Friven & Co. and Wee Care to develop Hi-5 inspired pre-school centre

Wee Care adapts popular edutainment programme to develop unique curriculum to motivate young children to learn.

SGX Catalist-listed lifestyle company Friven & Co. Ltd. (“Friven & Co.” together with its subsidiaries, collectively the “Friven Group”), wishes to announce that Wee Care (Singapore) Pte Ltd (“Wee Care”) has signed a lease agreement with Friven & Co. to take up a space at its Tanglin store for a Wee Care kindergarten and early learning centre, according to a Friven & Co. report.

Friven & Co. believes that the Wee Care kindergarten and early learning centre at its Tanglin store is in line with its retail focus on family and children. This will be the main centre for Wee Care in Singapore and will occupy a space of approximately 8,000 square feet that includes a rooftop garden that is supported by a grant by the National Parks Board. The new kindergarten and early learning centre will provide a livable and breathable space for the education of children, set in an iconic building surrounded by excellent amenities and residences.

Hi-5 Pre-School
In addition, Friven & Co. will be collaborating with Wee Care to develop a pre-school concept and curriculum based on the contents from the Australian-originated children’s pop music group, Hi-5. The new Hi-5 pre-school will draw out the learning principles that the Hi-5 shows are founded on. In line with Hi-5’s emphasis on multiple intelligences and learning styles, the pre-school will cater to a vibrant mix of music, drama, art, stories, topic investigation, imagination and adventure. Children will be encouraged to actively share the excitement of exploring their world with programmes that focus on developing their verbal, musical, visual, mathematical, physical and social skills.

Ms Denise Lai, Founder and Managing Director of Wee Care said: “Children today are great processors of information. As educators, we have to ensure that we continue to capture their interest to learn. Wee Care provides an exclusive opportunity to leverage on a popular edutainment programme such as Hi-5 to develop a unique curriculum that will be motivating to young children. Curriculum and teaching modalities today may quickly be rendered irrelevant if teachers do not seek to find new ways to engage children in the classroom.”

Wee Care aims to reinforce the educational content of Hi-5’s shows with a curriculum that is focused on sound pedagogical principles. This will form the basis for a pre-school that will not only be educational, but entertaining and effective. Wee Care and Friven & Co. plan to introduce the Hi-5 pre-school concept and curriculum in Singapore and Malaysia by the first quarter of next year.

Mr Gary Loh, Executive Chairman of Friven & Co. commented: “The collaboration with Wee Care to develop a Hi-5 pre-school concept and curriculum is an example of a brand extension that is both relevant and strategic. As the Hi-5 brand licensor for Asia, we are not restricting ourself to just merchandise and shows but also exploring other ways of leveraging on the Hi-5 brand to create new products and services. Our long-term aim is to take interesting concepts like the Hi-5 pre-school Asia-wide”.