How Do You Choose a Preschool?

Choosing a preschool was a lot more complex than we thought it would be.  It's really best to get some recommendations from a teacher or other moms in your area to get an idea of what's out there.  You can check the NAEYC website to find a list of accredited programs.  In the Chicago area, PACES publishes a regional Preschool Guidebook each year.  Then, you need to choose a bunch of places within a reasonable driving distance and just take a look at them yourself. 

Go on a tour of each preschool armed with questions that are important to you.  Make a chart, and mark down each preschool's philosophy, age grouping, availability, hours, group size, location, and fees.  Pay special attention to their licenses/accreditation, teacher training, staff turnover, and parent participation.  Check out the facilities, safety, security, sickness policy, cleanliness, discipline policy, and any other concerns that you may have.  Ultimately, the feeling that you get from observing the school, classrooms, facilities, teachers, and director will guide you to the right choice for you and your child.

There are a myriad of choices, from Waldorf to play-based to academic to Montessori.  Read about the different philosophies to get an idea of what you're looking for.  Parentcenter.com offers a list of different types of preschool programs and how they differ.   

Homeschooling is also an option.  Many programs are offered from religious organizations.  One secular program is Calvert, which has really great materials and a comprehensive program.  Another program we liked was Handwriting without tears.  This program is great fun for preschoolers, who learn to make letters using wooden pieces, playdoh, magnetic stamps, and chalk.  Eventually, they use crayons to begin writing straight lines, curved lines, and then letters.  It's a great introduction to writing for preschoolers.

How did you find your child's preschool program?

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