While you may understand the many benefits of preschool, the process of trying to find the perfect place for your child can be overwhelming. When deciding on a school, you have to consider what will not only be the right choice for your child, but for your family as a whole. Before you can truely start looking at preschools, you must consider the needs of your family and what you are hoping to get from the preschool experience. One thing that you will need to choose early on is whether you want your child to go to a public or private preschool. To start your search for choosing a preschool, the best thing to do is get referrals from friends, family, and other trusted sources. This will give you a better understanding of the preschool then simply reading reviews from the school’s website. Your first impression of a preschool can give you a clear feeling on if the place is going to be a good fit. Pay attention to how the students and teachers interact with each other, as well as the feeling you get from the school. While there are deadlines that you will need to meet that may make you feel rushed into making a decision, make sure that you give yourself enough time that you will feel confident in your choice.
Finding a good preschool is important because it gets your child ready for the structured learning that they will face later on in kindergarten. Here are a few tips to help you find the best preschool for your child.
While your family budget may need to be considered, the availability of public and private preschools near you will also factor into this decision. Many public preschools may have income requirements that limit their ability to your family.
Private preschool can be a good option for people who want small class sizes, as the averaged student-teacher ratios of 10:1 is found in 36 percent of private schools and only 10 percent of public schools. Choosing a private preschool may also be the right choice for your family if sending your child to a religiously-affiliated school is important to you, as this is the case for 80 percent of students in private schools.
There is also the choice between whole day or a half day preschool that must be decided before you can begin your search. If you have a family where there will not be anyone available to pick the child up halfway through the day, a preschool that lasts the whole day would clearly be the better choice.
Get Referrals from People You Trust
By getting opinions from people that you have connections with, you know the schools have already been approved by those you can trust. This helps you eliminate preschools that will not be up to your standards, which will give you more time to spend on the schools that you have a real chance of choosing.
Visit the Schools
Seeing how the teachers handle the students is an important thing to notice, as those could be the people interacting with your child. Pay attention to the way these people deal with any meltdowns or mishaps, as these are common when working with children.
You should also ask about the curriculum while you are visiting and take note of the activities that you see the children doing. Do the children and teachers seem engaging and enthusiastic about learning? Is it something that you could see your child enjoying? These are important things to consider.
It is also important to note the outdoor space and active time that the children are given. While the academic part of school is important, these are still young children that have a great deal of energy they will need to release. Make sure the school understands this and can accommodate this need accordingly.
Take Time with Your Decision
Take the time to do the proper research and, when the time comes, read over the preschool parent handbook before you choose to enroll. By taking the time to carefully weigh your decision, you can trust that you have found the perfect preschool for you and your child.
