A sportscaster's tips to parents of preschoolers

MANILA, Philippines - Initiating children to schooling, especially in the preschool stage, can be quite difficult as the new environment can be overwhelming, especially when left alone with teachers and other people whom they have never known or seen before.

Sportscaster and athlete Patricia Hizon, wife of professional cager Vince Hizon, shares her experience with other parents of preschoolers. The Hizons have two kids enrolled at Tumble Tots, Britain’s leading preschool which has over 500 branches worldwide. One of them is at E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave. in Libis, Quezon City. The Hizon kids are Vicente, 5, who is in prep, and Paul, 3, who is in Explorer 2.

Hizon says that everything should start with the correct choice of preschool for one’s children. “A preschool must have good programs, achievements, and offers other enrichment opportunities. We like how our preschool (Tumble Tots) uses teaching techniques that have been tried and tested in other countries and have yielded positive results.”

She adds, “Another aspect that we look for in a preschool is how it balances working the minds and working the bodies of their students.  As athletes, we believe that it’s important to instill into our kids physical activity, movement, balance.  We look for a school with a holistic approach that hones its community, gets families together, and even helps improve a yaya’s well- being.”

Having found at Tumble Tots all she wanted in a preschool, Hizon says the children’s initiation to schooling could now be undertaken successfully by the parents themselves. “As parents, we initially have to show our kids that we’re not going to just dump them in school and abandon them.  We have to show them that we’re just outside the classroom or in the lobby should they need us.  Good thing Tumble Tots has a very comfortable waiting area with WiFi which helps parents do work while waiting. If they (children) can sense that it’s not at all a scary experience and that so much is in store for them, then the transition becomes easy.”

Asked how to ease the transition period, especially when the kids cry during their first day in school, Hizon replies: “Make their snacks fun.  Make their school bags cute.  Let them bring their favorite toy that can help soothe them at first, but eventually, they’ll learn to leave those at home.”

However, the parent’s role doesn’t stop there, according to Hizon. “Once you overcome that initial challenge, you must take an active role in your child’s development by keeping in constant communication with the teachers. Luckily, Tumble Tots has a great system where they send letters and reports that summarize what the kids have achieved and learned during the week, complete with photos and take-home activities that parents are encouraged to do with their children.”

Tumble Tots is an international preschool that offers courses for kids as young as two months to 6.5 years old. The courses involve a unique education program scientifically formulated by Tumble Tots to develop the children’s physical, mental and leadership skills, self-confidence, and capacity for learning to ensure their success in adult life.

For details, call 687-6793, 687-6375, 0917701007, or visit www.tumbletots.com.ph.   Tumble Tots also has a branch at A. Mabini St., Davao City (082-2251847, 09177190815).