Here’s how to choose the best kindergarten for your little one

‘Children are like buds in a garden and should be carefully and lovingly nurtured, as they are the future of the nation and the citizens of tomorrow,’ said India’s first prime minister’- Jawaharlal Nehru

Education is an essential component in a child’s life as it enhances their skill, personality and attitude. It plays a pivotal role in a child’s life. Education acts as the wind beneath the wings for children to grow as healthy and successful adults in the future. Most importantly it acts as a tool that decides whether the individual was content or happy as an adult or turns out as a depressed one. Pre-primary education in India is provided to children between 3 to 6 years by kindergarten. ‘Kindergarten’ is actually a German word which means children’s garden. These schools have varying names for different levels of classes, beginning from – Pre-Nursery, Nursery, KG, LKG (Lower Kindergarten), and UKG (Upper Kindergarten). However Nowadays, most people start school as early as possible, and there are many private school options available in cities. So, choosing a best kindergarten can feel like a daunting task.  So how do you choose a best kindergarten for your little one?

When it comes time to find the perfect kindergarten for your little one, it is important to keep several things in mind:

Find a school that matches your child’s temperament: Understand your child’s learning style when narrowing down your top choices. Some schools will have very specific teaching styles, while others will have a broader approach to learning.

Location and travel time: It is preferable to send your little one to a school that is located near your home.  Safety is of course one of the first things that comes to mind. But if the school is far away, or inconvenient, you need to determine if the benefit outweighs the trouble.

Affiliation: Do proper research and homework about their affiliation.

Faculty:  The biggest influences on your child will be the teachers they interact with. So, you have to know whether the faculties are enthusiastic, inspired or passionate or not.

Curriculum: Remember public kindergartens follow a standardised curriculum and private kindergartens follow a customised one. So do proper research before stepping away. Search for a balanced curriculum including fees etc.

Class-size: Always be attentive to class size. Remember in small classes, teachers are able to attend to each student every day, many times a day. Make sure the child-to-teacher ratio is sufficient for optimal learning.

Talk to current parent: Parents usually have relevant information. Ask them why did they choose the school? What is the expectation for parent involvement? You will get a lot of ideas about the school environment and every small thing regarding issues.

Visit: You are the best judge of what is right for your child, so trust your instincts and visit the school before admission.

Learning should be fun: When you visit the school, notice that are the kids’ faces those of happy, involved children? If a child feels the joy of learning, everything else comes naturally.

Speak with the principal before you leave: Ask the principal as many questions as you can. This is the person that should have all the answers. A principal’s philosophy will teach you a lot about a specific school and the way they view education.

Always remember that quality education aims to ensure the development of a fully-rounded human being. Choosing the best kindergarten environment for your child requires careful consideration. Remember, you will only make this decision once, so don’t take chances and choose wisely.

Source:(mentalcureit.com, studyright.co.za, medium.com)