BEA GARCIA-CHOY: NURTURING TOMORROW’S BRIGHT...
in the UK, she became a registered teacher in Hong Kong and worked in international schools such as Chinese International School and Singapore International School, Hong Kong, after pursuing further studies in the University of the Philippines and taking her postgraduate Certification in Education at the University of Sunderland, United Kingdom.
Together with other moms and educators, Bea also started a family center in Hong Kong, where babies and young children come to create special milestones with their families and their communities. But the pandemic hit. Bea’s dad passed on. “I was stuck in Hong Kong with my husband Kevin, who’s a physiotherapist,” she shares. “COVID restrictions there were very strict but I also lost my father, which was extra-difficult because I’m an only child. Seven months later, my fatherin-law died. But what made it worse was we both couldn’t fly home during those times.”
So in 2022, Bea got pregnant and that’s when the Choys decided to come home to the Philippines.
WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF IMAGINE (PLAYSCHOOL)
“My plan was to go back to my teaching job and my life in Hong Kong after I gave birth to my first child,” shares Bea.
But soon after, her husband started building his career in Philippines. “It was his way of giving back. He had always made it clear to me that one day he would come home to do that. It also didn’t make sense to leave my mom anymore. And now that my own family is growing, it’s my turn to bring everything that I have learned to the place that matters most to me.”
Together with her friends, professional dancer and early childhood educator Sky Bautista and Maui Mauricio, a dynamic brand and marketing professional, Bea decided to start and put up Imagine Playschool — your child’s first academic ally.
“We want to create a safe space and community for children and their families to thrive, learn through play and shine,” explains Bea, who created Imagine’s curriculum. “Imagine Playschool is not just another educational brand; it’s a promise — a commitment to ensuring that your child is not just school-ready, but life-ready,” she explains. According to Bea, they were meant to launch Imagine Playschool a while back but she got pregnant so they had to pause.
Catering to babies up to six-year-olds, Imagine’s discovery classes serve as a bridge between the nurturing confines of home and the dynamic environment of a school. “So we were only able to do one pop-up class last year before I literally ‘popped!” she says with a hearty laugh. “The response was very good.”
At Imagine Playschool, Ms. Bea, Sky and Maui believe in letting little minds make choices, explore freely, and think on their own.
“It’s about growing self-reliance, and problemsolving skills,” notes Bea. “Teaching all these to toddlers are very important, especially after the pandemic. For two years, they were stuck at home; everything is being done for them. They also had a hard time interacting with other kids and adults. So, there’s a need to help them prepare for big school without the intimidation of being in a big school.”
Imagine Playschool is the gateway to educational excellence.
“And for a child to succeed, he/she needs the right set of skills, attitude, enthusiasm and most importantly, a child needs to be happy,” Bea enthuses.
GROW TOGETHER Imagine Playschool provides unique opportunities of learning and growth through child-led and meaningful play, family and community.
“We’ve developed an educational philosophy of our own with the Foundations of Enlightened Learning Approach, which has 5 pillars: Holistic Development, Experiential Learning, Inclusivity, Values and Partnership with Parents,” explains Bea.
• Holistic Development. Imagine Playschool’s programs are intricately designed to cater to every facet of a child’s developmental needs, be it cognitive, physical, emotional, or social. By providing them with a rich learning environment, the educators ensure that every child grows at their own pace and develops their understanding of the world around them. “I often remind parents to be patient with their children because each child is unique. They all have different learning paces and modalities. Others learn to do things by watching. But there are those who observe first,” advises Bea.
• Experiential Learning. Imagine Playschool believes that children learn when they’re actively engaged and having fun. “Our hands-on approach ensures that children are not just passive recipients but active participants in the learning journey,” adds Bea.
• Inclusivity. Again, every child is unique. The curriculum respects and celebrates those differences. “Here, we ensure that every child feels seen, heard, and valued,” she adds.
• Values. “There is a need to instill values within each child. It is what ensures them to be good and decent citizens of the world. Imagine Playschool believes in imparting this to children at a very young age and providing them with opportunities to practice it in school, at home and in the community. “
• Partnership with Parents. “We believe that parents are the primary educators,” stresses Bea. Imagine seeks to work in tandem with parents, keeping them informed about their child’s progress and guiding them on how to further nurture their budding talents and interests of their kids. “Our accompanied classes are also designed in a way that parents (or caregivers) are able to bond with their children and model for them what the children are meant to learn.”
Imagine Playschool offers four classes for babies to six years old: Mini Musicians (focuses on music and movement); Messy Artists (which is anchored in the belief that hands-on, sensory experiences are pivotal for a child’s cognitive and motor-skill development); Little Imagineers (tailored to older toddlers on the verge of starting school) and finally, Musical Theater for bigger kids. This is a program that helps young children develop discipline, self regulation, creativity and self expression through theater (singing, dancing and acting).
“During their toddler years, children are malleable,” says Bea. “You can impact them positively. You can ingrain values in them which I think is the most important part of teaching. And for me, more than phonics, more than math, more than motor skills, it’s the right values that will carry them through in life.”
And it is Bea’s dream to be able to give back and offer these classes to the kids who need them most — the less fortunate.
“I’m manifesting it,” Bea says. “Through God’s grace.”
* * * This summer, Imagine Playschool invites Imagineers to its Summer Term — Messy Artists (one to two years old, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.), Messy Artists (two to three years old, from 11 a.m. to 12 noon), Little Imagineers (three years and up, from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.) and Musical Theater (four to six years old, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.).
For inquiries, visit https://www.facebook.com/ imagineplayschool or @imagineplayschool on Instagram.