Information and Advice for Parents for Preschool and Schooling

Information and advice for parents for preschool and schooling - Preschools, nursery schools, or playschools are educational establishments or learning spaces that offer early childhood education to children until they are old enough to enter kindergarten. Preschool has many benefits. For kids, it provides a wonderful opportunity to interact with peers and learn valuable life lessons such as sharing, taking turns, or following rules. In addition, it also prepares them academically for kindergarten. Preschools lay the foundation for your child's learning, development, and growth, which will benefit them when they enter kindergarten, elementary school, etc.

Let’s take a look at the preschool and schooling information for parents that can help them prepare better.

See also: Early childhood care education - Courses

Information and advice for parents for preschool and schooling - Talk to other parents

‍You can begin the preschool search by talking to your friends and neighbours about preschools in your area. The best way to discover the reputation of the school and how their child fared in that particular preschool is to speak with other parents who have had experience with the school.

Information and advice for parents for preschool and schooling - Evaluate the location and distance from your home

Children's lives change dramatically when they start going to pre-school and spend time away from their parents. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that the transition is smooth and comfortable. If you choose a preschool that is far from your house, your child will become tired of all the travelling and may not look forward to going to school at all. Find preschools near you and enrol in the one that is right for him/her.

Information and advice for parents for preschool and schooling - Evaluate the infrastructure

You should visit the preschools you have shortlisted before making a final decision. Preschools do not need to be fancy or large. A preschool should primarily be safe. Since your child will spend 2 - 3 hours every day in the classroom, ensure that it is child-friendly. Make sure the hallways are properly lit, the stairs are wide, the mats on the stairs are anti-slip, the bathrooms are neat, and there is dedicated staff. Classrooms that are colourful and full of accessories will make it easier for children to relate to the environment.

See also: Classroom precautions during covid-19

Information and advice for parents for preschool and schooling - Check credibility of the school, its teachers, and its staff

A quality preschool has teachers who radiate warmth and love. They are the second mothers who will take care of your child when you are away from them. Visit the faculty before choosing a preschool. The teachers should be adequately qualified and experienced to handle children. If you are 100% satisfied with the teachers, then you can proceed with admission, knowing that your child is in good hands.

Information and advice for parents for preschool and schooling - Find out about the curriculum and approach

Each child has their individuality, so some environments may make them more productive than others. Depending on the child, some are better at learning visually, while others prefer to learn through hands-on experience. Understanding your child's strengths and weaknesses will help you choose the right curriculum. Similar to different boards in schools and colleges, preschools follow a variety of approaches like the Play-way approach, the Waldorf approach, etc. Make sure to read through the brochure of each preschool you visit to learn more about their philosophy and approach. You must evaluate your child's learning needs before you determine which approach is best.

See also:

• SWOT analysis

• How to learn faster

Information and advice for parents for preschool and schooling - Check school hours and schedule

Preschools typically operate for three hours maximum. For parents who work outside the home, some preschools also offer day-care facilities, along with extended hours to allow time for activities like napping, snacking, quiet play, and other things. So, one bit of preschool and schooling information for parents is knowing what their children will be doing throughout the day. The schedule will help you know how much time is allocated to each activity. Good preschools offer a good blend of learning and extracurricular activities while keeping the child well-rested.

See also:

• Balancing academics with co-curricular activities

• How playtime helps in improving child’s social skills

Information and advice for parents for preschool and schooling - Lay strong foundations of trust between you and your child

Parent-child relationships are the foundation of a successful school experience. Your child can easily adapt to this process by developing good habits at home. In addition, you should also nurture a relationship of comfort and trust with your child that will encourage him/her to come to you with problems and challenges in the school environment.

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Information and advice for parents for preschool and schooling - Inculcating good habits begins at home

A good home routine helps children stay focused on schoolwork during the academic year and limit distractions. You can instil a love of reading in your child by keeping a large number of interesting books around the house and reading with them regularly. In addition, you should limit your child's activities at home that may distract him/her from their academic duties. Television viewing and video games are typically the most time-consuming activities. Limit how much time your child watches television and plays video games, and teach them to use the Internet constructively and watch educational videos. This is a highly beneficial preschool and school information for parents that they need to take note of.

See also: How to stay focused in online studies avoiding distractions

Information and advice for parents for preschool and schooling - Communicate regularly with your child’s teachers

An important aspect of preschool and schooling information for parents is the relationship between the parent and the child’s teacher. A strong relationship between the teacher and the parent is essential, as it allows communication between the school and the parent throughout the school year. It is important to get to know your child's teacher to be able to recognize where your child is academically and identify potential problems and obstacles early on. When the school year begins, introduce yourself to your child's teacher and convey your interest in helping your child succeed. Make sure you attend parent-teacher meetings and read all correspondence your child receives from the teacher and school.

Your child's academic future will be highly influenced by the preschool you choose. In these early years of schooling, parents can play a vital role in their children's education and help set the stage for their development as young learners. Thus, you must make a sound decision now.

Read more: Career as Kindergarten Teacher

Author- This article has been authored by Yashodhra Arora, who is a Counselling Psychologist, with extensive experience in career counselling for high school students.