Parent to Parent: Sharing the experience of looking for a preschool

Dear Parents,

If you are a prospective parent looking for preschool, and as a parent of a preschooler, I would like to share with you some suggestions and ideas while experiencing the challenging task of finding the right preschool program for your child.  My first recommendation is to be clear on what you would like for your child and also about your family needs. Decide on the location, hours (full-time, half-day, part-time), fees and curriculum. Once you narrow down your list, do your research and visit each school and see how the program is run, meet the director and teachers and see how they interact with the children. If possible, bring your child with you when you visit the schools.

At the visit I recommend you to look for the following:  Is the facility clean and safe? Look for smoke detectors and first-aid kits. Is there a well-kept outdoor play area? Are there plenty of art materials, age appropriate toys and books?  Are they in good condition? Is the atmosphere friendly and fun?  The classroom should have a variety of activity areas – a reading place, an art area, a block and puzzle area, a place for naps, etc.

Here are some important questions for you to ask when selecting the right preschool?

1. What are your hours? Are you full-time or part-time?
2. How big is the center?
3. Ask about their holiday schedule? When are they closed, early dismissal days, etc?
4. Do they celebrate holidays?
5. What are the fees?  When are they due?
6. Ask about the daily routine? Meeting time, snack time, nap time, etc.
7. Is there a daily progress report on how your child’s day was?
8. Are you registered, licensed and/or accredited?
9. What is the child to teacher ratio?
10. Does the facility have high staff turnover? What is the turnover?
11. Does the staff get and/or receive ongoing training?
12. Is the staff qualified? Does each teacher have the educational background to promote your child’s learning and development?
13. Does everyone on the staff know first aid and CPR?
14. Are there parent/teacher conferences? Monthly, quarterly, etc?

It is very important to remember that as parents we need to ensure that our children are nurtured and stimulated when they are young, so that they learn how to play and interact with other children (social skills) and are more prepared for kindergarten.  We are our children’s first teachers, but early childhood programs are just as important.   If you want to learn about Kindergarten expectations Norwalk has prepared a booklet just for us, parents of young children.

Good luck on your search!

Christine Washington