How to Differentiate Between Different Types of Preschool

It can be difficult to choose what type of preschool to send your child to. For the first 2 years of your life, childcare choices are limited to what type of provider you'd like to use--a nanny, a licensed home, or a center. Of course, you may have the option of staying home and caring for your child yourself should your financial circumstances permit. Once you get to the preschool years, however, suddenly it's a whole different ballgame. Preschools don't just care for children, they also instruct them to a certain degree, so you want to be sure you know what type of instruction your child is likely to be getting before you go ahead and enroll. Read on to learn more.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A child between 2 and 5 years of age (or younger, if you're planning ahead)
• A computer and/or telephone to do your research on the different preschools available in your area

1. Consider a Montessori school. These are available in all areas and at different income levels. Some are quite pricey; and others are very affordable. Some pubic schools are even adopting a Montessori model for their early childhood programs. These types of preschool usually offer mixed age-level classes and Montessori-trained teachers who will guide the children in a variety of structured learning experiences.

2. Look into a Waldorf preschool if you're leaning toward a more progressive model of education. Waldorf preschools are dedicated to educating the "whole child" and encourage a great deal of imagination and creative expression.

3. Check out any Reggio-Emilia preschools that may be nearby. Reggio education is very child-centered, and teachers and children are seen as partners working together to create the educational experience.

4. Learn about the different types of religious preschools in your area. While every preschool operated by a religious organization will include a certain amount of instruction in that faith, the level of emphasis may vary. Certain denominations are fairly ecumenical in their approach, and children of all backgrounds may well feel at home in an Episcopalian or even a Unitarian preschool. If you want your child to be raised in a strong Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, or fundamentalism Christian environment, though, you would do well to seek out a preschool geared towards that particular religion.