How to Choose a Good Preschool

In today's society, more children will attend preschool than those that do not. Preschool offers a valuable first interaction with the school environment. A good preschool teaches many of the abilties that will be needed in kindergarten, such as fine and gross motor skills, social skills, imagination and more.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. About a year before your child is ready for preschool, begin your search. Make a list of preschools you're interested in. Look for ones near your home or work and ask other parents for recommendations. Decide how long your child should be in school.

2. Begin calling. Talk to the director and ask if there are openings. Ask what the child to staff ratio is and how long they've been in business. Find out what education the teachers have. Ask what their teaching philosophies are. Don't forget to ask about the hours and fees.

3. Visit the school during class time with your child. Look for clean rooms with plenty of toys and learning tools for everyone. Observe how the teacher interacts with the children. What is their discipline policy? On the playground, observe the staff. Do they seem more interested in socializing with each other, or with the children? How does the staff settle playground disputes? Does the playground have places for imaginative and physical play, like playhouses, swings, trikes and jungle gyms?

4. If your child will be there full-day, observe the school in the morning and again in the afternoon. Some schools swap out teachers and programs midday, and you should see whether you like both sets of staff and the programs. Are lunches available and are they healthy? Ask for a menu. Where will your child take a nap? How long is nap time? Do they take off children's shoes? (some places won't because it takes a while to put them back on). What do they do if your child won't sleep? Can your child take a favorite blanket to school?

5. Once you've chosen a school, ask when their registration period is. Some preschools have long waiting lists that you can be added to a year or more in advance. Most have a registration period that's first-come, first-served, after they register pre-existing students and their siblings. The registration usually takes place the season before your child is to start, so for example, you would register your child in spring for a fall start. Once you've found the right school, register your child and pay the fee.

Tips & Warnings

• Look for a low student to staff ratio.
• Find out how independent your child is expected to be, and whether your child can handle it.
• Ask for a discount if you pay the year's tuition in full in advance.
• Drop in unannounced on a different day to compare your experience with the first visit.
• Many preschools don't allow children in diapers or charge extra if they are.
• Ask what the teachers make. If they're barely making minimum wage, the turnover rate is higher.
• Check out the school's security methods. Can anyone walk in? Do they ask for identification?
• Beware of any school that balks at your questions. They should be open with you. If you feel uncomfortable, leave.