Excited chatter and laughter filled the air, as did the faint smell of crayon and fresh paint. A group of preschoolers were hunched over their drawings, each lost in their own colourful interpretation of “My Birthday”.
One little girl stopped drawing halfway and ran across the room, arms outstretched. “Teacher! Teacher!” she called, as she thrusted her unfinished drawing forward, eyes wide with anticipation.
A gentle male voice responded without missing a beat: “Well done, that’s a lovely use of colours.”
To the teacher, Mr Vincent Ang, it was still a work of art – even if it was incomplete. Meet the soft-spoken 31-year-old, one of Singapore’s few male preschool educators who make up less than 1 per cent of the certified early childhood educators.
Before he became a preschool educator in 2022, he had spent years as a preschool coach, focusing on the physical development of young children.
A chance remark from a colleague changed everything. “You have so much patience,” she told him. “Why not join us as a preschool educator? You could do so much more for these children.”
He took up the offer and has enjoyed every moment.
Mr Ang with his wife and two children.
FROM CLASSROOM TO HOME: LESSONS THAT MATTER
The father of a 4-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son credits his family’s unwavering support as key to making his career switch a success. His experiences as an early childhood educator have also shaped him into a more present and intentional father.
Observation, Mr Ang noted, is perhaps the most transferable skill. Just as early childhood educators are trained to notice the individual needs of every child in their care, he applies the same attentiveness to his own children. By picking up on cues and understanding their moods, he is able to respond thoughtfully rather than reactively.
Patience too, has taken on new meaning. “When you work with young children every day, you learn that things unfold at their own pace,” he said. “I’ve brought that understanding home. I’m a teacher, but when I go home, I’m a father first.”
Adaptability is another virtue the classroom has sharpened. In early childhood education, no two days are the same, and he has found that the same is true for parenting.
FATHER AND EDUCATOR: SHARING THE PARENTING LOAD
Growing up in a traditional family in Singapore, he and his brother grew up under the care of his mother, while his father, the family’s sole breadwinner, focused most of his time on work.
Today, Mr Ang and his wife, an administrator in the health and medical research field, approach parenting as a partnership. They communicate regularly about any upcoming work commitments and carve out time to join in their children’s routines.
The separation of work from personal life is also a priority for him. Quality time spent with his children is a must, and work — if required — is only done after they have gone to bed.
Mr Ang engages with pre-schoolers through an outdoor learning activity at M.Y World @ Bukit Batok West Quarry.
Male educators may be a rare breed in early childhood education, but that has not stopped Mr Ang from making his mark. He believes diverse perspectives from educators with different backgrounds and experiences enriches the preschool environment, fostering holistic child development.
While the challenges of navigating parental and societal expectations remain, he embraces his dual role as parent and early childhood educator, and hopes to inspire more men to follow his footsteps. “If you want to make a difference in children’s critical years of early development, don’t be afraid to try,” he said.
