W hen she was younger, Nur Arbainah Bte Abdullah never planned on becoming an early childhood educator – instead, she aspired to be a beautician. However, after taking a five-year break to care for her young children, she realised that she thoroughly enjoyed working with kids. Inspired, she decided to switch careers and applied for a job as a playgroup teacher, later joining Skool4Kidz as an infant educator when it opened in 2014.
Today, Ms Arbainah has devoted 24 years – and counting – to the early childhood sector. “The joy and fulfilment I derive from nurturing children has inspired me to pursue this path wholeheartedly,” the 55-year-old shared. “Throughout the 10 years I have spent at Skool4Kidz, I have continuously refined my skills and approaches to meet the diverse needs of young children.”
THE IMPORTANCE OF TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION
As a mother herself, Ms Arbainah fully appreciates the importance of working closely with parents to support their children’s holistic development. “A strong collaborative relationship between parents and the preschool is crucial for building trust,” she said. “Involving parents in school activities helps them understand their child’s learning journey and reinforces the educational process at home.”
According to Ms Arbainah, effective two-way communication is key. “Many parents have busy schedules, but I build rapport by giving them regular updates”. Using emails, newsletters and face-to-face conversations, Ms Arbainah keeps parents in the loop about their child’s progress. Together with her fellow teachers, she also regularly organises events where parents can participate in school activities, fostering a sense of community.
One mother, Evonne Tan, is especially appreciative of Ms Arbainah’s efforts in ensuring she is updated of her children’s progress. “As a working mother, there are bound to be times when I missed out certain milestones my children meet,” she said. Ms Arbainah was the infant care teacher of both her son and daughter. “Teacher Arbainah makes it a point to document it down through photos and videos on my behalf to show it to me. This has certainly helped me in feeling better as I have to work”.
In addition, Skool4Kidz has a dedicated Parent Support Group where parents provide insights and suggestions for improvement. The preschool also organises twice-yearly tea sessions to further build on teacher-parent relationships. “Parental feedback has been instrumental in refining our teaching strategies, ensuring a more effective and enjoyable learning experience,” Ms Arbainah said.
Teacher Arbainah is an exceptional infant educator – she has been like a family member, offering guidance, documenting milestones and maintaining close contact for nine years. Her tremendous love and care are deeply appreciated!”.
Indeed, Ms Arbainah painstakingly takes the time to understand each parent’s unique needs and concerns. “This personalised approach allows me to offer tailored support – whether it’s providing additional resources, offering a listening ear or adjusting my communication methods to better suit their preferences. Building these strong relationships ensures that every family feels valued and understood.”
For instance, she recalls an encounter with a parent who was worried about her child spending time outdoors due to the risk of mosquito bites and injuries. “To address her concerns, I ensured that her child wore mosquito patches and long pants before outdoor activities,” Ms Arbainah shared. “I also communicated the benefits of outdoor experiences, such as exposure to sunlight and physical activity. This helped her feel more reassured and supportive of outdoor play.”
Parental feedback has been instrumental in refining our teaching strategies, ensuring a more effective and enjoyable learning experience.”
LEARNING CONTINUES AT HOME
At Skool4Kidz, they believe learning isn’t confined to the walls of the preschool – instead, it should be continually reinforced at home. However, as Ms Arbainah notes, some parents may feel overwhelmed or unsure of how to contribute to their child’s education effectively.
To this end, the centre regularly organises “Loose Parts Play” workshops which enable parents to better support their children’s emotional, cognitive and social growth. “These sessions have been successful in equipping parents with practical skills and nurturing a deeper connection with their child’s learning journey,” Ms Arbainah said.
“When parents are actively involved, children tend to be more confident, composed and engaged in the classroom. This collaborative effort enhances the child’s social, emotional and cognitive development, leading to better learning outcomes and overall well-being,” she added.
A REWARDING JOURNEY
For Ms Arbainah, the support and encouragement she has received from parents has been instrumental to her professional growth. “Building lasting relationships with parents and seeing the positive impact on their children’s development motivates me to continue my journey as an educator,” she said.
She also takes pride in seeing the children in her care thrive and succeed in life. “Witnessing the achievements of the children, from their first steps to their graduation, has been incredibly rewarding and heartwarming,” she shared. “Knowing that I have made a positive impact on their early development makes all the effort worthwhile. It’s moments like these that remind me of the profound importance of early childhood education and the lasting relationships we build with families.”
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