Navigating Preschool Admissions A Parents Guide for 2025 26

1. Navigating Preschool Admissions: A Parent's Guide for 2025-26 It is said that a child is born with 100 billion brain cells. According to the World Health Organisation, childhood and adolescence are critical stages of life for mental health. This is a time when rapid growth and development occur in the brain. Importance of Early Childhood Education: The age span between 2-6 years is an impressionable period during which brain development happens rapidly. This makes it imperative that children receive the right information, which may be retained throughout their lives. This is the time when children should be given the right environment where they can absorb the necessary skills and concepts.

2. Over the last few years, early childhood care and education have seen a sudden rise. Preschools have mushroomed in every neighbourhood. One reason for this could be the nuclear family concept. In earlier times, the joint family setup allowed siblings and cousins to grow up together holistically. Today, a similar environment can be found in a preschool setup, which helps in nurturing children holistically. Understanding the pivotal role that preschool education plays in shaping a child’s early experiences, the crucial task of choosing the right school cannot be undermined. Understanding Different Education Philosophies: To understand the importance of early education, let us take a look at the history of early education and the trailblazers in the path of early learning: Jean Jacques Rousseau: The Swiss philosopher Jean Jacques Rousseau believed that education should be about offering opportunities to children to create their own experiences. His book Emile, written 250 years ago, still holds relevance today and might offer valuable insights to educators. Friedrich Froebel: According to Froebel, “Play is the highest expression of human development in childhood for it alone is the free expression of what is in a child’s soul.” Froebel believed that play is never futile. Through play, children explore, connect, and express. Learning from the Froebelian approach, we at The Orbis School have adopted the play-way method in our preschools, providing children with a free and engaging space to flourish. Maria Montessori: Founder of the ‘Montessori method’, Maria Montessori provided the world with an education system that believes a child learns through an enriched, supportive environment under the guidance of trained staff and caregivers. In her book Dr. Montessori’s Own Handbook, she writes, “The technique of my method, as it follows the guidance of natural physiological and psychical development of the child, may be divided into three parts: Motor education, Sensory education, and Language.”

3. Reggio Emilia Approach: After World War II, in a small village on the outskirts of Reggio Emilia, many young men had died. The community decided to build a school different from the usual education system—a space where children would be respected and taken seriously. In a Reggio school, adults and students work in partnership. The Reggio approach involves parents in various projects, helping them understand how learning happens. A typical Reggio school's hours will be 9:00 am - 3:00 pm. Tarabai Modak: Also known as the ‘Montessori Mother’, Tarabai Modak made significant contributions to the preschool education system in Maharashtra, especially in tribal areas. Choosing the Right Kindergarten for Your Child: With the fast-paced life we are all living, and when time is of utmost value, enrolling your child in a quality preschool setup will provide them with the right nourishment for their brain development. A school and teacher’s utmost responsibility is to respect the human dignity of each child and bring out their inherent and unique potential. It is, therefore, imperative that teachers and parents work in tandem to make the home-to-school transition smooth and stress-free! When choosing a kindergarten for your child, look for a quality environment that supports your child's basic needs and has a curriculum that promotes holistic development. At The Orbis Schools, we hold the child’s dignity and well-being in the highest regard. As we approach the new academic session, we welcome you to plan a school visit and explore the learning culture on our premises. Children must and should get opportunities to play, learn, and grow in a safe and comfortable environment, so that they can explore, learn, and—well, just be children! Hurry up for admissions!