Should My Child's Preschool Include Enrichment?

Others
Last updated on 2 September 2026

Should My Child's Preschool Include Enrichment?

Others
Last updated on 2 September 2026

Parents shortlisting a preschool in Singapore often focus on the curriculum, teacher-to-child ratios, location, and fees. One question that may be overlooked is what happens beyond the core lessons. Does the establishment offer any type of preschool enrichment?

Preschools in Singapore can take different approaches to enrichment. Some incorporate enrichment experiences into their regular programmes, while others offer them as optional programmes that parents can choose separately.

Understanding what enrichment means and how different preschools approach it should help you add this to your considerations when choosing a centre for your child.

What Does Preschool Enrichment Mean?

Preschool enrichment refers to learning experiences that complement the core curriculum rather than replace it. These experiences may extend children’s learning into areas such as art, music, movement, sports, drama, technology and language, complementing the preschool’s broader curriculum.

The value of enrichment classes for preschoolers is the opportunity to explore a wider range of interests and experiences. A child who has never picked up a paintbrush at home may discover a genuine love for art simply because a preschool session introduced it.

How enrichment is delivered also matters as much as whether it exists at all. Some preschools run these programmes in-house with their own teaching staff. Others may have approved external vendors, especially for offerings such as early coding or performing arts.

Integrated vs Optional Enrichment: What’s the Difference?

Broadly, Singapore preschools take one of two approaches to enrichment. The better option between the two depends on each case: it always comes down to what suits your family.

Some preschools have enrichment as an add-on that parents can choose for their child. This usually entails an additional fee for each enrichment programme joined.

Others build it into the daily programme so every child in the class experiences it together, with no separate decision required from parents. The fees are usually baked into the preschool’s main fees already.

Optional Enrichment Classes

With optional enrichment, parents decide if their child joins the enrichment activity. This typically comes with fees on top of the monthly preschool fees.

Depending on the preschool, optional enrichment may take place during the school day or at another scheduled time. Where programmes run during school hours, children who do not participate typically spend the time in supervised free play or alternative activities elsewhere in the school.

This model can work well for families who already have a specific activity in mind and prefer to choose enrichment separately, whether through the preschool or an external provider. It also gives parents more control over precisely which skills their child is exposed to, and when.

Integrated Preschool Enrichment

Integrated enrichment is built into the school day as a matter of course. This means every child in the class takes part together.

When enrichment is thoughtfully integrated into the preschool programme, it can be planned alongside other learning experiences and connected to children’s ongoing interests and projects. That builds a more holistic learning experience across the term.

This suits parents who prefer fewer logistics and scheduling decisions, while still wanting their child exposed to a broad range of activities. Many families do both. They let their child enjoy integrated enrichment at school, then pursue a more targeted external class later.

How Integrated Enrichment Supports Holistic Development

When enrichment is built into every child’s day, it tends to support their growth in a few consistent ways.

Wider exposure to learning
Children discover disciplines beyond academic skills, giving them a chance to find interests they might never have tried on their own. Regular exposure to different activities also gives children opportunities to explore their strengths, preferences and curiosities over time.
More connected learning
When enrichment experiences are thoughtfully connected to classroom learning, children can encounter ideas in different contexts and formats.

This gives them opportunities to revisit concepts through new experiences, helping them make connections across different areas of learning.
Shared participation ensures no child feels left out
When enrichment is woven into the school day rather than offered as an optional add-on, every child gets to participate. There are no separate sign-ups, additional fees or scheduling constraints determining who gets access, and no children sitting on the sidelines while their classmates attend a separate class.

Instead, the whole class experiences the same music, art, movement or language activities together. This also creates natural opportunities for peer learning, as children watch, encourage and inspire one another.
Less pressure on families
Because enrichment is already part of the preschool programme, parents don’t have to worry about choosing additional classes, coordinating separate schedules or wondering whether their child is missing out. The enrichment is simply built into the rhythm of the week and available to every child.

With fewer separate classes to manage, families may also spend less time shuttling between activities and enjoy a calmer daily routine.
Comfortable, familiar surroundings that make learning enjoyable
Young children often need time to warm up in a new environment before they feel settled enough to participate fully. When enrichment specialists come to the children, they can learn in familiar classrooms and spaces alongside their usual teachers and classmates.

This can make it easier for children to settle into new activities and participate comfortably without adjusting to an unfamiliar setting.

Preschool Enrichment Programmes at Lily Valley Preschool

At Lily Valley Preschool, enrichment is integrated into every child’s school day rather than offered solely as an optional add-on. The programmes form part of children’s scheduled learning experiences, giving every child opportunities to explore different areas of interest

This also connects with the Reggio Emilia approach and concept of the “hundred languages of children” — the many ways children can express, explore and communicate their ideas through language, art, movement, play and other forms of expression.

Here’s a closer look at some of the enrichment programmes running at our preschool:

Multi-sports Programme: Gives children opportunities to develop physical coordination and movement skills through a variety of sports and active games.

Coding and Tinker Lab: Introduces children to coding and hands-on tinkering, giving them opportunities to experiment, test ideas and explore how things work.

The Artisan Kids Club: Invites children to explore different artistic techniques, tools and materials through hands-on experiences in Lily Valley’s Art Atelier.

Creative Drama Performing Arts: Uses imaginative play, storytelling and role-play to bring characters to life while developing children’s confidence, communication, creativity and collaboration.

Little Gardeners Club: Gives children hands-on opportunities to dig, plant and observe how food grows in Lily Valley’s edible garden, helping them connect with nature and develop an understanding of where their food comes from.

Wiggletunes Music: Uses singing, instruments and creative movement to give children opportunities to develop musicality while supporting physical, language, cognitive, social and emotional development.

Mandarin Speech and Drama: Gives children opportunities to use Mandarin through role-play, music and engaging activities, building confidence in self-expression and everyday communication in the language.

Finding the Right Fit for Your Child and Family

Preschool enrichment can be a meaningful complement to a child’s core learning experiences, particularly when programmes give children opportunities to explore different interests, express themselves and develop new skills.

Done well, it can open doors to skills and interests that your child might never stumble upon through academics alone!

If you’d like to see how enrichment comes to life at Lily Valley, reach out to us. You can explore our specialised ateliers and dedicated learning spaces, as well as learn more about how your child might take to our many programmes.

We’d love to show you around, so just book a school tour with us today.