By Ms Miao Dan, Chinese Lead Teacher, Little Skool-House (Mountbatten-Square)
I started my career in business administration.
The turning point came when a relative had a baby. Back home in China, helping to care for the child made me curious about how children grow and learn. Around that time, a friend who was a preschool teacher encouraged me to consider the early childhood sector. Singapore felt safe and familiar with its Chinese-speaking community and shared cultural values. I thought, “Why not take this chance to study EC education and see if I enjoy it?”
That decision brought me to Singapore more than 10 years ago — my first time abroad. My parents were worried; as their only child, they couldn’t imagine me being so far from home. But I told myself that if I wanted to build a meaningful career, I had to be brave enough to try. I’ve never looked back!
SPREADING THE JOY OF LEARNING
Stepping into a preschool classroom for the first time was humbling. I was worried whether I could connect with children and parents from different cultural backgrounds. Thankfully, my colleagues at Little Skool-House (LSH) — where I’ve spent my entire EC career — were very supportive. They taught me how to adapt and implement the curriculum to meet children’s needs and how to build genuine rapport with families.
One experience I’ll never forget was with a little girl from Indonesia whose family didn’t speak Mandarin at home. At first, she was shy and hesitant to learn the language and couldn’t understand me. But as we built trust, she began to open up, grew happier and became more willing to try new words. She even asked her parents if she could listen to Chinese stories and songs at home.
Sometime later, during a class discussion, I asked the children what they wanted to be when they grew up. The same girl said she wanted to be a teacher — specifically, a Chinese teacher! What’s more, she declared that she wanted to come back to LSH one day to teach here. That moment moved me deeply. It made me feel the value of my work. I had not only helped her find joy in learning Mandarin but also inspired her to pass it on.
Ms Miao’s infectious energy and love for Mandarin has rubbed off on the children she teaches.
Beyond teaching, I also mentor new colleagues, especially those new to Singapore. Supporting them reminds me of my own early days when everything felt new and unfamiliar and every bit of guidance made a difference.
EXPANDING HORIZONS THROUGH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
In 2023, I was nominated by my centre principal for ECDA’s Professional Development Programme for Educators, or known as PDP(Preschool Educators) previously. This three-year journey in continuing professional development (CPD) helped me deepen my practice and connect and exchange ideas with fellow educators. Now in my final year, I have started applying what I’ve learnt to benefit both my colleagues and the children in my centre.
One of the highlights was a modular course, Modern Chinese (offered by the Singapore University of Social Sciences). It strengthened my language foundation and gave me fresh ideas to design engaging lessons. When I teach Chinese characters now, I explain their pictographic roots and show how each has evolved. The children are interested when they see meaning behind the words, and learning feels alive and full of stories.
Another course, Working Hand-in-Hand in Managing Conflicts and Challenging Situations (Chinese Language), gave me practical tools to handle sensitive conversations with parents and to support colleagues through disagreements. I learnt to listen first, acknowledge different perspectives and find common ground — helping me build stronger and trusting relationships.
The Employee Engagement Essentials for Staff Engagement Champions (Chinese) course also stood out. As a mentor, I realised that leadership is about people as much as it is about pedagogy. With my centre principal’s support, I started a welfare team to focus on staff well-being. I find it is important to take time to bond with each new teacher, understand what makes them comfortable and adapt my communication methods. If someone appreciates candid feedback, I adopt a direct approach. But if I sense they need reassurance or are defensive, I begin and end the conversation by affirming their strengths and their role in the team.
Under the PDP(Preschool Educators), Ms Miao (right) has learned how to better motivate and engage colleagues and adjust her mentorship techniques, fostering a more positive team culture.
Balancing work, studies and family life isn’t easy. I often work on assignments late at night after seeing my young child, who attends the same preschool. Time management is my biggest challenge, but I have learned to prioritise daily tasks carefully. These days, I’ve gotten into the habit of creating a to-do list, always starting with what’s urgent.
APPRECIATING THE RECOGNITION AND RESPONSIBILITY
I was honoured to receive the 2025 ECDA Outstanding Preschool Educator Award. This recognition means a lot. It affirms the journey I’ve taken and encourages me to keep learning and reaching for new milestones.
Through the PDP(Educators), I have gained knowledge, skills and networks that strengthened both my teaching and mentoring. Yet what truly matters is how I apply what I’ve learnt — turning lessons into joy for children, guiding colleagues with empathy and constantly reflecting on how I can do better.
As part of the PDP(Educators), Ms Miao initiated a project to create a preschool garden, nurturing the children’s curiosity about plants and love for nature.
Looking ahead, I hope to continue developing in areas such as curriculum design and leadership. My dream is to contribute more to bilingual education and to support the next generation of educators in this meaningful profession.
To educators considering further training or study, my advice is simple: Don’t wait until you feel perfectly “ready”. Growth begins when we take the first step, even if it feels uncertain.
Yes, the CPD journey can be demanding, but it also gives you tools, lasting friendships and confidence that goes a long way. And whenever you feel overwhelmed, remember why we do this work — for the children. Their joy, curiosity and discoveries are the best reminders of why we keep learning and why the journey is always worthwhile.
