SINGAPORE, Sept. 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Babilou Family Singapore ("Babilou") today announced the opening of KiddiWinkie Schoolhouse ("KiddiWinkie") at Jurong Gateway, its newest KiddiWinkie branch – and Singapore's first BCA Green Mark-certified preschool building. The flagship establishment, part of Babilou's stable of 60 early childhood brands offering different learning experiences to children in Singapore, officially opened its doors on August 1, 2023. Nestled within the vibrant Jurong Playground settlement, KiddiWinkie Schoolhouse aims to set a new benchmark in premium preschool experiences for children aged two months to 6 years.
KiddiWinkie Schoolhouse’s new centre at Jurong Gateway
Thoughtfully designed learning corners featuring elements of KiddWinkie Schoolhouse’s programmes
The Hydro Vertical Garden forms part of the farm-to-plate experience for children.
The Sensory Oasis™ for infants, the first such facility in Singapore preschool.
KiddiWinkie Schoolhouse strives to inspire children to discover the winner within them through all-rounded learning experiences.
Innovative Curriculum for a Well-Balanced Growth
The cornerstone of KiddiWinkie's approach lies in its innovative curriculum, tailored to cultivate purposeful play and inquiry-based learning. There is an equal emphasis on English and Mandarin to enable children to be effectively bilingual. This unique offering caters to the diverse backgrounds of parents, including foreigners seeking a local preschool that bridges cultural connections.
Multiple dedicated learning spaces throughout the centre have been thoughtfully designed and filled with stimulating educational materials crafted from eco-friendly materials to encourage children to learn through formal teaching and play. The cosy "Grow Space" set in a corner is a safe space to retreat when a child needs a breather or activities to redirect their focus. In the face of sudden, extreme emotions, the centre's philosophy is to teach children to acknowledge their feelings and self-regulate by calming down, engaging in other activities, or speaking with a trusted adult.
KiddiWinkie's diverse range of enrichment programmes expands each child's learning beyond the school walls. In "Author's Universe," four- to six-year-olds explore the works of English and Chinese authors, nurturing their creative writing and language skills. In parallel, the "Chinese Cultural Immersion" initiative imparts spoken and written Mandarin fluency through interactive activities encompassing art, music, and language.
The trailblazing "Tech Crafters" programme introduces foundational coding concepts to foster logical and structural thinking, systematic problem-solving, and creative problem-solving. "Kiddi Newsroom" is a platform that encourages children to learn about current events and engage in meaningful conversations with their parents. Children choose topics that interest them, research them alongside their parents, and then present their findings for discussion. All programmes are conducted without the use of screens.
Sustainable Education in a Green Setting
KiddiWinkie Schoolhouse @ Jurong Gateway is Babilou's flagship for embedding earth-friendly practices to nurture environmentally conscious citizens from a young age. The school's sprawling campus is working towards becoming a net-zero energy premise, the first of such preschools in Singapore. Solar photovoltaic panels convert thermal energy into electricity while the use of integrated sustainable energy management and control systems optimise energy consumption to promote greater energy efficiency. Babilou Family Singapore is one of the pioneering preschool groups in Singapore to embed earth-friendly and sustainable practices across all its centres.
Within this sustainable haven is the Explorer Garden, an edible schoolyard and hydroponic garden home to a thriving array of vegetables and herbs jointly tended to by teachers and students that aims to introduce children to the concept of food sustainability and encourage a positive relationship with food. The harvest is eventually put on the menu during "Cook and Bake" sessions, during which students also have a hand in preparing their meals and are taught tabletop skills such as cutting and spreading butter to help them develop proper dining etiquette. Research has shown that involving children in food preparation increases their willingness to taste novel foods and be directed to food choices that contain vegetables[1]. Composting will be introduced to convert food waste into valuable nutrients for the garden.
In addition, an expansive outdoor playground with an amphitheatre, Reading Nest, sand pit, and cycling track provides ample space for active play and social interactions.
Infant Care with a Difference
Recognising the importance of early developmental stages, KiddiWinkie Schoolhouse has created Singapore's first-ever Sensory Oasis™ darkroom facility for infants. This immersive space is filled with various learning materials, soothing sounds, and calming scents to pique the curiosity of little ones and encourage them to explore the environment using their five senses. With a small educarer-to-child ratio of 1:3, infants receive dedicated care to lay the foundation for lifelong growth.
A Vibrant, Accessible Learning Hub
Positioned strategically near Jurong East MRT and bus interchange, KiddiWinkie Schoolhouse offers accessibility for parents seeking premium education solutions. It is envisioned to meet the growing demand for childcare services from young families in the area brought on by the Tengah new town development and Jurong Lake District, as well as the upcoming Jurong Innovation District. The centre expands KiddiWinkie's footprint in the west of Singapore.
Shaping the Future with KiddiWinkie
KiddiWinkie Schoolhouse is a testament to Babilou Family Singapore's vision of pioneering transformative early education experiences and its commitment to fostering intellectual and personal growth for future generations. "We are proud to unveil KiddiWinkie Schoolhouse at Jurong Gateway, the first centre by Babilou Family Singapore built with sustainability in mind. Through an innovative curriculum, sustainable practices, and a nurturing environment, we aim to prepare children to become global citizens equipped for the challenges of the future," said Mr Benjamin Busse, Chief Executive Officer of Babilou Family Singapore.
To discover more about KiddiWinkie Schoolhouse and its programmes, please visit https://kiddiwinkie.edu.sg/.
About Babilou Family Singapore
Babilou Family Singapore is a subsidiary of Babilou Family Group, a France-incorporated Early Childhood organisation with a network of more than 1,000 nurseries and a presence in 12 countries around the world.
Babilou Family Singapore has now grown to 60 education and learning centres island-wide. This includes preschool brands KiddiWinkie Schoolhouse, Little Footprints Preschool, Ichiban Montessori and student care brand Learning Leap.
Media Contact: Justina Goh Communications & Social Media Manager [email protected]
[1] Allirot X, da Quinta N, Chokupermal K, Urdaneta E. Involving children in cooking activities: A potential strategy for directing food choices toward novel foods containing vegetables. Appetite. 2016 Aug 1;103:275-285. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2016.04.031. Epub 2016 Apr 26. PMID: 27125429.
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