Etonhouse International Preschool in Bahrain

  Research continues to prove beyond any doubt that play is vitally important to the healthy development of a child; physical, cognitive, social, emotional and language. More parents and educators are now subscribing to the belief that play is one of the best ways children learn. Why is play such an important part of children's development, and how do children learn through play?  Johnson (1993) describes play as both a window of development and opportunity for learning. Play is the natural way in which children learn and connect with, and build an understanding of the world and people around them. Through play, children develop critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, imagination, perseverance and resilience - essential skills for the 21st century.    How does play benefit children's development in the early years?  1. Socio-Emotional Development Playful social interaction begins at birth (Bergen, 2002; Bredecamp & Copple, 1997). As children grow older, they engage

  The   international baccalaureate diploma(IB DP)  is considered the gold standard in education sought after by universities worldwide.  Graduates of the IB DP are accepted at the best universities and colleges worldwide. Research has shown that students who graduate with the IB Diploma have a 57% higher chance of attending one of the top 20 UK universities, compared to students who study the British A Levels. They are also 21% more likely to be admitted to the most prestigious universities in America.   The IB DP offers a balanced and broad education so students gain more than traditional academic knowledge. The curriculum hones investigative, research, and critical-thinking skills that are useful in university and the 22nd-century workplace. Students also have to study two subjects so they become capable players in the global economy who are respectful of different cultures. An IB Diploma student will  study subjects across six different groups  as well as those in the core which ma

  There has been a growing emphasis on STEAM education in schools around the world. An educational approach with a focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics, STEAM aims to develop problem-solving and creative thinking skills. Through the process, students become incredibly engaged, motivated and inspired to innovate. What does this mean for our children, and how does it prepare our children for the future?  We speak to Niru Raghuram, Year 6 homeroom teacher of  EtonHouse Broadrick   and Olivia Jane Davenport, Secondary science teacher of  EtonHouse Orchard . 1) Why is it important to incorporate STEAM into the curriculum? STEAM combines many disciplines to enable students to solve real-life problems and provide fantastic opportunities to bring real-world applications to the classroom, preparing them for life beyond the classroom.  It encourages the teaching and learning of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Maths through creative cross-disciplinary appro

  Q : My  daughter, 10 years old started to rebel and is not motivated to study. Would like to hear parenting advice on how to raise a self-motivated happy child? Denise :  It must be very disconcerting to see your daughter "rebel" and do things that are against your wishes. It sounds like your daughter is  having a hard time and is stressed about something . The stress that a typical 10-year-old may be under often is a result of trying to deal with all the physical changes and other shifts in her life. It would be a great start by connecting with her. Listen to the challenges and fears that she may be facing. Sometimes, it could school demands and feeling like she is not good enough, friendship issues such as peer rejection that could be stressors for her. Lean in and listen, do not discount them and think of them as unimportant and inconsequential. Many parents fall into the trap of not listening,  connecting and communicating  with their child before correcting behaviours.

  As a parent, perhaps one of the most important decisions we make for our children is the right school for them. One of the key criteria in that choice is the qualification that the school offers in high school. There are mainly 3 routes to choose from - International Baccalaureate Diploma (IBDP), American Advanced Placement (AP), and the British A Levels. These tracks can be quite confusing especially for parents who perhaps have not accessed either of these qualifications when they were in high school.  We hope to address some of your questions on the IB Diploma as we speak to Alec Jiggins, Former Principal at  EtonHouse International School, Orchard . Alec is not only an IB Consultant and Council of International Schools (CIS) team member but has also led the Orchard campus to its IB Diploma authorisation.  You can listen to the podcast   here  where Bipasha Minocha (Group Brand and Marketing Director) does a deep dive into the IB Diploma programme with Alec.  Bipasha: Before we be

  Reggio Emilia is a town in Northern Italy and this world-renowned pedagogy was born after World War II founded by pedagogist Loris Malaguzzi. Supported by the entire community in Reggio Emilia, this approach is based on constructivist principles and stems from respect, responsibility, and community where learning happens through exploration, discovery, and play. Inspired by this pedagogy for the last 2 decades. EtonHouse also collaborated with Reggio Children to start REACH, Reggio Emilia in Asia for Children, which is a part of the Reggio Children   international network .  You can listen to the podcast  here .  What are the main principles that inform and guide this approach? The most common principle that defines the Reggio Emilia approach is that children have many languages. Loris Malaguzzi spoke about the  hundred languages of children  and this is where we believe that children have infinite ways to express themselves, explore and connect these thoughts to their imaginations a

  Technology has transformed the way children learn and communicate in the world today. We often think of the potential negative effects of technology on our children, and we try to protect our children against them. In this digital age, the challenge for you, as a parent, is not to shield your child from technology entirely, but to   educate him on how to use it properly and responsibly . Here are five strategies to help you guide your child in becoming a responsible  digital citizen :  Strategy 1: Keep your lines of communication open It is necessary to maintain open communication between your child and you.  Without it, misunderstandings may arise. Hence, find time to sit down with your child and have a discussion about the use of technology and social media platforms.   At a young age, your child may not know how to properly use technology yet. It is your role then, to guide and explain the pros and cons of the digital world. Keeping an open line of communication with your child wi

  This year, we ventured into an unexpected and very memorable learning journey as we moved from physical classrooms to virtual spaces in a short span of time. Home-Based Learning (HBL) presented many challenges, but also opportunities for shared growth and development. We speak to Ms Michelle Yong, a full-time working mum with two pre-schoolers at   EtonHouse Mountbatten 717 , about her experience.  What were your main concerns about home-based learning (HBL)? Time management. We have 2 young children, Liam and Sydney, and both me and my husband were working from home. I am a full-time teacher, so while handling live sessions for my two children, I also had to conduct live sessions for my own students! We were concerned about how we were going to support both children's learning and how to structure our day so that our children's learning and our work will not be compromised.  I had some doubts about the effectiveness of learning online as compared to learning in school as you