Four Factors, Besides Cost, That Should Affect Your Preschool Choice
Posted on: 5 December 2017
Preschool allows pre-school aged children to attain some of the educational fundamentals prior to going to kindergarten. Some of those fundamentals provided by preschool include structured reading opportunities, developing social skills, and learning about the discipline of going to school. Basically, preschool lays a good foundation for the school years to come. Therefore, it is important to consider some significant factors before choosing a preschool.
Location
One of the first factors that a parent should take into consideration when selecting a preschool is the location and the outward appearance of the preschool. Items to observe would include whether the preschool is located in a neighborhood or in the city or near a busy intersection which may speak to the safety of the preschool. Additionally, when looking at the preschool, it is important to observe the care taken towards the appearance of preschool. Is it warm and inviting, or is it unkempt with not much attention paid to the way that it looks? Often, the pride that is shown on the outside is reflected by the appearance and activities on the inside.
Curriculum
Another critical factor to take into consideration is the curriculum that is being used to teach the preschoolers. Is it just a curriculum that is haphazard and "thrown" at children, or is it a structured program along with a structured schedule that has goals and objectives and methods to teach the preschooler? Often the parent can find out what the curriculum is and do a search on that curriculum to find out the effectiveness of the educational program being offered.
Safety
An additional key factor as part of choosing a preschool for one's child is to take notice of the attention paid towards the safety of the children. It is important to take a tour of the facility, and while doing so, observe if there are any broken toys or broken pieces of furniture. Ask the director if the safety plan or evacuation plan is available and if training and drills happen in anticipation of an emergency. Also, tour the playground and take note of any broken toys or equipment that could be a safety issue. As a responsible parent, ask if they have a first aid kit available, what their safety record is and whether they have a defibrillator available.
Staff
It is also important to observe how the teachers interact with the children and for the parent to inquire about the certification of the teachers. Are the majority of the staff teacher assistants, or are the majority of the teachers credentialed with the proper certifications? Another important aspect of considering a preschool is to get to know the director. What is that director like; does he or she have a degree in early childhood education, what is their style of leadership etc.? Additionally, what is their thinking in regards to teaching young preschoolers?
Environment
Finally, a major factor to consider when choosing education programs is whether the environment is warm and friendly. Is it appealing to the parent, and even more importantly, is it welcoming and appealing and educationally inviting to the child? Is the work of the children prominently displayed throughout the preschool so as to honor the hard work of the children? Also, are the bathrooms available for the children as secure as possible? Additionally, is there a good balance between the use of technology and the opportunity for social interaction with the other children?
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