Is Enrolling in Preschool Right for Your Child?
With the number of dual-income families rapidly rising, and in most cases, they lack the luxury of being able to stay at home and care for their children full-time. However, they are also providing for their children in other ways, such as by enrolling them in a respectable school, giving them the academic support they need, and many other things. The majority of parents in Singapore now send their kids to preschools, which has resulted in a considerable increase in the number of preschools in Singapore.
Most likely, if you are a working parent as well, you have thought about enrolling your child in preschool. Before jumping the gun and enrolling them in one, there are a few things to think about, just like with everything else. In this article, we’ll tackle these factors as well as a preschool’s impact on your child in the long run.
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Is preschool important?
Typically, parents send their kids to preschool so they may grow their literacy and math abilities as well as their emotional and social development. Bottom line: Preschool facilitates a student’s smooth transition to primary school with fewer, or ideally no, hiccups. Students who enrolled in preschool are more accepting of their new surroundings, which may become even more obvious when they start primary school. In addition to this, kids will be more assured in their ability to make friends and be more sociable.
But exactly how do preschools assist in facilitating this transition? Preschools must now incorporate a “Transition to Primary Schools” component in their curriculum. As a result, children will already have a taste of what primary school will be like, and parents will be able to feel certain that their children are in capable hands.
What to consider before enrolling your child in preschool?
As we’ve already discussed, there are a lot of things you should think about before enrolling your child in preschool. We’ve listed a few of the things you might want to consider.
1. The child’s emotional stability
We are all aware that children cry. A lot. When children are especially experiencing bad emotions, crying is a normal way for them to communicate those feelings. But what about all those temper tantrums and stomping around kids are known to throw at home when things don’t go their way? They are also more probable to occur on the first day of class. Children frequently start crying the moment they enter school and keep crying for the duration of their first month of school.
Children are more vulnerable to separation anxiety because they are relocating to a new setting and meeting new people. We can still assist them in managing their emotions, though. Parents can explicitly let their kids know that they will be starting school soon. To assist your child in getting ready, explain to them what to expect at their new school. Better yet, go to the school together before the first day of classes. This will enable them to picture the new environment in which they will spend their time.
Along with routines, you can have kids try on their backpacks, say bye-bye, sing songs, or read stories together. All of these will help your child prepare for what’s coming. Assure your child that school will be enjoyable, that they will learn more, and that they may even meet new people. However, keep it low-key, as you don’t want them to become overly enthusiastic, which might also cause them anxiety.
2. The school’s environment
Visit several preschools before deciding on one for your child. Even better would be to take your child on a tour of these preschools to see which one they feel most at ease at. Additionally, you’ll get the chance to assess the preschool you want your child to attend according to what you want for them exactly.
The cleanliness of the school and the school’s culture are two of the first things advised to be on the lookout for. Nobody wants their kids to spend time in an unhygienic educational setting. As such, you can also ask yourself some questions such as: Is the school regularly sanitized, and is there a school cleaner at all? What would be the procedure if a child becomes ill during classes? What about the teachers? Are they patient and experienced? What’s the student-teacher ratio and how do teachers deal when children are being difficult?
There are, of course, still a ton of additional questions to ask. You can list down potential questions so you don’t forget them. However, going to the actual school will enable you to ask questions you might not even have thought to ask. Last but not least, trust your gut and keep in mind that first impressions do count.
3. Your budget
By seeing different preschools, you will gain an up-close view of the facilities and services offered at each one. Although it may be alluring to enroll your child in a pricey school with cutting-edge facilities and technology, not to mention a very spacious playground, it is always a good idea to set a realistic budget.
These are but the first few in the many years your child will spend in the education system. Many parents choose a more affordable option for the preschool where they will be sending their child for assistance and enrichment sessions. And for this, there are numerous options in Singapore. Singapore also offers preschool scholarships, enabling many families of various socioeconomic positions to enroll their kids in the preschool of their choosing. Preschool tuition fees can range from $400 to $2000 per month, depending on whether parents choose to enroll their child in full- or half-day programs.
Conclusion
The development of children’s social and emotional development depends heavily on early childhood education. Although they might be prone to separation anxiety because they will be attending events for the first time, many kids eventually come to love and look forward to going to school. They will learn through time to become more independent and grow with their peers. They will also learn to become more self-reliant.
Additionally, preschool teachers provide kids with several chances to pick up new skills and keep practicing them. Preschoolers are urged to pick up new skills and to keep studying and exercising. Parents will find it fascinating to watch their children develop in school.
Carelle
Carelle is a teacher who has been through the ups and downs of the teacher and learner life. She wishes for every learner to gain educational satisfaction that will help embody the people they want to be in the future.
