Learning is a great fun, but Why a Preschool? What is the fun of having a Preschool for your child? Gone are the days when students use to get admitted to their first class directly at the age of 5 or 6 with no Preschool education happening. Indeed they used to succeed but the world is changing rapidly and children of today are not the children of our times. They are unique, they are the only ones of their parents.In the present day scenario there are a lot of basic skills which need to be fulfilled before the child enters his main course of studies at School(class 1). Every child needs a kindergarten or a Preschool, yes every child needs it, not for the competition he is going to face , but for the skills he/ she is going to develop.
Why a Preschool- If we are asking a question , why Preschool ? The answer for it is manifold.The age 3 to 6 is a crucial age, it is the age of emergence of all round capacities of a child, the capacities which are pre-requisites for later success in school and in life.The well thought out play way methods, the skill enhancing activities in a preschool provide children confidence and a solid base for being a good and confident human being. The emotionally supportive and creative environment provided by a Preschool enables a child to adjust well with his surroundings, and his friends. A Preschool provides child such schooling in which he explores, he dances, sings, checks the possibilities of learning by doing, and moreover he gets a positive self concept. It helps child maintain good health and well being, It helps child become effective communicators, and it makes child adapt to his immediate environment.
What is a Preschool– A Preschool is school meant for children in the age group of 3 years to 6 years. Preschool education is named in many ways,Some where it is called Preparatory schools, somewhere a Kindergarten, Some where it is called a nursery school, or a Pre-primary school. Indian runs Anganwadis and these are also Preschools. By whatever name they may be called, but the only aim of it is to make the children school ready and provide strong foundations and all round development of children.
A Preschool must arrange for activities and learning in such a way that:
– Children become involved learners and connect with their immediate environment: Providing opportunities and experiences for Sensory development activities for
taste, smell, , sight, sound ,and touch such as using materials like real and concrete objects, visual coordination and discrimination activities, auditory discrimination
activities and so on. Observing and exploring nearby places e.g., park, garden Visual discrimination/classification activities using games, activities, objects, picture cards, sorting trays, memory cards/games, etc. Use Picture reading posters and encourage children to observe and talk about the picture. Matching and sorting Picture cards on the basis of one category such as keeping all animal pictures in one box and birds in another; all red buttons/blocks in one bowl/box and yellow buttons/blocks in another bowl/box
What must a Preschool have in it to provide everything a preschooler needs: A Preschool must have an activity area, to exercise their choices and explore their interests. It must have Classroom displays to display whatever the children do, so as to appreciate their work and understand their worth. A Preschool must have a well designed seating arrangement with flexibility and classroom adaptations as and when required. It must have an Outdoor play Environment, an outer area where the children could exercise their fine motor skills.
– Children maintain good Health and well being- What all is done top ensure children maintain good health and well being.Preschools make children know about themselves, their body parts and family members. Know the names and understand the relationships through different games and activities for example clapping name and friendship walk etc. Recognizing their role in different settings and their value rugh celebration of birthdays and appreciate and display their work or contribution. Free conversation nd free play where children can express themselves such as playing on playground (climbing, swinging, running) Drawing coloring, painting etc. Engaging children in interesting activities and talking to them to make them feel comfortable and adjusted. Arrange the games and activities having simple rulesand instructions such as freeze, dance, follow my clap, loud or quite etc. Turn taking games and activities such as listen and move, finger game and games like that. Drawing , painting coloring etc. Solving problems and resolving conflict (during role playsmall group activities and solving puzzles) Free play where children get opportunity to play independently and in groups such as puzzle solving, pegs and outdoor games. Stimulating social interaction among children by ensuring appropriate experiences and opportunities.
– Children become Efective Communicators: Ensuring Appropriate Experiences and opportunities to all childrenby activities like shared play activities in smaller groups, that help children learn to work together and enhance their listening skills. Variety of communication strategies including gestures to be planned and implemented. Ask the children to listen to simple instructionsduring classroom activities and transitional time. (Eg- Find the block and bring to me.), litening to others and talking in turns that help in extension of the attention span. Listening to different sounds such as recording on tape or CD or DVD of different sounds heard in the environment. For example home,school, outdors and community. Encouraging children to listen to the recorded sounds, listen carefully and identify it. Making sound boxes by filling the cans/ matchboxes with items that make different sounds.