You’ve done the days without work, the broken nights and midnight giggles. It’s time, though, to send your little gem off to school. Whether you’ve decided that when they were able to walk or when they were more able, there are some things to look for.

 

1

Decide what kind of experience you want the child to have

It’s a big decision, and one that may lead to some passionate discussions in the house, but you will need to decide what kind of experience to give your child. Start with asking yourself a two questions. 

 

What does my child need?

There are a couple ways to think of this question, but it may be helpful to think of this in terms of the academic stages your child will go through. Preschool precedes kindergarten in most cases, so you may look at the requirements for that, or look at the skills and abilities that you want them to develop before their next step. 

What are our long-term goals?

What kind of goals do you have? Does your family value academic progress more than other areas? Are you looking for a well-developed child with a strong general skill set? Whatever your particular goals are, factor them into your answer for the previous question. 

 

After combining the results of the questions, you’ll have a good idea of what kind of school you are looking for. 

 

2

Types of Schools

As you are aware there are different categories of schools, and each of them has their pros and cons. Thinking about the experience you want, consider which best satisfies your needs. 

 

Day Care

This used to be the most common kind of preschool, often run out of a house with the idea that they would care for your child while you are at work. Day Cares often focus on social skills and social graces, and will usually teach once a day. 

Pros

• Active kids get experience in social setting
• Low pressure
• Often has a home-like feel

Cons

• Teaches less
• Informal education
• Fewer staff

 

Formal Preschool

For lack of a better label, these are schools that formalize learning and attempt to prepare kids for Kindergarten and beyond. They will typically teach lessons twice a day with regular activities throughout the day. There are a lot of varieties of this kind of school, but generally the pros and cons are as follows:

Pros

• More staff (and teaching experiences)
• Planned curriculum 
• Planned activities
• May do field trips

Cons

• More pressure
• Less time for social development and play 
• May have institutional weaknesses (too rigid, may not adapt to new situations, etc.)

 

Bilingual Preschool

Bilingual preschools may combine formal and day care styles, and will carry elements of culture from the target language.  

Pros

• Staff are multilingual 
• Are more likely to have a curriculum and regular teaching
• Teach multiculturally 
• Planned activities
• May do field trips
• Parents are often from the target language, and can form relationships easier

Cons

• May not teach English as well as other schools 

 

As with all schools, the experience depends on the quality of the staff, and what the school is designed to do. Some schools are designed to teach, some to play, and others offer a mix. Any good school will offer a lot for kids, so… 

 

3

Check them out

The next thing to do is create a short list of places to check out. Nothing is as good as seeing it for yourself, and using a local resource like a forum, or Yelp is a great start. Read reviews, see some pictures, then prepare for a site visit. 

 

Preparing for a site visit

Visiting a school is your way to see how it feels, and how safe it is for your child. You want to know exactly what kind of place your child will be spending their days. Be methodical and a detective when you are there. Start your observations from the moment you arrive.  

• How is the neighborhood? 
• Is there a secure fence around the school?
• How do parents drop off and pick up?

Whoever greets you is likely to be the administrator or important figure. See how they handle things. Do they…

• answer questions well?
• show you everything?
• ask about your child?
• have procedures for safety, masking, absences, and payment?
• get along with the teachers?

 The classroom is the most important part of the tour, and the one that most impacts your child. Look around at the class. 

• Are the kids happy?
• Are there plenty of toys and interactive things?
• Artwork from the kids on the walls?
• What kind of learning materials are there?
• Look for warning signs; are there dirty places, sharp objects, or other child-unfriendlies?

What about the teachers?

• Are they kind? Tough? Can’t make eye contact?
• Are they native speakers of the language they are teaching?
• What do they teach? Is there a learning plan? Do they share it?
• Can you contact the teachers directly?

After the visit, follow up with an email or phone call. See if the principal makes an effort to communicate. Do they empower you, or try to treat you like a kid? If you like the school, make a surprise visit. See if what you saw on the first visit was nothing more than a show. 

This may seem like a lot for a three step process, but you’ll be thankful once you avoid the wrong kind of school. There are some stinkers out there, and when your child comes home with a smile on their face all the work will be worth it!