Shah Imtiyaz
National Educational Policy (NEP 2020) is a revolutionary step by GOI to transform the education system in India. As per this policy learner is the main focus and has been kept at the centre of teaching learning process. It is a nice step towards the right direction as the new policy focusses on holistic progress of student by ensuring competency based learning, access, relevance, equity, quality and strong foundational learning. Though the Policy is in its infancy stage but fruitful results have started to come. As per the NEP 2020 for preschools, education for children of age 3 – 6 years will be considered mandatory. The first 5 years of education will include 3 years of preschool education and 2 years of primary education. The fundamental stage is considered most critical stage for life long well being and holistic development.
“Early Childhood Eare and Education” (ECCE), refers to care and education of of a child at fundamental stage (from age 3 to 8) Pre-schools, Kindergartens, Nursery Aangawadis are the departmental institutions that will take care of children of ages three to six (3-6) and class 1st and 2nd (6 to 8 years of age) across all schools of the country. The National Curriculum Frame for foundational stage stresses on the play- based developement and learning of a learner at ECCE stage. Truly speaking, preschool teaching is no less than an art. A common man should imagine himself guiding a bunch of young children who are venturing out of their comfort zone for the first time and teaching them basic skills of life. As for as schools through out the world are considered every child is different and needs different type and different amount of care in order to fulfill the needs of a learner and to enable them to to start becoming independent in their actions . This is the sprit of pre-schooling. All the teachers and parents who have to grow a child having the age of pre-schooling need to know all aspects of the pre-schooling so that a child may grow in a proper way. Keeping in mind the teaching method and technique a teacher needs artistic mind and eagles eye.
But as for as our country is considered this part of education system is ignored mostly by parent. The children do not get proper attention and guidance from parents. There exists uncertainty and lack of surety regarding how and what to do with a child at this stage. Teacher is the backbone of educational institutions so as to pre-schooling. The teacher has to develope good eating habits, reading skills,toilet habits, communication skill, presentation skill, cognitive skill etc among the children. This part of pre-schooling is understood to parent clearly but what is lacking is their part hat they have to play for developing a child.
Here I want mention that pre school teaching is not objective in nature that we do in a routine manner but it involves a lot of subjectivity on part of teachers, and alot of thought goes into dealing with every child and knowing how a child can evolve. Keeping in view the need and importance preschool education the world has come up with different methods of teaching or different school of thought. Through these methods we understand different styles of teaching and we can fill up the gaps in our understanding of preschool education.
Play way Method
It not only focuses on subjective development but the emotional development of the child as well. In this method of learning, playing acts as the driving force as the entire learning method revolves around activity-based learning. It encourages expression and creative skills among children. The play-way method is a unique method of learning and can be customized as per the child’s interests and requirements. Hence, it may vary from child to child.
Teachers should develop different customized learning activities by creating a joyful environment and shall plan the activities ranging from simple to complex. What can be best for child other than to get a complete feeling of freedom? This method of learning is unplanned and hence encourages the complete freedom of expression. The traditional methods of assessing kids based on grading system are completely eliminated under this method rather, the teachers assess the aptitudes and skills of a child on regular intervals and keep their parents informed about same. The children get promoted to next level by participating in ample of activities like music, communication with teachers and other kids, art, learning and inculcating skills etc. All these activities ensure the child’s development such as physical, intellectual, psychological along with the development of different skills.
The Reggio Emilia approach
The Reggio Emilia approach is an educational philosophy and pedagogy focused on preschool and primary education. This approach is a student centered and constructivist self-guided curriculum that uses self-directed, experiential learning in relationship-driven environments. The programme is based on the principles of respect, responsibility and community through exploration, discovery and play.
At the core of this philosophy is an assumption that children form their own personality during the early years of development and that they are endowed with "a hundred languages", through which they can express their ideas. The aim of the Reggio approach is to teach children how to use these symbolic languages (e.g. painting, sculpting, drama) in everyday life.
There many more methods by various authors for understanding this concept and we get those from different sources if we have will. But I will quote some lines regarding responsibility of parent and teacher towards a child.
At early stage that means from their birth, even from the conception of child in mothers womb a parent has to think of the proper environment for proper developement of his/her child. As all of us are aware about the fact that every child starts its learning and parents are the first teachers of of their children. With the course of time this informal education helps a child develope himself in order to fit itself among neighbours, society, country and globally. The environment of the child’s home has a positive and lasting impact on the child’s curricular and extracurricular skills . The type of treatment from parents and family members of a child shapes the child from the date of birth and the reflection of environment can seen in the pre-school age and preparatory age and sometimes its effect may be long lasting in child.
At early age most of parents and family members, instead of guiding a child rebuke and abuse child at the time of simple mistakes that effects his mental, physical and social developement negatively. In addition to school learning make sure that the home environment of child stimulates the child’s mental, linguistic’ emotional and motor skill developement.The proper environment for the child at home is calm, loving and civilised environment. If such environment is not available for a children at home there will be negative impact on childs language and speech developement. Here I shall write some important points .
*Do not abuse or rebuke your child at home or school.
*Don’t speak uncivilised words before a child at home.
*Don’t criticise others in presence of a child.
Always guide a child in proper way when he make mistakes.
*Help him always whe he faces difficult situation.
*Keep eagles eye on your child’s activities.
Keep your child mostly with you in order to give him exposure.
*Make his mind ready for learning by communicating with him and by keeping pictures books, drawing books, pens, pencils, toys etc around him.
*Do not force him to memorise names of different things like parts of body in second or tertiary language at the age of infancy that now days have become fashion.
*First all expose your child to mother tongue and expose him to second language at proper time.
*Provide enough time for sleeping but unfortunately our toddler,s sit in bus early in the morning to reach their school as the school buses visit a vast area in order pick children from different areas.
*Parent teacher relation impacts learners perfomance and abilities. A good parent teacher relation increases abilities and performance of a child.
*Let your children make mistakes and provide opportunity to children to solve the problems themselves so that they become more confident.
*Rewards, Praises, Creativity, Senstivity, encouragement increases the pace of learning of a child.
*Games, activities, speaking, work, interaction, listening, writing, drawing, watching, seeing, etc develope emotional, physical, mental part of a child.
To summarize it in a sentence, I can say teacher as well as parent needs to be highly trained in the field of Early Childhood Care and education.
