Sending your child to preschool is an excellent start to the world of learning. It is where they learn important skills to help them be successful in the future. While preschool offers a plethora of benefits for young kids, choosing the right preschool is a daunting task for many parents. If you find it difficult to pick the right school, take a look at the following tips to guide your decision.
Determine your goals
Before you even start checking on preschools, first think about your goals. Ask yourself what you want your child to get from the preschool experience. Is it about improving their social skills? Is it more about helping them transition to kindergarten and learn their ABCs and 123s? Consider the things you hope your child achieves to select the right school for them.
Decide on your priorities
In addition to the goals you’ve set for your child, it’s also important to determine your priorities. Is it important for the school to be close to home or the workplace? Are you looking for a morning or an afternoon schedule for your child? Are they particular with food options or do they have special dietary needs?
Some parents also consider the preschool’s approach and decide among Montessori, child-led, play-based, faith-based or Waldorf approach. This might also be something you may want to take a look at during your search.
Conduct research
Now that you have determined your goals and priorities, the next step is research. Create a list of the preschools that meet most of your priorities and goals. If it’s a bit tough to find a school that fits each item on your list, it helps to decide which ones are your deal-breakers and take it from there.
Use the internet in your research. Check the websites of your top preschool choices and see what they offer in terms of programs and curriculum. Also take time to read through parent reviews and be wary of any complaints.
Seek out recommendations
To learn more about a preschool’s reputation, seek out feedback from local friends and family. Ask them which school they recommend based on their personal experience. Consider reaching out to parents with children currently enrolled in different preschools around your community.
Visit the preschool in person
After researching the preschools on your list, it’s time to narrow your options. Find out which preschool is the best fit by taking the time to visit each one with your child. During the tour, be sure to pay attention to the most important factors. One of them is the staff. As much as possible, visit the preschool while classes are ongoing so you can observe the interaction between teachers and students. Also, try to notice if real conversations are taking place, and if preschoolers are having fun in the classrooms. The staff and teachers should really be listening and paying attention to their students. Talk to the school director and learn some more about the teachers’ background in terms of experience and education. Find out if they have adequate training when it comes to childcare development.
Another important factor you must consider is how the school imposes discipline. How do they manage behavior? What behavioral guidelines are in place in the preschool classroom? Make sure that these guidelines are clear as well as age-appropriate.
Take a look at the outdoors and the playground while you’re touring, too. Make sure the environment is safe and secure for your child. Check the toys and the furniture to see if they’re safe and kid-friendly.
Choosing the right preschool for your little one may not be an easy decision, especially when you’re doing it for the first time. But this guide should make the journey a breeze as you select the school that’s a perfect fit for them. Achieve that feeling of security and peace of mind and pick a preschool program that meets all your child’s needs – Akers Academy. Feel free to give us a call for more information.
I like that you said that you must consider visiting a preschool so you can see how the teachers interact with their students so you can observe if the children are having fun. This is something that I will make sure to remember because my husband and I are looking for a preschool where we can enroll our daughter. We want to make sure that she can easily adapt to her new environment because we want her to enjoy learning. Thanks for sharing this.
I agree that you should determine what your priorities are in a preschool. You should consider where you want it located or what the schedule should be, like you said. You want something that will fit with your life.