How to Find a Gifted Preschool

Finding a preschool for gifted children can be a difficult experience for parents of three and four year olds who qualify as being gifted (intellectually advanced) by certified psychological and educational professionals. Gifted preschoolers face a series of challenges as they head off to their first formal educational experience. Teachers may not know how to teach or handle gifted preschoolers, gifted children may become bored quickly by activities that engage and challenge their peers, and gifted kids may act out in negative ways when their needs are not met. Finding a preschool for gifted children, on the other hand, may help to meet the gifted child's needs. Unfortunately, the choices are limited for most parents, but learning how to find a gifted preschool is a valuable experience.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Internet access
• Search engine
• Evaluations from psychological and educational professionals

How to Find a Gifted Preschool

1. Take your child to a local university and request a full psycho-educational evaluation. Universities are the best location for gifted testing; you get a wide array of highly-trained professionals to help you and your child.
2. Go to your local public school district if a university evaluation is not possible. Request a "full core" evaluation. This will include IQ testing along with other psycho-educational tests. According to the law in most states, the school district must comply with your request. Ask for core testing in writing, and send the request certified mail, return receipt.
3. Take the results showing that your child is gifted to your local public school district, and ask if they have a preschool program that can meet your child's tested needs. If so, ask to meet the teacher, and if the teacher appears to be flexible and willing to challenge your child, enroll.
4. If you decide against using your public school district, ask your the child development department at your university for a list of area gifted preschools. Call and request an interview at each.
5. If there are no gifted preschools in your area, visit area Montessori and Reggio Emilio preschools. Both models of education offer individualized education. As with any model of education, so much depends on the quality and temperament of the teacher. Schedule a one-on-one with the teacher who would teach your child. Show him or her your child's test results, and discuss ways that your child's needs may be met.
6. Consider moving to an area with a gifted preschool or school for the gifted where your child's needs will be met, if no options exist in your area.
7. Homeschool your preschooler if you wish, if no viable alternatives exist.

Tips & Warnings

• Just because a school calls itself "gifted," it doesn't mean that the administration and teachers will meet your child's needs.
• In some states, your child has the right to an Individualized Education plan (IEP) for preschool if he or she tests in the gifted range.