iUnique Curriculum - HI

HI – HUMAN INTELLIGENCE

In the age of AI, children must develop uniquely human talents and traits not easily replaceable by robots to allow them to stand out from the crowd. Human intelligence is the cognitive quality that provides the capacities to learn from experience, adapt to changes and new situations, manage complex concepts and use knowledge to influence one’s environment. Children are not born with these abilities, but they have potential to develop them. These abilities also lead to better outcomes and success in life.

At ChildFirst, we provide a supportive and growth-promoting environment for your child to cultivate these life skills through our Human Intelligence (HI) Curriculum and practise them before he/she performs in real life situations. Our HI curriculum includes:

Executive Functioning & Emotional Quotient

Executive Functioning and Emotional Quotient

EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING (EF)

  • Executive Function Skills

Executive Function Skills

Executive Function (EF) is the foundation of academic success and social-emotional development. EF skills are cognitive processes that will enable your child to manage many aspects of his or her life, even beyond school. Harvard University’s Center on the Developing Child terms EF as the “brain’s air traffic control system”! EF has been known to be a better predictor than even traditional IQ tests. EF skills are interdependent and most importantly, progressively acquired and can be improved over time with practice.

EF activities are embedded throughout the day at ChildFirst so that your child develops and practises these skills in practical yet playful experiences in the classroom.

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18 MONTHS – 3 YEARS OLD

BRAIN DEVELOPMENT & SENSORY STIMULATION

Your child’s brain is developing at the fastest rate during these early years. At ChildFirst, our unique Sensory Experiences Programme (SEP) and Toddler Gym Programme ensure that our Pre-Nursery and Nursery 1 children receive abundant sensory stimulations for optimal brain development. The more stimulation your child receives at this stage, the more neural pathways and connections are established in his/her brain. Brain stimulation is derived from the five senses – sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch; as well as experiences involving movement, balance and body awareness. Through the activities, your child will also develop beginning EF skills in the areas of cognitive flexibility, attention and focus.

4 – 6 YEARS OLD

At Nursery 2, your child will be introduced to mindfulness practices in the classroom as a strategy for self-regulation and inhibitory control. Through EF-focused games and activities spread across the week, your child will develop EF skills that will teach them how to react under new and stressful conditions, maintain focus amidst distractions, learn to manage changes and make smart decisions in critical situations.

Your child will be assessed with an award-winning research-based assessment tool designed to give a direct behavioural measure of your child’s EF skills through a short and engaging digital game. Since EF skills are key to academic and social-emotional development, measuring your child’s EF skills can give you and your child’s teachers an additional insight to improve and track your child’s EF abilities year by year. The personalised report for your child will be shared with you, along with guiding tips to further enhance your child’s EF at home.

EMOTIONAL QUOTIENT (EQ)

Executive Function (EF) and Emotional Quotient (EQ) are closely tied together and therefore, a sound Human Intelligence Curriculum cannot be complete without one or the other. EQ is the ability to understand and control one’s own emotions in healthy ways in order to reduce stress, communicate effectively, sympathise with others, overcome problems and conflict. EQ also helps your child to develop prosocial behaviour and form stronger connections in life.

  • Emotional Quotient

18 MONTHS – 3 YEARS OLD

CHARACTER EDUCATION & SOCIAL SKILLS

ChildFirst works with you to prepare for the first day of school. Separation anxiety is understandable and we will share tips with you and journey with you to ensure that your child settles down in school well.

Our Character Education Programme also introduces your child to important values and social skills through simple songs and stories that your child would be able to relate to and understand. Your child will discover how to make friends, express and regulate emotions, take turns, work through conflicts, develop empathy, decide between right and wrong, and learn how to persevere through difficult tasks.

PRACTICAL LIFE SKILLS

When your child is independent, he/she becomes more confident. Self-help skills such as putting-on and taking-off shoes, putting-on and taking-off their clothes, self-feeding, taking responsibility for their belongings, and being in charge of classroom duties, help children build confidence and are necessary skills to have in life.

GOOD HABITS

Habits, once formed, are often difficult to change. Therefore, it is important to cultivate good habits early. Correct posture, brushing teeth, eating a balanced meal, good manners and care for our environment are just some of the good habits that ChildFirst believes in cultivating.

4 – 6 YEARS OLD

PERSONALITY PROFILING & GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP

Our Personality Profiling Programme helps your child develop self-monitoring skill, which is also an EF, as well as self-awareness. Your child will recognise that every individual is unique and that there are always positive sides to one’s character that should be cherished but also things to be mindful of. Your child will reflect and be aware of his/her own response to:

  • Tasks
  • People
  • Authority
  • Knowledge, and
  • Stress

In addition, your child will be aware of the wider world and learn that he/she are interconnected with others, and in the process, he/she will learn to nurture respect for self and respect for others. More importantly, your child will learn to embrace his or her own unique personality and learn strategies to cope in difficult situations.

GROWTH MINDSET

Our HI curriculum also teaches your child to self-reflect, view mistakes and failures as part of learning, and embrace challenges. Your child will develop the all-important growth mindset by developing a positive outlook and an enjoyment for learning new things, and face challenges with determination and perseverance to succeed in life.

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