Preparing your child for their first day of school may seem like a long way away, but the actual preparation for school readiness starts much earlier. The period between when your child is 2 and 4 is an incredibly transformative and vital time for emotional, cognitive and physical development. Research has established time and again that the experiences a child has in these years shape his/her abilities, and consequently, performance in school and beyond.
Early education is a much-needed intermediary between home and formal schooling to equip your child with the necessary tools and skills needed to maximise learning and overall development at school. Expert educators world over are increasingly recognising the need for establishing school readiness in children, and are advocating the benefits of a semi-formal, well-crafted early education program.
The transition to school, if not handled well, can have far-reaching consequences for your child well into their adult life.
What is school readiness?
School readiness is ascertained in a number of different domains of development:
- Emotional
- Social
- Cognitive
- Literacy
- Language
In today’s education sphere, there is an increased emphasis on forming good habits, showcasing a willingness to learn, and being able to mix freely with peers. More and more elementary schools report that new entrants have already had some form of formal schooling experience, such as in a preschool or a play school, that helps them in these areas. They are poised to perform well in elementary-level language and maths, are used to playing with and talking to peers, and exhibit confidence and curiosity – all factors of school readiness. Early educators attribute these characteristics to effective and carefully curated early education programs.
Choosing the right early education program
A good early education program is tailored to the various developmental milestones that your child needs to achieve before starting school. It is set in an environment conducive to learning, among similarly curious peers, helmed by highly qualified and well-trained educators who encourage curiosity. It recognises and strongly advocates for the factors of school readiness, and strives to ensure that your child achieves these to the best of his/her ability.
It is important for an early education program to incorporate these through the right mix of play-based learning and a well-rounded curriculum – preschool programs are a great way to achieve this.
Preschool programs that are curated by expert early educators will take into account the need for all-round school readiness and early development. They will provide individualised attention, have optimal schedules and make use of a variety of learning aids to ensure that your child’s first steps into formal schooling are smooth and productive.
A lot of factors go into an ideal preschool program, and it can often be taxing to identify the right one from the plethora of options available. Amelio Early Education’s experts have curated a list of 10 Ultimate Factors that can help you decide on a preschool for your toddler, and we have created a handy scoring checklist based on them.