Enough and more research on early childhood education has shown the advantage of preschools for children. Simply put, they help children learn “pre-skills” that lay the foundation for their future learning. Whether it is helping them to read, write, build their math skill or equipping them with some critical life skills there is a lot that a good preschool can do.
Importantly, a preschool also teaches “ school readiness” skills that stand the child in good stead. Over the last two years though with the pandemic raging the world and physical safety of the child being foremost, a number of preschool online programs have come up. Are these classes helpful? Let us take a quick look at some of the advantages online preschool courses bring:
Structure
One of the most important things a growing child requires is routine & structure. This is a major benefit preschool online programs bring. The child is exposed to structured learning, pretty much the way it would be if the child attended a physical school. From being ready for school at a certain hour to taking various classes that help the child develop a wide range of skills, it makes for holistic development of the child. The program teaches children language skills, mathematics, social science and also social emotional learning, creative arts as well as physical development.
Even though in the online format children aren’t meeting other children physically, it also brings in the benefit of socialization where the child is exposed to other children, and tend to learn from each other, besides forming lasting friendships.
Develop Confidence and a Strong Sense of Self
With children being introduced to age-appropriate activities both in terms of academics and life skills, the online classes help children develop confidence and a strong sense of self. Children also get a head start on technology skills and concepts that are much needed in today’s world.
Supports a Range of Learning Styles
Contrary to the popular belief that there is one unchanging IQ of a child, it is now a well-established fact that children have multiple intelligences and various learning styles. The multiple intelligences range from Linguistic, Kinesthetic, Spatial, Logical and more. Online learning supports a wide range of intelligences as well as learning styles. Whether children learn visually or verbally, there are a variety of methods geared towards different learners.
Flexibility
In a scenario where parents have to juggle a whole lot of responsibilities, a big advantage that preschool online programs offer, is flexibility. These classes can be taken from home and therefore it relieves the parents of dropping and picking up the child. What it therefore offers is access to quality education regardless of your location. Importantly, progressive preschools are also offering these classes in different time slots of morning, afternoon and evening, so parents can choose a timeslot that works for them as a family.
Learning Pace
Preschool online programs are also popular with parents as they offer children the ability to work at their own pace. Besides the live, interactive classes, the children also learn from educational content that is an integral part of the classes.
Affordability
A big advantage of preschool online programs is also their affordability. In fact professional preschool programs also allow you to take a free trial to judge the suitability of the course. Once you are assured that the program works well for your ward, you could enroll in them.
To Sum Up
Online Preschool courses are today becoming an essential aspect of the child’s education. Whether it is to do with convenience and flexibility offered by these classes or the fact that it empowers children with interactive activities, while keeping them physically safe, they sure are a very valuable tool. While there is a legitimate concern around cutting screen time for young learners, the fact remains that online classes offer holistic development including much needed physical activity for children.
Purvesh is a multidimensional leader at Footprints Childcare. As a TED speaker and IIT-Delhi alumnus, his passion for education is fueled by his experiences as a certified life coach and parent. He goes beyond traditional parent engagement activities, creating meaningful connections through insightful parenting workshops and open communication channels. Purvesh’s commitment to empowering parents, teachers, and students is the foundation of everything we do at Footprints. What motivates Purvesh? As a parent himself, the challenges his son faces in the educational system are the driving force for him.