Pandemic Diaries: Can You Delay Your Preschooler’s School Enrollment?

There is one question in the minds of the parents of preschoolers: “Should we send our kids to school?” More aptly: “Should we spend money enrolling them at a school when there is no school to speak of?”

For those who are about to enter preschool or kindergarten this school year, the decision has been particularly tough. Is it okay for our kids to miss school this year? What does it mean for them in the future? Will this decision affect their academic growth?

Academic delay is a real thing. Children who miss out a year or two in school will most likely have a harder time later on. This is particularly hard for children in their developmental years. Education experts advise kids to enter kindergarten when they are five years old. This policy is linked to the natural brain development of the children. They can absorb more information and learn faster at this age.

But the coronavirus happened, and with it comes the uncertainty that it might not be safe for kids to go to school. It might even feel like a waste of time to let them join virtual classes. So what should you do?

Check What’s Available in Your District

What are your options? There are different curriculums under which you can enroll your preschoolers. You can look for an excellent international preschool that, in this time of pandemic, can still offer quality education to preschoolers learning from the comfort of their homes.

Some preschools are based on STEMM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine). The integration of these classes will prepare your preschoolers for kindergarten and beyond.

Or how about the Montessori style of learning? It’s a method where children learn through self-directed activities and collaborative play. In a Montessori classroom, kids learn at their own pace.

Both of these methods of teaching may or may not work in a virtual classroom. In a Montessori style of teaching, kids will have a harder time learning at home unless you take the time to engage them in collaborative play along with the teachers (if virtual). If the schools in your district offer only distance learning, then you should also consider what you can share with your children. In a distance-learning program, you will stand as a facilitator/educator, too. Are you up for the challenge?

Most parents still prefer the traditional style of teaching wherein their kids can interact with other children in the classroom. Consider the options offered in your district. Study each option and pick one that best fits your kids.

Determine What Your Child Needs

What do your kids need? Experts said that delaying a child’s education can set him back for life. You know your kids better than anyone else. You can find a system of learning that works best according to their strengths and weaknesses. Under these circumstances, you have the biggest role to play in determining what kind of curriculum and learning system your kids will thrive in.

Again, you are your kids’ best teacher. Plenty of resources on the Internet will guide you in teaching basic lessons to preschoolers. Get creative and start teaching them as much as you can, especially the things that they might be missing out in school.

But as a parent, you also have to recognize your limits in this new role you have to play. As much as you tried to teach your kids their 123s and ABCs, your ability to teach is vastly limited. And that’s why even though you have your kids’ best interest at heart, you must still let a counselor guide you through the process of finding the best option for your kid at this time.

What are your thoughts on this? Feel free to share your experiences over the last few months as a working parent in the comment section below. We will love to hear from you.

*This is a collaborative post.