The choice to entrust your child to another person’s care is one of the biggest parenting decisions. You want to make sure your little one is happy and safe while they are away from home.
When visiting childcare settings, look for a clean environment and lots of things for children to do. Listen for teachers talking to children kindly and respectfully.
Nursery
Every parent wants their child to have a good education, and childcare in Glasgow is the first step towards that goal. But is your child ready? While most nurseries accept kids up to age 4, readiness depends on more than just age. It’s also important that your child is emotionally and socially ready for the classroom environment, which can be a huge adjustment.
While nurseries focus on learning through play, they do still offer some academic activities. It’s just that those activities are often more imaginative and less focused on pre-academic skills like shapes, colours, and numbers. But a high-quality nursery will make sure that doesn’t cut into your child’s essential play time.
Before-Nursery
The right decision depends on a lot of factors, including your child’s personality and interests, your family’s finances, values and priorities. You’ll also want to visit the schools you’re considering, and ask about class sizes and teacher-to-child ratios. A low student-to-teacher ratio will help ensure your child gets the attention they need to thrive.
A high-quality pre-K program can provide your child with a solid foundation that will prepare them for elementary school and beyond. Many families choose to enroll their children in a public school-funded nursery program, which is usually free for 4-year-olds. But you can also choose a private nursery school, or a religious or community-based program, as well as childcare centres and head start.
It’s important to find a place that is close to home, because little kids tire easily and don’t handle long commutes very well. Some parents also choose to find a program near their workplaces, so they can pick up their children at the end of a day’s work.
It’s not a requirement for your child to attend, but it can be helpful. It can help your child develop the social and emotional skills they need to learn, and it can give them a taste of what school will be like.
After-Nursery
Preschool and pre-nursery are great for kids because they help them learn to socialise with other children in a classroom environment. Depending on the program, they may also learn math, reading and phonics skills as well as basic science. Kids who attend preschool or pre-nursery often show better motor and language development, higher test scores and better cognitive function when they enter nursery.
However, if your child does not attend either of those programs, before and after school care can be a great option. These programs allow kids to socialize with other children in a different setting than their schools, play ‘big kid’ games and handle homework assignments in a structured environment that is not quite as formal as school.
