By Betsy Flagler
PARENT TO PARENTRegistrations for preschool classes for the next school year are coming up soon, and popular schools may have a lottery to determine prized spots. Here are some tips for sizing up the best fit for your child and family:
Nothing tops endorsements from friends, neighbors and relatives who have sent their kids to a preschool you're considering. Do you get a warm and fuzzy feeling from their comments?
Next, look at the school's philosophy or mission statement in brochures or online. Attend an open house. For safety reasons, it may be impractical to drop in unannounced and expect to sit in on a class.
Weigh details such as price, late fees, start and end times, number of days, distance from home or work and availability of after-school care, if needed. Ask about the ratio of teachers and students, and the education and turnover rate of the staff. Also, what extras are there outside of the classroom, such as art, science and music?
Research shows that young children learn best through the manipulation of a variety of materials and age-appropriate hands-on experiences. Goals of high-quality, play-based preschool teachers include: The children learn to listen and follow directions; have strong self-help skills; and develop gross and fine-motor skills, such as cutting and climbing.
When you tour the school, what do you notice? A play-based preschool program allows children to select from several choices, with duplicates of popular toys; includes a dramatic play area with rotating props; and has teachers who connect with the kids and encourage interaction among the students.
Are children doing worksheets? Researchers are finding that pressure for early academics squashes a child's natural curiosity and creativity. Be clear on how the school you're considering incorporates academics into its curriculum.
Take note of art on the walls. Is the artwork based on the process of DIY, or a teacher-directed process where everything looks the same?
Preschool isn't just about getting ready for kindergarten, says author and researcher Alison Gopnik, a professor of psychology at the University of California at Berkeley. It's important in its own right.
The National Association for Early Childhood Education, or NAEYC, is a nonprofit organization that maintains a regularly updated online listing of accredited preschool programs at www.naeyc.org.
NAEYC says preschool teachers need to foster cognitive development, but also social, emotional and physical growth. A school morning needs to include a mix of teacher-guided activities, small group play, large groups in story-time and times where each child is able to select from centers around the room.
Ideally, the NAEYC says, children will end preschool knowing how to:
-- Verbally communicate needs and wants.
-- Use complete sentences to recount an event.
-- Ask questions.
-- Take care of their own bathroom needs.
-- Share and take turns.
-- Separate from parents.
-- Approach new activities with curiosity.
-- Follow two- and three-step directions.
-- Run, hop, walk, skip and throw a ball.
A Montessori preschool is one option to consider. The philosophy is flexibility within structure as the child makes his own choices, often in work-like settings, and moves along at his own pace. Again, try to talk to parents of kids who have attended the school.
Parents are a vital part of Montessori schools. Before you decide what's best for your child, get a sense of how involved a preschool expects parents to be. Your choice needs to match your family, not just your child.
