Preschool education in India/Chennai

To improve future learning experiences, it’s important to educate the young mind. Early childhood education has evolved significantly. Over the time, globally, there is a more formalistic approach towards preschool education. The scenario is the same in India and also in Chennai. It is interesting to note that this formalistic approach has improved the learning experiences throughout a student’s educational career.

One can trace back early childhood education back to the 1800s in Europe and this idea travelled to America in the 1870s with the beginning of a kindergarten program in 1873 in Wisconsin. With time, day care centers emerged along with nursery programs. In 1926, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) came into being in the US.

Methods of Early Childhood Education:

• Montessori Method
• Reggio Emilia Approach
• Play-Based Learning
• Direct Instruction

Early Childhood Education in India:

The present competitive scenario of Indian education has made parents voluntarily choose preschool education for their children as they feel that with early formalistic education, the chances of their children doing better in later stages is more. They feel that a preschool is a head start for their children’s bright future.

Preschool education has become one of the main pillars of education now in India. With the introduction of movements like "Education for all" the emphasis of preschool education changed towards play methods so that children have ample room for formal education as well as overall development. One of the earliest preschools in India is The Children’s Garden School established in 1936.

Early approaches of preschool education in India encouraged the feeling of mutual care that is congruous with the interdependent Indian society as against the independent and competitive west. This has drastically changed in the present. With the emergence of many private players in the field of preschool education, and the hybridization of the approaches, preschool education has become a dynamic entity.

Now, in India and in Chennai especially, we find that preschools are concentrating more on preparing children for schools. This doesn’t mean that the play is totally taken out. One thing is clear, apart from being serious business preschools have taken the burden off many parents in order to prepare them for later education.

Preschools in Chennai:

Chennai is teeming with preschools now. From Raja Annamalaipuram to Alwarpet, Tambaram to Mylapore one can find all the major brands of preschools operating their franchisees. These preschools maintain a healthy teacher to student ratio of 1:5 and have hybrid methodologies. The main emphasis of these schools are:

• Improving motor skills.
• Problem solving skills.
• Social skills.
• Self expression.
• Learning alphabets and numbers.
• Exposure to sports, dance, music and spoken English.

With a whole range of brands available, it would sometimes be difficult for parents to choose the best school in Chennai. Parents should consult their peers, and colleagues before selecting these schools. They might even take the help of many online educational portals that provide in depth information, reviews, and some of them who even facilitate admissions. With the help of these portals, it would be easier as one can compare among the top play schools in Chennai who seem to have identical features.

https://www.enrolmentdesk.com/chennai/preschools

I am a post graduate in English and am a writer for the past 12 years. I am deeply concerned about the standards of education in India.