Nursery School Functions and Objectives PDF

## Functions of Nursery School The functions of nursery school are to provide: - Richness of informal play-type - Learning experiences - Opportunities to communicate with others - Opportunities to discover himself as a person through socialization process - Opportunities to experiment with materia...

## Functions of Nursery School The functions of nursery school are to provide: - Richness of informal play-type - Learning experiences - Opportunities to communicate with others - Opportunities to discover himself as a person through socialization process - Opportunities to experiment with materials tools - Build a back ground for a symbolic learning These functions could be fulfilled through: ### Self-expression through language - Self-expression could be encouraged in the nursery school through providing the children many opportunities to hear and use language which express thoughts and feelings (at their level of comprehension) - Children will have the opportunities to put their experiences, which have an element of fear or discomfort into words. - There will be more language expression in groups where the children can participate freely in many activities e.g. swinging as any satisfactory and enjoyable experience can find expression in language. ### Play - Play which is the heart of the nursery school curriculum is considered also the child's life. - The child learns through play. Play, by imitating others and repetition, is the continues evidence of creativity. - The child makes friends and enemies during play and does not do this easily except through play. - He often expresses aggressive feeding in play without doing harm to others, or himself. - He plays to master anxiety e.g. the squeezing, the patting and pounding which they do with clay, sand or mud serves to drain off some of the resentment which they may have been unable to express in other ways. - We learn much about the stage of the child's thinking as we watch him at play. - So observing play is an important part of teaching. - Play also helps the children in discovering their world and satisfies their curiosity. ## Music - It offers ways of expression which is closely related to language. - Rhythm and tone in music are found to be similar to that of mother's singing to her child which is very important for the child in this age. - Music helps children to learn to appreciate music and to develop a sense of rhythm. - Also, when children are engaged in satisfying activities especially rhythmic activities, they will sing, therefore, encourage musical expression to satisfy child and help him for self-expression. ## Art - Art materials should always be available for use. - Art helps the child to be creative. It helps in expression of feeling and develop personality, art provides the children the opportunity of self-expression, learning and creativity through finger paints, crayons, clay. Sand and water to make shapes ## Literatures - Experience with books as a part of the daily program provide the children the learning experiences as it increase their vocabulary and their intellectual ability, as well as storytelling, reading groups which should be small in number should be encouraged. Books should be attractive and of interest to the children. ## Objectives of Nursery School Experience for Children - Promotes growth and development and improve the general health of the child. - Increases the child's independence, his self-confidence and feeling of securing in a variety of situations - Increases his ability to handle his emotional constrictively - It also broadens his appreciation of the avenues of self-expression through art, music and language. - It broadens his intellectual horizons. - As the child learns more about the community in which he lives he is better able to understand the world of which his daily environment is such a small part. ## Reasons for Sending Child to Nursery School - When the mother must work outside the home to help' support the family. - When the child needs socializing experience of contact with other children under the direction of well qualified people. - When the child needs educational experience to supplement what he receives at home, which is given also through interacting with other children from different socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds ## Definition - Nursery school serving the needs of 3-5 or 6 years old children by offering them experiences adapted to what is now known about the growth needs of this age levels. - The nursery school is a place where young children learn as they play with materials and share experiences with other children and with teachers. ## Objectives of Nursery School Experience for Nurses: - Nursery school as a lab for nurses, is considered a place to study about human behavior and relationship with people and to apply this knowledge in various relationships with children and their families. - Gain knowledge and understanding of normal growth and development of the preschool age child (3-5 or 6 years) - To develop skills in anticipating the needs of the preschool, age children and how these needs are met in the nursery school through different activities and play materials. - Help the students to recognize and accept individual difference in children with whom she work's - To help nurses recognize the influence of the family and its cultural pattern on the behavior of the child. ## Social Problems The social problems that might occur if the child is not adjusted to nursery school are: - **Regression in behavior** - Thumb sucking. - Enuresis - Bad language. - **Destructiveness and aggressiveness phobia** - **School** ## Factors Affecting the Child's Learning Experiences ### Factors Related to the Nursery School and Teacher: - **The Number of Children in a Group.** The number should not be large usually less than 20 children in a group, as the large groups create strains and reduce the contribution which the school can make to individuals. - **The Teacher-Pupil Ratio.** These will be at least one teacher to every 8 to 10 children. Every group, no matter how small, should have 2 adults present all the time. - **The Age Range within a Group.** - **The Reading and Experience of the Staff.** - **The Length of the School Day.** It varies in different nursery school. The day is never an 8 hours unless meeting the needs of working mother. It must be (3-4 hours) daily. - **The Physical Set Up.** ## Preparing the Child for Nursery School - **Preparation starts** with the mother's confidence in the school she selects. - **Take the child** to the building when the school is not in session to be familiar with the physical surroundings before he is left with strange adults and children. - **Meet teacher** and learn to trust her. ## Factors Related to the Child - **His previous experience** in being in a group of children - **The type of home** that comes from and the night hour, good environment. - **The child's age**, if a child is younger and smaller than others in a group he will often have difficulty in making social adjustment. Children make rapid change in social adjustment in a very short time if placed in proper environment and under proper guidance. ## Techniques for Observing and Studying Children - **Become child conscious "aware of one's thought and actions".** Once you become child conscious you will notice all children i.e. do not ignore those who do not attract you or those who annoy you. Some people like children who are well behaved, certain age only. - **Learn to be a good observer.** When observing children stand in background "do not make your presence obvious" watch child in such a way that does not interfere with his activities, which including. (Observe and notice): what the child says and does. His ability in walking, running and climbing. His response to other children and objects around him. Compare child to other children to his age. - **He could bring a toy** or game or something else from his home to make concrete the continuing of school life with that at home. - **Assure him** that mother will return - **Mother stays** with her child on the first day and continue to come until he feels secure without her. - **A well planned** building should be promoted by such things as a low shelves, low toilets, wash basins; small chairs and tables sound proofing reduce noise without the need of restricting children's activities.