Which Enrichment Class?

Before you sign your child up for sports, music or art, read these expert tips first.

- Sasha Gonzales

What is enrichment?

In the context of a child’s education, it refers to activities or classes that enhance learning. These typically extend learning beyond the subjects traditionally taught at schools, and may include art, speech and drama, music, ballet, sports or even a foreign language.

However, in Singapore, parents also think of enrichment as additional learning, or lessons that help reinforce what is taught at their kid’s school – for example, math or reading enrichment, says Jane Ching-Kwan, a child development and education expert, and director at Skool4Kidz, an anchor operator appointed by the Early Childhood Development Agency.

When your kid attends an enrichment programme, he will learn how to think creatively and tap into his imagination.

“Enrichment is ideally suited to the way which enrichment class? Before you sign your child up for sports, music or art, read these expert tips first. young children learn,” says Brian Casewell, dean of research and program development at Mindchamps. “The key aspects of true enrichment are what we call the ‘Five E’s’ – enthusiasm, engagement, enquiry, empowerment and experience.”

While some parents use enrichment and tuition interchangeably, there is a distinct difference: The former is designed to develop lifelong learners who become active, enthusiastic and passionate towards learning, while the latter is subject-oriented and has a more focused objective of improving academic performance.

Fiona Walker, CEO and principal of schools at Julia Gabriel Education, explains: “You could send your child to English tuition, which works with the syllabus covered at school and prepares him to do well in his assessments and exams.