Five Online Playschools in the Philippines for Your Toddler

What’s harder than raising a toddler? Raising one in the middle of a pandemic. As schools bear the brunt of the suspension of face-to-face classes, many parents are struggling to ensure that their toddlers are prepared to face formal education and have the right amount of social interaction. The pandemic has also made it hard for parents to establish a routine with their little tots, who are entering a stage where they are high in curiosity and have full of energy. Thankfully, many schools have been quick to adopt the virtual classroom set-up to ensure that learning continues even in the middle of a crisis. Here are five preschools offering virtual classes that you can check out for your kid!

The Little Apprentice School

This Las Piñas-based school offers toddler, nursery, pre-k, and kinder online classes in varying lengths ranging from 30 minutes to 90 minutes. Only up to eight kids are allowed per teacher to ensure that each child gets the attention they deserve. The school uses workbooks approved by the Department of Education (DepEd) for students in pre-k and kindergarten. A typical class involves music and movement, learning game, workbook time, and thematic lessons. If you want to test the waters, you can have your kid try out The Little Apprentice School’s free trial classes, which they announce on their Facebook page.

Tuition fee: P88,000 to P108,000 depending on the child’s level

PlayWorks

Founded in 2004, PlayWorks adheres to the research-backed practice of play-based learning to boost children’s academic and developmental learning outcomes. They treat classes as not exclusive to the teachers and students and allow parents to be involved in their kids’ preparation for formal education. They have a mobile app where parents get updates about their child’s growth and activities. PlayWorks has classes for infants (at least six months!), young toddlers, toddlers, nursery, pre-k, and kindergarten.

Tuition fee: Available upon request

Wonder Lab

Wonder Lab introduces early learning to toddlers through age-appropriate lessons that balance play and education. Their classes are divided into “camps” depending on the child’s age and level. The Camp Adventure program is meant for young toddlers aged two to three years old and focuses on sensory play and development. They also have classes focused on specific skills such as Camp Creative Junior for storytelling; Camp Creative Senior for storytelling; and Camp Expression for public speaking.

Tuition fee: Different packages are available depending on the child’s level and frequency of sessions. For Camp Adventure, a 12-session package costs P4,500. Parents may also opt to avail of individual sessions at P400 each.

Mulberry School

Following the High Scope learning approach, this Pasig-based school uses the students’ interests as tools to teach them concepts and skills that they can use later in life. Their programs are based on 58 key experiences in different learning domains, including language, cognitive skills, emotional, and social. They also practice the “plan-do-review” method, which allows children to make choices, execute their ideas, and reflect on their learnings with the guidance of their teachers. Mulberry School offers home-based and in-person classes for toddlers to grade one.

Tuition fee: Available upon request

Cambridge Children’s Learning and Development Inc.

Introduced in the midst of the enhanced community quarantine, Cambridge’s distance learning program aims to ensure continued access to early education despite the changing COVID-19 situation. A typical class includes lessons about practical life skills, virtual play, project-based ecological model, mathematics, literacy and fine motor skills, and storytelling. Cambridge practices the “iSTEAM” philosophy, which promotes hands-on inquiry and open-ended exploration of topics using age-appropriate activities.

Tuition fee: Available upon request