School Guide

Early Education Determines Child's EQ

Published by SchoolAdvisor | Sep 20, 2016

It is not easy to go against the current and tell parents to not focus on academic learning while their children are young, but Dr Putri Afzan Maria Zulkifli had strong faith in what she was doing.

Many Malaysian parents subscribe to the conventional education model, although numerous studies and proven education modules long practiced overseas have shown that child-led learning had longer lasting and more positive outcomes on children's cognitive development. Putri Afzan, who is the founder and managing director of child enrichment centre KinderKaizen, believed strongly in providing early education that allows children to learn in the most natural and enjoyable way - through playing. "There is no need to force children to quickly learn to read or excel academically. The first six years of life is when a child's emotions are developing, and the best way to nurture it is through play," said Putri Afzan. 

Many were initially cynical about her prospects in the field of early education, even claiming that there was no market for it. The early childhood education expert took it all in stride and proved to the naysayers otherwise when KinderKaizen became so successful that it now has 22 branches in nine states.