If you opened this post after searching on the Internet on different forums like Reddit, take a breath. Relax. I get it. I have a 3-year old. My wife and I went through the same thing. Welcome to parenting. It’s a cocktail of fun and craziness.
Onto pressing matters. First let’s clarify some terminologies. What is the difference between a pre-school and a play school? It can get confusing. Posts from different countries have a different meaning for these terms. For this post, we will go with the following definitions:
Pre School: Nursery, LKG & UKG. This is a proper “school” where the kids start their educational journey.
Play School: This is “something” before Nursery where kids just have fun while playing. They get acquainted with shapes and colors. Learning alphabets and numbers is an added bonus.
The right age for play school
My daughter joined a play school when she was 3 months short of 2 years. We too didn’t know the right age. We just walked into a play school that was near to our house and had good reviews online. The school said they took in kids from 2 years. Since she was nearing that age, they gave her admission.
So, for age, I have 2 recommendations:
- Best age is 2 years. If you don’t want to search online anymore or talk to schools, this is your answer.
- If you are open to visiting schools (which you should do anyways), visit the play school in your area and ask them. It’s best to hear from them and see at what age they are taking in students.
But, age is not just one factor to consider when deciding admission to play schools. There are more things to consider.
It depends on your kid and family’s situation
Saying “Send the kid to a play school at the age of 2 years” is a definite cop out. It’s like saying “Send the kid to the most expensive school and he/she will be successful in life”. There are more lot more things that parents need to consider before making the decision about play schools:
1. Comparison is your enemy
You need to ask yourself “Why do I want to send my child to a play school?”. Answer it honestly. Here are some reasons you might come up with:
- “I’m tired all the time and want a break of a few hours.”
- “Me and my partner both have full time jobs and can’t focus on work with a kid around.”
- “My child doesn’t have any friends in the neighbourhood. He/She will meet new kids in the play school.”
- “My friend/sibling/cousin is sending their kid and so I should send them too.”
The first three reasons are understandable. A lot of parents go through such situations. Families are getting smaller. There are fewer helping hands. Plus, in some cases, kids might find it hard to socialize given there are no other kids around. So, it’s natural to think of sending the kids to a play school where they make friends and learn new stuff at the same time. Parents are able to get rest or focus on their office work.
The last reason is something that needs to be discussed. It’s a very natural reaction to compare your kid with someone else’s. Especially in India, the “Sharma ji ka beta…” ideology is very much prevalent. Here are some common thoughts that come up for kids of age 2 years:
- “That boy speaks so clearly. Mine does not.”
- “That girl started walking very early. Mine is still stumbling.”
- “That boy plays in the park and climbs ladders so easily. Mine is still afraid of heights.”
- “That girl identifies colors. Mine doesn’t.”
We are conditioned to compare our kids with others. Even if we don't, the uncles and aunties surely love doing it for us. This can compromise our decision making process. So, it’s important to shut out the noise, sit with your partner and discuss the main reason for sending your kid to a play school.
2. Is your child learning at home?
A lot of parents believe that teaching is not their job. It’s the school’s. What we need to understand is that kids learn by imitating. We, the parents, teach a lot of things to our kids. Some consciously and some unconsciously. They learn our style of speaking, our tone with different people, the catchphrases we repeat and whatnot.
It’s not like play schools are doing some magic. They create a playful environment where kids get introduced to shapes, colors, fruits, vegetables, letters and numbers. If you are a parent who can do this at home, there is really no need to send the kid to a play school. If the kid’s grandparents live with you, they too can take up this responsibility and help kids learn via stories and toys.
In some cases, the little one has an elder sibling who can just be with him/her. The kid will automatically learn a lot of things.
So, if you feel that the child is learning and growing at home, you don’t have to send your child to a play school. But, if for some reason you feel that is not happening, then, you should definitely opt for a play school based learning.
3. Establish friendships
We moved into a new society right after we had our daughter. We were new and knew no one in the building. Living in flats can be isolating. This isolation can pass on to the kids as well. The space to play around is limited and having no friends can be a bummer.
So, send your kid to a play school if you feel they are getting bored at home and just want to have some friends.
Conclusion
So yes, age is a factor when sending kids to a play school. But, there are other things to consider as well. This post tried to list some of those things. At the end of the day, it all depends on your kid’s current situation and the direction you want to take for your child’s growth. Once you gain clarity on these things, finalizing a play school becomes a lot easier.
If you are one of those parents who are looking for a play school near you, visit gurunearme.com and select “Near Me” or a city of your choice.