Tadika Era Suria (Sunshine Montessori Kindergarten), Seremban 2

Tadika Era Suria (Sunshine Montessori Kindergarten), Seremban 2 is a child-oriented kindergarten where children learn to share, love and learn. Nestled in a serene residential neighbourhood, the kindergarten is housed in a double-storey corner lot of a row of terraced houses. The bright, multicoloured exterior makes it look very cheerful and welcoming. In the adjoining land is a 3500-square feet outdoor playground with monkey bars, swing, see-saw and ample space for children to run around.

This year, Tadika Era Suria celebrates 17 years of providing parents what they want and need for their children – quality education and trusted childcare. The founder, who holds a Doctor of Philosophy and was raised by parents who were also teachers, embraced her affinity for early childhood education and thoughtfully created a nurturing place that inspires children to become confident learners for life. “We are here to capture the joys of childhood, while fostering children’s individual development and getting them ready for primary school,” says the founder, a part-time lecturer in early childhood education.

The kindergarten offers programmes designed for 3- to 5-year-olds, each placed in small class sizes of approximately 6 to 10 students. With fewer children to monitor, teachers get to know each child as an individual, improving their weaknesses and encouraging their strengths. On the flip side, children are free to grow at their own pace and may feel more comfortable participating in class.    

In order to give children a strong start in education, Tadika Era Suria integrates some of the best practices, including the internationally acclaimed Montessori method, into its curriculum. Teachers plan activities that address the developmental needs of the whole child and use their creative skills to make lessons fun and interesting for children. Aside from the 3 main languages (English, Bahasa Malaysia and Mandarin), the kindergarten’s programmes cover broad areas of learning, including science, mathematics, art, music, physical education, moral, practical life skills and more. On a typical day, children get enjoy books and stories, gain fundamental knowledge in key subject areas, stimulate their minds through multi-sensory activities and games, engage in dramatic play, and strengthen their motor skills through movement and exercise.

Driven by children’s keen sense of curiosity, the school environment boasts learning corners that are rich in manipulative objects and constructive toys to provide opportunities for children to learn in a hands-on way. This purposeful set-up helps children comprehend basic concepts of how things around them work and build a foundation of important skills that will help them succeed later in primary school; they practise fine motor skills, improve hand-eye coordination, learn to make decisions, develop self-confidence and find ways to solve problems. For the older kids, they also get to do various science experiments, needlecraft and play with Logico (a programme designed to improve children’s visual discrimination, pattern awareness, number sense, sequencing and letter recognition).

In the afternoon, after a restful naptime, children engage in more enjoyable activities (like colouring, puzzles and visual cards) and outdoor play. The group of 5- to 6-year-olds will finish their homework and revise for the next day’s spelling test.

As it’s not enough to just excel in academics, the Era Suria curriculum places a strong emphasis on children’s character and attitude. Using varied themes largely based on emotions, teachers inculcate positive moral values in children by being their role model, sharing moral stories, helping them practice through learning experiences in school, and acknowledging good behaviour. In addition, it is also part of the programme for children to develop healthy eating habits; children enjoy delicious vegetarian meals that are specially prepared according to a nutritionist’s advice to ensure children’s nutritional requirements are met. Apart from the above-mentioned, field trips, holiday programmes and parent involvement activities, such as leisure hunts and sports days, are incorporated into the yearly programming to keep everyone involved.

Very importantly, Tadika Era Suria employs teachers who are not only qualified individuals but also individuals who are dedicated to take great care of every child who is enrolled in the school. The team is made up of both young and experienced teachers, whereby their strengths compliment each other to bring out the best in the children here. They are open to constructive communication amongst themselves, as well as effective communication with parents, which fosters a great sense of trust. Above all, children love being in school, no coaxing needed. “They are so excited to be back especially after several rounds of homeschooling during the pandemic,” adds the founder. At the end of the day, this is what matters most, and learning will come naturally after that.