Choosing a Preschool

help with making that big decision

Selecting The Best Preschool For Your Child   by Art Gib

The earliest years of your child's life may seem to you (and to many others) to be some of the most annoying. The constant questions, the struggles over teaching potty training and other basic necessities, and the introduction of life skills like sharing--it all adds up to a considerable degree of frustration.

But on the other hand, these early stages can be the ones to relish. Your child is so innocent and trusting; they only hope to please you and others. They are also the most vital in terms of your child's neurological development, which, of course, affects learning.

As your child's body develops, they will also need an outlet for their energy, helping them to learn to run, control their bodies, and play sports and enjoy other physically challenging activities.

That is why, especially for working parents, young children should be enrolled in a preschool or nursery school in your area. Preschool is not technically considered a "requirement," for children in the three to four-year-old age bracket (which is why it is called "pre-" school), but it gives them a leg up when they do start their formal education with kindergarten in a public or private school.

But choosing the correct preschool is key in shaping your child's earliest educational experiences. You will want to start researching early on. This may include visiting area nursery schools to get a feel for their overall atmosphere.

Philosophies implemented in preschools vary greatly, but in general, there are two types: teacher-driven learning and student-driven learning. I would say that neither is superior to the other; instead, the best program is dependent upon your child's needs and what you hope they will get out of the experience.

A teacher-centered approach will focus more heavily on students learning by the example provided by the teacher. A more child-driven philosophy emphasizes on each student learning through exploration and discovery, particularly of their own unique interests.

Of course, there are some schools that manage to implement some combination of the two, depending on the subject being taught.

Work closely with your child to help to determine what they should take from the experience. I had an English teacher who once told me that she wished she had enrolled her children in a bilingual or multilingual preschool, as children are most able to absorb another language at that age.

Is this a goal you have? Do you want your children to be exposed to a variety of people and cultures, or is that secondary to making sure your child has a basic understanding of phonics and letters before they enter kindergarten?

Again, be sure to do your research early on. Do not compromise, as the experiences your child has in preschool can affect them for the rest of their education.

About the Author
Tribeca Early Childhood Learning Center (Tribeca Early Learning) is a Manhattan nursery school. Art Gib is a freelance writer.

This is some good advice about choosing a preschool.  It's been a while since I have had to do that but over the years I have been involved with several different preschools.  The first one I ever walked into I was with my first daughter.  We walked in the door and the first thing that caught her eye was the library.  It was a small raised area with book shelves on three walls and small chairs in the center area.  She walked straight to it, picked our a few books and found a chair to enjoy them in.  She was perfectly happy and content for the next hour while I took a tour of the school and asked a million questions.  The next day we were back for her first day.  Her first day, and everyone that followed, she went straight for the library and pulled out a book or two.  I think I might have been a little let down, there were no signs what so ever of separation anxiety.

Choosing a preschool was easy, letting go of my daughter, that's a different story.  Much harder for me than it was for her I'm afraid.  Guess that's what I get for raising a very young reader.

Another daughter at another preschool, I did not like the way one of the kids was being treated by one of the teachers, and my daughter never went back.  You not only have to choose a preschool wisely you also need to be in constant communication with your child and the school teachers.  You need to know all is going well at all times, and if not, what needs to change.

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