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What To Look For (& What To Avoid) When Choosing A Kindergarten Program

As a parent, one of the hardest decisions you make is choosing a kindergarten program. This program will play a huge role in their personal, social, and educational development, so you want to choose somewhere that will be supportive and set them up for life. This means that there is inevitably a lot of pressure when it comes to choosing a program, so it is helpful to be aware of a few things to look out for and what you should avoid. This post will focus on a few of the key areas of a good Montessori Kindergarten so that you can make an informed decision. Read on to find out more.

Hands-On Learning

At this age, children benefit immensely from hands-on learning. Instead of reading out a textbook, kindergarten pupils should be engaging in fun activities that make concepts real and memorable. Activities like playing, building, drawing, moving, and exploring can improve comprehension and engagement. There are Montessori kindergarten programs that adopt an active learning approach with play-based learning, with a balance between academic and creative expression. Additionally, frequent school trips can extend learning to the real world and provide fun and memorable experiences for young minds.

Balanced Curriculum

You should also make sure that there is a balanced curriculum. This is a key stage in your child’s development, so all areas should be part of the curriculum. This means core subjects like maths and literacy, along with art, music, play, and other activities that will develop emotional intelligence, social skills, and physical activity.

Modern Classrooms

These days, you should also make sure that the classroom is modern and stimulating. You want to avoid spaces that feel sterile and like a traditional classroom, so look for places with different areas, kid-sized furniture, creative supplies, and comfortable reading areas. The classroom does not need to feature the very latest tech, but it should be somewhere that is modern and stimulating.

Engaging Teachers

Of course, the teachers will play a huge role in your child’s development. Therefore, you want to meet with the teachers and make sure that they have a passion for their work and clearly enjoy working with young children. The best kindergarten teachers are those who are warm, patient, and positive. It is a good idea to come up with a few questions to ask the teachers, such as how they assess student progress and how they handle challenges that your child may face.

What To Avoid

So, what should you avoid? There are many things that you will want to avoid when it comes to choosing a kindergarten program, such as:
  • Rigid schedules
  • Academic-only curriculum
  • Large class sizes
  • Limited play time or creative activities
  • Harsh discipline
  • Poor communication
  • Outdated facilities
  • Lack of structure or routine
Choosing a kindergarten program can be challenging and stressful as a parent, particularly when you consider how key this will be in their development. Hopefully, the information in this post will be useful and make it easier to find a great kindergarten program for your child that will support their development and set them up for success in all areas of life.