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Why is Preschool Important?
At the outset, it is important to understand that childcare is not the same as preschool. Childcare centers are an option for parents that need their children to be taken care of during the day. These centers accept babies and toddlers and are full time, round the year programs.
Preschool on the other hand, is an educational class typically for 3- and 4-year-olds. They could offer part-time or full-time schedules ranging from a few hours to two to five times a week. Sometimes these also operate on a seasonal basis, say from September to May.
Even though the terms are often used interchangeably, it is important to make the distinction between the two. A childcare center equipped with experienced, well-trained teachers and stimulating activities can be compared to a preschool as it offers similar advantages, however, it is important that we don’t substitute one with the other without understanding the differences.
Now let us see why preschool is important and if it at all helps your child in anyway.
The biggest advantage of sending your child to preschool is not necessarily academic. It is more of a social advantage that kids get in preschool. In the 21st century, living in nuclear families, our children, for the most part, grow up as single children during the ages of 2 to 4. This is a time when children really blossom from learning how to socialize and learn social skills. Preschools are equipped with the teachers, curriculum and activities to help kids learn just that.
Learning as a group experience prepares your child for school. They learn to wait their turn, raise their hands, and make space for others.
Children also start creating their sense of self, separate from their parents around this age and preschool gives them a way to start defining that identity.
Studies show that children attending preschool go to kindergarten with better pre-reading skills, richer vocabularies, and stronger basic math skills than those who do not.
What can you expect your child to learn?
Other than improving and strengthening their socialization skills, children learn to be respectful of others, reach agreements and compromise. They also learn to solve problems. This can be through taking decisions about how to spend their free time to helping with tasks like setting up a snacks table or pouring juice.
The most important thing children learn is to ask questions. Because a preschool is designed around your child’s learning, they will never be turned away when they ask questions and as a result, they ask more and more meaningful questions. Preschools, in their turn help them to find the answers through exploration, experimentation and conversation.
Will your child learn math and ABC?
More we learn about children’s method of absorbing information; more it seems that sitting them down and teaching them is the wrong approach. The ages 2 to 4 are specially meant for exploration and discovery than for “learning answers”. So, while your child will probably learn many words, and basic math skills along with listening skills, it won’t be a structured teaching of the alphabet. Children learn through varied activities such as storytelling by teachers, talking to their teachers about stars, playing with blocks. They might learn language and acquire pre-reading skills by playing, rhyming, games, and telling stories. The focus is in getting the kids to be imaginative and to get them to socialize. That is what fosters creative, well rounded individuals. So, if you find a preschool that has a curriculum comprising playing dress up, building forts and story time, that’s the preschool for you.
What is the starting age for a preschool?
Most preschools accept 3- to 6-year-old children. You need to decide if your child is ready and if you are thinking of enrolling them earlier. It could be a simple check on whether your child is toilet trained completely yet, as some preschools might require your child to be out of diapers.
Which is the right preschool for my child?
This is where research will have to come in. first try to decide on a location (near home or near work?) and budget. Once that is done, narrow down the possible places. Once you have a list, read online reviews and ask for recommendations from people you know, other parents, online parenting groups.
Check the school’s paperwork. Usually, good schools will be upfront about their paperwork if you ask them.
Check the fees, admission policy, and curriculum of each school that you are considering. Once you’ve narrowed down your choices, try to observe a live classroom. Also, meet with the director and spend time to observe the teachers. Take your child along for the visits and notice how they respond to the classroom, the teachers, and the activities.
Things to check during visits:
Start with the basics, check for cleanliness and safety. Check if there are enough smoke-detectors and first-aid kits. Is the play area well maintained and safe? Are there plenty of art materials toys and books? Is the atmosphere friendly and fun? Is everything well maintained? Is work by students displayed around the school? Are they varied or is the artwork just replicas of one another? The goal is for your child’s creativity to be challenged and encouraged so that their work stands out one from another.
The other important thing to watch out for is whether there is a variety of activity areas – reading area, art station, block corner, puzzle area and even a place for naps. Children should be playing with toys or other kids but be well supervised at all times.
Notice the way the teachers conduct the classes. Are they open, responsive, always in conversation mode with the children or are they always trying to “teach”?
Finally ask yourself if you feel comfortable about leaving your child at this place? After all this is a decision, you will have to take if you can trust the place with your child for a major part of the day for many days in the next few years.
