How to Choose The Right Preschool Program
Best Tips To Make This Important Decision
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Your child is growing up, and it is time for you to choose a preschool program. It is a big step for both of you, and you might feel overwhelmed, scared, and worried because you don’t want to make a mistake by choosing the wrong school.
I get it! Deciding to send your child to preschool can feel intimidating and confusing. Let’s be real. Not all programs are created equal. Many preschool programs are exceptional, while others are plain scary.
The selection is wide and varied. Every city and state offers a variety of programs to choose from: some are private, some are government-funded for low-income families, some are free or low-cost in public schools, and some are offered in charter schools secured by lottery, all of them with a variety of prices, schedules, curricula, philosophies, and characteristics.
My Scary Experience
I remember when my youngest daughter was less than two years old. I had to face the difficult decision to put her in daycare. I asked my friend, and she recommended the program she was using. That was all I considered, and I went for a tour. The center looked clean and well-equipped, and the director and staff were very friendly, so I enrolled her.
The first day I went to pick my daughter up, I found a one-year-old going out through the front door by himself. Two days after that, I found her down on the floor on top of the carpet, eating her snack. At this point, I am already looking for another program. The following day, I found her playing with a soiled diaper that had been on her for so long that I had to scrub her bottom super hard to clean her, and she ended up with a super irritated bottom because it was already burned from the dirty diaper. That was the last day I stepped into that center.
Fortunately, selecting the right preschool for your child is not as difficult as it seems if you do your homework, know what to look for, and make an informed decision before you choose a program. I want to help you avoid the same mistake I made by telling you the steps you must take to choose the right program for you and your child.
“An environmental-based education movement—at all levels of education—will help students realize that school isn’t supposed to be a polite form of incarceration but a portal to the wider world.” ~ Richard Louv
Tips for Choosing a Program
#1 – Decide what you can afford and need.
There is a wide variety of programs out there, and all of them offer different prices, hours of operation, and locations; therefore, you have to consider several things so you know where to look for a program, such as:
- How much can you afford to pay?
- What location is the most convenient for you, close to your house or your place of work?
- What time frame do you need your child cared for: morning, afternoon, or both?
#2 – Find out what type of philosophy you want
Another confusing thing is when you start hearing about different philosophies, teaching methods, learning styles, and stuff like that. Since there are so many early learning programs available, you will want to understand the basic philosophies that underlie many of the preschools in your area and try to choose the one that you think will fit your child’s personality and learning style better.
Here are some of the more common types of preschool philosophies:
The Montessori school philosophy is based on the work of Maria Montessori. In this Italian educator’s school, children are encouraged to take care of their own needs and belongings and help each other learn, with teachers specifically trained as their guides. Be aware that a school must be affiliated with the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI or AMI-USA) or the American Montessori Society (AMS) to be truly Montessori. Be sure to check the mission statement and curriculum of the Montessori school you choose.
Based on the ideas of the Austrian educator Rudolf Steiner, the Waldorf philosophy supports creative learning and emphasizes a schedule with a predictable rhythm. The same group of students and teachers remain together for up to eight years, developing a good relationship. To use the Waldorf name, a school must be affiliated with the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America, and teachers must be specially trained.
The Reggio Emilia philosophy emphasizes children’s artistry, letting them create projects that reflect their interests with the teachers’ guidance. Children learn through their mistakes, and everything is documented using their own words. I like this approach because it encourages children to develop their creativity to their full potential, and it is amazing what they can accomplish. Sadly, few programs support this philosophy.
High/Scope is a philosophy focused mainly on academic skill development. Children are encouraged to make independent decisions about materials and activities with the teachers’ support. This philosophy is more appropriate for children who benefit from one-on-one attention, including children with special needs.
The project-based philosophy views children as individual learners, and teachers guide them through the process. Students and teachers work together to negotiate what children want to do, plan how they will do it, and work through projects. This strengthens connections to the real world through field trips and different types of projects. This program suits children who work well in an unstructured environment.
Religious
Offered by churches and religious schools, their philosophy and curriculum vary depending on the school, and they also incorporate religious content and/or training. What I don’t like about some of these programs is that, because they are religious-only, they might not use an excellent curriculum, which can hinder the development of a strong learning process for children.
Community
The philosophy and curriculum of this type of school vary depending on the students’ choices. Local recreation parks, YMCAs, or Jewish community centers run these schools. For me, these programs focus mainly on caring for the children and keeping them busy. In my experience, programs with this philosophy don’t offer a strong academic learning experience for children.
#3 – Research the centers available in your area
Once you decide on the area you want the preschool to be located in and the philosophy that will better suit you and your child’s needs, you can start researching available choices in your area and eliminating those that don’t meet your criteria.
Two ways for you to do this are:
Navigate the internet
A huge online preschool community network can help you find out which preschools are good and which have “red flags” like complaints, citations, violations, or other worrisome issues.
Please be aware that you cannot believe everything you read on the Internet. You may think there’s too much misinformation online, but there’s also great information out there if you know where to look.
Photo by Vlada Karpovich from Pexels
Some reliable websites you can use are:
- Child Care Licensing Office of your county
- The Early Learning Coalition of your county
- Child Care Aware website
- The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) website
Ask everybody you know
Ask your friends, neighbors, family members, pediatrician, etc. Find out whether they have heard anything about the preschools you’re considering and what their personal experiences are. Ask them their opinion about the program’s philosophy, reputation, teaching staff, and curriculum.
Please don’t feel inadequate or shy about asking. Remember that you have the right to know. Knowledge is power, and you need that to make an informed decision before you enroll your child anywhere.
Once you have all this information, narrow your options to two or three preschool centers before taking the next step.
#4 – Tour the facilities of your choice
This is maybe the most critical step. You don’t know what is happening in a school until you go inside, see it with your eyes, and talk to the staff. Go in during class time unannounced and request a tour. If the school’s director tells you you need an appointment, you might think twice about that preschool. A quality preschool should have an open-door policy, with staff who act the same way whether there are visitors or not, and an appointment requirement is a “red flag” in my book because it makes me think they are hiding something.
Be prepared with questions to ask either in writing or in your mind. The director and staff should be able (and willing) to answer them, and if they hesitate or look insecure, take it as another “red flag.” Pay attention to your observations and their answers to gather crucial clues about the center and how it is run.
Some Things to Observe
1. The School Appearance
- It looks clean and smells good.
- Has no obvious safety hazards.
- Appears to be in good repair.
- The temperature is adequate.
2. The Director’s Approach
- She makes you and your child feel welcome.
- The director is willing to answer all your questions.
- Seems well-documented and friendly.
3. The Staff’s Attitude
- Some staff members yell or scream at a child.
- Teachers interact with children, repeat their words, and comment on what they say.
- Staff answers children’s questions instead of ignoring them.
- Everybody has a smile on their face and seems friendly.
Photo by Nappy from Pexels
4. The Classroom Appearance
- It is adequate for the number of children enrolled.
- The furniture is child-sized.
- Shelves and baskets have many labels.
- Walls have printed words everywhere.
- It has a posted Parent Info board with the lesson plan, schedule, menu, etc.
- Many children’s artwork, writing, building creations, and pictures are displayed everywhere.
- The classroom looks organized, clean, and safe.
- There are plenty of age-appropriate toys.
- It is divided into well-defined centers.
- Many books are available to children.
- It has an indoor bathroom or one nearby for the children to use.
5. Your Child’s Reaction
- She looks interested.
- She wants to go to centers and play.
- She seems to relax talking to her potential teacher or looks scared.
Questions to Ask The Director
- Is the center licensed? Is the license current?
- Is the center accredited? With what organization?
- Are the teachers trained? Do they have a CDA, a higher credential, or just the primary 45 hours of training?
- Do they have a current CPR & First Aid certification?
- Is there significant teacher turnover, or have they been here long?
- What are the hours of operation?
- Do you provide meals? What type?
- What is the discipline policy?
- What is the school’s emergency plan?
- What is the school’s teacher-student ratio?
- Do you provide a parent’s handbook?
- Do you communicate with the parents? How?
- Do the teachers give daily reports for the children to take home?
- Do you use a curriculum? Which one?
- Do they go outside? How many times a day?
Okay. I think it’s obvious by now what I mean by a high-quality preschool center. I know you might feel overwhelmed, but you must consider all these points to make an informed decision about which center is best for you and your child.
Use the free checklist below to help you remember these points, take notes so you can review them after you leave the center, and compare your notes with those you took at other facilities.
Last Thoughts
By now, you have done your homework, asked around, researched online, visited the center, and taken all kinds of notes. Everything is going according to plan, and you are ready to make a decision.
At the end of this process, the best and last piece of advice I can give you is to pay attention to what your gut is telling you. There is something special about the intuition that we parents have. It is like a sixth sense, an extra something that is rarely wrong. Follow it. It is probably telling you exactly what you need to hear before you enroll your child anywhere.
Also remember that you can always change your mind down the road. If something happens, or you see or find out something you don’t agree with, simply take your child somewhere else. There is always another preschool to try.
I wish you luck on this new journey. I hope you and your child do great, and that it will be the best positive experience for both of you.
Be happy, safe, and creative. I wish you well.
Love,
P.S. When you finally choose a preschool and enroll your child, please let me know if my tips help in any way and if you use any other tips. I would love to hear about your experience and to add those tips to my list.
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