What should a parent look for before enrolling your child in a preschool? When this is your first experience in finding an educational program for your child it can be difficult. Few parents know what to look for, and it can cause parents to feel overwhelmed by the many preschools that are available.
One of the first things to consider is the teacher. Do they seem to respect the children? Does the teacher seem to encourage joy and happiness in the classroom? These are personality characteristics that make education exciting and pleasant for children.
If it is possible, sit in on a specific teacher’s classroom to see them in action. Does the teacher listen more than talk? Is the teacher one who encourages the children to participate? Is the teacher involved with all the children?
Sometimes this kind of visitation isn’t possible. Here is a list of ways you can find the best preschool for your child. Look at the list of possible ways to evaluate a potential program for your child:
• Children spend most of their time playing with other children and materials; they don’t just wander around.
• Children don’t just sit for a long period of time.
• Children have easy access to materials, blocks, construction pretend play, books, and puzzles throughout the day.
• The facility is decorated with children’s original artwork, writing and stories.
• Children learn numbers and letters as part of their everyday play through cooking, number games and puzzles.
• Children work on project for an extended period each day as opposed to worksheets.
• Children play outside every day.
• Teachers read books to children individually and in groups during the day, not just at story time.
• Teachers realize children learn at different rates.
• Young children learn by playing, exploring and discovering, not listening to a teacher give a lesson.
• Children and parents look forward to going to preschool each day.
Talk to parents who have sent their child to a specific school and find out how it was. Find out what they felt about the teacher if that person is still there. Ask their child to tell you about the school. A child has some strong views and will tell it like it really was.
Check out the internet for how to find a great preschool.
Take all the time you need, but if you are trying to figure out so your child can begin next month, you don’t have very much time.
Visit the school, talk with children, talk with parents and try to get as much information as possible to make a good decision … and continue to evaluate your child’s preschool throughout the school year.
Cynthia Martin is the founder of the First Teacher program and former executive director of Parenting Matters Foundation, which published newsletters for parents, caregivers and grandparents.
