How to choose the right kindergarten or nursery school.

A kindergarten is most probably one of the first places your child gets the opportunity to mix around with many children of his/her own age group without your supervision.The kindergarten can be the place for your child to start having a little independence, really learn to socialise, tackle likes and dislikes, understand the meaning of friendship, cooperation, teamwork as well as learn to get along with other children.

This is also the place for your child to start basic formal education and be given the opportunity to put into practice the words and other types of knowledge learned through the parents.

How much benefit your child can get from one year's attendance in a kindergarten depends very much on your choice of kindergarten.

Knowing that the progress to be made by your child can be determined by your choice of the right kindergarten, the next obvious question is 'What is the criteria of a good kindergarten?'Have you thought about it?

A good kindergarten:
1) First, we must decide on the target language. Once we have decided on the language, look for the best kindergarden that places importance on its learning and employs qualified teachers proficient in the language.

2) Does the kindergarten have any excellent systematic or special programme planned for the children?

3) Next, look at activities available at the kindergarten. Besides languagelearning, what other benefits can your child get? Does your child get tolearn how to swim? Swimming is a good exercise which may come in useful one day. What about yoga or gymnastics? Gymnastics develops strength as well as agility while yoga brings health and keeps the body supple. Are the coaches qualified? However, such activities can only be considered a bonus if criteria number 1 and 2 are fulfilled for they are the more important ones.

4) Perhaps we could find out whether the children come from families where the parents have started teaching their children the target language.If not, does the kindergarten have a method whereby children with almost the same proficiency are grouped together. It is not a matter of who is better. We are not talking about intelligence either. If a child who has not learned the English Language is placed in a class where most of the students are already good, orally maybe, at the language, then the child may not be able to follow or catch up with the others. On the other hand, should a child already good at the alphabets and can read a little
be put among total beginners, this child may find the lessons too boring as what is taught the other children is already known to him/her.

5) Eventually, all good things can only prove to benefit us enormously if they are well managed. so, is the kindergarten or nursery school well managed?

Choice of nursery school or kindergarten must be made early. Time is needed to choose well. This choice is important.


When it comes to learning at a kindergarten, other questions on the number of years and the various reasons for giving our children more time at kindergartens. This will be discussed in my next posting.