Preschool Education is a must for all!

Did you know according to a report by World Population Review in 2024, India ranked 74th in 2022 globally when it comes to Educational qualities? 

One of the possible reasons could be the economic status of the average Indian. This reason can be well reflected when it comes to preschool education. There are approximately 25360 preschools in India, as reported by Rentech Digital in April 2024. For a country with a population of 1.44 billion as of June 4, 2024 stated by Worldometer, the total number of children in the country till the age of 6 years is more than 20 crore. So, the massive gap in preschool education is nightmarish in India.

Importance of Preschool Education

The significance of Preschool education couldn’t be emphasized more because this is where the foundation of a life begins. Preschool education not only provides just academic guidance but also helps in developing a child’s social development. What the child will become tomorrow depends on what the child is being taught today so the child should be provided with the benefits of preschool education. The benefits are:

1. Socialization in preschool education:

Human beings are social beings and the true essence of life is to live a life in harmony with everyone else around us. Preschool education teaches a child all the social skills like cooperation, sharing and being supportive of one another. This means, learning to make friends and be inclusive of others in their lies. Because, at the end of the day it is not the educational qualification that matters but the human qualities in a person.

2. Cognitive development through preschool education:

If there is life there will be problems and some of these problems can break us for life and even if those problems won’t, it doesn’t mean life is a cakewalk. This is why cognitive development of a child is of paramount importance. Preschool education focuses on cognitive development through an array of activities and interactions that improve a child’s thinking and decision making abilities. This is how a child learns to solve critical problems by making the right decisions.

3. Emotional development in preschool education:

We all must learn to control our emotions because uncontrolled emotions can lead us to make choices that will have irreparable impact in our lives and if from an early age a child can be taught how to be in control of his or her emotion, that child would learn emotional resilience. This would give the child a boost in building their self-confidence and not get flown away with emotions. Preschool education also teaches us children to be emotionally strong.

4. Preschool education’s structure and routine:

One of the most crucial early childhood learning is to learn how to be disciplined. Following a structure and routine builds a child for excellence. Being talented is not enough to guarantee success in life. Talent can only work if it is matched with consistency. Consistency can improve the skills and qualities of a person exponentially in a year that others who are not consistent fail to achieve in a lifetime. So, following a structure and routine on a regular basis is a key ingredient to success. A preschool education provides a comprehensive guide in developing a structure and routine in a child.

5. Language and literacy skills:

Learning a language helps in better communication and preschool education sets up the building blocks of the learning skills of a child. If a child can learn a language, the child can explore and educate a vast spectrum of knowledge which in turn increases their literacy skills as well. Moreover, learning to communicate in other languages helps with a child’s intellectual and overall brain development. There are numerous studies on this as well.

6. Mathematical understanding begins with preschool education:

Mathematical understanding of a child is something not to be taken lightly. The whole universe is based on mathematics, so to have a better understanding of the universe we are in and even as mundane as counting money also needs a basic mathematical understanding. Children can learn mathematics in a fun and engaging way through preschool education.

7. Motor skill development through preschool education:

Preschool education provides plenty of opportunities for a child to take part in physical activities both indoors and outdoors that helps in developing fine motor skills like writing, painting and gross motor skills like running, jumping.

8. Preschool education fosters curiosity and exploration:

Preschool education provides the perfect setting for a child to stay curious. Curiosity in a child is how the child learns new things and tries out new experiences. Without curiosity or a nature of exploration a child’s mind will be limited and will never become an open-minded person. The whole point of all education is to develop an open minded perspective in a person and if that can be developed as early as possible, it will only benefit the child. 

9. Preparation for structured learning starts from preschool education:

Preschool education teaches children to adjust to the norms of academic setting and guides them to be an ideal student. Children are taught how to raise their hands, be polite, take turns, and other academic etiquettes that prepare the children for academic learning for the rest of their lives.

10. Independence and self-reliance is taught in preschool education:

The ability to be independent and self-reliant is a basic life skill and it must be learnt from early childhood. Preschool education offers a child with that opportunity to manage their personal belongings and take ownership of their actions and be responsible for themselves without the involvement of their parents for a few hours.

As the saying goes, morning shows the day, it resembles early childhood education because if we are not able to provide our children with the best early childhood education then we are writing that future for them.

Now that we know the benefits of preschool education in early childhood development, let’s explore which age should be the perfect age for your child to get preschool education?

The ideal age for a child to start preschool education depends on the child’s emotional, social and cognitive development. Some children may have it at 2 while some go through this development a couple of years later but the right age for children to begin preschool education is between the ages of 3 years and 4 years.

Here’s a breakdown of the typical readiness by age:

For Age 2 - 3 years:

If your child is 2 - 3 years of age, your child can be enrolled for a toddler program or any similar preschool education setting that will help your child in developing a sense of independence as these programs focus on socialization and playful learning.

For Age 3 - 4 years:

If your child has already been in a toddler program and you are looking for the next stage of early childhood education then you can choose a preschool for your child. The preschool education provides for curriculums that will help your child to have better communication skills, they will also learn to express their needs and wants.

For Age 4 - 5 years:

Once your child completes the basic preschool education, you can enroll your child for the advanced preschool education in which your child would learn and prepare for kindergarten. For the age 4 - 5 years, the Preschool programs focus on foundational academic skills and more complex social skills.

How to choose the right Preschool Education for your child?

There are numerous preschool education guidelines available in the country and all of them have their own curriculums to teach children but which curriculum matches with your child’s intellect and interests is the hardest thing to figure out. After all, early childhood education lays the foundation of your child’s future learning and skills development. Therefore, as a parent you should consider these criteria and functionalities in a preschool education before you enroll your child into one:

Philosophy and Curriculum:

• Educational Approach: First thing to notice is the educational or teaching philosophy of preschool education. Is it play-based (British EYFS) or Montessori or Reggio Emilia or Waldorf or traditional? Each of these approaches has its own path and curriculums for learning. So, which teaching philosophy would be more suitable for your child is the first thing that you need to figure out.
• Curriculum: Choose a preschool education curriculum that covers not just bookish learning but also physical activities that will help the child to grow intellectually, emotionally, socially and physically.
  
  

Staff Qualifications and Teacher-Child Interaction:

• Qualifications: Once you are decided on the teaching philosophy and the curriculum for the preschool education you would want to follow, you need to make sure that the staff and the teachers are well-trained and experienced in early childhood education.
• Teaching: Then visit the preschools you are willing to consider for your child’s early childhood education and audit how the teachers in the preschool are interacting with the children. Effective communication, patience, and a nurturing attitude are crucial as you would leave your child under their guidance and vigilance for a few hours on a regular basis.
  
  

Safety and Cleanliness:

• Safety Check: While you are auditing the preschools, check for the safety standard of those preschools. If the preschool is child-proof or not?
• Cleanliness Standards: Ensure that the preschools are thoroughly cleaned and they follow strict health guidelines and what are their protocols for managing any child’s illness?
  
  

Class Size and Child-to-Teacher Ratio:

• Class Size: It’s always better to choose small class sizes as it would ensure more individualized attention to your child.
• Ratio: Lower child-to-teacher ratio, will ensure that your child receives ample attention and care.
  
  

Environment and Learning Resources:

• Learning Materials: You must also review the learning materials like books, toys, educational supplies of the preschools. You should check if the learning materials are age-appropriate and stimulating for your child or not.
• Outdoor Play: Also check if the preschool has any safe outdoors or not? If there is any play equipment and space for children to run, play, and explore?
  
  

Daily Schedule and Routine:

• Structure: A preschool should have a structured routine that has a balanced time for play, quiet time, group activities, meals, and free time.
• Activities: Look out for the activities in the preschool so that they are diverse and suitable for your child's age and developmental stage.
  
  

Communication and Parental Involvement:

• Parent-Teacher Meetings: The preschool must have a strong policy for regular meetings and communicating with the child’s parents about their child’s progress and daily activities.
• Involvement Opportunities: The preschool must welcome and encourage parental involvement in school activities and decision-making for their child’s development.
  
  

Reputation and Reviews:

• Feedback from Parents: Connect with other parents about their experiences with the preschool and also check online for reviews and community feedback. This will give you a good insight into the preschool's offerings and reputation.
• Accreditations: Search for any affiliation or professional accreditations, the preschool has from any recognized institutions and organizations.
  
  

Adaptability and Special Needs Accommodations:

• Inclusivity: This is a must If your child has special needs. Verify whether the preschool is equipped to handle those needs with appropriate facilities and trained staff.
• Adaptability: You should also check if the preschool is able to adapt to the various needs a child has and offer a supportive learning environment or not?
  
  

Location and Duration:

• Location: The location of the preschool should be considered for convenience. A preschool close to home can make daily traveling easier.
• Operating Hours: The preschool hours are important as they need to be aligned with your child’s routine and yours’ as well. Also, check if there’s any availability of extended care if needed.
  
  

Parenting is harder than it seems and even to make it a teeny tiny bit easier, we at Teeny Beans, wanted to share with you a compact and thorough information on early childhood education for your child.