Saturday 16 April 2016

Playworks Early Childhood Center

Playworks was one the playschools that first caught our attention during the Mommy Mundo Preschool Fair in BGC. Baby Charley was instantly smitten with Playworks' colorful displays, engaging activities, and really friendly teachers. These are why we're convinced we're considering Playworks for Charley's playschool.
Baby Charley during the PReschool Fair 
Approach
Plaworks is a play-based progressive program that is focused on responding to the children's interests to create meaningful learning experiences. Their activities are developmentally-appropriate that target different learning areas like physical development, social and emotional development, language and literacy, mathematics, discovery of the world, and art. 

All of their graduates enter the big schools of their choice like Assumption San Lo, Poveda, Xavier, Ateneo, La Salle, and other international schools.

My 16-month old baby's artwork
Sensory Play with balls and jell-o! May I say, the apron looks really cute!! 
Playworks has Young Toddler Classes (Babies and Toddlers) and Nursery Classes (Preschool). The students are grouped by age; hence the class schedules, activities, curriculum, and materials are all appropriate for the kids' age. Each class has a very low student-teacher ratio, and Mommies can be sure that their kids are well-attended. 

Young Toddlers Class
There are also summer classes, after-school activities like Galileo English and Math Enrichment Program, Twinkle Stars Ballet, Language Classes (Filipino and Foreign Languages), Arts & Crafts, Acrylic Painting, Sports, and IT Programmes.

What We Love About Playworks

* Developmentally-appropriate Activities
Because the kids are grouped according to their age, the activities, materials, schedules are tailor-fit for them. For example, in Charley's class (Young Toddler at the Purple Room), the kids have whole group activities like Circle Time and Story Time. These activities teach appropriate social skills like being part of a group or even learning how to share. 

Story time/Dancing Time with Teacher Gabby
Charley loves how these bells sound when she walks and stomps her foot
There are also small group activities and hands-on experiences where the children learn through play. I think because there are various small centers in the classroom, children can learn pre-reading, pre-math, and pre-science with the help of the teachers.

Charley building pipes while her classmate picks from the Science center 

Finally, there is also Free Play where the teachers work with the kids one-on-one or in small groups. 

Music Time
One of the many sensory activities 
* Low student:teacher ratio with well-trained teachers and staff 
Each class has very low student:teacher ratio. In fact, there are 2 teachers and 1 teacher-aide in each class. This way, Mommies can be confident to leave their kids in the classroom. 

Lessons are in English, but teachers also consider the vocabulary each child uses at home. There are different types of nationalities in each class, but the kids adjust well and non-native speakers even learn English from their teachers. 

Art time
Moreover, teachers receive a yearly training or workshop from Red Cross. Also, each room is cleaned and sanitized after each class, and toys are washed every week. However, mouthed toys are removed from the classroom right away to be disinfected. I find this very helpful especially during the flu season. 

A teacher-aide on the look out while the kids are playing 
* Safe, conducive environment
Each classroom is huge for the class, so our babies can crawl, walk, run, and jump more freely and more confidently. Learning materials are also strategically placed in the classroom, so the kids learn something wherever they look.

Snack Time
The play area is HUGE with toys of all kinds. There are cars and trucks (Charley's favourites), dolls, and soft baby gyms for everyone. 





There's also a diaper-changing station, a waiting area for the fetchers, and a bigger area with tables and chairs. 

Finally, the whole school is aircondtioned and has a security lock by the entrance. 

Fees, Schedule 
What we love more about Playworks is that it offers different types of class schedules. There are early morning classes, late morning classes, and afternoon classes, so Mommies can just choose which will fit their babies. Some students attend classes everyday, others 3x a week, while some 2x a week. Fees vary depending on the schedule and age of the child.

The following are the fees for the summer activities as of SY 2016 - 2017.  You may simply call, email, or visit Playworks for SY 2016 - 2017 tuition fees. Fees of children who will not be attending the whole school year (for example, students may attend 6 months of schooling only) will be pro-rated.


Location and Contacts 
Aguirre Campus
2/F Aguirre Building
108 HV Dela Costa St.
Salcedo Village, Makati City
02.816.3273
infor@playworksph.com

Three Salcedo Campus
2/F Three Salcedo Place
123 Tordesillas St.
Salcedo Village, Makati
(Just across Jaime Velasquez Park; Look for UCPB; Near Coffee Bean)
02.555.0497
playworks.salcedo@gmail.com

Right across Jaime Velasquez Park

Overall
Baby Charley enjoyed all her activities at Playworks. She loves her teachers who are very friendly and accommodating, and she looks forward to her classes everyday. Mommies, Daddies (yes, Daddies!), and yayas whom I met there also have just good words for the playschool.


We also notice that Charley learns new words from the teachers and even applies at home what she has learnt in class. For example, she packs away her toys and sits down on the chair during meal time once you sing the songs she hears in class.

Indeed, Playworks Early Childhood Center is highly recommended as a playschool. 

34 comments:

  1. Looks like Charley enjoyed! I'm impressed with Playworks! By the photos, the teachers seem to really enjoy teaching kids! I just find the tuition fee too high for our budget :( But I guess you would get your money's worth from the looks of it ;)

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    1. Charley really enjoyed her class, and the teachers are really passionate. The kids I saw in Playworks really enjoyed their time there.
      Teacher Gabby, the school directress, also visits the campuses often.
      Regarding the tuition, you may contact Playworks for the exact details. A bit pricey, yes, but it's all worth it.
      Thank you for visiting, and I hope I can help you choose the playschool for your baby. :D

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  2. Aw this is really nice! I agree mejo pricey nga sya but super nice.

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    1. very. This is the first playschool we visited, but I love it there already. :)

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  3. Playworks in Tordesillas is just nearby my office! I would want to enroll my Gabriel here. I am convinced that they do have interesting stuff to offer my child. But Gabriel's still not a year old until next month. So I will just wait for the right time til he's ready enough. Oh, I must admit. I feel excited about this as a Mom! Hihi

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    1. You know another great thing about Playworks is that accept children as young as 5 months ata. There are some "crawlers" in another class, and they have a lot of fun in Playworks. They also offer summer classes for young toddlers. It's really a great place for kids to be kids while learning the essential milestones. :)

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  4. Perfect ito in developing social skills din for the little ones.

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    1. i agree, Mommy. The school's curriculum for the little ones are just perfect for them. :)

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  5. Cant wait for my little Yael to try this. Would love to put that bell-like thingie on his ankle. Will surely push my little lad to practice walking. IHihi. Pushy mama here.

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    1. Im sure Baby Yael will enjoy Playworks! He might be in Baby Charley's class this summer. :)

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  6. There are sooo many play schools nowadays that it's getting harder to choose which ones are good. This looks like a nice one though based on your experience. :)

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    1. Yes it is. :) Charley is having her summer class there this year. She really loves everything there. :)

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  7. I like it! It looks like an awesome play school. I hope they open more branches nationwide for us who are not living in Metro Manila :)

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    1. So far those are the only branches That they have that I know. They're gonna open one in SM Aura i think. Sana nga more branches soon. :)

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  8. ... and only in Makati :( Sayang. My kids go to Gymboree since it's the nearest play school in our area. I hope they'll have a branch in QC :)

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    1. In the future perhaps. I think that idea is great. :)

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  9. Sounds like a great play school. We were looking for something like this for our son when he was younger. Unfortunately, there was nothing like this in our area so we decided to homeschool instead and fell in love with it. I hope Charley will continue to enjoy it. :)

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    1. So far, she is enjoying naman. except for some tantrums when she's hungry and sleepy. Im happy she' enjoying the school. :)

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  10. Thanks for this review! I really needed it 'cause my son is scheduled for their trial class this Friday. We had to enroll him to a class since we feel like he needs a bit of help with socialization 'cause he doesn't have any sibling or cousin! So he "shys" away when there are children around. Which Playworks campus do you prefer, sis?

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    1. Hi, sis! Charley is having her summer class at the Three Salcedo campus MWF. Are you going there this Friday? That'll be great cos in Charley's class there are more boys; I'm sure your son will LOVE it there! :) See you?? :)

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  11. I love progressive style of teaching. Schools for older kids that focus on this are harder to find but at least centers like these introduce the concept to little ones.

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    1. According to Teacher Gabby, Playworks does not suppress the kids from playing since they really learn best when they play especially at a very young age. :)

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  12. Play is little people's work and while playing they do not only have fun but learn from the many activities, as well. I read somewhere that it is actual more beneficial for kids up to 8 years old to learn from playing.

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    1. That's a very good point, and I totally agree. :)

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  13. Looks like your baby enjoyed it mostly the bell!

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  14. Playworks looks and sounds like its the perfect playschool.

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    1. It is! We fell in-love with the place, the curriculum, the teachers, and the experience Charley has at Playworks. :)

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  15. I prefer teaching my son at home when he was little. We can do more things less the expensive tuition fee.

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    1. It is true that babies cold learn best with mommies and daddies. but some families arent gifted with opportunities cos they got to work. :)

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  16. The rates are very reasonable!

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    1. It is reasonable. I think they're also offering daycare services na rin :)

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  17. hi! my daughter just turned 3 last dec 31 and she doesn't converse well as compare to other kids of her age. although, she can sing, speak a few words, recite the numbers and alphabet. would you recommend this playschool to her? thank you

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    1. Hi, Mommy!

      I think your daughter has the perfect age for Playworks. My daughter was 16 months when she joined Playworks, and believe me, she was terrible dealing with kids her age. I noticed a big difference when I enrolled her in Playworks. She was shy at first and refused to play with others, but after a few days, she was playing well with her classmates already. She also learnt a lot of new words from her teachers and classmates at Playworks - even words that we don't usually use at home like "pack away" or "pop" or "sink".

      My family loves Playworks for Baby Charley. You may try to visit their Makati or BGC campus, and look for Teacher Gabby. She's the directress and she would answer all your queries, too.

      Thanks for visiting! I hope I was able to help you. Lemme know if you push through with enrolling your little girl there. :)

      PS: I'm not affiliated with Playworks. We just love it there. :)

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I would love to hear your thoughts!