What Parents Need to Know About Getting Their Kids into Preschools in Singapore

A quality preschool in Singapore can provide children with a strong foundation in social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development. In many cases, these benefits can carry a child to success from the beginning up to the end of their educational journey.

So most parents in Singapore fret over which preschool to send their precious little one to.

The problem is that parents may face many challenges when it comes to finding the right preschool for their child. There are just so many world-class options available, making it tough to know where to start.

Here are a few things parents need to remember when looking for a preschool for their child in Singapore.

By considering these factors, parents can be sure that they are making the best decision for their child’s future.

Then, hopefully, we can take some of the stress out of choosing a preschool!

Start researching and looking at preschools early – many have waiting lists.

Singapore preschools should be on your radar as soon as possible.

Once you have a shortlist of schools, start researching them: 

• What are their teaching philosophies?
• Which curriculum do they use?
• What are their teaching philosophies?
• What type of activities and play experiences do they offer?
• Are the outdoor play areas good quality?

These are all important considerations to make. 

And don’t forget – preschools in Singapore have waiting lists. So it’s best to start researching and looking at what’s available early so that you’re prepared for when your child is ready for preschool or kindergarten.

Make sure you don’t miss out – get out there and explore the preschool options today!

Consider what environment you want for your child – do you want a play-based or academic focus?

With preschools in Singapore being increasingly competitive, it’s essential to consider the kind of environment you want to provide for your child.

Should they receive a more play-based or a more academic focus?

This can be tricky, as both options offer unique benefits.

Learning through play invites social development, creativity, and problem-solving skills, while academic emphasis offers structure, language development, and building the foundations for starting primary school.

So, consider your child’s learning style and what environments they would best thrive in.

You can also talk to preschool principals or teachers to better understand the preschool’s learning philosophy and how it might benefit your child.

This should help you understand how the school could benefit your child’s learning and development.

Tour the preschools you’re interested in and ask lots of questions.

When shopping around for preschools, tour the facilities you’re interested in and ask as many questions as possible.

School tours are a great opportunity to get a firsthand glimpse of what’s important to you: the classrooms, the teachers, the environment (both indoors and outdoor), safety standards, policies and procedures – all this knowledge at your fingertips can help make a wise decision regarding your child’s education.

Your curiosity and enthusiasm together can work wonders!

So be prepared to spend some quality time reviewing the preschool and asking questions.

Higher fees for popular or well-established preschools

While researching your options, you may find that some of the more popular or well-established schools come with higher fees.

If you’re looking for the best available education for your little one, accepting that such prestigious programs will cost more is important.

To secure a spot at one of these highly desirable schools, it’s paramount that you have prepared and budgeted accordingly.

Don’t let sticker shock surprise you; do your research ahead of time so that you know what kind of financial commitment is required!

Have realistic expectations about getting into a particular preschool in Singapore – getting into your first choice may not be possible.

When it comes to getting your child into a preschool, it’s important to keep realistic expectations.

It may be tough news to digest, but the fact is that you may not get your first choice – and that’s okay!

Due to limited slots in any given program, there’s no way of knowing if your child will have a spot. So instead of being disappointed, do plenty of research and have backup plans ready in case your first choice doesn’t work out.

Have conversations with your little one about why they might not make it into their top pick and how exciting exploring other options can be – this will help set their expectations for what could happen.

In the end, with enough exploration and preparation, you’ll find an awesome assurance for your child that was going to be a great fit all along.

Parting Thoughts

Researching preschools and considering what type of environment is best for your child is key.

Completing this process with a tour to ask questions and considering the cost associated with different programs can make finding the right preschool in Singapore easier.

It is also important to be realistic when deciding, as getting into your first choice may not always be possible.

The good news is that all preschool programs focus on providing an enriching experience for your little one, so whatever option you decide, you know their time will be spent growing and learning!

So don’t delay – start researching and planning early to ensure your precious one finds their perfect educational home.