Choosing the Right Preschool for Your Kids - Different Methods in Early Childhood Education

As parents, we always want what is best for our kids. Many of us put a lot of premium on good education because we see education as a way to prepare our kids for the challenges they will face in the future. That is why we spend so much time researching and hunting for the best preschool to send our kids to.

When choosing the right preschool for your kids, we take several things into account. For example, most parents want preschools that are near their homes or their place of work. Tuition and fees are of course, something that parents look at. The qualifications of the teachers, the teaching method and feedback from parents are also important considerations.

These days, preschools often subscribe to a particular method of teaching. You'll hear terms like traditional, progressive, and Montessori to describe the school's approach to education. Arguably, the most popular ones are the progressive and the traditional approach to education. There has been a lot of debate on the merits of each philosophy over another. If you are just as confused as most parents are, here's a handy guide to help you understand what each teaching philosophy is all about.

Traditional Education

This type of approach to learning is one that adheres to set standards. Testing and measuring the progress of a child's learning is important in this kind of setting. There is a set curriculum that defines what is appropriate for a child to learn and to master at each grade level. Most of us grew up being educated in this type of method.

Pros:

    Since this method has been around forever, it has a proven track record of producing competent kids.
    There are kids that thrive in an environment where learning is structured
    Easier for teachers to manage since there is a set lesson for all the children
    There are a lot of materials that cater to this type of approach - things like workbooks, textbooks, etc.
    Most big schools and universities use this style of teaching.

Cons:

    In this type of approach there is no allowance for children's individual learning speed.
    Danger of too much emphasis on lectures and instruction and not much emphasis on critical thinking.
    Large classroom size; low teacher to student ratio.

Progressive Style

The progressive approach to teaching prides itself on having a student-centered learning environment. Schools that adhere to this type of style will often say that they allow children to learn through discovery or by doing. Assessment of a child's progress is done on an individual basis.

Pros:

    The style and the pace of learning is centered around the child
    Less emphasis on memorization and textbook instruction and more emphasis on experiential learning and critical thinking
    High teacher to student ratio

Cons:

    Since this is a relatively new teaching style, schools that offer this method of teaching are quite young, too.
    Teachers are also new to this type of instruction and requires constant training to continue to learn how to guide their students
    Usually have "higher" tuition fees than traditional schools, largely due to the higher teacher-student ratio.

Montessori Method

The Montessori method of learning believes that each child has the propensity to learn. They learn from the things and the people in their environment. A teacher's role is to create an environment that allows this innate curiosity to blossom.

Pros:

    This type of method is the one we unconsciously use when children learn inside the home. The activities inside the home provide the environment that allows children to learn.
    Recognizes 0 to 6 as an important stage in a child's development
    Empowers children and encourages them to become active learners

Cons:

    Method is usually only applied in the education of young children age 0 to 6.

Now that you know a bit about the different methods of teaching.