Friday, June 6, 2014
The right preschool program can make a huge impact on a child's early learning experiences and development. It is up to the parents to make sure that the school they select offers an environment that will foster the child's social and cognitive learning. By personally visiting each preschool Medford Oregon families can best evaluate them and see to it that each of the following essential qualities is present.
The school needs to be clean, free of bad smells, and floors and toys should not be too grubby or sticky. Mess is normal for small children, and should be expected as they are busy playing at various activities. The classroom should have child-accessible washrooms and cubbies for each child. Toys and learning materials and snacks also need to be easy for the children to access on their own. There should be a number of different organized play centers which each feature an activity such as reading, art, water play, building etc.
Independent and group play are the main vehicles through which young children learn. A healthy preschool environment consists of a classroom abuzz with the action of children playing and interacting together, and participating in "circle time" with their teachers to hear stories or sing songs. The emphasis should be on free play as opposed to structure.
The preschool age group is normally made up of three to five year-olds, teachers need to be able to relate well to the students and ready to provide assistance with any problems including squabbles which inevitably happen between classmates. Focus should be on the unique personality of each child, and helping them to build on their strengths and overcome their obstacles.
The body language these teachers use also matters. Kneeling or crouching down to the child's level and making eye contact is an important way to establish a connection between the adult teachers and their preschool students. It helps to make them more approachable and conveys a message of caring. A teacher should be someone the child feels at ease with and can rely on for support and encouragement.
Children should be encouraged to have a free reign over their creativity when it comes to art projects produced in the classroom. Furthermore, teachers should proudly display all the creations of their young students, to give the children a sense of achievement and to show how much creativity is valued.
There should be a wide variety of interesting play materials available to stimulate creativity and exploration, all of which are in fairly good condition, safe, and suitable for this age group. Examples include a large selection of books, arts and crafts materials, dolls, cars, building materials, and play centers to encourage imaginary play such as a doctor's office, kitchen, and dress-up clothes.
The teachers should also watch each child closely to get a general sense of his or her progress, and to recognize any potential areas of difficulty the child may encounter. Parents should be made aware of any delays early on, so the issue can be addressed in preschool before the child starts kindergarten.
The school needs to be clean, free of bad smells, and floors and toys should not be too grubby or sticky. Mess is normal for small children, and should be expected as they are busy playing at various activities. The classroom should have child-accessible washrooms and cubbies for each child. Toys and learning materials and snacks also need to be easy for the children to access on their own. There should be a number of different organized play centers which each feature an activity such as reading, art, water play, building etc.
Independent and group play are the main vehicles through which young children learn. A healthy preschool environment consists of a classroom abuzz with the action of children playing and interacting together, and participating in "circle time" with their teachers to hear stories or sing songs. The emphasis should be on free play as opposed to structure.
The preschool age group is normally made up of three to five year-olds, teachers need to be able to relate well to the students and ready to provide assistance with any problems including squabbles which inevitably happen between classmates. Focus should be on the unique personality of each child, and helping them to build on their strengths and overcome their obstacles.
The body language these teachers use also matters. Kneeling or crouching down to the child's level and making eye contact is an important way to establish a connection between the adult teachers and their preschool students. It helps to make them more approachable and conveys a message of caring. A teacher should be someone the child feels at ease with and can rely on for support and encouragement.
Children should be encouraged to have a free reign over their creativity when it comes to art projects produced in the classroom. Furthermore, teachers should proudly display all the creations of their young students, to give the children a sense of achievement and to show how much creativity is valued.
There should be a wide variety of interesting play materials available to stimulate creativity and exploration, all of which are in fairly good condition, safe, and suitable for this age group. Examples include a large selection of books, arts and crafts materials, dolls, cars, building materials, and play centers to encourage imaginary play such as a doctor's office, kitchen, and dress-up clothes.
The teachers should also watch each child closely to get a general sense of his or her progress, and to recognize any potential areas of difficulty the child may encounter. Parents should be made aware of any delays early on, so the issue can be addressed in preschool before the child starts kindergarten.
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