“The best education does not happen at a desk, but rather engaged in everyday living – hands on, exploring, in active relationship with life.” ~ Vince Gowman

Increasing urbanization has resulted in urban stress, which has affected the cognitive development of children in schools. Various research studies have been done by preschools all over the world and Best Montessori Preschools have kept this factor in mind while designing any school campus. The main finding is that it is important to increase green spaces not only outdoors but also integrating them with inside spaces at school.

Nature is the eternal source of inspiration for all, especially children. Even the slightest interaction with the environment can refresh the senses and rejuvenate the mind. The educational environment in a Preschool Childcare setting holistically entails the interface of indoor and outdoor spaces.

Campus green spaces can significantly improve students’ mental health and reduce psychological pressure Numerous studies have demonstrated the importance of campus green spaces for students’ mental health These green spaces provide students with a way to relieve any unhappy feelings they may have. Studies have shown that outdoor campus green spaces are considered a potential recovery environment, which helps students get back their attention and focus if they are distracted for any reason. Any contact with nature and greenery restores their overall ability to learn and perform academic tasks.

With the aim of holistic development of the child, leading to a well-balanced individual in all walks of life. Physical education is a critical component that contributes to the holistic development of each and every child. Preschools and Childcares are approaching the green space concept knowing the myriad benefits of natural surroundings for school children. The Best Montessori Schools in Whitefield have ensured a balance of physical development along with academic rigour. And nothing can serve the purpose right than the greener surroundings or other green spaces for a child.

 When children study in a combination of indoor and outdoor infrastructure they learn better. Connecting green spaces with learning is what Best Montessori Schools in Whitefield have consciously focused on. Parents looking for a Montessori School in Whitefield should keep this factor in mind and choose wisely so as to ensure the centre of their choice has plenty of sunlight filled and expanses of open green spaces with plenty of trees, plants, lawns and flowers.

Access to nature is a fundamental component of well -being. We need to ensure that children get safe welcoming places both indoors and outdoors. We need to add green spaces to our urban environments as the benefits of the same are many and this will have a direct impact on the physical and mental health of children.

The moment a child enters Pre-school parents start worrying about the academic gains that their child should make. However, if a parent is really looking for an all-round development, they should go in for an International Preschool for their child

While we agree Early Education creates an important foundation for academic skills, many parents would be surprised to know that skills are actually more predictive of adult outcomes rather than early academics. So, while many parents and schools feel the pressure to cut back on play and social interaction in order to get more ‘Hard Skill’ instruction time in, the reality is that it’s the ‘soft skills’ that actually indicate long term success.  Best Preschools in Bangalore have now realized this value and have started focusing on skill development.  

Several measures have been adopted globally by parents and teachers especially in IB schools around the world to get children to connect with their peers. Schools even hold co -curricular classes and events to bridge this gap. As adults we need to build some competencies to foster the growth of skills in every situation. Children constantly adapt to change so the most important aspect to look into as adults would be to reassure the child of their safety by creating a routine. Provide them with options to engage in social interactions. It is important for them to build social relationships and interact with children their age.  The great advantage that International Preschools have is ‘diversity’, children from all over the world prefer to join IB or International preschools so as to have a continuity in curriculum. When children interact with peers from different places, the enhancement in personal social and emotional skill development is high.

Children who can empathize, perceive feelings and emotions are always at an advantage when getting along with others. One can hone and foster these skills in children by calling attention to the different emotions. The Best Preschools in Bangalore have engagements and activities designed for the children to not only build on their reading, writing and numeracy but these activities all have a component of skill building that enables each child to develop and grow in more ways than one.

This means that the children need to look beyond themselves and recognize the feelings of others. IB schools focus on building the learner profile attributes in the children and complementing and appreciating them at each step encourages and motivates them to do more of the same. Simple opportunities to help, role modelling helpful actions in front of them, encouraging others to showcase helpful behavior and planning activities around the development of skills are some of the tried and tested ways by the Best Preschools in Bangalore who have gained a great reputation for teaching beyond the classroom.

Though competition and a fast-paced society of today gives one an impression that a child needs to be advanced academically as soon as possible, the reality of the 21st century is the development of the ‘soft skills’ is what will serve the children better in the future- So simple processes of playing, engaging with others, interacting and building relationships should be in focus. IB schools and truly International schools have designed curriculums that build on this development and have started transforming teaching and learning around the world from Preschool itself.

Best Daycares can support the development of young children’s love for learning through play among other things. All children need an opportunity to experience and explore play at an early age in order to prepare for life in modern society and to deepen their skills. Early educators need to know how to implement play appropriately,  as young children grow, they go through sensitive periods which lay foundational behaviors, skills, and attitudes. The best childcare centers build on this to allow a child to make sense of the world around them. Our young learners are naturally curious and the best daycare must work to support the development of young children’s love for learning through play and nurturing the natural curiosity that a child exhibits from birth.

The best daycares in Whitefield are adept at implementing an appropriate program that blends both to benefit children. Through play, children encounter new information every day and use their own existing knowledge to relate to this make connections and build on their learning. They need opportunities to play and then to explore, to observe, to investigate, to predict, to gather information, to create new categories, to describe, and to rethink their thinking.

It is said that much of what we need in life is taught to us in the building period of our life. It is at this tender age the brain develops rapidly and children build on their cognitive abilities. When looking for a daycare near you it’s important to look for the best daycares that offer opportunities and support for children to build on these skills through a love for learning.

Whether it is reading skills, character building, social-emotional growth, fine and gross motor skills, or academic skills; play and technology are important ways to enhance these skills.

If the childcare near you can nurture a child’s love of learning by expanding on their inquisitive and curious nature it would be one of the best childcare for children to attend and spend a good part of the day. As early childhood teachers, we know that teaching means more than lessons and standards. The best childcares in Whitefield are the ones that responsibly create an environment of support, one that allows children to develop their own ideas, express their feelings, take risks, make choices and most of all grow to be strong thinking individuals.

To be one of the best childcare centers the center should create a climate that encourages, investigation and collaboration. Fostering a love of learning not only through resources and materials but through a responsive, inquisitive attitude. When the best childcares in Whitefield school provide plenty of time for open-ended, constructive play every day they create opportunities for children to explore the joy of learning. It is important for the best daycares to note that apart from engaging children in activities to keep them occupied it is the skillful and conscious interactions with children that construct knowledge and build a love of learning.

Choosing the right Montessori Preschool for your toddler or preschooler can be a real challenge!! There is an influx of schools that use the title ‘Montessori’ and the name alone does not mean that the school is authentically a Montessori Preschool or a Montessori Children’s Center.

However, if you are looking for a more authentic experience for your child and as a parent, your thought is to find a great ‘Montessori Daycare Near Me’ or ‘Montessori Preschool Near Me’ there are a few important factors that would be important to know

Teaching Belief– The Montessori Preschool that you choose should be aligned to your beliefs and values. Research on the educational vision and focus that the school has. A school that encourages Holistic Development and focuses not only on academics, but life skills and overall development is the education that you might want for your child.

Teachers’ Interaction and Qualifications– Montessori Preschool teachers are typically wonderful at communicating with the little ones. Notice how they speak and watch; do they pause and listen to what the child has to say? Do they get to the level of the child and speak with respect? One should avoid schools where teachers use punishments or labels. Check the qualifications and training done by the teachers, the specific Montessori courses and training done by the teachers ensures the school truly follows the philosophy and gives the children the experiences they truly deserve.

School accreditations & affiliations: An affiliation is provided to schools after an application and submission process. A Montessori Preschool & Children’s Center should be affiliated to a reputed Montesssori organisation such as the Indian Montessori Training Center (IMTC) or Association Montessori Internationale (AMI). Practises with AMI tend to be a wider network and provide a greater variety of trainings. For accreditations, schools must go through a rigorous process of scrutiny over an extended period of time to receive an accreditation. The accreditations require visits to the school and on-going re-evaluations to ensure the school stays on track. Check that the school has an accreditation, from a well reputed organisation, in addition to its Montessori Preschool affiliation.

Environment- When you are looking at a Montessori Preschool or Daycare the layout of the school, safety, security, and hygiene factors will play an important part in helping you make the right choice. An environment that is clutter-free, clean, bright, and cheerful will be one that your child will thrive in. Montessori Center classrooms should be inviting, organised, and not overstimulating. There should be a well prepared environment with Montessori materials for all domains and age groups.

Location– Ask yourself – Is this Montessori School Near Me or Montessori Daycare Near Me? How far will I need to drive to drop or pick up my child, will it be convenient? Do they offer transport? What would happen in an emergency?

Parent Instinct– This is the most important when it comes to Montessori Daycare, ask yourself, do you get a good feeling, is there a sense of positivity around? When you look around the Children’s Center do you see happy children and peaceful adults? Do you feel comfortable and safe leaving your child in the environment?

Reach out to the Children’s Center of your choice, meet with the admission counsellor and try and understand the school better.

Twenty months ago, if someone had told us that our kids would be learning from home in their
formative years – away from a dedicated learning environment that caters to their multi-sensory
learning needs, we would have deemed it nearly impossible and yet, here we are: in 2021, on
the cusp of what experts deem to be the beginning of an indeterminable era of learning and
growing, from home – proving to us, more than in any other point in time, the necessity for
education to be holistic and of course, adaptable.

With research in as early as publications in the beginning of this century suggesting that the
human brain develops the vast majority of its neurons, and is at its most receptive to learning,
between birth and three years of age (Shonkoff & Phillips, 2000), the intake of new information
is critical to the formation of active neural pathways in these years. It is bearing these
multifaceted learning needs of our young learners in mind, that Kai Early Years adopts a unique
dual curriculum for our learners: combining the flexible “Help me help myself” ideology of the
Montessori System, with internationally acclaimed academic rigor from the International
Baccalaureate Primary Years Program. Adapting itself to the current crisis Kai has molded itself
to become one of the Best Online Preschools in Bangalore, as regarded by many parents.

One of the most common questions we get from parents and care-givers when it comes to the
curriculum and structure at Kai happens to be: “So how does this work?”. While we usually
encourage our parents and learners to come experience a day at Kai with us, with the pandemic
going on, we thought it imperative to throw some light on how things work when our little
learners learn from home. For now, we ask parents to attend our virtual trial classes to
experience our acclaimed Preschool Online Classes in Bangalore.

From hands-on learning kits that bring together material that help our learners explore the world
of textures, how things work and enable the multi-sensory form of learning they deserve, the
past year at Kai stands in testimony to ways in which we can make learning effective, no matter
where it is from. Together as a team we work on the Online Preschool experiences and
engagements, encompassing Art and Craft, Numeracy and Literacy, Celebrations over a virtual
platform and undeniable bonds, formed over the time spent together – when we talk about
thriving together at Kai, we take what we mean, seriously.

“Kai has been the best decision we’ve made for Mridul since we moved to Bangalore two years
ago. They’ve been so sensitive and so engaging – I was initially worried about what’s going to
come of this year for Mridul but I am so happy that learning at Kai never stopped – and we get
regular feedback on Mridul’s growth and activities regularly, which is very assuring”. “We truly
feel they are the Best Online Preschools in Bangalore”
– Mridul Sharma’s Father.

The strength of learning at Kai can be attributed to more than just our curriculum: our facilitators
and teaching staff form the core of everything we do and the learners’ experience, making Kai a
warm, welcoming and safe environment for our learners to grow in. Dedicated to making our
skill-based learning models a holistic experience for the children, even while we are currently an
online preschool in Bangalore, our facilitators enable each of our learners to have the edge of
international quality education from their first encounter in the world of structured learning.

“Kiara has been so happy in the past year, waking up every day with a smile despite learning
online. Through last year, while other kids of her age in our social circles faced their own
obstacles like getting bored or getting tired of being at home every day and getting cranky as a
result – Kiara has never once had an issue even remotely close to this and I have to thank the
teachers and team at Kai for this.” – shared Kiara’s mother with us, a few weeks ago when
sharing her experience of being part of our Preschool Online Classes in Bangalore.

If you are looking to seek an enriching learning experience for a young learner at a leading
Preschool in Bangalore, do reach out to us at Kai and we would be happy to arrange a visit or a
trial learning period for you and child with us. To know more about the structure and admission
form, click here.

The whole idea behind this simple strategy of positive reinforcement is a very simple one; children respond better to praise rather than to criticism or correction. If parents acknowledge and highlight all that children do correctly- clean up, finish their vegetables, play quietly, or finish their chores on time, children will do more of these things as they love the good feelings that come with positive reinforcement.

Initially, positive reinforcement could come in various forms such as applause, stickers, treats, and many more little ways however, research indicates that the most effective form of reinforcement is intrinsic and we should strive to get our children to be internally motivated and do things that give them joy and satisfaction, rather than working just for the external rewards.
A Montessori philosophy aids children in becoming more self-reliant, building on their own potential and confidence. This helps them become independent lifelong learners. With this focus on independence, it’s important then for the motivation to come from within themselves. In an IB curriculum where the development of the skills or Approaches to learning is an integral part, it’s these skills that support a student’s sense of agency encouraging them to see their learning as an active dynamic process that helps them become self-regulated learners.

Children do positive things all the time, it’s just that the misbehavior becomes more noticed as it’s louder or more distracting, whereas the positive behavior is often quiet, passive and softer. It’s important for parents to look for these precious moments and commend their children when they notice them doing something special or demonstrating good behavior.

The most effective form of praise is to praise the effort more than the outcome – the process rather than the result. For example, you could say- “I am really proud of the way you are picking up your toys” as they are collecting them rather than wait for them to clear all and finish the task

One strategy that often seems to work to reduce poor behavior is to first offer 3-4 sentences that the child is doing positively before you address the one not-so-appropriate behavior that you wish to highlight. If the ‘ unpleasant behavior’ is not dangerous or harmful to the child- something like whining or crying, you could choose to ignore it for a bit. It is often likely to stop once they realize they are not getting the attention they wished for.

‘Be the change you wish to see’ – Role model positive behavior at all times. your child is always watching you, even when you think they are not paying attention. They see how you react in stressful situations or unpleasant experiences. They watch how you treat other people. They soak in everything in their environment like little sponges, and this is what shapes their behavior and character.

The more you reinforce the positive, the easier it is to notice these opportunities, and then it snowballs and you see more of the good behavior. This focus on the positive has a dramatic impact on the overall behavior and mood swings of children (and parents.)

An important and indispensable part of any culture is music and dance. One can find music present in many aspects of our lives – theatre, television, movies, worship, holidays, drives, celebrations, and any ceremony. Nothing is complete without music and movement.

At home, music is usually part of the family culture – part of the everyday experiences. From birth, parents instinctively use music to calm and soothe their infants, to express love and to engage and interact with their children.

Most children love a blend of music, movement, rhythm and dance; this combination allows them to express themselves joyfully. Incorporating the same in Early education helps children with social interactions and language development. Both music and movement work to stimulate different areas in the brain and research has discovered the important impact they have on the mind of a child. These activities also have long-term benefits for a wide range of cognitive functions.

It’s important for parents to build a rich environment to foster musical exposure in children. This will widen their aptitude for music while building strong bonds with the family who can spend quality time over music and dance.

Here are some more benefits of music and movement:

Improve fine motor skills and coordination- Not only does it improve auditory skills, learning musical instruments helps improve hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, gross motor balance and spatial sense, rhythm and beat synchronization and organization.

Language Development- Research shows that the same parts of the brain involved in learning a language are used in learning music. Singing, learning new songs, learning an instrument helps in comprehension and processing information. It additionally helps children in focussing and
memorizing.

Develops Fundamental Math Skills- Reading music notes is something that fascinates anyone who thinks- ‘How does one find a relation to the musical notes and the actual instrument? But to a child who can read music, those dots actually deliver rich amounts of information about which key to press or which string to string. This is Math can be correlated to patterns and numbers.

Discipline and Hard work- The value of discipline and hard work is experienced greatly by children especially when they are learning music- the daily practices, the schedules and efforts show the child the benefits of the same. For older children, once they are part of a choir, band or ensemble, the
teamwork and dedication that is required are phenomenal. This collaboration with the greater community gives an overall positive feeling when everyone works towards a common goal.

Music and movement also build self-esteem and confidence- When children see the results of their hard work when they see their skills building up, it’s empowering for them to realize the extent of their effort. The degree of their achievement lies in the amount of effort they have put in. This is enough to build their own confidence and esteem, along with the fact that performing solo or even in a group requires a large amount of confidence and courage.

Music and movement can enliven and enrich the lives of all, from the pure pleasure of listening, to gaining social skills or building language. One can enjoy the same no matter what the setting at home, school, or even at public places.

Executive Functions are the skills we use to analyze a task, break them down into smaller steps and follow the steps till we get the task done. These cognitive skills help us to manage our time effectively, learn facts, understand what we read, solve problems and help us to organize our thoughts.  Though these skills are present from an early age, they can be taught and built up explicitly. It works if we start first by underlining our child’s strengths-good memory, clear focus, interest in activities, flexible, reflective, etc. Once we know these we can look at building the skills the child does not have. 

Some strategies for the development of Executive Functioning 

Organization- We can teach them how to develop and organize systems and routines. Collaborate with your child and show them the advantages of using organizers, calendars, flow charts, checklists, etc. Follow through with the one that works best for you and your child. Create consequences or rules to remind them of the agreed-upon plan, if they are unable to follow the same. 

Plan/Prioritize- Help children learn the process of planning, they should learn to identify their goals and understand ways to achieve them. Break down tasks into smaller parts and guide them to focus on one part at a time. You could use leading questions such as-’How, Why, When, What, Where which would help them think about the tasks some more.

Time Management- Post routines in the form of graphics or checklists, this will help the child get consistency and structure. These will help your child understand time management as well as responsibility. 

Control Emotions- Always maintain a positive attitude and relationship, one that is open and respectful. When parents stay connected and invite children in problem-solving or decision-making, it works effectively to teach the children how to deal with situations. 

Flexibility- Support flexible thinking, focus on solutions and not on the problem. Discuss with and help your child see the different approaches to solve a problem. Encourage them to be flexible in their actions which helps to fix problems. 

Skill- Building- It’s important for children to have skills that can be effective in problem-solving situations- naming the problem, brainstorming, self-management, reasoning to name a few. Encourage them to take responsibility and teach them the value of these skills 

Persistence- Goal-driven perseverance can be an opportunity for success. Encourage their efforts and constantly show them the cause-effect relationship. They understand that their actions can have different effects and perseverance is an important value to follow. 

Executive function skills are malleable in Early Childhood. They help in establishing positive relationships with others as they contribute to every person’s behavior. 

Many researchers over the years have studied the brain of bilingual and multilingual children and they have found that these children have greater cognitive development than children who speak only one language. These differences give several advantages to children who speak more than one language.

Boosts Brain Power- The brain develops more densely giving it an advantage with skills and abilities for the children. Many findings have suggested that the structure of the brain is altered by the experience of acquiring a second language, especially in the early years. 

Better Problem-solving abilities– Children who speak more than one language learn to negotiate and find different approaches to solve a problem. The children have the ability to think non-verbally as well as abstractly. 

Develop an ear for languages- Children who learn a second language in their early years develop the correct pronunciation and fluency. They are native language speakers of the language learned and have a better command over the same. 

Higher academic achievement– Studies have shown that children who speak more than one language from childhood have a comparatively higher academic score in other domains as well. It also helps them in their later years when high school and college require all students to learn a second language

Increased Empathy- Bilingual children find it easier to understand different perspectives- they are better at ‘putting themselves in the shoes of others. They have an increased ability to understand how their peers feel and show higher levels of empathy. 

Promotes international-mindedness- Children have the opportunity to become more culturally aware and better understand and appreciate cultural differences. It allows them to be more open-minded to different ways of thinking and understanding. 

In our increasingly diverse society, people from different cultures and communities must have the tools to communicate effectively with each other. A world in which different cultures and languages are appreciated and understood is a better world for all. 

Personal, social and emotional development is the basis of every child’s development. It helps children develop a positive attitude about themselves and towards others. This in turn enables them to interact effectively with others.

Building self-confidence and self-awareness are some of the prime requirements in the development of children. Once they are confident to express themselves, to try new things, they will be more confident to speak, interact, and try to explore more and become risk-takers and lifelong learners. 

Children begin to grow as communicators and talk about their feelings, behavior and begin to understand consequences. This growth is all part of their all-round development which aids in making them secure and stable in society.

They start playing cooperatively, learn to take turns, share and consciously start making efforts to maintain relationships. They begin to build social interactions, show sensitivity to other’s needs and feelings, and start forming positive relationships with children and adults. 

At school, it is important, we make preschoolers feel secure in the setting. The mixed-age activities available to the children in a Montessori classroom are designed to allow children to build on their social interactions. When children work in this way, they increase their level of independence and realize how their actions benefit others. The learner profile and approaches to learning are important aspects of the IB curriculum that support the well-being and overall development of children. More on the learner profile can be found at www.ibo.org. 

During school time, we encourage the following and recommend parents to reiterate the same;- 

The human being is a united whole, but this unity has to be built up and formed by active experiences in the real world, to which it is led by the laws of nature.” –Dr Maria Montessori

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