How To Choose a Preschool
For many parents a preschool is just as or more important than the school their child will be attending for kindergarten on up. There are many factors to consider when selecting the best preschool for your child, and doing your research is essential to making the best selection. The following are points to consider:
Public or Private:
In some areas, public schools offer a preschool to residents. Most are on a limited basis or are offered to families with special needs. Others are open to all interested residents. Most preschools are private, however. This means they are outside of the public school system and will require tuition payments.
Full-time or Part-time:
Preschools operate on different schedules. Some replace childcare and use the entire school day for learning time. Others offer preschool classes for shorter times, for example from nine to two or eight to noon. The hours offered by a school can be significant in your selection.
If you work full-time, a full-time program makes the most sense, but if you are interested in keeping your child at home for most of the day, a part-time program might be ideal. It should be noted that almost all childcare facilities offer some sort of preschool. These programs might be only part-time with the rest of the workday comprised of regular childcare with little or no emphasis on learning. It is worthwhile to fully understand the programs offered at various day cares.
Location:
The location of a school may matter a great deal or it might not matter at all. Most parents prefer to have the preschool located conveniently, whether that is by their home or place of employment. Some parents find the local school within walking distance is ideal for the sake of simplicity, and others are willing to drive to a program they feel is ideally suited for their needs.
Special Focus:
Many preschools offer a special focus. Some offer music or Spanish classes. Others are religiously based. Still others are well-rounded in academics or heavily based in artistic expression. Parents must consider the interests of their children and family when enrolling in a school with a special focus.
Cost:
Preschools range in price as much as they range in other factors. Cost may be a large determining factor or your budget may be able to accommodate any program. More expensive programs are not necessarily better, but your money might be going to pay for extracurricular activities or more experienced teachers. What drives the cost of a program is definitely worth fully investigating and comparing features made available by the various tuition at different programs might be eye-opening as well.
Method of Instruction:
A final consideration that many parents may not be aware of is the overall method of instruction. Is the school promoting formal direct instruction where a teacher is showing and telling a student important facts and lesson? Or is the program more Montessori based where the student is discovering things aided and encouraged by the teacher? There are merits to both styles of instruction, and you should be aware of what each school you’re considering offers and what that method means to you and your child.
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Posted in Education, Pre-School and Day Care
