Smart Steps Education, Bangsar

In the heart of Bangsar, just two hundred meters away from the bustling Bangsar Village shopping centre is a little kindergarten known as Smart Steps Kindergarten. It is housed in a shady corner lot of a row of double storey terrace houses. It is very acessible and I was rather surprised at the relatively smooth traffic flow around the kindergarten, given its proximity to the busy and almost always congested areas around the Bangsar Village shopping centre.

Smart Steps Kindergarten is the brainchild of Madam Nawar Mani R. She started her first centre in Kulai in 2009 and today she has centres in Setia Alam, Sandakan and Bangsar with one more slated to open in Tawau come 2018. Madam Nawar also plans to offer daycare services for her centre in Bangsar starting from 2018.

Smart Steps Kindergarten offers its very own unique Smart Steps programme that incorporates the National Preschool Curriculum and integrates a Thematic Approach, best practices of the Montessori Method and Pingu’s English. Every alphabet of the words “SMART STEPS” represents a specific meaning:

Specific

Measurable

Achievable

Realistic

Teaching

Self Confident	Establishing responsibility Encouraging compassion Instilling problem solving and decision making skills Allowing the children to have the opportunity to grow
Talent Oriented	Every child is unique and talented in their own way Identifying and encouraging their talents Giving specialized instructions Nurturing their talents
Empowering Academic Skills	English medium programme adopting the Malaysian New Pre-School Curriculum Covering the following areas: English (Pingu’s English) Phonics Bahasa Malaysia Numbers & Mathematics Sensory & Science Computer Education Physical Education Moral / Religious Studies Montessori Methods Mandarin / Music & Movement Art & Craft
Playful Practical Experiences	Appropriate and desirable playful activities through sports, concerts, field, trips, excursions Learning appropriate lessons through fun activities Practical life applications of academic knowledge Employ the use of the five senses of the human body
Successful Endeavours	Knowledge and understanding of the world Making learning more interesting and helping the child learn and progress faster Opportunities for experimentation on subject matters covered in the lessons provide learning reinforcement for the child Providing the child with a unique edge to be resourceful and become ultimate achievers

The curriculum at Smart Steps Kindergarten is holistic and child centric, encompassing literacy, numeracy, science, art, music and moral with a focus on social and emotional development. Madam Nawar believes that a child’s development should be properly nurtured and guided in its early formative phase. Therefore, the fundamentals, lesson plans and teaching ideas in the Smart Steps programme are all age appropriate for children aged 3 to 6 years old. With highly qualified and well trained educators, children are assured of quality care and education.

The environment in and around Smart Steps Kindergarten is very quiet and peaceful which makes it an ideal oasis for preschool children to be nurtured. With brightly lit, compact classrooms and low teacher to students ratios plus healthy and nutritious meals prepared fresh daily, Smart Steps Kindergarten has everything that will make it a happy, safe and conducive home away from home where preschool children will be happy to come to.

Madam Nawar is an amazing lady with boundless energy and enthusiasm. Interviewing this softly spoken and humble lady you would not have guessed that she is the President of the Rotary Club, the Master Licensee for Pingu’s English Malaysia, a co-founder of Krista Kindergartens and the list goes on. She is also the author of a parenting book, Consultant in Parenting & Early Childhood Education and a Director / Special Educationist at Speechelp Therapy and Resources Sdn. Bhd.

I posed one question to her, “Having a hand in so many notable and worthwhile ventures, where do you find the time to dedicate yourself to them all?”. Madam Nawar answered, “It is up to me to manage my time so that at the end of the day, I am able to give my all to everything that I am passionate and care about. I believe that the time has come for me to give back to society and to do what little I can to help and foster a closer, kinder and gentler community.”

From the short time that I spent interviewing her, I truly believe that Madam Nawar will deliver on her promises. Make an appointment to visit Smart Steps Kindergarten and experience for yourself the environment, the curriculum and the warmth and passion that I am sure you will find waiting for you and your little ones.

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