Children’s Discovery House, Ampang

Located in the heart of a thriving expatriate neighbourhood in Ampang, Children’s Discovery House is a close-knit multicultural community of joyful children, supportive families and dedicated teachers working to provide a nurturing learning environment rooted in the Montessori philosophy of education to children aged 1.5 to 6.5 years. It is unique in that it is accredited by the Montessori Association of Malaysia (MAM) thereby meeting the highest of pedagogical standards that Dr. Maria Montessori originally envisioned to educate the whole child to become a fulfilled individual who is prepared to contribute to the world.

Here’s a sneak peek of the magic that happens at Children’s Discovery House:

First and foremost, every child who steps through the doors of Children’s Discovery House is treated with love and respect. Teachers connect themselves to the child, establishing a relationship where he or she can trust and feel secure in exploring the environment with unbridled curiosity. Rather than expecting children to listen passively to instructions, the teachers act as attentive observers and guides to help children find their own natural path.

At the core of the curriculum offered here is the understanding that each child grows and learns in his or her own special way. To awaken this potential to its fullest, the environment at Children’s Discovery House is meticulously prepared to enable optimal development. It is structured for children to learn at their own pace and feel at ease like an extension of their own home. Every furnishing and amenity are carefully designed with the child’s size and needs in mind, allowing them to move around freely within the designated areas. The beauty, order and accessibility of a range of sensorial materials are thoughtfully arranged on low, open shelves to entice the child into activity. For parents visiting, you will find yourselves enveloped in a sense of calmness in the mixed-age classrooms with children working independently as well as in groups. It is also a common sight to see them learning from one another where the younger children are inspired through observing more advanced work while the older ones act as role models for younger bunch.

The classroom environment and the activities work in tandem to develop children holistically. Every day, they get to embrace multisensory learning and explore their own interests in the areas of language, mathematics, practical life, creative arts, and cultural studies that encompass science, history, technology, geography and literature. In addition, Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin, music and gymnastics are incorporated into the programmes to further enrich children’s learning experience. The curriculum is intentionally designed to create many natural opportunities, both indoors and outdoors, for children to develop their own capabilities, whether it is learning how to construct sentences in different languages, communicate their needs effectively or problem solve with peers.

The whole approach at Children’s Discovery House is very child-oriented, respecting the child’s inner desires and gravitation towards certain activities that interest them. Children are encouraged to work at an exercise for as long as needed to master a skill before progressing to the next step, when they are ready. This will result in the development of functional independence and a healthy sense of confidence, as well as promote joy in learning.

Another beautiful aspect of the learning approach adopted at Children’s Discovery House is the freedom that is given to the children to pursue their own curiosity. Each child can learn and play freely, move around as needed, choose their own activities and work where it is comfortable. He/she is given the opportunity to develop motor coordination and control of their bodies through the freedom of movement. Teachers follow this principle of freedom in the learning environment as long as it is within reasonable boundaries of appropriate behaviour. This way, children will feel content, and a sense of self-discipline and respect for others and the environment will naturally follow. They will also discover a sense of wonderment at their own individual abilities and this becomes a motivating force towards further challenges.

When given this freedom, a confident, self-motivated, joyful, creative and responsible child emerges, one who is accountable to both himself and the community – a primary aim of Children’s Discovery House, and what truly sets a Montessori education apart from traditional education. As it turns out, this progressive approach, which was developed by Dr. Maria Montessori over 100 years ago, is exactly what parents are looking for today!

For 17 years, Children’s Discovery House has developed an outstanding reputation within the Montessori community for its exceptionally well-rounded programmes and continuous improvement in all aspects of the preschool. Many families have entrusted Children’s Discovery House with the care and education of their children, and found the positive relationships and open communication endearing. We have only just begun to scratch the surface of all that encompasses a Children’s Discovery House education. If you are reading this as someone who has not come across Children’s Discovery House, definitely pay a visit today. It is a very special place!

For families looking for more options, Children’s Discovery House invites you to explore their other branches located at Seni Mont Kiara, i-Zen Mont Kiara and Bangsar.