When deciding a preschool for your kid, it’s important to consider the differences in each type of curriculum and the ways in which it impacts your child. Of course, many parents are unaware of the nuances that go behind developing a curriculum, and what it includes.

For starters, it should always be developed by someone with a background in child education or working with children, and some level of experience in the same.

Role of teachers
Much like a regular school, a preschool curriculum requires immense input from the teachers. Depending on what kind of a curriculum it is, the role of the teacher can range from a guide to an almost parent-like personal relationship with the child. The role also drastically changes depending on the child itself. A preschool curriculum designed for special needs children often requires the teacher to double as a caretaker. In other academic-based preschool curricula, the teacher must follow a rigorous teaching pattern and test methods to assess the child’s learning curve.

Duration of preschool
How long a day in preschool lasts also depends on the curriculum of the institution. Some private preschools run for a few hours or so, while others, especially public ones, run for entire day lengths. You’ll find preschools that run longer than traditional school days to help supplement for working parents.

Implementation through activities
A preschool cannot run like a traditional school for obvious reasons. In a good preschool curriculum, you can expect your child to perform a number of engaging activities in a day that are challenging in many ways, in order to encourage learning. These include group activities, play time, story time, art and craft, etc. There are supplemental activities that give a break but also teach other things such as responsibility and following instructions. These include cleaning up after playtime, preparation of snacks or walking in straight lines.

Learning through play
If you’re on the outside of a preschool and are looking at the curriculum unfolding, you will see lots of play and laughter. It can be easy to think that your child is simply going to preschool to play. Although he/she is most definitely enjoying it, there is a lot more at work here. Such guided play and socialization teaches your child invaluable traits like how to form and keep friendships, resolve conflict, and learn how to share and think about others.