Playschools, are fast becoming popular among Malaysian families as the ideal child care solution for parents who work full days, or for those who are looking for a structured environment where their little ones can get accustomed to a formal schooling environment.
How do you know if your child is ready to attend a play school, and how do you choose the ideal one?
What are play schools anyway?
Playschools are usually flexible, standalone services offering between three and a half and five hours of care for little ones per day. They may have their own formula or may even offer classes based on specific educational curriculum such as the acclaimed Montessori method, for instance. Classes are centred on play based education for three to four year olds with scheduled times for meals, play, outdoor activities, rest, etc.
Operating hours of play schools in Malaysia vary, but generally they’re between about 9am and 12:30pm or in the afternoon from 2pm to 5pm.
Beneficial and fun!
Activities at play schools are always age-appropriate, from the outdoor play facilities to their indoor provisions such as gymnasiums, etc. It’s during this time that a child’s ever-important motor skills can be mastered through a combination of structured activities and free-play time.
Good play schools offer lots of learning opportunities with enjoyable, engaging activities. Depending on your child’s age, centers may include art, blocks, dramatic play, language, math and science, music and movement, sensory discovery, and more.
A child’s social skills also get to flourish, especially while playing with one or more friends. A teacher’s role in play schools is to guide children in positive communication, sharing stuff and problem solving. By fostering increased independence and mastery of self-help skills, little ones will eventually gain self confidence and self esteem that will go a long way when they step into a formal schooling environment in their near future.
How can I tell if my child is ready?
A play school may turn out to be a child’s earliest experiences of outside-the-home activities with other children. How can you tell if your child is ready to attend one? Here are some pointers.
Potty trained
This may not seem like a big thing and some establishments may accept a child who is not yet fully potty trained. Some though, may not – especially if it’s not a parent-accompanied class. Either way, potty training your child as early as possible is a good idea during these modern times, for it’ll be generally easier to get accepted into most play schools.
Putting back stuff after use
In any kind of classroom setting, even in ones meant for very young children, they’ll be expected to put away things after using them. Many parents take it for granted that these are things that can be learned when they’re in the class, but it’s not always so – some children may not take too easily to this new habit, especially if they are not accustomed to it at all at home. Start initiating this habit now to prevent unnecessary issues later on.
Is your child ready to spend time with others?
Social readiness plays a pivotal role in how well a child adapts in preschool. While all parents would love to imagine their children happily making friends and playing together with other kids in a playschool or any other classes, it doesn’t always work out that way.
Some children tend to become shy and insecure in a new environment. They may even feel intimidated by the number of other children present. If you know that your child is naturally shy, it might be a good idea to utilise your home and family or friends as training ground to instil some confidence in your child.
Similarly, attributes such as sharing and also taking turns when playing with toys are just as important if your child is to attend a play school. Quick check:
- Does your child say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ without being prompted to?
- Does junior apologise readily whenever at fault, or at least when asked to?
- The most natural way for your little one to learn these skills is during peer play, so have your child participate in plenty of playdates prior to being enrolled in a preschool.
Lastly, a child throwing a tantrum when asked to come inside after playing while every other student was alright with it can be a handful, especially if it happens often. If junior happens to be easily agitated or is prone to acting up, it’s best to address the situation earlier on before enrolling him into a play school.
Motor skills
Perhaps it never occurred to you that you’d have to teach your child to grasp a crayon correctly or throw a ball, but good motor skills will serve your child well during pretend play activities at a play school!. Developing fine and gross motor skills will come in handy in the classroom as well as at play, like when a child wants to maneuver through a play tunnel or climb a playground ladder.
What to look for when choosing a play school
With so many play schools out there offering all sorts of extras, how do you find the ideal one to suit your child’s needs? Here, we go through some crucial determining factors that will hopefully help you make the best choice.
An ideal balance of playing and learning
Play schools will definitely provide lots of learning opportunities and even some basic academic lessons, but adequate playtime is crucial! All play schools should include toys that allow for sensory-type activities. As a parent, you can easily gauge if your chosen school has adequate play options that will fit your child’s needs. Check if the play school has items like
- Sandbox,
- Water table
- Moulding material such as safe plastiscines
- Beanbags and cushions to dive into.
- Reputation and opinions count
Generally, you can tell if an environment has a good feel by the vibes you feel when you enter the premise. A good play school should have a welcoming, friendly atmosphere and be known for its nurturing environment and stimulating curriculum.
For the best references, it will be a good idea to ask the school for the names and numbers of current parents you could call for a quick check. Alternatively, you could try stopping by after class during pick up time and approach other parents. – Keep in mind though that references may vary, for not all parents have equal or same experiences at any given play schools. After all, we’re talking about dealing with very young children here, so do expect incidents which may leave a parent or two feeling dissatisfied with an establishment. Do see the place for yourself too, and use your own good judgment.
One good indicator though is the general demeanor of the kids themselves – If they don’t seem happy to be there, that’s a definite signal to cross the school out!
Check out the teachers
Teachers must not only be kind, loving and patient to their little charges, but to their parents as well. The fastest and easiest way of ensuring that your child is happy under the care of their teacher is by simply observing their interactions and the child’s demeanour when around the teacher, or when you speak of the teacher.
The capability of a teacher can also be measured by the length of time that he or she has been teaching at a particular school. Seasoned, contented teachers who were happy enough to have stayed in the school for some time would be better first-time educators for your child. It also shows that the school has been good to its teachers – a definite sign of an ideal establishment.
Playground structure and safety
The playground should be well-maintained with no safety issues. Equipment and structures should be sturdy, with no loose parts, sharp edges, etc.
Inquire about teacher’s supervision at the play school playground. Young kids can’t always gauge distances properly and aren’t capable of foreseeing potentially dangerous situations by themselves, especially when it comes to swings, slides, etc. Children generally like to test their limits with playground equipment too, so it’s important for a teacher to always be there to keep them in check.
