Choosing a preschool for your child is a decision that needs to be taken after considering many parameters as mentioned in my article named “How to choose a preschool for your child”. After choosing a preschool that fits your criteria, you should also look upon the following qualities of the preschool for ensuring that your kid gets to choose the best possible option and avails maximum benefit from your decision.

Here are some points to be considered:

1. CLEAN, KID-FRIENDLY SPACES: During your preschool visit, check that the room is not only cheerful and inviting, but also divided into different areas (a corner for books, another for water play). There should be plenty of room for little ones to move around and explore. Each child should have her own easy-to-access cubby, and toilets and sinks should be kid-sized. Also make sure the classroom passes your smell test — no cigarette smoke, spoiled food, or dirty toilets.

• Preschoolers need to feel that this is their home away from home and be comfortable enough either to do their own thing or to play in small groups. They also need to be able to reach the materials in the classroom.

2. CONTROLLED CHAOS: You should see and hear the buzz of happy, excited kids playing freely or in informal group activities. What you don’t want to see during your preschool visit is bored kids wandering around aimlessly.

• Preschoolers learn best by doing, playing, and exploring, which means they should discover letters, numbers, science, and music through fun, hands-on activities — with no pressure to perform well.

• Problems can pop up at any moment, even when kids are playing on their own.

•  Seeing art on display boosts a little one’s creative confidence, showing her that her efforts are valued and nurturing the budding artist within.

• A license isn’t everything, but if a preschool doesn’t have one, passes.

The power of play

Play is a child’s work. Play is important for children’s development and for children to bond. It is healthy, essential part of childhood. It offers a chance to connect with your child. You are your child’s first teacher and much of that teaching happens through play. As children grow, play helps them learn how to act in society. Parents need to make time to play with their children.

Children also learn by playing with others. You provide the setting for your child to play with others. As your children grow, you provide toys, materials, and sports equipment so that they can play with others. It is important that children learn that play is important throughout life.

Play is important when your child enters school. Play can assist children in adjusting to a school setting. It enhances children’s learning readiness and their cognitive development by allowing them to move from subject and area without of the fear of failure. 

•  Children gain knowledge through their play. They learn to think, remember, and solve problems.
• Play gives children the opportunity to test their beliefs about the world.
•  Children increase their problem-solving abilities through games and puzzles.
• Children involved in make-believe play can stimulate several types of learning. Children can strengthen their language skills by modeling other children and adults.
• Children gain an understanding of size, shape, and texture through play.
•  Books, games, and toys that show pictures and matching words add to a child's vocabulary. It also helps a child's understanding of the world.
•  Play allows children to be creative while developing their own imaginations. It is important to healthy brain development.
• Play is the first opportunity for your child to discover the world in which he lives.
•  Play offers a child the ability to master skills that will help develop self-confidence and the ability to recover quickly from setbacks. For example, a child may feel pride in stacking blocks and disappointment when the last block makes the stack fall.
• Play allows children to express their views, experiences and at times, frustrations.
• Play with other children helps a child learn how to be part of a group.
• Play allows a child to learn the skills of negotiation, problem solving, sharing, and working within groups.
• Children practice decision-making skills, move at their own pace and discover their own interests during play.
• Children develop a sense of self, learn to interact with other children, how to make friends, and the importance of role-playing. Exploratory play in school allows children time to discover and manipulate their surroundings.
•  Play is needed for healthy development for your child. Research shows that 75 percent of brain development occurs after birth. Play helps with that development by stimulating the brain through the formation of connections between nerve cells. This process helps with the development of fine and gross motor skills.
• Play also helps your child to develop language and socialization skills. Play allows children to learn to communicate emotions, to think, be creative and solve problems.

 

                                                   Conclusion 

Play is an essential and critical part of overall development of the child. Play starts in the child's infancy and continues throughout his or her life. By means of children learn to socialize, to think, to solve problems, to mature and most importantly, to have fun. Play helps children to connect with their imagination, their environment, their parents and family and the world.

Parental involvement in a child's world of play is not only beneficial for the child but is extremely beneficial to the parent as well. Playing with children builds bonds that last forever. Finally, it allows the parent to view the world through the eyes of a child once again.

Let’s Play and Have Fun! - Safari Kid Asia