Contents
Introduction
Preschooling is the prime foundation of every child’s education, why because it is where a child learns to be a better human being and it is also the stepping stone to higher education. Preschool also goes by many other names – crèche/playschool/pre-primary school/nursery. It is a learning institution or learning space for educating children within the age group of 2-5years before they begin there full-time school. There are some of the best learning programs for preschoolers that will help them develop their skills.
In Today’s world, preschooling has become more important than ever. So to say like a trend as children who goes to preschool stand out better than the others who haven’t. Their reasoning skill, behaviour, and attitude toward other peers, and their grades prove to be better when compared with children who have not attended preschool. Every parent wants the best education, the best school, and the best opportunity for their ward! And thus, preschool proves to be meeting this requirement.
This article will give you knowledge about preschoolers and learning programs and guide you in choosing the best preschool program for your child.
Preschool and its activities
A preschool is a school where a child is given a solid foundation before kindergarten without stripping away their early childhood. They have their own curriculum and methods of teachings. Children are taught, guided, and taken care of by trained teachers through the play way method. The subjects taught are Math, science, visual and performing arts, and physical education. The schools also impart in them proper eating habits, reading skills, toilet habits, build there confidence and self esteem, develop their cognitive skills and motor skills.
Some activities which the children does in a preschool are-
- doing puzzles
- playing with blocks
- painting, drawing, sculpture, weaving, and collage
- reading and listening to stories and poetry
- playing dress up, music, dance, drama climbing and playing on outdoor equipment.
- running, swinging, and jumping.
- Using computers
- Field trips
Preschool approaches
Here are some various approaches to preschool education.
1. Montessori
An approach that seeks to develop natural interest and activities of children rather than using formal methods of teachings. In this method, children are allowed to learn at their own pace which is fitting for their learning. It focuses on hands-on learning and promotes independence, accountability, and a natural passion for education.
2. Reggio Emilia
This approach focuses on the holistic development of the child’s potentialities intellectually and emotionally. Students have the freedom to express themselves on their own by using movement, active listening, and hands-on activities. This approach involves collaborative skills to enhance children social relationship with their peers and their surroundings.
3. Waldorf
In this approach, activities are focus on building trust for the role of the educator with the use of mindfulness practice artistic activities, and a healthy classroom environment. [s]
Preschools and their programs
Various preschools with different approaches are available. However, its curriculum can never be a one-size fit for a child. Therefore, it’s important to choose which will soothe best for your kids. Following are some of the popular learning programs for preschoolers:
1. Mothers goose
Mother goose is a creative curriculum design for pre-schoolers. Its methodology of teachings is based on songs, arts, logic, and hands-on learning. And is easily accessible for teachers in child care centers and parents at home.
2. Positive Action
Positive Action is a great curriculum for preschool which cover math, science, language art, drawing and colouring, and emotional and physical development. Its design is in such a way that improve academic, behaviour, and character. It is perfect for school environment and home schooling as well.
3. Oak meadow
Oak meadow is a great preschool curriculum design for homeschooling, distance learning with teacher support, and academic, credit. The curriculum in the school involve singing activities story-telling, playing, sand and water play. It prioritizes in developing children’s imagination and creativity and thus, laying foundation of learning throughout their schooling year.
6 Online learning programs for Preschoolers:
1. Children Learning Reading
Children Learning Reading is a comprehensive literacy program curriculum that creates a program based on the interest of children. This is a reading program with a phonics foundation. They discover how different letter combinations sound. The reading program Children Learning Reading was created by Jim Yang, a teacher, and his wife, Elena for preschoolers.
It is intended to aid kids between the ages of 3 and 8 in learning to read. Designed by a qualified teacher and reading specialist. More than 78,539 kids who were as young as 2.5 years old were aided by this program to learn to read.
It starts with fundamental things like sound recognition and learning the alphabet. Your youngster advances to ideas like phonics once they have mastered these abilities. There are several different resources available for the course, such as worksheets, videos, and flashcards. These resources can be used by parents to teach their kids to read.
Additionally, it includes advice on how to assist kids who are having trouble reading. You can receive a step-by-step program that will teach your child to read effectively in less than 30 days for a fair fee.
With the help of this product, your child ought to be able to start reading easily and enjoyably. Almost any child who has begun speaking can learn using this curriculum.
2. Khan’s academy kids
This is an educational app, which covers the subjects- maths, English language arts, logic, and socia- emotional learning by using games, books, songs, and videos. This app is young kids friendly as it can be used by children within the age group 2-7years.
3. Reading Head Start
Reading Head Start is specifically for kids between the ages of 12 months and 9 years old. It helps them get a head start in reading or helps them catch up to and even outperform their peers.
The program is to make sure that your children may simply improve their reading abilities and pick up new words to read. It is a straightforward but well-designed method that sets it apart from other kid-friendly learning programs for preschoolers. Reading Head Start is not like a regular school curriculum that draws students with a particular attitude based on their interests. It gives methods for instructing your kids correctly and successfully so they don’t lose interest in reading.
4. Busy Shapes
This is an online learning app that uses the Montessori method of hands-on learning. It is design to enhance children motor skills. Busy shapes program are simple and easy to learn for young children. It challenges the kids to match the shape of the object with the corresponding hole. It needs no instruction to follow but it’s all child directed. Just using their logic and reasoning skill the kids learning to complete the challenges by matching the objects with their corresponding shapes. And after the completion of each challenge another hole and shapes in new settings. Thus, helpful in improving a child’s mathematical skills.
5. Time4Learning
This is an online curriculum for preschool proven to be best for homeschooling preschool. It provides an interactive and engaging learning environment with the help of straightforward verbal directions and attractive graphics. This curriculum also enhance various skills development by integrating pre-reading literacy, social studies, science, arts, music, and language.
6. Muzzy BBC
The BBC offers a language program for kids called MUZZY. MUZZY BBC is a natural immersion technique that is based on how all children learn their first language and emphasizes repetition, “spiraling,” and the use of functional language. In MUZZY, terms and ideas are first taught before being used repeatedly in many new circumstances. The audience is immersed in a second language thanks to animated stories and captivating music. A dramatic story that is both exciting and humorous introduces new language and use.
It is for children of all ages (preschool through teens). MUZZY BBC is a subscription-based, online language learning program that may be accessed through their app or website.
Popular Preschools
Here are the two top pick preschools:
– Kidzee
It is the largest preschool chain in Asia, which offers a customized theme-based Curriculum name as iLLUME. Kidzee also provides an electronic Learning tablet that has parental control. It is loaded with educational content in the form of videos and quizzes.
– Euro kid
Euro kid was founded in India. Their curriculum is based on the Montessori and playway method. They are excessively designed to work toward building child cognitive skills, social and motor skills, speaking skills, language, and confidence. Active parental involvement in all the activities is considered important in this school.
Quality Education takes one to the top, which is possible only when a person is provided quality education in an early age. And preschool education is the right platform for this. Therefore, carefully choosing the right learning programs for preschoolers is a must.
Various online educational apps are available some of them are already mentioned above. However, with technologies and gadgets around us, as a parent or educator, or any education professionals, you are to keep in mind the boons of it as well.
Things to remember:
- No matter what learning curriculums, philosophy, or programs preschoolers follow, it should-
-promote learning at the same time catering to the needs of children in learning various languages, Social, physical and cognitive goals.
-have a certified teacher/ educator
-be based on up-to-date childhood education research.
- Maintain screen time for preschoolers while using any educational apps or interactive games or programs for learning.
- Complete parental control over the gadgets/ technologies your kids are using.
