Tips on Choosing a Preschool

When your child reaches preschool age, you may be wondering how you are going to find the right preschool for your child. There are many different preschools both privately owned, as well as run through schools and daycare facilities. Choosing the learning environment that is more cohesive with your child’s learning style is the key to choosing the right preschool.

• Friends & Family - Ask your friends and family members if they know of any good preschool programs in the area. Ask the parents of your child’s friends as well if they know of any preschools that they would recommend sending your son or daughter to. Word of mouth is often an excellent way to find the perfect preschool.

• Determine the Variables - Know what curriculum you want to be covered, how much you can afford to pay and how many hours a week you would like your child to be in school. Determining these factors ahead of time helps you choose the right preschool to meet the needs of you and your family.

• Observation - If you are unsure if a preschool is a good match for your child, you should go and ask them if you can observe the children in their classroom or on the playground during free time. This gives you a chance to see the teachers in action and observe the way they interact with the children. Be sure that this setting is a positive environment in which your child would have fun and learn. 

• Learning Style - You know the learning style of your child best and will be able to determine upon observation of the classroom setting if it is an environment that fosters the style of learning that will help your child excel. Look for positive interaction between the teacher and students as well as the ability to foster independence in your preschooler. Preschool is an introduction to kindergarten and should prepare your child for elementary school.