The saying “A little kindness goes a long way” rings true in all our interactions, and certainly with preschool educators. Simple gestures like a smile, a word of thanks or an offer to help can brighten their day and strengthen the parent-preschool partnership, ultimately benefitting children who develop and grow by leaps and bounds.
Let’s hear from some parents about how they show kindness to their children’s educators, and the positive impacts it has had.
RESPECT REAPS REWARDS
“True respect goes beyond friendly exchanges. It involves communicating openly with educators, listening to their advice and applying their expertise to create a better learning environment for our children. In our chats with Teacher Fizah, we discovered Gillian had speech development issues. She helped us establish routines and strategies, including sessions with a learning support educator and at-home exercises. With her support, Gillian’s pronunciation improved, and she gained confidence in reading and writing tasks.”
– Mr Royston Chua, whose child Gillian attended E-Bridge Pre-School @ Sengkang Square
Mr Royston Chua and his wife are grateful to Teacher Fizah (far right) for her support in helping their daughter overcome speech development issues.
EMPATHY EMPOWERS EDUCATORS
“There have been times when I felt frustrated or anxious because Teacher Fatimah didn’t respond immediately to my text messages about my child. However, after volunteering in preschool and seeing firsthand the work Ms Fatimah does, I could empathise with the daily demands she faces in looking after a class of 10 children and engaging each based on their character and preferences. I’ve learned to be more patient and understanding, knowing that educators are always trying their best and have other responsibilities too.”
– Ms Mabel Li, whose child Amelia attended PCF Sparkletots Preschool @ Bedok Reservoir-Punggol Blk 475C
TRUST TRANSFORMS TEAMWORK
“When my son first started preschool, drop-offs were challenging due to his separation anxiety. Thankfully, Nadiem settled in well with the support of Teacher Farhana. Seeing how happy and secure he feels with her reassures me that he is in the care of a nurturing and capable teacher. Ms Farhana communicates with me regularly about Nadiem’s behaviour and development. Through our consistent, open dialogues, I’ve grown to trust her professionalism — even when accidents happen — as I know we are on the same team.”
– Ms Nur Fa’izah, whose child Nadiem attends M.Y World @ Tampines North
Ms Nur Fa’izah has built a trusting relationship with her child’s preschool educator, Teacher Farhana (far right).
COMPASSION CREATES CONNECTION
“Caring for my son requires extra patience as Yuvan was born prematurely and has speech delays. Fortunately, he has Teacher Lin who pays special attention to him in class. I extend the same kindness to Lin laoshi by encouraging her to take breaks or surprising her with a handmade gift. I’ve also witnessed other parents showing compassion by waiting patiently for Lin laoshi while she talks to me about Yuvan’s developmental needs. Small daily acts like these create a nurturing environment where all our children can thrive.”
– Ms Logessvary Chanderan, whose son Yuvan attends New Life Preschool @ McNair
ALTRUISM AMPLIFIES ALL
“Showing altruism to educators and offering to help them can take many forms. From gathering art supplies for the classroom to volunteering to plan class outings, we try to support Teacher Hanna in her work as much as we can, so that she can focus on the teaching and learning of our children. This spirit of giving has rubbed off on Kai and Rei as well. They’re always eager to contribute. For example, they often suggest bringing homemade cookies to preschool to share with Ms Hanna and their peers.”
– Mr Eric Wong, whose children Kai and Rei attend KiddiWinkie Schoolhouse @ MacRitchie Park
Teacher Hanna (centre) appreciates the support shown by Mr Eric Wong and his family, be it volunteering for preschool activities or gifting homemade cookies.
