Silent Cost

” Hey I am mama Kimberly and I’m here in search for a kindergarten for my child!”

Sound familiar?

As a teacher, I see so many potential parents especially first-time parents going around the school but I realized that some of them don’t realize the silent determinants that they have to factor as they choose a school. So today I want to go over two important things to think about before going to look for a school.

WELL HERE GOES!

BUDGET

This has nothing to do with tuition fees. As you decide on a school, you will be given all these costs: Registration fees, Tuition fees (may or may not include snacks or lunch), Meals, School development fee/ PTA, and transport.

Parents, please decide on the yearly education budget. I have seen so many parents pull out kids a mid-year or at the end of the first year because they can’t cope with the financial expectations of the school.  Children take time to warm up and create a bond with their teachers and friends. These bonds are important for them, they allow them to learn without fear and develop socially and emotionally. Having your child in and out of schools might negatively impact your child emotionally.

For the budget please consider the hidden underlying things the administration does not tell you about: swimming, ballet, skating, musical instruments, trips, school development fee, play dates, parties, transport, and most important meals.

As parents, we always want what’s best for our children! We want them to try out everything and be the best they can be but at what cost? The child will want to try out a few things within a limit and it is our job to be able to fund it all year long. It is not fair having a child in a school and they can’t participate in other activities with their peers. This, in turn, sets then up for low self-esteem.

Imagine in most schools in this country, these are an extra cost. So before you start finding a school, set your budget limit.

LIFESTYLE

Honestly, the kindergarten determines the schools they can get accepted to or can comfortably get integrated to socially and academically.

Let us try looking at it this way, some schools come with a price tag on them and that price tag affects your lifestyle outside of school. The play dates and the birthday parties are a cost to you as a parent.  Let us imagine for a second:

   You take your child to an expensive kindergarten that works with your friends and social-economic circle. Now you have paid school fees and extracurricular activities, your child is going to grow up wanting to dress like the rest, go on the holidays the other children go to( London, Dubai, Maasai mara, Diana, Lamu e.t.c) and most likely you will have to show up for every birthday party with a “nice” ( pricey) gift. Now turn that into math counting there are 20 kids in a class!

Now, let us look at the scenario  I see as a teacher,

You have chosen that amazing school and it checks all the boxes. There is a downside, hear me out.

You can barely afford the school fees and live a comfortable,  happy life as a family because all your efforts are trying to make ends meet financially. Thus as parents, you have limited time with the child. The child has little general knowledge, language is not in the standard of the peers and the child starts to develop low confidence because they realize they are not like the others.

No holidays, no fun excursions over the weekend, no fun stories to tell!

Picking a school involves more than just school fees and academics, it’s a foundation for the growing child.  Pick a school that allows your child to shine and fit with all. A school that allows the family to sit and enjoy each other without worries and strain!