Some believe that education is a long journey of companionship. At KLIS, we believe that this companionship begins at the very start of life.
Recently, educators from KL International School of Chongqing Bashu (KLIS) visited Chongqing YouYou Children‘s Hospital to deliver a special parenting lecture on early childhood education and development for new parents. The event has successfully concluded, but the seeds of education have quietly taken root in more hearts and homes.
When International Education Meets the Newborn Ward
For families welcoming a new baby, joy often comes hand in hand with questions and anxieties: How do I build an emotional connection with my baby? When is the right time to start early learning? What kinds of parent-child interactions truly support development?
These seemingly simple questions lie at the heart of early childhood education. KLIS educators visited YouYou Children’s Hospital to share insights from authentic American-style international education, engaging with new parents face to face on science-based parenting strategies.
During the event, KLIS teachers delivered accessible and practical presentations on the critical importance of early development for children aged 0–3, hands-on techniques for parent-child bonding and emotional connection, and how to incorporate educational elements into daily caregiving routines. From eye contact and language input to tactile exploration and play-based discovery, our educators used real-life examples to show parents: education begins with every hug, every gentle word.
Lead Educators: Expertise and Passion at the Start of Life
Margaret Lehmann
KLIS Elementary School Principal | Educational Leadership Specialist | Special Education & Music Therapy Background
Margaret holds an Education Specialist degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Florida, a Master's in Special Education from the University of West Florida, and a Bachelor's in Music Therapy from Michigan State University. She previously served as Director of International Programs at Stockbridge American International School in the U.S., leading a team of 30 to support IB curriculum development and creating the "Kindergarten Badge Book Project." In Asia, she developed early literacy curricula, authored teaching materials, and trained teachers at multiple elementary schools in South Korea, gaining deep insights into Asian children's learning styles and family expectations. She holds a Florida Department of Education K-12 ESOL professional teaching certificate and has published educational works including LIONS Pride Kindergarten Badge Book & Project and A Student's Guide to English Conversation. At this lecture, Margaret drew on her interdisciplinary background in music therapy and special education to explain how parents can use sounds, rhythms, and daily interactions to support their baby's emotional and cognitive development — helping families scientifically “read” their infant's cues.
Aaron Ogle
Early Childhood Education Specialist | Immersive English & Project-Based Learning Practitioner
Aaron is a passionate early childhood educator with over 10 years of experience in international kindergartens across China. He holds a Master's in Education (Multilingual Learners) and specializes in creating immersive English environments. He has designed engaging activities such as nature exploration paths and school-wide Olympic events. His areas of expertise include project-based learning, sensory play, cross-cultural collaboration, curriculum development, and teacher training.
At this event, Aaron shared practical strategies from his years of frontline early childhood teaching in Asia — showing parents how simple sensory games and everyday caregiving routines can spark a newborn's curiosity and desire to explore.
Core Message of the Lecture: Parents Are Their Child's First Teachers
Throughout the lecture, the two speakers repeatedly emphasized a core belief: parents are their child's first and most influential teachers. A baby's learning does not come from deliberate "teaching" but rather from the most natural forms of demonstration, through daily companionship, voices, routines, and interactions. From the very moment of birth, children are imitating and absorbing everything around them.
The lecture guided parents to explore in depth how to create a nurturing home environment from the very first day of their child's life. Such an environment lays a solid foundation for lifelong learning, curiosity, resilience, and emotional security. A warm hug, a patient response, a quiet mealtime: these moments silently shape a child's brain and heart.
The lecture concluded by especially emphasizing the importance of building a home reading culture. Through the simple yet powerful habit of daily parent-child shared reading, parents can help their children fall in love with books and learning from the earliest stage of life. Even just ten minutes a day, the soft rustle of turning pages and the gentle sound of a parent reading aloud, can become the safest and most beautiful memories deep in a child's heart.
The professional knowledge and warm delivery of the two speakers earned high recognition from the attending parents. Many parents stayed after the lecture to ask questions, hoping for more personalized advice. As one parent said, "I used to think that early education was something very complicated. Today I understand that the best education is right there in everyday hugs and stories."
Partnering with YouYou: Caring for Every Life with Love and Expertise
Chongqing YouYou Children’s Hospital, where this event was held, is a member of the Chongqing Medical University Children‘s Hospital medical consortium and a high-quality women’s and children‘s hospital dedicated to providing safe, convenient, efficient, and comfortable medical services and health management for children. YouYou Hospital offers comprehensive departments including pediatric medicine, pediatric surgery, and a child health management center, with particular emphasis on screening, assessment, and rehabilitation training for children’s psychological, behavioral, language, and early developmental needs. Guided by the mission of “Accompanying Growth, Loving for a Lifetime,” YouYou Hospital shares a deep alignment with KLIS‘s educational philosophy. KLIS is honored to join hands with such a caring institution to nurture the healthy growth of children together.
KLIS: An International Education Community Rooted in Chongqing
In the field of early childhood education, KLIS's preschool program implements the Creative Curriculum, accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, and follows Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP), which respects each child's unique developmental path. We do more than provide education for international students ages 3 to 18 — we also care about every day from birth onward, and we are committed to sharing science-based educational principles with families at the earliest possible stage.
Because we firmly believe that education has no fixed starting point, and growth happens far beyond the classroom. Children who experience positive parent-child interactions from the very beginning enter school with greater confidence and a stronger drive to learn. KLIS is here to be a partner that walks with families from the very start of their journey.
Bringing the Warmth of Education to More Families
Although this event at YouYou Children's Hospital has concluded, KLIS's commitment to engaging with the community and serving families continues. In the future, KLIS will keep collaborating with medical institutions, community organizations, and other partners to bring international educational resources to a wider audience and provide more new parents with science-based parenting support.
