The biggest question in front of a new set of parents, especially the first timers is, "how do I find the best school for the apple of my eye?" if we are lucky, we stumble upon the best school, if not.........
The whole search can bear fruit if we go about it in a systematic way. This article is specially dedicated to the first time parents looking for THAT school for their toddler.
Some things that need to be kept in mind is-{any mention of HE is purely for convenience}:
Your 3 year old is not equipped by nature to write reams of homework.
He needs the freedom to run about and get to do a lot of physical work for himself, and not served by others.
He needs to be in a place where he is loved and not that he is a source of income.
Keeping the above things in mind [I know you want to add many more, but this will do for now] lets look for a checklist to find the right school for your child.
Location: Preferably look for school in your own locality. It should be near the home (or the office if both the parents are working). Also it saves the child having to travel long distance and in case of emergency situations, the parents can reach the school fast.
Kind of School: Both the parents need to come to a consensus regarding the kind of school they want for their child. Whether a playschool, a Montessori school, a traditional school or one of many schools that have taken up the challenges of the new world and are trying new methods of education (you both too need to believe in it before sending your tiny tot there) – it can be anything but the parents have to be comfortable with the method and the intended result of that method. Once you decide on a method be ready to go with the flow, ask questions but if you are getting grave doubts about the method, pull the child out.
Teacher: Some of the qualities to look out in the teachers are as:
1. A ready smile and a willingness to interact with the parents to put them at ease with regard to the method used in the school.
2. Looks the child in the eye while talking to him.
3. Has a pleasant expression on her face. Knowing good English is an advantage, but interest in the child counts for more than the language.
4. Whatever the way with the adults, she needs to be attentive and pleasant with the child.
Place: The following criteria should be kept in mind when looking for a place: 1. The place is full of happy chatter (beware of an absolutely silent preschool) of physically active children with a smile on their face. 2. Preferably large and airy. In this era of space crunch, it may not be possible, so if other criteria are being met, we can make an exception (in that case do make time to take the child out to play in the evening) 3.The children should have space to move around freely and should not look packed in cramped for space. 4.Neat and clean apparatus- lots of them and all intact. They should not be dirty, shabby, incomplete sets or broken. 5. Clean rooms and furniture - The ayah also must be clean and must have a pleasing way with the children. 6. Look out if you can observe potentially dangerous things left lying around. 7. A secure/child proof latch on the main gate. 8. Check out the toilets used by the children. Is it neat and clean and has fixtures that can be operated independently by the child? 9. Does the teacher let the children go home with whoever comes to pick them up, or insist on a regular authorized person to so? The stricter they are about it, the better it is for the safety of your child. Generally: 1. In looking for all these things, do not forget the three R's (good old fashioned Reading, wRiting and aRithmetics). Is the child's academics being taken care of in a child friendly way, or are the children being pushed into it- do take care, if he develops an aversion to studies now, you will have a struggle on your hands later on. If they are not learning anything, again it is a problem. The best thing to do is to talk to like minded people with children of the same age and find out what is the best for your child and you. 2. Transparency: If the school welcomes parents for observation and is open to interaction with parents (by appointment) it indicates that they are confident of and are walking the talk. 3. I am not talking of fees as it is a subjective matter, but do be aware if they are delivering what they are charging for.
Above are some of the indicators that you can look for while selecting the school for your child. In all likelihood, you may not be able to find a school that fits all these criteria, but still choose what is the best among the school closest to your ideal. Feeling good about a place is a highly unscientific method, but may often work. Just remember, an AC and luxurious surroundings where your child is pampered and everything done for him is not in the best interest of your child just now when he needs to be active around various things and trying out new things. A child friendly and open surrounding with space for exploring and moving about independently (with attention to the academic growth too) is the need of your child at this moment. How to find this school?
The best bet will be word of mouth. Look at the school going children in your neighborhoods. Talk to the parents of these children, especially if the children look happy and cheerful. Also go around to the school when it is just getting over. Observing the children coming out [whether they come out with a smile and a skip or with a long face and dragging feet. It will give you the picture]. Internet is a good source for names and addresses, but I feel that you owe it to your child to check out if they are following all that has been put up on the web site.
