by on 28/08/2020 1539
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Montessori Anakku is situated in the new and beautifully designed Arcoris Plaza, Mont Kiara. They opened in 2017, offering a well-rounded Montessori curriculum for young children aged 1.5 to 6 years. Montessori Annakku is part of the Children’s Discovery House group and was set up to meet the needs of parents in the area.
Anakku Montessori provides an authentic Montessori curriculum, with a vast range of quality learning materials that facilitate kids’ development at different stages. Their program is child-centric, wholesome and thoughtfully structured to meet the needs of each individual child.
It is their aim to help all kids reach their full potential and embrace their unique selves, through a careful balance of guidance and freedom to explore.
Children here are given the opportunity to ‘be kids’ and celebrate their priceless childhood. For example, the entire indoor learning space was once turned into a giant messy play area—where little ones could fully immerse themselves in flour and shaving cream. What a blast that must’ve been for kids!
Their high-quality curriculum focuses on all important aspects of a young child’s development: emotional, physical, academic, and social.
When it comes to picking teachers, Montessori Anakku seeks out dynamic, interesting and capable individuals. A background in Montessori is typically preferred, but they see value in recruiting graduates from other fields too—like animation, engineering or the sciences. This is because teachers are encouraged to bring in their unique knowledge and experiences into their lessons, which can ultimately make the kids’ learning experience much more enriching.
The care and passion that teachers have for children here can be easily picked up on by just observing them with the kids. They bring lots of fun and energy, setting up the optimal learning conditions for early childhood education.
Furthermore, teachers here receive regular training from external Montessori experts. Montessori Anakku’s founder, Datin Nona, has personally sponsored the undertaking of diplomas in Montessori pedagogy for a few of their teachers. This shows how much they prioritise the growth and quality of their educators.
The first thing you’d probably notice when you enter Anakku Montessori is just how gorgeous it is. It has high ceilings and a rustic theme, with beautiful wooden furniture carefully placed in all the right places. It is spacious and inviting, with only a few closed-off rooms—including a quiet and calm reading area. Children here seem wonderfully at ease and happy in their cosy environment.
Anakku Montessori organises a sports day or concert once a year. Parents can get involved in their events too, which is both a whole lot of fun for everyone and important for strengthening bonds. For instance, they once had a ‘planting’ race where parents and their children had to plant as fast as they could!
At Anakku Montessori, all children are seen as winners. In line with this philosophy, children don’t actually compete for places—because everyone gets a medal. Participation, joy and confidence-building are priorities here, as they acknowledge this sensitive period of early growth.
Besides these special events, the preschool also offers a range of enrichment classes to bolster academic education and introduce children to diverse interests.
Safety is serious business here. Not only does the preschool have CCTV surveillance and careful control of their entrances, but only individuals who have been authorised by parents (by providing their full name, identification, and a photograph) are allowed to receive students. Parents are even asked to keep chats with teachers brief during pick-up time, to avoid any dangerous distractions that could compromise kids’ safety.
Anakku Montessori has also been carrying out daily cleaning and sanitization of their facilities from the very start. Teachers here are tasked with disinfecting learning materials at the end of each school day. As for the children, temperature and illness symptom checks are also routine. Kids here are encouraged to practice good hygiene, and engage in hand washing several times a day.
Other than that, the preschool looks after the health of their kids through the fresh and nutritious food that they provide at the centre.
Montessori Anakku builds trust with parents through delivering on their commitments. The preschool listens to parents’ needs and tries their best to honour them. Nonetheless, the preschool is a believer of setting up children for lifelong learning, rather than forcing them to do things they aren’t ready for. That is the way of the Montessori method: a gradual but effective approach that is supported through positive interactions with adults and the environment.
