It Takes a Child to Transform a Village

the "why" behind Little Heroes of Inclusion

Children play an essential role in creating inclusive preschool environments, and by extension, an inclusive Singapore.

The Good Start SG movement aims to raise children who are exemplars to others (both children and adults alike). While children are able to pick up misbehaviours and quirks that other children display,

discriminatory attitudes, behaviours and language are picked up from the adults and community around them.

Starting from their early years, we hope to inculcate values integral in creating an inclusive society, such as compassion and acceptance. We want to raise them to be active change agents that are capable of shaping a compassionate meritocracy for the generation after ours.

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Little Heroes Idea Cards

the award

The “Little Heroes of Inclusion” Award, given out annually during the Good Start SG Conference, is a symbol of recognition and appreciation to preschool children who have shown exemplary care and support to their peers with learning or developmental needs. In our eyes, these children are the forerunners who have enabled their special friends to learn, play, contribute and participate meaningfully alongside their typically developing peers in the classroom and the community.

Finalists are selected because they had been more than just “helpers” of their special friends. They had gone beyond simply being kind and charitable “maternal” and “paternal” figures, to being advocates and agents of empowerment for their classmates. They saw their special friends as well, friends and equals.

They would for example, learn from them, allow them to complete tasks independently, acknowledge their strengths and special knowledge, respond to their feelings, not just their misbehaviours, and respect their friends’ preferences and ways of playing and doing things. At times, they would sacrifice their own places or toys, and mediate between their special friends and classmates or teachers.

With the introduction of this award, we hope that more children will be inspired to be Little Heroes of Inclusion.