Early Childhood Education Preschool and Kindergarten: Making Your Choice
Choosing a school is a difficult decision for most parents. There are several factors to consider when finding a school. For example, a school’s educational philosophy, class size, qualifications of the teachers, schedule, and location are all things to consider.
Why Preschool? First, a parent may wonder if preschool is even necessary. After all, some parents may not have attended preschool when they were young. There are good reasons for children to attend preschool:
- Children are sensory learners – they need a place to make a mess and learn through the process.
- Children need socialization – Being around other children help them learn to make friends, how to play together, share, and problem solve.
- Parents need a break – Beyond giving parents some time to recharge their batteries, separation from parents’ aids children’s independence and lets them learn that there are other adults to lean on, learn from, and listen to.
- Society’s expectations may be different than those at home – Seeing there are different routines and a variety of ways of doing things widen a child’s perspective and helps them learn to adapt to different situations.
Why choose a Kindergarten that is with a preschool program? A developmentally appropriate Kindergarten experience considers that children who are 5 and 6 years old are still in the early childhood phase of development and need an educational experience that respects their needs to: move, learn through their senses, play, socialize, and have opportunities to make learning meaningful for themselves.
Strong Early School Experience: A good early school experience also builds a foundation for future learning by creating a positive association. Begin looking for schools in late fall and early winter because most schools offer tours and open houses during that time frame. A tour or open house is a good time to learn about schools and their teaching philosophy.
There are several different types of teaching philosophies for preschool and Kindergarten and within any given philosophy there can be many differences from one classroom to another due to the style and interpretation of the individual teacher. Parents should visit several schools, sit in on a class and see what philosophy is the most appealing given their child’s personality.
- Montessori – The Montessori classroom has an emphasis on reality. The tasks and activities the children do are reality oriented. Each manipulative material has a step-by-step procedure for being used and is focused on a specific learning concept. A child’s choice is a key element in the Montessori method and children are free to choose their own activities in the classroom with minimal structured time.
- Play-based – The Play-based philosophy is based on the belief that children naturally engage in and enjoy play as a means of learning on their terms and at their own pace. The way children interact with the classroom environment is child-directed as is the amount of time they spend on any given activity. A basic routine for the class gives some structure and allows children to anticipate what is next. Teachers’ expertise is used in setting up the classroom and interacting with children as they play to introduce concepts and expand their play.
- Waldorf – The Waldorf classroom works to enhance a child’s world of fantasy and imagination to stimulate play. Storytelling and fantasy are prevalent in the curriculum. There is also an emphasis on using natural materials and handmade toys – with the belief that the less finished and the more suggestive a toy is, the greater the educational value. No early thrust into intellectualism is found in Waldorf, just the nourishment of the child’s healthy imagination and creative thinking powers.
No matter what the school’s philosophy, dedicating time for open-ended play is essential. Many researchers have found that children’s play is a highly supportive context for development and learning. Children are active constructors of knowledge and play gives them opportunities to understand the world, interact with others in social ways, express and control emotions, and develop their symbolic capacities.
Teachers and Class Size: Another thing parents should review is the qualifications of the teachers. Do the teachers have a degree in early childhood education? A low turnover is also a good sign. Check the teacher-child ratio and note how many children there are in a classroom. Smaller classes allow for more individualized attention, and larger classes give children many choices as to who to play with. Larger classes are ok if there are more than one teacher attending to the class.
The Right Fit: A lot can be said for a school that makes the parents feel comfortable, both being there themselves and leaving their child there. Taking time to visit different schools gives parents a sense of the atmosphere and how children are treated and interacted with. Beyond the impression a school makes, other hard facts come into play. Proximity to the house or a parent’s work may be important, as well as the class schedule. Parents should review what days and times classes are offered. Cost is also a factor. Some schools provide financial aid for families in need. In some cases, more parental involvement can be traded for expense. The overall involvement of parents required by a school is something to consider. You may wish to find a place that builds community between attending families, or you may want to be more hands-off. A cooperative preschool has a lot of family involvement and is a great way to develop friendships for both the parents and children. Ultimately, choosing a school is a personal decision. If, after visiting a school, you like the idea of having your child there, it is probably the right place for you.