NTUC First Campus signs MOUs with overseas universities to augment its pool of skilled Chinese Language teachers, as part of its preschools’ continuing focus on effective bilingualism
NTUC First Campus (NFC) has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOU)s with three overseas universities to provide their students with internship and employment opportunities as Chinese Language teachers at NFC’s preschools. NFC’s overseas collaborations with universities augment its pool of teachers hired locally and overseas.
The three universities, based in Taiwan, are National Pingtung University (國立屏東大學), Hungkuang University (弘光科技大学) and Shu-Te University (樹德科技大學).
“As a leader in Singapore’s early childhood care and education, NTUC First Campus places a strong focus on building effective bilingualism and inculcating a love for learning Mother Tongue. Our innovative Mother Tongue curriculum has won us many awards. These latest collaborations with three esteemed universities are further testament to our continuing commitment to delivering high-quality Mother Tongue Language education,” Dr Connie Lum, NFC’s Director of Mother Tongue Languages Curriculum said.
“NTUC First Campus collaborates with overseas universities to create attachment or internship opportunities in our preschools for overseas teaching talent. By tapping on talent beyond Singapore, we ensure a steady pool of highly trained and passionate teachers to support our vision of enabling every child to realise their best potential and in creating bright futures for them,” said Simon Ong, NFC’s Chief Human Resource Officer.
“We are happy to receive interns from overseas universities at My First Skool as they add diversity and strengthen our teaching team through their experiences, and help build a culture of learning and collaboration,” said Thian Ai Ling, General Manager of My First Skool (MFS). MFS has 155 preschool centres in Singapore.
President Robert Chen from National Pingtung University looks forward to more exchanges and cooperation with NFC in the future. “Education is the foundation of the university, and exporting quality education is equally important, so that the teaching quality of the University’s students and teachers can be acknowledged,” he said.
“This collaboration with NTUC First Campus is of great significance to students’ overseas internships, employment, and interactive exchanges in the field of education and childcare, as it enables students to gain practical experience in theory and practice during the stints at NTUC First Campus’s preschools,” said Dr Lee Shu-Hui, Vice Dean of Shu-Te University. Shu-Te University’s Department of Early Childhood Education nurtures kindergarten teachers, family education professionals, and early intervention and education professionals. The department also manages six government-commissioned public education and childcare service agencies and two home-based childcare service centres.
Since 2011, Hungkuang University has collaborated with NFC to enable Taiwanese students to intern and work at NFC’s preschool centres. “Since 2011, 50 alumni have interned or worked at NFC’s preschools, promoting the development of bilingualism and facilitating exchange of experiences,” said Dr Pan Shih-Tsun, Vice President of Hungkuang University. Currently, there are 16 Hungkuang University alumni who are part of NFC’s teaching staff, with five serving as lead teachers. Alumna Lim Wen Zhi who works as a Chinese Teacher at My First Skool at Blk 209 Ang Mo Kio also received various teaching awards for her outstanding performance in teaching the Mother Tongue Language.
Five My First Skool teachers received accolades at the 2023 Outstanding Preschool Mother Tongue Language Teacher Awards
Minister for Education, Mr Chan Chun Sing, and Second Minister for Education & Foreign Affairs, Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman, pose with award recipients at the event. Five teachers from NTUC First Campus’s My First Skool (MFS) received the Outstanding and Merit awards at the 2023 Outstanding Preschool Mother Tongue Language Teacher Awards held during the…
Minister for Education, Mr Chan Chun Sing, and Second Minister for Education & Foreign Affairs, Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman, pose with award recipients at the event.
Five teachers from NTUC First Campus’s My First Skool (MFS) received the Outstanding and Merit awards at the 2023 Outstanding Preschool Mother Tongue Language Teacher Awards held during the 12th Mother Tongue Languages Symposium (MTLS) on 26 August 2023.
At the symposium, 15 dedicated preschool teachers were recognised as recipients of the annual Outstanding Preschool Mother Tongue Language (OPMTL) Teacher Award, and they were selected from a total of 163 nominations.
Ms Li Yinghua from My First Skool at Blk 245 Bishan received the ‘Outstanding Award Winner’ at the 2023 Outstanding Preschool Mother Tongue Language Teacher Awards held during the 12th Mother Tongue Languages Symposium (MTLS) on 26 August 2023.
This is a list of winners from MFS:
1. Outstanding Award Winner – Ms Li Yinghua, My First Skool at Blk 245 Bishan
2. Outstanding Award Winner – Ms Noraini Binte Abu Bakar, My First Skool at 2 Punggol Drive
3. Merit Award Winner – Mdm Lu Jinling, My First Skool at Blk 677 Hougang
4. Merit Award Winner – Ms Tian Aiping, My First Skool at 83 Punggol Central
5. Merit Award Winner – Mrs Uma Devi D/O R. Jayagumar, My First Skool at 51 Fernvale Link
Ms Noraini Binte Abu Bakar from My First Skool at 2 Punggol Drive received the ‘Outstanding Award Winner’ at the 2023 Outstanding Preschool Mother Tongue Language Teacher Awards held during the 12th Mother Tongue Languages Symposium (MTLS) on 26 August 2023.
Jointly presented by the Committee to Promote Chinese Language Learning (CPCLL), the Malay Language Learning and Promotion Committee (MLLPC), and the Tamil Language Learning and Promotion Committee (TLLPC), the awards recognise preschool teachers for nurturing a passion for Mother Tongue languages among preschool children.
NTUC First Campus’s Chinese Language teachers clinched five awards at the 2023 Preschool Chinese Language Storytelling Aids Competition, including both the first and second prize
Teachers from NTUC First Campus’s My First Skool (MFS) received five awards at the 2023 Preschool Chinese Language Storytelling Aids Competition organised by the Committee to Promote Chinese Language Learning on July 8. From 220 entries, prizes for the top three entries and seven commendations were awarded. Of these ten winners, five were from MFS….
Teachers from NTUC First Campus’s My First Skool (MFS) received five awards at the 2023 Preschool Chinese Language Storytelling Aids Competition organised by the Committee to Promote Chinese Language Learning on July 8.
From 220 entries, prizes for the top three entries and seven commendations were awarded. Of these ten winners, five were from MFS.
This is a list of winners from MFS:
1. First Prize – ‘City of Happiness’ – Xie Yingying, My First Skool at 2 Punggol Drive
2. Second Prize – ‘The Snail and the Whale’ – Ma Yanping, Hong Yan and Huang Xiaozhi, My First Skool at Blk 487 Segar Road
3. Commendation Award – ‘The Time Travel of Bookworm Hero’ – Xia Yuejing, Song Yoke Fong and Cheng Sisi, My First Skool at Blk 507A Wellington Circle
4. Commendation Award – ‘All the best, Little Rabbit!’ – Zhang Ge, My First Skool at Braddell Heights Community Hub
5. Commendation Award – ‘Rainbow-coloured Flower’ – Kong Mei, Peh Peng Peng and Tian Lili, My First Skool at 51 Fernvale Link
Xie Yingying from My First Skool at 2 Punggol Drive was awarded first prize for her storytelling aid titled ‘City of Happiness’. She is a two-time champion of the Pre-school Chinese Language Storytelling Aids Competition.
The project ‘City of Happiness’ by Xie Yingying from MFS at 2 Punggol Drive was awarded first prize. As she was once a graphic designer, Yingying incorporates art into teaching by creating children’s original picture books and designing innovative teaching aids with local elements. Inspired by her daily interactions with children, she designs original Chinese language storybooks as teaching materials. Using her original picture book ‘Red Strawberries, Green Strawberries’ as the theme, she crafted a four-layer “story stage” depicting the ‘City of Happiness’ using eco-friendly materials. The three-dimensional props she designed, such as flowers, trees, animals, insects, and local landmarks, are full of childlike and fantastical colours, with a fusion of Peranakan style. She also composed nursery rhymes to accompany the teaching aid, allowing young children to play and sing along while acquiring Chinese vocabulary.
“I hope to encourage children to care for one another, be grateful for their current happy lives, and strive to create a better home through stories,” Yingying said. She also won first prize in this competition in 2021.
Ma Yanping, Hong Yan, and Huang Xiaozhi from My First Skool at Blk 487 Segar Road were awarded the second prize for their storytelling aid based on the book ‘The Snail and the Big Whale’.
The team behind the second prize – Ma Yanping, Hong Yan, and Huang Xiaozhi from MFS at Blk 487 Segar Road – created a storytelling aid based on the book ‘The Snail and the Whale’. Children can arrange various marine creatures made of clay according to the plot in the book, and they can also listen to the correct pronunciation of vocabulary through a recording device and practise their pronunciation repeatedly.
NTUC First Campus clinched both first and second prizes at the eighth ‘Thumbs Up Little Junior’ Nursery Rhyme Competition
Photo: Lianhe Zaobao NTUC First Campus’s (NFC) My First Skool (MFS) clinched both first and second prizes out of 235 entries at the eighth ‘Thumbs Up Little Junior’ Nursery Rhyme Competition on July 22. The team from MFS at Blk 82 Circuit Road was awarded first prize for their lively performance and catchy melody as part of…
NTUC First Campus’s (NFC) My First Skool (MFS) clinched both first and second prizes out of 235 entries at the eighth ‘Thumbs Up Little Junior’ Nursery Rhyme Competition on July 22. The team from MFS at Blk 82 Circuit Road was awarded first prize for their lively performance and catchy melody as part of their item titled ‘Reading Corner’.
In an interview with Lianhe Zaobao, Gao Meng, Chinese Lead Teacher at the centre, said that she loves to share interesting points from books with the children, who also find a lot of joy during the reading sessions. She sought inspiration from the reading corner, combining the highlights from all the books she read, for the nursery rhyme that she penned.
The team from MFS at 6 New Punggol Road received the second prize for their item ‘Shadow Friends’. During their performance, the children and teachers amazed the audience with various colourful shadows in a dark environment. Chinese teacher Zhou Yitong said that through regular interactions with the children, she noticed their interest in light and shadow when they went outdoors. “So we combined the children’s love for shadows and brought the play of light and shadow onto the stage,” she said.
Dr Connie Lum, Director of Mother Tongue Language Curriculum and Professional Development at NFC, who was one of the judges at the competition, said, “The performances this year are innovative, and the quality of nursery rhymes has also improved. In the past, we had to propose amendments to the nursery rhymes before they were presented. I hope to see more breakthroughs in the future, allowing children of different ages to perform nursery rhymes together.”
Teachers at My First Skool Clinch 5 Awards at the 2022 Pre-school Chinese Language Storytelling Aids Competition
Chronicling the story of a water droplet whose dream was to look at the sea, children at My First Skool at Block 197D Boon Lay learn about science, technology, art and Chinese language through the many engaging sections of this award-winning storytelling aid. The three teachers behind the project were awarded the third prize in…
Chronicling the story of a water droplet whose dream was to look at the sea, children at My First Skool at Block 197D Boon Lay learn about science, technology, art and Chinese language through the many engaging sections of this award-winning storytelling aid. The three teachers behind the project were awarded the third prize in the 2022 Pre-school Chinese Language Storytelling Aids Competition.
Whenever there was a thunderstorm, the children at My First Skool (MFS) at Block 197D Boon Lay would run towards the windows to watch the rain fall. Noticing the children’s curiosity, teachers Yang Zizheng, Li Yun and Li Hongxing built a storytelling aid to help the children learn about water. Chronicling the story of a water droplet whose dream was to look at the sea, children learn about science, technology, art and Chinese language through the many engaging sections of the storytelling aid.
Teachers Yang Zizheng, Li Yun and Li Hongxing at My First Skool (MFS) at Block 197D Boon Lay received the third prize in the 2022 Pre-school Chinese Language Storytelling Aids Competition.
This storytelling aid bagged the third prize at the 2022 Pre-school Chinese Language Storytelling Aids Competition on July 9. In addition, teachers at MFS received four Commendation Awards. There were a total of 300 entries submitted for the competition.
Organised by the Committee to Promote Chinese Language Learning, the competition aims to encourage teachers to develop creative storytelling aids and teaching methods to stimulate children’s interest in listening to and telling stories.
This is a list of our awards:
Third Prize – Yang Zizheng, Li Yun and Li Hongxing (My First Skool at Block 197D Boon Lay)
Commendation Award – Xie Yingying (My First Skool at 2 Punggol Drive)
Commendation Award – Ma Yanping, Hong Yan and Wu Hong (My First Skool at Block 487 Segar Road)
Commendation Award – Leow Sheue Siew, Xu Yan Li and You Xin (My First Skool at Block 82 Strathmore Avenue)
Commendation Award – Huang Fang and Chen Feicui (My First Skool at 51 Fernvale Link)
5 Ideas How You Can Make Learning Mother Tongue Fun for Your Child!
For children who speak mostly English at home, learning their mother tongue can be challenging. But what if you could make learning mother tongue language fun and exciting for your child? Here’s the good news – you can, thanks to these ideas that you can easily incorporate into your daily lives. #1 – The Power…
For children who speak mostly English at home, learning their mother tongue can be challenging. But what if you could make learning mother tongue language fun and exciting for your child? Here’s the good news – you can, thanks to these ideas that you can easily incorporate into your daily lives.
#1 – The Power of Music and Movement
In our classrooms, we see how children absolutely love music – and are happy to sing and dance along to their favourite songs, no matter what language the song is in. This is something you can do at home too, by playing child-friendly tunes in their mother tongue.
Keep a lookout for the songs in your child’s favourite shows too. These days, there’s a good chance that if a song is popular, it’ll also be available in multiple languages. If so, you can teach your child an exciting, “new” version of a song they love. Happy children are better learners and at My First Skool, this means everything to us.
If you need some inspiration, one of the most popular tunes in our learning environments is our very own My First Skool 早安 song. There’s even a music video that your child can sing and dance along to!
#2 – Captivating Traditions and Festivals
Occasions like Chinese New Year, the Mid-Autumn Festival, Hari Raya and Deepavali (just to name a few) are fantastic opportunities to teach your child about their heritage. Make use of the fun, festival mood that these seasons bring, then relate these interesting activities to the unique culture, traditions, and language that’s related to the festival.
For example, during the Dragon Boat Festival, you can show your child videos of how exciting dragon boat races are- with the beating drums and interesting-looking boats- then explain the origins of the dragon boat or the reasons why each boat has its own drummer (to keep everyone in-sync with their paddling). These will allow your child to create fun and positive associations between Chinese traditions and the language!
#3 – Fabulous Food
At My First Skool, we believe that children learn best when they’re engaged and having fun. One great way you can do this, is by using food to introduce new words to your child.
For example, if your child loves fries, you could use the word “shu tiao” the next time your child has it. You can even take this a step further by asking them what fries are made from- use this opportunity to teach your child the word “potato” in their mother tongue.
This way, your child will learn and use these words naturally, and enjoy doing so!
#4 – Fun with Labels
Here’s an idea that adults will love too – especially if you enjoy decorating your home. Create fun and eye-catching labels in your mother tongue, then stick them on common household items like your dining table, fridge, laptop or TV.
Every now and then, casually include some of these words into your everyday language. For example, “Can you put this cup on the table please?” or ” Can you take an apple from the fridge? ” With frequent use (and especially as both sight and sound are involved), these words will soon become a part of you child’s regular vocabulary.
Just remember to keep this fun and not overly challenging, so your child will remain motivated to keep learning – and using – new words!
#5 – Storybook Adventures
Children love stories! For this reason, one of the best ways of improving their mother tongue vocabulary is by reading to them. You can make this activity more engaging by encouraging your child to ask questions along the way, or even guess what happens next in the story!
And because you’re reading the story in your child’s mother tongue, it’ll be natural to have these conversations in your mother tongue (rather than English). Need a recommendation of a good Chinese book to read to your child? We’re got 16 recommendations for you.
Watch a video of how our teachers engage with kids during storytelling sessions. You might pick up a few pointers on how to make your storytelling sessions more engaging!
Love for Language Matters at NTUC First Campus’ My First Skool
Language is an incredibly important part of your child’s growth, and being fluent in both English and their mother tongue, will give your child an amazing head start in life – while opening many opportunities for them in the years ahead.
And the best way for your child to learn their mother tongue, is to develop a genuine love for the language. We hope these ideas help you get your child started on the path towards developing a love for their mother tongue!
Interesting in giving your child joyful learning experiences, each and every day? Register your child at NTUC First Campus’ My First Skool now.
3 Ways to Nurture Your Child’s Interest in Chinese Traditions this Mid-Autumn Festival
The Mid-Autumn Festival is just around the corner. For most of us, this means intimate family gatherings and of course, mooncakes galore! This year, in addition to choosing between snow skin, lotus paste or durian-filled mooncakes, you can also use this season to get your child interested in Chinese traditions. After all, children learn best…
The Mid-Autumn Festival is just around the corner. For most of us, this means intimate family gatherings and of course, mooncakes galore! This year, in addition to choosing between snow skin, lotus paste or durian-filled mooncakes, you can also use this season to get your child interested in Chinese traditions.
After all, children learn best when they are immersed in situations, environments and cultures – and the Mid-Autumn Festival is a perfect opportunity for your child to get excited about Chinese tradition.
These are three fun ways you can pique your child’s interest in Chinese traditions during this festive occasion.
#1. Soak in the atmosphere of Chinatown
The Mid-Autumn Festival is also known as the Lantern Festival, and these eye-catching displays will likely be the first things that catch your child’s attention when you walk down the streets of Chinatown with them.
The origins of the Mid-Autumn Festival
While you are there, you can share fascinating (and festival-related) stories with your child, such as, “Why Chinese celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival”. If you have not heard this one, here’s the story.
Explain to your child that there are four seasons in a year, and that mid-autumn marks the end of the autumn harvest. It is also the time of the year when the moon is at its brightest, and that is why it is often said that it’s possible to see a full moon during this special day.
Legends of the Mid-Autumn Festival
When it comes to intriguing mythical stories, Chinese folktales are unrivalled – and those related to the mid-autumn season are certainly worth sharing with your child.
Some of these popular tales include the story of Wu Gang and the cherry tree that couldn’t be cut down, the jade rabbit, and the most famous of them all, the touching love story of Chang’e and Hou Yi.
#2. Make old traditions new again!
Mooncakes and lanterns are two of the most prominent aspects of the Mid-Autumn Festival and are traditions your child will love – when you put a little twist on them!
“Cooking up” playdough mooncakes
Make some homemade playdough and ask your child to make their favourite mooncakes with it – whether it is green pandan mooncakes, yellow durian snow skin mooncakes, or traditional brown lotus paste mooncakes. All you need is colourful playdough!
To make things even more interesting, you can share a story of why people eat mooncakes during the mid-autumn festival. While there are several versions of this story, but here is the most well-known one.
Why people eat mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival
According to historical references, mooncakes were not popular until the Yuan dynasty, which ended in 1368. At this time, the Han Chinese were being oppressed under Mongolian rule.
Zhu Yuanzhang, the leader of a Chinese rebellion at the time, orchestrated a “Mooncake uprising”. During this era, it was difficult for the rebel leader to communicate his plan with his supporters throughout the city. So, his troops gave out mooncakes under the pretence of celebrating the Mongol ruler.
In reality, the mooncakes contained instructions on how to kill the Mongols on the 15th day of the 8th month! The plan was successful, and Zhu eventually founded the Ming dynasty – and the eating mooncakes became a way to remember this significant victory.
Making paper lanterns
As referenced earlier, the Mid-Autumn Festival is also popularly recognised as the Lantern Festival – and what better way to get your child interested in the occasion, than by making beautiful paper lanterns?
Once you are done, light up your lantern and take a relaxing walk around the estate as a family – just like the old days! This activity can create lifelong memories for children and parents alike, while keeping this treasured tradition alive in our community.
At My First Skool, one of the ways we encourage children to express their creativity is by making paper lanterns and decorating them. As a bonus, children also get to play with their lanterns and bring them home to show their parents!
Check out the lantern creations done by our children from My First Skool at Jurong Point Shopping Centre
#3. Observe the changing moon patterns
The Mid-Autumn Festival is synonymous with the moon, so ask your child to observe the moon each night and see how it changes in shape over time.
Get your child to document these shapes by drawing them onto a piece of paper or sketch pad, so they can compare these shapes as the days go by. You can also use this opportunity to teach your child the names of the various moon patterns in Chinese.
A bilingual preschool that appreciates culture and nurtures good values in children, My First Skool
At My First Skool, we believe that children learn best when they are highly engaged with interesting activities. Our bilingual curriculum incorporates events like the Mid-Autumn Festival to teach children about tradition, culture and values.
Keen on learning more about our bilingual curriculum and engaging learning environments? Visit a My First Skool near you today.
16 Chinese Books to Nurture Your Child’s Love for Mandarin
The learning of mother tongue has been a common hurdle among Singaporean children, getting them to love it is an even tougher process. It is no wonder savvy parents of pre-schoolers try to get hold of the best resources to give their children that head-start they need before they go to primary school. The implementation of Circuit…
The learning of mother tongue has been a common hurdle among Singaporean children, getting them to love it is an even tougher process.
It is no wonder savvy parents of pre-schoolers try to get hold of the best resources to give their children that head-start they need before they go to primary school.
The implementation of Circuit Breaker measures that kicked in on 4th April may put us in a bit of a frenzy, but it may just be the best time to spend some one-on-one time with our little ones and help them to grow their interest in Chinese.
Who knows – a month from now, your child may just surprise his/her preschool teacher with better pronunciation and understanding of the language!
Our team of parents enthusiast have also been chipping in to develop a series of audio books to help other parents who do not want too much screen time for their child can play the audio books. Do keep checking back as we upload the audio book clips to this book list! In the meantime, you can check out some of our English audio books.
Is there a formula to nurturing your child’s interest in Chinese?
Ask any Chinese language expert and chances are you’ll hear them share the same philosophy to mastering the language: 多听，多读，多写，多说 (listen, read, write, and speak more).
Let’s focus on the 多读 (read more) aspect in this article.
Why is it important to多读 (Read more)?
This is one of the most effective ways of nurturing your child’s interest in the Chinese language.
The best part about focusing on this aspect? Once children establish a love for reading (Chinese) books, it will be a lifelong habit that grows up with them!
We understand that many parents have trouble finding Chinese books for their children. This list of recommendations curated by our curriculum specialists will help you get hold of the books that your child will enjoy and learn from.
Chinese books suitable for pre-schoolers
1. 好饿的小蛇(The little hungry snake) (0 – 3 years old)
Synopsis: Featuring beautiful illustrations by Japanese artist Miyanishi Tatsuya, this book follows the journey of a snake that goes for a walk every day, and encounters a different fruit on each occasion. Why this book is good: The repetitive text helps etch nouns like “snake”, “eat”, and “going for a walk” on the minds of the young reader, while introducing different fruits to him/her. Your child (and you!) will also enjoy the surprising conclusion at the end of the book; we’re not spoiling it for you – go read it yourself!
好饿的小蛇
2. 布布爱上动物园 (Bubu loves the zoo) (0 – 3 years old)
Synopsis: This book puts its spotlight on Bubu, who went to the zoo with his mother and fell in love with the animals he saw. At the end of the excursion, Bubu realises while he loves the cute animals, he still loves his mother the most – aww! Why this book is good: As you flip through the pages, your child will be introduced to the different animals including monkeys, koalas, and elephants that Bubu has fallen in love with. Besides introducing the animals’ names, share with your child the sounds they make too!
布布爱上动物园
3. 巴士到站了 (The bus has reached its stop) (0 – 3 years old)
Synopsis: At every bus-stop, each featuring a different sight, a passenger gets down the bus and the reader gets a glimpse of what each passenger does and how they feel – happy, excited, tired, or anxious. Why this book is good: Each character in the story gives the young reader the opportunity to learn about different occupations and roles. Parents can use the book to discuss scenes that their children observe in their own lives and help them understand and express emotions in the process.
巴士到站了
4. 点点点 (Dots) (0 – 3 years old)
Synopsis: There’s no storyline to this book, but it’s a fun, almost “magical” book that’s very engaging. By following simple instructions such as “Press the red dot five times” or “Touch the yellow dot on the right”, the young reader gets to see the page transform as it turns. Why this book is good: The book triggers creativity and imagination while encouraging children to learn simple instructions in Chinese.
点点点
5. 十个手指头和十个脚趾头 (10 fingers and 10 toes) (0 – 3 years old)
Synopsis: By bestselling author Mem Fox, this book introduces babies of different skin colour, hair colour, outfits, and behaviour. As the book progresses, the reader eventually realises that despite the cultural differences, every baby shares several similarities: they have 10 fingers and 10 toes, love to play, and have loving mothers. Why this book is good: This heart-warming story doesn’t just nurture your child’s love for Chinese, but more importantly, it helps them be more loving and empathetic towards people who appear different from them.
十个手指头和十个脚趾头
6. 早安 (Good morning) (0 – 3 years old)
Synopsis: This simple book introduces the different people a little girl meets from the time she wakes up to when she goes out of her house, as she greets each of them politely. Why this book is good: Featuring sights familiar to the Singaporean kid, such as a hawker centre and elderly people doing exercises at a park, your child will find the images relatable. The book also teaches children to greet everyone they see politely.
早安
7. 穿衣服 (Wear my clothes) (0 – 3 years old)
Synopsis: An An learns to be independent and dresses himself in the morning. He gets it wrong at first but finally does correctly when he tries it a second time! Why this book is good: It encourages older toddlers to be more independent and inculcates the idea that it’s okay to fail on their first try – try again and they will eventually do it right.
穿衣服
8. 洗澡 (Take a bath) (0 – 3 years old)
Synopsis: Different animals share why they enjoy baths – because they love smelling good. The beautifully illustrated book is completed with the last two pages, showing how Baby loves to take a bath to smell good too! Why this book is good: The repetition helps the young reader to learn animal names and useful words like “bath” and “smelling good”. It may help the child look forward more to bath-time too!
洗澡
9. 睡午觉 (Take a nap) (0 – 3 years old)
Synopsis: An An goes out to look for his friends to play together only to find that they are taking naps. He decides to return home for a nap too. Why this book is good: The simple storyline isn’t just relatable to your child, but also offers room for you to prompt your child with questions, for instance about what each character is doing or the child’s own nap routine.
睡午觉
10. 夜晚 (Night-time) (0 – 3 years old)
Synopsis: Using illustrations that stretch across two pages, the book tells the young reader what different animals dream of when they are sleeping, as well as what Baby dreams of. Why this book is good: Each paragraph follows a similar sentence structure of introducing what each character (for example, a cat) had stopped doing at night (stopped meowing) because it is sleeping and dreaming about an activity it enjoys (fishing). In the process, your child gets to learn animal names, the sounds they make, and different activities.
夜晚
11. 洗头 (Washing hair) (0 – 3 years old)
Synopsis: The animals in the book enjoy washing their hair because of the fun hairstyles they can create in the process. Why this book is good: The simple storyline is easy for your child to understand and the repetition throughout the book helps the young reader remember animal names and words like “hair-wash”. You can also make reference to the book the next time your child puts up a fuss about hair-washing!
洗头
12. 好饿的毛毛虫 (The very hungry caterpillar) (4 – 6 years old)
Synopsis: The Chinese version of the popular The Very Hungry Caterpillar, this book follows the food-searching (and eating!) journey of a caterpillar until it finally stops eating, builds a “house” for itself, and then emerges as a beautiful butterfly two weeks later! Why this book is good: Using beautiful illustrations to showcase the food that the caterpillar ate (one apple, two pears, three plums…), the book makes learning how to count more fun. The story also helps the child recognise the Chinese names for fruits, and appreciate the transformation of a caterpillar to a butterfly.
好饿的毛毛虫
13. 母鸡萝丝去散步(Rosie’s Walk) (4 – 6 years old)
Synopsis: Translated from a classic children’s book by Pat Hutchins, this is a funny story of Rosie the hen who unknowingly led a fox that is trying to catch her through a series of obstacles, getting him into many accidents. Why this book is good: The fun and engaging story will tickle the funny bone of your child while he/she learns new words in the book.
母鸡萝丝去散步
14. 爷爷一定有办法 (Something from Nothing) (4 – 6 years old)
Synopsis: Translated from Something from Nothing by Phoebe Gilman, an adaptation of a Jewish folktale, the book describes how a blanket Grandpa made for young Joseph grew up with him over the years, transforming into a jacket, a button, and finally, a story. Why this book is good: Besides being a great resource to introduce a few useful nouns to your child, the heart-warming story also reminds him/her to not just enjoy gifts for what they are, but more importantly, that they’re a token from the giver’s heart.
爷爷一定有办法
15. 猜猜我有多爱你 (Guess how much I love you) (4 – 6 years old)
Synopsis: A little hare asked his daddy to guess how much he loves him, and expresses his love by comparing it to how wide he can reach and how far he can hop. His daddy reciprocated with similar expressions; the adult hare can reach further and hop higher, indicating how much more he loves him. Why this book is good: Many parents and kids love the ending of this book: the little hare tells his daddy that he loves him right up to the moon and his daddy replies that he loves him to the moon – and back. (Now you know where this popular expression came from!) Besides picking up new verbs, children also get a deeper sense of how much their parents love them.
猜猜我有多爱你
16. 第五个 (Next, Please) (4 – 6 years old)
Synopsis: The story features five sad toys sitting in a gloomy room waiting for their turn to be called. The atmosphere turns from ominous to joyful as each toy emerges looking renewed and more energetic. It turns out that they have visited the toy doctor who helped them get better! Why this book is good: The simple text and beautiful illustrations teach the young reader to count and to understand that the doctor isn’t scary – but helps make every sick child feel well. It’s definitely a good book to revisit before every doctor’s appointment!
第五个
Remember, the more you exposed your child to the language, the easier it is for them to be acquainted with the language. Do keep coming back to check out our audio books!
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