Sending children to playschools can be a difficult and arduous task for any parent and there are several aspects that have to be considered before one decides to take such a step. Parents are always in a dilemma about playschools and settling on the right time can be difficult. Moreover, children are quite vulnerable at this age and convincing them to attend playschool, away from their parents, is not an easy task. This article aims to provide a set of guidelines that parents can use and this will help parents take a good decision.
The Right Age
‘Is the child ready?’ – is a question that all parents must ask themselves. Every child will grow up differently and there is no universal age that a child should have reached to attend playschools. Parents are in the best position to decide whether their child is ready, as they are in a position to monitor the performance on a daily basis. Generally, parents can start thinking about sending their children to a playschool, when they cross the age of two and a half years. Some children take longer to develop and in such a case it might be advisable to wait for a further six months or so.
Interaction
One of the best ways to decide whether a child is ready for playschool or not, is to monitor the level of interaction with other kids. If your child finds it easy to mingle with other children, then this is a good indication that he or she is ready to take the step. On the other hand, if your child is shy and prefers to be alone and away from other children, it would be worth waiting a while, as playschools are essentially a place where children need to interact and be comfortable with each other. However, some children are shy by nature and sending them to a playschool can actually be a good way to get rid of this complex. Parents should always remember that children take their own time to understand things and they should be given enough space and time to grow by themselves. Thus, pushing a child to a playschool before he or she is ready might not be a good idea.
Better Late Than Early
Many parents make the mistake of pushing their children to a playschool early and this is something that should be avoided at all costs. Since playschools follow a system of routine, children might find it difficult to engage in the same things every day. This is especially true for children who are below the age of two.
Consultation
Parents can also get the opinion of others who are more experienced in parenthood. Parents of older children would have gone through this stage before and they would be in a position to provide valuable advice. Also, there are several child psychologists who are experts in this field and they are also a good source of knowledge regarding this aspect.
Playschools are a great place for children to learn new things and sending children to a playschool at the right time is as important as choosing the right playschool.
