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10 Important Steps To Selecting A Preschool
By Marcia Kiraly, Child Development Specialist and Director of Glenview Community Church Nursery School
Download Printable pdf
1) Finding the right place
Sending a child to preschool for the first time can be a
frightening prospect. For many children, this will be their
first experience apart from mom and dad. Parents are
rightly concerned about their child’s comfort, the quality
of care, the education, and the people who will now
influence their children. How do you find the preschool
that’s right for your child—and for your family?
If you’re a resident of Glenview, you can relax. You live
in a town with many quality preschools that offer strong
foundations for your child’s ongoing education. Now you
just need to figure out what qualities you value in a
preschool and find the one that best fits your needs.
Below, you will find 10 steps to help you select the
preschool that is right for your child and you. As you
identify and evaluate schools, keep in mind that the
connections you make in preschool can follow you
throughout your child’s education. Engaging in the
community of families—knowing the parents and the
children—helps keep children on the right path
throughout their education.
2) Gather a list of schools
• Talk to your friends and neighbors, search the web.
The best recommendations may come from the
people you know and trust. Ask your neighbors and
friends where they send their kids for preschool and
why. Decide whether you share the same values and
would include the same schools on your short list.
Search the web to find out if you’ve missed anything.
• Visit the Preschool and Child Care Fair each year in
January, hosted by the Glenview Public Library.
Check out www.glenviewpl.org for date and location.
3) Find out if schools are accredited
Find out which schools on your list are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children
(NAEYC), the largest and most widely recognized
accreditation program for early childhood programs.
While not required for preschools, the accreditation
shows that a school meets all 10 NAEYC Early
Childhood Program Standards such as promoting positive relationships, promoting nutrition and health,
and employing qualified teaching staff. You can learn
more about the accreditation and standards at www.rightchoiceforkids.org.
4) Understand the school philosophies
As you research schools, you may hear about
academic vs. play-based learning philosophies. While
the American Academy of Pediatrics advocates a
balance between the two, there is a push to promote
child-driven play time. “Play allows children to use their
creativity while developing their imagination, dexterity,
and physical, cognitive, and emotional strength.” *
Play-based schools embody this sentiment, fostering
the natural development process of recognizing
numbers and letters in the context of play. Research
has shown that children with a child-centered
developmental foundation tend to do better
academically in later years.** A play-based environment
fosters social and emotional development that leads to
security and confidence. You might ask the following
questions to determine if a school embraces this
philosophy:
Understand the school philosophies
• How much time do students play outside?
• How long are students expected to sit quietly?
• How do students learn their alphabet and
numbers?
• Is children’s artwork on display in the classrooms?
• Do children have access to a variety of activities?
5) Evaluate the curriculum
Look at the classes offered by the schools on your list
and make sure they fit with the age ranges of your
child or children. Ask to see class descriptions,
making sure the curriculum builds upon itself from
year to year. While repetition is good, four-year-old
programs should include kindergarten readiness
skills. In fact, the preschool should communicate with
the school district to incorporate kindergarten
requirements into their curriculum. If you are looking
at a play-based school, make sure the curriculum
follows this learning philosophy.
6) Consider the class times and sizes
Most schools offer morning and afternoon programs.
Consider whether your child is more active in the
morning or afternoon or if your child still takes an
afternoon nap. Do you have other obligations at dropoff
or pick-up times?
If your child is more reserved in a group, he or she
might do better in a smaller class. Afternoon classes
tend to be smaller, but it depends on the school and
the year, so you should ask the administrator.
Ultimately, the school should follow Illinois Department
of Children and Family Services requirements for
teacher-student ratios. You can access licensing
requirements at www.state.il.us/dcfs.
7) Ask about school security
• Do the school doors lock while children are in class?
• If it’s a shared facility, is the preschool separated from
other areas?
• How are children prevented from
leaving the classroom or playground without the
teacher’s knowledge?
• What are the procedures for parking lot safety?
• Does the school have a risk management plan?
• Does the school work with local emergency
resources to establish safety procedures?
• Do they
practice these procedures regularly?
8) Understand the opportunities (or expectations) for parent involvement
How involved can you afford to be in your child’s
school? You’ll find that almost all schools rely on
parent volunteers to some degree - for class
activities, school events, the parent board.
While many parents consider this an opportunity to meet
new people, put their skills to use, or simply get involved
with the school, others (perhaps working parents or
parents with smaller children) may find it hard to fully take
advantage of these opportunities. Find out what the
expectations are at the schools on your list. Most offer the
chance to be involved on your own time, after hours, and
at home.
9) Visit the school, meet the teachers
Most schools offer open houses in December and
January prior to registration deadlines. This gives you the chance to meet more teachers, visit the classrooms, and
see the school in action. You’ll also get to meet other parents of current and prospective students, with whom
you can speak directly about their own experiences. Contact the schools on your short list to find out
when their open houses are scheduled. If you can’t makeit, most will accommodate a private meeting and tour.
10) Make sure you feel comfortable
Most importantly, make sure you, the parent, feels
comfortable in the school and with the teachers and
director. Remember: the family connections you make
now can follow throughout your children’s educational
experience. It is very important to feel at ease with the
preschool you choose for your child to attend.
REFERENCES
Healthychildren.org
A resource from American Academy of Pediatrics
www.healthychildren.org
American Academy of Pediatrics
www.aap.org
Department of Child and Family Services
www.state.il.us/dcfs
National Association for the Education of
Young Children (NAEYC)
The largest and most widely recognized
accreditation system for all types of early
childhood programs and child care centers
www.rightchoiceforkids.org
Education.com
Free information and articles for parents.
www.education.com
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