How to Choose an Ideal Preschool for the Right Foundational Years Development of Your Child

Time flies! Even before you graduate from being a parent of an infant to one of a toddler, it's the season to search for the right preschool for your little one. Research says that early education has a beneficial impact on a child's future social and academic life. Hence, choosing the right preschool becomes a life-altering event for you and your child.

Around twenty odd years ago, early education was not as big a deal as it is today. So why has it taken on such importance now?

The world is changing at a tremendous speed. Thirty years ago, people barely knew what a computer was. A decade ago, you couldn’t buy a plane ticket or book an Uber or rent an Airbnb on your phone.

The past 10 years have brought us countless life-changing innovations. Technology’s disruptive nature continues to transform our world. We cannot even begin to imagine the world our preschool children will inhabit tomorrow.

So, here’s a thought. Does it make sense for the preschools of today to keep teaching in the same ways as they did earlier? In an age where information is at the tip of our fingers, do we need rote learners? Or do we need to help develop a generation of thought leaders.

"Give the pupils something to do, not something to learn; and if the doing is of such a nature as to demand thinking; learning naturally results.”

― John Dewey

Here are 10 key features of a preschool that you should consider:

1. Holistic Pedagogy – A preschool curriculum cannot focus only on the basics of literacy and numeracy anymore. We need to develop learners who are confident, smart, curious, and have the ability to question existing knowledge and norms.

2. Heart Culture – It is said it takes a village to grow a child. As we move into nuclear and single-parent families, is this no longer true? It is, as technology has brought the whole world into our homes. The village of your child is the world now. No child can grow in isolation. Learning about equality, equity, inclusivity, and diversity is the need of the day.

At Dibber we believe in nurturing children who have a heart for the world.

3. In the Lap of Nature – Nature-based learning holds immense value for a child's holistic development. What exactly does this mean? Is only outdoor play enough? No. This is an approach that engages children with the natural environment and natural elements as a pathway for learning. This often means that a regular class occurs in natural settings. It can also occur in classroom environments where natural elements are added to promote learning and skill development.

4. Mindful and Dynamic Classrooms – Gone are the days when children were expected to sit in one place the entire day. The modern-day classroom is dynamic with teaching and learning happening in different zones through the day. Children move from one zone to another exploring multiple topics of interest with the educator as a co-learner. This breaks the monotony, enhancing focus and attention.

5. Resources - Resources must be open-ended giving children an opportunity to use them in their own way, building critical-thinking skills. Children should also be encouraged to think sustainably – how can we reuse empty carton boxes or recycled paper to create our own resources?

6. Interactive Approach – Interactive learning fosters group projects, hands-on activities, problem-solving abilities, and conflict-resolution among children.

Dibber Preschool shines as a top preschool in India for its interactive approach of -together, we learn better. Each day focuses on activities designed for different group sizes, fostering collaboration among the children.

7. Navigating the Digital Age Responsibly - Embracing technology is the key to preparing children for tomorrow. Helping the children learn about and practice concepts of safety, consent, and privacy, must be a priority in any preschool. ??

8. Meals - Childhood is the time when the child’s relationship with food develops. Beyond providing nutritious meals, the approach should integrate valuable learning at the meal table.

Dibber nurtures the child’s mind, body, and soul, through sharing meal cultures, creating food journals, and helping children learn to save the planet by thinking about food wastage and ways to reduce it.

9. Programs – Look for a full day program along with the half day programs that most schools offer. The full day program should have a well-thought-out schedule where the children engage in additional activities to enhance mastery of topics covered during the first half. They must be beyond simple day care centres as a child is always learning and absorbing.

10. Staff – Ensure that the entire staff and not just the unit manager is warm but professional. It is an advantage to know if they undergo continuous training and development and are POCSO and POSH compliant.

Let us sum-up with a quote from Jean Piaget:

“Children require long, uninterrupted periods of play and exploration.”

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