While preschool for children aged 3 to 4 is not mandatory in the Philippines, there’s no denying that kids at these age groups are eager learners. Hence, they should not miss out on age-appropriate growth and learning opportunities.
Preschools enable our young ones to meet important developmental milestones. They are similar in their educational goals, but differ in their approaches to early learning. So it is important to choose wisely who to trust to care for and nurture your child.
Below, we list down some factors to consider:
1. Teachers’ qualification and training
The quality of education highly depends on a school’s teachers and instructors. Check the school’s training and hiring process as well as the background, track record, and qualifications of its current teachers. After all, your child will learn from them so they might as well learn from the best.
2. Tuition fees
This should obviously be a major consideration for parents when sending kids to a preschool. Private preschools can be expensive, so you would want to ensure you are getting your money’s worth, especially at this time when every peso counts.
3. Reporting process
This is often neglected when choosing a preschool. Some parents think that as long as their child is being taught in school, then everything should be fine. Feedback is crucial when it comes to your child’s development, so it’s important for the school to have a reporting process that focuses on a child’s learning pattern, strength, and challenges so parents have an overview of which areas to address.
4. School’s teaching methods and curriculum
When scouting for a preschool, ask about its methods and curriculum. Do they focus more on engagement and hands-on learning? Is their curriculum appropriate for your child’s age?
5. Age requirements for enrollees
Preschools have a different minimum age limit. Depending on your child’s age, you’d have to find a place that offers lessons and activities appropriate for them. Some schools accept younger kids, while others have a minimum age limit of 3 years old.
6. Education philosophy
Preschools also have different belief and value systems: some are more open, while others are more conservative. There are also preschools that have built-in philosophy that serves as a guide for their teaching methods, such as Montessori. Make sure to find a preschool that’s aligned with the values and philosophy you want your child to learn.
7. Online learning capability
Our kids are unable to go to school physically at this time, making the decision process of choosing a preschool more challenging. Check out schools that have online learning capabilities and ask questions about how they were able to transition from brightly-colored physical classrooms to computer screens, how they handle virtual classrooms, and what activities can be adapted for learning at home.
We rounded up some preschools that offer online learning which allows your young learner to have an educational and interactive early childhood education:
HAND Preschool: For children 2 to 5 years old, HAND Preschool offers progressive education built on the belief that kids can ask questions and share their ideas. It offers holistic education and individualized curriculum.
Learning Hub Playschool: Dedicated to bring school fun to your home, Learning Hub Playschool offers quality education through interactive online learning sessions. For just Php1,000, you get to have 3 sessions in a week. The school accepts kids 2 to 5 years old.
Smallville Montessori: Built around the philosophy of Montessori schools, Smallville Montessori engages children as young as 2.5 years old through fun school activities that are designed to capture their imagination. Its teachers also meet the international Montessori standards. Want to check it out first?
The Little Apprentice Preschool: Perfect for kids as young as 2, The Little Apprentice School offers subjects that improve your child’s skills: from Math to critical thinking and reading, among others. Classes start on August 9 and end on April 22, with limited slots only.
Discovery Academy of Innovation: Kids aged 3-5, Discovery Academy of Innovation's preschool program characterized by a nurturing environment, play-based learning, global citizenship education, and purposeful use of technology.
