When should your Kid start going to a Play School?

Rims and rims of paper have been devoted to the debate whether Pre-schools are required or not. Both have their points which they staunchly vouch for. Whatever be the outcome of these debates, the fact remains that these Pre-schools are in, and in in a big way. The have been largely accepted as a stepping stone for admission to Kindergarten opening roads to primary education.

But there’s another debate which, if not more, is equally important? When should your kid start going to a Play School? The answer to this question is guided by two factors - the age and the readiness.

The Age Factor: The prescribed minimum age to start schooling in India is 4+ years. This age has been arrived upon by regulatory bodies keeping in mind various aspects integral to a child’s growth. So, based on this regulation, the right age for admissions to Pe-school should be two and half years to three years. This gives kids enough time to enhance their cognitive and motor skills before admission to primary classes. But many Pre-schools, lure parents to send their wards even before that, which is again a subject of another debate.

The Readiness Factor: The other important factor is the preparedness of the kids for Pre-school exposure. Following traits should be looked out for among kids to ascertain their readiness factor.

Verbal Communication: If the kid is able to independently communicate with other kids and adults, then he is ready for Pre-school.

Toilet Trained: If you are absolutely sure that your ward understands and can cater to his natural calls even in your absence, you can send him to a Pre-school.

Comfortable on Separation: If a child has been groomed enough to stay comfortably for a longer period without parents around, then he or she is all game for a Pre-school.

Sense of Confidence: If a child has shown considerable confidence of doing a job all alone and deals with a situation singularly, then be confident of sending him to the Pre-school.

Desire to Explore: When a kid depicts eagerness to mingle with the outer world, and sets his sight on new experiences, he is ready for Pre-school

Ability to Relate: When a kid starts showing ability to draw parallels with other kids, he can be deemed fit for Pre-school. It shows that he is grown enough to relate with fellow kids.

Physically Ready: In case a kid has developed the physical ability to meet the demands of new settings like climbing stairs, he can be admitted to a Pre-school.

Developed Focus: If a kid starts enjoying rhymes, and shows keenness to learn new things, and stays focussed then he is ready for his Pre-school days.

So, before sending your ward to a Pre-school, adjudge his readiness level. It is not necessary that your desire to admit your kid to a Pre-school matches his readiness level. It may vary mostly, and take a decision based on your kid’s preparedness, not on your desire or needs. A forced decision may result in a traumatic experience for him, repelling him from going to a school for a long time.

Good Pre-schools like K R Mangalam World School Juniors also go by the books, and admit a kid only by gauging his readiness level. A kid for them is not a mere statistics, rather a responsibility to be groomed with utmost care and compassion in a holistic way. But for that his willingness is utmost supreme.