Each day in preschool brings new adventures for Ms Crystal Tan, 26, Senior Teacher at Little Skool-House (Ulu Pandan Community Club). She finds moments of joy and inspiration even in routine caregiving tasks and guiding children in her nursery class through important developmental milestones, such as potty training.
Ms Tan has just achieved a major milestone herself: Finishing her master’s in special education at the National Institute of Education. In April 2025, the recipient of ECDA’s 2024 Outstanding Early Years Educator Award completed her degree programme. She looks forward to using her newfound knowledge and skills to better support children with diverse needs.
EARLY YEARS EDUCATORS WORK WITH CHILDREN AGED 18 MONTHS TO FOUR YEARS. WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT TEACHING THIS AGE GROUP?
Crystal: Children at this age are vibrant and lively. Watching them grow and pick up new skills, such as feeding themselves and getting dressed, is rewarding. It’s amazing and motivating to be a part of their development and celebrate their milestones.
HOW DO YOU INSTIL SELF-HELP SKILLS AND RESILIENCE IN THEM?
Crystal: I believe in respecting children as capable individuals. Even though they are young, they can do a lot on their own. They just need someone to guide and encourage them. I want to motivate them to explore their abilities and feel confident about doing things by themselves.
Fun aside, bubble play helps children develop hand-eye coordination and motor control, honing skills crucial for tasks like eating and dressing.
WHERE DID YOUR INTEREST IN INCLUSIVE EDUCATION COME FROM?
Crystal: It started from my experiences with children in my class who had varying needs and abilities. Working with these children and their parents, who often face challenges alone, made me reflect on how I can better support them. This led me to pursue a master’s degree in special education to deepen my understanding and ability to provide more effective support.
If a child is struggling with self-regulation, Ms Tan recommends dough play activities as kneading and manipulating the dough can help them calm down.
WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES AND ASPIRATIONS FOR THE FUTURE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION?
Crystal: Every child has a different learning style. I hope early childhood educators can adapt their teaching methods and provide a variety of learning modalities to ensure all children are supported in their unique ways.
I also hope parents can continue to be present and actively engaged in their children’s learning and development, which is crucial. Parents should understand that every child needs help in different ways, and some children may benefit from professional support such as therapy or early intervention services.