Early childhood education is a hot topic nowadays.
But, how do you choose the right type of schooling to set your child up right for the rest of their life?
Well, we have the information you need to choose the best school for your kid. So keep reading!
Waldorf Schools
Waldorf education programs follow a schedule every day and every week. But, the schedule incorporates play and creativity, rather than a strictly academic schedule.
Waldorf schools aim to help a child develop their identity through their various senses and improve their cognitive development. This education method was created by Rudolf Steiner in Austria.
Montessori Schools
Montessori programs are ones where the educational program is lead by the students. These programs are less scheduled and strict than other forms of preschool curriculums. This aims to encourage creativity and independence in the students who attend the school.
Different ages of students are included in each Montessori classroom, to encourage play between different age groups. The Montessori method of early childhood education was developed by Maria Montessori, who was a doctor in Italy, in the early 1900s. You can get more info about Montessori curriculums today.
Cooperative Preschools
Cooperative preschool programs are ones where the parents are directly involved in creating the curriculum. This keeps them more engaged daily.
Parents may hire the teachers, and sit on the board of directors in these programs. While these programs can be helpful in a lot of ways, they also tend to be a lot of work for their parents, so they may not be as well-suited to busy professionals who don’t have a lot of free time on their hands.
Reggio Emilia
Reggio Emilia programs are similar to Montessori programs, but with some differences. Rather than independence, Reggio Emilia programs encourage students to work together and create a community while working to create different creative projects.
These programs are also meant to encourage emotional intelligence and help the students fully realize their creativity from an early age. These programs also include the parents in the process of learning, and let them give their input throughout the education process. Reggio Emilia programs date back from the 1970s, in Italy, and were formulated by Loris Malaguzzi.
Bank Street
Bank Street educational programs focus on letting your children learn through doing hands-on activities, while teachers follow their lead and act as mediators for the process of learning. This allows students who attend Bank Street programs to grow at their own pace. Bank Street preschool programs were created by Lucy Sprague Mitchell in the early 20th century, in New York City.
Early Childhood Education: Now You Know
With this info on early childhood education, you should be well on your way to creating the best path for your child. Just weigh your options carefully, and don’t rule anything out.
Are you interested in more parenting information? We’ve got the 411. Keep checking out our other articles for more of what you need.
