Kindergarten is the first part of compulsory education and children have to go through this stage to be eligible for primary education. Kindergarten education forms the basis for further education and children are taught using a combination of play methods and structured education methods. Kindergarten is the first systemized classroom experience your child will encounter and in India it is divided into two stages. The kindergarten system varies in different countries and it forms an integral of part of lower level education. Kindergarten is also mistakenly referred to as nursery education in India.
The Two Stages
The two stages of kindergarten are as
follows:
- Lower Kindergarten (LKG)
- Upper Kindergarten (UKG)
Lower kindergarten
In India this stage is popularly known as LKG and children who have finished playschools or nursery schools are granted admission. Most schools do not require the children to have any prerequisite educational qualifications in order to be admitted into LKG. Children who are in the age group of three to four years can find admission in this stage of education. Choosing the right school for kindergarten is of primary importance as this is the base for your child’s further education. What children learn at this stage will hold them in good stead over the years.
The syllabus and medium of instruction for LKG depends on the school and the medium of education. However, there are a few similarities that can be found in most schools. Children are usually taught the basic alphabets and more emphasis is given to play. Social interaction through various play methods is the norm for most schools during this stage. Teachers play a vital role during this stage. In a Montessori kindergarten style of education, the learning methods are more relaxed and children are allowed to learn by experimentation.
In the lower kindergarten stage, the main emphasis is given to physical, intellectual and linguistic growth. Emotional and social learning also takes place at this level. Children are encouraged to be active and they are able to verbalize their feelings and impressions of everything around them. Most activities during the kindergarten stage are designed to provide a semblance of confidence and help children interact in a better manner. The skills that are acquired at this stage are transferable to the UKG level.
Upper Kindergarten
The upper kindergarten stage is a more controlled and structured environment and children will be able to advance skills that they have acquired at the previous level. Children learn to read and write and the methods used are innovative, and this may vary according to the different schools. Importance is given for phonetics and vocabulary during this period of education. Specific learning and teaching methods are available for this age
group. The approach used during this period is usually child centric. The attention span of children is quite limited and all schools focus on this aspect during the Upper Kindergarten stage.
Teachers usually adopt an individualistic approach for specific children during the period, especially for complex subjects such as mathematics.
The concepts that are learned during the kindergarten stage of education are directly transferable to the first stage of primary education.
