Are they qualified for your children?
In my previous post I mentioned certain points to be kept in mind while selecting a play school for your child. I intend to elaborate on the qualification of the person in-charge of the play school and the teaching staff here in this post.
Parents must check if the person in charge of the play school is qualified and trained in the field of Child Development. Your child must be treated with care at this tender age. The head of the play school should be aware of the developmental stages a child goes through. Different skills develop at different stages and an unskilled person will not be aware about what to expect from the child. He or she may push the child beyond his/her capability. This could have an adverse effect on the child's emotional growth and learning skills. Do keep in mind that you are enrolling your child in a play school and not a "Creche". You may find many housewives and young girls opening so called "Play school" or a glorified day care centre around you.
What to look for in the teaching staff?
The teachers must be trained in every aspect of child care. There are Early Child Care Education (ECCE) training programmes available. A Home Science degree course also has subjects like Child Development, Child Psychology and a course in teaching aids. This formal training is essential for the person handling a tender age group of one or one and a half.
The purpose of a play school is to have activities that help children to learn various skills like emotional adjustment, physical development, fine and gross motor skills, Co-ordination skills and to develop and improve concentration span along with listening skills. The teacher must not aim at academic skills like reading and writing. At this stage there should not be any set goals and the child must not be pressurized to achieve any goals either. The focus should be more on emotional and social skills till the child settles down. This is the first experience the child has beyond his home. Separation anxiety can disturb the child deeply. Socializing activities would help the child to interact with other children of his age and be rid of the anxiety and trauma he feels. The parents must prepare the child to begin schooling by talking and explaining to the child irrespective of his age. The child must be exposed to the school by showing him around for the first hand experience of the attractions it holds like the play area, toys etc. Do not make the child feel as though school is a punishment he needs to endure for his misbehavior. Once the child settles down, the teacher can introduce activities aimed at listening skills, motor skills such as music and free play. Free play could be used as a tool to begin the child's day at school. The teacher-student ratio must be 1:10. This ensures that the classroom is not over-crowded with children and there is no insufficiency in the teaching and support staff.
What about the support staff?
The role of the support staff is very important in the play school. Especially the "Aya Bais", who handle the childrens' personal and hygiene requirements. At times the child might soil himself or vomit due to various reasons. It is the responsibility of the support staff to attend to such needs of the child. If the support staff is harsh or mishandles the child during such situations, it could be traumatic for the child and not to mention embarrassing. Their emotions and self confidence could be harmed as well. Tender care and affection must be given to the child by the support staff along with a qualified teaching staff in the play schools.
Please keep your child's welfare in mind and do not hesitate to ask questions about the staff of the play school. Remember it is the first step into the outside world for your precious baby.
In my previous post I mentioned certain points to be kept in mind while selecting a play school for your child. I intend to elaborate on the qualification of the person in-charge of the play school and the teaching staff here in this post.
Parents must check if the person in charge of the play school is qualified and trained in the field of Child Development. Your child must be treated with care at this tender age. The head of the play school should be aware of the developmental stages a child goes through. Different skills develop at different stages and an unskilled person will not be aware about what to expect from the child. He or she may push the child beyond his/her capability. This could have an adverse effect on the child's emotional growth and learning skills. Do keep in mind that you are enrolling your child in a play school and not a "Creche". You may find many housewives and young girls opening so called "Play school" or a glorified day care centre around you.
What to look for in the teaching staff?
The teachers must be trained in every aspect of child care. There are Early Child Care Education (ECCE) training programmes available. A Home Science degree course also has subjects like Child Development, Child Psychology and a course in teaching aids. This formal training is essential for the person handling a tender age group of one or one and a half.
The purpose of a play school is to have activities that help children to learn various skills like emotional adjustment, physical development, fine and gross motor skills, Co-ordination skills and to develop and improve concentration span along with listening skills. The teacher must not aim at academic skills like reading and writing. At this stage there should not be any set goals and the child must not be pressurized to achieve any goals either. The focus should be more on emotional and social skills till the child settles down. This is the first experience the child has beyond his home. Separation anxiety can disturb the child deeply. Socializing activities would help the child to interact with other children of his age and be rid of the anxiety and trauma he feels. The parents must prepare the child to begin schooling by talking and explaining to the child irrespective of his age. The child must be exposed to the school by showing him around for the first hand experience of the attractions it holds like the play area, toys etc. Do not make the child feel as though school is a punishment he needs to endure for his misbehavior. Once the child settles down, the teacher can introduce activities aimed at listening skills, motor skills such as music and free play. Free play could be used as a tool to begin the child's day at school. The teacher-student ratio must be 1:10. This ensures that the classroom is not over-crowded with children and there is no insufficiency in the teaching and support staff.
What about the support staff?
The role of the support staff is very important in the play school. Especially the "Aya Bais", who handle the childrens' personal and hygiene requirements. At times the child might soil himself or vomit due to various reasons. It is the responsibility of the support staff to attend to such needs of the child. If the support staff is harsh or mishandles the child during such situations, it could be traumatic for the child and not to mention embarrassing. Their emotions and self confidence could be harmed as well. Tender care and affection must be given to the child by the support staff along with a qualified teaching staff in the play schools.
Please keep your child's welfare in mind and do not hesitate to ask questions about the staff of the play school. Remember it is the first step into the outside world for your precious baby.
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