Discover the Difference:
Early Childhood at Taipei American School

The school day starts at 8:00AM, but students can be dropped off at school any time after 7:15AM. The Pre-Kindergarten day ends at 1:30PM but can be extended to 4:00PM with Taipei Youth Program Association (TYPA) enrichment programs on campus. The Kindergarten day ends at 2:40OM but students can stay at the library until 4:00PM or extend their day with Taipei Youth Program Association (TYPA) enrichment programs on campus. 

A typical day in Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten includes a balance of structured learning, creative exploration, and outdoor play. 

Students begin the day with a morning meeting where an emphasis is placed on belonging and community. The day then moves into blocks of learning where they practice phonics, literacy, math, and inquiry skills around other topics like community and science. Throughout the day, children engage in hands-on exploration, storytelling, art, music, movement, and outdoor play. 

Specialist classes such as Mandarin in Kindergarten, STEAM, physical education, music, and art are also part of the weekly schedule. 

The day is intentionally designed to provide a healthy balance of routine, independence, creativity, collaboration, and active play. 

The best preparation for Pre-Kindergarten or Kindergarten happens through everyday experiences at home and school. 

Reading together, having conversations, exploring new ideas, and encouraging curiosity all help children develop the skills they need to succeed in school. Opportunities to play with other children, practice independence, and follow simple routines can also help children feel confident when starting school. 

Most importantly, we encourage families to nurture a love of learning, creativity, and curiosity—these qualities are at the heart of the TAS learning experience. 

Our Early Childhood classrooms are intentionally designed to provide personalized attention and a supportive learning environment. 

Each class is led by a highly qualified lead teacher and an additional teaching assistant, allowing teachers to work closely with students in both whole-group and small-group settings. Typically, there are no more than 16 students in a classroom. There are three Pre-Kindergarten classes and six Kindergarten classes.  

This structure helps ensure that every child is known, supported, and encouraged to grow academically, socially, and emotionally. 

Starting in Pre-Kindergarten or Kindergarten at Taipei American School allows children to begin their educational journey in a community where they can grow, build friendships, and develop confidence from the very beginning. 

Our youngest students become familiar with the routines, learning approach, and caring relationships with teachers that define the TAS experience. Beginning early helps students develop a strong sense of belonging and comfort in the school environment, which supports both academic and social growth. 

Students who start in our Early Childhood program also benefit from a thoughtfully designed PreK–12 learning pathway, allowing them to build foundational skills and habits that prepare them for success as they move through the Lower School and beyond. 

For many families, starting at TAS in Pre-Kindergarten or Kindergarten provides children with a strong and joyful start to their long-term learning journey within the TAS community. 

Students enrolled in our Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten are automatically enrolled in our Grade 1 without being required to reapply. Each year, we typically have more applicants than space allows. Because Kindergarten and Pre-Kindergarten have more seats available than Grades 1-5, we strongly recommend during these years to maximize your chance of gaining admission to Taipei American School. 

Mandarin language learning is an important part of the Early Childhood experience at TAS. We welcome Mandarin speakers of all levels and abilities. 

Students participate in regular Mandarin classes with specialist teachers, where they develop listening, speaking, and cultural understanding through songs, stories, movement, and interactive activities. 

Our goal is to build confidence and interest in Mandarin while creating a joyful and engaging language learning environment for young learners. 

Mandarin begins in Kindergarten, where students attend a Mandarin class for 35 minutes a day, nine out of every ten days. 

Children applying to Pre-Kindergarten must be four years old, and children applying to Kindergarten must be five years old, by the school’s age cutoff date of September 1 for the academic year. 

If you have questions about eligibility or timing, our Admissions Office would be happy to help guide you through the process. 

Pre-Kindergarten focuses on helping children develop confidence, independence, and early learning skills through academic exploration and social interaction. 

Kindergarten builds on these foundations by introducing more structured learning experiences, including early reading, writing, mathematics, and inquiry-based learning, while still maintaining a strong emphasis on creativity and exploration. 

Both programs are designed to support children’s academic, social, and emotional development in a nurturing and engaging environment. 

Yes. We encourage families to learn more about our Early Childhood program by attending a campus tour or Open House. 

These visits provide an opportunity to see our learning spaces, meet members of our community, and learn more about the TAS educational experience. 

Our Admissions Office would be happy to help you schedule a visit.