In the past few decades, preschool teaching methods have come a long way from the traditional benches and teacher-directed approach. A considerable amount of research has now been done on early childhood. The experts in the field have concluded that the child’s first five years of life is one of the most crucial times in terms of the development that takes place in a child’s life, which has a lasting impact as they grow into adults. A child begins to learn from the time they are born and continue over their lifespan. An interesting fact is that 90% of the brain develops in the first 3 yrs of life. This is the prime period in child development where learning takes place aggressively and at a phenomenal pace, the child is developing their motor and language skills, and their senses are heightened as they explore and absorb things around them. By the time they reach age, 6.95% of brain development has already occurred. From this, we can derive how significant the early childhood years are. Around this time, the child also begins their learning outside the home and in a preschool. We must remember that preschool should be when your child begins to love learning and trying out new things. Therefore we need to select a preschool or nursery with teaching methods that best suit your child. Preschool teaching methods differ from one preschool to another depending on the approach and philosophies they follow. Let’s understand a bit about a few main preschool teaching approaches worldwide that are followed today.

1. Preschool Teaching Methods and
Techniques Used Worldwide
In the past few decades, preschool teaching methods have come a long way from the traditional
benches and teacher-directed approach. A considerable amount of research has now been done on
early childhood. The experts in the field have concluded that the child’s first five years of life is one
of the most crucial times in terms of the development that takes place in a child’s life, which has a
lasting impact as they grow into adults.
A child begins to learn from the time they are born and continue over their lifespan. An interesting
fact is that 90% of the brain develops in the first 3 yrs of life. This is the prime period in child
development where learning takes place aggressively and at a phenomenal pace, the child is
developing their motor and language skills, and their senses are heightened as they explore and
absorb things around them. By the time they reach age, 6.95% of brain development has already
occurred. From this, we can derive how significant the early childhood years are.
Around this time, the child also begins their learning outside the home and in a preschool. We must
remember that preschool should be when your child begins to love learning and trying out new
things. Therefore we need to select a preschool or nursery with teaching methods that best suit your
child.
Preschool teaching methods differ from one preschool to another depending on the approach and
philosophies they follow. Let’s understand a bit about a few main preschool teaching approaches
worldwide that are followed today.
Montessori –
” Do not tell them how to do it. Show them how to do it and do not say a word. If you tell them, they
will watch your lips move. If you show them, they will want to do it themselves.”
Maria Montessori
Origin – Maria Montessori developed this preschool teaching approach in the 1900s an Italian
physician and educator.
Philosophy – The Montessori method emphasizes individualized instruction and self-paced learning
and is based on the belief that children are naturally curious and capable of learning independently.
Teaching method – It is a child-directed approach, and the teachers gently guide, assess the child’s
needs and carefully prepare the classroom with corners or centres with specialized equipment or
material that the child can work on for extended periods at their own pace. Children of various ages
are grouped.
Reggio Emilia-
Origin – The Reggio Emilia is an Italian preschool teaching method coined by Loris Malaguzzi post
world war II, who believed that youngsters needed a more comprehensive education.
Philosophy – It is founded on the idea that “a hundred languages of children,” recognises how kids
can communicate their feelings and opinions. Its philosophy is that a child’s personality begins

2. developing right from the younger years while growing and learning. We must recognise that
children have numerous ways of expressing themselves and their ideas.
Teaching Methods – In this type of nursery school, the teaching method is child-led. It allows the
child to participate actively in what should be taught instead of just receiving random
instructions. It focuses on education through exploration and discovery with the active
involvement of teachers, families, and the community to work together to make schools a rich
learning environment. It encourages children to present their ideas and learn in numerous
forms like painting, art and craft, drama, dance, music, and puppetry.
Waldorf-
Origin – The Waldorf or Steiner preschool teaching method was set in motion by Austrian-born
Rudolf Steiner in the early 20th century in Germany, with a holistic approach to education where
students are taught using hands-on methods and sensory-based learning.
Philosophy – The Waldorf preschool curriculum combines structure and creative learning. Its
philosophy pushes for moulding well-rounded individuals who are independent thinkers. Classrooms
are mixed-age with a play-based approach to learning.
Teaching Method – The preschool teaching strategy encourages the child’s creative development by
telling stories, creating art from available materials, taking walks and doing fun activities. There are
no formal assessments, tests, homework, or grading. Rather a continuous testing process through
various activities.
Playway
Origin –The Playway method of preschool teaching was popularized by Fredrich Froebel (1782-
1852), a German educator who coined the term “Kindergarten”, meaning ‘Children’s Garden’ or
‘Garden of Children’. He is also the creator of the play-based learning approach to education.
Philosophy – This Nursery teaching method, recognises that children love to play and use play as a
driving force and the entire learning method revolves around activity-based learning. It encourages
expression and creative skills among children.
Teaching Method – This type of playgroup or nursery teaching approach is widely used in India. This
type of teaching relies heavily on structured and unstructured activities consisting of free play,
roleplay, art and craft activities, music and movement, and much more. Through innovative teaching
and using play as a tool, various concepts are taught to the children, including numbers, colours and
even the alphabet. There is no formal assessment, and the children are not pressured to perform.