Guide to Kindergarten: What to Expect and How to Choose the Ideal One for Your Child?

28 March 2023

Since kindergarten sets the tone for the remainder of your child’s education, it should be a seamless, happy transition for them into the world of formal education. It gives your child a chance to learn and practice the crucial intellectual, social, and emotional skills they will need throughout his academic career. Even while no programme is flawless, some are preferable to others. Learn what makes them unique and how to provide your child with the best start possible, regardless of your alternatives.

What Would an Ideal Kindergarten Look Like?

The ideal kindergarten will be described in various ways depending on how many educators and parents you ask. However, there are certain fundamental consensuses among educators as to what constitutes a good programme. It must:

• Increase your child’s capacity to organise knowledge, solve problems, and learn about (and from) the world. This boosts their sense of self-worth, confidence, and capacity for collaboration and interest in challenging activities.
• Offer a mix of formal (teacher-initiated) and informal (child-initiated) activities. Your child can work independently and in small groups while engaged in investigations and projects.
• Use sitting-intensive activities in large groups as little as possible. Instead, the majority of activities emphasise small-group, play-based learning. As the year progresses, large group activities get longer to prepare for first grade.
• Encourage a passion for reading, writing, and books. The classroom is filled with books, words, and students’ writing.

Consider these factors when you evaluate programmes and your child’s and family’s unique needs. Not all programmes are ideal for all children. Some kids do well in a programme with more structure, while others do better with less. Before making a choice, consult your child’s preschool teacher, visit a few schools, and speak with the principal or a kindergarten teacher.

What if the Program Isn’t Ideal?

Although you may have little choice, you may be worried about the quality of the kindergarten your child will attend. Allow the programme and the teacher some time to start the year. There might be a valid explanation if you watched the class in the spring, and it seems different when your child enrols in the fall. Many programmes begin gradually, giving kids time to get used to being away from home and feeling secure in the classroom before introducing academic demands.

Speak with the teachers if you still have questions after a few weeks. Inquire about their objectives and let them know what you expect. A seeming mismatch may occasionally be a case of different approaches. Keep the conversation going. Ask questions, and be open to hearing the “whys” behind the instructor’s philosophical stance.

Help prepare your child for a successful school year with the best kindergarten in Preston. Gower Street Kindergarten is a purpose-built kindergarten with an environment that has been designed to provide children with many different learning opportunities. We run programs for both 3-year-old and 4-year-old children. Check our PROGRAMME and contact us at 03 9478 5374 for more enquiries.