How to Pick a Preschool That is Right For Your Child

Picking a preschool for your child may seem like a task that can inundate you with possibilities. I hope these tips will help you to pick one that is right for you and your child!

1. LOCATION
Yes, 20 minutes is not that long of a drive but if you put into account the drop off, drive home, pick-up, drive home…that’s over an hour just spent driving! Believe me when I say, you should really try to find a good fit at a preschool close to home. When my oldest was in preschool we had about a 20 minute drive to preschool and though i LOVED our preschool it was so hard to get to and from preschool especially having a young (still napping) toddler that I often had to wake from her nap.

2. COST
Preschools can be expensive! You need to figure into your budget what can work for you and your family. Preschool is important but if it’s going to break your budget and make you feel stretched thin every month, is that stress worth it?

3. PRESCHOOL STAFF
Whether you’re looking into an in-home preschool with only one teacher or a preschool center with lots of classes and lots of teachers, you need to feel comfortable leaving your child with these teachers. Things to look for, ask about and consider when looking at a preschool staff are:

• Do teachers have adequate training?

  While in Utah and some other states it isn’t mandatory that a preschool teacher have any sort of teacher training, I believe it is of utmost importance. A degree in Early Childhood Education helps a teacher to know how best to help your child develop the fundamental skills needed to help him or her to succeed in kindergarten and beyond.

• How do teachers interact with students?

  This is something that you will need to do by observing. A preschool should be filled with conversations between teachers and students, laughter, smiles, high fives, hugs and encouraging words. When teachers are talking to students, they should be getting down to eye level with them.

• Do the teachers really love what they’re doing?

  This is something that is a little harder to just observe but if you have a chance, TALK WITH THE TEACHER(S)! Just by talking to the teacher, you should be able to see and hear the love of teaching oozing out of the teacher. Things to think about, ask and observe: How does the teacher talk about the kids when they aren’t in ear shot? How does the teacher talk about the kids when they are in ear shot? How long has the teacher taught? What is the teachers favorite thing about teaching preschool?

4. CLASS SCHEDULE

• Lots of time playing: In preschool, children should be given plenty of time “just playing.” Children learn through play so this is what you want to see! Play is crucial in the development of your child. This may be referred to as “centers” or “choice time” in your preschool. During this time, children could spend time solidifying concepts in small groups while playing in the block center, exploring letters or telling stories with puppets.

• Varied group sizes: There should be whole class time. This is often called “circle time” “group” or “calendar time.” This is a time when the teacher would read books to the whole class, introduce new concepts, do science investigations, etc. Children should also have time in small groups and some one-on-one time with the teacher

• Outside time: Kids need to get outside and move EVERYDAY! This should be a part of every preschool day. Preschoolers need to have a safe place to run, jump, climb and ride bikes to beef up those large motor skills!

5. TRUST YOUR GUT

Above all, go with your gut when it comes to choosing the ideal preschool for your little one. When you first began looking for a preschool you may have had lots of check boxes you wanted to check off but quickly found that it may have been difficult to find a preschool that meets all your requirements. Though you may not be able to check off all the boxes, but it often comes down to this question ― can you picture your child being happy at this school? If the answer is yes, then you should consider registering your preschooler.

I hope that these tips have helped you. If you recently registered your child in preschool, what was important to you in finding the right preschool? I’d love to hear if you have more tips for parents on finding the right preschool!