| The Top Ten Things to Consider When Selecting a Pre-School |
By: Mary Lee Shalvoy, Education Columnist
On 1/1/06
Preschool is the first milestone in your child’s educational career. It’s a bittersweet, heart tugging time for parents, because it means that your child isn’t a baby anymore. Pre-school can offer a strong foundation for an academic career and set a path for a great education. January is a great time to start your search for a good pre-school.
| "This is the most important advice of all. Visit the pre-school, talk to the director and teachers, and talk to other parents." |
The road to pre-school requires some navigation. I have compiled a list of the top ten things to consider when it’s time for preschool. However, there is one distinction I need to make before we jump in—by pre-school.
I do not mean daycare. Daycare is usually a facility for children under five years of age, including infants, where there is professional care, but no academic objectives. Caregivers might provide limited teaching—learning letters or colors—but it is not their focus, whether it is a public facility or in a private home.
Preschool is just that, the precursor to school. I consider a pre-school a facility with an academic focus and learning objectives, with some credentialed teachers and appropriate staff. Generally, the students are potty-trained and can work somewhat independently; three or four is typically the beginning age. There is a specific schedule with learning times and activities. Pre-schools can vary in terms of philosophy, structure and program, but I explain all that in the list.
- Your child shows that he or she is ready.
Educational experts say that the first step is awareness. When you become aware of your child’s interest in learning, an interest in words and listening to reading, the ability to leave Mom or Dad for longer periods of time, and other similar signals, then it might be a good time to begin looking at pre-schools.
- Families in your kid’s playgroup/daycare start sending their kids to pre-school.
It’s often a great incentive when your three or four-year-old sees a friend head off to a different school to get them on board for pre-school. When it was time for my twins to make the move, seeing many of their daycare counterparts leaving for the pre-school they eventually attended made the move easier. Also, these other families gave me plenty of options to investigate the offerings around town. Although I used the word of mouth on each school to help narrow down my list, I didn’t rely on it solely. It was just a start.
- The pre-school’s philosophy matches your philosophy about pre-school.
We all have an idea of how we want our child to enter their educational life. Check into the educational philosophy of the school. Is it Montessori or Waldorf or neither? Does that matter to you? Strictly academic or more socialization/play-based? Yes, it’s never too early to get on an academic philosophy bandwagon. Your child’s personality and readiness has as much to do with this aspect of the decision as your personal beliefs. Go talk to the director, do some investigation on the Internet, in other words: do your homework.
- The preschool’s program matches your needs.
Not all preschool programs are the same, even though they ascribe to the same philosophy. In many cases, the number of students may dictate elements of the program. How does the school divide up age groups? Does the staff follow the philosophy closely or loosely? Take a step closer to investigate the parental involvement requirements, too.
- “We love our Teacher.”
Those are the words you want to hear from pre-schoolers and parents. In many cases, it’s the teacher that helps seal the deal on the decision. Is the teacher credentialed or experienced in a pre-school environment? Find out what the student/teacher ratio is and whether there are aides in the classroom. It is also important to understand what style works for your child. Most pre-school teachers are loving and giving by nature, but some are more so than others. It’s a good idea to understand what would work best for your child.
- It’s not your grandmother’s little red schoolhouse anymore.
The pre-school’s facility can have a huge impact on its program and overall offerings. Is it in a converted home or a building specifically designed as a preschool? Is the building old or new? Does it have a playground or a yard? Is it clean and organized? Is it colorful and warm feeling inside and out? Do you think your child will feel comfortable being in the school on a regular basis? Really, though, it boils down to whether you feel comfortable leaving your child there.
- It’s time for school!
A pre-school’s schedule is an important facet in your decision. Does the pre-school work on a half- or a full-day schedule? Are there options for the number of days to attend in a week? Is there a naptime? What about a snack time? This is the beginning of getting to school on time (not like daycare when you drop off when it works for your schedule). Pre-schools usually have a “circle time” or an actual this-is-when-school-starts activity. If you are a working parent, check to see if they offer pre- and post-school care in case school starts at the same time as when you should be sitting at your desk.
- Location, location, location.
I kept my search limited to the town where we live. Many parents enroll their children in schools close to their employment rather than their homes. Since pre-school is a year or two at the most, this often works well. Long-term, I would recommend a school closer to home, but this is a choice you make as a parent.
- Pre-school tuition doesn’t have to break the bank.
You don’t need to take out a second mortgage to put your child into a decent pre-school. Our town’s Park and Recreation department offers a fabulous pre-school program that’s inexpensive and highly regarded. Our town also has an excellent, highly academic program that has a private school price tag. There is a solution for every budget.
- Visit and Observe.
This is the most important advice of all. Visit the pre-school, talk to the director and teachers, and talk to other parents. Observe a day in the life of the school. Do the children seem happy? Is it a calm environment? Bring your child one day and see how she/he responds. Is she interested? Does your child run screaming out into the parking lot? These are great clues for your final decision.
Finally, deciding on a pre-school for your child is a topic that carries an enormous caveat: No matter what anyone says, go with your instincts. The school might seem perfect on paper—you found the pre-school with the “best” reputation, in the right location, with excellent credentials and teachers – but if it still doesn’t feel right for you and your child, then don’t sign up. There are plenty of options and your “gut” is the best point of all.
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