Three Things to Look For In a Preschool

Are you a parent whose child will be entering preschool soon? If so, you aren’t alone. There are thousands of parents that will be facing the same thing this upcoming school year. There are dozens of things to look for in a preschool, and many of them depend on your child’s specific needs, your school district information, and what you are looking for in a high quality education. Below are three of the most popular things to look for in a preschool:
1. Classroom Environment – Classroom environment is one of the most important things to look for in a preschool for your child. Not only classroom size, but the one-on-one attention given to each child, the daily routines, and much more. With 75 percent of young children in the United States attending preschool now, the classroom environment is wonderfully diverse. Ask to sit in on a class of a potential preschool, or even to have your child visit one day to see how they interact with the classroom environment.
2. School Policies – Another popular item on the list of things to look for in a preschool is the policies of the particular school. Policies can range from naps and potty training to discipline and specific requirements for preschool acceptance. It is important for you as the caregiver to understand what will be required of your child each and every day so that you can ready them for that. For instance, if your child is used to regular meal and snack times, but the preschool policy is no snacks until after a certain time, you may need to work on the feeding schedule for your child beforehand.
3. Curriculum – With a quality preschool education, 25 percent of at-risk children are more likely to drop out of high school, and 60 percent are more likely not to go to college. In short, a preschool education is extremely important. When you are assessing things to look for in a preschool, do not neglect to ask plenty of questions about the academic preschool curriculum. Make sure that the curriculum employed by the teachers at the preschool is meant to prepare your child for their academic future.
As a parent or caregiver, you want your child to succeed, and setting them up for success starting in preschool is crucial. You will have your own list of things to look for in a preschool, but the three items listed above are always a good place to start. Understanding the classroom environment, school policies, and the curriculum are great ways to ensure that your child is off to a great academic start!