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How early should a child start school and what role can parents play in their learning experience? Ayesha Inoon finds out
Preparing your child for pre-school
What is the right age for your child to begin pre-school? How can you tell if he’s ready? While most pre-schools accept children at the age of 2 ½, it doesn’t mean that every child is automatically ready to start school at that age. It is more a question of the child’s developmental level, as well as the advantages of group care as opposed to the undivided attention of one dependable caregiver.

Soharnee Walpita and Hiranthi Fernando, Course Directresses and lecturers of the pre-school teacher training course at the Ladies’ College Department of Vocational Studies, feel that every child needs and deserves to be under the complete care of the mother during the first three years of their lives. While it is this initial bonding that forms the foundation for the lifelong union of love between parent and child, it may not always be possible due to financial constraints etc., for the mother to be at home with the child, in which case he should be left with a close relative such as a grandparent. What matters most is that there is consistency in the caregivers which builds the child’s sense of security.

Recent studies by the Cambridge University and the Free University of Berlin have shown that toddlers experience high levels of stress when they begin nursery for the first time. However, the researchers stressed that there was no evidence that the stress had a lasting effect, but did suggest that children be placed in nursery for shorter periods of time, and be given more individualized attention.

Of course, readiness for pre-school also depends on the individual temperament of the child. A child who is fairly independent, and can handle certain tasks alone, such as feeding himself and washing his hands alone, will be better able to handle things by himself in a different environment. Most pre-schools also require children to be potty-trained.

Moreover, pre-school involves a lot of art and craft projects that require concentration on a specific task. A child who remains engrossed in play for several minutes by himself is a good candidate for pre-school. Even a child, who always seems to need someone to entertain him, can be encouraged to work on his own by setting up playtimes where he can amuse himself for an hour or so, while you are pre-occupied with something else.

A child who is used to a regular routine at home will fit in easily to the schedule at pre-school, rather than one who finds every day different from the other. Therefore, it may help to standardise his days by setting regular mealtimes, bedtimes and playtimes.

Parents should also consider if the child has the physical stamina for pre-school. If a child still needs a nap in the morning for instance, he should first be able to give it up without becoming cranky before he can handle the rigors of school.

Ms. Walpita feels that children should initially be introduced to a play group rather than a regular school. Play-groups are usually for about two hours a day, and just two or three days a week. A child can be enrolled in a playgroup even as early as age two, and after several months of it, will probably be better prepared to tackle pre-school.

Rukshana Hassen, a young mother of two, who is also a qualified pre-school teacher, says, “Many kids who have been dragged into pre-school early simply because their parents want them out of their busy schedule, have appreciated the attention and activity they get through pre-school, which they hardly got from the parents and thrived on the exposure, but at the same time, there have been kids who have got really backward and unfriendly because of this very early exposure as well.”

Shazmina Rifaz, whose child is 17 months old, says she hopes to enrol her son in a playgroup when he turns two. She says that besides giving him, an only child, more opportunities to interact with children of his own age as well as adults, she hopes it will make him more independent.

There are several things a parent can do to ease the transition from home to pre-school.Taking children out more often, introducing them to other children of a similar age, and planning social activities will help, says Ms. Walpita, who also adds that children should be taken out from the day they are born, rather than molly-coddled at home.

Also, the child should have already spent some time away from the parents, in the care of someone else, such as grandparents or trusted friends. Children who are used to spending time away from their parents often bounce into pre-school much more easily. According to Mrs. Fernando, it helps to begin creative activities, such as finger painting, drawing with crayons, water play and sand play, at home. This will nurture the visual and fine motor skills they need to tackle such tasks at school.

It is also important to read to the child regularly. Studies have shown that children benefit from being read to, even when they are in the womb. It builds concentration and listening skills as well as vocabulary, and a child who has been read to at home will be prepared to sit quietly during story time in school.

Mrs. Fernando adds that parents should instill a sense of excitement in the child about school, taking them along to buy the new bag and books and talking about how much fun it’s going to be.

Many pre-schools allow the parent to stay at the school during the first week. Afterwards, the child should kindly, but firmly be left to the care of the teachers. For those children who prove unusually difficult, the parents may be advised that their child is not yet ready for pre-school.

Parents can help, says Ms. Walpita, by keeping the goodbyes short and firm. It is also extremely essential, she says, that they be there on time after school is over. When a child knows that her parent will definitely be there at the end of the day, her sense of security and confidence is strong enough to sustain her through school.

In choosing the right pre-school for your child, both Ms. Walpita and Mrs. Fernando agree on the importance of a high quality school with trained teachers. Parents should visit the school previously and see how the teachers handle their tasks, and if the environment is caring, friendly and stimulating as they would wish it to be. Ideally there are quiet corners for individual play and a variety of equipment as well. The child: teacher ratio is also important, as the younger the child, the more individual attention is required.

While playgroups or pre-school can be beneficial to children in terms of socialization, stimulation and learning, it isn’t necessary in every case, they say. A child can enjoy many stimulating experiences at home, and one doesn’t always have to buy expensive toys to provide the best learning equipment. Even a few saucepans and spoons can keep them occupied for a long time, while teaching them about sounds and music.

As long as they are being looked after by someone who genuinely cares about them and are involved in a number of age appropriate activities, they should thrive. The first five years of a child’s life sets the foundation for his entire personality and intellect, say Ms. Walpita and Ms. Fernando. It is therefore, of utmost importance that they receive the best of care whether at home or at pre-school.

The right age for pre-school depends on each child’s readiness for it, and a sensitive parent will be able to tell when a child is prepared, physically and emotionally.

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