Building self esteem in early childhood

Building self-esteem begins in infancy and by the time a child reaches the preschool years he has already developed a foundation for self-esteem. As parents you can take many steps to ensure that your child develops a solid foundation of self esteem. Self-esteem comes from having a sense of belonging, believing we’re capable and knowing that whatever we contribute is valued. Research has proved that children with self-esteem are more resilient. Children with self-confidence perform tasks more easily because they expect positive outcomes.  Here’s how you can help your child develop more self-confidence.

Encourage feelings of belonging.  Although children are a little young to base their feelings of self-esteem on the way children are treating them, they come to know if they are being excluded.  Teach your child skills so that he plays well and gets along with others. This will improve his self-esteem. The most important factor here is how adults relate to the child. When adults respond, understand and value a child’s needs the child feels loved and valued. Your child will also learn to respond to others the same way.

Be a good role model. Parents who have a strong sense of self-esteem foster it in their children.  If you are comfortable with yourself your preschooler will also be comfortable with himself. Children are very good at imitating so when they feel that the people around them are self-assured and self-confident they learn to imitate that. If you laugh at your mistakes and correct them your child will learn that mistakes can be corrected. Preschoolers who don’t mind making mistakes are more willing to try out new things.

Encourage a can-do attitude. When your child works hard and succeeds encourage him. Don’t just expect him to do better. Celebrate success.  Pick activities that don’t overwhelm your child. They should be doable for him. At every step encourage him and foster the feeling that he is capable. Every small victory bolsters your child’s self-confidence.

Identify your child’s strengths don’t compare him unfairly to other children. Emphasize to your child that each person has talents and each person is different. If your child shows inclination to be like another child show him what he is good at and emphasize on that point. According to child specialists a way of fostering self-esteem in a child is to encourage your child to be productive in their free time. Encourage them not just to play with other children but also to do something that creates a passion for them and gives them a meaning to their life. The best way of developing a passion is to encourage your child’s talents and abilities. If your child shows inclinations to arts give him chalk, crayons, paint and paper. If your child shows talents in large muscle activities spend time playing sports with your child. If your child loves music play CDS and give him an instrument to play. Emphasize having fun with the tools rather than excelling.  Drill it into his mind that the process is more important than the final result. 

Preschool education and your child

Depending on your perspective a preschooler can be defined in several different ways.  Here are some ways that will help you relate better with your child. Your preschooler is full of activity. They actively explore the world around them. They are also more confident about using their bodies. They run, jump, climb and perform other motor activities at a smooth speed. Fine motor skills like cutting, drawing, and painting are also develop but are not as good as a 5-7 year old. Preschoolers can be described as little explorers in terms of their cognitive development. At this stage they are trying to understand how the world operates and functions. They play the roles of Mom and dad to understand gender differences.  They can remember day to day events, they can learn from events that have happened yesterday apply to today and even begin to understand the events of the next day. They are unable to separate fantasy from reality and live in a fairy tale world. Attention span of a toddler is 8 to 15 minutes on a good day.

Kids of the preschool age are learning to understand how to interact with their peers. At the age of 3 and four children engage in what is called parallel play. Parallel play consists of children playing with the same toys but not with each other. Children learn to play co-operatively as well as separately. When children reach the age of 5 to 6 they begin to play together. At this age they are also developing their gender identity and they begin becoming curious about sexual differences. As they develop friendships they make best friends.

At this age children play different roles and they become different personalities from mom and dad to the garbage man to the policeman.  The aim behind this type of play is to understand the role of adults in their lives. Children want to please adults they frequently want approval from their primary care givers like their parents. They like to be observed and seek full attention from their parents. They become afraid when separated from parents or care givers, but are easily consoled and adjust to new environment fast. Language development is associated with cognitive development and is a major part of childhood development. From a developmental perspective a three year old child can use complete sentences and constantly asks questions. They are capable of using almost 900 words and are capable of communicating their basic needs like they are hungry or their foot hurts. Four year old children develop further they are capable of using complete and compound sentences. They like to sing, tell tales, boast and will often exaggerate and call other children names.  Five year old children develop a vocabulary of over 2000 words and love to tell and listen to stories. They can focus on events for longer periods of time and often ask questions. In addition to the above 3-5 year olds can only understand clear commands and have difficulty in understanding multi-step directives. 

Benefits of educating you child at an early age

Earlier it was not necessary to give formal education to children between the ages of 3 and 5. But in the present world of cut throat competition it is essential to send your child to preschool. This education may not be compulsory but there are several benefits to educating your child at an early age. Research has proved that the skills that children develop in preschool stand by them throughout their lives. In preschool teachers cover the following six areas of child education: Communication, language and literacy development, mathematical development, personal, social and emotional development, knowledge of the world around them, physical development and creative development.  Children use these six areas of development by means of a structured and imaginative play. This information is delivered in a planned manner by trained and qualified teachers who have been trained in this field. All teachers who work with small children have a special course in Montessori teaching which enables them to work with small children.

Research has shown that what children learn at this early stage is very important. It stands by them throughout their lives. It helps in making them well adjusted and fulfilled individuals. It has been proved that children who complete nursery school education go on to complete higher education and generally do well in their lives. Furthermore research has proved that nursery school education gives a child the chance to reach his full potential in their lives. The government is also trying to bring pre-school education under the Right to Education Act. This will give the much needed boost to pre-primary education. The Right to Education act caters to students between the age of 6 and 14 years, the government is considering bringing pre school education under the ambit of the Right to Education Act. In the state of Karnataka unaided schools that have the preschool facility must show implementation of the act at the preschool level. At this stage the state government has also decide that it will reimburse part of the fee. The state government has issued a circular stating that it will reimburse up to RS 5924 per annum per student.

Pre school education gives children a chance to get a head start in what is expected of them in kindergarten and the school education beyond that. Though pre-school is not a compulsory part of education it has been proved beyond doubt that children who attend preschool do better in elementary school and beyond. For parents who are sending their children to preschool it is important to check that the schools are following the norms laid out for kids play school. Play schools are different from day care centers but many people confuse between the two and many day care centers function as play schools. Proper play school usually run for 4 to 5 hours and children learn here many important skills that have been laid out before in this article.

Pre schools can be public schools though they are usually private schools run by private bodies. One nursery school that has a pan India presence is Little Millennium. It follows a scientific curriculum to educate your child. This wonderful school has a well trained staff and it teaches children by using the latest methods used in the field of Montessori education.

Parents: Why is Early Childhood Education Important?

To begin with let’s accept the fact that the nursery school age is considered as the formative years for your child. Children absorb information like sponges at this stage of their life. It has been found that children between the ages of 3-7 years absorb information faster than thereafter. Children at this stage absorb whatever information they get and store it for future use. This is the best time to teach them the basic skills they would need throughout their lives as they are able to learn the skills at this stage very easily. These basic skills are reading, writing, counting, simple math and general knowledge of the world around them. The other skills they learn are art and craft, constructing things and creating new things. They also learn physical activities like hopping, jumping, catching, running and other social skills like taking turns, cooperating and adjusting with others. Children develop a sense of independence at this stage when they are taught these basic skills.

It has been proved through research that social and emotional development is directly linked to intellectual development. It has also been proved that early positive learning experiences are linked to improved scholastic performance later on in life. Families are the strongest influence on a child and when nursery schools partner with parents children learn best. Children who have joyous childhood have a healthy and bright future.

When you provide your children with basic skills that they need to start school, they cope better with their new environment. If compulsory schooling is your child’s first introduction to schooling, they may take a long time to adjust. The new environment where many children vie for the teacher’s attention is very different from the home environment when a single child has a dotting mother by his side all the time. Attending a class can be an intimidating or joyous experience for the child depending upon the way the child is exposed to the school.   

Speaking to strangers like the teachers and other classmates can also be quite a challenge for the child. Your child has to get used to a new routine. The presence of new faces and places can also be quite daunting for the young child who till now was used to the presence of the parents and siblings. Introduction to preschool will help your child adjust to the new school environment. Some kind of preschool education will train your child to sit at a desk and chair and complete the task on hand. Your child will be familiar with the work he is given at school and will be able to complete similar work in higher grades better than a child who has never attended preschool.    

Repeated research has shown that children whose parents take interest in their studies perform better in all grades and do better in the job market. Sending your child to a good preschool is an essential responsibility that you need to fulfill. Before you decide on a preschool and plan on a preschool, familiarize your child with the concept of preschool, so that your child adjusts better at preschool.    

Which preschool is right for your child?

If your child has become old enough to attend preschool, you may have already made a list of preschools you want to send your child to. But before you select a preschool and send your child make sure that the school has a scientific curriculum which gives optimal brain and social development to your child. As a parent it is your job to find a school that fulfills the needs of your child. The school you choose for your child will have a social, physical and cognitive impact on your child. Decide whether you want your child’s play school to be close to your home or you want one which is close to your workplace. Select a preschool that has a clear structured programme and a content you can identify with. Find out about the daily schedule of the Pre School and see if the schedule will help in your child’s development. The school programme should be such that it gives equal time to indoor and outdoor play. It should also devote time to group and individual activities, snacks and free time for children to be involved in imaginative and creative play. Television and video should only have a small part of the programme and the programme content should be appropriate for the age group of children. The pre school program you select should have enough toys and equipment to stimulate the proper growth of the child. It should help the child’s creative and imaginative play.

Find out whether the school you have chosen organizes field trips. If yes, check their transportation arrangements. Field trips are appropriate for your toddler as they stimulate his imagination.

Check if the pre school education programme constantly introduces new educational material to keep the child interested. You must also check the group size and the teacher child ratio. You should also see whether the school is equipped to handle medical emergencies. As a parent it is important for you to ascertain that the school is prepared for any kind of illnesses or emergencies. You must also find out the learning milestones and goals the school has for the children. It should match your expectations that you have from the school.

Find out about the methodology used to teach the children and does it match with your expectations. The school should have story reading, free plays, circle time, art and craft, music, social skills, verbal skills, role play etc.

Find out about the experience level of the teaching staff. How long have they been associated with the programme? Are they trained to handle pre school kids or they are just ladies who have come to spend their free time.

Most preschool programmes must conform to the state regulations and satisfy minimum requirements of health and safety. Even then you must ask the school authorities whether the school meets the minimum requirements and it is up-to-date and reviewed. Before you select a preschool, talk to other parents whose children are part of the program. Getting there views and recommendations will give you another person’s perspective about the school programme. The most important factor to consider is whether your child will be happy and develop a curiosity and love for learning. If the answer to this question is yes, then you have found the right preschool for your child.

Why preschools are important in India?

Most childhood experts agree to the fact that attending preschool prepares your child for kindergarten, but finding a suitable school that will prepare him for kindergarten and elementary school takes extensive research and time. Here are answers to all your questions about play school:

There is a great deal of difference between childcare and play-school. Child care or day care centers are options for working parents to leave their children while they are working at office. Day care centers accept babies as well as toddlers. They are full time, full-year programs. Play school on the other hand accept children between the ages of two-and-a-half years to five years of age. These schools offer part time schedules as well as full day care. Preschools in India function as day care centers as well.  At times day care centers function as preschool, that is they have experienced teachers and a stimulating environment, but in most cases day care centers are just that day care centers. They can’t replace a play school, which has a structured and scientific curriculum designed to cater to the needs of toddlers.

A study conducted in US has proved that children who went to high quality preschools perform better in life than those who went to low quality playschools. You could pick a neighborhood play school for your child but what you have to see is does it follow a scientific curriculum. It was also found that children whose mothers had low quality education were more affected by the kind of school they went to then those whose mothers had a good education. It was also found that children from quality preschools like the Little Millennium showed better language and math skills. Children in these schools are exposed to English at an earlier stage so their language handicap diminishes. Preschools are rated by the practice in classrooms, the instructional material used and the closeness of the teacher-student relationship. Increasing evidence has been found to the fact that children who go to preschools gain a lot from the preschools.  At preschools children become exposed to numbers, letters and shapes. They also learn how to socialize with children of the same age. It has been stated that every child should have some kind of school experience before he attends kindergarten. In these schools children are exposed to different kinds of group activities.

Children not just strengthen their socialization skills in preschools, they also learn to compromise, be respectful of others and problem solving skills. Pre schools provide a place where your child gains a sense of self, explores the world around him, plays with his peers and build self-confidence. Kids who attend preschools gain a sense of independence. They discover that they can do things all by themselves. Some four to five-year olds become curious about the world around them and ask intelligent questions about the world like do birds play and what happens to the water after the rain?

The right way to teach the alphabet and numbers to children is to involve them in an activity. They learn best through activities. 

Little Millennium Congrats Dheeraj for entering “India Book of Records”

Mr. Kalyan and Mrs. Leena are the proud parent of Dheeraj. He is 2+ years and was able to identify 215 country flags in 2minutes and 19 seconds and won the 'India Book of Records". He was also awarded "The Youngest to identify most number of Flags".

When asked his mother about his intelligence level; she stated that he has very good in visual and Verbal Intelligences. When he was 8 to 9months old his mother developed his skills by playing CDs and showing Flashcards from "Your Baby can Read " and little Dheeraj was so happy to see the flash cards. Later his mother used to make flash cards and teach him about numbers, alphabets, animals, fruits..Etc

It happened a day when she had shown him a chart on flags and he was able to learn all the name of the flags on the chart. Later Dheeraj was introduced to many flags and his verbal and Visual Intelligence helped him to learn as many as 220 flags.

His mother wanted him to get recognised for his intelligence and applied to 'India Book of Records' and after abiding with rules and regulations of the adjudicators; Little Dheeraj broke the Record on 22nd April 2012(2yrs,9mnths) in identifying 218 flags. But three names of flags were not clearly pronounced. So it was only 215 flags.

Today Dheeraj is able to know inventors and their Inventions correctly.  His proud parents are waiting for the proud moment when he would be entering to the "Guinness Book of World Records" that would shortly be in July end or in August.

He did study at Little Millennium- Hebbal Bangalore.

Quick preschool tips

Preschools that properly stimulate and nurture a child’s mind are desired for a child who is better prepared to face kindergarten and elementary school. Selecting a preschool that is right for your child is a tough task. The right preschool will not just prepare your child with academic skills but also develop social skills which are required when your child joins kindergarten. The right preschool is different for different children. Here are factors that you must consider before settling for a preschool for your child.

Start early. Start looking for a suitable preschool for your child as there is lot of rush in most preschool franchisees. Good preschools are high in demand and there is lot of rush when it comes to admission of children to a good school. You could even settle for your neighborhood preschool, but before you admit your child to the nearest preschool, check their curriculum. Do they have a scientific curriculum to meet the needs of your child? Some preschools ask for admission as early as after the birth of the child or after the child has completed two years of age. Call preschools on your selected list and ask them screening questions to see if they meet the needs of your child.

Visit the preschools you have selected and are comfortable with. Take your child along with you. You must consider your feelings about the franchisee and your impressions about the school. See how your child responds to the school environment.

Take your child to the schools on your top priority list. Discuss the activities of the school before you take your child to the school and ask him for his feedback. This will give you an honest impression of your child to the school. Let your child know what he will learn at the school.

Enquire about the number of staff members, the student staff ratio. How well trained the staff members are to handle preschoolers. Also discuss safety issues, the school curriculum and mid-day meal programs. Before you admit your child to the school, make sure you are comfortable with the answers you receive. Talk to other parents whose kids are enrolled at the school. Find out what their impressions are about the school. Are their children happy in the school and are they learning there?  How do they find the school curriculum? Find out if they have any concerns about the school program that they would like to share. Find out if the school will allow your child to try out the school program before you finally admit your child to the school. Some schools offer a free day or a money back guarantee. Others offer refund of the tuition fee after the first month.

Give enough time to your child to adjust to the new environment. Your child may initially resist the new environment because he doesn’t want to be separated from you or is apprehensive about the new environment like meeting new playmates because of shyness. Allow your child to become comfortable with the environment before you decide to withdraw.

Choosing the right preschool for your child can be a difficult task but by following the above mentioned steps, you can select a school that satisfies the needs of your child.