What to Look for When Choosing a Preschool

A large body of research highlights the correlation between attending preschool and success in later life. Yet, new research has uncovered that poor quality preschool education does more harm than good.

This is nothing new for parents who’ve always sought to do the best for their children, but how do you know you’re making the right choice when looking at schooling options for your child?

Keep reading for tips on choosing the best preschool for giving your child a great start in life.

Applying to Preschool

Most of the best preschools have long waiting lists, even though preschool education isn’t a legal requirement in the U.S. That means you’ll likely need to apply long before your child reaches admission age, which is usually three years old.

With this in mind, it’s easy to see that the sooner you start looking for a suitable school, the better.

The Best Preschool Has Great Teachers

Your child’s teacher molds their attitude toward school and learning. So, it’s important to choose someone who is serious about education.

Studies have proven that more educated teachers provide better quality care. Your search for a great teacher begins by investigating their post-high school training in early education.

A four-year college degree in early childhood education, child development, or a similar field is best for teaching preschool children. Other attractive features of great teachers include reliability, a happy attitude, and a high focus on play-based learning.

Preschools Need a License

Preschools aren’t accredited schools in the USA. They’re regarded as child care centers and must hold an up-to-date license to offer these services.

These licenses ensure the school complies with relevant safety standards. Inquire about licenses while searching for a local preschool.

It’s never a good idea to send your child to a school that doesn’t meet this basic requirement.

Find the Right Fit For Your Child

Since pre-schools are usually private institutions, you’ll find a variety of learning philosophies on offer when you google ‘preschool near me’. These include:

• Montessori
• Waldorf
• Reggio Emilia
• Play-based

It’s important to find out more about these different offerings and think about them in line with your child’s personality and circumstances.

Don’t simply choose a school because it’s the closest to home or most affordable. Investing in a great start for your child is an investment in their future.

Teacher-Student Ratios

As a parent, you know how much work goes into caring for a small child, let alone trying to teach them something in the process. So, you need to look beyond class size and consider the adult to child ratio instead.

Is the teacher expected to do it all for their class, or does the school provide assistant staff to help with keeping an eye on the children?

Get Your Kids Off to a Good Start

A solid grounding at the best preschool you can afford will pay for itself ten times over as your child progresses through school. A good preschool helps identify your child’s learning style, guides their social development, and encourages a love of learning.

Would you like more advice on raising happy kids? Browse our website for the best tips.