There comes this dreaded moment when parents have to look for a school for their child. They consult friends who have school going children, visit all the schools in the neighbourhood and I can guarantee that at the end of a day’s search, 90 per cent of the parents come out more confused than they were before.
Deciding what your child needs and what matters most are key steps in choosing a school for your child.
Is your focus on building talent, excelling in academics or learning different languages? Whatever the need you have for your child is, base your search on that.
Children are different and so many things make them unique from each other in many ways.
Your child is like no other although they possess so many qualities in common with others as well. Your child may seem to be many different people combined into one. A combination of genes and upbringing, your child is a unique concoction of capabilities, wants, needs and motives. It’s these characteristics that guide parents on what to consider as priority in this search.
Children’s bodies, minds, emotions and spirits combine to make unique individuals. This mix affects the kind of environment in which each child learns best. As a parent, you probably have some sense of this. But many of us feel at a loss to understand and respond to our own children’s capabilities, needs and personalities, even in our daily parenting. Your child’s capabilities are key in choosing what kind of a school they attend.
A parent’s concern on which of your child’s features will help her learn and feel better in some schools should be addressed because a certain kind of teachers, peers, school materials, and expected ways of learning applied should be in alignment with the type of child.
The distance between home and school should be reasonably short. No child will enjoy long rides on a daily basis.
How they travel there should be comfortable and enjoyable.
Parents have to look at the school’s menu. It should include meals that the child enjoys.
On school visits, parents have to ensure that good hygiene is observed; from the toilets to the dining room.
Your child’s needs may be endless but parents should be able to explore and discover a few priority needs to make an informed search of a school for their child.
