Its that time of the year !... yes the School Admissions time.. which in recent times becomes a stressful time for parents of toddlers. As a parent I also faced what every parent goes through.. confusion, anxiety and stress when it comes to this tedious process of sending their little ones to the 'big' schools. The exhaustive processes of visiting the school, shortlisting the schools, filling up forms and the anxiety of final results gives us all many a sleepless nights.
We have seen parents preparing the kids, working with the playschools to enrich their skills to showcase in the interactive sessions or calculating how they are faring on the point systems. You are constantly haunted with questions like 'Which school is best for your child with respect to distance or curriculum' or 'which school has a better reputation' or ' how much fees do we have to shell out'
Finding answers and fitting yourself and your child into the admission parameters becomes not just days but months or even more longer task for all.
So how do you decide ?
As a parent myself and and connecting with parents across the city everyday, we all resonate the same feeling that our child is a piece of us and first and foremost we should be looking at where our child will be safest and loved and cared just like home. Where the kid will be enjoying and liking the hours he/she spends away from you.
At the child's age of about 3-4 years, should we be thinking how our child will fare in higher classes or which school claims to prepare the child for better career in future.
So probably a few parameters which can help us in finding our answers and choosing what is best for our kids could be :
- Safety & Security of the child at school.
Look at the safety setups at school wrt to policy guidelines. Check and question their setups and raise your concerns.
- Nurturing and encouragement of talents (scope of extra curruculars)
You must see what are the extra activities that are build into the everyday routines in early years to give a wholesome development to the child.
- Academic preferences ( Boards and academic strengths)
Selecting the curriculum that is right for your child actually makes a difference later in middle or senior years. For primary years seek where kids are learning holistically and not opressed under academics routines and exams
- Faculty and management backgrounds
Faculty competence and management outlook must be also considered as the teachers are your kid's care taker for many hours in the day and the way your child is taught not just academics, but morals, values and inclusiveness with all is a very important aspect of growing up for the child.
- Fee budgets
Yes, our pockets matter too. Finding the right school which fits your criteria and still doesn't pinch on your financials can be a tough decision.
- Distance from home
If you have access to reliable more of transport from your end or school transport system, distance should not be so much of an issue when it comes to the right institution for your child.
- Distance from home
If you have access to reliable more of transport from your end or school transport system, distance should not be so much of an issue when it comes to the right institution for your child.
An important aspect to remember is choose what could work best for your child, not you. What worked for you decades back or fits best in your decision, may or may not be best for your child. So choose wisely and in relaxed manner... Don't worry and panic if it doesn't work best for the child in initial years. There is still a long way to go and you can change the school in later years for what works for your child best.
Best of Luck Parents !
Best of Luck Parents !