Choosing the Best Fit: Key Considerations When Selecting a Preschool for Your Child
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Loading... - Jess Cooper
- 21 Jul 2023
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This blog post aims to help parents when choosing a preschool for their kids by noting prominent features of quality preschools to look for.
Choosing the right preschool for your child is a significant decision that lays the foundation for their early education and overall development. With many options available, each boasting unique approaches and philosophies, finding the best fit can be daunting for any parent. However, fret not, as this guide aims to equip you with the essential vital considerations to make an informed choice. From the curriculum and teaching methodologies to the school's environment and safety measures, we'll delve into the crucial factors contributing to a high-quality preschool experience. Join us as we embark on this journey to discover the perfect preschool that will nurture your child's natural curiosity, encourage their love for learning, and set them on a path to a successful educational journey ahead.
Choosing a good preschool is the first step in your child’s education and it does matter. We must choose it carefully. We start with educated and professional staff when it comes to characteristics you should look for. Educators should also possess a particular set of personal traits. Teaching should be interactive and engaging and environment stimulating. You should pay attention to class sizes and the teacher-student ratio. Both curriculum and learning should be quality and the menu healthy and nutritious for proper development of kids.
Educated and professional staff
Even though it might seem that anyone can work with kids, it is not so. People working with kids at a young age need to be highly educated and trained to be able to work with kids properly. This early period matters as much as all other periods, even slightly more, as it is what teaches kids the basics. When choosing a preschool, ensure you know who the educators are and what their formal education is. Everything that educators should be teaching in preschool requires particular methodology and preparation. At Insight Early Learning, all educators have received formal training in early childhood development.
Personal features of educators
Besides the formal education and training, preschool educators must possess a particular set of personal traits. Of course, it is very hard to know that, but there are a few things you can do. You can read about them on the preschool website. There is a section that shares some personal information about them. Another thing you can do is watch how they behave with kids and whether kids love them. That will be a strong indicator of what they are like. Attend open house events to check out the preschool and maybe spend a day with your kid.
Interactive and engaging teaching
Educators should maintain positive and frequent interactions with the children, stimulating their minds with thought-provoking questions and encouraging deeper thinking. They actively foster communication by motivating the children to express themselves, praising positive behaviours and inspiring a love for learning. Instead of simply lecturing, teachers should be captivating and engaging, employing various methods such as singing, storytelling, reading books, and describing events. They incorporate games and crafts into the learning process, allowing children to participate in the classroom actively. In addition to academic subjects like alphabets, counting, and shapes, teachers should also impart practical knowledge related to daily life.
Class size
Another essential thing you should pay attention to is the class size. Classes should be manageable. For that to be possible, classes should be packed with kids. The teacher can't devote themselves to each child individually, even briefly. In numbers, ideal class size is up to 15 students. However, even 20 is manageable with an assistant present. Also, the children should be of mixed ages. And if they are, they should work on different projects suitable for each subgroup’s age. The ratio of adults and children should be at least at a minimum: one teacher per 15 children. The kids cannot be left alone even when the teacher needs to use the bathroom or take a kid to the first-aid room. In such cases, an assistant needs to be involved.
Stimulating environment
The environment of a quality preschool should be stimulating. You can notice that by merely taking a tour of the preschool. There should be a lot of learning all around you. The environment should be well-furnished, equipped and kid-friendly. There should be kids’ artwork displayed. Observe the environment for signs of active and engaged learning, with children absorbed in various activities and utilising diverse equipment and resources. During playtime, look for teachers who have set up an array of equipment, such as beanbags, balancing beams, hula hoops, and tyres, rather than providing only a sparse area with just one climbing frame.
Quality curriculum & learning
One of the key aspects of choosing a preschool is finding out about its curruclicum. Preschools usually display the information about the curriculum on their website. There is usually the whole plan and program you can go through. And if it’s not to be found on the website, you can probably get it upon request. Remember that the curriculum doesn’t need to be purchased from a store - plenty of good curricula are on the market. Each of them has a different set of goals in mind. The curriculum can also be created, modified and mixed by the institution.
Safety
Another vital aspect you shouldn’t overlook is the overall safety of children in preschool. All indoor and outdoor areas need to be safe and secure for kids to use. Nothing should be broken and too sharp. Kids should always be surveyed and at no time left alone. The outdoor area needs to be secured appropriately in terms of equipment and fence.
The menu
And what parents sometimes forget to take a look at is the menu. Some preschools also display the menu on their website, while you need to request it from others. The menu should be prevailingly healthy and nutritious as well as highly varied. Children must eat well at this young age as they are developing.
Hopefully, these tips will help you find a suitable preschool for your child. Remember to trust your gut, besides all the things we mentioned.
