XN000022-1975-01-06 — Page 2

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MONDAY JANUARY 6, 1975

WORKING MOTHERS FIND HAPPY TEMPORARY HOME FOR THEIR CHILDREN

IN LADY TRENCH DEMONSTRATION NURSERY

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CHILDREN BROUGHT UP IN THE LADY TRENCH DEMONSTRATION NURSERY ARE IN GENERAL MORE ACTIVE AND TALKATIVE THAN THOSE IN ORDINARY KINDERGARTENS.

ACCORDING TO THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE NURSERY, MRS. MIRANDA NGAI, THIS MIGHT BE DUE TO THE FREE ENVIRONMENT OF THE NURSERY, WHERE CHILDREN ARE NOT PUSHED TO THEIR LIMITS OF ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT.

+ INSTEAD, THEY ARE GUIDED TO DEVELOP THEIR IMAGINATION AND POTENTIALS. THE NURSERY TAKES CARE NOT ONLY OF THE PHYSICAL GROWTH AND THE INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHILDREN, BUT ALSO PAYS ATTENTION TO THE CULTIVATION OF THEIR PERSONALITY AND ATTITUDE, SHE SAID.

THE NURSERY WAS OPENED FOUR YEARS AGO BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT FOR CHILDREN AGED BETWEEN TWO AND FIVE,

BESIDES OFFERING A VALUABLE SERVICE TO WORKING PARENTS, IT ALSO PROVIDES PRACTICAL TRAINING FOR THOSE WHO SEEK PROPER GUIDANCE AND DIRECTION IN BRINGING UP CHILDREN AND IN PRE-SCHOOL EDUCATION.

MRS. NGAI SAID THAT THE CHILDREN, APART FROM LEADING THEIR DAILY LIFE IN AN IDEAL ENVIRONMENT, WERE MADE AWARE OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING AROUND THEM OUTSIDE THE NURSERY SETTING.

+FROM TIME TO TIME, STAFF OF THE NURSERY TAKE THE CHILDREN OUT IN GROUPS OF 15 TO COMMUNITY CENTRES, JUNIOR LIBRARIES, PARKS AND BEACHES. THUS, BY THE TIME THEY LEAVE THE NURSERY, THE CHILDREN ALREADY HAVE AN IDEA OF THE QUALITIES OF A

GOOD CITIZEN, AS WELL AS A GENERAL CONCEPT OF THE OUTSIDE WORLD.+

STAFF OF THE NURSERY MEET REGULARLY TO DISCUSS PROBLEMS THAT ARISE FROM THEIR WORK, AND TO REVIEW AND IMPROVE UPON THE EXISTING PROGRAMMES.

+ONE OF THE INNOVATIONS IS THE FORMING OF A SPECIAL GROUP WITH A NUMBER OF PARTICULARLY WITHDRAWN OR SPECIALLY AGGRESSIVE CHILDREN BEING GROUPED TOGETHER AND LOOKED AFTER BY ONE NURSERY WORKER,+ MRS. NGAI SAID.

+IT IS HOPED THAT WITH MORE INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION, THE TIMID CHILDREN MIGHT GAIN MORE CONFIDENCE WHILE THE AGGRESSIVE ONES COULD LEARN TO DEVELOP A CAPACITY FOR SHARING.+

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/CHILDREN CARED .....