Choosing a private kindergarten for your child is an important decision that can shape their early educational experiences. To ensure you select the right private kindergarten, consider focusing on the following areas and looking for specific factors in each.
1. Curriculum and Teaching Philosophy
2. Class Size and Student-to-Teacher Ratio
3. Teacher and School Qualifications
4. Safety and Facilities
5. Parental Involvement and Communication
By considering these factors and asking related questions, you can make a well-informed decision when choosing a private kindergarten that aligns with your child's educational needs and your family's values.
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Self-care is the ability of a private kindergarten student to do things that promote hygiene and health. The tasks can be any productive activity, including dressing, washing, and using the restroom when necessary. As part of whole-child development, routines that reinforce self-care are appropriate activities in Montessori schools.
1. Morning Routine A consistent morning routine can help Montessori kindergarten children develop good hygiene habits, such as brushing their teeth and washing their face. This routine can also include getting dressed independently, putting away their pajamas, and making their bed. Regular tooth brushing can help prevent tooth decay and promote good oral hygiene. Encouraging children to brush their teeth twice a day, after breakfast and before bedtime, can help establish a tooth-brushing routine. Learning to dress themselves independently can help build their confidence and self-reliance. Establishing a consistent dressing routine, such as laying out clothes the night before, can help children learn to choose appropriate clothing and get dressed independently. 2. Mealtime Activities A mealtime routine can help children develop healthy eating habits and learn proper table manners. This routine can include setting the table, serving themselves, and cleaning up after meals. This is also a great opportunity for activities that involve pouring and measuring. Mealtime routines teach children the importance of healthy eating, and help them establish a schedule that provides behavioral cues to last a lifetime. 3. Bathroom and Hand Washing A consistent bathroom routine can help children develop good hygiene habits and learn to use the bathroom independently. This routine can include washing their hands after using the bathroom, wiping themselves properly, and flushing the toilet. 4. Outdoor Interactions A routine that includes outdoor play can help children develop gross motor skills, learn about nature, and expend energy. This routine can include outdoor activities such as playing on the playground, going for a nature walk, or engaging in sports and games. Children should also be encouraged to take responsibility for their outdoor clothing and equipment, such as putting on and taking off their jackets and shoes. Routines are important for all children, but they can be especially beneficial for children with certain types of learning challenges such as autism or Attention Deficit Disorder. In these situations, regularly scheduled routines provide an anchor for children to adhere to, and having their regular routines interrupted or omitted may cause children to experience mild to severe distress. You may have heard that daycare is a different sort of educational system, and you are curious whether that is the right type of daycare for your daughter. The important thing is to make sure that the school you choose is an authentic Montessori school, and here are some tell-tale signs that indicate it is.
Authentic Montessori An authentic Montessori daycare is a special sort of environment. The problem is, "Montessori" is not a trademarked educational system and there are a lot of Montessori schools that are using the name but not the Method itself. Authentic Montessori schools will feature a classroom scaled to the perspective of children, authentic Montessori activities, and the school will be certified by the American Montessori Society or similar governing body. Well-Qualified Teachers Montessori instructors receive special training in the Montessori Method, in addition to being qualified for teaching in a traditional environment. Montessori schools typically have a high retention rate, and many Montessori teachers stick with the same school for their entire career. This benefits the children because they are assured of having the same instructors for several years, providing an important and consistent framework for the children to learn in. Mixed-Age Groups Montessori classrooms are known for having mixed aged students. Maria Montessori recognized that children learn better when they have consistency, including staying in the same room with the same peers and teacher, for a 3-year span. This makes it possible for children to learn different skills at different paces without "falling behind" the other students. The Prepared Environment Another hallmark of the Montessori Method is the prepared environment children learn in. Everything is in the same place every day, the room is furnished-- and decorated-- from the child's perspective, and children are allowed to move freely between one activity and another. Together with staying with the same teachers and the 3-year group span, the prepared environment offers a consistent and predictable atmosphere that allows children to focus on their activities instead of constantly readjusting to a new setting. Whole-Child Development Authentic Montessori schools follow a doctrine of whole-child development. What that means is that attention is given to all aspects of early development, including physical activities, social interaction, emotional control, and academic instruction such as early math concepts, language skills, and learning to draw letters and numbers. Montessori schools have proven their worth, providing superior results for children of all walks and backgrounds. Even children with learning challenges such as ADHD or autism have been shown to accept and thrive in a Montessori environment, and children who fall into the gifted spectrum will find the prepared environment an excellent opportunity to hone their skills. Science is one of the easiest subjects to incorporate into a private kindergarten environment. Potential science experiments are all around us, and everyone makes a good addition to a hands-on learning environment. In the bargain, small children will develop math skills, learn new vocabulary, and discover information that brings their world into a little bit clearer focus.
1. Rain Jars Imitating the fall of rain is a simple and colorful science experiment prefect for a Montessori kindergarten. Fill a clear jar three-quarters full of water. In a small cup mix a couple of tablespoons of water with food coloring. Spray a little foamy shave cream into the top of the clear jar and then use a spoon or eyedropper to transfer some of the colored water onto the upper side of the shaving cream. As the water dissolves through the shaving lather, the colored water will begin to "rain" into the clear water below. 2. Eggshell Germination Using eggshells to germinate seeds will give Montessori children a look at science in action. Simply add a little potting soil to a cracked egg shell, and a little water and place the shell back into the egg carton. Most seeds will germinate in 3 to 10 days, but be sure to check the shells daily and make sure they have enough water. To prevent over watering, use a pin and push a small hole into the bottom of the shell. The beauty of germinating seeds like this is that the whole shell can be planted after the seed germinates because plant roots can penetrate the shell easily. 3. Balloon Races For this activity, you will need some long pieces of string, some strong adhesive tape, straw segments, and balloons. Push the end of the string through a straw segment and then tie it off tightly on both ends. Carefully inflate the balloon, and then release the open end to watch it zip across the line, held in place by the piece of straw. This is a simplified way to demonstrate cause and effect, and makes for an enjoyable activity. Experiment with attaching various objects to the balloon before releasing it to find out what effect additional weight has on the movement of the balloon. Science is perfect for a kindergarten classroom. It teaches us the secrets of the physical world, and helps children build stronger vocabularies and math skills. And b y allowing the children to participate in performing the science experiments, it gives them a sense of accomplishment and success when the experiment works out as expected. The materials used in a Montessori private kindergarten are carefully designed to be self-correcting, enjoyable, and to encourage the mastery of multiple early developmental skillsets. This includes things like fine motor skills, academic subjects, and intellectual skills such as critical thinking and problem-solving.
Learning Through Doing What Maria Montessori observed early in the 20th century was that Montessori kindergarten children learn best when they are able to get immersed in their education. Since then, numerous studies have repeated her findings, showing that children perform better and absorb information more readily when they are engaged with it using hands-on learning materials. This does not mean that children are simply playing instead of being taught, it means that children are being taught using materials that are carefully chosen to keep children engaged as they learn. Consistency and Repetition No one becomes an expert the first time they attempt a new task. This is just as true for adults as it is for children. With authentic Montessori materials, children are able to return to the same activity over and over, and the activities are designed to be self-self-correcting so that kids will immediately know whether they have done the job correctly. Natural Learning Strategies Another early observation made by Montessori was that children learn by playing in a natural setting. Authentic Montessori activities are designed to entertain and engage children at that level, and even though they outwardly appear to be playing they are actually fully engaged in absorbing new information. Prepared Environments The Montessori prepared environment is designed to resonate with a child's desire for consistency and order. In a Montessori classroom, children are going about many different activities-- even moving from one to another freely-- yet the area remains free of clutter. This is because the Montessori Method includes teaching children the process of putting things away in their proper place when they are no longer being used. Practical Skills Not all Montessori materials were designed expressly for the classroom. The Montessori Method also dictates that successful childhood development includes learning practical skills such as measuring, pouring, and cutting. These are skills that children will use repeatedly throughout their lives but are sadly omitted from nearly all traditional public school systems. Montessori classrooms are intended to provide a full spectrum of developmental tools for young children. What appears to be a toy is actually a well-crafted and carefully chosen activity that provides one or more important lessons. The benefits of such activities are numerous and the results are time-tested. Over the years, Montessori private kindergarten has developed a reputation for instilling leadership skills in young students. Maria Montessori observed that children tended to be more accepting of ideas presented by more confident members of the group, and that facilitated early development by encouraging all children to think and act more independently.
Mixed Age ClassesBeginning with the unique 3-year age grouping used by your Montessori preschool, children begin learning that feeling good about others begins with feeling good about themselves. Since children remain in the same group for an extended length of time, each child in the class takes a turn at being among the oldest-- and therefore the most knowledgeable and experienced-- children in the room. This builds self-esteem and fosters social skills that involve sharing and helping others. Promoting Critical ThinkingOnce a child has learned to look at their own behavior and see it mirrored in the world around them, they can apply critical thinking skills to improve performance, gain more acceptance, and solve unpleasant situations peacefully. Critical thinking requires children to have confidence in their ability to make appropriate decisions, magnifying the need for children to learn respect and self-confidence along with other leadership skills. Grace and CourtesyGrace and courtesy are a cornerstone of the Montessori Method. From day one, children learn and are expected to abide by various social rules that create order in social situations. They practice these skills by using them in the normal course of the day, so that respect for themselves, for others, and for the greater world they inhabit becomes a natural and normal way to approach all of life's activities. TeamworkMontessori is an interactive form of education. Children use interactive. self-correcting activities and they work in pairs or groups to accomplish goals. Coupled with respect and courtesy, teamwork helps children further develop critical thinking skills and conveys the importance of achieving some task as part of a greater collective. This builds confidence and gives children real-world perspectives that help them become better leaders and team players. The Montessori approach to education is meant to encourage children to develop the self-esteem necessary to take on life's challenges. As a bonus, children who have respect for themselves and others are already on the path to becoming leaders. It is not that the Montessori Method is focused on building leaders, it is that the Montessori Method instructs children in a manner that leads to better leadership skills. Montessori preschool is a different sort of educational system designed to assist children in many areas of early development. The underlying preschool philosophy is that children are born without knowledge of the world but hungry to absorb as much information as they can. Enrolling your child as early as daycare or preschool produces the best results, for the following reasons.
The Absorbent Mind Maria Montessori explained that the minds of preschool children can be likened to a sponge. They begin empty of content but will readily soak up knowledge through play-based activities that provide information in a broad spectrum of developmental areas. The Absorbent mind phase begins at birth and continues throughout the first 6 years of life, making those early years the most important period for childhood development. Montessori's Developmental ApproachThe Montessori Method is dedicated to whole-child development, and the process begins as early as possible. During the critical early years, Montessori challenges children physically, mentally, emotionally, and academically. Through hands-on activities, children learn valuable practical skills while improving their fine and gross motor skills, learning to interact with other people-- children and adults alike-- and constructing the foundations of academic learning that include language, math, science, reading, and more. Self-Paced LearningA big difference between Montessori and traditional public education is that Montessori uses self-paced techniques that allow children to advance as they achieve specific goals instead of all children being forced to learn the same subjects as a single group. These techniques have shown excellent results for children with many different abilities, including gifted kids, autistic children, those with learning challenges, and everything in between. Mixed Age GroupingsBecause children learn at different paces, traditional classroom groupings are ineffective. Instead of every child being within a few months of the same age, Montessori classes encompass a 3-year age span. This makes it easier for children to learn faster or slower without being removed from their peers. Furthermore, when every child spends time among the youngest and the oldest in the class, they have the opportunity to fill different social roles as well. This never happens in traditional settings where the same children are either the oldest or youngest throughout their education. Montessori excels at early development, beginning in daycare and progressing through preschool. kindergarten, and beyond. The earlier they get involved in the Montessori Method, the easier it will be to learn and develop everything from motor skills to things like science and writing. The absorbent mind is capable of taking in a lot of information, but the sponge-like years go by quickly. Reading is an important skill that should be developed early and reinforced often in private kindergarten. To that end, these 4 books encourage children to read while delivering important messages and academic lessons in an entertaining and non-intrusive way.
1. National Geographic Kids Readers: Jump Pup By Susan B. Neuman This book is excellent for kindergarten kids who are learning to read. It uses kid-friendly reading techniques that make words easier to read, and creates a lively puppy adventure children can get engaged in. Put this one at the top of your child's reading list, and set aside some time to enjoy it with her. 2. One Family By George Shannon Possibly the most academically slanted of our picks, this book is all about counting, but it is also about diversity and inclusion. With entertaining illustrations and easy-to-read text, the book looks at the many types of families and how they care for one another. counting is an important skill, and this book delivers counting practice with an engaging storyline. 3. You are Enough By Margaret O'Hair This book is all about diversity and how everyone is unique. It shows that sometimes, the thing that is different is the most important part. Understanding how differences in people, places, and things are what makes the world such a wondrous and exciting adventure. Self-esteem and inclusion are important developmental traits and this book makes their magic come to life. 4. What Does It Mean to Be Kind By Rana DiOrio A chain reaction is set in motion when one girl decides to take a chance and be nice to the new kid. It doesn't take long until the whole town has gotten involved, and kindness begins to spread. This book takes a look at empathy, the importance of grace and courtesy, and more. It is well-illustrated and engages children while encouraging positive social interaction. With a few online searches, you will find dozens of great books to keep your children interested in turning the pages. Think about the things she finds interesting and try to provide her with books that include those subjects. When the books she is presented with cover topics she wants to find out about, she is far more likely to spend more time reading and experience better retention of the words she reads. Music and movement activities are an important part of the Montessori private kindergarten environment. From academic lessons to exploring foreign cultures, music and movement combine to impart knowledge, build muscle tone, and help children develop a healthy sense of self-esteem. To illustrate the importance of music and movement, let's take a look at 3 types of music-oriented activities and the benefits they provide.
1. The Beat of Different Drums Putting together her own unique set of drums and learning how different materials and shapes create different sounds is one way that kindergarten children are engaged in music and movement. This fosters critical thinking skills and helps children learn basic aspects of music theory such as cadence and rhythm. From pans and bowls to xylophones, there is a world of percussion for children to explore. 2. Sing-A-Long Activities Singing songs as a group helps children learn the words to popular songs, teaches them about foreign languages and cultures and offers a wealth of parable-style teaching opportunities that encourage great behavior and demonstrate the possibilities of critical thinking. And all of that is in addition to basic musical skills like staying in tune, keeping time to the music, and participating in a social environment. 3. Dance, Dance, Dance Dancing helps preschool children develop in multiple ways. Not only does it help develop both fine and gross motor skills, but it also encourages thinking critically and creatively, imparts cultural knowledge, and increases vocabulary and language skills. Music and dance have roots in the earliest human cultures and have been used for instruction and communication in every civilization of the world. Keeping children engaged and interested is at the core of Montessori-style play-based education. Music and movement activities appeal to the young minds in many ways, and that makes music an essential tool for the Montessori classroom. Beginning with rattles and discovery bottles in infancy, children use music-oriented activities throughout their developmental years. Your Montessori private kindergarten is focused on the development of the entire child, and that offers a variety of positive influences for children to better themselves and become more conscientious members of the classroom, family, and community. These 4 examples showcase the multiple ways that Montessori encourages childhood development.
1. Developing Self-Esteem Private kindergarten continues the development of social skills that children have been learning since daycare. Because children who feel secure about their abilities have more freedom to apply themselves, self-esteem is a vital part of the Montessori Method. As a positive influence, self-esteem builds strong character and a willingness to take part in group events and activities. 2. Applied Critical Thinking Early in the Montessori process, children learn to make decisions and accept consequences, and private kindergarten continues the process. Developing problem-solving skills helps children learn to be more productive and associative. Critical thinking is a crucial part of language, math, and science activities, and includes everything from practical life activities to authentic Montessori materials. 3. Citizenship in Action Citizenship develops out of self-esteem and critical thinking. It includes social etiquette, diplomacy, and the ability to handle situations responsibly and tactfully resolving situations. As children get older and take part in the larger community, they will be more prepared to be active members of the family and community. 4. Learning By Doing Hands-on activities encourage retention and promote self-reliance. Maria Montessori recognized that children learn better and remember the information longer when they are able to immerse themselves in the activity. As a consequence, children learn to perform better and gain the confidence to apply themselves in different ways Children who attend Montessori private kindergarten are encouraged to develop mentally, physically, and socially. This results in well-rounded children who are capable of applying themselves to many situations and confident in their ability to interact in a peaceful and responsible way |
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