Get a first-class nursery for your pre-school child
Nov 14, 2004
LIKE a strong house begins with a firm foundation, a child’s success in academic life is largely determined by his/her early education. Research has also shown that children who attend kindergartens are more interested and successful in learning than those who missed.
By Angela Nsimbi
LIKE a strong house begins with a firm foundation, a child’s success in academic life is largely determined by his/her early education. Research has also shown that children who attend kindergartens are more interested and successful in learning than those who missed.
As the year draws to a close, parents, particularly those in urban areas face unique challenges in choosing which preschool to send their children to.
Which is the appropriate age a child should go to a kindergarten or a nursery school as it is popularly referred in Uganda?
Vicki Owens, an education psychologist at the Makerere University Institute of Psychology, said the right age for a child to begin schooling is actually eight, the age at which a child can be separated from his/her parents. “It is believed that introducing a child to rigorous academic work at an early stage increases the stress level in children,†Owens said.
But because of the changing society, parents send their children to school much early, sometimes as early as the age of two to nursery schools that also double as day care centres. At this age, Owens said, children should basically be exposed to social skills and discovery other than academic work.
Kiiza Kimbugwe, a child psychologist, says, “For an only child where the parent does not have time to be with the child, the child can go to play at school as early as six months. Ideally, a child should start pre-school at four or five years so that they start to engage socially with other children,†she said.
Owen said at kindergartens, children should be exposed to a lot of physical activities. “Research has found that children learn a lot through their body activities like climbing, skipping, running, dancing and singing,†Owen said.
It is also at this stage that children sold be introduced to at least two languages to prepare them for later life. “It has been found that part of the brain responsible for language acquisition becomes less active around the puberty age,†she added.
This is corroborated by research findings. “While it may appear that all children are doing is playing for fun, it is actually a much more important part of a child’s developmental process,†Kinderstart said in information posted on their website.
“Playing is a very natural way for children to learn because it engages all their senses. Playtime is also a cognitive learning exercise where children practice taking in information and organising it to solve problems and understand their environment,†they added.
Nabila Siddiqi, the headteacher of Daffodils Nursery School in Naguru, says the decision as to what age a child should go to school depends on the parents.
According to Kimbugwe, pre-school is all about organisation. It introduces discipline and routine in a child’s life. So what should one look out for when choosing a pre-school?
-The environment should be child-friendly, with lots of space to play.
-The classrooms should be well-equipped with teaching aids like educational toys, puzzles, television, among others.
-The classrooms should have an attractive display of the children’s work. It should be visually stimulating.
-Teachers should be professional, warm and friendly.
-Take a walk around the school before deciding to take your child there to ensure the environment is safe.
-It should have a convenient location, proper fencing and a gate.
-The curriculum should not be predominantly academic because children should be encouraged to learn, explore and enjoy at their own pace.
-The curriculum should focus on the wholesome development of the child; emotional, spiritual and physical aspects.
-Teacher to pupil ratio determines how much attention your child gets.
The Ministry of Education and Sports recommends the teacher to pupil ratio in nursery schools should be at least one to 20 children.
Jihan Schuppius, headteacher of Mother Goose Nursery, Ntinda, recommends that the teacher to pupil ratio should be one teacher to 15 children.
She observes that, “A class of 20 children should have two assistant teachers. A class of 15 can have one assistant teacher.â€
An activity like painting helps the children develop their motor skills,†Schuppius adds.
They engage in singing, playing, watching educational videos and teachers read to them. She reveals that a child should ideally start primary school at six years.
“Children should start Primary One at five years or six. If a child is a go-getter, she or he can start at five years,†Kimbugwe said.
She recommended the Montessori curriculum which is child-centred and allows children to learn at their own pace,†Kimbugwe observes.
Additional reporting
by John Eremu
LIKE a strong house begins with a firm foundation, a child’s success in academic life is largely determined by his/her early education. Research has also shown that children who attend kindergartens are more interested and successful in learning than those who missed.
As the year draws to a close, parents, particularly those in urban areas face unique challenges in choosing which preschool to send their children to.
Which is the appropriate age a child should go to a kindergarten or a nursery school as it is popularly referred in Uganda?
Vicki Owens, an education psychologist at the Makerere University Institute of Psychology, said the right age for a child to begin schooling is actually eight, the age at which a child can be separated from his/her parents. “It is believed that introducing a child to rigorous academic work at an early stage increases the stress level in children,†Owens said.
But because of the changing society, parents send their children to school much early, sometimes as early as the age of two to nursery schools that also double as day care centres. At this age, Owens said, children should basically be exposed to social skills and discovery other than academic work.
Kiiza Kimbugwe, a child psychologist, says, “For an only child where the parent does not have time to be with the child, the child can go to play at school as early as six months. Ideally, a child should start pre-school at four or five years so that they start to engage socially with other children,†she said.
Owen said at kindergartens, children should be exposed to a lot of physical activities. “Research has found that children learn a lot through their body activities like climbing, skipping, running, dancing and singing,†Owen said.
It is also at this stage that children sold be introduced to at least two languages to prepare them for later life. “It has been found that part of the brain responsible for language acquisition becomes less active around the puberty age,†she added.
This is corroborated by research findings. “While it may appear that all children are doing is playing for fun, it is actually a much more important part of a child’s developmental process,†Kinderstart said in information posted on their website.
“Playing is a very natural way for children to learn because it engages all their senses. Playtime is also a cognitive learning exercise where children practice taking in information and organising it to solve problems and understand their environment,†they added.
Nabila Siddiqi, the headteacher of Daffodils Nursery School in Naguru, says the decision as to what age a child should go to school depends on the parents.
According to Kimbugwe, pre-school is all about organisation. It introduces discipline and routine in a child’s life. So what should one look out for when choosing a pre-school?
-The environment should be child-friendly, with lots of space to play.
-The classrooms should be well-equipped with teaching aids like educational toys, puzzles, television, among others.
-The classrooms should have an attractive display of the children’s work. It should be visually stimulating.
-Teachers should be professional, warm and friendly.
-Take a walk around the school before deciding to take your child there to ensure the environment is safe.
-It should have a convenient location, proper fencing and a gate.
-The curriculum should not be predominantly academic because children should be encouraged to learn, explore and enjoy at their own pace.
-The curriculum should focus on the wholesome development of the child; emotional, spiritual and physical aspects.
-Teacher to pupil ratio determines how much attention your child gets.
The Ministry of Education and Sports recommends the teacher to pupil ratio in nursery schools should be at least one to 20 children.
Jihan Schuppius, headteacher of Mother Goose Nursery, Ntinda, recommends that the teacher to pupil ratio should be one teacher to 15 children.
She observes that, “A class of 20 children should have two assistant teachers. A class of 15 can have one assistant teacher.â€
An activity like painting helps the children develop their motor skills,†Schuppius adds.
They engage in singing, playing, watching educational videos and teachers read to them. She reveals that a child should ideally start primary school at six years.
“Children should start Primary One at five years or six. If a child is a go-getter, she or he can start at five years,†Kimbugwe said.
She recommended the Montessori curriculum which is child-centred and allows children to learn at their own pace,†Kimbugwe observes.
Additional reporting
by John Eremu