Early Childhood Development

The Effects of Outdoor School Programmes on the Resiliency of Five Year Olds

This study looked at the effects of Outdoor School (OSS) programmes on the resiliency of five-year-olds by examining children’s mastery motivation. Mastery motivation reflects children’s willingness to engage in moderately challenging tasks, persisting in an independent focused manner.

A mixed-methods approach with teacher questionnaire ratings for children before and after their programme, in-field observations, and child-friendly interviews with drawings was used.

The results showed children demonstrated improvements in persisting with tasks, taking on challenges, and approaching problems with increased competence. Qualitative findings complemented these results, children integrated their experiential learning into their drawings and narratives, and effectively reflected developing personal strategies to problem-solve moderately challenging tasks.

Overall, the study demonstrates that OSS programmes foster children’s mastery motivation and resilience, support broader developmental outcomes, and underscores the value of experiential outdoor experiences in early childhood.

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A Philosophy on Child Development from Birth-to-Three

Written by Dr Geraldine Teo-Zuzarte and Lye Yu Min (Senior Manager for Thought Leadership Development), A Philosophy on Child Development from Birth-to-Three outlines NTUC First Campus’ philosophy on Child Development and offers a framework for raising a Happy Child. The article also presents the Singaporean context in which early childhood education and development takes place. This covers socio-cultural influences on parenting, changing family profiles and household arrangements, shifting demands for childcare and kindergarten services, and the expansion of national policies to support early childhood development.

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Temperament: The Basis of Our Personality – A Topic of Interest to Parents and Teachers

Written by Emeritus Professor Marjory Ebbeck, this expert article highlights the importance of identifying a child’s temperament and its influence on early education and development. Understanding children’s temperament can help parents and teachers recognise and understand underlying factors that facilitate or hinder healthy development. This article also provides insights and expert’s advice on the implication this brings to parents and educators alike.

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