Despite the fact that the United States puts its emphasis on education at the high school and college levels, no time is more critical for development than the early childhood years. If the education system in the United States was evidence based, the emphasis would be on preschool education.
If you are considering preschool for your children, go ahead and decide on it, because it is the best thing you will ever do for their education. However, just like most really important things, choosing the right preschool takes a lot of thought, research, and preparation.
Know Your Children
The first step in finding the right preschool is getting to know your children. Take time out to play with them and watch how they play. Do they prefer sitting for a prolonged period of time to work on one task, or do they get bored easily and want to move on to the next thing? A few hours of careful observation will give you a lot of insight into the needs of your children which will help you find the perfect preschool.
Another thing to consider is how your children interact with other children. Do they seem to thrive in a lot of excitement and chaos, or do they seem to prefer quietness and order? This observation will help you determine whether a preschool’s layout is appropriate for your child’s needs. Some preschools offer one large play area where a bunch of kids can play with a bunch of different toys. If your children prefer order, this is probably not the ideal situation for them.
Know the School
Finally, do some research about the different types of schools that are out there and see which ones seem like a good fit. After you have an idea about what kind of preschool you want for your children, be sure to set up a tour and interview with the headmaster or mistress as well as the teachers who will be working with your child.
With careful consideration and attention to detail, we know you will find a preschool that both you and your child will love.