Finding the Right Preschool to Develop Your Child's Mind
User Ratings: Not Rated
Here are seven essentials to look for.
You may have already started screening preschools using your own criteria, but before enrolling your child in one, make sure it's a place where she'll have the best chance for optimal brain and social development.
"Your job is to match the right fit for your child; there's where the success is going to be," says educational psychologist Michele Borba, Ed.D., parenting expert for the Today show and the author of No More Misbehavin' (Jossey-Bass, 2003). "This experience will impact your child on cognitive and intellectual levels, but the setting teaches social and emotional skills as well."
Borba suggests grading potential preschools on these seven points:
- The fit.
When you visit the preschool, can you imagine your child there and enjoying herself? Does it seem like a good fit?
- Qualified teachers.
Teachers should be nurturing, licensed and credentialed, and interactive with the children. "The single greatest correlation to brain development is language," says Borba. "So make sure kids and teachers are talking and building vocabulary."
- Appropriate curriculum.
Look for a variety of hands-on activities. "The routine should have active time and quiet time, including reading, arts and crafts, free play, etc.," Borba says.
- Behavior management.
Find out how the staff handles misbehavior. Check to see if kids are encouraged to say "please" and "thank-you."
- Parental involvement.
Ask parents of enrolled students if the school is parent-friendly. For example, do parents feel free to ask questions and voice their concerns?
- Student-teacher ratio.
You want a low ratio to make sure your child has as much teacher attention as possible.
- Cleanliness and safety.
Of course, you want to see a classroom that's organized and clean. Electrical cords lying about, exposed outlets and anything in disrepair signal carelessness and potential danger.
"Preschool can be a jump start for success," Borba says. "Think it through."