Pre-schools score on nurturing love of reading

Pre-schools score on nurturing love of reading

The children at Kiddiwinkie Schoolhouse@Grandstand were entertained when two guests visited the school to read to them.

Mr David Seow and Ms Sarah Mounsey, who visited separately, are no ordinary storytellers, but children's book authors based in Singapore.

"Each of them read one of their stories to the kids and talked about how they get their ideas. It also showed the children that there are writers in Singapore too, not just in the United States," said Ms Pooja Vishindas, the pre-school's principal.

Besides sessions with authors, the pre-school also boasts a long "reading alley" to provide a cosy place for parents to read with their children.

Yesterday, the childcare centre was one of 20 winners of the Reading Innovation Award, launched by the National Library Board (NLB) to recognise pre-schools that come up with programmes to foster a love for reading among young children.

The award will be given out every five years to pre-schools which have reading schemes that are creative, effective and can engage parents and the community.

The judges are representatives from the NLB, Education Ministry and Early Childhood Development Agency. Twenty pre- schools, 10 each in the distinction and commendation categories, received their awards from Ms Sim Ann, Minister of State for Education and Communications and Information, at a ceremony at Jurong Regional Library.

Another winner was Pat's Schoolhouse (Mount Sinai Drive), which exposed its children to books written in different styles - using repeated words or words that rhyme, for instance. Children also wrote their own "books" and read what their classmates wrote.

Ms Norashinta, 33, who has a young daughter, said it was important to promote a love for reading among children. The nurse, who goes by one name, said: "They can learn new words and better express themselves, so it's easier for people to understand them, and there is better communication."

goyshiyi@sph.com.sg


This article was first published on Mar 21, 2015.
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