Through Dreamkids, Dawn Choy and her husband are nurturing children to become the ‘gamechangers’ of the future.
What’s your story?
“How can we nurture our children to be happy and prepare them for success in this fast-changing world?” Like most young parents, this is the question that my husband and I asked when we became parents to four wonderful children. In the post-Google era, where knowledge is no longer power because information is just a click away, we are living in a world that is changing so fast beyond our imagination. Never would we be able to predict ten years ago in 2005 that the top hot jobs we have today such as IOS and Android Developer or Social Media Strategist would even exist.
Today we are in a parenting crisis, because what we had been taught previously by our teachers and parents may no longer be applicable today! As such, how can we, as parents, educate our children to prepare them for a future that we may not even foresee? This is why Dreamkids Preschool was envisioned. My husband and I do not want to just build a conventional preschool. We want our preschool to nurture happy kids who have strong self-esteem and go on in life to become the gamechangers of the future.
What excites you most about your industry?
Seeing children go on in life to become gamechangers of the future. Seeing children going after their dreams with their dream boards (vision boards).
What’s your connection to Asia?
I am born and bred in Singapore. Both my parents worked hard to provide for the family. When there was extra income for the month, my parents would bring us for a treat at KFC. They would often save the best for us. Seeing them working hard for us has spurred me on to be successful in life so that I can provide the best for them.
Favourite city in Asia for business and why?
Hong Kong
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
“No one has the power to shatter your dreams unless you give it to them.” Maeve Greyson
Who inspires you?
My husband who has embarked on his entrepreneurship since his uni days. He is my advisor, keeping my emotions in tab. He often encourages me to see things from a different perspective which I appreciate greatly.
What have you just learnt recently that blew you away?
I am stronger than I believe I am. Little did I imagine myself managing my business and taking care of my children and family independently as my husband travels frequently for work.
If you had your time again, what would you do differently?
I would have pursued my dreams of being an Early Childhood Educator much earlier on. I dreamt I would be a teacher when I was young and I lost it somehow. It was when I had the opportunity to work in a preschool that rekindled my passion and dreams. Hence I started out much later compared to my peers. I went back to school to equip myself with the necessary knowledge in my late twenties. Nonetheless, I am grateful for this journey.
How do you unwind?
Chilling out with my loved ones and girlfriends over wine, good food and KTV.
Favourite Asian destination for relaxation? Why?
Hong Kong because of its delicacies.
Everyone in business should read this book:
I have read widely and I gain different insights when I read the same book again. So I can’t recommend any one book but to read many.
Shameless plug for your business:
Developing happy, creative, socially engaging and resilient children who dare to dream and create the change they want to see in the world – this is what everyone of us in Dreamkids Kindergarten has set out to accomplish.
From the beginning, we have never wanted to build just a conventional preschool. We want our preschool to nurture happy kids who have strong self-esteem and go on in life to become game-changers, because we know in our hearts that when a strong mindset is built, results come naturally. We want to build a happy preschool with a strong culture, where teachers and kids speak the common language of dreams and gratitude, and give hi-5 to spread positive energy to people around us.
Never did I expect that this journey to bring dreams and smiles back into the world through our preschool education, changed the lives of my teachers and I. We have become more resilient and solution-focused, as we overcome the many challenges that have greeted us. We have grown closer to be like sisters, as we cried, laughed, quarrelled and worked hard together to provide this dream preschool education to our children. Unknowingly, we have also become the children that we seek to nurture and develop as we impart to them the traits of success, such as the 5 little things in Dreamkid:
– If I fall, I stand up
– Be Happy, Smile
– Say Thanks, Hi-5, Big Hugs
– I believe, I can
– Dream Big
The above makes up the school’s culture. These are some of the many things that we do to create a sense of community and happiness. We believe that school culture can have a significant positive impact on the children’s social emotional well-being and academics. This is what Dreamkids is all about.
How can people connect with you?
Connect with me via email: [email protected]
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This interview was part of the Callum Connect’s column found on The Asian Entrepreneur:
Callum Laing invests and buys small businesses in a range of industries around Asia. He has previously started, built and sold half a dozen businesses and is the founder & owner of Fitness-Buffet a company delivering employee wellness solutions in 12 countries. He is a Director of, amongst others, Key Person of Influence. A 40 week training program for business owners and executives.
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