Preschool Education – A Sneak Preview

One fine day, a young woman comes to my school and says, “Ma’am I need admission for my daughter”. The receptionist asks her, “Ma’am, how old is your daughter?” “She is 1.5 years old”, says the mother. “Can she get an admission ?”, asks the mother in apprehension. “Yes ma’am, 1.5 is the right age for Play Group”, replies the receptionist. “Ma’am, are you working ?”, asks the receptionist. “I plan to join soon”, replies the mother. And so goes on the conversation between the parent and the receptionist. Everything is discussed, from the fees to the school timings, the curriculum, day care facilities and whether they provide food, details about how hygiene is maintained etc.

Personally, I had not sent my son to a Play Group. I had directly admitted him to a nursery class because I felt 1.5 was a too young age for school. Secondly, I had the privilege of staying at home and looking after him. And that was my decision as a mother. But, we see how beautifully women balance their careers, working round the clock, meeting deadlines, socializing, taking care of their children and maintaining their homes too.

New Age Kids

The world is changing so is the new generation of kids. They are smarter, more curious, are not scared to experiment and are full of energy. It becomes very necessary to tap their potential at the right age. They are born whiz kids. I have seen kids of a very young age operating mobile phones. How easily they slide their fingers and tap the right button!!! I personally do not endorse it though.

I will share an anecdote from my school. We were practicing for our annual day program. Our dance teacher was putting music on the laptop. This young two year old comes and tells the teacher to put a Bollywood song. Unfortunately, I had not heard that song, but the dance teacher knew about it. And the best part – this little champ had just started speaking!!! I was astonished to see this. After that, the way he jumped and danced to that song was a visual treat. This is why I say, these new generation kids are very different. They are smarter than ever.

Role of a Preschool

So here comes the role of a preschool. Since I have worked as a preschool teacher, I can definitely say that the idea of a preschool is to develop skills in a child at a very young age. This doesn’t mean we need to pressurize the kid to go beyond his age and potential. Definitely that is not the aim. Rather it should not be.

Scientifically, it is said that the brain develops to the maximum between 1 and 5 years of age. This is the phase when their grasping power is the highest. Secondly, their body muscles are still not strong and it is the right age to strengthen them.  Hence comes the concept of Fine Motor, Gross Motor, Cognitive, Language and Social skills. Preschool syllabus is tuned in a way to develop the above skills in children.

To tell you in brief – Fine Motor skills is the development of the small muscles of hands and fingers and synchronization of it with the eyes. Gross Motor skills are the development of large muscles and full body movements. Cognitive skills is about development of mathematical, logical thinking and reasoning skills while Language skills as the name suggests is about development of speaking and writing skills. And Social skills are all about everyday interaction and communication with others. They also include verbal and non-verbal communication, understanding for the feelings and emotions of others.

Child Development in a Preschool

The preschool curriculum is based on the above. Working in a preschool gave me an opportunity to develop such skills in my children. Teachers develop various teaching aids to help the children learn. It is interesting to see children develop these skills as they grow. The child who was once not able to hold a crayon is now writing the first alphabet. The child who had started taking mini steps is running around in the school. The child who had barely started to speak is now a chatterbox!!! It is a delight for a teacher.

From the perspective of the child, he is getting the kind of exposure which he might not have got staying home. Considering the fact, that there are nuclear families with both parents working and the child is with a nanny or a caregiver. A preschool comes in as a boon wherein the child is engaged for a few hours, learns new skills, socializes with his peer group and develops a routine. He also starts a disciplined life. It is discipline at a young age that makes a successful individual. Discipline does not mean being strict, but following a routine on a day to day basis so that the child gets accustomed to it.

Learning is Fun

Learning is Fun in these preschools. Most of the schools prescribe to a play way method. In short it means, learning while playing. There is no lecture. Each skill is developed using a rhyme, a story, a song or a game. The child doesn’t get bored and is learning while having fun. He is using crayons to write, is having snacks with his friends, is learning the art of sharing and is being independent.

But it is very important to find the right preschool for your child. Nowadays, there is a preschool in every nook and corner. Hence selecting one is a task. And with experience only one can realize whether it is perfect for your child or not. Preschools today boast of having different kinds of curriculum. It is advisable to choose a school with a curriculum that gives your child exposure of a right kind and instills values towards his culture and his nation. Kids so young do not need gadgets. What is required in the school is that your child is treated with love and respect, his needs are appreciated, where hygiene and safety are the top priority and where he is taught age appropriate subjects.

Parental Involvement

Though the world is fast paced, a child learns at his own pace. Overburdening the child with various worldly subjects makes him confused. And then expecting the child to become a genius at a tender age is a great folly. This is the age for the child to experience new things, develop his five senses, make friends, and be independent.

Here, parents support and involvement is very important and vital. Skyrocketing expectations from the school and comparison of your child with other children will yield no result. Meanwhile it is also important to stay in touch with the school, have a fruitful interaction with teachers, and be open to suggestions. Always remember, your child is unique and he will excel only if you give him a positive atmosphere.

This write-up is dedicated to the new parents. As a parent myself, I understand your anxiety, your doubts and the questions you might have. But this will pass too. Anxiety kills the excitement. As much as it is difficult for you as a parent to send your child to his first school, it is more difficult for your child to adjust in the new environment. And believe me, each phase will be a fulfilling experience in itself, if you remain positive and confident of your child’s abilities. No school, no university will give a foundation to your child the way your attitude will.

So Stay Calm and Be Positive.

Richa Joshi