New-age preschools are aware of the evolving needs of today’s learners and are transforming education through innovation to ensure holistic growth of tiny tots, says Arunprasad Durairaj
Preschool is the first place in a child’s life where s/he is away from parental care and comfort for the very first time. It is where children learn to explore their senses, interact with peers and start gaining valuable life lessons. Preschools play an important role in early childhood development and helps in the process of building a strong foundation for the rest of their lives. From developing a positive learning attitude to helping them read, write, speak and comprehend, preschools give children a good head-start for lifelong learning. The training that children gain in a preschool becomes the foundation for their growth and success.
In traditional preschools, the teacher-pupil ratio is about 1:25 and the curriculum is well-structured. The child is guided through various concepts, which are explained by the teacher. There is, however, little support for sensory development. As a result, the child may face difficulties in comprehending lessons and may get easily distracted. This is a major pitfall of our structured learning approach.
Nurturing the social and emotional development in children is just as important for their overall development as well as cognitive development. New-age preschools are aware of the evolving needs of today’s young learners and are transforming education through innovation to ensure holistic growth of the tiny tots. To improve the overall learning and development of the wards, parents can implement a few activities.
Teaching through play-activity boxes: Apart from toys, children should be given educational activity boxes to play with. These play-based educational activities enable kids to create new things, find different ways of solving challenges and learn their lessons by performing certain tasks. This form of unstructured play and experiential learning, designed to enrich and stimulate young minds, promotes early childhood development in a fun and engaging manner.
Teaching through an external environment: learning shouldn’t be confined within the four walls of a classroom. It should be linked to the real world in a way that allows children to grasp their lessons better. Infusing real-world learning or organising field trips with nature can help spark students’ interest and make them more involved in their academic endeavours. Some lessons — like those about animals, birds, colours, vegetables are best taught outside the school to cultivate curiosity and interest amongst students.
Building EQ as important as IQ: Emotional Quotient (EQ) is the ability to recognise, understand and manage emotions. According to studies, poor EQ skills can result in aggression, anxiety, depression and poor academic performance.
Therefore, while teachers take lessons to develop Intelligence Quotient (IQ), they should also give adequate importance to EQ, as it allows children to manage their emotions and improves educational outcomes, while reducing anxiety and behavioural problems.
DIYs for kids: From making paper dolls to turning old bottles into toy cars or making kaleidoscopes, children should be given the opportunity to unleash their creative energies. They should be given simple materials to produce something out of it. DIYs are great to inspire kids and keep them engaged which assists in the overall growth and development of these young learners.
Role play: Role play can be one of the most effective and exciting activities. Role plays encourage learning, improve concentration and enhance imagination.
Children are able to learn versatile skills and express their feelings better during role plays. It enables them to step into the shoes of fictional characters and act out as per their observation and understanding. Role play is a fun way to teach kids about real-life situations, seasonal events and occupations.
(The author is an educationist)