How to Pick a Preschool

If you have a toddler at home, you may be interested in signing your son or daughter up for preschool. There are some things that you should consider when picking a preschool to make sure your child has the best preschool experience possible.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Create a list of preschools you might be interested in. You can get preschool recommendations from the parents of your child's friends, from coworkers who have children, neighbors with children or search the Internet for preschools in your area.

2. Learn about the different teaching philosophies that preschools may follow. These philosophies include Piaget, Waldorf, Reggio-Emelia and Montessori. Each of these teaching styles works best for different children. Research each of these styles and ask the preschool about their specific teaching philosophy so you can decide which is best for your child.

3. Talk to the preschool director or the preschool teachers about the curriculum of the preschool. Ask about the goals and skills that your child will be expected to accomplish and learn while in preschool. Make sure that the lesson plans appear appropriate for accomplishing these goals and
   skills. Ask how physical and creative play fit into this curriculum.

4. Observe the preschool classrooms at the schools that interest you. Check to see if the classrooms look clean and safe. See if they have up-to-date and developmentally appropriate materials, such as books, puzzles, maps and art supplies. Also, make sure that you can observe the preschool classroom at any time if you enroll your child.

5. Listen to the preschool teachers. See how they interact with the students and with one another. The teachers should be nurturing and exhibit positive relationships with the students. Make sure that the teachers are well trained, with at least one teacher in the classroom having a degree in Early Childhood Education.

6. Ask the preschool director about discipline. Find out how the teachers and the director deal with discipline in the preschool classroom. Make sure that these discipline methods fit the values of your family and your discipline methods at home. In addition, find out how the school deals with any issues that your child may have, such as potty training or being overly shy in the classroom.

Tips & Warnings

• You should always feel comfortable asking questions of the teachers or the director at any preschool that you are interested in. They should be willing to give you any information that you desire that may help you in your decision.
• Once you have selected a preschool for your child, give your child some time to adjust to the new school. It may take some time for your child to get acclimated. If you have any concerns, speak to your child's teachers or the school director.
• Most children tend to enter preschool at the age three, however, some children are four or five when starting preschool. No matter the age of your child, picking a preschool is a very important decision.
• Make sure that the teacher to child ratio is appropriate. There should be a minimum of two teachers for every 10 to 14 three year olds, and two teachers for every 15 to 20 four and five year olds.

Who Can Help:

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Resources

• Advice on picking a preschool from the Sesame Workshop.
• Advice on picking a preschool from Parenting magazine.
• National Association for the Education of Young Children.