What are the most important things to think about when choosing a preschool?

Health and Safety of Your Child
The first thing to have in mind is to take a close look at the place thinking about the health and safety of your child.

It should be clean and organized. You need to feel like staff is thinking about safety. Are electrical outlets covered? Have any potential dangers been removed (like sharp corners)

You should also know that programs that are licensed have to meet health and safety standards set by the state.

The Preschool Setting – How does it make you feel The second thing to consider is how the program makes you feel.

When you and your child visit the program, you should feel welcome. You should feel like both children and adults are happy to be there. It should be a bright and cheery place with plenty of books, toys, building blocks and art supplies, all at children’s eye level. There should always be an open door policy so that parents can visit or drop in at any time.

The Learning Program The third thing is to look at how strong the learning program is.

Staff should be able to share with you:
• A consistent daily schedule with opportunities for children to work and play alone and in small groups.
• There should be a balance of indoor and outdoor play; of active and quiet times of the day.
They should explain to you how they follow each child’s progress and share this information with parents.

You may also want to ask about staff’s experience and education.
• A CDA – a child development associate credential – means that a staff person has the equivalent of 9 -12 credits in early childhood education beyond a high school degree.
• An Associate’s degree in Early Childhood means that a staff person has 60 college credits in early childhood education and related subjects.
• A Bachelor’s degree in Early Education means that a staff person has had 120 college credits in early childhood education and related subjects.

In addition all staff in every licensed preschool must take workshops throughout the year. You may want to ask the preschool directors what courses the staff has taken during the year.