KUCHING: A total of 47 kindergarten pupils, aged between four and six, were introduced to the basics of entrepreneurship and financial management through the Tadika Johan Food Fair 5.0, which was held over three days on August 3, 5 and 7.
Tadika Johan’s Principal, Johanal Wong, said the programme, now in its fifth edition, was among the effective early education approaches used to introduce children to entrepreneurship through fun, interactive and experience-based activities.
She said the programme not only allowed pupils to learn through play, but also helped develop their creativity, imagination, communication skills and self-confidence.
“Throughout the programme, the pupils had the opportunity to make their own aprons, decorate hats, learn how to set a business budget and create attractive packaging.
“They also experienced what becoming young entrepreneurs was like through role-playing activities as sellers and buyers, which helped them develop their interaction and decision-making skills,” she told Suara Sarawak.
Sharing her observations during the programme, Wong said the pupils, particularly those aged six, demonstrated good judgement when deciding what food to buy.
“They tended to choose cheaper food so that they could buy more items. This shows that they are beginning to understand the value of money and how to manage their spending wisely,” she said.
She said the success of the programme also depended on the support of parents, who were encouraged to discuss with their children the food or drinks they wanted to buy, the price of each item and how to plan their spending wisely.
“Simple conversations like these can help children understand the value of money, make appropriate choices and recognise the importance of financial management from a young age,” she explained.
Wong hoped the programme would not merely provide pupils with the experience of buying and selling, but also foster greater enjoyment in learning.
“This effort will help build self-confidence, communication skills, numeracy skills and an entrepreneurial mindset from a young age,” she said.
At the same time, Wong said the programme gave pupils an opportunity to learn through practical experience while developing their character and skills that would be useful in the future.
“With a fun approach to learning, we believe the pupils will become more motivated, creative and disciplined, while developing the potential to become young entrepreneurs in the future,” she added.
“We would also like to thank all parents for their support and cooperation in making this a meaningful learning experience.”
