“Plain
old babysitting is expensive – early childhood education is priceless”
The first few years of a child’s life provide a vital
opportunity for development of the physical, cognitive and socio-emotional
development. The learnings of a child during this age will set a stage for the
rest of the child’s life. According to experts, almost 90% of the child’s brain
is developed by the age of five. Children in this age group must be exposed to
an enriching environment to tap this ‘window of opportunity’. Attending a quality preschool equips children
with life skills that prepare them for school and beyond.
Academics
"There's increasing evidence that children gain a lot
from going to preschool," says Parents advisor Kathleen McCartney, PhD, dean of Harvard Graduate School of Education, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. At
preschool, children are introduced to numbers, letters and shapes. They are
given the opportunity to improve reading skills, motor skills, have richer
vocabulary and stronger math skills. Sandhya Sridhar, a mom to a 12 year old,
residing at Besant Nagar, Chennai recollects, “The Montessori training that my
son got at his preschool helped him stand out in his class during formal
school. The activities at the preschool strengthened his motor skills; there
was no need for me to hold his hand when he started to write.”
Social skills
Children are able and eager to learn right from birth.
However, development does not happen by itself. It depends on the exposure that
a child gets and the environment that enables positive interactions. Preschools
empower children with good social and behaviour management skills that help
them find long-term happiness and success in life as they grow older. They learn
to communicate, find meaning through their own explorations and assert their
independence and individuality.
Professional parenting
Good preschools work collaboratively with parents to build on
their strengths and guide them, so that their children may grow up having a
sense of family, culture and community. Children benefit immensely by having
parents who are better equipped to meet their child-rearing responsibilities.
Preschool – A solution for
working parents
In today’s age when joint families are giving way to nuclear
families where both parents are working, preschools are generally an option for
children to be taken care of during the day. Preschools are definitely a better
option than informal help. Parents need to understand that the person who cares
for their child many hours a week makes a difference in their child's life and
well-being. So it is indeed important to decide who the child interacts with
during the day. Quality preschools have trained teachers who will build a
positive relationship with children and will empower them with a sense of trust
which is a prerequisite to all learning.Some companies provide workplace nurseries for their
employees as a work flexibility option. Such nurseries offer parents a space
where they can be at work and with their child at the same time. Working moms
can breast feed her child; have video calls for an occasional check, ensuring
that their child remains close by in a safe environment.
A preschool is
indeed a place where a child can gain a sense of self, interact with peers and build
confidence.
