Along with lots of happiness, parenthood brings a greater level of responsibility. Every parent wants to give the best and most secure future to their children. In the process of building a bright future, preschool acts as an important building-block for its foundation. But, let’s first learn the basic information about a preschool in Dubai. A play school is a place where children from the age group of 2 to 4 spend their time under the supervision of teachers or caretakers. The main aim of a good playschool should be focused on sensory-motor development as well as the social development of the child and not the academic skills. They prepare the children for their entry into a more formal setting i.e. primary school. So, here is a quick parent’s guide for choosing the right preschool in Dubai for your ‘tiny tots’:-
Location
The location of the preschool is a crucial determining feature. Parents should look for it within their vicinity/neighborhood. They can also try to find a school that is near their place of work so that it is convenient for them to reach the child, whenever required. Make sure that the location of the play school should have better surroundings and is hygienic, i.e. it does not have challenges like a stagnant water body nearby, which can lead to diseases.
Do your research thoroughly
You may start by asking your friends, family members, the experts or search on the internet. Make sure you have various alternatives. The preschool in Dubai you choose must have a good reputation. It is recommended that parents should not choose a play school, solely on the basis of its brand value, as many of these are franchise-owned and operate on their own terms. Ensure that the place is hygienic, clean and safe. Clear your preconceived notions by acquiring detailed information about the fee-structure, schooling hours, vacation schedules, etc. Make sure that the staff of the school is friendly enough with the child.
Pay a visit
You should be fully convinced with all the facilities offered by the school before enrolling your child. Ensure that the staff is well qualified, friendly, caring and encouraging. Besides, they must be trained in child psychology as they need to be aware of the developmental stages of a child. You should ask about the staff turn-over. If the teacher is substituting every six months, move to the other alternative. This is because children need consistency to form strong relationships. Chiefly, check the classrooms, play areas and other important factors like student-teacher ratio. An ideal ratio is 15:1 (2-3 year old children) and 20:1 (3-4 year old children).
Become aware of familiar terms
Outside the formal education pedagogies and philosophies, knowing the difference between the other common early childhood terminologies will help you make decisions regarding your child’s education. The common terms used to describe pre-school settings are child-centered, teacher-led, child-led, faith-based, pre-kindergarten, etc. It should be clearly noted by parents that these terms may be used alone or in combination with another.
Safety
● Facility
Make sure that the school you have chosen is child-friendly and preferably on the ground floor. It must have a professional setting and not look like a home ground. The school should also be safe and the entry of strangers should be strictly prohibited. The swings present in the preschool in Dubai should be safe and in a good condition. Also, the food served should be hygienic. It is also very important for the school staff to be patient and welcoming .
● Transport
If you opt for transport provided by the primary school, you need to make sure that the vehicle is in proper condition, the driver must be professional and should not change frequently. Also, the vehicle should have a speed limiter installed; and, there is a maid or a teacher always present during the journey.
● Classroom
Make sure that the teachers are mature and experienced with the right attitude to deal with toddlers. The classes should be spacious and accommodate not more than 10-12 children per class.
Here are 3 reasons Why Preschool, Dubai is good for your child:
1. Preschool provides a foundation for learning, both socially and academically.
Young children are naturally curious and observant. They are keen learn the skills their families and society value — such as reading the instructions for assembling the favorite toy or selecting the correct dollar notes to pay for a purchase. To prepare children for the academic demands of school, teachers should offer a wide variety of games and extra-curricular activities that help the children acquire the necessary academic and social skills.
2. Preschool is an open opportunity for children to be in a structured setting.
Preschool is an opportunity for children and parents to be in a structured setting with teachers and other groups of children. They will learn to share and follow instructions, raise their hand when they want to ask a question, take turns, and share the teacher’s attention. Having this sort of group exposure for every child before starting school is quintessential.
3. Preschool will help your child develop emotionally.
In preschool, your children will learn how to compromise, be respectful towards others, competitive, and solve problems. Preschool will provide a place where your child will gain a sense of self, explore, socialize with their peers, and build confidence. Children in a preschool usually discover that they are capable and can do things independently instead of always asking their mothers to step in. They will learn a million small things – from small tasks like pouring their juice and helping set snack tables, to tackling bigger issues like making decisions on how to spend their free time.
4. Preschool will prepare children for elementary school where things get more academically inclined.
Don’t be afraid of focusing on development of pre-math and pre-literacy skills as they will make your child grow up too soon. It will happen any day, somehow. These will not cut into their important play time that they deserve . A high-quality childhood education offers both. In fact, these programs are based on learning through play, so learning will be fun for your child!
5. Preschool will help your children find answers to their numerous questions.
Your 4 and 5-year-olds will start asking some wonderful and eye-opening questions about the world around them, like “what happens to the water after the rain? or do birds play? or Why does the sun go in the night?” Even you as a parent might get confused while trying to answer some questions, but preschool will make your job easier. It will teach your children to find answers through exploration, experimentation, and conversation.
6. They will learn their ABCs and 123s.
Toddlers will learn letters and numbers in preschool, but at their pace and through playing some fun games. Preschool does not sit children down and ‘teach’ them because that would be the wrong way to do it. Instead, they teach them through various kinds of activities your children find interesting, like story-time, talking to the teachers about stars, playing with blocks, etc. and letting their wild imaginations do the magic. For example, to help children learn language and strengthen their pre-reading skills, teachers in preschool play rhyming games and let children tell stories. To help children learn pre-math skills, teachers will ask their little students to count food items during snack time, use a calendar to count days to their long awaited preschool play, or play memory games with them.
What you can do at home to further develop their social and emotional skills:
You might be wondering as parents what you can do to make it easier for children to go into the world and conquer it. Well, that’s easier said than done; but as responsible parents, you need to do some important activities.
● When they are feeling low , sit with your children and discuss the feelings and events that made them feel a certain way: Ask what happened over the course of their day and how they felt about what happened. Also, be sure to talk about future events: what they will do next and how they will act.
● Brainstorm problem-solving strategies with your child: For example: you can read interactive books with them, such as Twiggle the Turtle, where a turtle Twiggle goes inside his shell when he gets upset, takes a deep breath, and then says what bothers him and how it makes him feel. You can model this problem-solving strategy with your child too. Encouraging your child to use these tricks too will help them gain self-control (by crossing their arms taking a breath to calm themselves down, and talking about how they feel instead of crying.
● Practice the age-old/timeless piece of advice: read, read, and read for your child, and have them read for you. Interactive reading is crucial to language development.
Conclusion
You can always get admission in the best preschool in Dubai and other areas to ensure that your child is going to a good and safe school. After all, you would never want them to lack behind in any sense, right?
