
Every parent wants the best for their child, so it's understandable how overwhelming it can be to choose the best preschool for your little one.
While it's common to narrow down preschools based on location, hours, budget, and reliability, we have a few other things you should definitely consider.
Staff and Teachers:
Since your toddler spends most of his time in preschool, the right staff will shape his personality. Notice how preschool teachers interact with their students. Teachers who enjoy working with children share a good bond with them, facilitating overall development and letting your child come out of their shell.
In addition, ask about teacher-student relationships. If there are fewer children, the teacher can ensure that each child receives individual attention.
Curriculum and Approach:
Each child has his own individuality and therefore performs better in some environments than others. Understanding your child's strengths and weaknesses will help you decide which curriculum to choose.
Just like the different boards of schools and colleges, preschools also follow different approaches. Always remember to check the brochures of the preschools you visit to tell you about their philosophy and approach.
To decide which approach is best for your child, you need to assess your child's learning needs. Some children learn better through visual cues, while others understand concepts better through hands-on experience. With this in mind, here are some of the most popular curricula followed by Best Preschool For Kids In Yelahanka
The Reggio Emilia Approach
This approach is mostly used by all preschools. However, it is mixed with one or two other forms of teaching. The Reggio Emilia approach values the curiosity of each child and encourages them to learn by exploring different ideas. These ideas can vary from painting, sculpture to art and drama.
With such an approach, the observed environment is closely related. Children work closely with their teachers and peers and build strong relationships.
The PlayWay approach
One of the most flexible approaches, PlayWay encourages learning through play. Unlike other structured methods, PlayWay emphasises learning through music, stories, arts and crafts, and is more of a hands-on approach.
It allows children to explore their creativity and imagination and encourages them to understand basic concepts rather than memorising them.
The Waldorf Approach
Another popular approach in preschool is the Waldorf method, also known as the Steiner approach. This curriculum follows the philosophy that reading and studying alone are not enough for a child's overall development. Imagination and analytical thinking also play an important role and are encouraged.
So the curriculum itself has more creative learning through art, cooking and play rather than media and traditional learning. In addition, it emphasises the need for routine because it believes that children imitate and learn from their immediate environment.
Apart from these, several other approaches and methods have been followed in preschools in India. Many of them combine several different styles into one to offer a more versatile approach.
Safety
One of every parent's biggest concerns? Security!
It is difficult for any parent to leave their little child, even if only for a few hours. Knowing that you are sending them to a safe environment is therefore very important and usually the deciding factor.
When visiting preschools, you should always tour the playground and find out what safety and rescue plans the preschool follows.
Interior design and cleanliness
If your child spends most of his time in preschool, it is right that his environment is comfortable and well designed. The classrooms themselves don't have to be huge, just easy enough to move around and enough space to move around freely.
Indoor spaces also play an important role and provide the right environment. Is the room bright and cheerful? Are there interesting pictures and diagrams in the classroom?
In addition, the furniture must be comfortable and even if things get messy, hygiene and cleanliness are essential.
Schedule and naps
It is important for parents to know what their child will be doing during the day. Although many preschools send reports, it is nice to have a schedule. This allows you to understand how much time is allocated to each activity. For example, do they spend more time playing or studying? Is it time to sleep and if so, how long?
A good preschool offers a good balance between learning and extracurricular activities if the child has enough rest.
Location Close to Home
In your search for the "perfect" preschool, you may come across many preschools that you really like but may not be in your immediate neighbourhood. A great way to find preschools is to quickly search for "preschools near me" which will give you options. While it's perfectly fine to venture beyond, don't go overboard. Most schools encourage parents to choose a preschool close to where they live.
Driving an hour and a half away from home just to pick up and drop off your child is stressful for you and your toddler. Travelling long distances to preschool alienates your child and saps their enthusiasm.
In addition, it is more difficult to reach your child in an emergency and this only creates panic. To avoid this, find a middle ground and choose a preschool that suits your needs without overcompensating for distance.
Choosing a preschool is ultimately a personal decision.
And that's it! Finding a preschool for your child is now easier.
After you've done enough research, narrow down the preschools that fit your needs until you finally land on one!