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With great care comes great happiness
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Childcare centres, catering to toddlers onwards, are the norm around here. However, childcare centres which provide infant care are still something that is relatively new. What really goes on in infant care?
TheAsianParent bounced its way to one special centre that provides for children from 2 months of age to Nursery 2. Angela Ng, who runs the place, gave us a full guided tour of the centre. Such a service is for everyone who walks through the doors of Sunflower Baby House, regardless of whether at the end of the day, enrolment takes place.
Active learning is practised for infants and toddlers with numerous activities conducted daily. Activities which boost listening and talking, creativeness, etc are carefully drawn up and used. These activities are then recorded per child and observed at the length of growth made in each. For example, flashcards o aid in the learning of Mathematics, English and Mandarin and used with a daily card, per child. The objective of this? To input the photography method in a child. This activity usually begins around 3 months. Besides building a strong photographic memory, confidence is also gained.
The priority of the centre is, of course, safety. Hygiene is maintained at a very high level – toys washed and disinfected daily, different basins are used for toys, bottles. There is even a separate refrigerator for breast milk from mothers. Mouthed toys, are immediately dropped into a basket labelled ‘Toys for Washing’ and kept aside from the children. Major clean-up takes place on Fridays. The ratio for teacher to infant is 1:3, which is smaller than the required 1:5 ratio by MCYS. Sunflower Baby House, works closely with a paediatrician, who is conveniently located below. The centre also works with a child psychologist. Daily observations on infants are done and reports are recorded. No Singlish or baby talk is used on the infants. “We practice regular speech with good English around the babies. Learning is taking place even at a young age,” explains Angela.
A mother of three, Angela not only looks at the kids as a teacher but also as a mother. Warmth and love come from her when needed. At the same time, unruly kids can expect a firm tone from her. Angela role plays the scenario usually to show the child why a certain action is unacceptable. Sunflower Baby House is particular about the food it serves. “We follow a strict healthy plan. No seasoning for the infants, no oyster sauce for the toddlers and definitely no junk food for the children. Marketing is done weekly and only the freshest and the best is bought. We even serve organic brown rice. Health is an important factor, especially in a child” explains Angela.
Do parents want Angela to extend the age group of the centre to K2? “Yes, many have feedbacked to us. But it’s not on the cards, currently. Infant care is my speciality and I think it’s better to do the best in what you enjoy and are good in” replies Angela, with a smile.
To find out more information visit Sunflower Baby House!