What should I look for in choosing a pre-school for my children?

Question

What should I look for in choosing a pre-school for my children?

Answer 1

Be sure to visit the school. Get a feel for their policies and how they transfer from paper (posted rules) to practice. Make sure it's an environment your children will be comfortable with - no one knows that but you. And a school that won't let you visit - as often and for as long as you want - isn't looking out for your needs.

Try not to judge the environment too quickly. Different teachers/schools have different ways of doing things, but all teachers should be able to justify what they do. If you have questions about a policy or a procedure, just ask the teacher. Some people would walk into portions of my day and wonder what on earth is going on, but there's a reason for everything. And usually, after I explain the purpose behind my actions (what the kids are learning), people respect it. So before you assume the teacher doesn't know what s/he's doing, just ask!

On that same wavelength, if you ask and they can't answer (or refuse), that's a red flag. Don't trust a teacher who doesn't know why s/he is doing something.

Above all, trust your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable there, it's not the place for your family. Don't let any teacher, director, or fellow parent talk you out of following your heart. You know what's best for your family.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Word of mouth and reputation.  You want cleanliness and a backyard for them to play in a safe environment.  But also, you need to contact your elementary school and see what they have heard about the preschool.  Are kids who come from that school prepared for kindergarten?  Ask the principal.  It is very important or your child may start their school career behind.

Answer 3

quality is more important than quantity.

so check out the mode of teaching,interaction of teacher with their students.

the best schools will be given in the newspapers such as hindu.

Answer 4

the things that matter to you most. example. safety, education, enveronment.

Answer 5

good environment, well educated teachers<who luv students>,

nearby to ur house, a respectable school!!!!!!!

Answer 6

A recommendable pre-school will teach a child of basic things along with your help before actually entering literal academia, such as numbers, colors, lacing and to tie shoes, how to put on cloths and how to use utensil es, to recognize and write numbers and alphabets. A really good pre-school gives this and a tad bit more. It should have a teacher and a teacher's aide. Should not be over populated. You should be able to visit and stop in anytime without notification.

Answer 7

a few questions i've asked in the past:

1. How do you screen your teachers?

2. What requirements do you have for all the adults that come into contact with the children?  (usually, schools should require that all adults especially the teachers have had a certain number of required hours safely with children.)

3. Are you accredited? (if the school is, then you know that they are following state guidelines and not some random curriculum)

4. May I see the room that my child will be in? (look for cleanliness and some kind of order, ie. that there is an area for art, an area for literacy/storytime, an area for play etc... .)

5. How often are the toys and rooms cleaned?

6. What is your policy for sick children?

7.  Is there a nurse in the school?

8.  are all teachers trained in cpr and first aid?

9.What is the student to teacher ratio? (obviously the lower the better)

10.  Where will the children be sleeping? (full day preschools usually have some kind of sleeping mat for the kids.  make sure that they launder the sheets everyday and that they are sleeping in a clean, orderly area.)

11. if your child has certain dietary restrictions, you should ask about that as well such as, if the school is peanut free.

good luck and hope this helps.

Answer 8

Most important thing-

When u enter first time in pre-school, with your child- see than how your child reacts with staff of school. If your child is comfortable with them , then u can look around for other things - like huiegen,toys, teachers etc.

Answer 9

fame.

more famous preschools will give ur child a better future. just like better colleges.

Answer 10

You should look for the amount of pressure they put on the kid. Not to much and not to little. Pre school is where the kids start learning why they go to school. If the pressure is to little they will never think about that and will not do well in eductaion.

Answer 11

good environment,better care,transportation & distance from home.

Answer 12

Aside from choosing the school with clean and orderly appearance, it is also important to observe ( for a few days) the attitude of the teachers and caregivers towards the children, especially on how they handle the kids who have tantrums the most, cause some adults really don't have great patience towards youngsters, AND the most impt. and the best investment you can do, is to do a thorough background checking on the school management and teachers, check if they have criminal records...better be safe than sorry... once you did all these things, then you can just relax and enjoy your kids first venture into the real thing!! good luck!

Answer 13

THE most important thing to do, besides asking the parents of children who already attend, is to make an appointment with the school and go visit a class.  You may know right away if the school is right for you.  Some are messy rooms full of toys and kids running around.  This may not be any better than having them with a teenage babysitter in your own home.  Look for order in the classroom.  Is it neat, with activities that are well prepared and well organized?  Do they have a music teacher who comes by and plays instruments for the kids?  Do they bake and do art projects regularly?  Does it have a nice playground or is it a damp place with old toys from the local thrift store?  Are they beginning to teach children the alphabet?  Do they provide snacks?  What are they?  Is it fresh fruit etc. or is it only prezzels and animal crackers?  Does tuition cover all their expenses or are they going to be harassing you all year with their fund-raisers?

You can tell A LOT by spending 1/2 hour watching a class.  And don't be intimidated.  Most schools make you feel like you are lucky just to be talking to them, but after all, they need your tuition to stay in business.  Don't forget that.

Answer 14

Background on the teachers all of them and background on the school. Do a criminal investigation on their criminal records. You can get those publically for a small fee. For checking out the school you can go to better business bureue (sp) LOL!!

Answer 15

I have worked in pre-schools for the last five years or so, doing relieving teaching.

My best advice would be to spend some time at a preschool you like and observe the teachers.

You want them to be kind and compassionate to children and to genuinely love caring for children.

(A lot of staff I have seen, can be downright nasty, so it is good to suss them out)

Choose a preschool that does NOT have a high turnover of staff.

This could indicate problems.

Ask other local parents where their kids go, where they could recommend, or not recommend.

Good luck