There are no formal directives of the kindergarten preschool system in India. This means that preschools don’t need to have any affiliation. Furthermore, pre-primary education in India is not a must. However, this does not take away from the importance of preschool for children. Kindergarten usually begins from age three through to five or six years. Pre-primary education is meant to prepare students for primary school, which is mandatory for students in India.
Many Indian parents are informed about the importance of early education for children. Therefore, even though the system is not prioritized, parents still enrol their kids in kindergarten schools in Pune. Aside from kindergarten being the first transition of a child from home to school, there are other benefits of taking your child to kindergarten.
Benefits of taking your child to kindergarten
According to academic experts and child psychologists, early education helps in the overall development of a child. In school, kids will grow their cognitive, social, emotional, and physical skills. Most of the learning they do will be through their five senses: touch, smell, hearing, seeing, and taste. Therefore, in a kindergarten program, numerical and language concepts are introduced through sensory activities.
For example, through touch, a student will learn different textures, shapes, and sizes of various objects. They learn different sounds through hearing activities and language through reading exercises. Children also participate in physical activities such as jumping, running, and skipping to build their balance and coordination. They also work with tools such as scissors during cutting exercises to build their fine motor skills that help them build the muscles in their fingers.
Some of Pune’s best kindergarten programs also allow kids to participate in extracurricular programs such as music, theatre, and arts. Participating in such activities help build a child’s self-esteem and help them express themselves better. Taking part in group activities help build their social skills as they learn to make friends and build relationships. Children come out of kindergarten with a better understanding of the world around them, making them ready for primary school and life in general.
How to make the transition easy
Toddlers are not great at adjusting to unfamiliar environments without their parents. That said, starting kindergarten can be challenging even for children with outgoing personalities. For most parents, the experience brews bitter-sweet emotions. Luckily, there are a couple of ways you can make your child excited about school and give yourself peace of mind.
1.Visit the school before time
Once you decide on the school to enrol your child, visit the school together. This helps in reducing your child’s anxiety and cold feet when you drop them off on the first day. The more familiar the school environment is, the easier their first day at school will be. Go round the school to view the different amenities. If there is a playground, allow the child to play there as you familiarize yourself with the staff and ensure the school environment is safe. On the first day, your child will be more relaxed and maybe even excited to go to school.
2.Start planning early
It’s always good to start organizing yourselves early. Shopping for school supplies and getting accustomed to the school routine are all steps that can ease the transition to school. Some kindergartens have full-day programs, and others have half-day schedules. Either way, try to follow the school routine while at home, so your child can have an easier time during the school day. For example, if you usually have lunch at noon and the school program says lunch is at 1 pm. You can change your home program, so your child doesn’t get fussy or moody when at school.
Shopping for school supplies and other materials early also helps to build the hype for school. Plus, every child likes getting new stuff, so this part shouldn’t be a problem. You only have to explain when they are going to use them and who will be showing them how.
3.Get informed about the school parent-teacher program
It’s always a bad sign when a school doesn’t have open communication with the parents. As a parent, you must have direct contact with your child’s teacher in case of any issue. Additionally, being involved in your child’s school life might motivate them and keep them calm, knowing you will be around when need be. Read about the school rules and go through the handbook if they have one.
So how do you choose the best kindergarten program for your child? Experts say that the best school for a child is one that caters to his learning needs. Therefore, you must understand your child’s needs to help narrow down your list. Also, don’t forget other factors such as cost, location, type of syllabus, among others, when choosing a preschool program for your child.