Enrichment lessons are extracurricular classes where students can receive advanced academic guidance, get extra help with homework assignments, or discover new interests outside the classroom setting. Meant to help realise your child’s potential, it’s an environment that places emphasis on nurturing their skills, on top of providing them the opportunity to meet and socialise with equally talented children. While many parents in Singapore might believe that enrichment classes are traditionally for the academically weak, child psychologist, Dr Harriet Tenebaum found that extra-curricular activities are also related to improvements in a child’s confidence and academic achievements.
When it comes to their children, Singaporean parents want only the best. Many are often in search of good, quality enrichment centres to enrol their children in, but choosing the most suitable one can sometimes seem like a daunting task with the plethora of options available. I Love Learning is a leading enrichment centre in Singapore, and we’ve put together this guide on supporting your child’s learning through enrichment centres, some considerations that could affect your decision making process, and the benefits of enrolling your child in one.
How enrichment classes can help your child’s development
The right enrichment centre can go a long way in helping students realise their gifts and talents beyond the classroom. This includes developing a sense of self-awareness, and a better understanding of their schoolwork with programmes that are in line with the school curriculum. In addition, they are also encouraged to positively grow their interests and skills, leading to a more robust understanding of their potential. In this section, we’ll take a deeper look into the ways enrichment classes can aid with your child’s development.
Allow your child to enjoy learning
Enrichment centres aim to bring out the best in every child by honing their individual strengths, providing a safe and supervised space to explore who and what they want to be. This leads to increased confidence in your child through activities that demonstrate different ways of learning, and helps to build a more positive attitude toward academics.
Additionally, enrichment classes for preschoolers aids in spurring growth and early childhood development. Activities are designed to stimulate the senses and encourage an atmosphere of curiosity, learning, and exploration through structured play – all of which builds enthusiasm around the learning process.
Encourage social interaction
Group enrichment programmes can be fertile grounds for children to shape social and soft skills. Most of these classes engage students and require them to work together, creating opportunities to interact and cooperate. Children also get to practise invaluable skill sets for the classroom and beyond, such as active listening, collaborative learning, making connections to the world, and forming and expressing opinions.
Engaging in enrichment activities from an early age develops traits that go on to make a positive impact on the overall well-being of children. This is supported by studies revealing that having mental, emotional, physical and social skills help children grow into more self-confident adults.
Improved study skills
Children can significantly improve the ability to concentrate when they engage in extra enrichment classes outside of school, or commit their time to developing a valued skill. Enrichment classes also teach your child the importance of time management and test preparation, all of which can be used to their advantage during regular school hours. These core study skills help tremendously especially in higher education, as class materials become more advanced.
Help your child stay ahead
A child who craves academic challenges can do so with higher than grade level opportunities through a tuition centre. Have your child go beyond their current syllabus level to stretch their learning abilities. With an already strong foundation, your child will be given the chance to move past their comfort zone and ahead of the pack.
Increased motivation to do well in school
Is your child struggling more with certain subjects in school such as maths or science? Have they been showing a low level of motivation in their studies? These are usually indications that your child is starting to doubt their ability to succeed. If this is the case, math enrichment and primary science tuition can help motivate your child by giving them the needed guidance and an opportunity to excel at the subject in a different environment. Once they’ve experienced how regular practice and commitment contributes to improvement, they’re often more confident and willing to put in that extra effort to enhance those skills outside of the enrichment centre.
Things to take into consideration when choosing an enrichment centre
In a country where much importance is placed on academics, tuition centres are the lifeblood of a community entrenched in the pursuit of better grades. However, some thought is needed when choosing the right one such that your child gets the most out of their experience there. Here are some key considerations you should keep in mind when choosing an enrichment or tuition centre.
Consider your child’s interest
Before enrolling your child for a certain enrichment programme, the first thing you should consider is their interests. Is your child more excited about languages or science? Would your child enjoy learning a new form of performing arts or exploring the inner workings of an engine? Parents will find shortlisting enrichment centres an easier process after getting insight on those answers.
This applies especially to younger children who tend to have a keen sense of curiosity and shorter span of attention. Therefore, matching them with activities that they would be enthusiastic about would be more beneficial than signing up for what you think would be suitable. With this in mind, you can appropriately choose an enrichment centre that will empower your child academically. Look for centres that offer trial classes to gauge a child’s level of interest before you decide to commit to a full programme.
Consider your child’s schedule
Parents should ensure that their child is able to cope with the additional enrichment programmes on top of homework and after-school activities. Try not to overload your child with activities and encourage a good balance between school, rest, and play. Bear this in mind when choosing enrichment classes for your child for the best investment and long-term benefits. In addition, you may also want to take into account the location, and how far the centre is from your house to factor in additional commuting time needed.
Your child’s style of learning
Understanding your child’s learning style enables you to enrol them in classes whose teaching methods suit them best. This is especially important as young children are particularly impressionable, and the efficacy and impact of each lesson can affect the way they perceive learning in the years to come. It is therefore important to find out more about the learning methods employed at each tuition centre before deciding on one. A programme that adopts learning methods and technologies that cater to your child’s learning style would enable them to effectively expand their understanding in a given subject area.
Consider your budget
The cost of enrolling your child in an enrichment centre is a big consideration, and can sometimes even be the deal breaker. Choose an enrichment centre that is within your budget without compromising the quality of the learning experience it can offer.
How different groups of students can benefit from enrichment classes
Enrichment classes strive to increase a student’s knowledge of subjects and concepts that have been introduced during their time in the classroom. Read on to learn about the various ways different students can gain from attending enrichment classes.
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High achieving students
Students who are ahead of their peers in maths and english can also face significant challenges in school. This is because some might be so quick to grasp new concepts that they find themselves getting bored easily in class. This may result in feeling distracted or disruptive behaviour during lessons, despite achieving high grades. The children in this group can benefit greatly from the additional challenges and stimulation offered through enrichment programmes.
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Students who require extra support academically
Children who are academically behind their peers can benefit from enrichment classes that offer extra help and guidance with homework assignments and academic support. Programmes in the arts, science and languages like primary english tuition classes for instance, can provide additional opportunities for cognitive development from a young age.
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Average performing students with a drive for academic success
An average performing student is not destined to be average forever – they just simply haven’t found the area that they best excel in yet! Enrichment programmes expose children to new activities, skills and hobbies. This gives them the opportunity to try new things and learn more about their likes and dislikes. Along the way, they’ll discover new passions and interests that will motivate them to keep working hard in school to achieve their goals.
What makes a good enrichment centre?
With an over saturation of enrichment centres all over Singapore, due diligence is needed if you want to find the right one for your child to give them an edge over their peers. But what exactly makes a successful enrichment centre? We identify the factors that make the difference.
Passionate and qualified educators
Having qualified and knowledgeable educators who are attuned to the individual needs of students is a key aspect that distinguishes an enrichment centre from the rest. Take the time to communicate with your child’s teacher and take note of their credentials and teaching expertise. Apart from that, an educator who is passionate about teaching is also essential in helping your child develop a love for learning. This can be the differentiating factor between a child who dreads going for enrichment classes, and one who embraces the opportunity to learn and possesses a thirst for knowledge.
At I Love Learning, our educators are committed to going a step further beyond academics, to best support the development and learning needs of every child.
Carefully curated curriculum
The curriculum of enrichment classes should be designed thoughtfully to provide development opportunities for all participants. Age-appropriate reading strategies, for example, can support young children to develop greater interest and skills for a smooth transition into their primary school years.
Keep a close watch after lessons start when it comes to enrichment classes for preschoolers. Your child should be enthusiastic about attending classes each week and speak excitedly about it when they leave. Monitor your child’s progress in learning – it is important that your child enjoys the activities. Stop taking them there once you feel the experience isn’t a positive one anymore.
Keeping parents engaged
The influence and support of a parent can play a vital role during a child’s personal and educational development. Communication between parents and educators is essential for making sure that their children are getting the most out of every session. Many studies have shown that getting parents involved in a child’s enrichment programmes has immense benefits for both parent and child; children can build a positive attitude towards studies and advance in their educational journey, whilst parents have a chance to further understand what their child is learning. This is particularly beneficial when children require assistance with their homework, as learning is a continuous process that is not limited to just the classroom.
Smaller class sizes
Enrichment and tuition centres consist of class sizes ranging from individual sessions to small classes. Smaller class sizes come with plenty of benefits for both teachers and students. With fewer students per class, teachers are able to tailor the delivery of lessons to suit each student’s abilities, needs and interests. Students are also given more attention, which means learning barriers can be addressed as soon as the educator notices them.
In addition, teachers are allowed the time to get to know each student, understand their skills, weaknesses and learning preferences. This creates an engaging environment where personalised learning helps students achieve their personal best.
High quality materials
It is vital for a tuition centre to provide high quality academic materials that support your child’s learning needs. Get more information on the syllabus by looking at the centre’s teaching materials and curriculum outlines. Doing so can also help parents understand the teaching methodology of the enrichment centre better, and what you can expect from the syllabus.
Good learning environment
The environment of a centre has an important role to play as this will be the place your child spends their time at regularly. Consider issues like safety features, hygiene and if they provide a conducive learning setting. Classrooms should also be designed with the intention of creating a comfortable space for ideas to be generated and knowledge can be shared.
Good reviews and accolades
Read through reviews of parents and students before you to gain a little insight into the enrichment centre, how effective it was for them, how lessons were conducted, and so on. Talk to your friends and family for good recommendations. You’ll want to ensure there is enough evidence that this is the right place for your child to be.
Tips for building a strong academic foundation
What constitutes a strong academic foundation, and more importantly, how does one go about building such a foundation? If you want to ensure effective learning for your children whether currently or in the future, a solid learning foundation with a disciplined and structured approach is key. Here are some useful tips to set your child on their way to academic success.
Start your children early
Giving your child an early start at learning allows more time for good habits to form, and for the benefits of these habits to be reaped. Skills such as communication and leadership also have to be nurtured and developed over a longer period of time, as compared to knowledge required for school examinations. Parents of preschool children for instance, should monitor progress in English literacy and numeracy closely, as these are the fundamental building blocks your child is required to understand to succeed at subsequent levels.
Encourage a growth mindset
One of the most important dispositions that you will want to have ingrained into your child’s academic foundations is the growth mindset. This is because children who view learning as a continuous process put themselves in a better position to succeed in the long run. Instilling principles of a growth mindset in your child can set them up for academic success through understanding the value of learning, and embracing new experiences.
In addition, the behaviour and guidance of parents are also crucial for shaping your child’s mindset. Studies have shown that praising your child for effort in addition to results, makes them likelier to embrace harder challenges in the future.
Practise and apply
The strength of your child’s academic foundations is developed through practice and application. To reinforce good habits and critical skills, you should consider exposing your child to a variety of situations that put these qualities to the test. Encourage your child to explore his or her areas of interest in a deeper and more comprehensive way, for example.
Provide a supportive environment at home
A supportive home is one of the best strategies to create a positive learning environment, and underpins everything else that goes into building a strong academic foundation for your child. Part of academic performance boils down to a child’s mental state, and a supportive home environment can make a big difference in motivating children to do their best while being unafraid of failure.
Questions you may have
We conclude this guide with some questions parents might have with regards to choosing the right enrichment centre for your child.
Do you offer trial lessons?
Yes, we do offer trial lessons that allow your child to test out the suitability of the programme before committing to it. In the trial class, you get to see for yourself how the class is conducted and judge whether it goes with what you have in mind and matches your expectations. Use the chance to interact with the teachers and other parents to understand how we can elevate your child’s learning journey.
What is your average class size?
At I Love Learning, classes are kept at less than 9 students per class to ensure a conducive environment for your child to excel. The teacher-student relationship in small classes help our educators identify academic challenges early so students can receive the adequate support they need.
What ages do you cater to?
Enrichment classes for children from the ages of 2-16 are offered at our enrichment centre. We take pride in our unique award-winning programmes for children of all ages, guaranteeing that their academic development will be neither stressful, nor taxing.
Is your curriculum in line with MOE’s?
Whether it’s maths enrichment classes or English tuition for secondary school students, our curriculum adopts scientific approaches to accelerate the development of the young minds and sharpen their learning abilities. This is on top of keeping in line with MOE’s curriculum in order to stay relevant to your child’s schooling needs.
Can make-up classes be arranged?
Yes, we offer 1 make-up class for every 6 paid lessons per student. It is encouraged that make-up classes are arranged within the same term. No make-up classes will be given in new terms that have not been paid.
Conclusion
Before rushing to sign your child up for an enrichment class, it is extremely important to first understand the needs of your child, what classes are available and what the curriculums can offer your child.
At I Love Learning, our specially crafted syllabus is designed to help your child master the skills needed at each stage of academic progression, all while ensuring a genuine interest in the subject of study is nurtured. Our enrichment classes are designed to cater to the needs of preschoolers to secondary school children. Get in touch and speak with our team to find out more!