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| |    How to Choose a Preschool by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P. reviewed by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P. Finding a preschool that's right for your child will make his days pleasurable and stimulating, and give you peace of mind. This article suggests a step-by-step process for finding an excellent preschool for your child: Compile a list of schools Word of mouth can serve you well here--talk with your friends, neighbors, and acquaintances about preschools in your area. You can learn about schools with fine reputations and see what kind of experiences their children have had at them. Another good first step is to contact the National Association for Early Childhood Education, or NAEYC (rhymes with "Gracie"). NAEYC is a well-respected nonprofit organization that has been a leader in high-quality early childhood education for many years. NAEYC maintains a regularly updated online listing of accredited preschool programs. Accreditation helps assure a high level of quality according to specific criteria. In addition to accreditation, child-care centers and early childhood schools also can be licensed. Licensing is done by the state or locality. It assures that a program meets certain basic safety and quality standards, but it does not set as high a standard as accreditation. In order to be accredited, a program has to be licensed. However, not all licensed programs are accredited. Time and transportation Many preschool programs are for a half day only. Preschool is hard work for young children. After a half day, some are ready for a break from the activity and excitement. They are tired, cranky, and ready for a little quiet time. In order to accommodate families in which the adults work outside the home, some preschool programs offer extended hours. In these programs, time is set aside for more home-like activities (snacks in morning and afternoon, an afternoon nap, quiet playing, lots of free play later in the day). With thoughtful planning, programs combining preschool and child care can work well. Another option is for children to go from preschool back to a family daycare home, where they can relax. Transportation is another important real-world consideration. A child who has to spend an hour in the car or on a bus to get to a really great preschool might arrive too tired out or antsy to learn. For some children, going to school close to home can make it easy to continue friendships after school and on weekends. However, for those children who go to school near where their parents work, time spent in the car with their parents can be turned into quality time, and it's often easier for parents to be readily available in the event that they are needed. Whatever your situation may be, transportation considerations should be factored into your decision. Consider the school's philosophy Different preschools follow different philosophies of education. Many are based on the writings of John Dewey, who stressed learning by doing. Many others are based on the works of Italian educator Maria Montessori, who revolutionized preschools when she introduced her Casa dei Bambini in 1907 in the slums of Rome. You're also likely to hear about Waldorf schools, the Reggio Emilia approach, so-called traditional preschools, and others. Be advised that there's only so much you can learn by a school's label--the term "Montessori" means many different things to different administrators and teachers, for instance--and always ask any school in which you're interested to spell out their individual philosophy and teaching methods for you. Whatever label a school goes by, there are a few key points to consider:
Most schools welcome prospective parents to come for a visit (if they don't, that's a red flag right there). If you call ahead, the school principal, director, or a staff member will set aside time to talk with you and give you a tour of the facilities. In addition, you might ask permission to observe in a classroom. In order to observe effectively, stand or sit quietly away from any action, and don't try to talk with the teacher or children during the class. Plan to stay for at least 20 to 30 minutes to really get a sense of how the class runs.
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