After three years of constantly being with mum, a child is suddenly introduced to a different world, and your choice of learning program is very important. In order to help you make the right choices, here are a few common mistakes to avoid when looking for a kindergarten school.
- They Are All the Same – If you are thinking that every preschool is pretty much the same, think again. Like any other education sector, there are good and not so good programs, and each school would have its own unique vision and mission statements, which define the school. If, for example, you are searching for a kindergarten in Bangkok, there are probably a few hundred to choose from, and by looking at their core beliefs, you can quickly narrow down the list.
- Expensive Equals Good – While some of the best early learning programs might not be cheap, one can never assume that a pricey school is a good one. Some schools, for example, have great resources and a wonderful learning environment, yet they have a rather rigid curriculum and believe in rote learning, so it is important to read and fully understand a school’s vision and mission statements.
- Not Visiting the School – They might have a great website, full of images of kids smiling and happy, yet the reality might be something else entirely. Make an appointment for a tour of the school, which should see you spending some time with the principal, when you can discuss learning objectives. Visiting the school during classroom hours allows you to experience the activities and if the kids are enjoying it, that’s very important.
- Travelling Too Far – If you found a wonderful kindergarten program that meant your child having to spend a couple of hours in the car every day, this might not be such a good idea. If the travelling is too long, your child will suffer, plus it will make things harder for you, with the other commitments you have.
- Failing to Research – Making a quick decision about the school to send your child might not be in the child’s best interests, and as every early learning program has a website, that is the ideal place to begin researching. Once you are on their website, look for their vision and mission statements, which should be clearly posted, and if the school does not follow a learner-centred approach, something is wrong.
Your child does not have the ability to know a good school from a bad one, and as their parent, you owe it to your child to source the best learning environments as they develop. Always have your child’s best interests at heart when looking at schools, and the learning must be fun-based, otherwise there is a risk of the child developing a dislike for learning. Once you think you have found the right program, pay them a visit and you can evaluate the school, before introducing the new learning environment to your child.
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