THE pre-school children affectionately compete for a place on Ms Rebecca Cheong's lap to pose for a photograph.
You would imagine the early childhood teacher (main head picture) at a Modern Montessori International Pre-School has been working with children for many years.
But the 22-year-old became an early childhood teacher a mere two years ago, and she can already get the 3- and 4-year-olds to cooperate with her effortlessly.
"I always wanted to be the kind of teacher who supported and influenced children through love, and not through force," she said, and the Montessori system allows her to do so.
This international method of teaching encourages independent discovery through hands-on learning materials that each child voluntarily chooses at the beginning of each class.
She spends time with her students individually, observing their improvements in abilities before guiding them and helping them advance with personalised lesson plans.
Ms Cheong moved here from Australia about three years ago and obtained a Diploma of Montessori Training.
"The children rely on you so much that you inevitably treat them like your own. So, although young children never hold grudges, its still heartrending for us to scold them."
One of the most rewarding aspects of being an early childhood teacher, she said, is contributing to their development.
"I watch them grow to become individuals with caring and loving personalities. I feel like I contributed to that."
She starts work at 8.30am and ends at about 5.30pm. But she is never exhausted because "the kids give you an energy that you can't get anywhere else."
One student would run up to hug her every morning and say "I love you!".
Most people who enter the profession say they do it because of an affinity with children.
But Ms Cheong advised: "You cannot simply keep telling them 'I love you, I love you'. You must love them enough to know when not to indulge them so that they can improve."
