Going to school is the first major transition in a child’s life as this is the first time the child is in a completely unfamiliar environment without parents. Thus it is often advised that parents should get children prepare their children for certain prescribed activities, which in turn will help them adjust to the changes. These are termed "preschool activities".
Preschool plays a pivotal role in helping kids cultivate valuable physical, mental, and emotional skills. It provides a secure environment for children to get a feel of the structure and functioning of a real school. Preschool also prepares children to move away from the comforts of parental care and adjust themselves to a completely different learning situation. Preschool education is aimed at the overall development of toddlers so that they are able to face the challenges of a more complicated school education.
The preschool curriculum encompasses basic social skills of communication with adults and peers. It also fosters the basic concepts of friendship and sharing.
• Taking children out of the confines of the classroom: This is always a great way to teach basic knowledge. A visit to the zoo or local bird sanctuary can help them learn a lot about wildlife. These visits help children to discover that learning can also be a fun experience.
• Educational computer games and interactive: These activities are excellent methods of enhancing a child’s hand and eye coordination. It also helps the child to become acquainted with the alphabet and numbers.
• Playing: This is a good way of developing a child’s concentration. Traditional preschool activities include playing with blocks, shapes, and colors.
• Drawing activities: This gives them the opportunity to express and develop their inherent creativity.
• Nursery rhymes and dancing: These continue to be the area of interest for toddlers. Preschool curriculum encourages children to recite poems and nursery rhymes with physical gestures. This makes learning a more enjoyable and entertaining experience. Recitation also enhances the memory skills of preschool toddlers.
• Physical development: This constitutes a major part of preschool education. Outdoor games and simple exercises help children develop a sense of physical fitness, co-ordination and team spirit.
Therefore, preschool education should be aimed at holistic child development. Preschool activities should maintain a healthy balance between education and entertainment. Knowledge and impressions picked up at a preschool level cast an indelible imprint upon the tender minds of toddlers.
The preschool experience goes a long way in transforming a toddler into a confident and eager learner.
