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What is the Difference Between Playschool and Nursery School?

Manju Nair
Dec 21, 2022
Schools, Learning
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As parents, we frequently confuse playschool with a nursery. But there is a big difference between the two. The primary distinction between playschool and nursery is that the former is a place where kids can learn things beyond what they would study in a regular classroom, while the latter is a preschool.

The most crucial education a child receives in the early years is social graces and an understanding of contemporary educational practices. To help your child with effective modules, choose the best nursery school while making your decision.

Let us look at the main difference between playschool and nursery school

Definition of a playschool and a nursery school

Playschool

The best way to describe playschools is as a facility where kids can have fun while learning. Additionally, your child will be ready for nursery when they finish playschool. Children who are too young for nursery are accepted to a playschool to prepare them. The best entertainment and educational elements can be found here, making it one of the most important institutions for kids.

Many play schools have incorporated their unique approaches to playfully learning-intensive activities. This guarantees that the kids will be able to learn something important while they are playing. The youngsters participate in daily activities as a result of the open system, which raises their cognitive and knowledge quotients. 

Nursery

Preschool or nursery school is where children learn the foundational skills needed for further education. The nursery influences the kids to prioritise their education and extracurricular activities. The nurseries strive to make learning for children both enjoyable and educational.

However, the educational environment for the child is broadened and severely emphasised. The nursery serves as the preschool educational system, but it also has a cutting-edge curriculum. Considering the resources at their disposal, they make complete use of them to influence the youngsters. Your child cannot attend nursery if they are 3 years old since nurseries only accept children who are 4 years old.

Focus or Objective of playschool and nursery

Playschools and nurseries can be distinguished, and they each have unique characteristics. Playschools use dramas, group activities, and literary and sensory art projects to help children develop their early abilities and language. The student in a nursery is exposed to objectification in the development of their social, emotional, physical, and intellectual identities.

Duration of playschool and nursery school

Playschool

Depending on the playschool programmes, the length of playschool varies. Playschool programmes range in length from less than a year to up to four years. How long your child should be enrolled in playschool is determined by the obligatory education regulations of the various states.

Nursery school

The duration of the course of nursery school is approximately 1 year. 

Facilities of Playschool & Nursery School

A play school usually offers these facilities

● Safety kits 

● Large, spacious classrooms

● Outdoor play area 

● Indoor play area 

● Library 

● Safe furniture 

● Napping facilities 

● Caring staff 

A nursery school offers these facilities

● Safety measures 

● Qualified teachers 

● Spacious classrooms 

● Indoor playroom 

● Outdoor play ground 

● Library 

● Medical room 

Right age for admission in playschool and nursery school

Playschool is for kids between the ages of 18 months and 5 years. Children between the ages of 3 and 4 begin their regular schooling at that point, while those under the age of 18 months are too young to be in a classroom setting. Therefore, between the ages of 18 months and 3 years, you can enrol your child in a playschool depending on their development.

Between 2.5 and 3.5 years old is the normal age for nursery school. This is the perfect age for a child to spend some time away from home and familiar surroundings, exploring new boundaries and locations. At this age, kids can frequently eat by themselves and speak in short phrases or sentences.

Methods and Techniques used in Playschool and Nursery School

Playschool

● Use of symbols and logos: Using visualisation techniques is the most effective strategy to support early learning. Children's vocabulary would be expanded by naming well-known brands or symbols. One of the most effective ways to teach the kids is through the use of flashcards.

● Naming and matching activities can be done in the classroom with alphabet cut-outs brought in by the teachers. There should be an item in the set for each letter of the alphabet. Ask the kids to name the alphabet after which they should select an object to name using that alphabet.

● Multiple activities: It is best to move between activities every few minutes to keep kids from getting bored because they have relatively short attention spans. If you give them a task that takes a long time, they might not finish it well and might quit before the end. The exercises should be carried out by teachers with this in mind.

● Gardening: Bringing kids near to nature through outdoor activities like gardening is the best method to introduce them to the natural world. Taking a break from the tests or lectures is a fantastic stress reliever. a significant aid to personal development or growth.

● Creating regulations: It is essential to create guidelines at the start of the school year that will aid teachers in delivering their lectures on time. Instead of disciplining a youngster who misbehaves, attempt to explain their error to them politely.

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Nursery School

● Play-way Method - Playing not only makes a child happy, it also teaches them valuable lessons, helps them develop their motor skills, and improves their mental and cognitive capacities, according to the Play-way Method, which is based on the observation that children are happiest when they are playing. A creative teacher may create games that aid students in learning the alphabet, colours, and other subjects.

● Waldorf Method - Rudolf Stenier, a German educator, developed the Waldorf Method. This approach focuses on fostering a child's creative abilities through storytelling, making art from found objects, going on walks, and engaging in enjoyable activities that will foster a child's cognitive growth. 

● Montessori Method – It was created by Maria Montessori, a doctor and one of the earliest forerunners of contemporary education. She held that it is simple to shape a student's mind when they are still young, and this instruction concentrates on the child's overall development, mostly by adhering to five principles designed to improve the students' social and cognitive abilities. Children should be respected, given time for independent study, and assisted in learning from their environment as part of this teaching methodology.

What is the Importance of Playschool and Nursery School?

Importance of a play-school

1. Lessens separation anxiety: Sending the youngster off to school right away can be difficult for him or her because he or she will suddenly be on a strict schedule away from the comfort of home. Playschool gives children liberty and a sense of familiarity.

2. Promotes growth: A youngster watches his or her teachers for the first time and adjusts to the flexibly planned schedule. The youngster has the chance to interact with others, establish new friends, learn how to obey commands, and engage in early learning activities.

3. Social development: Children who spend their early years with parents had a harder time developing relationships with others outside the family. Relationships with teachers, classmates, and other students can be cultivated at playschools.

4. Independent decisions: Playschool encourages children to make their own decisions because there are so many options available to them in the classroom. He or she can be asked to select their favourite colour, toys, friends, sports, or extracurricular hobbies like singing, dancing, and painting.

5. Developing language skills: The age range of 3 to 5 is significant because this is when language abilities start to develop. A youngster begins to use longer, more complicated sentences throughout this age range, and their vocabulary grows from 900 words to 2500 words. Through engaging activities, playschool teachers instruct kids on proper language usage and introduce them to new words.

Importance of a nursery school

1. Social and emotional behaviour development - Attending nursery school is a terrific opportunity for kids to acquire the fundamentals of life, such as cooperation, sharing, respect, and self-learning. Your youngster can study and explore independently at a nursery school.

2. Language and maths skill development - Before entering the pre-school or nursery phase, some kids only speak their native language. Using picture books, symbols, blocks, and other things, children begin learning mathematical concepts as well as other languages like Hindi and English.

3. Interactive Learning - Cutting-edge technology integrated into the educational process keeps learning fun for young students. The nursery school students are engaged in the learning process and find it enjoyable when using an audio-visual medium.

4. Developing Confidence - In the millennial era, even the basic education learning process has changed. A good nursery school prioritises practical knowledge above abstract ideas. This encourages your child to express themselves honestly about their feelings and behaviour right away and boosts their self-esteem.

5. Getting ready for kindergarten - You may be confident that your kids will develop clever communication and thought-expression skills in front of parents and teachers with the correct direction and learning. This is the outcome of numerous interactive sessions that practically prepare kids for the next academic level.

Conclusion

A lack of appropriate early education may lead to missed opportunities in school and beyond as a child's brain develops throughout these important years. Studies show that kids who have access to early education do better in life than those who don't.

A child spends every second of their life learning. Excellent early childhood education in a pre-school  Bangalore may make a big difference in everything from learning to use a fork and construct sandcastles to reading and socialising.

FAQs

Are preschool and nursery the same?

Ans – Yes. 

What comes first in a nursery or playgroup?

Ans – A playgroup comes first.

What does a child learn at playschool?

Ans - Before entering kindergarten, children must acquire critical social skills; in playschool, children learn how to cooperate, share, take turns, work as a team, participate in group activities, follow simple instructions, and express wants and needs.

Why do we need playschool?

Ans - Building a solid foundation in social, pre-academic, and general life skills through play school is beneficial. It fosters a child's emotional and personal development, gives them the chance to study in ways that pique their curiosity, and aids in their overall development.

What makes playschool different?

Children and young people who play have better cognitive, physical, social, and emotional health. Children learn about the world and about themselves via play.

What makes nursery school different?

Children are exposed to an independent lifestyle in nursery schools. They engage well with their professors and classmates. This contributes to increasing their self-worth and confidence, which they can carry with them throughout their lives.

Is a playgroup really necessary?

Yes, it is necessary because children get negotiation skills, dispute resolution skills, turn-taking skills, and sharing skills in a playgroup environment.

Manju Nair

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