As early as now, I am on a look out for a place for a play-based programme for Naj who is turning 2 years old this month. I intend to start him when he turns 2 years and a half. It is important for me that he will be guided in honing his intellect to prepare him for school-based learning. But I also want to find a school that not only concentrates on basic educational learning but also knows the importance of enhancing the EQ or Emotional Quotient. As a family physician, I understand the value of a wholistic approach, that psychological makeup is as important if not even more important than the intellectual aspect.
EQ or Emotional Quotient is defined as an individual’s capacity to recognize his own or other’s peoples’ emotions, to discriminate between different feelings and label them appropriately and to use emotional information to guide thinking and behaviour. I have read the bestseller book of Dr. John Medina, Brain Rules: How To Raise A Smart & Happy Child From Zero to Five stated that two of the key ingredients in raising happy child are letting them develop an empathy reflex and helping them make friends. You see, the emotional well-being are valued to raise a happy child.
I am glad to learn about People Impact, a learning centre that hold play-based programme that enhanced children’s IQ and EQ. I was privileged that I got to observe one Saturday class for 5-6 years old at the People Impact in the Upper Thomson branch.
People Impact has been training kids for more than 12 years and has developed 5 different certificated programs for kids 0-18 in Asia. Their programs focused on Communication, Self-Esteem, Leadership, Money & Time Management, Arithmetic & Linguistic Reasoning, Creativity and Critical Thinking. People Impact invested over US$4million in Research and Development, inviting leading professors from Harvard, MIT, Michigan University University of Hong Kong and Washington University. Currently besides Singapore, People Impact can be found in China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Korea.
Teacher CK, who is also one of the owners of People Impact Singapore was the teacher for the 1 pm class together with two co-teachers. There was a mixed of boys and girls in one session. There was a total of 6 students in one class. I learned that every month, there are certain themes so this month is all about Time.
I came a few minutes after the class started and they were starting on the first activities. I learned that class duration is around 1 hour and 45 minutes. It is divided in 3 activities.
1ST ACTIVITY: NUMBER BUDDIES
The kids were divided into 2 groups and was to remember the numbers the teachers announced to both group. Both groups strategized how they will remember the numbers. From afar while I observe that there are kids who display leadership and tried to assign numbers for their members to remember them. Then they were instructed by the teachers to touch the assigned numbers pasted in the whiteboard using their body parts while each members should also be connected by touching each other. This activity teaches the kids to enhance their memory, team cooperation, team strategization, numerical reasoning and leadership. I love that they are learning through play. They are having fun and playing at the same time.
2ND ACTIVITY: HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE
Teacher CK pulled out a wall clock which I recognized from IKEA because we have the same one at home. He taught the children how many seconds to 1 minute and made them count in unison seconds by watching the hands of the clock into 1 minute. Teacher CK even made them close their eyes to feel how long is 1 minute. Then the teachers went into 3 corners with different activities in every station. There was station where they stack paper cups into a pyramid, a station where they are asked to match the numbered balls to the numbered cups and a station where they get to transfer a ball using a plastic drinking straw in another box. Before doing the activity, they were ask what is the presumed time they can finish the task. They were told that it is now how fast or slow you can do the activity, it is more of how can the kids estimate the time they think can finish the activity.
It is nice to observe the kids. I see those timid one that hardly speak out in the start of the class, exceled in other practical skills. I see also some kids who observe closely their peers and do well on the activity after analyzing some techniques taken from their peers. I see also kids who are very patient in getting a task done and some who exhibit perseverance in some of their trying activities.This activity teaches time concept, experiencing how much one can achieve within a time limit, practice time estimation skills and taking time as a reference when planning a course of action.
I see that the kids are excited that they learned a new skill and they are happy when they can achieve an activity in a few seconds. There are smiles of triumph and I see camaraderies building among the kids as they cheer on for their peers who are doing a certain activity.
3RD ACTIVITY: DINO HUNT
The last activity was the most fun of all. I wish I can join them too, haha… Two groups again were divided. A photo of the room was given to both groups indicating where the dino stickers will be hiding. One group will go out of the room and study the photo while the other group will be the on responsible for finding the dino stickers based on the map given to them. Then both groups will swap places and do the dino hide & seek again. The kids enjoyed hiding them and when the other groups came in there were so excited in looking for the stickers.
She is so happy she found a dino sticker
This activity teaches dual representation, spatial relationship, leadership, team cooperation and visual memory & analysis. The kids are learning a lot of things and developing certain skills but at the same time, having a ball of a time with their friends.
After the 3 activities, they were asked by their teachers to write in the green piece of paper what they learn for that afternoon. They were given a brief recall of what they learned that afternoon. Then they were all given a star stickers for a job well done for the afternoon.
After the class, the parents were asked to come in the classroom without their kids. Teacher CK explained what the kids that afternoon and what People Impact is trying teach them.
Teacher CK even made them try out one of the activities among the parents to let them get a feel of what the kids did that afternoon. The parents even got assignments to see how long does their kids get to do certain daily activities at home like eating or bathing.
I love the fact that parents are very much involve in partnership with teachers in the children’s progress in education. I can’t wait for Naj to start school, discover new things, improve his creativity, enhance his EQ, develop his IQ and learn leadership skills.
Interested parents can sign up for a special 1 month class package at $288 (U.P.: $588) OR a single trial class of $5/child (U.P.: $20). Register by sending an email to info@people-impact.com.sg with your name and contact as well as your child’s name and age. You can code “littlemisshoney”. Registration will be completed upon payment. There programs are suitable from 3-16 years olds. Grab this offer before 31st October 2016.
PEOPLE IMPACT
Website: www.people-impact.com.sg
UPPER THOMSON BRANCH SINGAPORE HQ
213 Upper Thomson Road Level 3 Singapore 574348
Tel: +65 64514908
MARINE PARADE BRANCH
1 Marine Parade Central, #09 – 08 Parkway Center Singapore 449408
Tel: +65 6440 5520
CITY SQUARE MALL BRANCH
180 Kitchener Road #08-01
Singapore 208539
Tel: +65 6509 6570
TAMPINES BRANCH
3 Tampines Central 1 Abacus Plaza
Singapore 529540
Tel: +65 6694 8380
WEST COAST PLAZA BRANCH
154 West Coast Road #01-74
Singapore 127371
Tel: +65 6635 8573
GENERAL INFORMATION
info@people-impact.com.sg
OPERATING HOURS
Wednesday to Sundays
9am – 6pm hours
(Close on Monday, Tuesday and Public Holiday)
Note: for walk-in enquiries, please do contact the centre prior to your visit as the staff might be out for external workshops or events.