“You know that school in Amberpet? Yeah. It is an excellent school. My cousin’s daughter studies there and is doing very well.”
Influence. It has been known to make people think multiple times even about their rock-solid decisions. If the other person’s influencing powers are exceptional, we fall prey even without realizing it. Only later does the mistake become evident and by then it is too late. We can let this pass for small decisions such as buying a new pen or selecting a new soap but not when it comes to deciding the right school for your little one(s).
Choosing a school is a life-altering decision that needs you to factor in a number of things. So, blindly listening to what a friend has to say or choosing the school the neighbor’s kid goes to can be a very, very bad idea.
In 2018, many parents committed unforgivable school-choosing crimes that went way beyond just influence. We do not want you to be another bad statistic. That is why we have come up with this list that speaks of the most common but dreadful mistakes that parents made this year.
Choosing a school far, far away
It actually saddens us that this mistake tops the list. In their haste to find the best school in Hyderabad, many parents forget that distance is an important factor. We cannot choose a school that takes away an hour so in commute!
School is very tiring and children just want to come home soon after a long day. The journey back shouldn’t be another hour-long ordeal now, should it? Back in the day, it made sense because we had very few good schools. The story is different today and by no means should you make your child travel so much every single day for over a decade!
P.S. The time saved could be spent sharing the happenings of the day with you!
Making it ALL about academics
There is no denying that academics are important but emotional, social, and physical development are just as important. Textbooks do not cover these!
Children who spend their childhood with only academics on their plate have been known to have poor social skills. Physical and emotionally, too, they are weaker than their counterparts.
Choose a school that has a vast playground and amenities for extra-curricular activities. Choose one that balances every aspect of growing up. It is far more crucial that you would think!
Deciding without talking to the teachers
Many parents visit the school before taking a call about admissions but they only speak to the principal. Remember, the principal is not going to teach the children. Talking to a few teachers will give you an idea of the classroom environment.
Ask them a lot of questions about the teaching methodology, emotional support, facilities, activities, workshops, etc. This will help you compare schools and choose the best.
Judging only by the brand
Most of us are caught up in the whole “oldest school” or “best school” trap and we end up making poor choices as a result. Of course, the brand matters but, as we said earlier, we cannot compromise on other factors just for the brand. What if the school is too far away? What if they do not have modern facilities? What if the curriculum is different from what you had your eye on?
It is almost a crime to decide only based on how old a school is or how amazing rankings say it is. Consider all other criteria too!
P.S. A few new schools are revolutionizing the way children are taught. You may want to check them out too!
Going blindly by social media
This is another common mistake these days. All of us are on Facebook and Twitter, and we fall trap to what others are saying without doing our own ground research. Don’t do that!
If you are preparing to start sending your child to school in 2019, we urge you to take all these into consideration and make the smart choice. After all, your child is counting on you for his/her entire life.