WHY ABACUS ?
Why Abacus English Preschool
Joining the Abacus English Preschool is more than simply enrolling in a kindergarten. We go further. When families choose Abacus English Preschool, they are joining a comunity committed to the school's mission and vision: to cultivate the intelectuall, spiritual, and ethical promise of our children, to awaken courage and intellect - and peacefully transform the world.
Qualities to Look For in a Good Kindergarten
Most young children start their education in either a nursery or preschool program. These early childhood education programs offer myriad benefits that will lay the foundation for a great education.
But with so many options to choose from, finding the right kindergarten can be a challenging proposition for parents. To help make choosing the righ preschool program a little easier for you and your family, we wanted to outline some of the most important qualities that all great preschools have.
All great preschools should have: A solid reputation in the community, a warm and comforting environment, passionate teachers and staff, active learning, child-friendly facilities.
1. A Solid Reputation
Good word-of-mouth is the way many families narrow down their search for an excellent preschool program. Hearing from trusted friends about their good experiences is a great way to start the process. You may also consider checking social media for the references and reviews.
Some questions you may consider asking are:
- Is your child happy to go to school?
- What do you like about it?
- Is the program play-based, academic, or both?
- Are the teachers kind and nurturing?
- How does the school communicate with parents?
- What extras does the program have? Are there languages, outdoor play spaces, sport activities, art, music, library, etc.?
2. A Warm and Comforting Environment
Nursery or preschool is often a child's first experience away from both the home and their parents' loving care. It is crucial that you feel like you can work shoulder to shoulder with the kindergarten teachers.
Visit the kindergarten while school is in session so that you can see first hand how the school operates. How do the teachers interact with the children? How do the children interact with the teachers, with each other? Does the classroom feel fun, engaging, and safe?
3. Passionate Teachers
Passionate and caring teachers and staff should be a priority. As wonderful as a school might be, it's the teachers and administration that make the program.
While it is obvious that you should only be working with schools that employ qualified, trained faculty, passion can be harder to identify. But it is one of the key differentiators of an okay preschool and a great preschool.
When you visit the kindergarten, keep an eye out for educators who speak kindly and respectfully with the children. These are the teachers who want your child to succeed and who will do everything in their power to keep them happy and healthy in the process.
Some of the most important qualities that a great kindergarten teacher will exhibit include:
- Passion
- Enthusiasm
- Experience and dedication
- Flexibility
- A sense of humour
- Great communication skills
- A warm personality
4. Active Learning
Young children learn best by doing or experiencing through discovery and play. We call this "active learning" or "hands-on learning" and it is important characteristic of any high-quality preschool program.
Lots of reading time, arts and crafts, music, dance, sport activities, outdoor play - these are all critically important to young children. In addition to laying the foundations of a solid education by exposing children to reading and writing, play builds curiosity, teaches empathy and problem-solving skills, and helps children to learn important pre-academic skills and concepts like counting, recognizing colors and shapes, and building coordination and fine motor skills.
A joy of learning and love of school starts early and can flourish in the right environment.
5. Child-Friendly Facilities
When choosing a preschool, the campus will play a role in which school you ultimately select. Safe and engaging facilities are very likely to rank high on your list, for a number of reasons.
The health and safety of your child are paramount and should be to your child's school. You want to make sure that the facilities are constantly evolving and being updated, and that the faculty and staff are well trained in safety measures.
You will also want to learn about the school's resources. Modern classrooms are chock full of screens, gadgets, and educational tools to teach children more effectively. Also, if outdoor education is appealing, look for gardens, playgrounds and outdoor spaces.
Finding Excellence
The preschool years are the underpinnings of your child's educational journey. Use these tips to help guide your research, look for the joy in the classroom, and trust your instincts.