Which preschool is right for your child?

If your child has become old enough to attend preschool, you may have already made a list of preschools you want to send your child to. But before you select a preschool and send your child make sure that the school has a scientific curriculum which gives optimal brain and social development to your child. As a parent it is your job to find a school that fulfills the needs of your child. The school you choose for your child will have a social, physical and cognitive impact on your child. Decide whether you want your child’s play school to be close to your home or you want one which is close to your workplace. Select a preschool that has a clear structured programme and a content you can identify with. Find out about the daily schedule of the Pre School and see if the schedule will help in your child’s development. The school programme should be such that it gives equal time to indoor and outdoor play. It should also devote time to group and individual activities, snacks and free time for children to be involved in imaginative and creative play. Television and video should only have a small part of the programme and the programme content should be appropriate for the age group of children. The pre school program you select should have enough toys and equipment to stimulate the proper growth of the child. It should help the child’s creative and imaginative play.

Find out whether the school you have chosen organizes field trips. If yes, check their transportation arrangements. Field trips are appropriate for your toddler as they stimulate his imagination.

Check if the pre school education programme constantly introduces new educational material to keep the child interested. You must also check the group size and the teacher child ratio. You should also see whether the school is equipped to handle medical emergencies. As a parent it is important for you to ascertain that the school is prepared for any kind of illnesses or emergencies. You must also find out the learning milestones and goals the school has for the children. It should match your expectations that you have from the school.

Find out about the methodology used to teach the children and does it match with your expectations. The school should have story reading, free plays, circle time, art and craft, music, social skills, verbal skills, role play etc.

Find out about the experience level of the teaching staff. How long have they been associated with the programme? Are they trained to handle pre school kids or they are just ladies who have come to spend their free time.

Most preschool programmes must conform to the state regulations and satisfy minimum requirements of health and safety. Even then you must ask the school authorities whether the school meets the minimum requirements and it is up-to-date and reviewed. Before you select a preschool, talk to other parents whose children are part of the program. Getting there views and recommendations will give you another person’s perspective about the school programme. The most important factor to consider is whether your child will be happy and develop a curiosity and love for learning. If the answer to this question is yes, then you have found the right preschool for your child.