This Is How I Decided On the Best Elementary School in NYC

This year, by the time it was my daughter’s birthday, I knew it was time for me to start searching for a good elementary school in NYC for her. There are a lot of options available in the whole of NYC, but as any other parent, I too wanted the best for my child.

As a single parent, I have always been extra cautious of the environment in which my daughter grows. I did a lot of research before settling on a daycare for Sarah and I wanted to make sure that the elementary school she goes to should be one of the best in NYC.

Before starting to search for an elementary school in a haphazard manner, I thought a much better way would be to list out the criteria on the basis of which, I would apply to the best elementary schools in NYC.

At first, I shortlisted the good ones on the basis of the reviews online, then I listed down the ones that were in close proximity to my workplace for the obvious factor of convenience.

Being a single parent is tough. However, if the school where your kid spends most of her/his time is good, then some of your worries are taken away.

Moreover, I wanted to make sure that nothing was amiss because my child’s educational foundation depended on the elementary school she would be enrolled in.

This is why I attended open house events and took tours of all the shortlisted schools which gave me a fair idea of the environment in which Sarah would be spending her time.

After having met the staff of the schools and doing a thorough check of credentials of the prospective teachers and schools, I finally narrowed the options to 3 schools.

 I am waiting for the results to be announced with my fingers crossed. 

Play is the work of the child

Have you ever observed a toddler engrossed in play? The child can be seen to display exceptional motivation, concentration and perseverance. What may seem to some as time-biding activities are, in fact, a child’s inner scientist at work exploring the world around them.

A child learns best through playing that is not entirely unstructured but combined with a certain amount of informed guidance and structure. Guided playtime can open up boundless avenues for young children, such as preschoolers, to learn key social, emotional, cognitive and pre-academic skills.

What follows is a list of the several ways in which different forms of play can benefit a preschooler.

·  Exploring nature

Children are naturally curious about the world around them. Scientific research shows that children who spend time exploring nature are more focused and healthier.

As an example, Williamsburg Northside Preschool in Brooklyn, New York, lays emphasis on letting children engage with and express themselves through natural materials such as rocks, sticks, pinecones and cotton wool. The range of natural materials that can be used is unlimited and offers children the opportunity to discover and create.

·  Music and dance

Music and dance offer children the opportunity for sensory explorations and for expressing themselves. It also helps children have joyous and meaningful social interactions with their peers and adults.

·  Dramatic play

Dramatic play is yet another play way teaching method that hones preschoolers’ ability to symbolize their experiences, express themselves, develop social skills and modulate their emotions.

The Williamsburg Northside Preschool mentioned above is also known to utilize dramatic play, for instance. Dramatic play is utilized at the school as a means for the child to develop their linguistic skills, comprehension abilities, cooperativeness and empathy.

·  Pretend play

The importance of pretend play in a child’s life cannot be overstated. Pretend play is the mark of a child’s budding ability to hold two versions of reality in their mind at one time. Pretend play has been shown to be an important precursor to developing ‘theory of mind’ or the understanding that other people have individualistic thoughts and feelings responsible for motivating their behaviors.