I’ve also seen some great things happening in small preschools with no waiting list at all. There are definitely things to consider determining overall efficiency, but the best thing to note is that it’s more important to follow your child’s front than to follow the crowd.
When selecting a preschool for your child, I suggest paying attention to the following aspects:
- Your baby
First and foremost, spend some time thinking about your baby. In what kind of climate do they thrive? What makes them anxious, excited, uncomfortable, or at ease? Are they in need of more structure or more freedom? What do they require the most motivation for big body activity, like climbing, jumping, and running, or for long stretches of quiet creativity?
What’s going to be the most challenging thing about preschool? Is this going to be the separation from you? Is it going to make friends? Is it going to be following directions? In what areas would you like to see your child develop the most after a year of preschool?The Academy at The Family Church
Thinking about your child’s temperament and patterns will help you understand when the school everyone else is looking forward to does not necessarily suit what your child needs the most.
- Teachers’
If you are able to observe the teachers at work, see how they interact with the children. Let’s hope you see a teacher who’s warm and passionate about teaching. A teacher is someone who doesn’t just stand by and play lifeguard but gets low to make eye contact and interact with children. Look for a teacher who’s communicating and building a language-rich atmosphere, but not because they’re all talking!
Consider the personality of your own kids, and see how this instructor is treating them. Keep in mind that a teacher you may love to be a friend of yours may not be the best match for your child.
- Environment
If you look around the classroom and the school, they’re obviously supposed to be clean and orderly. But I’d have a bristle in an environment that looked too perfect.
It’s expected to look like little kids really play there. You want to see the things that children can access and carry away from themselves (even if that means the place doesn’t look like a beautiful magazine spread).
Find areas of the room where you can sit on the floor or down to the ground and see the environment from your child’s perspective. Is it easy to reach items? Is the furniture and design of the space geared to a child’s or an adult’s view? You want to see signs that children have taken some control of their surroundings by producing objects on display in the room and in the house. That art wasn’t supposed to look like it was mass-produced with every piece looking the same. They shouldn’t appear to have been “made” by adults who made them look “good.” Above all, the classrooms should look like one huge invitation to play!
See if there are spots for hands-on sensory exploration, block building, dress up, art, and an irresistible book area. Ideally, there will be a mix between quiet areas and noisy areas, as well as room for broad movements (like a playground outside) and time and space for utter silence.
Even, check out the bathroom facilities. Preschool years run right along the same timeline for most children to be newly trained and, as a newbie, using a public toilet can present a whole new challenge. Are the toilets outside the classroom? Could a young child use the sink and the toilet independently? Are children allowed to use the bathroom anytime they need it?
Pay attention to your other senses beyond sight, too. In particular, how does the environment sound? Space or a building full of children should not be silent — you should hear a joyful, busy sound of children communicating with each other. At the same time, think back to what you feel about your kids, make a note about whether it’s too loud or too quiet for your child’s comfort level.
The location of the preschool
As parents, we’re going to the end of the world for our babies, but you don’t want that to be your path twice a day to get out of preschool and pick up
When selecting a preschool, some of the things that might run through your mind are: that you want your child to be safe; that you have a good social experience; that you want a caring and nurturing place with some boundaries; that you feel relaxed, secure and successful; and that you are prepared for a kindergarten. And how do you know what the position is that’s going to meet all those needs? Depending on where you live, you’ll want to start this phase 9 to 12 months before your tot begins – this gives you plenty of time and helps you to select the system that best suits your kid.
Research:
Another most important thing is to do your research.
What are the schools in your area?
- Are there any other parents you meet who have children in other schools? Ask for their candid thoughts.
- Read online comments or school scores.
- Be sure to consider realistic things that suit your family’s needs (e.g. proximity, hours, engagement, cost)
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- Look at a variety of settings; you might find yourself pleasantly surprised. In fact, different types of teaching philosophies may sometimes be very different from those on paper, or even very different from one another. You don’t want a school that’s all training and practicing skills, but one that offers your child a chance to make decisions and explore learning opportunities. It is also crucial to find an environment that is open to families, allows them to stop, and offers interaction between the family and the school.
Some relevant questions may be asked to the preschool:
What theory are they teaching in their classroom?
There are several theories on how to handle early childhood education. It’s nice to do some homework before you go, or you can just let the teachers clarify it. Be sure that whatever theory you want to teach is one you’re comfortable with and can better serve your child’s needs. This is also true of religious-based programs – make sure that their beliefs are consistent with those that you want to teach your family, whatever they may be.
What’s their approach to discipline?
Is the school approach close to your home approach? Consistency is helpful to your child’s expectations.
What security steps are you taking?
That covers items like who is allowed in the building and what they’re going to drop off and pick up procedures. Surveillance of the CCTV.
What is the background/education of the teachers?
Depending on where you look, early childhood teachers will also have different career paths. This may be fine, but it’s always good to know the history of the person who’s going to teach your kids.
What is the student-to-teacher ratio?
The smaller, the better, so that your child and classmates can get the attention they need.
What’s a typical day like?
It is important to learn the day-to-day schedule of the school and to grasp the balance of play and academics. It will also help you ready your child for the school’s standards.
Were you telling children to be disciplined in the potty? If not, is there something the school can do to support your child’s work?
Some schools make this a requirement; we don’t want to force our little ones too far, so it’s good to know whether they’re going to work with you and your kid.
What’s your goal for every student? With this question, you want to understand their emphasis on play or academics, or, ideally, a good balance between them.
Is there an assumption of parental involvement?
It’s nice to know what’s expected of you. Think about how much you would like to be involved and make sure it meets your expectations.
May I come and see or take my child to the classroom?
By shadowing or letting your child explore, you’ll get a good feeling about how the day’s going to work and whether it’s going to be a good match for your child.
Bring your child to explore
Looking at preschools, you want to be ready for kindergarten, but through study, we know how much children learn by play. Personally, I’m leaning towards a preschool whose focus is on the play and not just one that highlights academic goals that they’ll be sure to achieve in the year. Yeah, it’s amazing that you could get my 4 years old to read, but did they learn the requisite social skills, conflict management, and problem-solving skills that are far more important to their growth at 3 and 4 years of age than reading? Reading still has time to know.
Evidence has shown that young children have a sense of their environment and are better prepared to achieve greater academic achievement if they have an early ability to control objects, involve peers, explore with all their senses, and have the capacity to work through their thoughts and feelings. Play-based programs are often child-centered and focus on developmentally appropriate tasks. As children grow older, a more rigorous academic environment may be appropriate for development, but young children need to play to learn.
Decision:
It feels like a big decision, but you’re going to go with your gut. Remember, children learn best through loving relationships, a secure environment, routines, play, and positive social interactions. Go with what your instinct tells you to do!