“The children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way. Show them all the beauty they possess inside.” – Whitney Houston.
A child’s educational foundation is paramount for him or her to grow morally strong and knowledgeable. Just like you want to dress your kids in the best fashion – I prefer to buy clothes from the kids brand Huxbaby – we want to give them the best education. That’s why you need to take your child to a school that best fits him or her, depending on their capabilities and interests. Nurturing the child’s talents and interests are key to their personal and intellectual development. Think about it, you like to make the best decisions for yourself: what you choose to buy, to invest in, what exercise you want to make. Yesterday I made the choice to buy globe west furniture for my living room. Why? Because I think it’s the right choice for me. So please, do the same for your children, and put them in a school that suits their life, mind and style.
But how do you identify the right school for them?
Here are a few tips to consider when choosing a school to enrol them into:
- Consider your child’s needs
A school should reflect on how your child will be in ten years’ time. You should, therefore, ask yourself a question before you enrol your child into the school: what impact will it have on my child? The answer to this question will depend on the child’s mindset, especially if he or she has special needs. By the time you are thinking of enrolling your child, you should be able to identify if your child requires special attention with regards to education or a conducive and different learning environment. Most likely, the child will be the happiest if he or she can be in a school close to home, and to their friends.
- Do a thorough background check on the schools you have shortlisted
You may have a list of schools within the neighbourhood or in a different town. Each school has its unique culture and practices and the manner in which they relate to children. A military school, for example, will have a different curriculum compared to a preparatory school. You should make a point of engaging with alumni and parents of the school to learn more about what they uphold; be it their curriculum, their sporting activities, the manner in which learning takes place and so on. These traits vary from school. Learn as much as possible about the school you want to enrol your child into.
- Pay a visit to the schools
Nothing beats a first-hand experience with the schools. By interacting with the students and parents you’ll get a great sense of the school, and what their own perception about it is. But if you get to see the school for yourself, you may well feel differently about how things are done – or just what your gut tells you. At this step, you just need to gather as much information about the school as you can. It may be a little time consuming but it’s worth it to secure a good life and future for your child. As you visit the school, there are a few pointers you should take note of. How is the school structured and how friendly are the staff? What morals do they uphold and what key value do they seek to impart to your child? How well does the school relate to the community and the parents of the school? What strikes the mind of people when they hear the name of the school in terms of performance and discipline? When you get the answers to these questions, you will manage to make a great choice in the school to take your child to.
- Trust your instincts and inner voice
We all have that inner voice that tells us how good a place is – or warns us of impending danger. As much as we may ignore it, it is important to listen to that little voice at times. You may walk into a school for the first time and have a positive vibe with the jovial children walking down the halls and the approachable teachers receiving the students in their classrooms. Listen to that voice as it will help you have a picture of the school at large.