How to Choose the Best Preschool in Malaysia for Your Child

Preschool education, also known as ‘Nursery School’, ‘Pre-Primary School’ or ‘Play School’ is the phase where toddlers between ages 3 to 6 are sent to school to gain awareness about their surroundings such as colors, family members, vehicles, animals and more. It is the primary stage of formal education and the first stepping stone for the child toward his/her life trajectory. The preschool curriculum is designed individually by each school but is based on the common idea that toddlers of the said age must be made aware of the environment they live in and its components, be it living or nonliving. Preschools in Malaysia envision a holistic, emotionally supportive, and positive learning atmosphere for the children to provide them with the joy of experiencing new opportunities every day, as well as building a concrete foundation that is ready for a lifetime of learning, and implementing knowledge in daily existence. Preschools in Malaysia also work at kick starting the process of developing the child’s critical thinking, collaboration, and communication skills, along with preparing them for their school life. Most students by the end of their preschool stage know how to talk a little about themselves, and their families or describe their surroundings. One of the Indian international schools in Malaysia is GIIS, Kuala Lumpur. The school prides itself on its preschool facilities, the quality of education, and the learning amenities it provides to its students. 

Why is Preschool important for your child?

A good preschool education comes with the promise of varied success in your child’s life. Many say that preschool education opens the thinking lobe of a child’s brain, and builds a bedrock that makes room for forthcoming lessons of life. It is also the phase where the child develops self-esteem, and confidence and is made aware of the many emotions that exist. Their imagination is tickled, and through various fun activities, they are made to create, explain and describe using their imagination. Preschool is also the first stage, where the child is made to interact with people of his/her own age that belong to different families and backgrounds. It is the place where children begin to develop their social skills, learn to make friends, and enhance their conversational skills. Socializing with people who are not family, at such an early age is significant for children, to learn social skills, and smoothen the education process from day one. Most preschools in Malaysia follow a well-designed teaching program for preschoolers, to provide them the learning capabilities along with a nurturing, and safe environment to grow. The preschool at an Indian International School in Kuala Lumpur aims to help toddlers develop their basic motor and cognitive skills and begin to become culturally and environmentally aware of their surroundings. Indian International School in Kuala Lumpur has won many awards for its teaching methodologies and for its renowned techniques for handling students of all age groups. 

Choosing a preschool in Malaysia

Children’s education is one of the most important parts of a guardian’s life. Choosing an appropriate, well-suited, “perfect” school for your child can be a daunting and time-consuming task, especially when you are not adept at filtering out the choices that are best for you, as per the factors that are normally considered while choosing an apt educational institution by parents. Today, there are so many factors that you must consider, and in the end, can affect your final decision of choosing the right preschool for your toddler. Starting from the facilities, teaching faculty, and admission fees, the list of factors can go down to distance from your home, and amenities like swimming pool, labs, and many more. However, there are some key considerations that you must at all times take into account while choosing a preschool for your child in Malaysia. These considerations can affect the future education, learning process, and capacity of your child, so choose wisely!

1. Student-Teacher Ratio

The number of students allotted to one teacher per class is known as the Student-Teacher Ratio. An ideal student-teacher ratio ranges from 15 students per teacher to 20 students per teacher, for preschools in Malaysia. Student-Teacher Ratio is an important measurement and must be considered when choosing between the many preschools in Malaysia since overcrowding a class with children can lead to a short attention span of the students, failure in grasping concepts, as well as the inability of teachers to pay attention to the individual needs of all students, thus resulting in students losing interest in the learning process. A low student-teacher ratio helps in improving the quality of teaching, tweaking the teaching methods and approach as per the children, allocating resources, and focusing more on the learning outcomes. It is important for teachers to pay individual attention to each student, especially at the preschool level, since this is basically the development/formative stage of a child’s learning process. A good student-teacher ratio plays a vital role in building the foundation of a child’s education. For this, Indian International Schools in Kuala Lumpur focuses a great deal on the student-teacher ratio and ensures that each child is mentored individually, starting from the preschool level. 

2. Number of school hours

You have to take into consideration the operating hours of the preschool you choose, especially if you are a single or working parent. The preschool of your choice must not clash with your work hours, because that can cause a major inconvenience in your daily routine. It should be open till late enough so that you have enough time to pick up or drop your child to preschool, as well as manage your work. Even if the school has transport facilities available, you must figure out your schedule before making a final decision of choosing among the preschools in Malaysia. 

3. Does it offer a creche facility?

Before choosing a preschool in Malaysia, do check if the school offers a creche facility. A creche is nothing but a child care center run by trained, qualified adults to look after children during the day when their guardians are at work. Having the option of creche attached to the preschool can prove to be convenient and preferred by many parents since it allows them to work in offices, and be assured that their children are safe and under the surveillance of responsible adults throughout the day. Given that opting for a creche facility may raise your expenses and preschool budget a little bit, but if you are a working parent, it is recommended for your peace of mind and ease in Indian International schools in KL. 

4. Meals, Snacks, and Naps

The activities and daily agenda of preschools often tire out the children. To feel refreshed and be ready for more, the best Preschools in Malaysia often prepare small meals or snacks for the children. They ensure that your child receives the proper nutrition, along with the hygienic and healthy food they prepare. Prior to admission, many preschools ask parents to fill out health details of their children, listing out their allergies, family health history, nutrition history, and related information to be well informed about the child and provide meals accordingly. That said, there are schools that do not provide meals or snacks to their students. For that parents must pack a filling, and healthy snack pack and meal. 

Considering that children need to be recharged with energy at regular intervals, many preschools also have the provision of “Nap-time” for their students. They have an hour or more set aside for naps so that the children are energized and enthusiastic throughout the school time. 

5. Teaching Approach

No two individuals are the same, especially two children, and that too at their development stages. When choosing a preschool for your child, you must understand the teaching approach, curriculum, and quality of teaching staff. You can ask questions like “What is the advantage of the curriculum being taught”, and “How can this help in enhancing my child’s skills?” and see if the outline of the course is created individually, by the teachers or if it is a set pattern for all batches.Understanding the teaching approach, and other factors are important because if your child develops a dislike for the teaching style or preschool, it might be very difficult for you to keep them involved and enthusiastic about the learning process. Some children, once they start disliking the aura of the preschool, resist attending it every day.

Final thoughts

While the above-mentioned factors are vital for choosing a preschool in Malaysia, other factors such as location, fees, amenities, and teaching aids can also be considered simultaneously. In the end, remember that even the best of preschools in Malaysia may not be a great fit for your child if they are not comfortable with the atmosphere and vibes of the school. So strive to choose a happy and nurturing preschool for your child, because preschools specially in Indian international schools in KL are responsible for building a steady foundation for your child’s educationPreschools are meant to help children get used to the idea of attending regular school, motivate them to learn new things every day, and embark on the incredible journey of self-exploration, interaction, and growth.