How To Choose A Good Preschool

Education for our children is one of the most important decisions we will ever make. Every parent wants the best for their child, but what is the best? Learning skills that last a lifetime begin at a very young age, as the first school setting is preschool. One of the reasons it is such a big decision is because for many families it’s the first time the child is away from home. This can be difficult for the child and parent alike. These are some of the attributes to look for when picking a preschool and which questions to ask.

Does the environment fit your child?

Each child requires special attention and interaction. We need to make sure we put our children in a school that will allow him to succeed. This means if he is creative, then he should be in a school that emphasis creativity. Many children start preschool at different levels, some can speak better than others, some have trouble with certain sounds, some can color great, and others no. A well-organized preschool should have teachers that can address each child according to their needs and avoid a one size fits all teaching approach.

Does the school fit your needs?

As parents, we have needs when our children start school as well. Some schools require that parents are very involved, while others shy away from parent involvement. If you work a full time and can’t be involved in the classroom maybe the school is not for you. Also, if you want to be there every day overseeing the learning, maybe the school is not a good fit. Another important aspect to see is the schedule. Does their schedule fit with your schedule? Do they have a short day or extended day? These are questions we must ask ourselves and the school.

Philosophy

Educational philosophy shapes every aspect of the school. If your child is social but the school doesn’t emphasize play time or group time your child can feel lonely. Does the school encourage a teacher led classrooms? What role does the teacher have? Most importantly, will your child come home repeating things from other that you are not happy with. Children are sponges and care must be taken to have them in a preschool (or even daycare) that fits your education philosophy as well.

Ask Around

One of the best measure of a good preschool is to see the results. Ask to speak to current parents or parents with have children that have attended in the past. See what the children learned and how they learned. Most parents will be more than happy to share their experiences with others.

The common denominator in all of this is that we must investigate and not go in with closed eyes. Asking is half the effort. Once we show an interest it will be easier to determine if your local preschool is for you.