KUCHING: A new nature-inspired early childhood learning centre in Kampung Cemerlang is setting a fresh benchmark for experiential and holistic preschool education in Sarawak.
Dubbed Little Cottage, the centre integrates outdoor learning with the latest research in child development, earning praise from Women, Early Childhood, and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah during its soft opening on Wednesday (Jul 9).
“This concept brings children back to nature. It’s not just about classroom learning, it’s about allowing them to explore, feel, and experience. That’s how children really learn,” she said.
Fatimah stressed that the setup promotes experiential learning by immersing children in activities such as gardening, recycling, and interacting with natural elements, a method which she described as both modern and grounded in traditional wisdom.
“Children learn not just about science from a textbook, but by seeing how plants grow, how composting works, and even how to care for animals.
“These are valuable life lessons that instil respect, compassion, and curiosity,” she added.
She lauded the approach for nurturing the “whole child”, highlighting the development of physical, emotional, social, and spiritual aspects through interaction with the environment and peers.
“They gain communication skills, develop leadership, and learn empathy all through play and interaction in this natural setting. That’s what we call holistic education,” she said.
Fatimah also pointed out that children are encouraged to take age-appropriate risks, such as climbing or exploring, which helps build resilience and confidence.
“Let them fall. Let them try again. This is how they learn to overcome challenges.
“Life isn’t always smooth, and we want our children to grow up strong, adaptable, and ready to face the world,” she said.
She noted that such experiences mirror models practised overseas, where structured risk-taking is part of the learning philosophy in early education.
Beyond the curriculum, Fatimah praised Little Cottage for involving the surrounding community, a move she said aligns with the belief that education is a shared responsibility.
“It takes a village to raise a child. And here we can see the community coming together from volunteers to parents, contributing to the learning ecosystem,” she added.
She expressed hope that more early childhood centres in Sarawak, especially in rural areas, will adopt similar models that blend nature, values, and play into the learning experience.
