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6 fun and engaging children play school activities

Activity-based learning is one of the best approaches that playschools can take to help children learn through an immersive experience. Activity-based learning helps children improve in three key areas that build a strong learning foundation, exploration, experimentation, and expression.

Playschools can include these 6 fun and engaging activities in their activity-based learning approach:

1) Pretend play

Pretend play is one of the best activities to include in the learning curriculum as it encourages imagination and creativity. By encouraging children to play a role in a particular pretend play, playschool teachers can help children think creatively. Over time, children can improve their creative thinking skills.

Participating in pretend plays helps children improve their communication skills as well. By impersonating a character, children can learn new words and expand their vocabulary.

2) Read aloud

Reading aloud is another fun and engaging activity that promotes immersive learning. One of the biggest benefits of real aloud activities is early childhood language development. Reading out short stories and poems to the entire class can help young kids develop word-sound awareness and gradually improve their comprehension of language.

Read aloud activities also help children improve their reading skills which, in turn, will benefit them in primary school and further education. Read aloud activities improve children’s’ confidence as well.

3) Drawing and painting

Many children are excited when it comes to drawing. The activity is a great form of expression for kids. Children and playschool teachers can draw together. Doing this helps kids improve their imagination and creative thinking. Drawing regularly is also a good way to improve fine motor skills like hand-eye coordination.

4) Nature play

Formative education isn’t just about learning in the classroom, it’s also about exploring the real world. Nature plays are an important activity to include in formative learning. Playschool teaching staff can take the kids to excursions and park visits. Or they can simply schedule garden-based activities such as planting seeds and flowering plants.

5) Basic board games

Board games are highly engaging and educational as well. By playing board games, children can learn early phonics and recognise shapes, colours, and numbers. Board games also provide young kids with the opportunity to socialise and learn early social skills such as sharing and turn-taking.

6) Singing and dancing

Participating in singing and dancing helps young kids develop literacy skills. Playschool teachers can include step-wise dancing activities to help kids learn basic math skills such as counting and recognising patterns. Dancing also helps kids improve their listening skill, flexibility, and overall physical coordination.

Are you looking for a playschool or a pre-primary school in Kolkata?

Douglas Memorial School is one of the leading playschool and pre-primary schools in India, Kolkata. These two school sections of Douglas Memorial School follow activity-based learning approach to help young kids have the best formative learning experience. Learn more about Douglas Memorial School’s playschool at https://dmhss.org/play-school/ and pre-primary school at https://dmhss.org/pre-primary-school/.

Tips for preschools to help kids learn quickly

A preschool plays an important role in early childhood development. It is a place where children get their initial formative education. Therefore, it’s important for preschools to focus on helping kids learn in fun and engaging ways.

Here are some practical approaches preschools can take to help kids learn quickly:

1) Roleplays

Young kids are the most excited when it comes to participating in roleplays. The activity is also a great way to improve creative imagination in kids. When participating in a roleplay activity, kids step into the shoes of the fictional characters and act out accordingly. Doing this helps them improve in expressing their feelings. Roleplay activities improve confidence and concentration as well.

Some of the leading pre-primary schools in Kolkata like Douglas Memorial School focus largely on activity-based learning to help kids learn in fun ways. Learn more about the pre-primary school section of Douglas Memorial School at https://dmhss.org/pre-primary-school/.

Douglas Memorial School also has other school sections

Apart from playschool and pre-primary school, Douglas Memorial School also has primary, middle, junior secondary, and senior secondary high school sections. All the school sections of Douglas Memorial School are led by well-qualified teaching faculty. To learn more about the school, visit https://dmhss.org/.

2) Team-based DIY activities

Another practical approach that preschools can take is to help kids learn in an engaging way is to schedule regular team-based DIY activities. This type of activity helps kids improve in two key areas critical thinking and teamwork.

Simple projects that require teamwork such as paper dream catchers, paper lantern, newspaper forts, and bird feeders are a good team-based DIY activities. During the DIY activities, it’s important for teachers to provide help only when it’s needed the most. Doing this helps kids work closely with the other team members to come up with solutions to the challenges.

3) Encouraging and supporting curiosity

Kids are very curious during their formative years. Instances as simple as discovering a bug or a new flower can spark their curiosity and intrigue them. Preschool teachers can play an active role in supporting their curiosity by asking them multiple questions about their interest areas. They can also help the kids learn more about their interest areas through encyclopedias and videos and create an immersive learning experience.

4) Exposure to the external environment

It’s important for preschools not to confine formative learning of kids to just the four walls of the classrooms. As part of providing holistic learning, preschools should focus on kids’ exposure to the external environment. Organising field trips, excursions, and museum/zoo visits are a few good steps that preschools can take to help kids learn from the external environment.

5) Rewarding achievements

Lastly, preschools can also follow the approach of rewarding achievements of kids to encourage them to perform better. The achievements don’t have to be significant, they can be as simple as completing the assigned task or helping friends. Teachers can choose food treats and simple toys as rewards.

6 Essential Study Tips for Effective Learning

Do you feel that you are not able to get good results from your study routine? The chances are high that you are going wrong in the way you are approaching your study routine. You are not alone as many students face the same issue.

Here, we have listed down some important tips to help you make the most out of your study time and make your learning result-oriented.

1) Take Proper Notes

While studying, your class notes should bring the entire sequence of ideas in mind which are presented in your class. Arrange your notes in a way you feel comfortable. But, arranging them into an outline form will come in handy later. It will help you declutter your thoughts and mind regarding a particular topic when you are ready to prepare for your exams. The teaching faculty at reputed schools often focus on helping students prepare crisp and to-the-point class notes which come handy during test and exam preparations.

Looking for an English medium higher secondary school in Kolkata?

If you are located in Kolkata and are looking for an English medium higher secondary school in the city, choose Douglas Memorial School. The middle and higher secondary section of the school heavily focuses on helping students effectively prepare for board exams and open the doors of rewarding higher education opportunities. Learn more about the middle and higher secondary section of the school at https://dmhss.org/middle-school/ and https://dmhss.org/secondary-school/.

2) Pick The Right Time & Place

No matter whether you are a morning person or a night owl, choosing a perfect study time depends entirely on you. Pick your time when you are most alert, and find a place comfortable to study. Before you begin, arrange the place with materials you need to study.

3) Set Your Study Time

Set objectives or goals for your study time. Plan what materials you need to cover. Break bigger topics into smaller chunks. This will not make your entire goal seem overwhelming. Make sure to go for the hardest topic when you are feeling most attentive. Save the easier parts for later when you are tired.

4) Review Regularly

Making studying a ritual or a habit is helpful for better learning. Spend at least 30 minutes going through the topics covered in the class, This will help you stay updated with what is going on in the class. The best part: Studying regularly will help retain the topic in your memory for a long-term and you can easily recall it later.

5) Apply a Plan That Works for You

We all have our own ways of recalling, communication and conceptualising information. Use more than one method to remember or understand information as it can assist you to tackle the complicated concepts efficiently.

6) Quiz Yourself

Do not wait for exam time to test your knowledge. Make your own mock test questions and try testing yourself. It is one of the best ways to understand what you have learned so far and what still needs to be covered. Also, it will help improve your memory recall capacities.

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Why are play schools important?

Getting your kid’s admission done at a good play school is invaluable in building a strong learning foundation for your little one. Like many parents, you might feel that your little precious may be too young to attend a play school, but making the move is just worth it. Here are some of the reasons why a play school is important for your kid:

1) Play school prepares kids for primary school

In many cases, it can be overwhelming for children to cope with the learning that they get in primary school if they haven’t practised regular, structured learning. A play school helps your child prepare for the learning environment of primary school. This, in turn, helps your little one do better in elementary school. If you are planning to take a play school admission for your kid in Kolkata, check Douglas Memorial School. The play school section of the school is dedicated to building a strong learning base in young children to help them succeed in their elementary school. Enquire about play school admission at Douglas Memorial School at https://dmhss.org/admissions/.

2) Play school sets the foundation of learning

It’s during the preschool period that your kid learns about the basic concepts such as recognizing shapes, letters, etc. The activity-based learning that children get in a play school helps them develop curiosity and analytical thinking. These skill sets, in turn, help children grasp concepts in primary school without facing many challenges.

3) Play school promotes emotional and social development

By attending play school, your child develops emotional self-control as well as social skills. Attending play school is your kid’s first step in the outside world. They get to spend time with others which, in turn, helps him/her learn basic social skills such as sharing, being compassionate, and helping.

4) Play school promotes the development of motor skills

Play school also provides your kid the opportunity to develop fine motor skills with various activities such as cutting different shapes with a pair of scissors and threading beads. Children can also develop proper hand-eye coordination and balance by participating in active games.

Searching for one of the leading pre-primary schools in Kolkata? If yes, visit Douglas Memorial School

The play school section of Douglas Memorial School is equipped with all the facilities and well-trained staff that are essential to promote formative learning that is fun and enjoyable. The play school section staff of Douglas Memorial School is dedicated to promoting language readiness, theme-based concept learning, positive peer interaction, and communication skills in young children. Learn more about the Douglas Memorial School’s play school section at https://dmhss.org/play-school/.

High school stress: how to help your kid cope with it?

From completing school assignments to prepare for exams and performing good in extracurricular activities, it’s normal for your child to find things challenging at high school. But it’s important for you, as a concerned parent, to help your child cope with the challenges he/she faces. Here are some simple yet effective ways to help your child cope with high school stress:

1) Coordinate with your child’s teachers

In many cases, high school students face certain issues in the school and hesitate to share it with their teacher or parents. If you notice that your child is facing difficulties in coping up with school-related tasks such as completing assignments and getting a grasp of the subjects, it’s a good option to talk to his/her high school teacher.

Take the parent-teacher meeting as an opportunity to review the overall performance of your child with teachers. Also, make sure to share the after-school routine that your child follows with the teachers. This way, you can tweak his/her study routine as per the suggestions from teachers.

Live in Kolkata and searching for a reputed high school in the city?

If you are looking for a renowned high school for your child, choose Douglas Memorial School. As one of the leading senior secondary high schools in Kolkata, Douglas Memorial School is dedicated to helping high school students in every aspect to make sure they excel in their academics. Learn more about Douglas Memorial School’s higher secondary school section at https://dmhss.org/senior-secondary-school/.

2) Encourage your child to spend time with his/her school friends

Another important step to take in order to help your child cope with high school stress is to encourage him/her to spend time with their school friends. By doing this, your child can discuss common problems associated with their studies and together they can come up with practical solutions. Spending quality time with school friends also helps your child beat stress.

3) Motivate your child by rewarding small achievements

Performing well in academics doesn’t always mean being a topper of the class or a subject group. Instead, small achievements such as scoring better marks than in the previous exam and performing better at co-curricular activities highlight your child’s gradual leap to performing better.

As part of taking steps to motivate your child and help him/her beat high school stress, reward even the small progress they make. Take them to their favourite restaurant, shopping mall, or buy them what they love as rewards for their achievements.

5) Make sure your child eats well

It goes without saying that good health plays an important role in helping your child stay focused and perform better at school. Therefore, it’s important to make sure that your child eats healthy. Include fresh, organic, and wholesome food items such as fresh and green vegetables, lean fish and meat, nuts, colourful fruits, and farm-fresh dairy in your child’s diet.

How to do better in school? Useful tips for students

School is the golden period in everybody’s lives. The learning that you get at school stays with you for a lifetime. Although school is enjoyable and fun, students, at times, face various challenges which lower their academic performance and morale.

If you want to do to the best of your abilities at school, you’ve come to the right place. These tips can help you do better in school:

Looking for higher secondary admission?

If you want to take higher secondary admission in a reputed school, choose Douglas Memorial School. The school has well-qualified staff dedicated to helping students excel with the learning they get. Learn more at https://www.dmhss.org.

1) Follow the curriculum

One of the easiest ways to perform your best at school is to follow the curriculum. Schools like Douglas Memorial School plan the curriculum in such a way that students are able to get the most out of their learning time period.

Pay proper attention to what’s being taught in class. Participate in question and answer sessions. Go through the chapters taught at school every day at home to get a proper grasp of the concepts.

2) Build a good rapport with the teachers

By building a good rapport with your teachers, you can get more help to excel in your academics. Teachers appreciate it when students come to them to get solutions to their doubts.

If you are stuck in an area, make sure to take help from the teacher. Doing this will help you fully understand the concepts which, in turn, will help you get better marks in exams.

3) Participate in extracurricular activities

Apart from focusing on academics, it is important to participate in extracurricular activities to enrich your learning and experience at school. If you are interested in an extracurricular activity that the school offers, take it up. Active and consistent participation in extracurricular activities also contributes to your overall academic performance.

4) Plan a weekly schedule

One of the best ways to stay organised with your school-related tasks is to plan a weekly schedule. This way, it becomes easier for you to segregate different tasks accordingly. Although it can be challenging, at times, to stick to the same routine, it’s helpful to keep a routine as it can serve as your guide point.

5) Avoid multitasking

Whether you are studying and preparing for exams or completing your assignments, one simple way to be productive and efficient is to avoid multitasking. Focus on one particular task at a time. This way, you’ll be able to get the most out of it.

For school admission, choose Douglas Memorial School

Douglas Memorial School, with their excellent curriculum and infrastructure, has made a name for themselves as one of the leading higher secondary, secondary, middle, primary, and pre-primary schools in India. For details on admission, check https://dmhss.org/admissions/.

Play school admission: How to select the right playschool for your little one?

The play school you choose for your child sets the foundation of learning for your little one. When choosing a play school, it’s important to consider several factors in order to make sure that your child has the best experience in his/her formative learning.

What are those factors you ask? Read below to know:

1) Check the reputation

One of the most important factors to consider when choosing a play school for your child is to look for one that is reputed. Reputed play schools impart proper foundational learning in children while ensuring they have the most fun in an enjoyable environment.

If you are planning you get a play school admission for your child in Kolkata, choose Douglas Memorial School. The play school section of the school is dedicated to building a strong learning foundation through fun activity-based learning. Learn more about the play school section of the school at http://www.dmhss.org

2) Consider the location

Location is another important factor to consider when choosing a play school for your child. Make sure to choose a play school that is near to your location as commuting long distances can be bothersome for your child. Also, long, everyday commutes can discourage your child from attending play school.

For example, long commutes can physically tire your child which, in turn, can discourage him/her from paying attention to what’s being taught.

3) Choose the ground floor

One important factor many parents aren’t aware of is the floor of the play school. Make sure that the play school you choose for your child is located on the ground floor. Children are often curious and elevators and/or stairs increase the risk of serious injuries. It’s equally important to make sure that the play school has staffs who are dedicated to prioritising safety by keeping proper watch of children.

4) Consider the amenities and infrastructure

When looking for a play school, it’s important to make sure that the amenities of the play school, such as furniture, rooms, and overall infrastructure are designed specifically for children. For example, it’s important for a play school to use child-size furniture items to make them comfortable.

5) Check if the play school has a dedicated playground

Playground is a must-have basic amenity of any play school. Children love playing in playgrounds the most. By spending time playing in a playground, your child is more likely to enjoy his/her play school days.

As one of the leading children’s play schools in India, Douglas Memorial School has other amenities such as dedicated spaces for activity-based learning. Also, the teachers are trained to cater to the specific challenges children face on their formative learning journey.

How to stay focused while preparing for exams ?

When it comes to preparing for exams in the most effective way, staying focused is the key. Although exam stress can lower your confidence and put your focus off track, there are several ways how you can improve your concentration when you are preparing.

Here, we have listed some of those ways:

1) Plan a study routine

One of the best ways to stay focused when preparing for your exam is to have a proper study routine. Carefully plan how much time you are willing to dedicate for each subject. Also, prioritise more time for subjects that you face difficulty in.

You can also prepare a checklist in order to keep track of all the topics we have covered and the ones you are yet to. Are you planning to take admission in a renowned school? Enroll yourself at Douglas Memorial School, a leading high school and secondary school in Kolkata. Learn more about the school at https://dmhss.org.

2) Keep distractions at bay

In order to stay focused when preparing for your exams, it’s important for you to avoid distractions. When studying, keep your mobile phone and other electronic gadgets such as tablets and gaming consoles away. Make sure that you keep them away from reach as you might get tempted to use them every once in a while.

When studying, choose a quiet room like the guest room. Another way to make sure you do not get distracted in between your study hours is to assign time to yourself. For example, if you assign 1 hour to yourself to cover a small topic, you’ll be compelled to complete it within the time.

3) Take breaks

It’s common to get caught up in your exam preps to the extent that you start getting stressed. This, in turn, negatively impacts your focus. Therefore, it’s crucial to take breaks when you are studying.

Make sure to take a break of at least 15 to 20 minutes. To make the most out of your break time, eat healthy and energizing snacks such as fruits, protein bars, oats, and nuts. If possible, take a walk in the nearby park to refresh your mind. Taking breaks also helps you develop new perspectives to the preparation-related problems you are stuck with.

4) Exercise regularly

During exams, it’s common for students to neglect their physical health. Make sure to exercise for at least 15 to 20 minutes every day. Exercising helps you relieve anxiety and stress; exercising promotes blood flow to the brain which, in turn, helps you stay focused when you are preparing.

Take admission in one of the best higher secondary schools in Kolkata

Are you planning to take an admission in a reputed higher secondary school? Opt for Douglas Memorial School for quality and prestigious academics.

Higher secondary admission stress: How not to let it affect your kid?

The transition from middle school to higher secondary school is definitely an emotional one for your kids. And at times, it can be stressful if your kids want a higher secondary admission in the school they like or in a specific department (like Science, Commerce, and Humanities). The stress can, in turn, take a toll on their current academic performance.

As a concerned parent, it is important to make sure that the stress doesn’t affect your kids and that they perform well in their board exams. Here are some of the ways to make sure of that;

1)Talk with your teens

One of the best ways to comfort your children if they are going through a stressful time preparing for higher secondary admissions is to talk with them.

Ask them about the specific areas where they are tenses about and try to come up with practical solutions.

2) Take them out for a dinner or shopping

An easy fix to help your teens bust their stress is to take them out for a dinner or shopping. This is especially effective when they are rigorously preparing for their board exams.

A bit of refreshment doesn’t do any harm in helping your teen form new perspectives of the goals they want to achieve.

3) Encourage them not to compare with others

A lot of times teens compare themselves with others which increases their stress. The stress, in turn, hampers their focus at studies. Whenever you see your teens stressed out, make sure to encourage them not to compare themselves with others and instead set goals that mean the most to them.

4) Hire a private tutor

Often times, taking shared coaching and tuitions can become a stressful experience for your children. If that is the case with your teens, try hiring a private tutor and see if it works.

Having a tutor come to the home and learning with utmost privacy can make things better for your children.

Signs of stress to look out for

Here are some of the signs of stress to look out for in your children:

Not being able to properly focus on their studies
Procrastinating frequently than usual
Irritated mood
Mood swings

For quality and best middle school education, choose Douglas Memorial School

Douglas Memorial School has different branches to cater to various levels of educational requirements,, including play school, pre school, middle school, secondary school, and higher secondary school.

How to select the right children play school?

When it comes to ensuring proper educational learning for your child, the best step is to choose a play school. The learning your little one will get in a play school will build a strong foundation for him/her to do well in school.

When looking for a play school, it is important to take into account several factors in order to choose the right one for your little one. Yeah, we have shared some tips on how to choose the right play school for your kid.

1) Look for a renowned play school

Well looking for a play school for your child, it’s important to make sure you choose a renowned one. Douglas Memorial is one of the leading play schools for children in India. The play school of Douglas Memorial School is an integral part of the school’s formative education offering.

Renowned play schools have everything children need to learn in a fun and social way. The interior, exterior, and surroundings of such play schools are specially designed to foster quick learning in children.

2) Choose one at a location near to you

When looking for a play school, make sure not to choose one that’s far from your location as your kid will have to go through long commutes which might demotivate him/her from continuing the classes.

With short commutes, attending play school classes becomes fun for your little munchkin.

3) Make sure that it is on the ground floor

Whenever you are looking for a play school, make sure that it is located on the ground floor to ensure utmost safety of your little one.

Kids are often curious and can stand at the risk of accidental falls if the preschool is located at higher floors.

4) Make sure the play school has a dedicated play park

It is important for the play school you choose to have a dedicated play park. This is because kids love playing in the parks more than anything else. And when they get to spend fun time at the play school, they want to attend their classes every day.

5) Make sure the curriculum includes activity-based learning

Activity-based learning is an important aspect of ensuring holistic learning of your child. It involves making kids understand simple logical concepts through physical activities.