Are you a parent seeking a preschool for your child? Then relax. It’s not as hard to get the right preschool as you might have already heard. The key to choosing well is to get into the process after sufficiently preparing yourself. Here are some tips that might help you decide on the preschool that best suits your child’s education need.
- Consider the Basics
If you don’t want the process of selecting a preschool to overwhelm you, think about how it would fit into your daily routine and life. There are many questions to ask yourself. Some involve the proximity of the school to your home and workplace, the childcare services they offer, and your eligibility or interest in subsidized preschool programs.
After answering all the questions, it is now possible to narrow down on the type of setting and general location to research on. This makes it easier to manage the process of comparing settings. With fewer choices to pick from, it is easier to do intensive research.
- Familiarize with Common Terms
What does “Montessori Approach,” “faith-based,” or “child-centered” mean? This is one of the most confusing parts in choosing preschools. Most parents do not make sense out of the terms. As odd as they may seem, they can be helpful in decision making.
Preschools have educational philosophies that often show the difference between their settings. Before picking a preschool Escondido, for instance, you might come across the philosophy, “The Waldorf Approach.” It just means that the school emphasizes imaginative learning.
There are also other early childhood terms that are common. Knowing the difference between them can help you make informed choices concerning your child’s education. Usually, preschools use one or more terms such as “child-centered,” and “cooperative.”
- Do Some Research
This step comes after narrowing down the general idea of what you’re interested in researching and getting a good idea of the type of philosophy that suits your child. You can do this through the following options:
Internet search. A preschool networking community is a great place to get useful resources and advice. You could also search settings’ names and read some reviews. Especially, the Child Care Aware website is a great resource that makes searches easy.
Ask other parents. Getting recommendations from your family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors can lead you in the right direction. In asking for their suggestions, take note of the student to teacher ratio, proximity of the settings to your home, among other important things.
- Visit the Preschool
After narrowing down your choices, you should come up with at least two settings. Make a visit to each of them. This provides you with an opportunity to learn about the setting. Here are some questions to ask while there:
- Is the preschool accredited?
- How does the staff receive you and your child?
- Is the environment clean and safe?
- Are the children there happy?
- Does your child express interest in the setting?
Conclusion
The process of choosing a preschool for your beloved child should not be overwhelming. If you want to be successful, go into the process informed, aware, and ready to ask many questions. Proper preparation results in effective, efficient, and meaningful choices for you and your child.
Leave a Reply