KESINEE WATTANAVEERACHAI
Co-Founder
When thinking of a Kindergarten, the first thing that came to my mind was that I wanted every space to be conducive to learning. From my experience studying for my master’s degree and working as an architect and a landscape architect in Melbourne, Australia, I had opportunities to co-design many public and private early childhood learning centers and elementary schools. It enabled me to observe learning behaviours of young children, the learning and teaching processes, as well as a variety of activities that occurred each day from when the parents dropped the children off, to when they came to pick them up. Exchanging views with the Principal, homeroom teachers, and parents helped me to see that designing various architectures in schools highly affects childhood development, and so does fostering good relationship among the school, teachers, students, and parents alike.
When I returned to Thailand, I intended to use the knowledge I had acquired to develop designs of Kindergartens in Thailand. With my experience and understanding of the Thai perspective, I was inspired to establish Hummingbird International Kindergarten, which understands and pays attention to every detail. To build learning opportunities and support kindergarten students endless possibilities and potential development.
Here, every child can learn and practice together with their parents as soon as they set foot into the school. They will be able to understand the common space for sharing and chatting amongst parents, students and teachers. As well as a specific area for them to learn outdoors through various activities. Children will also be exposed to the sun and can see nature from both sides of their classrooms. Moreover, air quality will be measured and controlled through the open space. We all know that good air quality affects brain development and improves learning. We also put special care on selecting safe decorative materials for inside and outside the classroom and developed a natural environment that can promote learning and well-being.
TOSAPOL CHAICHANAVICHAKIT
Co-Founder
The image of a school I have in mind, is a fun place for children to learn in an environment that enables development using different sets of muscles. A space where children can learn about themselves, understand their own emotions and acquire age-appropriate development. Alongside staff who have specialised in Early Childhood development, to encourage and promote learning in this personalised secure environment.
After studying the different varieties of early years education and discussing child development with our experts, I have found that the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum from England, which places emphasis on children learning through play best suited our vision and became interested in using it as a curriculum for the school. Furthermore, there have been domestic and international bodies of research showing that the development of the Executive Function (EF) area of the brain influences professional, educational and personal success of a child. This develops the most during the first seven years of life. Therefore, we also weave it into our curriculum because we believe that when a child has developed good EF skills, they will be able to live well, in addition to excel academically.
Furthermore, Hummingbird has a number of experts on child development and care which will be beneficial for parents and can be communicated to them through various activities. When the school and parents have aligned knowhow and understanding, this helps to create smooth childcare and potential development.
Thus, I invited two other cofounders to establish a school which emphasises on age-appropriate development and provides a body of knowledge on EF for children, teachers and parents. As parents, we are at the heart of supporting child development which is implemented from birth. Hummingbird organises Hummingbird Parenting Workshops to assist parents and any interested public too, we aim to educate the community and together we can develop endless potential for our children within the Hummingbird family.
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