Attending preschool is a milestone for your child. To find the right preschool, you may spend a lot of time looking online at options in Worcester and its surrounding communities. As you narrow your search, check out reviews from parents and visit preschools you think could be a good fit for your child. Yet, you may still have no idea whether a preschool suits your child perfectly.
If your preschool search is starting to feel like it's too much to handle, you're not alone. Thankfully, we're here to help.
You'll find lots of questions online to ask a preschool you visit, call, or email. These questions will help you understand what a preschool offers. But they may not help you get all of the information you need to decide whether a preschool is right for your child.
We've created a list of 10 questions that will help you dig deeper into a preschool, weigh the school's pros and cons, and make an informed decision about the fit for your child.
1. How Are Parents Involved in School Activities?
Preschool's a great opportunity for your child to socialize and build healthy and meaningful relationships with peers. In the same way, it gives you an opportunity to meet other parents and raise your children together. You get an expanded network of support!
Additionally, ask a preschool how it keeps families updated on activities, curriculum, and things you can do at home that connect to the curriculum and what children are learning. The more involved you are in your child's school activities, the better equipped you'll be to discuss them with your son or daughter.
2. What Types of Social Activities Do You Offer for Families Outside of School?
Some preschools host movie nights, playground dates, and other events and activities outside of school. These events and activities foster community engagement and provide you with opportunities to connect with families.
Events and activities outside of school also allow children to see and spend time with their peers in an environment that's very different from a classroom. This time spent playing outside the classroom can help children feel more comfortable within the classroom with their peers and foster their social development.
3. How Do Meal Times Work?
Find out how a preschool will handle your child's meals. Certain preschools have meal time rules, such as requiring children to eat their meal before they can enjoy their dessert. These and other rules may feel restrictive, so you'll want to know how meal times work before you enroll your child in a preschool. You'll also want to know about a preschool's meal time rules so you can align with your child and discuss the rules with them.
4. Are There Any Foods You Don't Allow on School Grounds?
Preschools sometimes have food restrictions and ask you not to send your child to school with foods containing nuts or soy. Or, a preschool may set up a specific area for children managing food allergies to enjoy snacks and meals. This can be beneficial, as it protects a child from being exposed to allergens. On the other hand, if your child is the only one dealing with a food allergy, they may wind up having snacks and meals alone. Asking about meals helps open the conversation to learn more.
5. How Does Your School Discipline Children?
Ask about the philosophy and strategies a preschool uses for behavior management. When it comes to disciplining children, preschools typically view the times when a child acts out as teachable moments. Some preschool teachers will use time-outs or calming spaces to remove a child from a challenging situation and allow them to step back, calm down, and discuss the incident with them afterward. Others will focus on individualized support to help children learn from their mistakes.
No matter which preschool you choose, it should utilize discipline appropriate based on your child's age and developmental level and communicate openly and honestly with you any time it does. It should also document such incidents and work with you to find solutions that prevent them from recurring.
6. How Do You Teach Children the Basics of Literacy?
Reading books aloud with children, singing alphabet songs, and playing with letter magnets are three activities that preschools can use to help children become readers. Preschools will also celebrate children's reading milestones. When they do, they help children become increasingly confident in their literacy skills and build a love of reading.
Also, ask how families can be involved at home! That way, you can help your child develop their language and literacy skills.
7. How Often Do Children Read Together?
Many preschools do daily reading activities with children, and these last about 15 to 20 minutes. When children read and enjoy books together, they learn from one another. They may also start to bond over books and establish friendships that last for years.
8. What Will You Do If a Child Is Resistant to a Particular Activity?
There's no one-size-fits-all approach in terms of how a preschool will respond if a child doesn't want to engage in a particular activity. Some preschool teachers will empathize with a child, encourage them to verbalize their feelings, and give them the freedom to not participate in an activity. Others may modify an activity or break it down into smaller steps in the hopes that a child will see the benefits of participating in it.
9. What Information Do You Include in a Child's Progress Report?
Most preschool progress reports will include details about a child's social-emotional development, cognitive development, fine and gross motor skills, milestones they have achieved, along with areas for growth. Expect to receive a progress report for your child at least twice a year.
10. How Often Are Parent Conferences Held?
A preschool will usually host a parent conference to discuss your child's progress at least once a year, with the session lasting 10 to 30 minutes. Of course, if you're worried about your child's growth and development, you can reach out to your preschool to request a parent conference at any time.
What Should I Look for in a Preschool?
In one of our previous blog posts, we highlighted 10 standards for early childhood programs from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). These are:
- Relationships that help your child develop a sense of self-worth and understand how they can contribute to their community.
- A curriculum that encourages your child to develop their social-emotional, physical, language, and cognitive skills.
- Teaching that's developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate for your child and aligns with a curriculum's goals.
- Assessments of your child's progress that help you understand how your child learns and what you can do to support their growth and development.
- Health, which consists of fostering a safe and healthy learning environment for your child.
- Staff competencies, preparation, and support, which include having teachers on staff who have the educational qualifications, knowledge, and professional commitment to care for and support your child.
- Families, as staff members will be sensitive to your child's family composition, language, and culture.
- Community relationships that connect you with resources and tools you can use to help your child grow and develop.
- A physical environment that includes safe and well-maintained indoor and outdoor facilities and equipment.
- Leadership and management that work in accordance with Massachusetts's program licensing requirements and provide high quality services and support.
Use these standards to help you determine if a preschool is right for your child.
How Will I Know It's the Right Preschool for My Child?
In addition to conducting research and asking questions, think about your child's personality and learning style as you evaluate your preschool options. If your child is introverted or extroverted, look for a preschool where they're set up for success. Meanwhile, if your child is dealing with a developmental delay or food allergy or requires other special accommodations, account for these as you search for a preschool.
Consider your family's values and culture as you evaluate preschools. Define your values and why they're important to your family. Look at your cultural background and the traditions and beliefs that shape who you are and who you want your child to become. At this point, you can fine-tune your preschool search and find schools that honor your family's values and culture in the classroom.
Finally, trust your instincts. Remember, you know your child better than anyone else. If you feel a preschool is a great fit for your child, go with your gut, since doing so may benefit you and your child long into the future.