Children's performance at school strongly depends on the quality of their preschool education. Preschool is the place where little kids are taught the basic literacy and numeracy skills.
If such a facility fails with its mission, children will find it hard to adjust to the mounting requirements of the next education levels. That's why it is important to choose a preschool that is high-quality and suits your child's needs best. Here are the parameters you have to consider when selecting a Singapore preschool.
1. Referrals
Before searching for preschools in internet, make a point of discussing in-person with people who are somehow related the topic of preschool education. It can be the pediatrician or some friends who have already gone through this stage. They can recommend a good elementary school based on their experience. Ask them about the teaching staff, curriculum, food and other aspects of major interest. Once you've asked a handful of people around, you can make a list of the most often mentioned and praised facilities, which you can start visiting. If it's a trusted forum or review website, you can take a look at the online references as well.
2. Curriculum
Each Singapore preschool comes with its own curriculum customised to its available resources and teaching philosophy. It is good to focus on an all-embracing learning programme that touches upon absolutely all areas of a child's development, including literacy, physical preparation, creativity and social skills. Opt for a curriculum rich in playful hands-on activities and self-exploration, so that children can develop faster by putting the acquired knowledge into practice. Additional courses that help children focus on the area of their own interest are also a point to look for when choosing a preschool. Avoid facilities that put too much focus on studying at the cost of less outdoor playing and physical activity.
3. Teachers' qualification
No matter how diverse and developmentally correct the curriculum is, the children won't be able to benefit from it if the teacher is inept. Invest some of your time in analysing the qualification of tutors to make sure they are sufficiently trained and experienced in providing your child with the best knowledge. Generally, a top-tier elementary school will boast a highly prepared teaching staff with an extended experience in preparing children for the next academic level. So it may be good to spend a little more money to give your child the best.
4. Outdoor space
Unfortunately a trend is visible among preschools to put academic performance ahead of outdoor playing. No doubt, literacy skills are important to the development of children. But, they can't study all day long like university students do. This can put a mental burden on them which can trigger stress and anxiety. Some breaks in-between classes when kids can play outside and enjoy nature are crucial to their well-being. After all, some breaths of fresh air enrich the brain with oxygen, helping it perform better and solve literacy and numeracy tasks easier. So when visiting a preschool, it's good to take a look at the outdoor space to see how well it's equipped and organised for children's play.
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