Role of nursery schools/balwadis

Role of nursery schools/balwadis

Pre-school children between the age of 3-5 years go to nursery schools in urban areas. Nursery schools fulfill the basic needs of small children. These schools have an added responsibility of preparing the child for the schooling ahead. The children are initiated into the learning processes in play-way methods. For example, they play and dance to nursery rhymes. Can you recall some of these nursery rhymes you learnt in your childhood?

The privately run nursery schools are relatively more expensive than the usual nursery sections attached to the main schools.

Balwadis provide education to the children in rural areas. They are similar to the nursery schools in towns.

Children learn to draw and paint. They learn to make things with sand, plasticine/mud. They also learn to identify different shapes and colours.

Nursery schools/balwadis promote the social development in children as they learn to share things and communicate in a social group. The environment in these places helps in the development of language among children. Teachers in these schools often check the hair, nails and clothing of children to make the little ones conscious of personal hygiene and grooming. Do you remember your teacher narrating a story

to you in your childhood? It developed your listening skills, memory and comprehension. Children learn to fantasize and have flights of imagination during such story-telling sessions. It enhances their mental development.

The Ways Day-Care Centers and Preschool s Help the Young Child's Development :

Good Health : By balancing activity, rest and making sure that all children have medical checkups and are immunized against certain diseases.

Skills : By improving skilled already formed and teaching new once under the teacher's guidance and supervision.

Speech : By making children's vocabularies larger and widening their interest.

Emotions : By teaching children to express their emotion in socially approved ways.

Social Behaviour: By teaching socially approved behaviour patterns.

Social Attitudes : By teaching children to be tolerant of those who are different to add to the group and to be good sports, good followers, and good leaders.

Creativity : By encouraging children to express their creativity in ways that will please them.

Discipline : By teaching children, through consistent and fair discipline, to obey rules and respect those in authority.

Self-concept : By stressing self-confidence, and feelings of self-worth.

Easier Adjustment to school by teaching skills that are basic to school work.