Over the last few years there has been two very critical phenomenon, which are seemingly unrelated, which have had a very fundamental impact on the Schooling especially the pre-school industry. These phenomena are
1. Establishment of Pre-schooling as a concept: Care and development of a toddler was a part of the daily chores of the mother and grandparents. Over the last 10 years the need for professional care and development in the early childhood has become a necessity. The realization of the importance and criticality of the first 6 years of a child’s life in their overall development has created a demand for early childhood services. Parents do not want to err and therefore have been looking at ‘experts’ to provide this ‘service’ for their child. This has
Consumerism: The ability to pay and demand services. Parents look at ‘experts’ in ECE as experts, who they have hired to do a great job with their child. It’s “I pay for your services I want the services of nurturing my child”
The above two have combined to form a very ‘lethal’ concoction – where the need and market for such services is high and the consumerism is leading to looking at the role of the pre-school as a “pure” services provider vs. a partner in nurturing the child. The expectation of the parents towards the ‘pre-school’ is of managing each aspect of their child’s growth and they demand ‘growth’ for the ‘fees’ being paid.
The Shift required is that both parents and ECE experts are partners in nurturing the child. Unlike any other services the child is not a commodity, we are talking about a life. A person that is the most important person for us. As parents we want to provide the best for our child and partnering the pre-school / school is an integral part of this.
- Let’s look at what every parent wants for their child
- be happy,
- have self confidence and self esteem,
- have the ability to take good decisions,
- be a good human being,
- responsible,
- creative, intelligent,
- healthy,
- respect elders, respect the environment,
- be a good citizen, have the ability to build a good career,
- be able have skills to manage his/her life.
- Now lets ask the teachers – As a teacher what do they want for their students? The list goes on something like this be happy,
- have self confidence and self esteem,
- have the ability to take good decisions,
- be a good human being,
- responsible,
- creative, intelligent,
- healthy,
- respect elders, respect the environment,
- be a good citizen, have the ability to build a good career,
- be able have skills to manage his/her life.
Now let’s ask the teachers – As a teacher what do they want for their students?
-
- be happy,
- have self confidence and self esteem,
- have the ability to take good decisions,
- be a good human being,
- responsible,
- creative, intelligent,
- healthy,
- respect elders, respect the environment,
- be a good citizen, have the ability to build a good career,
- be able have skills to manage his/her life.
- Now lets ask the teachers – As a teacher what do they want for their students? The list goes on something like this be happy,
- have self confidence and self esteem,
- have the ability to take good decisions,
- be a good human being,
- responsible,
- creative, intelligent,
- healthy,
- respect elders, respect the environment,
- be a good citizen, have the ability to build a good career,
- be able have skills to manage his/her life.
The first shift required from both the child care facility and the parents is to treat the other as a partner. Partner who shares the same dream for the child.
2. Now having seen that the parent and the ECE professional are in the same team, provide the listening and support to the other. It’s like Virat Kohli supporting Dhoni to win the match! Keeping our views, our thinking, our beliefs on the side and getting to the INTENTION of the other person.
