The document discusses the importance of preschool education, emphasizing the need for a clean and supportive environment for children's early development. It compares two main educational approaches: the Montessori method, which is child-centered and focuses on individual learning styles, and the traditional playgroup method, which is teacher-centered and follows a fixed curriculum. Ultimately, it highlights that regardless of the chosen method, the preschool experience significantly influences a child's growth and future learning capabilities.

1. It’s learning and just learning for the parents everyday. From the time our child starts
taking the first step to graduating in college. We are cautious and curious about their
future. Be it their dressing or their education, we like to just give them just the best
and nothing else. The initial foundation of a perfect preschool is a hurdle which is
faced by some parents, especially the new parents of their first or single child. There
would be just two important things in mind of the parents when it comes to choosing
a preschool. The clean and hygienic environment and a staff who are capable and
seemingly compatible with their child. The other factors like the activities involved
and the methodologies inculcated at school takes a backseat as the parents feel that
the kids are too small to understand anything and it is merely “OK” to be sent to any
kind of school as the teaching and the preaching are nowhere different. Negative!
Teachers and educators today are coming up with the new and conventional
methods of preschool and elementary teaching that marks the initial, strong
foundation in the life of each child. The materials used, the manuals with a long to-do
list for the teachers or the total structure itself has its own importance as there is a
hand and brainwork of innumerable scholars and experienced teachers who actually
formatted something of this unique kind, because each child is equally unique. There
is no shoe that fits each child. Similarly it is not right to agree that a single or the one
and only method of learning would support the logical and the social development of
a child. When two kids cannot be the same, then any two teaching methods cannot
be same either. To justify the same reason, the teachers across the globe prescribe
the widely popular schemes of early learning and development programs which are
now tried, tested and accepted. They are now categorized as:
• The Montessori and
• The Play Group.
Montessori Method:
The Montessori Method of Education was created by Maria Montessori – one of
Italy’s first female doctors, in the early 1900s. Ms. Montessori always was fascinated
about human development. Her passion in life was observing children who belong to
different culture, race and socio-economic backgrounds. This made her to
conceptualise a new approach to education. Her ideas and ideologies soon were
well received and became quite popular in other countries and continents. The first
Montessori school opened in 1912 at Canada and today there are more than 500
across the globe. In this method child is considered as the ‘Sun’ of the solar
system around which the teachers, activities and the techniques revolve. The
learning and the understanding of concepts is purely based on the interests and the
potential of a child which keeps the teacher always on her toes as its upto her to
decipher the child’s likes and dislikes... strengths and weaknesses. Based on this
keen observation only is when the child would be able to learn what he/she would
require for learning. There are no fixed boundaries on the time and volume of

2. learning. This is purely an environment of playful activity and skill in which the child
would be shaped to relate to those concepts which he/she would be learning at the
later stages of school life.
Play School Method:
This is the traditional classroom environment which is teacher-centered. This method
has a fixed curricula which is been practiced from many academic years with slights
changes here and there to fit in to the present day scenario. There is a prescribed
set of portions to be learnt by the children which would be designed in a chronology
that will be same for every child. The teaching is time bound and the concept learnt
is same irrespective of the fact that the children differ in their IQ stats. The play
group method acts like a stepping stone for the children who would get a glimpse of
the big picture – the regular school. Kids get accustomed to the classroom
environment as the assessments, test and revision is an integral part of this learning.
A group of specialists sit together and construct a timetable for a whole year that
includes introduction to various topics like shapes, sizes and colours in a
systematized way.
Difference between Montessori and Playgroup:
❖ The Environment: Montessori Method believes in the child centered pattern
whereas the playgroup is teacher centered. In Montessori way, the teacher is
asked to observe the child and its behaviour and then is decided as to what
approach can be used to make the child understand the concept which he/she is
supposed to understand. In playschool a teacher, teaches the concept altogether
for a group of students mimicking a classroom environment which is uniform to all
the students.
❖ Interaction in teaching: Montessori demands the teacher to sit one-on-one with
each child in a class and understand their needs and skills to push them and
elevate them into something which would help them understand those concepts
in their own way. Playschool is predetermined. There is a fixed agenda which are
planned identically to all the children. There would be no complaints of spending
more time on one child or no time to another. It is all equal, similar and the
teaching is done at one time.
❖ Difference in Pace: Montessori teaching gives all its time to a child who is either
new to a concept or that he/she is unable to cope up with the speed of learning
unlike other children. The children are made to understand all the concepts
slowly and steadily without a clock ticking next to them. Playschool is often time
based. For ex: The concept of size and numbers are to be finished in the coming
month. So the children must be well aware of the shape and colours this month to

3. start a new concept soon. It is time bound and it is mandatory for each child to
adhere to this timeline.
❖ Performance assessment: Playgroup certainly believes in assessing the child’s
learning through simple tests and grading which might be in the form of giving
mock worksheets or asking them to orally recite something that they have learnt.
Based on which the assessment of the child is done by the traditional grading
methods. Montessori follows the ultimate joy for learning and values just the
experience of the same. The teachers just meet the parents and talk about their
child’s involvement and interests rather than achievements and their
accomplishments.
❖ The Curriculum: Montessori has nothing like a set of portions or the chapters to
be completed kind of concept. It prefers to be an impromptu learning based on
the interests of the child. Thus the skills are induced only through curiosity and
not through compulsion. Playgroup kids learn the skills and concept which are
taught to them by their teachers. Good manners would not be developed by
observing their unfavourable behaviour [like in Montessori], but taught as an
important chapter which aides their socio-cultural development.
No matter whichever mode of preschool we choose it is important to understand that
these are just different approaches towards the learning and development of the
child. The 2 to 6 years of age is considered crucial in a child’s life as the major life
skills and behavioural influences happen within these four years of early learning.
The concepts, the skills which they acquire – stays with them for a lifetime. Choosing
the preschool not just depends on the curriculum but also the learning environment,
hygiene followed and the competent staff and teachers who provide a comfortable
learning platform for the child matters the most. The feedback and the reviews
collect through the general online searches, word of mouth or any other reliable
sources will play a vital role. Next comes the other factors like proximity to the
residence and the affordable fee structure.
Once all your prerequisites are met, its time you enjoy seeing the next phase of your
child’s development. You never know what’s in store for you, a successful
entrepreneur in the make or a budding scientist ready to amaze the world with her
curiosity- fuelled innovations.