Choosing the right KG is a problem of plenty

Going to a kindergarten (KG) is the first step in your child’s academic journey and is the basis for all future learning. With so many pre-primary education centres springing up across the city, choosing the right KG can be a daunting process. A lot of it is based on knowing what is best for your child.

Director of Podar Jumbo Kids, Swati Popat, said, “The concept of pre-primary education was as good as non-existent around 15 years ago. But research has shown that a child’s brain develops rapidly during the two to five-year age period. These formative years are important and parents should choose the right KG school.”

Parents have to weigh the pros and cons of every aspect carefully, starting from academics to transport to how long the school day is, etc, before they take the plunge. Apart from starting to learn the basics like alphabets and numbers, a child learns important social skills, like how to be independent, how to share and how to follow directions, at a kindergarten.

Popat feels that parents should check the classrooms before they enrol their child into a KG. “You should also see how enriching the toys will be for the child, look at the approach of the staff — teaching and non-teaching, to understand if your child will be comfortable over there.”

“Check on the activities that the school has planned and also check how approachable and available the teachers and the principal are,” says Monisha Diwan, head academics, early years and primary school, Birla Edutech. “The best way to check out a school is when it is in progress. The sounds you hear will give you an insight on how happy or nervous your child will be there.”