Is your child school ready? An increasing numbers of parents does not seem to have an answer to this question. As a result, many end up deciding to send their children to pre-school at an early age only to later seek advice from doctors on the inability of the toddlers to learn things faster.
Fearful of their child being unable to learn after a certain age limit, parents are admitting them to pre-schools without even checking their ‘school readiness’, say experts. Several paediatricians and child psychologists are getting cases of slow learners, of students not being able to comprehend things faster, and other related problems.
Samir Dalwai, a developmental paediatrician who runs her centre at three different locations in the city, said: “Many cases are referred to us by teachers or principals of students who are unable to concentrate in school. There are several parameters on which parents or an expert can judge a child to determine its school readiness.”
According to experts, a child can be judged on the development of their gross and fine motor skills. “If these motor skills are not well developed, children will have problem in writing, sitting up alert, balancing, which will affect them in their classroom. The parent also has to observe the social skills, cognitive growth, etc. They also suffer from stranger anxiety. Parents should understand that not all child mature at the same time,” said Dalwai, who is planning to start a separate section in his centre where he can help parents to observe all these factors.
Parents of a two-year-old child in South Mumbai recently visited a child psychologist because the child was not able to talk properly. When the psychologist tried to explain that it is perfectly normal, the parents were disappointed. On inquiry, they said that the child has to appear for an interview next month in a popular school in South Mumbai.
“The age for getting admission is going down every year. Schools are coming up with programmes for six-month olds and parents are insecure about not being able to teach their children at home. They end up sending them to such schools. The child is traumatized in the process,” said Anjali Chhabria, a psychiatrist.According to Chhabria, the problem is more common in South Mumbai, as there are fewer schools there.
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