays a vital role in a child’s personality development and possibly having the best perspective on life when they grow up. 

The Right Age to Start Early Childhood Education and Types of Early Education in Malaysia

kindergarten kids with a female teacher

Throughout the years, early education is a concept that has expanded all across Malaysia dramatically.

The aim is to create an educational system that is so proficient that children who go through the system come out as well-equipped and informed individuals who are able to take on the 21st century.

Certainly, Starway Professional, with its maxim ‘Transform Lives’, is keen on taking up the role to produce children who grow up to be the ones who excel in the fast-paced digital age. 

‘Early Education’ is for children from the time they are born to the age of six. Instead of daycare centres, most parents prefer to enrolling their children in early educational institutions.

These institutions are either funded by Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) or by government agencies. However, in Malaysia, early childhood education is not part of the formal educational system.

And because of this, it gives early childhood education providers, especially the private ones, the flexibility to create and use the most suitable syllabus for teaching purposes.  

Usually, early education is provided in nurseries, sort of an advanced daycare centre, or preschools – like kindergarten.

Nurseries are usually created within homes and cater a group of 1-20 children at a time usually under the age of 5. In contrast, preschools are more formal and based in centres for education.

They cater to a large number of children usually within the ages of 5 to 6 years. Thus, as a parent, it’s best to enrol your children in an early education system before they go into a formalized educational system.

The types of early education system as further divided on two basis, other than age.

  • Private 
  • Public 

Private Early Education 

Private early educational nurseries, kindergartens and preschools are not funded by government agencies or NGOs and instead charge the parents a standard fee for enrolling their children.

These fees are what allows them to have better facilities than public preschools. Due to the fact that there is no formal curriculum set by the government for early education, private programmes extend the duty to select the curriculum to the parents.

Parents can decide on what should be taught to the children as well as the medium of instruction that should be used. 

In majority of the cases, the teachers employed by the private sector of early education have international certifications and qualifications.

Thus, they are able to focus more on the cognitive development of the children from such an early stage in life. This adheres to the needs of the parents that revolves around creating a balance between social developments along with real-world education

Additionally, these preschools are also licensed by the Ministry of Education which gives them a more formal standing in comparison to public institutions.

Run by private organizations, private early education focuses more on enrichment with programmes on dancing, singing, brain development and drama taking centre stage. 

Public Early Education 

One of the distinguishing features of public early education programmes is that they are fully funded by the government agencies or NGOs. 

Majority of the teachers that teach within these nurseries, kindergartens and preschools are often locally qualified. Thus, they can fulfil the requirements of parents like equipping their children socially, teaching them about cultural values and the basics of a Malaysian society.

There is no specific curriculum for early education so the focus always remains on how the teachers can train and educate children to function optimally in the 21st-century society.  

In a Nutshell 

Early childhood education is the most important part of education in one’s life because that’s the time when the brain grows the fastest. It’s also the most critical age when most perception and attitude are formed.

There is no denying that all parents want the best for their children, especially when it comes to education. To find out more about early childhood education for your child, feel free to get in touch with Starway Professional

How to Choose the Right Kindergarten or Preschool in Malaysia

kindergarten students

It is time to pack up your little one and send them off to preschool or kindergarten for the first time. You know education is the road to success and that their formative years are important, but just where should you be sending your little ones off to learn their numbers and letters?

In Malaysia, there are several options on where your children should be taught, what they should be taught, and in what language they should be taught. Whether it be Kindergarten in Kuantan, Kindergarten in Mahkota Cheras, or Kindergarten in Sungai Long, the curriculum and the language may all be different. There’s a lot to consider but these are some of the things you should consider more than others.

1. Language

Malaysia is a multilingual country and has a wide variety of early education schools that are taught in a number of languages. What language would you like your child to be the best versed in? What language do you speak at home?

By answering these questions, you will have narrowed the field drastically. If you are hoping for a multilingual school or bilingual school, you should consider just how much your child is going to learn in this facility as each lesson may have to be taught anywhere from two to five times each day.

2. Budgeting

The second biggest thing in deciding the academic future for your children is deciding just how much you wish to spend on their education. Budgeting is important, since it allows you to create a spending plan for your little ones.

If there is one time to spend on your child’s education, it is here since beyond preschool it is likely your child will attend a government school for the majority of their education. So if you have the means to give them a good start at their academic career, now would be the time to give it to them.

Once you get a language and a cost associated with educating your little one, you need to begin to decide just how far you are willing to drive them each morning and then go to pick them up each afternoon. Will you be driving all the way to preschool in Kuantan, preschool in Mahkota Cheras, or preschool in Terengganu?

3. Transportation

Remember to factor in the driving radius; while it may be easy for you to wake up, have a coffee and get to work on short rest, your child needs more rest than you to ensure healthy growth and development both physically and mentally.

4. Teachers

Next, move on to getting to know more about the teachers. Whether it is Kindergarten in Kuala Terengganu, Kindergarten in Mahkota Cheras, or Kindergarten in Sungai Long, be sure to schedule a sit down with any potential educator, as not only do you have to trust them to teach your child, you also have to trust them to protect your child the whole time they are under their supervision.

The meeting, while at the end of the process, is often the most important. You have to feel comfortable leaving your child with this person. If you interview the teacher and do not feel like you can trust the teacher, it may be time to go all the way back to the beginning of the process and reconsider other schools within your price range and transportation radius.

5. Facilities

Once you conclude the discussion with the potential teacher, make sure to take note of the facilities around the preschool and kindergarten. Does the school have a safe playground? Do they have a reading room?

Every parent wants their children to learn and grow as a person and the best way to set that up is a diverse array of activities that may be unavailable to them at home.

Do you have more questions regarding the education of your little one?

Please feel free to talk to our friendly and helpful teachers at Starway Professional Educare. Visit Starway Professional to find out more!