Ensuring Holistic Growth & Development of Every Preschooler
The formative years in a child’s life are the most crucial period, where the foundations of lifelong learning, health, attitude and behaviour sets in. The conditioning and experiences that children have in their early childhood shape their mindset and capacity to learn, cooperate and respond to daily challenges as they grow up.
And in the 21st century, academic excellence alone won’t guarantee success nor happiness in life, hence it is important that your child gets holistic development through education. This is something we at Little Wings, a preschool in South Bopal, Ahmedabad, believe in and put into practice in our education system for the students and guide parents too so they can play an important role in it.
But, what exactly is Holistic Development?
In simpler terms, Holistic Development in preschoolers refers to a child’s growth in all aspects, physical, intellectual, emotional and social. These abilities, when developed and nurtured early in life, help children become well rounded professionals upon growing up. What makes it different from the conventional methods is that it imparts knowledge through experiences and not just textbooks. It makes children an active participant in charge of their own learning, while the parents and teachers play the role of a guide.
How can you, as a parent, encourage holistic development in your preschooler?
The educators at our preschool in South Bopal, Ahmedabad, have always guided the parents on how to be a mentor to their child without being dominant or intrusive. Nurturing holistic development in your child means…
Letting them explore
One of the most natural traits of children in their formative years is their curiosity about anything and everything under the sun. Let it thrive in your child, let them ask questions about matters outside their textbooks, about the people they interact with outside their day care centre, about the food they eat, the sounds they hear. But, refrain yourself from answering their questions right away, make it a fun and rewarding experience for them to find out the answers themselves through conscious learning or by looking for the answers together.
Letting them experience
This majorly involves the physical aspect of holistic development outside the day care centre. It includes the development of gross motor skills such as walking, climbing, and sprinting, all activities where the child uses her whole body for movement. Plan fun and engaging activities with your child which will help in improving their hand-eye coordination, strength, mobility and balance.
