By Clara Ancilla
In today’s digital world, the term “Gen Z” (people born between 1997 and 2010) often carries stereotypical connotations, whether positive or negative. This generation’s identity has been categorised as tech-savvy, entrepreneurial and adaptable. After all, they were born in the Internet era.
Despite their young age, many possess nurturing hearts and a passion for working with children. We spoke with three Gen Z educators from Little Seeds Preschool and explored their motivations for becoming preschool teachers, among all other professions. Their responses and experiences may pleasantly surprise you!
Renate Lau: “Like seeds, children grow with love, responsibility and respect”
Renate Lau, 22-year-old English educator at LSP (St. John’s-St. Margaret’s), says that she has always been fascinated by children’s development, and as she observed current world issues and the behavioural problems in society today, it became clear to her that the core problem doesn’t stem from where people are now but from how they were raised. Behavioural issues may arise because of the lack of love and support from families in childhood, leading them to pick up bad habits and negative influences.
As a Gen Z, she believes that her closer age gap with the children allows her to connect with them more effectively. She desires to create a fun and loving environment for the children, and to set a positive example for them as they embark on their future endeavours.
However, being 22 years old doesn’t come without its challenges. Renate shares that parents initially hesitated to trust her due to her young age. She received comments like, “Oh, you’re so young. Are you sure you can be a teacher?”
But over the years, she has learned to overcome these remarks. In fact, parents have prepared gifts for her with appreciative comments like, “My kids have loved coming to school ever since you became their teacher,” and “They love learning so many new things from you at school!”
Renate says, “It’s fascinating how you can teach them values and skills, and they absorb it like a sponge. When I teach values, lessons, or skills, it’s rewarding to see them pick it up and apply it.”
While Renate studied Early Childhood education, it was when she joined Anglican Preschool Services (APS) after graduation that she gained real hands-on experience as a preschool educator. She learned various ways to manage children with different needs and grew both professionally as well as personally.
Renate says, “APS taught me more about the different aspects of childcare and provided training sessions with external early childhood professionals such as Beth Fredericks to ensure we are equipped in the role. Of course, having colleagues who share the same faith is invaluable—they pray for you, motivate you, and offer tips on how to improve.”
Her advice for those aspiring to be preschool teachers? “As tough as it may seem now, what always kept me going was the hope that tomorrow will be better because the children do change for the better. There will be tough days and good days, but always remember that we are doing something that helps the children grow. Like seeds, they are growing with love, responsibility, and respect. That’s how a seed grows—you talk to them, say nice things about them, and they will grow into something beautiful.”
Matthew Tjong: “It’s about loving the children even when patience runs thin”
Matthew Tjong, 24-year-old English educator from LSP (St. John’s-St. Margaret’s), shared that a mission trip to Chiang Rai in 2015 gave him his first taste of teaching. The experience teaching English to the children in Chiang Rai made a lasting impression on him and inspired him to pursue a diploma in early childhood education.
Upon graduating, transitioning into the working world was not easy, especially because he was a male teacher in a primarily female dominant role.
Matthew said, “Being a man, there is a social stigma prevalent in the early childhood sector, especially in Singapore. However, I believe father figures are important and male teachers play a crucial role in early childhood education too.”
Research has shown that the presence of male teachers promotes inclusivity in the teaching profession as they bring diverse perspectives and life experiences to the classroom, enriching the learning environment. Additionally, male instructors can serve as valuable mentors for children who may need positive male role models in their lives, providing guidance, support, and encouragement.
In Matthew’s experience, just having a lower and deeper voice can influence children’s perception, helping them take matters more seriously.
“Although not everyone has accepted this yet, I think my presence helps challenge and change that stigma,” Matthew says.
He acknowledges that while it is essential to maintain clear boundaries, especially physical ones, the stigma remains. For example, when a female teacher hugs the children, the response is often very different from when a male teacher does the same.
Despite this, Matthew says he tries not to take this stigma personally and he is also thankful to have found colleagues in APS who mentored and guided him during his early years in the profession.
Matthew also finds his interactions with the children immensely rewarding, particularly when he has the opportunity to share with them about God.
For instance, he recently introduced a praise song to the children. Although they were initially unfamiliar with it, they quickly picked it up and, just a few days later, were singing it enthusiastically!
For those aspiring to become preschool teachers, he says, “When you become a teacher, you need to love the children. If you don’t, this may not be the right path for you, because there will be times when professional patience runs thin. It’s about trusting God to provide patience and strength.”
Jairia Lim: “Education isn’t just about academics; it’s also about values and social-emotional development”
Similar to Matthew, Jairia Lim, 27-year-old English educator at LSP (TSA – Bukit Panjang), also had her first taste of teaching during a mission trip to Thailand. While helping at her uncle’s school for refugees , she realised the importance of education, especially for young children. As she continued her studies and took on part-time jobs involving children, her desire to work with them was further amplified.
“If we provide children with education as much as we can, it will aid in their growth and development as individuals. Education isn’t just about academics; it’s also about values and social-emotional development. For example, going to school allows them to meet friends and interact with others,” says Jairia.
For Jairia, it was crucial to understand herself and what she valued in a job in order to choose a profession that aligned with her values. Knowing her purpose helps her stay grounded and persevere through challenging times.
For example, she shares that managing challenging behaviours can be difficult as nothing is 100% predictable with children. Strategies that work one day may not work on the next. What has helped her manage these challenges is constant reflection and learning to explore the underlying reasons for a child’s behaviour, and finding ways to improve.
Jairia says, “I also observe how my senior colleagues handle certain situations and study external resources, such as reading journals, books, or watching educational videos, to learn new strategies.”
However, she has experienced many rewarding moments with the children too.
Jairia shares, “It is rewarding to see a child improve and develop when we take the time to understand them and build a relationship with them. For instance, seeing children who struggle with managing their emotions or self-regulation try their best without needing constant intervention is incredibly fulfilling. The process is not easy, and progress is not always linear, but observing overall improvement is gratifying.”
“Most importantly, it’s about seeing the children develop a love for learning. It’s vital to build their resilience from a young age—encouraging them not to fear failure, to enjoy trying, and to embrace making mistakes. These values will stay with them as they grow older.”
To find out more about our preschools and career opportunities, visit https://www.anglicanps.edu.sg.
