Best tips when choosing a preschool for your child

Online platforms offer a lot of information regarding private and public elementary schools but finding the right preschool is always a great huddle.

Evaluate the curriculum that best suits your child

Learning methods are categorized into two; programs which are skill/teacher driven and those that are child driven. The child-driven curriculum takes into account play as a tool to teach and capitalize on the innate sense of curiosity to promote active learning. On the other hand, the skill/teacher approach is often guided by the teacher. This method is more structured in the sense that it involves photocopied worksheet and drilling skills with all children working together. There will always be enough play time, but learning is primarily teacher driven.

Think about the basics

One of the ways not to become overwhelmed when selecting a preschool is if you reflect on how the elementary school fits into your daily routine. First, you need to evaluate whether it’s important for the preschool to be near your home or workplace. Additionally, check whether you are eligible for a pre-school program and if the preschool offers child services in the morning. All these factors should guide you to narrow down your selection options and find a suitable location.

Do your research

Once you have a general area that you think best suits your child you need to start narrowing down your options. To do this, you can reach out to other parents, your pediatrician, neighbor or friend. Always ask for recommendations for a quality setting in your area. You can also go online, and you might be surprised to learn that your community could have an active preschool networking community. You should also try and search for names within the area and see if they have any red flags such complaints from parents.

Visit in-person

You can get a lot of information from family and friends as well as on the internet. However, seeing the preschool for yourself puts everything into perspective in terms of how it operates and whether it’s a good fit your child. Some of the issues you need to evaluate are whether the staff members are qualified and if the environment is welcoming.

Read the fine prints

Before deciding whether a preschool is right for your child, it’s important for you to read through the parent’s handbook before you can enroll. You should be able to determine the registration fees, tuition rates, school hours as well as vacation and illness policy. All these policies should be fair for all parties.…