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And it is located next to the house, and the teachers are the best, and the individual training program, and the pool is large … It is very difficult to find a kindergarten that would meet all expectations. But if you determine what matters most to you, you can make the right choice. What should you pay attention to?
Reviews
The first way to test a kindergarten that comes to mind in the age of the Internet is reviews. You can find them on forums, on social networks, even on the page of the institution itself. On the one hand, this is a good option: this way you will collect more opinions, learn the pros and cons of a particular garden and not waste time on a personal visit.
On the other hand, people’s opinions on the same topic can vary greatly. Therefore, there are no guarantees that the reviews correspond to reality, and are not left by eternal critics. It will be much better if you can find the parents who take their children to this kindergarten and talk to them in person.
Placement Locations
“Of course, it takes longer to get to this garden, but it has better reviews,” some parents think and refuse the option near the house. Why is this not the best solution?
“The garden should be within walking distance of the house, even if the family has a car,” notes child and adolescent psychologist Anna Utkina. — Any trip is a risk of traffic jams and being late for work. This means that when collecting a child who has not really woken up in the morning, parents will be nervous. And this will form a negative attitude towards the new place.”
In addition, a long road increases the time interval between waking up and having breakfast. “If a child is hungry for a long time, this will affect his health and eating behavior,” the expert emphasizes. Until 9 a.m., children have a “food tolerance corridor” – this is the time of greatest susceptibility to tastes, when they are ready to try new dishes. And it’s important not to miss it.”
Personnel characteristics
Kindergarten workers can be divided into two types: the child does not contact with some, and almost does not part with others. But you need to communicate with everyone. By acquaintance with the head, some conclusions can be drawn about the atmosphere maintained in the kindergarten.
“The manager creates a microclimate in the garden, selects teachers and manages them,” says Anna Utkina. – If she is a tough person, then caregivers are stressed at work and are unlikely to be gentle with children. If she is too compliant and non-confrontational, then the employees can be negligent – and this is already a question of the child’s safety.
The teacher will not replace the child’s mother, but will become another significant adult in his life. Therefore, it is important not only education and experience, but also how children feel next to her.
“Watch how caregivers communicate with children on a walk,” the expert advises. – And when you visit the garden, pay attention to what you hear from the group: menacing cries of the teacher or a cheerful hubbub. A mentally healthy and relaxed child should sound – this is how he expresses himself in the world. Complete silence should alert: if the teacher forces everyone to be silent, then the children are under pressure.
Specialists
Of course, some of the specialists may not be useful to you, but their presence will not only guarantee your personal peace of mind, but will also say a lot about the preparedness of the garden. Who, according to Anna Utkina, should be paid attention to?
- Speech therapist – he teaches children to pronounce sounds, while developing their thinking.
- Psychologist – he will be able to notice problems or some features in the child’s behavior in time and suggest ways to correct them.
- Defectologist – he examines the abilities and corrects the development of the child.
- A foreign language teacher – classes with him activate individual neural connections in the child’s brain.
Improvement
In order for a child to be comfortable in a new place for him, it is necessary that the space evokes only positive emotions in him. It depends on many details, including visual ones: for example, on the color of the walls and the well-groomed area for walking. So, according to Anna Utkina, flashy colors overexcite children, and a nondescript design, on the contrary, will not arouse their interest and will not form a positive attitude towards the garden.
“The environment has a huge impact on the development of the child – his brain and personality,” explains the expert. – Try to get inside the kindergarten: with one of the parents whose children already go there, or by agreement to meet with the head. What impression do you get: comfort or government institution? Are smells embarrassing, is it light and fresh enough? Look at the bedrooms – it’s often stuffy in there and the kids can’t sleep.”
Child’s impressions
You can pick up the documents and transfer the child to another place if the previous one did not suit you for various reasons. Therefore, one of the most important criteria – the child’s feelings – should be taken into account already when he went to the chosen kindergarten.
“Watch the child after the garden. Listen even to the plot of his games on the theme of the kindergarten – in the form of horses and dinosaurs, real educators, nannies, classmates can be hidden, – emphasizes Anna Utkina. – The child does not realize if something bad happens to him in the group, but the reactions of his body and psyche will give you an alarm signal. Aggressiveness, tearfulness, sleep disturbance, isolation, loss of interest in games, crying and chills in the morning in front of the garden can alert.
How to enroll a child in kindergarten?
All criteria are taken into account, the most suitable options are found. What to do next?
Get a referral to a place in a kindergarten. There are two ways to apply and stand in the “queue”: by doing it in person at the MFC or electronically. In the second case, you need to use the State Services portal or, if you live in Moscow, the official website of the Mayor of Moscow.
Submit documents. A free space appeared in the selected garden, and you received a referral. Now you need to collect and provide a package of documents: usually it includes an application for admission, an identity document, and a medical record of the child. In some cases, birth certificates and proof of registration of the child at the place of residence may be required
Enter into a contract. Everything is in order with the documents, which means that it remains only to conclude an agreement with this institution. And within 3 days after that, your child will be enrolled in kindergarten.
About expert
Anna Utkina – child and adolescent psychologist, graduate of the Neufeld Institute programs (Canada). Leads и .