您觉得早期教育对孩子有哪些方面的重要影响？

  A：对于大多数爸爸妈妈们来说，养育孩子是一个十分辛苦的过程，尤其是在孩子的教育方面。随着现代教育水平的不断提高，早期教育已然成为了能够影响孩子一生的关键。不管是孩子的学习习惯、阅读兴趣还是思考方式等等，这些能够令其受益终身的技能都是在早期教育中逐渐养成的。

英国在2019年上映了一部令我印象深刻的纪录片，该片主要讲述了一名叫做Harry的男孩在初入中学后面对读书和写作的挣扎经历。作为一名白人工薪阶层的男孩，Harry在学校的表现常常不尽人意，故事深度揭示了在21世纪五分之一的世界发达国家的儿童，在脱离小学后无法展开有效的阅读或写作的真相。而同样的情况在当今社会上并不罕见，英国大约有九百万成年人是功能性文盲（具有阅读、书写或计算能力，但是却缺乏利用这些能力来处理某些日常生活事务的人），四分之一的五岁儿童在学习基本词汇方面存在困难。

这也正是世界各国为何都在大力提倡早期教育的重要性。孩子接受过优质的早期教育，必然能在他们往后的人生产生全面性、综合性的作用。

同样，为孩子选择一条正确的早期教育通路也十分重要。初为父母的我们不需要过早地担心孩子是否能够接受多元事物，或者担心在孩子成长道路上面对的不同挑战，最重要的是在合适的指引下，以及持之以恒的鼓励，未来必能支持孩子创造更加精彩的人生。

深耕国际教育的您，对哪些教育体系较为认可？

  A：现如今，随着社会各界对教育的高度重视，越来越多的家长都开始追求国际化的教育体系，或者中西教育精髓的高度融合，希望能为孩子打开更广阔的眼界，接触更多接轨世界的教育资源。但在这背后，种类繁多的课程体系着实让不少家长犹如置身在汪洋里的一叶扁舟，迷失了选择的方向。 

其实，大多数的国际化教育体系都非常注重个体化的差异，旨在尊重每一个孩子的需求。IB作为全球高度认可的体系，不仅仅将每一名孩子定义为独立的个体，更是能够为他们带来遵循“内在规律”的成长和教育。孩子们的学习将不再是以“灌输”的模式展开，他们的好奇心、求知欲、探索力都将被快速发掘和放大，孩子们能够通过探究的方式发现事物的运作规律，并产生独特理解。他们能够在一个开放式的环境中，近距离地、灵敏地观察这个世界，了解它、触摸它、掂量它、打破它……努力把它全部吸收进来。

在此基础上，中山市阿丁莱幼儿园的课程设计框架融入了国际文凭组织IB PYP的核心逻辑，鼓励孩子们通过以儿童为中心的游戏和探究真实生活的经验，从而充分感知周围的世界。

中山市阿丁莱幼儿园将学习与探究单元（UOI）的六大学科主题（我们是谁、我们身处什么时空、我们如何表达自己、世界如何运作、我们如何组织自己、共享地球）紧密相连，打破了传统学科界限，把语言、数理逻辑、科学、艺术、个人与社会、体能等全学科的核心知识进行有机整合，这也意味着不同年龄、不同能力的学生都能获得全面、个性化的发展。

在组建学术团队时，您会看重教师的哪些方面？

  A：对于幼儿来说，教师一角亦师亦友。除了为孩子们提供基础学识的学习机会，更要让孩子们在轻松、愉悦的环境中健康地成长，在人生最初的阶段奠定自信快乐，勇敢善良，团结聪慧的生命底色。

因此，我们在遴选教学团队之际，除了了解应聘者的教育背景和教学经历外，还会重点考察他们对待事物的见解、思考问题的高度，以及本身的自尊自信、教育事业心、人格品质及对待孩子的耐性以及爱心，这些都是成为中山市阿丁莱幼儿园其中一员的核心素养。

您也是一名妈妈，那作为有着家长和园长双重身份的您，有什么想分享给我们的？

  A：拥有园长和妈妈双重身份的我深感家校双方互相尊重的魅力，我也常常将家校双方定义为孩子成长道路上的“合伙人”。这个阶段的孩子正处在建立初步规则意识的重要时期，不管是家长还是教师，他们都爱将其视为榜样进行效仿。这意味着老师和家长如若都能彼此尊重，营造一个和谐的氛围，孩子们的抵触情绪和投机心理将会大大降低。因此相信和尊重彼此，也是在为孩子赢得未来。

而家校双方的积极配合，则能为孩子营造一段更加优质的成长体验。老师、家长和学生三者间的关系就好比一个等腰三角形。三角形下边两角代表的是老师和家长，彼此之间的亲密合作可以为学生决定更高的人生高度。学生则是三角形的顶点，无论是教学还是成长道路上的支持，我们都需要以学生为中心点。这也是我个人崇尚的教育理念之一。

您觉得什么样的家校关系才是最完美的呢？

或者说最健康的呢？

  A：这里有几个核心点是我这么多年来一直认可和坚信的，也希望跟家长分享的：

1）一段良好的亲子关系是其首要基础。在融洽的氛围中，孩子会更容易采纳父母又或是长辈的建议。

2）充分信任老师和学校。当老师向您反馈孩子所面临的成长障碍时，请您充分相信并配合学校的老师。

3）及时有效的沟通。您不需要碍于其他因素，我们是您孩子成长道路上的“合伙人”，当孩子遭遇问题时，我们鼓励您及时进行沟通并携手营造更好的学习体验。

4）育儿是一场长跑比赛。很多时候孩子面临的问题都是无法在短时间内化解，但相信只要家校双方给予足够的耐心和引导，孩子定能在终点线前取得胜利。

已有多年幼儿园管理经历的您，期望自己为中山市阿丁莱幼儿园带来什么？

  A：苏联教育家苏霍姆林斯基曾说："一个好校长，就是一所好学校"。作为幼儿园中关键的一环，我在深感荣幸的同时，也在不断思索如何才能为我们的孩子带去更加敞亮的未来：

学生是幼儿园中的主体，幼儿园是学生步入集体生活的第一站。作为中山市阿丁莱幼儿园的园长，我希望在为学生打造一个富有教育意义的环境的同时，为他们持续提供成长道路上个性化的关爱。通过把握教育的核心要素，引导幼儿建立适合年龄的特征，并促进他们的全人发展。

一所能够孕育未来人才的幼儿园不仅需要优秀的管理者，更需要杰出的老师们。因此，我十分看重借助个性化的管理创新理念，从而充分调动教师的积极性，并为其带去可持续性的个人和团队发展。在中山市阿丁莱幼儿园，除了来自五湖四海的同胞，更有着不同国籍、不同文化的外籍教师。作为园长的我，希望能够充分尊重多元文化，与强大的学术团队一起，为我们的孩子营造一个高品质的人生起点。

当想象幼儿园孩子们的未来校园生活时，有哪些画面会浮现在您脑海里？

  A：孩子们会在科技感满满的幼儿园中自由穿梭、学习探索，通过室内外犹如太空般的环境创设激发自己无穷无尽的想象力和创造力。他们能够全身心地沉浸在我们精心策划和设计的探究游戏中，逐步建立对于世界、对于未来的认知。

同时，充满自然元素的室内外空间也将为孩子们带去更多兼具挑战性和趣味性的学习任务。他们将在日常学习生活里建立起自己与周边世界的联系，并不断培养创新能力。

我们的每一名老师也将基于每个孩子不同的优势、经验、文化、认知和兴趣，帮助他们获得批判性思维和独立思考能力，并勉励其在未来成为成具有中国灵魂、领会洞悉不同文化、能自由穿梭于不同国度的世界公民，以及对世界怀有积极抱负的时代创造者。

What do you think are the important effects of early education on children?

  A：For most mothers and fathers, parenting is a very difficult process, especially when it comes to the education of their children. With modern education standards improving, early education has become a key influence on a child's life. Whether it is a child's learning habits, interest in reading or thinking, these are the skills that will benefit them for life.

The UK released a documentary in 2019 that impressed me, which focuses on the experiences of a boy called Harry as he struggles with reading and writing after starting secondary school. As a white working class boy, Harry often underperforms at school and the story reveals in depth the truth that children in one fifth of the developed world in the 21st century are unable to start reading or writing effectively once they leave primary school. And the same is not uncommon in today's society, where nine million adults in the UK are functionally illiterate (people who can read, write or calculate but lack the ability to use these skills for certain everyday tasks) and a quarter of five-year-olds struggle to learn basic vocabulary.

This is why the importance of early education is being strongly promoted around the world. Our children may not be academically gifted, but their early education will have a comprehensive effect on them later in life.

Similarly, it is important to choose the right pathway for your child's early education. As new parents, we need not worry too much about our children's ability to embrace diversity or the different challenges they will face along the way, but most importantly, with the right guidance and consistent encouragement, we can support our children to create a more exciting life in the future.

With your experience in education, which international education systems do you recognise?

  A：Nowadays, as the community attaches great importance to education, more and more parents are pursuing an international education system or a high degree of integration of the essence of Chinese and Western education, in the hope of opening up a broader horizon for their children and exposing them to more educational resources that are in line with the world. But behind the scenes, there is a wide variety of curriculums that make many parents feel like they are in a boat in the middle of the ocean, and they are lost in their choices.

Most international education systems focus on individuality and respect for the needs of each child, and the IB is a globally recognised system that not only defines each child as an individual, but also provides them with an education that follows the 'inner rules' of growth and development. Children's curiosity, curiosity and inquisitiveness are quickly explored and amplified as they are able to discover how things work and develop unique understanding through inquiry. They are able to observe the world up close and sensitively, learn it, touch it, weigh it, break it in an open-ended environment ...... in an effort to absorb it all.

With this in mind, Ardingly College Zhongshan Kindergarten's curriculum design framework incorporates the core logic of the International Baccalaureate Organization's IB PYP, which encourages children to fully appreciate the world around them through child-centred play and the exploration of real-life experiences.

At Ardingly College Zhongshan Kindergarten, the six subject themes (who we are, where we are in place and time, how we express ourselves, how the world works, how we organise ourselves, and sharing the planet) of the Unit of Learning and Inquiry (UOI) are closely linked, breaking down traditional subject boundaries and organically integrating core knowledge from across the disciplines of language, mathematics and logic, science, art, personal and social, and physical fitness, which also means that students of all ages and abilities can achieve holistic and personalised development.

What do you look for in a teacher when you are building an academic team?

  A：For young children, the role of teacher is both a teacher and a friend. In addition to providing children with the opportunity to learn the basics knowledge, it is also important that children grow up healthily in a relaxed and enjoyable environment, laying the foundation for a confident, happy, brave, kind, united and intelligent life in the earliest stages of their lives. 

Therefore, when selecting our teaching team, we not only look at the educational background and teaching experience of the candidates, but also focus on their insights and thinking skills, as well as their self-esteem and self-confidence, commitment to education, personality and patience and love for children, which are the core qualities required to be a part of Ardingly College Zhongshan Kindergarten.

We heard that you are also a mother, what would you like to share with us as both a parent and a teacher?

  A：As both a teacher and a mother, I am fascinated by the mutual respect between home and school, and I often define them as 'partners' in the development of the child. Children at this stage are at an important time when they are developing their first sense of rules, and both parents and teachers look to them as role models to emulate. This means that if teachers and parents respect each other and create a harmonious atmosphere, children's resistance and opportunism will be greatly reduced. So by trusting and respecting each other, you are also winning the future for your child.

The active collaboration between home and school can create a better quality experience for your child. The relationship between teacher, parent and student is like an isosceles triangle. The lower two corners of the triangle represent the teacher and the parents, and the close cooperation between them can determine higher heights for the student. The student is the apex of the triangle and needs to be the central point of both teaching and support on the path to growth. This is one of my personal beliefs in education.

What do you think is the best kind of home-school relationship? Or the healthiest?

  A：Here are a few core points that I have recognised and believed in over the years and wish to share with parents:

1) A good parent-child relationship is its primary foundation. In a harmonious atmosphere, children are more likely to take advice from their parents or elders.

2) Trust the teacher and the school. Trust and cooperate with the school teachers when they give you feedback on the obstacles your child is facing.

4) Communicate promptly and effectively. You do not need to get in the way of other factors, we are your child's 'partners' in development and we encourage you to communicate and work together to create a better learning experience when your child is experiencing problems.

3) Parenting is a long race. Many of the problems your child faces cannot be solved in a short period of time, but we believe that with enough patience and guidance from both home and school, your child will be able to win before the finish line.

Having managed a kindergarten for many years, what do you expect to bring to Ardingly College Zhongshan Kindergarten?

  A：The Soviet educator Sukhomlinski once said: "A good Head of Early Years represent a good school". As a key part of the kindergarten, I am deeply honoured and am constantly thinking about how we can bring a brighter future to our children.

Students are the mainstay of kindergarten, and kindergarten is the first point of entry into group life. As the Head of Early Year for Ardingly College Zhongshan Kindergarten, I hope to create an educational environment for our students while providing them with ongoing personalised care on their path to growth. By grasping the core elements of education, we guide young children to build age-appropriate characteristics and promote their whole-person development.

A kindergarten that nurtures the talents of the future needs not only good managers, but also outstanding teachers. For this reason, I place great importance on the use of personalised management innovations to motivate teachers and bring about sustainable personal and team development. At Ardingly College Zhongshan Kindergarten, we have not only compatriots from all over the world, but also foreign teachers of different nationalities and cultures. As the director of the school, I hope to be able to fully respect the diversity of cultures and work with a strong academic team to create a high quality start in life for our children.

What images come to mind when imagining the future of school life for kindergarten children?

  A：The children will be able to explore and learn freely in the technology-filled nursery, stimulating their endless imagination and creativity through the space-like environment both indoors and outdoors. They will be able to immerse themselves in our carefully planned and designed exploratory play, gradually building their knowledge of the world and the future. 

At the same time, the nature-filled indoor and outdoor spaces will provide the children with more challenging and interesting learning tasks. They will build their own connections to the world around them and develop their creative skills in their daily learning lives.

Each of our teachers will also help each child acquire critical thinking and independent thinking skills based on their different strengths, experiences, cultures, perceptions and interests, and encourage them to become global citizens with profound appreciation for Chinese culture and a strong sense of national identity, who are freely and easily able to navigate through a multitude of cultural spaces, and become the leaders and creators of the future, equipped with creative and positive ambitions for the world.