Source: Liberty Times
According to 2023 statistics, Taiwan currently holds the lowest fertility rate in the world. Amid this extreme trend of declining birthrates, families in Taiwan tend to lavish great care and attention on their children. Weng Fan-Che, General Manager of Jian Sheng Early Education Group, acknowledges that while such care is natural for parents, overprotectiveness may unintentionally deprive children of valuable opportunities for independent learning.
He emphasizes that encouraging children to engage in hands-on activities and experiential learning to gradually build self-care skills has long been a foundational principle in Western early childhood education. Allowing children to take appropriate risks and fulfill their own daily needs, he says, can actually be more beneficial to their growth in the long run.
Andy Weng : “Confidence, Responsibility, and Independent Learning Can’t Be Found in Textbooks”
Andy emphasized, “Confidence, responsibility, and independent learning—these are things you’ll never find in textbooks, and they can’t be taught with a simple lesson plan. They must be nurtured by immersing children in a hands-on, learning-by-doing environment.”
That’s why Jian Sheng strives to cultivate these traits starting from infant care through kindergarten. By incorporating Montessori and Froebel teaching methods, children are given time to gradually develop self-care skills from an early age. Through this process, they gain independence, autonomy, and the ability to cooperate with others. This philosophy—central to both Montessori and Froebel education—gives children the invaluable gift of independence as they grow.
Principal Chou points out that these educational methods empower children to adopt a proactive attitude. As a result, children often return home eager to help with household chores and more willing to take part in family responsibilities. (Photo: Courtesy of Jian Sheng)
“When Children Develop Self-Care Habits, They Even Help with Chores at Home”—Jian Sheng’s Focus on Proactivity and Independence
“When children develop habits of self-care, they often surprise their parents by actively helping with household chores,” shared Chou Shih-Lien, Principal of Jian Sheng Infant Care Center in Tainan. He emphasized that fostering a proactive attitude is a core feature of Montessori and Froebel education. Many children, after returning home from school, are able to independently complete tasks such as packing their own bags or helping their parents around the house. This not only reassures parents but also strengthens family bonds. That’s why promoting independence in young children is one of Jian Sheng’s top priorities. The school respects each child’s individuality while focusing on cultivating self-motivation and creativity.
Immersive Bilingual Environment: A Natural Path to Language Learning
Beyond fostering self-care, Jian Sheng also provides a bilingual environment because young children absorb external information most naturally at an early age. By integrating English into the daily setting and interactions, children effortlessly develop listening and speaking skills—laying a strong foundation for future language learning.
Weng Fan-Che explained, “Bilingualism at Jian Sheng is a fusion of life and learning. Children are constantly exploring and absorbing—they’re not afraid to make mistakes!” This relaxed and immersive setting not only supports multilingual learning but also stimulates children’s cognitive development. Thanks to Jian Sheng’s friendly bilingual atmosphere, word-of-mouth praise has led many foreign professionals working in Taiwan’s tech industry to choose the school for their children.
(Photo: Courtesy of Jian Sheng)
面對教育界最擔心的少子化問題，翁凡哲自信地說：「這讓我們可以走向精緻化。」因為在過去一班多達60個小朋友的時代，只有一位老師，往往只能朝填鴨式的教育方向管理。但現在三位老師共同帶領孩子，一個班裡面有哥哥、有姐姐，也有弟弟、妹妹，完全符合蒙特梭利混齡生活的學習理念。我們不怕少子的家庭裡，孩子不懂得手足與人際關係上的發展，在這裡孩子們大大小小就像手足，就像另一個大家庭，彼此學習。
By weaving English into the environment and everyday interactions, Jian Sheng creates a naturally immersive bilingual and native language setting. This approach makes language learning intuitive and lays a strong foundation for children’s future acquisition of foreign languages.
Facing the Challenge of Declining Birthrates, Jian Sheng Sees Opportunity in Personalized Education
Amid growing concerns in the education sector over Taiwan’s declining birthrate, Andy Weng remains confident: “This trend allows us to move toward refinement and quality.”
In the past, with classes of up to 60 students managed by just one teacher, education often leaned toward rote memorization and lecture-style control. Today, Jian Sheng classrooms are led by three teachers, and each class includes a mix of older and younger children—mirroring Montessori’s mixed-age living concept.
“We’re not afraid that children from smaller families won’t learn how to relate to others,” he said. “In our classrooms, children—big and small—learn from each other like siblings in one big family. It’s another kind of home, a community for growing together.”
(Photo: Courtesy of Jian Sheng)
Andy Weng explains, “Froebel represents the theoretical side, while Montessori emphasizes practical application. At Jian Sheng, we uphold both Froebel and Montessori philosophies, combining theory and practice to support children’s holistic growth under our early education vision.”
Even the toys used in Jian Sheng’s Infant Care Center are carefully selected Montessori materials that incorporate mathematical concepts into concrete, hands-on learning. From quiet individual activities to dynamic group lessons, Jian Sheng’s curriculum is comprehensively designed to align Taiwan’s early education with advanced Western standards.
In a society facing a declining birthrate, Jian Sheng aims to be the dependable support system that gives parents peace of mind—offering refined, child-centered education for the future.
