Study Finds Longer Childcare Hours in Singapore Improve Behaviour of Children

PUBLISHED

13 January 2025

Children aged three to six in Singapore who spend more than 40 hours a week in childcare showed better behaviour, with fewer issues like aggression, according to a 2024 study by A*Star’s Institute for Human Development and Potential (IHDP).

To help children further improve their academic performance at school, the study suggested that early childhood education programmes could focus more on social-emotional development and recommend providing additional snacks and outdoor activities for children in long care hours.

At NTUC First Campus’ over 180 preschool centres under its My First Skool and Little Skool-House networks, social-emotional learning is embedded into daily learning activities and its teachers are guided by specialised toolkits developed in-house, said its Chief Child Development Officer Ms Coreen Soh.

The centres, which take care of about 29,000 children islandwide, feature thoughtful designs to support social emotional development, such as with quiet zones where children can self-regulate when they feel overwhelmed, as well as dramatic play areas to express and explore their emotions.

Mindfulness activities, such as storytelling and relaxation techniques, as well as empathetic teachers, help children to reduce stress.

Media coverage:

Straits Times coverage of NTUC First Campus (11 January 2025) – online

Straits Times coverage of NTUC First Campus (12 January 2025) – print

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