Parents, what does preschool education mean to you? As preschool is your child’s very first foray into formal education, it will indefinitely leave a lasting impression on your child’s educational journey. These are also some of your child’s most impressionable years, so there are many factors to consider when deciding on your child’s preschool. One of the most significant things that a preschool should do is spark children’s curiosity and ignite their passion for lifelong learning. Achieving this involves a delicate balance of many different factors. Explore how Odyssey, one of Singapore’s leading preschools, achieves this balance by using a new learning environment and innovative teaching methods in its brand new Dempsey Road campus.
Odyssey, Your Trusted Premium Global Preschool in Singapore
The first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word ‘odyssey’ is a long and eventful journey. That’s exactly the story of Odyssey the Global Preschool. The original concept for Odyssey the Global Preschool was inspired by the ‘Hundred Languages of Children exhibit in San Francisco that tells the story of Reggio Emilia’s experience of education to thousands of visitors around the world. From its founding in 2008 to now, Odyssey has established itself as a leading global representative for innovative childhood education. Odyssey has been a trailblazer in spearheading early childhood practices that are creative, bespoke, and inclusive.
Parents, you can be confident that if you choose Odyssey for your child, your child will be in the hands of a global preschool with a strong track record.
A Proven Institution with a New Approach to Preschool Education in Singapore
Just because it’s good doesn’t mean it can’t get better. To make learning even more meaningful and interesting for your children, Odyssey is opening its first forest school at its new campus at Dempsey. Here, learning without boundaries extends into the surrounding nature of the campus. Odyssey’s renowned quality is now infused with a unique forest-themed curriculum.
Have you heard of the idea that the environment is the third teacher? That’s what your child can expect on this scenic campus!
Unique Forest School Curriculum at Odyssey the Forest School at Dempsey
Odyssey is a global preschool with its curriculum inspired by in the Reggio Emilia Approach. The Reggio Emilia approach believes in child-centered learning and uses self-directed, experiential learning in a relationship-driven environment1. Some of its guiding principles include exploration, discovery, and of course, play!
The Reggio Emilia approach also recognizes and values the environment as a third teacher. In addition to teachers and families, a child’s physical learning space holds the power to influence how and what he or she learns. The Reggio Emilia approach believes that children thrive in environments that suit their interests. A welcoming, authentic, and aesthetically pleasing environment is necessary among other things2.
Odyssey’s Dempsey campus sets the stage for this with its forest themed and outdoor curriculum. As a second classroom, your child will discover the best in a unique learning environment immersed in nature. The Forest environment includes both naturally occurring and intentionally created forest play spaces. The Dempsey preschool focuses on dispositions and learning applications. This means your child learns experientially, true to the Reggio Emilia approach. Your child can look forward to the freedom of play, trekking and trailing, forest skills, creative activities and so much more. Additionally, forest creatives offer art, music, and fitness experiences in the forest.
The forest school curriculum truly empowers children to interact and build relationships with the natural world, take supported risks, and be creative and independent learners. In addition, the rich resources of the forest invite emergent and learner-centred experiences while promoting imagination and creativity. Essentially, this unique curriculum teaches your child to think differently and to become the trailblazer of the 21st century. It goes without saying that these are far more important to your child’s development at this stage than academic concepts!
An Outdoor Education Experience at Odyssey’s Dempsey Preschool
Odyssey’s unique curriculum also includes outdoor education that promotes knowledge and learning in the outdoors. Additionally, it encourages learner agency, which allows children to reflect on, share, and advocate what they have learned.
If you think about it, this reflects how things function in the real world. It’s never too early to get children acquainted with how things function out there, is it?
Collaboration with La Cucina for Food and Sustainability Efforts
Parents, speaking of the real world, we need to teach our children sustainability. Odyssey the Global Preschool has its own executive chef. Your child will enjoy premium quality food and get involved in sustainability efforts. The children at Odyssey’s Dempsey preschool will join the farmers, gardeners, and chefs in gardening, farming, and harvesting. This is an incredibly unique experience that your child is unlikely to experience elsewhere. In doing so, not only will your child enjoy tasty meals but also reflect on his or her learning. In doing so, he or she will take actions to share and advocate their knowledge with others.
Odyssey the Forest School – A Holistic Experience
Parents, Odyssey the Forest School experience is truly one of a kind. Your child will learn without boundaries in a classroom without walls. He or she will understand that learning is dynamic and can happen anytime, anywhere, and that even the forest can become a classroom. With outstanding teachers, and specialists in art, music, and fitness, Odyssey keeps true to the Reggio Emaila to ensuring your child is the director of his or her own learning. In this unique forest setting, your child will enjoy holistic development that nurtures him or her to be healthy, confident, resilient, creative, and independent all at once!
Seeing is believing, so be sure to visit the website and schedule a tour now!
References:
- https://www.reggiochildren.it/en/reggio-emilia-approach/
- https://reggioemilia2015.weebly.com/environment-as-a-third-teacher.html