Written by: Annisa Maulidiya Putri

When people think about a kindergarten classroom, they often imagine playful activities, and children learning ABCs and numbers. While these are an important part of everyday learning, at SIS Palembang, we believe that love is the most important foundation for a child’s growth and development.

At SIS Palembang, every student is welcomed with warmth, kindness, and genuine care. During their early years, children are learning much more than reading and counting. They are learning how to understand their feelings, make friends, solve problems, and gain confidence in themselves. However, before meaningful learning can happen, they need to feel safe and valued first.

Creating a loving and safe environment is a shared responsibility between parents and teachers. When we work together to support children with love and understanding, they feel more confident to learn and explore. At SIS Palembang, we use several strategies to help create this kind of environment.

• Listen with patience and understanding

Children need to know that their thoughts and feelings are important. When they share something with us, we need to listen with patience and understanding. For example, if a student is upset about a friend not playing with them, we first listen to how they feel before helping them find a solution. When children feel heard, they feel respected and understood, which gives them the confidence to express themselves. Over time, at SIS Palembang, we see children become more comfortable in sharing their thoughts and are better able to express their feelings instead of reacting with tears or frustration.

• Use kind and encouraging words

Simple words of encouragement can have a lasting impact on children’s confidence. When we recognize their effort, celebrate their progress, and guide them positively, children learn to believe in themselves and enjoy the process of learning. To illustrate, instead of saying, “That’s perfect,” we might say, “I can see you work really hard on your drawing.” This helps children value effort more than perfection. As a result, when children feel loved and respected, they become more willing to try new things, ask questions, make mistakes, and keep learning without being afraid of failure.

• Maintain consistent routines and expectations

Along with love and kindness, children also need clear expectations and consistent routines because they learn best when they know what to expect. Instead of simply reminding them what to do, we help them understand why rules are important. We explain how listening shows respect, how kind words make others feel happy, and how helping one another creates a happy and safe classroom. For example, during Circle Time, we remind children to take turns and listen while others are talking. Over time, they begin to follow these routines and remind each other. At SIS Palembang, we believe that balancing love with structure helps children learn self-discipline, responsibility, and respect for others.

• Working together as parents and teachers

Children will be able to learn more effectively and reach their full potential when they experience the same expectations at both home and school. For example, if children are encouraged to do simple routines like using kind words, tidying up, and taking responsibility, parents can encourage the same routines at home. At SIS Palembang, we believe that this strong partnership between home and school helps children become more independent and confident in themselves.

By consistently applying these strategies, we have seen many positive changes in our students. At the beginning of the school year, some of them are shy and hesitant to speak, while others are afraid of trying new things. As they spend more time, we begin to see their confidence grow. During lessons, students who were once reluctant to participate are now eager to raise hands. We also see positive changes in how students interact with one another. They will naturally help their classmates tidy up, comfort a friend who is upset, or remind one another about class rules. These moments show that children are learning much more than academics.

Parents have noticed these changes as well. Many have shared that their children have become more confident, braver in trying new things, and excited to come to school every day. Seeing our students grow both academically and emotionally reminds us that a loving and supportive environment can make a difference.

At SIS Palembang, we believe that every child deserves to learn in an environment where they feel seen, heard, and valued. When love is the foundation of education, children will achieve more than just academic success. In the end, children may not remember every lesson we teach, but they will always remember how we made them feel. When they feel loved and valued, learning becomes something they look forward to instead of something they fear.