In today’s rapidly evolving educational landscape, early childhood learning has taken center stage, moving far beyond traditional rote methods to embrace a more holistic, child-centric approach. In an insightful conversation between Preeti Bhandary, Co-Founder and Director, Little Elly, Bengaluru and Triparna Ray, reflects on the transformation of preschool education in India. From integrating neuroscience-backed teaching strategies to balancing screen time and play-based learning, Bhandary delves into the key trends, challenges, and strategies that define modern early education. She also shares her thoughts on how parents can make informed choices when selecting a preschool and the vital role educators play in shaping young minds during these formative years.
How has early childhood education evolved, and what are the critical trends shaping preschools today?
Early childhood education has evolved significantly over the years. In the past, it often relied on rote learning that was stringent, however, today’s modern preschools are shifting toward a more child-centered approach. Play-based and experiential learning are now at the heart of early education, ensuring not just academic growth but also focusing on emotional and social development. Modern preschools also use neuroscience-backed methods to nurture cognitive potential and emotional intelligence from an early age.
Several trends in the early childhood space are influencing preschools. One of the biggest is personalized learning encouraging tweaks to the curriculum to meet individual children’s needs and learning paces. Also emphasized is applying technology with a variety of digital tools in interactive storytelling, numeracy, and phonics. Another giant trend is the growing emphasis placed on social-emotional learning (SEL) to facilitate cooperation, empathy, resilience, communication, and other vital skills early on. The increasing development of outdoor learning and learning outdoors has also made children explore and find a connection with nature. Lastly, parental participation has increased as preschools now recognize how families and teachers can collaborate to assist a child in developing as a whole. Through these developments, preschools establish settings where children can grow up with a lifelong passion for learning.
What are the key challenges in running a preschool business, and how do you address them?
Operating a preschool comes with unique challenges that require thoughtful solutions. What I believe comes first is always Safety. Compliances for regulatory and safety considerations necessitate being child-proofed, appropriately trained staff, and stringent health regulations. Ensuring compliance with all these necessitates continuous professional training and adherence to government guidelines. Another of the most important challenges that come subsequently is something with which most preschools have difficulties: recruitment and retention of high-quality educators. Educators have to be appropriately trained, tolerant, and interested in working with young children, particularly at this age level. Keeping teachers employed would mean granting them opportunities to develop professionally, competitive paychecks and good working conditions. Operating a preschool can also prove costly, but that is when financial sustainability intervenes. There is, however, a little long-term thinking that can come in handy on this one. Providing flexible rates, additional classes such as evening activities, and smart marketing strategies can ensure longevity in sustainability. Finally, keeping parents connected is essential. Today’s parents are more engaged and informed. Open communication, ongoing progress reports about their child, and an open-door policy works magic to create strong connections with the parent community. These steps can help a preschool be proactive by addressing challenges and making a positive learning experience.
What are the most significant challenges a parent faces in choosing the right preschool, and how can they make an informed decision?
For parents, selecting a preschool is an extremely important decision that sets the stage for their child’s early learning experience. One of the most challenging aspects of that process is sorting through preschool philosophies (ex., Montessori, Reggio Emilia, play-based, structured learning models) to research which preschool philosophy most aligns with their child’s learning style and fits within their family values. Another challenging aspect of the process is assuring the safety aspect. Given the increasing parental concern about child safety, parents should have a dashboard of the preschool’s safety practices, including background checks on staff and plans for emergencies so they are fully informed and more confident.
A quality teacher is an area of concern. Parents should know about the teachers’ qualifications, experience, and methodology, which are necessary elements in a child’s learning experience. To make a well-judged decision parents need to visit several preschools, talk to the right people, observe classrooms, and speak with other parents. Preschool communication should remain open and honest and social, emotional, and cognitive development complement preschool instructional objectives.
What role do structured and hands-on learning play in preschool education, and how does it benefit a child’s cognitive development?
Structured play and experiential learning are essential in preschool and help children develop motor, social, and cognitive skills. Structured play is not passive learning as it engages children actively, and increases creativity, decision-making, and problem-solving. Experiential learning helps children experiment and make learning experiential. Building blocks, dough play, or sensory bins help develop spatial awareness, fine motor, and language. Research has shown that kinaesthetic and tactile learning aid memory and improve conceptual understanding.
Structured play promotes social-emotional growth over academics. Cooperative games and role-playing instill teamwork, empathy, and communication in children. These are skills that will be necessary for life. Engaging in such activities also shapes curiosity as the foundation of long-term academic success. Inclusion and interest are created by teachers in their classes and readiness in children and children’s development at preschools with the inclusion of structured play within the preschool curriculum.
With the rise of digital learning, how should preschools balance screen time with traditional learning methods?
It’s all about striking the right balance. At a time when technology has found it’s way into education, preschools must balance digital tools with traditional play-based activities. Technology must be an auxiliary tool, not the central mode of instruction. Although interactive computer games may be a valuable addition to the learning experience, too much screen time is not only bad for the physical health of a child but also for the attention span and cognitive development. The strategy would need to incorporate digital storytelling and educational apps into lessons and prioritize hands-on activities, outdoor play, and sensory learning to foster all-around development. Establishing guidelines for quality screen time is important. Specialists advise minimizing screen time for young children and making any digital exposure high-quality, interactive, and educational. Engaging parents in digital literacy programs can promote healthy screen use at home.
By keeping an intentional balance between learning online and learning offline, we can guarantee that we are utilizing technology as a facilitator and not a distraction to provide rich, active, and whole early childhood learning experiences for children.
