Exploring Countries and Regions: Introducing Oceania to Young Learners
- Genesis Childcare 1989 - Tampines
- Sep 17, 2023
- 7 min read
Updated: Oct 24
At Genesis Childcare 1989, we believe that early learning should spark curiosity and inspire children to explore the wider world. Through engaging storytelling and discovery-based activities, our programmes at our Tampines preschool and Tampines nursery nurture global awareness in children from a young age. One exciting way to do this is by helping them learn about different countries and regions, starting with the fascinating area of Oceania.
What Is a Country?
A country is more than just a piece of land—it is a region governed by its own government and recognised by other nations around the world. According to WorldData.info, a country is officially defined as an area that holds a unique country code under the ISO 3166-1 system. This means every independent country—from Singapore to Australia—has its own identity and governance structure that sets it apart from others.
However, not every territory is considered a country. Some regions may depend on another nation politically or economically. Teaching this concept helps children understand the importance of independence, cooperation, and cultural identity—key lessons that are reinforced daily through our global-themed lessons at Genesis Childcare 1989.
What Is a Region?
A region is an area of land that shares common characteristics—these could be natural features, such as mountains or oceans, or human-made features, like cities or cultural traditions. Regions are how we organise and understand the world. In our Tampines child care and Tampines preschool, we introduce regions through fun map activities, hands-on crafts, and songs that make geography come alive.
Major World Regions
The world is divided into several regions, each with its own distinct cultures, climates, and histories. These include:
East Asia and Pacific
Europe and Central Asia
Latin America and the Caribbean
Middle East and North Africa
North America
South Asia
Sub-Saharan Africa
Our teachers often use colorful maps and visual aids to show children how these regions differ in language, landscape, and lifestyle. This type of exposure at an early age helps children grow into open-minded, culturally aware individuals—one of the goals of our Tampines nursery and Tampines infant care programs.
Discovering the East Asia and Pacific Region
The East Asia and Pacific region is one of the most diverse and exciting areas in the world. It includes bustling cities, tropical islands, and ancient cultures. Some of the countries in this region are:
Australia, Brunei, Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, China (including Hong Kong and Macau), East Timor, Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Mongolia, Nauru, New Zealand, North Korea, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Vietnam.
At Genesis Childcare 1989, we often incorporate stories, crafts, and music from countries in this region into our curriculum. For example, our children might make paper fans inspired by Japan, learn a simple greeting from the Philippines, or explore the wildlife of Australia through creative play.
Learning About Oceania
Within the East Asia and Pacific region lies Oceania, a breathtaking area made up of many island nations scattered across the Pacific Ocean. Oceania includes:
Australia, Fiji, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
Let’s take a closer look at these countries—each one has unique stories, cultures, and landscapes that can captivate a child’s imagination.
Australia
Australia is both a continent and a country, located between the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Though it’s the smallest continent, it’s one of the largest countries on Earth. Its capital city, Canberra, lies between Sydney and Melbourne, two vibrant hubs of culture and economy.
Children at our Tampines preschool love learning about Australian animals like the kangaroo, koala, and platypus—unique creatures that can’t be found anywhere else. These fun lessons not only teach about biodiversity but also encourage a love for nature.
Australia’s government is a federal system, meaning it has both national and state-level administrations. Once part of the British Empire, it is now an independent member of the Commonwealth.
Fiji
Fiji is a tropical paradise made up of over 300 islands, though only about 100 are inhabited. Its capital, Suva, is located on Viti Levu, the largest island. Fiji’s turquoise waters, sandy beaches, and warm culture make it a favourite topic during our geography sessions for older preschoolers.
We use storytelling and art to help children appreciate Fiji’s island life—creating sea animal collages and island maps to spark imagination and creativity.
Marshall Islands
Located in the heart of the Pacific Ocean, the Marshall Islands is a country of over 1,200 islands and islets. Its capital, Majuro, sits on an atoll made of coral reefs. Children are fascinated to learn how families in such islands live close to nature and the sea.
At Genesis Childcare 1989, we weave these stories into sensory play activities that introduce ocean themes—perfect for toddlers at our Tampines infant care center.
Micronesia
Micronesia consists of more than 600 islands divided into four states: Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae. The capital, Palikir, is located on Pohnpei. We use interactive maps to teach children how small islands can form a single nation and how people adapt to their environment.
Nauru
Nauru, a small coral island located just south of the equator, is one of the smallest countries in the world. It has no official capital, with its government offices situated in the Yaren District. Learning about Nauru introduces children to the concept of small nations and community-based living.
New Zealand
Known as Aotearoa in Māori, New Zealand sits in the South Pacific and consists of two main islands—the North Island and the South Island. Its capital is Wellington, while Auckland is the largest city.
Children love learning about New Zealand’s volcanoes, kiwi birds, and the Māori culture through songs and crafts. At our Tampines child care, we encourage cultural appreciation through such activities that broaden children’s perspectives.
Palau
Palau is made up of more than 340 coral and volcanic islands. Surrounded by a magnificent barrier reef, it’s known for its clear waters and diverse marine life. Its main islands include Babeldaob, Koror, and Peleliu.
At Genesis Childcare 1989, teachers introduce Palau’s underwater wonders through picture books and art, showing children the importance of protecting marine environments.
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea lies north of Australia and includes the eastern half of New Guinea and nearby islands. Its capital is Port Moresby. Known for its rich tribal cultures and languages, it offers a fascinating example of diversity.
Learning about Papua New Guinea encourages children to value differences and appreciate multiculturalism—values we nurture daily at our Tampines preschool.
Samoa
Samoa sits in the South Pacific and is known for its welcoming culture and traditional Polynesian arts. The capital, Apia, is located on Upolu Island. Samoa’s music, dance, and warm community spirit are key features that we highlight in our multicultural education modules.
Solomon Islands
The Solomon Islands, with its capital Honiara, is home to beautiful volcanic islands and coral reefs. We often link this country’s geography to lessons about marine conservation, helping children understand how to care for our oceans.
Tonga
Known as the Kingdom of Tonga, this island nation includes more than 170 islands. Its capital, Nuku’alofa, sits on the island of Tongatapu. At Genesis Childcare 1989, we use Tonga’s traditional songs and folktales to teach children about respect, kindness, and family.
Tuvalu
Tuvalu is one of the world’s smallest nations, made up of nine tiny coral islands. Its de facto capital, Vaiaku, is on Funafuti Atoll. Teaching about Tuvalu helps children see the importance of community and sustainability—values we reinforce through play-based learning.
Vanuatu
Vanuatu, located near Fiji, is made up of 13 principal islands. Its capital, Port Vila, lies on the island of Éfaté. Vanuatu’s culture celebrates storytelling and nature, both of which align beautifully with our educational philosophy at Genesis Childcare 1989.
Exploring Countries and Regions: Bringing the World to Your Child’s Classroom
At Genesis Childcare 1989, learning goes beyond books and walls. Through our Exploring Countries and Regions program, children embark on exciting journeys around the world — right from their classroom! 🌍✨
They discover different cultures, foods, languages, and traditions, helping them appreciate diversity and develop global awareness from an early age. This hands-on approach nurtures curiosity and open-mindedness, encouraging every child to see the world as a place of endless learning and connection.
At Genesis Childcare 1989, we’re not just teaching — we’re bringing the world to your child’s classroom, inspiring little explorers to think big and dream beyond borders.
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Genesis Tampines Childcare 1989 is one of the best preschool and childcare in Tampines. Our Preschool Tampines have over 30 years of experience in nurturing thousands of infants, toddlers and preschoolers. At our Tampines Childcare, we advocate that every child is unique and precious who needs to be loved and cherished.
As a leading early childhood center in Singapore since 1989, we are committed to nurturing our early learners holistically through various learning areas and positive learning dispositions. We place a strong emphasis on the way our teachers facilitate and interact with the children.
Our Childcare Tampines believe that every child is unique and precious who needs to be loved and cherished. Hence, our holistic curriculum aims to create meaningful learning experiences for each and every one of them!
Our Playgroup Tampines provides parents with the confidence that their children are in the good hands of our trained and caring teachers.
Our professional team of preschool teachers has a good understanding of child development and learning principles. We apply them efficiently and set the stage to create a meaningful learning experience that supports your child's discovery.
We consistently create a positive and cozy environment that will give your child a sense of security which builds their self-confidence to explore the world around them.
If you are looking for a good Tampines infant care or Tampines preschool or Tampines childcare near Tampines Central, do consider Nurture Infant House or Genesis Childcare 1989.
Located alongside our childcare in Tampines is our Nurture Infant House. If you are looking for Tampines infant care or infant care in Tampines, do visit Nurture Infant House. It is for infants aged 2 months to 18 months old. You can learn more about our infant care Tampines here.
Lastly, would you like to visit our Genesis Childcare 1989 to find out more about our environment and setup as well as understand our operations by talking to our teachers and supervisor?
Genesis Childcare 1989 (Playgroup to Kindergarten 2)
Blk 433 Tampines Street 43 #01-63/65 S(520433)
Nurture Infant House (2 to 18 months Infants)
Blk 433 Tampines Street 43 #01-61 S(520433)
Opening hours: Monday to Friday (7am to 7pm) & Saturday (7am to 2pm)
Public Bus services: 8 / 21 / 28 / 29 / 293
Tel: 96664141
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