It’s time for preschool! That’s the easy part. The hard part is deciding which preschool is best for you and for your child. Plan on spending some time doing your homework. The payoff is worth it. Here are some important tips to keep in mind as you do.

1. Visit the preschool. It may take a couple of hours but it will be time well-spent.

2. Take time to visit with the teacher(s). Ask questions. What is the philosophy of the preschool? Is it academic-based, or play-based? Do they incorporate more than one way of teaching into their curriculum? Children learn in different ways, and every child can benefit from the repetition of several different learning methods being used for the same concept. Also, does the teacher allow the child to do their work, even if it means it might not be perfect – or does the child’s work need to look just like the teacher’s looks?

3. What is the discipline policy of the school? What happens when your child acts inappropriately? If it keeps happening will you as the parent be contacted? Are the children expected to work out differences with another child should they arise?

4. Do the teachers treat the children with love and respect? Are the children in the classroom happy and do they like being at preschool? When they come home from pre-school are they excited to talk about (or show) the things they were doing that day?

5. Does the school have an open door policy? Can you observe a class?

6. What kinds of snacks are served? Are they nutritious? What if your child has an allergy or a special diet? Will the teacher work with you on providing appropriate snacks?

7. Of course, hours of operation and cost are certainly a factor in choosing the right preschool. But it is important to find out what happens if you are late picking up your child, or late paying your tuition. Is there an additional charge or a late fee?

8. What is the teacher like? Do the children seem to enjoy and feel safe with her? What credentials does she have? Even though credentials are important they do not tell the entire story, so be careful. You want to find a teacher that can relate to a child, help him or her learn and make them feel loved and important.

9. Are there a variety of activities for a child to do? Are the craft projects and the activities appropriate to the ages of the children? When they finish with a project what do they do while other children are still working. Do the activities foster imagination, self-esteem and learning?

10. Is the preschool a true preschool or is it mainly just a daycare? Preschool will usually be a half day and will usually offer much more structure for your child’s learning.

11. Is the facility clean? Is the equipment well-taken care of or is it run down and worn? How the preschool looks can often give you a quick feel for the attitude of the owners.

12. One final question you may want to ask yourself: How do you feel? Your gut feeling is usually a pretty good indicator.

Follow these tips and your chances of finding an excellent preschool for your children will be much higher. And you’ll feel more comfortable and confident as you bring them each day.

Author Bio: Jolynne Porter has a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University including Early Childhood Education. She has taught preschool for five years and networks with other preschool teachers to keep up on the latest ideas and information. She is happily married and is the mother of four children. Jolynne has been instrumental in setting up two other preschools. Visit her preschool website: Start Smart Preschool

Category: Education
Keywords: Preschools,preschool tips,how to find preschool,