How to find the best preschool program for your child

How to Find the Best Preschool Program for your child

Once you have decided that your child is ready for preschool you need to find a program that best suits your child’s learning style and developmental needs. Start your search early. In some large cities parents wanting a particular program for their child start when they are born—we are not kidding! Be prepared in your search. Here are some simple steps to assist you in your search of the best preschool program for your child. 1. Identify your priorities: First decide what you want and what your child needs. Then decide location and program to support your family and your child. 2. Do your research: Ask around to find the most reputable preschools. A good preschool program should be welcoming and friendly. It should be well known for its nurturing environment with an open door policy to registered parents. Come during the day at around pick up time and ask parents coming out of the preschool program and ask what they like about the program? Ask to see the childcare program in action and observe caregivers, children and staff interaction. Ask for names of parents in your community so you may check references! Are parents welcome visitors any time? Use your ‘gut’ reaction. Use your first reaction to the preschool program as your measure. Ask experts. There are child care consultants that can assist you with doing the leg work and then give you recommendations regarding the best program for your family to meet the specific learning styles of your child. Check the credentials of the facilities to ensure they meet standards Contact your local government authorities for information regarding the preschool programs in your community with a good ‘report card’. They will provide you with a list of licensed programs, then your leg work starts. Top Go online See our searchable database for a preschool program in your community. Care Finder Go to the Yellow Pages This is a limited resource, but it is a starting point to start your search. 3. Visit and Interview: Check Policies: It is important for preschool programs to support the individual needs of children in the group program; however there must be well define policy and procedures regarding its operations from drop off and pick up times to how to handle emergencies. There must be an open door policy to registered parents and encourages parents to visit any time during the day, inviting a parent to be part of the preschool community. If there are no ground rules and no established guidelines for operations, keep looking there is a preschool program out there for you. What is the policy for releasing children to someone other than parents? What is the program’s policy regarding sick children? Once a child is well, can they administer medication? What do parents need to provide? Nutrition policies? Do they supply the snacks, are they done by parent volunteers or do you pack your own? If they supply snacks do they follow guidelines for healthy eating with fresh fruits and vegetables? What is their policy for positive child guidance for all individuals in contact with the children? If there is an emergency in the facility what are the procedures? How will you be contacted? Does the center conduct regular fire drills? What is the center’s payment policy? How can you pay? Is there a late pick-up fee? Is there a late payment fee? Is there a credit for time missed for vacation? Sick time? Understanding programming for children: Look for a preschool program with structure and a good philosophy. Get a schedule of daily activities and ensure they are varied and help to support your child’s development. The program should be planned in advance with plenty of time for indoor and outdoor play; quiet time; group and individual activities; snacks; and free time for children to be involved in creative and imaginative play. Television and videos should have a small part in the activities. If there is programming that involves television and videos they should be age appropriate and educationally sound supporting programming outcomes. Look for a preschool program that is well equipped with a wide variety of toys and equipment to encourage children’s development, stimulating creativity and encourages imaginative play. Ask to speak directly to the person who would be your child’s lead caregiver and ask about programming. Does the center take field trips? If so, what are transportation arrangements? Are field trips an appropriate part of programming for your child’s age group? Does the program continually introduce new learning materials to keep children interested? Top Staff Members Trained staff members are a sign of quality programming. Staff members should have training in early childhood education. There must be an emphasis on ongoing education with an opportunity for staff members to upgrade their skills and abilities when working with young children. How staff interact with children is important to note. Staff should be interacting with children at their level, involving them in the conversation and discussion. They should be talking with the children not ‘to or at’ them. What are staff child ratios like? Are group sizes kept small? Are staff certified in CPR and 1 st aid on site at all times? Is there an accreditation body; if so are they part of this process? What do the report cards state! What is the experience of the director, and how long have they been with the program? The education and values of the director are often reflective in staff. If the director values education and learning so will the staff members. What is the rate of staff turn over? Are members of the staff paid appropriately? Do they receive health benefits and education allowances? Better paid staff feel they are valued, and tend to stay longer having a direct impact on the program your child is involved with. If the program has some specific philosophy such as Montessori, Waldorf or Reggio Amilio ensures that there are qualifications supporting this specific training. Clean and safe environments: A good preschool program has a clean facility. Everything about the facility needs to be clean: walls, floors, bathrooms, toys and equipment; food preparation areas. If they do not appear clean ask about their cleaning policies. Observe staff with children to ensure they are encouraging healthy habits such as: hand washing; covering mouths when coughing; using Kleenex for running noses and more hand washing. Look at the repair of the facility and the equipment. When looking at the toys, are they clean and in good repair? Is the preschool program a secure place? Can people walk in from the street and have direct contact with children? Stay and observe the program in action. Note health practices in action, rather than written policies. If you have concerns, listen to your first reaction and keep looking until all the signs are positive ones. Review specific questions for Interviewing a preschool program. Check References Once you have visited a preschool program and you feel comfortable that it meets your family criterions and supports your child’s learning styles check references. Word of mouth is an important part of the checklist. Ask other parents using the preschool program about their opinion. People will tell you if they think the program is good or bad. Find out why? Check with local authorities regarding their last report card, when visited for licensing. Check with the Better Business Bureau to determine if there are any complaints. Top Try it Out The best test in town is your child. Visit the preschool with your child. You will want to see how your child interacts with the adults in the program and how they respond to him. Look for natural responses and interaction. Ask your child: “How did you like it? What was the best thing about going to this preschool program? Would you like to go again?” If your child cannot stop talking about all the wonderful adventures in the day, then this was the right choice. If your child is sullen and upset, find out why? The program may be the right one, but your child may not be ready. Try another program to monitor for your child’s reaction. When your child has a great day and ready for more, you have found the preschool program that is all right! Home \| About Us \| Find Care \| Caregivers \| Membership \| Your Store Site designed, maintained and hosted by Sunergon Information Services

How to Find the Best Preschool Program for your child

Once you have decided that your child is ready for preschool you need to find a program that best suits your child’s learning style and developmental needs. Start your search early. In some large cities parents wanting a particular program for their child start when they are born—we are not kidding!

Be prepared in your search. Here are some simple steps to assist you in your search of the best preschool program for your child.

1. Identify your priorities:

First decide what you want and what your child needs. Then decide location and program to support your family and your child.

2. Do your research:

Ask around to find the most reputable preschools.

A good preschool program should be welcoming and friendly. It should be well known for its nurturing environment with an open door policy to registered parents.

Come during the day at around pick up time and ask parents coming out of the preschool program and ask what they like about the program?
Ask to see the childcare program in action and observe caregivers, children and staff interaction.
Ask for names of parents in your community so you may check references!
Are parents welcome visitors any time?
Use your ‘gut’ reaction. Use your first reaction to the preschool program as your measure.

Ask experts.

There are child care consultants that can assist you with doing the leg work and then give you recommendations regarding the best program for your family to meet the specific learning styles of your child.

Check the credentials of the facilities to ensure they meet standards Contact your local government authorities for information regarding the preschool programs in your community with a good ‘report card’. They will provide you with a list of licensed programs, then your leg work starts.

Top

Go online

See our searchable database for a preschool program in your community. Care Finder

Go to the Yellow Pages

This is a limited resource, but it is a starting point to start your search.

3. Visit and Interview:

Check Policies:

It is important for preschool programs to support the individual needs of children in the group program; however there must be well define policy and procedures regarding its operations from drop off and pick up times to how to handle emergencies.

There must be an open door policy to registered parents and encourages parents to visit any time during the day, inviting a parent to be part of the preschool community.

If there are no ground rules and no established guidelines for operations, keep looking there is a preschool program out there for you.

What is the policy for releasing children to someone other than parents?
What is the program’s policy regarding sick children?
Once a child is well, can they administer medication? What do parents need to provide?
Nutrition policies? Do they supply the snacks, are they done by parent volunteers or do you pack your own? If they supply snacks do they follow guidelines for healthy eating with fresh fruits and vegetables?
What is their policy for positive child guidance for all individuals in contact with the children?
If there is an emergency in the facility what are the procedures? How will you be contacted? Does the center conduct regular fire drills?
What is the center’s payment policy? How can you pay?
Is there a late pick-up fee? Is there a late payment fee?
Is there a credit for time missed for vacation? Sick time?

Understanding programming for children:

Look for a preschool program with structure and a good philosophy. Get a schedule of daily activities and ensure they are varied and help to support your child’s development. The program should be planned in advance with plenty of time for indoor and outdoor play; quiet time; group and individual activities; snacks; and free time for children to be involved in creative and imaginative play.

Television and videos should have a small part in the activities. If there is programming that involves television and videos they should be age appropriate and educationally sound supporting programming outcomes.

Look for a preschool program that is well equipped with a wide variety of toys and equipment to encourage children’s development, stimulating creativity and encourages imaginative play.

Ask to speak directly to the person who would be your child’s lead caregiver and ask about programming.
Does the center take field trips? If so, what are transportation arrangements? Are field trips an appropriate part of programming for your child’s age group?
Does the program continually introduce new learning materials to keep children interested?

Top

Staff Members

Trained staff members are a sign of quality programming. Staff members should have training in early childhood education. There must be an emphasis on ongoing education with an opportunity for staff members to upgrade their skills and abilities when working with young children.

How staff interact with children is important to note. Staff should be interacting with children at their level, involving them in the conversation and discussion. They should be talking with the children not ‘to or at’ them.

What are staff child ratios like? Are group sizes kept small?
Are staff certified in CPR and 1 st aid on site at all times?
Is there an accreditation body; if so are they part of this process? What do the report cards state!
What is the experience of the director, and how long have they been with the program? The education and values of the director are often reflective in staff. If the director values education and learning so will the staff members.
What is the rate of staff turn over? Are members of the staff paid appropriately? Do they receive health benefits and education allowances? Better paid staff feel they are valued, and tend to stay longer having a direct impact on the program your child is involved with.
If the program has some specific philosophy such as Montessori, Waldorf or Reggio Amilio ensures that there are qualifications supporting this specific training.

Clean and safe environments:

A good preschool program has a clean facility. Everything about the facility needs to be clean: walls, floors, bathrooms, toys and equipment; food preparation areas. If they do not appear clean ask about their cleaning policies. Observe staff with children to ensure they are encouraging healthy habits such as: hand washing; covering mouths when coughing; using Kleenex for running noses and more hand washing.

Look at the repair of the facility and the equipment. When looking at the toys, are they clean and in good repair?

Is the preschool program a secure place? Can people walk in from the street and have direct contact with children?

Stay and observe the program in action. Note health practices in action, rather than written policies.

If you have concerns, listen to your first reaction and keep looking until all the signs are positive ones.

Review specific questions for Interviewing a preschool program.

Check References

Once you have visited a preschool program and you feel comfortable that it meets your family criterions and supports your child’s learning styles check references.

Word of mouth is an important part of the checklist. Ask other parents using the preschool program about their opinion. People will tell you if they think the program is good or bad. Find out why?

Check with local authorities regarding their last report card, when visited for licensing.

Check with the Better Business Bureau to determine if there are any complaints.

Top

Try it Out

The best test in town is your child. Visit the preschool with your child. You will want to see how your child interacts with the adults in the program and how they respond to him. Look for natural responses and interaction.

Ask your child: “How did you like it? What was the best thing about going to this preschool program? Would you like to go again?” If your child cannot stop talking about all the wonderful adventures in the day, then this was the right choice. If your child is sullen and upset, find out why? The program may be the right one, but your child may not be ready. Try another program to monitor for your child’s reaction.

When your child has a great day and ready for more, you have found the preschool program that is all right!

Site designed, maintained and hosted by Sunergon Information Services

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