Things to Consider When Choosing a Kindergarten in Kenya
There is nothing as exciting and scary at the same time as starting school.
Enrolling your child in Kindergarten for the first time is one of the biggest milestones in parenting. Parents want to ensure that they pick the best school for their little ones. Somewhere safe and with the best foundation for their children. Below are tips to consider when choosing your child’s first school.
1. The preferred Education system for your child
This should always come first. You need to first look at the Education system that you want your child to go through. With Education systems ranging from the British International system to the CBC system. This will guide you to the right pool of schools to pick from for your preferred curriculum for your child.
2. Prepare a list of schools and plan a Pre-visit to each of them
Write down all kindergartens from your preferred system of Education that offer all your needs. The internet is a great place to search for kindergartens near you. You can also get recommendations from other parents. Plan a pre-visit to each one of them and take your child with you during the visit to see how he interacts with the environment. Observe the atmosphere. Are the teachers and the other staff friendly? Is the school environment clean, safe, and conducive? Are the toilets clean and child friendly?
3. Teacher-to-student ratio
This is a significant factor in your child’s education. The lower the teacher-to-student ratio the easier it is for the teacher to attend to the needs of each child. At these tender ages, children need a lot of individualized attention for their different milestones. This is because children tend to have different strengths and abilities and you don’t want your child to be left behind.
4. Teacher Children interaction
Observe the class in session. How is the interaction between the teacher and the children? Do the children seem happy? Are they enjoying the lesson? Is it hands-on? Are the teachers creative, fun and patient?
5. Understand the school’s Policy and culture
How is the daily school program? The school’s values should be in line with your own. Is the school’s culture what you would like your child to practice? The school’s policy should not be uptight, all work and no playtime, as this will limit the child’s creativity.
6. Extra-curricular activities
Lots of extracurricular activities are good for the development of a child as it allows them to explore different activities discover their talents and nurture them. It also teaches the child social skills and boosts their self-confidence. Activities such as swimming, athletics and tae-kwondo are great for children.
7. Budget
This is a critical factor when choosing a school for your child. Be sure to pick a school where you can be able to pay the fees to avoid circumstances whereby your child misses out on school due to fee arrears. This should help you narrow down the list of schools to those that fit within your budget.
Budget 2022 text background. Stock photo.
8. Location
The school’s location should be somewhere conducive for learning to take place. Avoid schools that are next to a market center and look into schools in a quiet and serene environment. Give preference for schools that are near your home to reduce commute time. However, if none of the neighboring schools fit your child’s needs, ask for school transport to ease the burden of drop and pick up.
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