Story by Monica Pitrelli with photography by Karen Lucas

Most people like to occasionally just “be” – to lie back, close their eyes, clear their minds and, well, do nothing. While some love to languish in front of the television during their free time (guilty!), others dive headfirst into learning new skills, languages and activities. I talked to some of our readers about the ways they and their families have found to expand their minds and enrich their lives.

New Concept Mandarin
38A Mosque Street, Level 3
www.newconceptmandarin.com
+65 6438 2297

American Greg Schmidt started taking classes at New Concept Mandarin a year and a half ago.

“When I moved to Singapore, I wanted to learn Mandarin as part of the process of connecting with my new home. Additionally, my daughters are both studying Mandarin at school, and I wanted to be able to encourage and converse with them in Mandarin.

NCM was highly recommended by my colleagues. The quality of the instruction is fantastic, and the location and class times in Chinatown are very convenient for me. I find the rates very reasonable.

Since my lessons began, I have gained a new level of trust and acceptance from my Mandarin-speaking clients as well as a newfound confidence in my own Mandarin abilities. Learning a new language has given me new insight into how I use English, too.

The more classes I take at NCM, the more I enjoy speaking and studying Mandarin. In fact, a friend at work recently told me my skills were improving so much that he was going to have to start speaking Hokkien around the office when he didn’t want me to understand!”

Sunflower Baby House
200 Turf Club Road, #04-300
www.sunflowerbabyhouse.com
+65 6463 1303

Malena Amaya Perkmann is from El Salvador, and her two sons Markus (3) and Aaron (1) attend classes at Sunflower Baby House.

“My husband and I were really struggling to find the right childcare centre for our oldest son. We took him to six different ones, and his reaction was always the same – shy and unhappy. Then we opened the door to Sunflower Baby House and we knew we’d found the perfect place.

Since that day, we have been extremely happy with Sunflower. For my kids, it is like a second home. The team does such a wonderful job, taking care of every detail from pedagogic issues to hygiene and wellbeing.

We are most impressed with the personal touch given to every single child. We look forward to the biannual parent-teacher meetings where we receive a file with photos and hand-written notes from the teachers about our sons. The weekly reports mean I can follow the topics my kids are learning and reinforce the lessons at home.

I love to listen to my son Markus singing songs in Mandarin. He smiles and tells me, ‘Mami, I’m really sorry that you don’t understand the song, but Mandarin is my secret language.’ I love that he loves learning at Sunflower.”

Academ Asia
1 Scotts Road, #25-14 Shaw Centre
www.academasia.com
+65 6734 9962

Dane Jakob Juul Bergendorff and his Swedish wife Sofia take Mandarin lessons at Academ Asia to better communicate with business colleagues and clients in China.

“My wife and I were interested in learning Mandarin, but needed a private instructor who could work around our hectic work schedules. Our neighbour had just completed a year of intensive Mandarin studies, and she highly recommended Academ Asia. That’s how we found Patrick – a great teacher who effectively paces the content and makes each lesson interesting, but is also incredibly flexible with our lesson times.

Before I started working at my current job, a Chinese name had been constructed for me to use when I conducted business in China. After I started using it, I learned that most Mandarin speakers recognised it as a girl’s name or a Japanese car! I’m thankful that Patrick helped me to correct the character, which is now printed on my business cards.

The more lessons we take, the more our interest in learning Mandarin grows. Most people in countries around the world like seeing other people making an effort to learn their language. China is no exception. Learning the language helps build relationships and trust, particularly with work. There is nothing like being able to make a group of Chinese businessmen laugh by saying something comedic in their own language!”

Shaws
855 Mountbatten Road – +54 6440 9192
24 Lynwood Grove – +65 6382 0314
www.shaws.com.sg

Australian Yvonne McNulty has two daughters attending Shaws – Lauren (5) and Cate (3).
 
“Shaws is a local private school, so we get the best of both worlds – local culture with a quasi-international curriculum. Different cultures, languages and nationalities are taught and celebrated. Each class has two full-time dedicated teachers – an English teacher and a Mandarin teacher – so  our girls are immersed in Mandarin all day long.

The fees are right on target. The school is constantly upgrading with new resources, books, furniture, toys, and playground equipment, so we are able to see how the money is being used to improve everything the children do.

My girls and I agree that the teachers are the best part about Shaws. I have never once had a feeling that they are there only for the money or the job. Shaws’ teachers never have a bad day! They are approachable, friendly and professional.

Cate uses the computer every day at home, and is highly proficient in using a mouse and starting an educational DVD all by herself. Lauren loves to read and write – that is, when she is not in the pool doing the duck-dives that she also learnt at school. Both girls have grown emotionally, physically, and mentally as a result of their Shaws education.”

Bibinogs Play Learning Centre
#02-07/08, Serene Centre – +65 6466 8015
#03-21, UE Square Shopping Mall – +65 6235 2062
www.bibinogs.com

American Jacie Buxton has three kids who attend Bibinogs Play Learning Centre – Katie (11),
Lincoln (4) and Rylin (2).

“Since English is our home language, we were looking for a school where our kids could learn Mandarin. My husband and I feel that Mandarin is a beneficial language to know, and we wanted to encourage our children to learn it in a fun and positive atmosphere.

Rylin is enrolled in Mandarin Tots, Lincoln is in Mandarin Pluckers, and Katie is currently taking private lessons. The staff treat our children like they are family. The crafts are very creative, age-appropriate and super fun! The teachers have an excellent grasp of the children’s attention spans, and they keep the programme moving accordingly. They offer snacks that are yummy and nutritious. We especially like the smaller class setting and teacher-child interaction.

We have witnessed Rylin ‘reading’ in Mandarin. She will pull out a book and use the sounds she has heard during her class to pretend to read a story. Lincoln can understand a fair amount of Mandarin, and he speaks it with his older sister at home. Katie’s Mandarin has improved drastically through the one-on-one classes. She truly loves learning the language because of the variety of teaching methods. Recently she learned how to order food from McDonald’s in Mandarin!”

Kavanagh Dance
75E Loewen Road – +65 9176 5558
1999 Lorong 8 Toa Payoh – +65 9176 5558
www.kavanaghdance.com.sg

Lisa O’Toole hails from the UK and her youngest daughter Skye dances at Kavanagh Dance.
 
“Skye loves to boogie and had been taking informal dance classes for a while, but as her ability blossomed I thought it would be a good idea for her to take more formal lessens as well have the opportunity to take ballet exams.

Skye and I are both very happy with Kavanagh Dance. The staff are very warm and welcoming every time we enter the studio. They are professional, and their enthusiasm for dance is infectious.

Although Skye is only six, she leaves her ballet lessons standing tall and feeling like a ballet dancer. She has just taken her primary ballet exam and is very excited to be moving into Grade 1 ballet. She has probably watched too many Barbie movies, but she’s very keen to start pointe work. She knows she has to wait until she gets older, but she would start tomorrow if she could!

Recently I attended a parent viewing-session where we watched all the girls dance with beauty, pride and grace. Who knows, maybe there’s a future Margot Fonteyn in the class!”

Excelerate Integrated Learning Centre
#05-29/31 and #05-13/15, Tanglin
Shopping Centre
www.excelerate.com.sg
+65 6235 0037

Australian mum Megan Cann’s son attended Excelerate Integrated Learning Centre from the age of 3 to 5.

“When our son was three and a half, we noticed that his language and social skills weren’t developing like those of other kids his age. He needed a little extra help with socialisation, behaviour and language. A recommendation from our relocation consultant led us to find Excelerate Integrated Learning Centre.

Excelerate is run by a very professional, yet relaxed and approachable staff – especially the director, Pika. My son worked with qualified therapists in a fun learning environment every day. He eventually integrated into the mainstream Montessori pre-school, also run by Excelerate. This was very beneficial for him, as he was able to model the other students’ good behaviour.

I had never seen a programme like this before or since. It was perfect for my son’s needs. Not only can the team see a child’s full potential, they can also work to bring it out.

This form of continuous therapy taught my son boundaries and structure as well as how to excel academically. He is now a happy and incredibly intelligent six-year-old on the brink of starting mainstream primary school next year. He misses and still talks about his teachers and friends at Excelerate.”

Centre Stage School of the Arts
Block 15 Woking Road
www.centre-stage.com
+65 6732 7211

Scottish mother Carol Church has a daughter, Antonio (11), who has been attending Centre Stage School of the Arts for seven years – nearly two-thirds of her life!

“When Antonio first expressed an interest in art at the wee age of four, we enrolled her in classes at Centre Stage. Through the years, her passion has morphed from art to dance, and she attends as many dance classes at Centre Stage as she can cram into her schedule. You name it – ballet, jazz, tap, acting classes, summer courses – she has taken classes. She just can’t get enough! She is happiest when she is at Centre Stage.

What is so impressive about Centre Stage is the confidence they inspire in so many children in the community. As the name implies, emphasis is placed on performance, and all students are given chances to perform in front of audiences on a regular basis. I have witnessed some incredibly shy children blossom as a result.

The founders, Ali and Pete, are always looking for new ways to develop a love of the arts in their students. I think that the reason for their huge success, apart from their own dedication, is their focus on employing the best teachers they can find. I would have no hesitation in recommending any of the teachers at Centre Stage. Antonia has been taught by most of them!”

Dynamics Therapy Centre For Kids
583 Orchard Road, #13-02 Forum The Shopping Mall
www.dynamics.com.sg
+65 6100 9235

Michaela Heidinger is the Austrian mum of six-year-old Kimon. She is thrilled at the results she has seen from Kimon’s sessions at Dynamics Therapy Centre for Kids.

“When Kimon was very young, he developed a stutter. When he started kindergarten, we noticed a few problems with his fine motor skills. We tried play therapy as well as a few other approaches, but nothing seemed to be working. Then a friend of mine told me about the success that her son was having at Dynamics, so we decided to give it a shot.

What a difference Dynamics has made in Kimon’s life! Since they offer a number of therapies under one roof, my son was able to receive occupational and speech therapy during his sessions. The therapists make a point after every session to take the time to discuss and explain Kimon’s progress, which as a parent is very important to me.

Kimon loves to see Yael, the centre’s director, who is helping him develop into a self-confident kid. His stuttering is almost gone, and his fine motor skills have developed perfectly. He used to hate to draw, but now he happily sits down and sketches, doodles and colours, much to my delight.”

The Little Gym
Forum The Shopping Mall, 583 Orchard Road – +65 6238 6331
Marina Square, 6 Raffles Boulevard – +65 6336 9734
www.thelittlegym.com.sg

Scottish mother Vicki Moore has two kids who adore The Little Gym. Her son, Matthew (6), started taking classes at 18 months, and her daughter, Yana (3), started at just 5 months!

“When we arrived in Singapore five years ago, I was looking for an educational gymnastics programme incorporating lots of movement for my very active toddler. He needed a ‘release’ at least once a week, especially when the wet weather kicked in.

I found the perfect solution in The Little Gym. Children can participate as much or as little as they choose in each class. The staff – the gym’s biggest asset – are extremely well trained. They all genuinely love children and have endless amounts of patience and energy.

They are also vigilant about cleanliness in the gym. There is a compulsory temperature check for hands and feet before each class, which makes me feel confident that the children are not subjected to illnesses.

My children are both well co-ordinated and have good gross motor skills, partly due to regular gym class. Although the programme is built around gymnastics, it’s a holistic programme with singing, health-related themes and an emphasis on taking turns. They love The Little Gym, and they always look forward to going.”

Advantage School of Tennis
Turf City, The Pines and East Coast Parkway
www.advantageschooloftennis.com
+65 6466 2643

British mum Joanna Brill’s entire family plays tennis at Advantage School of Tennis. Her kids, Luke (9) and Lara (6), have been taking lessons since it first opened.

“I was really excited to find AST because it allows my kids to play tennis come rain or shine. Since the weather in Singapore is either hot or wet, indoor lessons with the Tots Tennis is perfect.

The coaches take great care of the kids. They help them to build confidence in the game while not pushing them too hard. The staff know that the kids need to have fun. I love watching my kids play, and I am amazed by some of the shots my six-year-old makes. She enjoys her lessons and, of course, just loves the tennis dresses!

My husband plays at the Turf City courts while the kids play at The Pines Club. I participated in a regular morning class for beginners, which was good fun.

I love the fact that tennis is a game for life. It is something that people can play socially in many different situations, and it is played all over the world. I want my kids to be able to play a good game of tennis and have it as something they can always enjoy.”