The Little House (Montessori)
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The Nair Family dressed up as minions for our annual Halloween walk
Mugdha: If you're looking for a Montessori that has the best of everything - the classical Montessori environment and practices, a strong focus on the three Rs, a fun and energetic vibe, and more - The Little House Montessori is IT. What I loved the most was that they place a lot of importance on inculcating social graces and thoughtfulness in the children - saying please and thank you, forming and expressing their opinions politely yet effectively, taking turns, being fair, and so on.
Children learn so much more than regular classroom stuff - cleaning their own plates and bowls after lunch, using various tools safely (such as scissors, punch machines, staplers, even the binding machine), cooking (and they share all the recipes with us at the end of the year!). The best part is how confident it makes the kids - all Little House kids I've met have this "can-do" attitude about everything.
Every week, they conduct Science experiments (and they deal with serious stuff: density, buoyancy, condensation...) and teach Geography (they tell the kids about a new country and what's really special about it).
Special mention must be made about Mandarin. My daughter joined TLH mid-year in N2, when we had just moved to Singapore. I was quite apprehensive about her having to deal with learning a new language along with everything else that was so new for her. Imagine my surprise (and relief!) when she soon started crooning in Mandarin! When I ask her who her favourite teacher is, most often it is a Mandarin teacher that she names. Just to give an idea of how dedicated they are, during the first phase of the circuit breaker, the Mandarin teacher made detailed videos of writing and pronouncing each of the Chinese characters the kids needed to practise, which were so easy even for someone like me, with no knowledge of the language, to follow.
And the teachers are truly so, SO caring. I have personally witnessed how lovingly they handle very young kids who are anxious about leaving their mums to go off alone to school. There have been kids who have screamed and cried for the better part of a term or more, but the teachers would handle the situation with seemingly effortless calm. They're also an inclusive school; there have been kids with special needs, who join in the fun with everyone else, including the year-end concert.
I could go on and on. Long story short, though; if you're looking for a great school, Montessori or otherwise, for your 1.5 - 6 year old, you really must pay The Little House Montessori a visit.
The Lallier Family
Divya: When we moved to Singapore three years ago, we visited about 15 preschools before we chose the Little House Montessori for our eldest child. We are absolutely thrilled with our choice, and this year, our younger child also started at TLHM.
Each child has an individualised education plan, and the teachers are very tuned in to the needs and progress of every child. With their decades of combined experience, they provide a lot of support and advice around any developmental and behavioural issues that your child may face. Our children love the geography lessons, the science experiments, the weekly cooking, the play-based learning, and the structure they get at school. As parents, we love the wholesome (bilingual) environment, the wonderfully diverse student group, the excellent team of teachers and staff, and the inclusive community, all ably held together and led by the head directress, Mrs. Katherine. I especially appreciate the emphasis on good manners, the practical lessons in independence, the focus on the children’s physical development, and the language support given for non-native Mandarin speakers. This is an incredible place for children to spend their early formative years, and I highly recommend the Little House Montessori to anyone who wants to inculcate confidence and a love of learning in their child.
Bernard: The Little House Montessori is the best environment we could possibly have found for our daughters. Our eldest joined when we arrived in Singapore and took all of 20 minutes to settle in. The environment, the teachers and the other students all form a virtuous circle in which our daughter has become responsible, curious, caring of others and brave in voicing her opinion and exploring new things. Our youngest has just started there and is already thriving. This school will have a huge positive impact on your child.
