Selecting the right Preschool for your child

Choosing the right preschool is an important decision every parent has to take once their child grows into a toddler. A good preschool lays out the foundation for your child’s academic journey.

Selecting a preschool that doesn’t match your expectations can hamper your child’s growth as well as academic performance.

Before choosing a preschool there are several criteria such as the curriculum that they offer also if staff members are well trained to handle kids, and the amount of cleanliness on the premises are the things that you have to keep in mind while you go through the list of schools.

Here we will explore more about these required standards for choosing the right preschool.

Quality of teachers and management

The quality of interaction between the teachers and children is important to look out for. The interest that is shown by the teachers toward the children can be determined through their interactions.

The staff and teachers must be passionate about working with children which can be seen by the laughter and smiles in the classrooms. The teachers and staff listening to their students and the way they handle various situations regarding children can say a lot about them.

A well-trained preschool teacher can bring out the best in the child and also have a huge impact on their growth and development. Teachers will give regular updates to the parents about their children. Being updated about their daily activities and progress will help the parents to keep up and be involved with their child’s growth and development.

Parents must also ask the preschool if they have done a thorough background check which includes both criminal and legal records of their teachers and staff members.

Safety and security

Preschool can be considered as a second home for the kids and a home is the safest place one can be. In preschool, safety can be described in various ways such as emotional, physical, and cognitive safety.

Toddlers at such a young age are unaware of the effects of being physically rough with other children in a playful environment. Such unawareness can cause accidental injuries to them or their young friends. 

Teachers and the staff must be well prepared by being trained in providing first aid and minor medication during this kind of situation.

There can also be emotional challenges such as children’s having learning difficulties, lack of social awareness, and other psychological problems. Overlooking such issues and not sensitively addressing them can hinder the child’s development.

Sometimes teachers can inflict academic pressure on kids by giving them extra homework and taking unnecessary tests that can have a negative impact on their cognitive development.

The preschool management and staff must be responsible to handle these different kinds of challenges regarding the safety of their students.

Rich environment

Different types of environments make us feel different types of emotions. A place that is open and filled with greenery like a park can make you feel calm and relaxed, but a small cramped room can make you feel suffocated and uncomfortable.

In a preschool setting, the environment that is present can have various effects on the kids and their perception of their surroundings. The atmosphere of the room can also affect their current mood, how they do things and how they respond to various situations.

Environments not only affect their mood but also how they learn and perceive things that are being taught to them. A rich environment evokes the feeling of being at home in children which also raises the level of engagement and learning among them.

Classrooms should be furnished with children-sized furniture so kids can feel comfortable using them. The classrooms must be rich in print with lots of labels and children’s books encouraging reading habits. Paintings and creations made by children should be on display which shows the importance of art and creativity.

Parents should keep these things in mind when looking out for a rich classroom environment for their children.

Curriculum and class schedule  

The curriculum is the framework for courses offered by the preschool that is followed by the teachers as a roadmap while educating their students. It sets out goals for teachers and students to follow according to their age group.

A good curriculum focuses on the overall development of a child’s physical, mental, and emotional state. It determines various activities and also the time that needed to be invested in those activities.

The curriculum needs to be flexible to changes as every child has their own pace of learning. Teachers should be given the freedom to adapt the curriculum according to the needs of their students.

In preschool children learn through playing with blocks, identifying shapes and colors, doing arts and crafts, singing, and dancing. All of these playful activities are an important part of the learning process.

Every activity must have a balanced schedule and focus in the curriculum so kids can receive the complete benefits of the preschool experience.

These tips can be your guide to help you make the right decision while selecting the ideal preschool for your young ones as they take their first step into their academic journey.