Ask Questions, Be Informed, Learn to Trust
Oct 02 '00 (Updated Oct 15 '00)
While I am not in the market for a preschool myself, I hope to take some of the guesswork out of choosing an educational daycare setting for your child. Having taught preschool at an early childhood facility for over 2 years prior to my current teaching position, I was made very aware of what constituted a top of the line daycare. The following, my thoughts.. good luck in your search for the best of the best.
First of all, remember that first impressions are the most lasting and in some cases, the most revealing. Make an initial phone call and gauge the attitude on the receiving end. Are you hearing a calm, warm tone of voice? Is the person congenial and willing to answer your questions? Please remember that some daycare workers must take phone calls while dealing directly with the children. Be courteous if you can sense the worker is a bit preoccupied; offer to call again at a more convenient time. After all, you would want their attention focused on your child instead of a phone conversation.
Plan a visit to the school with your child and arrive armed with as many questions as you want answered. Be certain to schedule your appointment when the director is available. If their main concern is the care of your child, they will consider no question too small.. and there are never too many things to ask.
Upon arrival, take note of several things:
-Is there a state approval certificate displayed showing the approved dates of operation and the number of children allowed in attendance? If not, ask to see this documentation.
-Is there a posted fire/storm procedure? Are emergency telephone numbers displayed in a convenient, conspicuous place?
-Is the facility clean and neatly organized? While a preschool is obviously a very busy, bustling business, everything should have a place when not in use.
-Are the employees in a relatively good mood or do you sense crankiness and short tempers? Speaking from experience, it's normal for a daycare provider to experience some harried nerves and tense periods of time; but try to determine the overall atmosphere of the building. Trust me, if there is unrest and chaos, you'll know it.
-Pay close attention to the noise level of the room(s). Do you have to shout to be heard? Are the children using normal voices or are they screaming at each other? While it's absurd to expect all children in attendance to be seated quietly with rapt faces turned to their teacher, it isn't too much to expect to easily identify who is in charge and what activity is taking place.
-Is a snack and lunch menu posted at the entrance? If so, are the meals hot and nutritious? All preschool facilities are required to meet certain menu specifications. Don't hesitate to investigate those stipulations.
-Always remember to examine the schedule and daily procedures chart. Find out when meals are served, when teaching time is taking place, and when nap time begins and ends. Inspect the playground, too.. make sure it appears safe and in good condition. Play is, of course, very important for the rowdy preschooler.
And now.. the two most important things..
1. Will these preschool teachers and daycare workers provide love and affection for your child? It is of the utmost importance that you feel comfortable with the adults in the facility; and it's equally as important to trust them with the life of your child. Check their credentials if you wish, but allow them to embrace your youngster and care for them like they would their own. Preschool teachers work for the satisfaction, not the money. Most are very compassionate, and blissfully happy to wipe your child's nose or clean up an accident.. build a relationship of trust and approval with them.
2. Does this preschool have a solid early childhood education program? Almost as important as the first point, your child's formative years are crucial in regards to their learning patterns and accomplishments. While a good preschool will teach the basics, they will also know how much is too much. In other words, they can find the balance between things a four year old should know and things that should wait until the kindergarten classroom. Mostly, besides colors, shapes, numbers, and letters, social skills and independence are emphasized in a preschool setting.
Well, there you have it.. my humble rantings concerning your little one. I'm not a parent, as most of you know, but I love children and hope this has in some way helped you see through the murky darkness that can result from attempting to choose a preschool.
I'm interested to hear your preschool stories, successful or not. Feel free to comment, and thanks so much for reading!
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Epinions.com ID:
Teach2755
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Member: Lisa
Location: Jonesboro, AR
Reviews written: 95
Trusted by: 54 members
About Me:
I'm a half-crazed sixth grade teacher who's ready for summer. Enough said. :)
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